That’s the title of this Wall Street Journal Blog post – and it sure puts some perspective on all the howling about the dangers of “unregulated supplements.”

Now, a panel of outside experts convened by the agency is meeting to discuss ways to reduce the risk of overdose associated with acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. The FDA’s briefing memo says the numbers aren’t entirely clear, but cites one study that suggested acetaminophen overdoses were associated with 56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations, and 458 deaths per year in the U.S. during the 1990s.

Part of the issue is that “there is little difference between the maximum recommended daily dose and a potentially harmful dose,” the FDA says. The agency lays out a few possibilities for dealing with this, including reducing the maximum daily dose and the single adult dose.

One other possibility mentioned in the memo: Getting rid of products that combine acetaminophen with other drugs, on the grounds that consumers may not know acetaminophen is in their medicine, so may take multiple products that contain the drug. Acetaminophen is in lots of cold products — including NyQuil, one of the all-time OTC classics.

56,000 emergency room visits, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths per year?  I don’t know of any supplement that even approaches the level of risk that “tightly regulated” drugs like acetaminophen does.  If we’re going to save people from themselves, then perhaps that’s the place we should start.

When I was a kid, apple cider vinegar was one of those “good for what ails you” nostrums touted in the ”alternative health” media – and it’s still kicking around.  Not surprisingly, it was also pushed as a weight loss aid: I still remember the “kelp, lecithin, B6 and cider vinegar” diet quite vividly… in fact, that one is still kicking around too.  Diets and diet supps are like zombies: they’re damned hard to kill, no matter how much time passes. 

That’s why I winced a bit when I read the following report:

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Last summer, I posted a link to an article about the benefits of exercise for seniors.  The point was simply this: no matter how old you are, you can still reap benefits from a regular workout program – even if you’re starting from scratch.

And even if you’re not: there’s no reason to slack off or rest on your laurels.  Don Wildman is living proof of that.

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A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a post on the importance of knowing who you’re dealing with, when looking for health/fitness information online.  I used a site I’d been directed to, www.TheBestWayToExercise.com as an example.  At the time of writing, the author was not only anonymous, but actually made it a part of his sales pitch, so that “the messenger doesn’t get in the way of the message”.

Now, I’ve spent the last five years exploring wiiild-a** claims on the internet, and this site – with its grandiose-sounding and unverifiable claims – looked like a poster child for the point I was making about anonymity and credibility.

However, it’s only fair to provide an update: the author of the site, Doug Jones, has redesigned it, so that it now provides full biographical information.  You can read about Doug’s background, education and experience here: http://thebestwaytoexercise-onlinepersonaltraining.com/IntroDougtion.html

Personally, I think he could use the services of a good web designer, but his credentials do, in fact, match the claims he was made on the previous version of the site.  So mea maxima culpa – even I get surprised, once in a while.  Kudos to Doug for deciding that transparency is the way to go, when it comes to marketing online products/services.

In fact, they may prolong your life a bit.

The report, published online last week in the journal Obesity, found that overall, people who were overweight but not obese — defined as a body mass index of 25 to 29.9 — were actually less likely to die than people of normal weight, defined as a B.M.I. of 18.5 to 24.9.

By contrast, people who were underweight, with a B.M.I. under 18.5, were more likely to die than those of average weight. Their risk of dying was 73 percent higher than that of normal weight people, while the risk of dying for those who were overweight was 17 percent lower than for people of normal weight.

The finding adds to a simmering scientific controversy over the optimal weight for adults. In 2007, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute reported that overweight adults were less likely than normal weight adults to die from a variety of diseases, including infections and lung disease.

This comes as no surprise to me: some extra body mass represents a metabolic reserve that people can rely on during prolonged illness or recovery from injury/surgery, which are highly catabolic states.

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In the course of surfing the NYT this morning, I stopped to read a short review of Dr. David Kessler’s book, “The End of Overeating”.  One point in particular really leaped out:

Planned and structured eating and understanding your personal food triggers are essential. In addition, educating yourself about food can help alter your perceptions about what types of food are desirable. Just as many of us now find cigarettes repulsive, Dr. Kessler argues that we can also undergo similar “perceptual shifts” about large portion sizes and processed foods. For instance, he notes that when people who once loved to eat steak become vegetarians, they typically begin to view animal protein as disgusting.

The advice is certainly not a quick fix or a guarantee, but Dr. Kessler said that educating himself in the course of writing the book had helped him gain control over his eating.

(emphasis mine)

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I was idly surfing though the Natural Products Insider site (an online trade publication) today, and stopped to read an article about the recent ”All Candy Expo” in Chicago.  Despite the “down” economy, apparently candy is still dandy…evidently over 2,000 new products were introduced and attendance was up by 7%.

But my eye was caught by these paras:

Which got me to wondering if there were any healthy candies being showcased. Sure enough … well, at least candy with “healthful” flavors such as acai, pomegranate and green tea. And a few wholesome and/or organic snack mixes.

But then this caught my attention: BrightSpot Brands (great name, isn’t it?), The World’s First Nutritionally Enhanced Candy Company. Its Gimme line of bite-sized candies delivers a substantial dose of calcium, omega-3 and probiotics. The company is owned and operated by Tim O’Connor, who, after a great career marketing fruit snacks with General Mills and launching Tropicana’s Pure Premium Plus OJ, decided to be an entrepreneur with a mission. That is, to use candy as a delivery vehicle for health and nutrition.

Candy as a “delivery vehicle for health and nutrition”???

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Or ceviche, for that matter.

I love fish.  Especially salmon.  But I’ll take mine cooked, thank you.

I’ve met some pretty interesting people in the fitness/bodybuilding field…but one of the most compelling (and colorful) is attorney-author-trainer-actor Rick Collins.

True to his Hollywood roots, Rick has a flair for the dramatic – not to mention a big heart.  Thus, it’s no surprise to see him combining both traits on behalf of a worthy cause.  On August 23, 2009, he’ll climbing to 13,500 feet and jumping out of an airplane to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

And no, Rick’s not an experienced skydiver, either - which makes the gesture even more impressive (particularly from my point-of-view: heights make me nervous).  The goal is to raise $1.00 for every foot – a total of $13,500.00.

Please consider supporting Rick’s efforts. I know money’s tight these days, but every little bit counts… even a few feet would be great!

Donate to Rick Collins’ Leap for Life Here!

According to research from Northwestern University, aerobically unfit young adults (18 – 30 years of age) are at increased risk of developing diabetes in middle age.

Most healthy 25 year olds don’t stay up at night worrying whether they are going to develop diabetes in middle age. The disease is not on their radar, and middle age is a lifetime away.

As it turns out, many should be concerned. Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have found that young adults (18 to 30 years old) with low aerobic fitness levels –as measured by a treadmill test — are two to three times more likely to develop diabetes in 20 years than those who are fit.

The study also shows that young women and young African Americans are less aerobically fit than men and white adults in the same age group, placing a larger number of these population subgroups at risk for diabetes.

“These young adults are setting the stage for chronic disease in middle age by not being physically active and fit,” said Mercedes Carnethon, lead author and assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern’s Feinberg School. “People who have low fitness in their late teens and 20’s tend to stay the same later in life or even get worse. Not many climb out of that category.”

The study will be published in the July issue of Diabetes Care.

No surprise, really, since it’s well known that aerobic fitness has positive effects on insulin sensitivity.  Activity – even without weight loss – helps reduce disease risk.  Thus, there are good reasons to exercise, apart from simply trying to lose weight.

Introducing Devotion Vodka…”the world’s first protein-infused spirit”. made with Pepto Pro, a casein (protein) hydrolysate. 

 Who would invent such a product – and why? According to the company,

Recognizing that those interested in their fitness and physical appearance are the same social beings that enjoy nightlife, Mr. Adelman has an intimate understanding of the conflict that comes with ordering a cocktail that is not conducive to a fitness regime. A former body builder whose daily diet at one time consisted of 135 grams of protein per day, Mr. Adelman would take his own protein out with him for a night out on the town to supplement his vodka and soda cocktails.

135 grams of protein – lol!  As if someone needs to snort down protein-infused hooch to manage that one.

Bottom line: there’s no such thing as as a cocktail that’s “conducive to a fitness regime”.  Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy one any way, every once in a while, but those interested in “their fitness and physical appearance” will keep their intake in the low-moderate range…period.  Gimmicky drinks not required.

While there’s plenty of bipartisan “dumb” to go around, I couldn’t resist linking to this DC Streets Blog post on Republican senator Mike Enzi’s reaction to a section of the proposed “Affordable Health Choices Act”.  What’s the senator’s beef with the bill?

Because it establishes ”Community Transformation Grants“ to encourage physical fitness and health.

No, really. According to the senator:

“The Kennedy-Dodd bill will pave sidewalks, build jungle gyms, and open grocery stores, but it won’t bring down health care costs or make quality coverage more affordable,” Enzi said.  “In a time of record debt and deficits, how can Democrats justify the wasteful spending in this bill?”

When I was a kid, I was definitely no athlete. That didn’t keep me from being dragooned into my high school’s swim team, however. My older sister – who graduated just before I showed up - had been a star, and I was expected to uphold the Pratt family honor.

Not!

Ok, I wasn’t a total boat anchor, but let’s just say Vanessa’s swimming fins were a little too big for me to fill. Nonetheless, the team practices dramatically improved my cardiovascular fitness…although I didn’t realize just how much until the semester fitness tests were given in gym class.  I surprised myself (and probably everyone else – including the teachers) by finishing waaay ahead of the rest of the class in the dreaded “6 minute run” (I was a non-runner, yet finished only 1/4 lap shy of completing a full mile in the allotted time – without actually trying very hard).

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If you believe you’re sticking it to the system by using supps and “natural” cures vs. conventional treatments, think again… According to Associated Press writer, Marilyn Marchione, ”Big Herba” is getting to be as big as “Big Pharma”…and in some cases, they’re one and the same.

Marchione’s article, “Many Herbal Products Made by Big Pharma” makes it clear that a)  Big Pharma is also a major marketer of supplements/supp ingredients (as this list of the member companies of the Council for Responsible Nutrition makes clear); and b) many of the major supplement brands, such as Nature’s Bounty and Sundown, are owned and operated by corporate conglomerates such as NBTY, Inc. (which also owns Solgar, Met-RX, GNC and Ester-C – among others).

I don’t see this as alarming, per se, because large, established companies are more likely to have good manufacturing practices and quality control standards in place.  But it’s also clear that the boundary between “alternative” and “mainstream” is a pretty porous one… and may not even exist, except as a marketing tool, in specific cases. 

As Paul made it clear in an earlier post, it’s all about the money, honey.  Thar’s gold in them thar pills - so when there’s big money to be made, big business isn’t going to be far behind.  Thus, the point – as always – is to NOT be taken in by soft-focus imagery of benevolent, independent providers defending your health and well-being against the corporate monoliths who profit from keeping us fat/sick.  It always pays to look behind the marketing when someone’s trying to sell you something, no matter who it is.

While I doubt Dr. Atkins himself would have approved, he’s out of the picture now, so can’t complain.  From the New York Times…

A small, four-week randomized controlled clinical trial that tested the new regimen found that overweight adults who consumed a high-protein, entirely vegan diet were able to lose about the same amount of weight as a comparison group of dieters on a high-carbohydrate, low-fat vegetarian dairy diet. But while those on the high-carbohydrate dairy diet experienced drops of 12 percent in their LDL cholesterol, those on the high protein vegan diet saw cholesterol reductions of 20 percent.

“We felt this was quite remarkable,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. David J. A. Jenkins, a professor of medicine and nutritional sciences at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s Hospital. “The early statins reduced cholesterol by 30 percent,” he added, referring to the first generation of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

…Those in the “eco-Atkins” arm got their protein from vegan sources like soy, gluten or seitan, nuts and cereals as well as fruits, vegetables and vegetable oil.

Not sure I approve either, albeit for different reasons. As much as I love veggies, fruits and nuts, this doesn’t sound too appetizing.  It’s just a  little too stark for me.  In addition, eating only 60% of energy needs doesn’t leave much for exercise.

Nonetheless, whatever works, works.  It looks like most of the subjects were able to stick with it, which is really the important thing.  Vegetarians/vegans get short shrift in many popular diet plans, so it’s good to see studies like this… the more options people have, the better.

Science-Based Medicine is a blog I’ve read here and there in my travels on the web.  I stumbled across this post on Akavar 20/50 the other day, and figured it was worth sharing. Although it’s an older post (early 2008), it’s still relevant, as it details the degree of deception and foot-dragging engaged in by the manufacturers in response to a simple question.  Since Akavar is a rather hot topic here on the blog, I thought Dr. Hall’s experience was worth linking to.

Click to read “Akavar 20/50 and Truth in Advertising“.

OMG.

Who’d have guessed a simple surfing session would uncover the world’s most effective appetite suppressant.

I’d never have guessed it myself.

Blech.

According to this Newsweek article, it’s pretty “iffy”.

I don’t watch the show myself, but I’ve been reading about issues raised by the authors from other authoritative sources… All I can say is it’s good to see a mainstream critique.

Is it harder to lose weight as you get older?

I had this conversation with an aquaintance at the gym a few weeks ago, and it raised an interesting point. As we both know, there are genuine reasons why the weight that effortlessly “flew off” when we were in our early 20’s takes longer to budge now.

Some of them are pretty obvious. For instance…

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…when you go to a family gathering on the other side of the state, and one of the guests is your brother-in-law’s cardiologist.

No, seriously… he even complimented me on my high HDL/low LDL cholesterol level.

In addition to having high cholesterol, my bro-in-law evidently has elevated blood pressure, high uric acid, high fasting glucose and kidney stones. 

He’s 7 years older than my husband, John.  He’s lost a bit of weight recently, and is trying to control his health issues through diet and exercise now, but the jury’s still out on how successful he’s going to be.

On the drive back, John thanked me for helping him lose weight and get into better shape…hanging with his brother gave him a glimpse of an alternate future, but – since he started getting it together several years ago – he’s pretty confident he’s on track to dodge those particular bullets.  Diet and exercise can do a lot to treat health issues, but prevention is even better.