Consumer

The FDA is set to begin research into an area of critical importance for the health-awareness of the general population: Why is it that food labels are roundly ignored by so many people?

Since the early 1990’s, the number of consumers who utterly ignored food labels on food products has risen by almost 50 percent, and the worst for this were populations under 35 years old.

A new internet-based study has been proposed by the agency, and it expects over 40,000 volunteer participants to help them learn more about three main points:

• The identification of attitudes and beliefs to do with health, diet and label usage
• The relationships between these attitudes and beliefs, demographics, and actual label use
• The relevance of these attitudes between different demographics, to see whether there are different barriers to label use for different age groups

For more info on this study and food labels:
GPO.gov: Internet Survey on Barriers to Food Label Use (bottom of the page)
FDA.gov: Consumer Info: Nutrition Facts Label
NutraUSA: New study to investigate why people ignore food labels

On Monday morning, ABC's Good Morning America ran a feature about vitamin D.

The segment kicks off by highlighting "Five Ways Vitamin D Can Save Your Life" and goes on to itemize the most efficient ways one can go about ensuring that vitamin D levels are optimal.

The video is nice and simple, so if interested in a bare bones explanation regarding the vitamin, have a look: GMA has a look at the Sun Vitamin.

DSIB: Vitamin D

Harvard researchers, in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have determined that Omega-3 deficiency is responsible for 72,000 to 96,000 preventable deaths each year in the United States. This startling finding would mean that Omega-3 deficiency is the sixth largest cause of death for Americans.

According to the data, collected in a 2005 study, tobacco smoking and high blood pressure were responsible for an estimated 436,000-500,000 deaths, high blood pressure taking 372,000-414,000 victims, responsible for nearly 20% of deaths for US adults. Overweight and obesity conditions caused 188,000-237,000 fatalities, while physical inactivity caused 164,000-222,000. High dietary salt (97,000-107,000 deaths), low dietary omega-3 fatty acids (72,000-96,000), and high dietary trans fatty acids (82,000; 63,000-97,000) round out the top causes of mortality.

Last month, Dr. Daniel Fabricant made the following statement to NutraUSA about such recent finding:

“We need more clinical research that nails down why omega-3 is so effective,” Fabricant said. “This seems to be the last missing piece for omega-3s in terms of clarifying the picture for governmental/regulatory bodies of its efficacy.”

To learn more about what we do know regarding Omega-3, please have a look at the DSIB Healthnotes page: Omega-3

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has just updated their position regarding vitamin D as related to UV light. A few brief highlights here, and then check out the entire statement at the link below.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that an adequate amount of vitamin D should be obtained from a healthy diet that includes foods naturally rich in vitamin D, foods/beverages fortified with vitamin D, and/or vitamin D supplements. Vitamin D should not be obtained from unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

...

There is no scientifically validated, safe threshold level of UV exposure from the sun that allows for maximal vitamin D synthesis without increasing skin cancer risk.

Position Statement on Vitamin D (AAD)

DSIB has a new radio public service announcement on the air that we'd like to share:

Transcript:

While you may reach for Vitamin C during allergy and cold season, when you feel your immune system can use a boost, what you may not realize are the year round benefits Vitamin C provides.

Research on Vitamin C indicates that it may be beneficial to you in many ways, including helping to shorten the duration of a cold. Vitamin C also may help in reducing muscle soreness from exercise, and further research is being conducted on its role in preventing chronic disease. This incredible antioxidant enhances iron absorption and is necessary for the synthesis of collagen, a protein responsible for the formation of skin, hair nails, connective tissue, ligaments and bones.

A Vitamin C supplement might be an easy way to help add to the Vitamin C intake you would normally achieve from a healthy diet.

You can learn more about Vitamin C by logging on to www.supplementinfo.org. That's supplementinfo.org. This message is brought to you by the Docter Whitaker Show, and the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau, your partners in scientific-based supplement information.