Broad health implications for general population, too by Bianca Garilli, ND, USMC Veteran
Energy drinks have become a common sight in today’s fast-paced, “get the job done” world. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), next to multivitamins, energy drinks are currently the most popular dietary supplement consumed by American teens and young adults.1 These drinks are marketed as a means to improve energy, stamina, athletic performance, and concentration, as well as reducing fatigue.1-3 Energy drinks are sometime considered “functional beverages” while also falling under the umbrella of drinks or dietary supplements.1,3 The main ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine at levels 70-240 mg in a 475 ml drink or 113-200 mg if consumed as an energy “shot”.1 For comparison, a 355 ml can of soda contains around 35 mg of caffeine, while an 235 ml cup of coffee provides approximately 100 mg.1 In addition to caffeine, many energy drinks also contain other ingredients which might include: B vitamins, various forms of sugar, guarana, taurine, ginseng, glucuronolactone, yohimbe, carnitine, and bitter orange; it is important to note that some of these ingredients further increase the quantity of caffeine in the energy drink, while others may substantially spike blood glucose levels.1 There are currently no regulations in place requiring the amount of caffeine to be printed on energy drink labels.1 Sales of energy drinks have skyrocketed dramatically in the past years increasing to $9.7 billion in sales in 2015 in the US alone.3 Consumption of energy drinks may have negative health consequences, including higher levels of risk-seeking behaviors, poor mental health outcomes, adverse cardiovascular effects, and heightened risk for metabolic, renal, and dental conditions.3 With marketing campaigns geared towards teenagers and the young adult population, it’s not surprising to find that males between the ages of 18-34 are the highest consumers of these drinks.1 Moreover, one-third of teenagers consume energy drinks regularly, while 51% of college students report their consumption at least once per month.1,3 Energy drinks have a strong appeal to military service members as well, particularly with the drinks’ promises of reduced fatigue and enhanced mental and physical performance. Due to the specialized nature of their work, military personnel often seek ways to:
Statistics estimate that energy drink consumption by military personnel mirrors or exceeds that of the general public, yet the health consequences of long-term, high energy drink use in military troops has not been adequately researched.2 A recent study aimed to learn more about the associations between energy drink consumption and health outcomes in military personnel post-deployment.2 In particular, mental health variables including sleep problems, depression, anxiety, PTSD, alcohol misuse, aggressive behaviors, and overall fatigue were compared to the frequency and quantity of energy drink consumption in 627 male infantry Army soldiers 7 months post-combat deployment.2 Results from this study published in Military Medicine found that approximately 75% of soldiers reported consuming energy drinks with nearly 30% of those reporting at least daily use and 16.7% reporting high level consumption (≥ 2 drinks/day).2 Additionally, when compared to the low-frequency group (no consumption of energy drink or < 1 drink/week), the high-frequency group (≥ 2 drinks/day) had increased rates of sleep problems, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and alcohol misuse; they were also more likely to demonstrate aggressive behavioral characteristics.2 Similarly, the moderate-frequency group (at least once per week or 1 drink/day) showed greater depressive symptoms when compared to the low-frequency group.2 Although energy drinks are marketed to consumers as a means to reduce fatigue, the results from this study demonstrated that moderate and high energy drink users experienced heightened fatigued when compared to low or no use.2 The high use of energy drink may, in fact, be a hindrance to both the mission objectives and troop welfare. Authors of this study conclude that, “future research should examine whether energy drink use results in greater fatigue over time.”2 Realizing that mental health, aggressive behaviors, and PTSD are potential concerns among military personnel, the high prevalence of energy drink use in this population should be reviewed. Revised guidelines from military healthcare leaders on the consumption of energy drink would be prudent to support safe and appropriate utilization of these drinks within the military. Why is this Clinically Relevant?
Link to article Citations
0 Comments
You try to eat well to feel good and stay healthy. While it’s optimal to get your daily nutritional needs from the foods you eat, it’s just plain difficult. There is conflicting information out there on the benefits of supplements, but the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 say that supplements may be useful for providing the nutrients you may be lacking from diet alone.
Still on the fence? Consider these top five reasons to add a multivitamin to your daily regimen. 1. Healthy aging. As we get older, our bodies have a harder time absorbing nutrients from food. The National Institute on Aging notes that starting around age 50, people begin to require increased amounts of certain vitamins and minerals.1,2 In fact, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that taking a daily multivitamin & mineral supplement may help improve micro nutrient deficiencies associated with aging.3 2. Making up for eliminated food groups. While some people have to cut certain foods like nuts or gluten out of their diets due to allergies, many eliminate particular foods or food groups from their diet voluntarily. This can cause vitamin insufficiency and deficiencies that would be helped with a multivitamin. Trying a paleo diet? You might risk a shortage of calcium or vitamin D by eliminating dairy or grains. Cutting back on red meat? A multivitamin will replace the iron and B12 you would normally get from diet. 3. Getting the RDAs you’re not getting from food. You’ve probably heard that the typical Western diet doesn’t include nearly enough fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, or lean protein. Because of that, you don’t always reap the vitamin and mineral benefits that those foods naturally supply. Consequently, nationally US adults are routinely failing to meet their daily requirements for vitamin A, C, D, E, and K, as well as for calcium, magnesium and potassium from diet alone, and this is including fortified sources!4 Supplementing with a multivitamin is therefore a prudent way to strategically fill those gaps on a daily basis. After all, the goal should not simply be to avoid blatant vitamin deficiencies, like scurvy with vitamin C deficiency. Borderline vitamin and mineral insufficiency are just as important to avoid and address. Even the most health-conscious eater will benefit from multivitamin support to achieve micro-nutrient sufficiency across the board. 4. Getting that extra energy to get through the day. In today’s “go-go-go” society, one of the top complaints is a general lack of energy. Instead of reaching for that third cup of coffee, remember that your cells require certain vitamins and minerals to power your busy life; especially if you’re not getting a full eight hours of sleep or eating a balanced diet, a multivitamin can help provide the nutrients you need to feel energetic throughout the day.5 5. Managing stress. Daily life stressing you out? You’re not alone. But vitamins and minerals play significant biochemical roles in supporting and preserving your brain’s cognitive processes, and studies have shown that a daily multivitamin—particularly one with high doses of B vitamins—can help to reduce stress and support a healthy mood.6 Ready to add a daily multivitamin to your diet? Be sure to check with your healthcare practitioner to see if he or she has personalized recommendations for you and to ensure that any medications you’re currently on won’t interfere with their effectiveness or the effectiveness of the multivitamin ingredients. Citations
Multi-Strain Probiotic Improves Insulin Resistance in Patients with Diabetes | Blog | Metagenics5/11/2019 Targeted probiotic in personalized therapeutic plan for patients with diabetes shows promise by Bianca Garilli, ND and Ashley Jordan Ferira, PhD, RDN Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is no longer a Western world phenomena, but rather a global epidemic, with research revealing an association between higher T2D rates and a country’s wealth or economic growth.1 As a clear example, in a publication titled “Prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Arab world: impact of GDP and energy consumption”, it was observed that the higher a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), the higher the T2D prevalence.1 T2D rates in these regions include Kingdom of Saudi Arabia- 31.6%, Oman- 29%, Kuwait- 25.4%, Bahrain- 25%, and United Arab Emirates- 25%.1 Recognizing the worldwide impact of T2D, it is critical to identify underlying causes and practical, implementable tools for prevention and treatment. It is well documented that T2D is a chronic, inflammatory condition. Higher levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been observed in diabetic vs. non-diabetic individuals.2 LPS are Gram-negative bacterial fragments that are considered endotoxins, and can, if left untreated, overgrow in the gastrointestinal tract leading to increased gut permeability.3 A “leaky gut” environment increases the opportunity for these endotoxins to migrate out of the gut and into the circulation, ultimately contributing to systemic inflammation.3 Probiotics have been studied in various models to determine their effects on LPS growth and proliferation and whether targeted probiotic administration aimed at mitigating LPS effects can reduce systemic inflammation, in particular in the T2D population.4-5 The limitations of previous research included short-term duration (≤3 months) and the utilization of mono-strain supplementation.3 To augment the current literature on this topic, a longer study (6 months) was conducted in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled fashion to examine the impact of probiotics on endotoxemia, inflammation, and cardiometabolic disease risk in Arab patients with T2D.3 In this study, 61 Saudi adults (35 females) aged 30-60 years completed the 6-month trial: 30 in the placebo group and 31 in the probiotic group.3 The placebo and probiotic groups were randomly allocated to powder sachets, to be dissolved in a glass of water twice daily, before breakfast and bedtime. The probiotic intervention provided 2.5 billion CFU/g BID and included the following strains: Bifidobacterium bifidum W23, Bifidobacterium lactis W52, Lactobacillus acidophilus W37, Lactobacillus brevis W63, Lactobacillus casei W56, Lactobacillus salivarius W24, Lactococcus lactis W19, and L. lactis W58.3 No additional therapeutics such as exercise or dietary recommendations were included during the course of the study in either group.3 In the probiotic group, significant changes in glycemic indices, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, endotoxin levels, and adipocytokine profile were observed at 6 months vs. baseline:3
The improvements in endotoxin load, inflammation, and cardiometabolic profile over time in the probiotics group are noteworthy, but they were not clinically significant when compared to the placebo group.3 Comparing the probiotic intervention to the placebo group: There was a significant and clinically relevant decrease in HOMA-IR (↓64.2%) in the probiotic group.3 HOMA-IR is correlated with most other cardiometabolic indices measured, so one could posit a potentially broader cardiometabolic benefit from the probiotic intervention, but this and other hypotheses should be explored in a future study with an adequately powered sample size. Why is this Clinically Relevant?
References
Targeted probiotic - a cornerstone of root-cause approach to disease management and wellness by Melissa Blake, BSc, ND The use of probiotics has grown substantially over the last several years. Propelled by development in sequencing methods and analytical techniques, there has been a significant increase in knowledge and understanding about the importance of a healthy microbiome.1 The currently accepted definition of a probiotic states they are “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”.2 Is this relatively broad definition sufficient for clinicians to guide treatment? Can we assume that any live organism in relevant doses will achieve positive clinical outcomes? We’ve been talking about the use of probiotics for over a hundred years,6 but when it comes to probiotic therapy, what do we really know? A brief history lesson As early as the 1680's, long before the term probiotic was coined, Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was studying his oral and fecal microbiota. He noted striking differences in these microbes, as well as in samples collected from healthy vs. unhealthy people at both of these anatomical sites.3 The notion of natural, innate immunity furthered our understanding of gut bacteria. The concept, first discussed by scientist Élie Metchnikoff and for which he was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1908, encountered much resistance from the medical community.4 Metchnikoff insisted disease was more than the germ theory and highlighted the importance of a healthy host. The health of the host, he believed, was largely dependent upon having diverse intestinal flora.5 Metchnikoff’s research suggested that a diet rich in fermented dairy products, due to high content of Lactobacilli, had a positive influence on health and longevity.6 The concept of “probios” (pro-bios, conducive to life of the host) was born. Research in gut microbiology has become a significant area of interest, including the establishment of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP) in 2008. The HMP has characterized the microbial communities found at several different sites on the human body: nasal passages, oral cavity, skin, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and urogenital tract and has examined the role of these microbes in human health and disease.7 In 2012, the potential for a mammary microbiome was suggested and later confirmed in a study published in 2014, which identified widespread bacteria within the mammary glands, irrespective of lactation.8 The evidence continues to establish the diversity of the human microbiome, not only from one person to another, but also across specific body sites.9 The human microbiome A balanced and diverse microbiota plays a role in human health during the lifecycle. Growing evidence supports a connection between maternal microbiome and pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and gestational weight gain, as well as having an impact on infant health.10 Infancy is a critical time in the development of commensal gut bacteria and is influenced by pre- and postnatal exposures, including the maternal microbiome, delivery method (C-section vs. vaginal birth), diet, and medical interventions.11 Such factors can negatively or positively influence the balance of an individual’s microbiome and may impact short- and long-term health outcomes.12 Modifications to the infant gut microbiota may impact childhood obesity risk,13 atopic disease,14 as well as various GI conditions.15 After initial colonization, factors such as age, gender, diet, environment, stress, and the use of antibiotics continue to influence the microbiome. Changes in the GI and respiratory microbiome of adults have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary diseases, including asthma and allergies.16 Dysbiosis has also been associated with psoriasis,17-18 psoriatic arthritis,18 and inflammatory bowel disease,19 suggesting a direct link between a balanced microbiome and the health of the GI and immune systems. Studies have also connected highly abundant levels of specific genera of bacteria with leanness and have shown they play a role in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels.20 Recent reports suggest that neuroinflammation is an important causal mechanism in cognitive decline. This inflammatory status could be triggered by changes in the gut microbiota composition.21 Evidence is connecting the dots between gut bacteria, altered intestinal permeability, and blood brain barrier integrity.22 A disruption in gut flora may, through several mechanisms, contribute to a “leaky brain”, making the brain more susceptible to circulating substances and contributing to cognitive dysfunction. Further research is warranted in this exciting area of scientific study. As clinicians, we cannot erase the past or possibly impact all the factors that influence the microbiome of our patients. However, we can partner with our patients to help them make positive lifestyle changes. Diet and targeted probiotic therapy are powerful tools. Consumption of excess saturated fats and added sugar influences the microbiota composition, which may lead to an imbalanced microbial population in the gut.22 By modifying risk factors and targeting the microbiome, Functional Medicine practitioners have an opportunity to both prevent and manage disease with individualized nutrition and probiotic therapy at any age. Evidence for an individualized approach Convincing evidence of the human health implications of probiotics exists. Hundreds of well-controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses have helped define the appropriate use of probiotics and their valuable benefits. The evidence suggests, however, that probiotic therapy is far from a one-size-fits-all approach. In fact, studies show clearly defined benefits are associated with specific strains of bacteria. Here we discuss several that have substantial evidence to support their targeted clinical uses in specific populations: Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM
Summary Although we have much more to learn, advancements in our understanding of the human microbiome continue to provide exciting approaches to Functional and personalized medicine. Probiotic therapy is a cornerstone of a root-cause approach to wellness and disease management. Citations
Dr. Melissa Blake is a clinical specialist on the Medical Information team at Metagenics. She completed her pre-medical studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and obtained her naturopathic medical training from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Blake has over 10 years of clinical experience, specializing in the integrative and functional management of chronic diseases. The Price of Cocktails Is Even Higher Than You Think
The subject of drinking alcohol stirs up passion in many people: They either love it or they’ve sworn off of it, while many simply enjoy the occasional happy hour to socialize and unwind. But what does an excessive amount of alcohol actually do to your body? It’s important to note the effects of alcohol vary from person to person. Many people associate modest amounts of alcohol with confidence and a warm, buzz feeling. But the short-term effects of overindulgence may include drowsiness, slurring of speech, poor coordination, nausea, vomiting, speech impairment, lack of judgment, blackouts, and possible emotional changes along with a painful morning-after hangover. And the truth is, most people have experienced at least some of these effects at some point, because it’s easy to lose track of how much we drink and how quickly—crossing the line from a moderate, normal amount to an excessive, unhealthy amount. Casual Consumption vs. Abuse Of course, it’s perfectly okay to enjoy a drink every now and then, but it’s important to be mindful of how much you consume in a given week and how much you consume in one sitting. More than five standard alcoholic beverages in one session is considered binge drinking, and more than nine per week is also considered abuse.1-2 So what exactly are the long-term effects of chronic alcohol abuse? While excessive consumption is harmful to anyone—often with severe side effects—chronic alcohol abuse affects each person differently. Most immediately, alcohol impairs the connections between the central nervous system, brain, and body. The brain is the control center of the body, and it is arguably the most important organ we have. Not only does alcohol impair brain functioning, it can actually cause brain damage,3 and over many years, it can actually shrink the brain.4 Cognitive impairment, behavior changes, and hallucinations are also common, along with blackouts, slurred speech, and numbness and tingling in the extremities. Over time, alcohol abuse can damage the central nervous system. Common signs of central nervous system degradation include muscle cramping and poor coordination. And the negative effects do not stop there. Other areas include:
The good news? Studies have shown that one glass of red wine per day for women and two per day for men can be cardio protective. 11 But again, anything more than the recommended amount might be problematic. Always Drink Responsibly Over consumption on a regular basis can cause the body to become dependent on alcohol. For those who are genetically prone to addiction (i.e., an addictive personality), it can be especially challenging to monitor drinking habits. Either way, dependency makes quitting even harder. That’s why it’s important for even social drinkers to realize the effects alcohol has on the body, so when they choose to drink, they may be more inclined to do so responsibly. Before indulging in a drink or two, it’s important to be cognizant of the detrimental influence alcohol can have on our bodies—which extends far beyond impaired motor skills. If you or someone you know may be suffering from alcohol abuse, seek help as soon as possible. References:
Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team Whether its an experiment or doctor’s orders, going gluten-free is an adjustment. Removing gluten may mean eliminating not only some of your favorite foods, but possibly a good portion of your current diet. What foods will you eat in their place? How will you fill the gluten void?
Most likely, there’s no lack of “gluten-free” versions of your favorite foods on your grocer’s shelves. In fact, the number of gluten-free packaged foods is exploding to keep up with consumer demand. Going gluten-free may be as easy as buying and opening a different box—or bag or carton. But are gluten-free packaged foods the answer? Possibly not. In fact, they may be the surprising reason behind many go-gluten-free resolutions. Here’s why.
There’s a better way. Don’t just swap out one package for another. Relying on gluten-free packaged foods can be taxing on your budget, blood pressure, waistline, and digestion. Rather, consider this an ideal time to shift your diet away from processed foods and toward more whole foods. Instead, give your diet a bona fide upgrade. Reference: Financial Times, Going gluten free: one of 3 trends shaking up commodities https://www.ft.com/content/5348432e-1a13-11e7-bcac-6d03d067f81f, Accessed December 9, 2017. By Noelle Patno, PhD
When you get “the runs,” you need to know what is actually causing the excess stool and how to control it. Diarrhea (“flow through” from the Greek), by definition, is frequent loose stools of small to moderate volume typically during waking hours, in the morning or after meals.1 Often there is a feeling of extreme urgency along with the sense of incomplete evacuation. If diarrhea is accompanied by blood or grease or is of large volume, this is cause for extra concern, and you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. Diarrhea may be due to multiple causes such as dysbiosis or alteration of the intestinal microbiota which lead to changes in the usual bacterial composition. The ABCs and more of diarrhea causes
Chronic diarrhea is a decrease in fecal consistency lasting for four or more weeks, which requires further investigation by medical personnel. If you have any concerns related to diarrhea, you should discuss them with your healthcare practitioner. References:
Contrary to what you might think, “exercise snacking” doesn’t involve grabbing a bite to eat between workout intervals.
It’s a little more nuanced than that—but still highly effective, and well within reach for people looking to get in shape or maintain their fitness. The practice breaks exercise up into bite-size, digestible pieces that even those with the greatest time constraints can enjoy. An antidote to lack of physical activity Currently, roughly half of American adults face one or more preventable chronic health issues. Seven of the 10 most common chronic conditions can be addressed—at least to a certain extent—with consistent physical activity. However, only 50% of adults are getting the suggested amount of aerobic exercise.1 That’s a gap that needs filling, and research indicates that exercise snacking could be the answer.2 National guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week, or no fewer than 75 minutes of intense exercise. For additional health benefits, adults should engage in 300 or more minutes of aerobic exercise per week, or the equivalent of five hours of physical activity.1 This may sound like a substantial time commitment, and you might not have a consecutive hour or two to spare each day. It turns out, though, that you can break a sweat in just a short time every few hours, with expansive results.2 Short bouts of exercise can be highly effective You might not be able to fit a 90-minute yoga class into your busy schedule, and on a workday, hitting your local trail for a long run or hike might not be in the cards. Though there are so many workout options available, it still sometimes feels like we don’t have the bandwidth for any of them. Fortunately, you have time for exercise snacking. The term was coined in a 2014 study conducted by exercise physiologist Monique Francois, who determined that six minute-long intervals of vigorous exercise before breakfast, lunch, and dinner could help insulin-resistant people manage their blood sugar levels more effectively.3 The concept has come a long way in the last five years. Many recent studies have found that short bursts of exercise feature powerful results for cardio-respiratory and cognitive health.4 Take one study from January 2019, which found that even a few minutes of stair climbing spread throughout the day can have a significant impact. Researchers from Hamilton University in Ontario, Canada, divided 24 sedentary adults into two groups of 12, with one group vigorously climbing three flights of stairs three times each day. They would wait one to four hours between each climb and engage in this activity three times weekly throughout the six-week study.5 The remaining 12 participants served as the control group and did not exercise. The study ultimately found that the stair climbers were not only stronger, but also had better heart and lung fitness by the end of the study.5 Sounds appealing, right? If you live or work in a multistory building, you can engage in exercise snacking on your own time, without having to go anywhere but up or down the steps. And if you don’t have easy access to several flights of stairs, there’s no need to worry—exercise snacking is versatile, and you can take it elsewhere if needed. A sample exercise snack regimen In England, the University of Bath defines exercise snacking as a form of structured exercise broken up into brief stints, performed twice daily with five minutes of activity and one minute of rest between each exercise.6 The University’s Department of Health has also published a short exercise snacking routine that you can perform at home, without any need for special equipment or a lengthy warm-up.6 In fact, all you need to complete these five exercises is a kitchen chair:
Each exercise should be repeated for one minute before moving on to the next one. And while they’ll certainly get you moving, you may want to engage in more vigorous activities. It’s important to note that exercises like jumping jacks, sprints, burpees, mountain climbers, and squat jumps are fair game as well. You can incorporate these high-intensity movements into your own exercise snacking regimen at your leisure and work out in 5-, 10-, or 15-minute “snack” intervals two or three times each day. You might perform an activity for 30 seconds and then engage in 30 seconds of rest before moving on to the next one. No matter how you go about exercise snacking, it’s a great way to be productive before and after work, between meetings and appointments, during your lunch break, or even while the kids are napping. That’s the beauty of the practice—exercise snacking is good for you, and it’s inherently flexible. All you need to enjoy a great workout is a small chunk of uninterrupted time. References
Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team An antioxidant introduction
In the world of antioxidants, coenzyme Q10, otherwise known as CoQ10, stands out as a key player in optimizing human health. It’s one of the most significant lipid antioxidants that helps prevent free radical generation and subsequent modification of proteins, lipids, and DNA.1 Naturally produced in the body,2CoQ10 is a fat-soluble enzyme,1 and the highest levels in humans are found in the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas.3 The history of CoQ10 CoQ10, a type of the coenzyme Q group, was first identified in 1940 and known under various names such as ubidecarenone, ubiquinone, ubiquinol, and vitamin Q10. In 1957, CoQ10 was isolated from mitochondria of the beef heart. Although there are several types of coenzyme Q, the most common type of coenzyme Q in human mitochondria is CoQ10. CoQ10 is also found in meat and fatty fish and in smaller quantities within whole grains, nuts, and vegetables.1 The basics CoQ10 plays a significant role in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and is critical for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is necessary for energy transport throughout the body as well as supporting the cardiovascular system overall. 1,2 While the body naturally produces CoQ10, this ability to make CoQ10 peaks around 20 years of age and decreases with age.1 Some studies suggest certain health conditions may reduce CoQ10 levels in the body.1,4 CoQ10 applications CoQ10 has many well-researched benefits and plays an important role in many body functions:1
Use of CoQ10 should be taken with the knowledge and guidance of a healthcare practitioner to avoid any potential adverse interactions with existing medications. References: 1. Saini R. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011;3(3):466–467. 2. Coenzyme Q10. Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information Center. Available at: https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10. Accessed April 5, 2019. 3. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/coq10. Accessed April 25, 2019. 4. Garrido-Maraver J et al. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2014;19:619-633. Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team At grocery stores across America, more and more people are choosing to buy organic produce. Why? The answer is simple: pesticides. Tests conducted by the US Department of Agriculture showed nearly 70 percent of 48 conventionally grown produce samples to be contaminated with pesticides. Even more frightening is the total of 178 different pesticides found on the thousands of products sampled by the USDA—often present even after the produce was washed.1
Although higher prices may deter you from buying organic, there’s even more frightening information about conventionally grown fruits and vegetables that may change your mind. Your Choices Matter A 2015 study found that people who mostly or exclusively buy organic foods had a significantly lower level of pesticides in their urine samples—in spite of the fact that they eat 70 percent more servings of fruits and veggies every day compared to adults who rarely (or never) buy organic.2 And according to several long-term studies, the dangers of pesticides appear to be amplified for children whose brain and nervous system development may be impaired by prolonged exposure.3-5 The fact is, your everyday choices really do make a difference! The Dirty Dozen It may seem overwhelming to make the organic switch, but due to the amount of research available on pesticide contamination, it doesn’t have to be. There are 12 specific foods you should always purchase organic whenever possible, a.k.a. the Dirty Dozen:
Because more than 90 percent of samples tested positive for the presence of at least one pesticide, these foods have been singled out for containing the highest amounts of pesticide residue. Look for the USDA sticker whenever you shop for these to help you avoid exposure. The Clean Fifteen Buying organic may not always be attainable. Fortunately, there’s also a group of foods called the “Clean Fifteen,” which make the cut for containing a relatively low concentration of pesticide residue:
Some of these foods, when tested, contained no pesticides whatsoever! If you can’t always buy organic, these are the safest kinds of conventional produce—for both your health and your budget. Take Care of You Eating organic produce is well worth it when you consider the downside to conventionally grown produce that is, more often than not, completely contaminated with harmful pesticides. By choosing organic when you buy anything off the Dirty Dozen list, you’ll make a small change that can lead to monumental improvements in your health. For more information and access to both annual lists, visit the Environmental Working Group website. References:
Submitted by the Metagenics Marketing Team |
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|
Join Our Community
|
|
Amipro Disclaimer:
Certain persons, considered experts, may disagree with one or more of the foregoing statements, but the same are deemed, nevertheless, to be based on sound and reliable authority. No such statements shall be construed as a claim or representation as to Metagenics products, that they are offered for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of any disease. PAIA Manual |