Comments for Fooducate http://www.fooducate.com/blog eat a bit better™ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:35:20 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Meryl Steinberg ( @meryl333 ) http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3431 Meryl Steinberg ( @meryl333 ) Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:35:20 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3431 @Alexander Rinehart, MS Alexander, Loved & support what you wrote and meant last comment to be in support. Got carried away. A hot button issue for me. (if you didn't guess) Should have been a stand alone. Sorry, if it creates any confusion @Alexander Rinehart, MS
Alexander, Loved & support what you wrote and meant last comment to be in support. Got carried away. A hot button issue for me. (if you didn’t guess) Should have been a stand alone. Sorry, if it creates any confusion

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Meryl Steinberg ( @meryl333 ) http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3430 Meryl Steinberg ( @meryl333 ) Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:32:28 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3430 <a href="#comment-3423" rel="nofollow">@Alexander Rinehart, MS </a> There is an assault on the supplement industry coming from pharmaceutical people. They want in on the business. Readers Digest, relying on 99% of ad income from pushing pharm drugs has a over story on supplements being useless. Surprise surprise. If only the same people would keep a concentrated assault on sugar and fructose as well. But I digress. Yes, many people over use supplements that are of dubious value. And yet, many supps do have great value. Vitamin B3 for lowering cholesterol, tocotrienols & L-Arginine for the endothelial lining and more. Cardiolgist Dr. Stephen Sinatra is one of many well credentialed medical people knowledgeable about & supportive of supplement use. Monitor supps? Sure. Attack them. Hell no. Leave my supps alone. @Alexander Rinehart, MS
There is an assault on the supplement industry coming from pharmaceutical people. They want in on the business. Readers Digest, relying on 99% of ad income from pushing pharm drugs has a over story on supplements being useless. Surprise surprise. If only the same people would keep a concentrated assault on sugar and fructose as well. But I digress. Yes, many people over use supplements that are of dubious value. And yet, many supps do have great value. Vitamin B3 for lowering cholesterol, tocotrienols & L-Arginine for the endothelial lining and more. Cardiolgist Dr. Stephen Sinatra is one of many well credentialed medical people knowledgeable about & supportive of supplement use. Monitor supps? Sure. Attack them. Hell no. Leave my supps alone.

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by David http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3429 David Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:59:43 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3429 There are some good nutritional supplements out there for those that are unable to obtain proper nutrition through food. But, I agree there is alot of snake oil out there as well. Buyer be ware! There are some good nutritional supplements out there for those that are unable to obtain proper nutrition through food. But, I agree there is alot of snake oil out there as well. Buyer be ware!

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Carrie http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3428 Carrie Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:38:01 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3428 I agree with this post. It is ridiculous to have aisles upon aisles of supplements that people pop like candy while they ignore the produce aisle. I do believe there is a role in a healthy lifestyle for supplements, but they certainly do not "make up" for a balanced diet. It's another example of the quick-fix remedy that so many Americans are searching for. I agree with this post. It is ridiculous to have aisles upon aisles of supplements that people pop like candy while they ignore the produce aisle. I do believe there is a role in a healthy lifestyle for supplements, but they certainly do not “make up” for a balanced diet. It’s another example of the quick-fix remedy that so many Americans are searching for.

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Carolyn Thomas http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3427 Carolyn Thomas Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:46:13 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3427 Very interesting article, Hemi - as always! I think it's important to remember that the vitamin/supplement industry is completely unregulated. As long as the label doesn't promise to cure disease, supplement manufacturers can put virtually whatever they like on those labels. And consumers line up like frightened sheep, convinced that they MUST take supplements to get healthy. Re "individualizing a supplement plan with an appropriate dosage..." - I shudder to think how many people wander into a health food store or the supermarket vitamin aisle where they are 'educated' by a clerk on what supplements they should or should not be putting into their bodies. It's only a matter of time before Big Pharma climbs onboard the supplement gravy train. The profits are simply too attractive to ignore, and the pharmaceutical industry - which already spends twice as much on marketing drugs as they do on research and development - has mastered the fine art of 'educating' physicians to prescribe what they want to sell. It's a frightening combination. More at: "Cardiologist's Response: 'Do I Need To Take a Heart Formulated Vitamin?"http://myheartsisters.org/2009/09/07/vitamins/ Very interesting article, Hemi – as always! I think it’s important to remember that the vitamin/supplement industry is completely unregulated. As long as the label doesn’t promise to cure disease, supplement manufacturers can put virtually whatever they like on those labels. And consumers line up like frightened sheep, convinced that they MUST take supplements to get healthy.

Re “individualizing a supplement plan with an appropriate dosage…” – I shudder to think how many people wander into a health food store or the supermarket vitamin aisle where they are ‘educated’ by a clerk on what supplements they should or should not be putting into their bodies.

It’s only a matter of time before Big Pharma climbs onboard the supplement gravy train. The profits are simply too attractive to ignore, and the pharmaceutical industry – which already spends twice as much on marketing drugs as they do on research and development – has mastered the fine art of ‘educating’ physicians to prescribe what they want to sell. It’s a frightening combination.

More at: “Cardiologist’s Response: ‘Do I Need To Take a Heart Formulated Vitamin?”http://myheartsisters.org/2009/09/07/vitamins/

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Sara http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3426 Sara Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:10:57 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3426 I too am a huge fan of fooducate, but this and other article I've seen on here about vitamins and supplements have not addressed those that are actually made from whole foods. I used to get nauseated if I took a vitamin on an empty stomach, but for the last 3 years i've taken Women's One Daily by MegaFood, and I recognize all of the ingredients (from flax seed and beet to kale and shiitake mushroom, to kudzu and spinach). Supplements like these ARE real nutrients from whole foods. I too am a huge fan of fooducate, but this and other article I’ve seen on here about vitamins and supplements have not addressed those that are actually made from whole foods. I used to get nauseated if I took a vitamin on an empty stomach, but for the last 3 years i’ve taken Women’s One Daily by MegaFood, and I recognize all of the ingredients (from flax seed and beet to kale and shiitake mushroom, to kudzu and spinach). Supplements like these ARE real nutrients from whole foods.

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Ken Leebow http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3425 Ken Leebow Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:23:08 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3425 It seems like confusion is the marketing concept behind vitamins and supplements. Of course, now, Vitamin D is on the radar screen. However, even the simple act of taking a baby aspirin has become a complex issue. Take it, don't take . . . here's Harvard's take on it . . . http://bit.ly/a1fVZ5 It seems like confusion is the marketing concept behind vitamins and supplements. Of course, now, Vitamin D is on the radar screen.

However, even the simple act of taking a baby aspirin has become a complex issue. Take it, don’t take . . . here’s Harvard’s take on it . . . http://bit.ly/a1fVZ5

]]> Comment on What’s The Deal with Vitamin Supplements? by Alexander Rinehart, MS http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/19/whats-the-deal-with-vitamin-supplements/comment-page-1/#comment-3423 Alexander Rinehart, MS Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:06:22 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3317#comment-3423 With a Master's in Clinical Nutrition, I wanted to speak up on this article. I love the Fooducate blog and share the material often but I have to disagree with some of the points today. Yes there hasn't been great support on supplements, but the research hasn't been great either. Of course it makes since to get your nutrients from food, but the story changes with clinical conditions and long-term subclinical nutrient deficiencies. Supplements can not be cookie cutter, the nutritionist or other health professional needs to take into consideration the full web of physiology, notice the patterns underlining the symptomatology, and individualize a supplement plan with an appropriate dosage (and taking into account factors of possible medication interactions AND benefits due to the nutrients certain drugs deplete). Very often studies are done at inappropriate dosages as well as inappropriate forms of the vitamin. Additionally nutrition is synergistic, with all of the variables coming into play for heart disease, taking one supplement say vitamin E and changing nothing else is not likely to give an effect, particularly at a low dose and particularly if the patient is on other meds. Vitamins are not a replacement for exercising, meditating, and staying away from various toxins in our environment. The ADA is funded strongly by National Dairy Council and can be crticized with having some conflicts of interest if you look at who attends their conferences. As with any profession there are two ends of the spectrum, but people without some graduate education can have a difficult time taking into account the full web of physiology in their recommendations and it often turns to recommendations for lesser evils "go to McDonald's twice a week instead of 4". Many pharmaceutical companies are starting to offer their own vitamin formulations for doctor prescriptions. Additionally if supplements had no effect, why is there such a fear of drug/supplement interactions, most of which are because the supplement effects mimic the effects of the drug and it can cause an overcorrection (for instance blood sugar)....sounds like pharmaceutical lobbyists and reimbursement-based healthcare, not evidence-based healthcare specific to the person. With a Master’s in Clinical Nutrition, I wanted to speak up on this article. I love the Fooducate blog and share the material often but I have to disagree with some of the points today. Yes there hasn’t been great support on supplements, but the research hasn’t been great either. Of course it makes since to get your nutrients from food, but the story changes with clinical conditions and long-term subclinical nutrient deficiencies. Supplements can not be cookie cutter, the nutritionist or other health professional needs to take into consideration the full web of physiology, notice the patterns underlining the symptomatology, and individualize a supplement plan with an appropriate dosage (and taking into account factors of possible medication interactions AND benefits due to the nutrients certain drugs deplete).
Very often studies are done at inappropriate dosages as well as inappropriate forms of the vitamin. Additionally nutrition is synergistic, with all of the variables coming into play for heart disease, taking one supplement say vitamin E and changing nothing else is not likely to give an effect, particularly at a low dose and particularly if the patient is on other meds. Vitamins are not a replacement for exercising, meditating, and staying away from various toxins in our environment. The ADA is funded strongly by National Dairy Council and can be crticized with having some conflicts of interest if you look at who attends their conferences. As with any profession there are two ends of the spectrum, but people without some graduate education can have a difficult time taking into account the full web of physiology in their recommendations and it often turns to recommendations for lesser evils “go to McDonald’s twice a week instead of 4″.

Many pharmaceutical companies are starting to offer their own vitamin formulations for doctor prescriptions. Additionally if supplements had no effect, why is there such a fear of drug/supplement interactions, most of which are because the supplement effects mimic the effects of the drug and it can cause an overcorrection (for instance blood sugar)….sounds like pharmaceutical lobbyists and reimbursement-based healthcare, not evidence-based healthcare specific to the person.

]]> Comment on Inside the Label – Danimals, Liquid Yogurt Candy by Sara http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2009/03/31/inside-the-label-danimals-liquid-yogurt-candy/comment-page-1/#comment-3421 Sara Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:21:22 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=1274#comment-3421 I do like the fancy yogurts every once in a while but yeah, always read the labels! Very rarely the "healthy" stuff they market to kids is actually healthy. Baby/toddler/kid foods seem to be the hardest because they have the cute designs and colors so parents get sidetracked. I just make things from scratch. I get frozen fruit and then thaw it so it's mushy and then mix it in plain yogurt. When my daughter was a baby I would thin it with breast milk and now I use water. I don't add sugar. If you're used to not having sugar then you don't miss it. I've also used cow milk and soy milk to make it drinkable and depending on what kind it can make it a little sweeter if needed. I do like the fancy yogurts every once in a while but yeah, always read the labels! Very rarely the “healthy” stuff they market to kids is actually healthy. Baby/toddler/kid foods seem to be the hardest because they have the cute designs and colors so parents get sidetracked. I just make things from scratch. I get frozen fruit and then thaw it so it’s mushy and then mix it in plain yogurt. When my daughter was a baby I would thin it with breast milk and now I use water. I don’t add sugar. If you’re used to not having sugar then you don’t miss it. I’ve also used cow milk and soy milk to make it drinkable and depending on what kind it can make it a little sweeter if needed.

]]> Comment on How to Cook Dark Leafy Greens [St Patrick's Day Special] by Editorial Staff http://www.fooducate.com/blog/2010/03/17/how-to-cook-dark-leafy-greens-st-patricks-day-special/comment-page-1/#comment-3419 Editorial Staff Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:28:58 +0000 http://www.fooducate.com/blog/?p=3308#comment-3419 bon apetit! bon apetit!

]]>