Omega-3 fatty acid intake associated with lower heart disease risk

Increased consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet is associated with lower levels of inflammation and endothelial activation, according to results from a study at Harvard. Dysfunction of the endothelium, which is the inner lining of the blood vessel wall, is an early event in the development of atherosclerosis and subsequent heart disease.

Food frequency questionnaires completed in 1986 and 1990 by 727 participants in the Nurses' Health study were evaluated for levels of the omega-3 fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Alpha-linolenic acid consumption was found to be inversely associated with several plasma markers of inflammation, while EPA and DHA intake was inversely related to platelet aggregration.

Results of this study indicate that in addition to reducing triglycerides, platelet aggregation and heart arrhythmias, omega-3 fatty acids may also reduce the body's production of hydrogen peroxide, which is involved in the inflammatory process.

J Nutr 2004 Jul;134(7):1806-11

It's always great to see both studies at the biochemical level (concerning the endothelial wall) supported by questionnaires of people's experiences supporting the same idea: that our circulatory health can be greatly improved by intake of Omega-3 fatty acids.

USANA Health Sciences provides a great product in BiOmega-3 and OptOmega. Biomega-3 offers fish oil that has undergone a thorough double molecular distillation process that eliminates such toxins as heavy metals, PCBs, and pesticides, leaving just the healthy fish oil without the contaminants.

OptOmega strives to re-establish the optimal balance of omega-3 and amega-6 fatty acids by providing a ratio of 3-to-1 omega-3 to omega-6.

To improve your circulatory and overall health and to help decrease your risk of heart disease and other degenerative diseases, shop for these and other other great supplements at www.wholenutrition.usana.com.

Folic acid supplements reduce stroke risk

A meta-analysis published in the most recent issue of The Lancet concluded that supplementing with the B vitamin folic acid can reduce stroke risk by at least 18 percent.

Researchers analyzed eight randomized trials involving folic acid and stroke. Participants supplementing with folic acid lowered their risk of stroke by an average of 18 percent compared to those who did not use folic acid supplements. Trials involving folic acid supplementation longer than 3 years showed an even greater reduction in stroke risk (29%). Folic acid supplementation was also more significant in people with reduced homocysteine levels, those with no prior stroke risk, or those who lived in area without folic acid fortification of foods.

It is believed that folic acid's ability to reduce homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood that is toxic in excess, may be the reason for the lower incidence of strokes.

Lancet 2007 Jun 2;369(9576):1876-82

It seems almost incredible that research continues to show how the benefits of proper nutritional supplementation are not just minor health improvements, (such as more energy, less fatigue, etc) but the prevention of major health disasters! We're not just talking a slight 2 or 3% lowering of risk for bad breath, but rather nearly a 20% reduction in STROKE risk!

Incredibly powerful research here! Just make sure that when choosing a nutritional supplement to assist in this risk reduction that you choose wisely. The Editors of The Complete Guide to Whole Nutrition recommend supplements manufactured by Usana Health Sciences found at www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com

Supplements reduce health care costs

With health care costs skyrocketing and the age of the population increasing, helping seniors live independently for longer is becoming increasingly important. A recent comprehensive review of existing scientific research literature found positive health effects associated with both omega-3 fatty acids and the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Based on health insurance costs for the age group over 65, the five-year estimated savings resulting from daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin is approximately 5.6 billion dollars.


A recent comprehensive review of existing scientific research literature found positive health effects associated with both omega-3 fatty acids and the carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin. Researchers critically reviewed the scientific evidence of the two supplements' ability to reduce the risk of disease and developed estimates of potential health care savings. With health care costs skyrocketing and the age of the population increasing, helping seniors live independently for longer is becoming increasingly important.

The group reviewed several hundred studies dating back over thirty years to arrive at an estimated cost savings of 3.1 billion dollars over the next five years with the daily use of omega-3 fatty acids. They estimated that the reduction in coronary heart disease in the elderly population would result in 384,303 fewer hospitalizations and physician fees.

Loss of central vision caused by age-related macular degeneration results in numerous elderly becoming dependent on the community or a nursing facility. The researchers used over 15 years of research on lutein and zeaxanthin to estimate a potential net savings of 2.5 billion dollars over the next five years. Approximately 98,219 individuals could avoid the transition to dependence during this time through daily intake of 6-10 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Based on health insurance costs for the age group over 65, the five-year estimated savings resulting from daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin is approximately 5.6 billion dollars.

http://www.supplementinfo.org/anm/articlefiles/265- FINAL_DSEA_%20FACT_SHEET.pdf

Many people don't realize that their investment in high quality nutritional supplementation isn't just an investment in a longer, healthier life but a wealthier one as well! If you have questioned purchasing a more expensive and higher quality supplement, remember that you get what you pay for and if taken over the course of your life, paying a little more now could mean paying A LOT LESS later. The Editors and Writers for the Complete Guide to Whole Nutrition endorse supplements provided by Usana Health Sciences and can be found at www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com

Did you know that you can even get them for free or make extra money through referrals? Click the "Opportunity" tab and the "More Information" link on the main page!

Low Levels of Vitamin D Are Common Among Healthy Children

According to a new study, many kids and adolescents who are otherwise healthy may have inadequate blood levels of vitamin D, a nutrient essential for normal growth and development. A vitamin D deficiency in childhood may lead to muscle weakness, defective bone mineralization and rickets.

A new study published in the July 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that many children may be at risk for a vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for normal growth and development and is important for immune function.

The researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia assessed dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake, body mass, and measured blood levels of vitamin D in 382 healthy children between six years and 21 years of age living in the northeastern U.S. and found that more than half of the children had low blood levels of vitamin D. Of the subjects, 55 percent of the children had inadequate vitamin D blood levels and 68 percent overall had low blood levels of the vitamin in the wintertime. African Americans, children aged 9 and older, and those whose vitamin D intake was low were likeliest to have reduced serum vitamin D levels.

"The best indicator of a person's vitamin D status is the blood level of a vitamin D compound called 25-hydroxyvitamin D," Dr. Zemel, the lead investigator noted. "Vitamin D deficiency remains an under-recognized problem overall, and is not well studied in children."

The researchers added that further study is needed to determine the appropriate blood levels of vitamin D in children, as well as a review of the current recommendations for vitamin D intake.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007 July; 86(1):150- 8.

It should come as no surprise that with all of the junk food out there that kids are not getting proper nutrition. I'm not just talking candy, sweets, potato chips, or soda that many of the big food manufacturers pump into the mass grocery stores (Wal-Mart, Meijer, Target, etc.) but really all of their different lines of so-called "healthy choices." Have you ever seen the episode of Mythbusters on the Discovery Channel where they test whether the box that kid's breakfast cereal comes in has more nutrition than the cereal itself? Well, the cereal had more... but not by much!

For many people though, the option does not exist to shop at a higher end grocery store or to simply buy organic foods. Whether it's due to price, lack of a nearby location, convenience or something else, it is clear how necessary high quality nutritional supplements are for young children.

Parents must not forget that their children only go through many of these biological developments once and it is EXTREMELY important for the children to be getting a complete nutritional diet. Usana Health Sciences produces a children's version of their highly heralded "Essentials." The kid's version is known as the "Usanimals" and the teen version is "Body Rox." Both can be found under "PRODUCTS" at www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com.

Magnesium intake increases bone mineral density and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis

A study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society has shown that dietary intake of magnesium is associated with an increase in bone mineral density in older men and women.

The study included 2,038 men and women aged 70-79 that were enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Food frequency questionnaires were used to assess magnesium intakes and document any medications. The data also accounted for variations in age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, estrogen use, and supplemental calcium and vitamin D.

Higher magnesium intake through diet and supplements was positively associated with total - body bone mineral density (BMD) in older white men and women. For every 100 mg per day increase in magnesium, there was an approximate 2 per cent increase in whole-body BMD.

The results have important implications since osteoporosis currently affects over 10 million adults in the U.S. alone, with another 34 million suspected to have low bone mass. In addition, earlier dietary surveys have consistently shown that a large portion of adults do not meet the RDA for magnesium.

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society November 2005, Vol 53, No 11, pp 1875-1880

We often hear of the benefits for women of daily calcium supplements in the prevention of osteoporosis. In fact, many women make it a point to take a daily calcium supplement for this very reason. This piece of research is an important example of how minerals outside of calcium can benefit both women AND men.

When choosing a mineral supplement, it's especially important to note how the supplement is produced. It is commonly known that "chelated" minerals are most readily absorbed by the body. Usana Health Sciences produces and excellent mineral supplement which can be found at www.WholeNutrition.Usana.com