Smoking risks

A CDC official report last month said what almost everyone must surely know: "Obesity rates in the U.S. have increased dramatically over the last 30 years, and obesity is now epidemic in the United States." This is a serious matter. Indeed, according to the CDC:

Approximately two thirds of U.S. adults and one fifth of U.S. children are obese or overweight. Being either obese or overweight increases the risk for many chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and stroke). Reversing the U.S. obesity epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that uses policy and environmental change to transform communities into places that support and promote healthy lifestyle choices for all U.S. residents. Environmental factors (including lack of access to full-service grocery stores, increasing costs of healthy foods and the lower cost of unhealthy foods, and lack of access to safe places to play and exercise) all contribute to the increase in obesity rates by inhibiting or preventing healthy eating and active living behaviors. Recommended strategies and appropriate measurements are needed to assess the effectiveness of community initiatives to create environments that promote good nutrition and physical activity. (MMWR Vol. 58 / No. RR-7)

Once again the authors of a research report have revealed more about their own shortcomings than about the intended focus of the study. One has to wonder how they can be so ignorant. To be fair, part of the problem is the style, tone and structure -- the very literacy -- of such reports, which encourages or expects (at least subconsciously) the kind of statements made in the report that I find so revealing about the authors.

Still, this doesn't excuse them. Unless they live totally within their ivory towers (the University of California Davis School of Medicine and the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry to be specific) or are exceedingly dull and uninformed there is simply no excuse for their ignorance.

As reported last September, food fortification with folate does pose some risks. Indeed I don't support fortification programs generally and I consider the folate programs to be a very bad idea. Why is this?

Essentially, folate food fortification involves the enrichment of denatured, highly refined, frequently poor quality and high risk (triggering allergies and sensitivities) grains. These flours are dangerous enough and should be completely avoided. This is an extremely unpopular position to take because grains marketing through Departments of Agriculture and 'scientific' associations has assumed a health-righteousness that supports an erroneous orthodox view that grains are essential sources of nutrient needs. Unpopular to be sure, but a position I stand by nevertheless.

As we noted earlier, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering updating what it will allow as a health claim related to calcium for osteoporosis. If you read that article you'll recall my scepticism about their motivation and intentions. Nevertheless, they are correct in their acceptance of the critical role played by associated nutrients in the absorption and utilization of calcium.

Remember, for the calcium to benefit your bones, it must be ingested (you have to eat or drink it), absorbed (from you gastrointestinal tract into your blood stream) and finally assimilated (taken into the boney tissue where it can be utilized). You must also maintain a required amount of calcium circulating in your blood to meet the needs of cells throughout your body, notably skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. Failure to do so will prevent calcium from being used to build or rebuild bone because when blood levels drop you automatically draw calcium from bone to help ensure adequate cellular function.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to allow new claims on foods and dietary supplements containing calcium and Vitamin D to show their potential to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.  The proposed rule would allow manufacturers to include new information on their food and supplement labeling and to eliminate certain other information, described below.

"This is important information for all citizens," said Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D., director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Nutrition. "All persons lose bone with age, and the loss can influence an individual's risk of developing osteoporosis.  Maintenance of an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D in all stages of life can help lower one's risk."