Tips to Prevent Memory Loss

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bonnie Minsky's

Nutritional Concepts

March eNewsletter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quick Hits

-- Tips to Prevent Memory Loss.

-- Antidepressants Under Scrutiny.

-- Follow-up on Statins.

-- March Sale - 20% OFF.

-- National Nutrition Month.

-- Recipes du Jour.

-- March Announcements.

-- Celiac Update.

-- Facts About Obesity.

-- In Case You Missed It.

-- Answers to February's Trivia Contest.

Dear Valued Client

We keep you plugged into what's new in the world of nutrition, wellness, and public health. Email us if there is a particular topic you would like us to explore. Have a happy, healthy day!

Tips to Prevent Memory Loss.

--------------------

Neurologists, researchers, and non-profit organizations who specialize in age-related memory loss will tell you that lifestyle prevention is your best defense because there are known cures for Dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's Disease. Here is a list of the most researched preventative techniques that you can easily implement into your lifestyle:

Tips to Prevent Memory Loss

Antidepressants Under Scrutiny.

--------------------

In our mid-February newsletter, artificial sweeteners were under scrutiny. The focus now shifts to antidepressants, whose value are now coming into question. Evaluate the most recent studies to make your own conclusion.

-Antidepressant medications appear to help only very severely depressed people and work no better than placebos in many patients.

-Only 14% of antidepressant studies showing disappointing results were ever published.

-Medicines that pile on the pounds.

-Depression is 'over-diagnosed.'

-Antidepressant popular remedy for menopause.

-Antidepressants may raise suicide risk in young adults (there have since been black box warnings added to the labels).

-Paxil tied to birth defects.

Despite these doubts, just yesterday the FDA approved Pristiq, the successor to top-selling antidepressant Effexor, because Wyeth stands to lose its patent protection, and thus, billions of dollars. Of course, Pristiq has not shown to be any more effective than its predecessor.

New Prescription for Depression: Exercise

Follow-up on Statins.

--------------------

Last month we wrote about cholesterol and statin medication (see below). A new study has since been published validating some of our commentary.

Harvard researchers have confirmed the reasoning for why there are serious side-effects of the cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Statins lower ATP levels and interfere with mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells.

The researchers state in the journal Nature Biotechnology, "Of the six statins present in our screening collection, three (fluvastatin -Lescol, lovastatin - Mevacor, and simvastatin - Zocor) produced strong decreases in cellular ATP levels and mitochondrial activity."

Many patients who take statins report side-effects that include muscle pain and weakness. The cause is not well understood but researchers have long suspected the mitochondria were involved.

There were numerous non-statin drugs found to affect mitochondria, including the beta blocker propranolol, which is often prescribed with statins.

For so long, we have shouted from the highest mountain that statins create mitochondrial depletion, and the best thing you can do to prevent it is supplement with CoQ10.

Furthermore, we take umbrage with the study stating that the effects of statins were never fully understood. If that was true, than why did the first statin contain CoQ10? The drug companies knew about the mitochondrial depletion, but chose to remove the CoQ10 from the formula because it was too expensive.

Cholesterol - Big Problem or Big Business?

March Sale - 20% OFF.

--------------------

Metagenics UltraClear Original
Hypoallergenic, balanced detox medical food. Just mix powder with water. Recommended as part of our Smart Detox 3-Day Action Plan. For maintenance, clients use it as a replacement for breakfast once weekly.

Metagenics Ultra Meal Rice Chocolate & Vanilla
Balanced, hypoallergenic meal replacement shake. Taste so good you only need to mix with water. Clinically shown to promote the loss of body fat. Before implementation, an individualized schedule should be outlined by your health professional.

Metagenics Biopure Protein
The only whey protein powder from New Zealand grass-fed cow. 95% lactose-free. 100% casein-free. Contains immunoglobulins which promote a healthy immune system. 100% bioavailable protein.

Metagenics Cal Apatite, Plus, and Forte
The microcrystalline hydroxyapatite source in Cal Apatite is a complete bone food that mirrors the bones' full matrix. Bone is not just made up of calcium.To assure bioavailability and absorption, Cal Apatite contains all the trace minerals found in healthy bone. Accompanied with sufficient vitamin D, magnesium glycinate, and a low inflammation diet, you have the ideal bone health combination.

Pure Encaps Calcium MCHA 300 mg. NEW
Similar to Cal Apatite, only in capsule form.

Order here

National Nutrition Month.

--------------------

In honor of this special month, we must remember Breakfast. It still is, and always will be, the most important meal of the day. It will always be the most neglected meal of the day as well.

If you can remember one core ideal about breakfast, it is this: treat breakfast as you would lunch or dinner. Standard American Breakfast fare is awful. Think balanced - lean protein, low glycemic carb, and healthy fat.

My grandson brought me a school assignment called "My Meals" by Eli Benjamin Minsky. This is what he said about breakfast. "My Dad is a nutritionist, so I eat healthy every meal including breakfast. This is usually what my plate looks like at breakfast time." (his drawing showed two organic eggs, two wheat-free waffles with flax, celery, and sparkling water). Perfectly balanced!

If you need ideas, our New American Breakfast is great for whatever time constraints you may have.

For those of us who cannot get themselves to treat breakfast as they would lunch or dinner, meal replacement shakes are a Plan B. However, the shakes need to be balanced, free of chemicals, artificial sweeteners, allergens, and must be rotated (the proteins, in particular) to prevent the onset of an intolerance/allergy.

Magically Delicious: Breakfast Keeps Teens Lean.

Recipes du Jour.

--------------------

Once a month, we highlight a recipe from our database or from you. We welcome entries by email to nutrocon@aol.com.

Salicylate-Free Saffron Chicken and Rice

-6 half boneless, skinless chicken breasts
-1/3 cup olive oil
-2 cups organic jasmine, basmati, or brown rice
-5 shallots
-2 cloves garlic, crushed
-1/4 teaspoon saffron
-2 1/2 cups chicken stock (Perfect Addition or Pacific Foods of Oregon)
-1 ½ organic pears, chopped and keep juice
-1 cup cooked peas or beans

Directions: Cut chicken pieces in half. Heat oil in pan and brown on all sides. Remove and keep warm. Add shallots, garlic, rice and saffron. Cook on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add chicken stock, pears and juice. Return chicken to pot. Bring to the boil and reduce heat to very low, put lid on saucepan and cook for 1 hour Add peas or beans to top of rice mixture. Do not stir. Cover and cook for another 10-15 minutes longer and serve. SERVES: 4-6

Note: any like ingredient can be replaced if allergic or intolerant.

More recipes like this can be found in Spa Recipes.

March Announcements.

--------------------

-Ever thought about food this way? A must see.

-Drug Prices Surged in 2007. A report in journal Health Affairs projects health-care spending in the U.S. will hit $4.3 trillion by 2017, nearly double the 2007 amount. That would equate to nearly 20% of gross domestic product. In 2007, health-care spending accounted for 16.3% of GDP. Two main factors are driving up costs: the aging population -- especially baby boomers -- and the rising price of new drugs.

-FDA seeks to broaden range of use for drugs. What the FDA is proposing is unconscionable. They cannot even safely approve drugs for their main purpose, much less for off-label purposes.

-Magnesium linked to fewer gallstones.

-Dads' parenting style linked to obesity. A study of 5,000 Australian preschoolers found that fathers' parenting behavior (but not the mothers') was associated with an increased risk of the children being overweight or obese. Fathers were categorized as having authoritative (high warmth/high control), authoritarian (low warmth/high control), permissive, or disengaged parenting styles. While the children of authoritative fathers were more likely to have a low risk of obesity, children of permissive fathers increased 59 percent and disengaged fathers increased 35 percent.

-Restaurant lemons loaded with bacteria. This is not for the faint at heart.

Bonnie & Steve's Blog

Celiac Update.

--------------------

-Celiac Patients Now Typically Asymptomatic at Diagnosis.

-Long wait for celiac diagnosis.

-The Influence of Gluten: Weaning Recommendations for Healthy Children and Children at Risk for Celiac Disease. According to Pediatric Gastroenterologist and Celiac Expert Stefano Guandalini at University of Chicago:

Large amounts of gluten at weaning are associated with an increased risk of developing celiac disease.
Nursing is likely to reduce the risk of celiac disease and/or delay its onset.
Introduction of gluten during breastfeeding reduces the risk of celiac disease and influences the time and the type of presentation of symptoms.
Infants nonbreastfed at the time of gluten introduction seem to be more likely to develop typical celiac disease.
Introducing a small amount of gluten at 4-6 months seems to be associated with the lowest risk of celiac disease.
Introduction of large amounts of gluten increases the risk of celiac disease.
Nursing should be conducted for at least 6 months.
Nursing should be conducted for at least 2-3 months after gluten introduction.

Unsafe Ingredients for the Gluten Intolerant.

Facts About Obesity.

--------------------

According to projections, 73 percent of American adults could be overweight or obese by 2008.

The rate of childhood obesity more than doubled from 1980 to 2000.

More than 9 million children are overweight or obese.

According to Health Affairs Journal and RAND, 83 cents of every health care dollar in America is spent on a patient that is overweight or obese.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the total cost of obesity in the U.S. is $117 billion each year.

Statistics from the National Business Group on Health indicate that obesity was responsible for 39 million lost work days and 63 million physician visits.

52 percent of adults do not meet minimum physical activity recommendations.

Only 35.8 percent of high school students are physically active 60 minutes or more, 5 days per week; only 33 percent attend physical education classes daily.

Only 12 percent of adults and 2 percent of children eat a healthy diet consistent with federal nutrition recommendations.

According to the USDA, healthier diets could prevent at least $71 billion per year in medical costs, lost productivity and lost lives.

Change-of-Life Arriving Ever Younger In Females.