Skills shortages and barriers to business growth receive heightened publicity in the build up to the Health and Beauty Training Show at ExCel, London, 19th-20th May.
Sir Digby Jones, former director general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has been appointed the 'skills envoy' by the government and feels the UK faces a 'serious decline' in business due to poorly trained workers. A study by the international business school, INSEAD, also suggests that Britain's ability to innovate economically could be hampered by its 'relatively poor skill levels'.
Furthermore, a survey carried out by Business Link for London has revealed that growing a business is substantially more difficult than starting one. The research, commissioned by Panasonic, has shown that 41% of business owners agreed with this theory, and stated that a shortage in staff skills was a barrier to growth. On top of this, 17% of sole traders, 20% of business owners with between two and five staff, and 47% of business owners with more than six staff, felt that their business lacked the right skills.
But don't be dismayed by these figures ... it's not too late. Now's the time to refresh or update your skills and learn something new in order to run your business effectively. Bring your skills up to standard and increase the potential of your business. It's time to put the big rocks in and build a strong foundation for growth.
The Health and Beauty Training Show, which is open to individuals in both industries, was launched at ExCeL, London, in May 2006 and promotes excellence in training. The visitors to that first show revealed the need for business training alongside industry training. Our 2007 seminar programme shows that we have listened to this feedback. This year our seminars will be dedicated to business growth, access to funding, and new business start-up advice.
Throughout the two-day exhibition we will be covering a wide range of inspirational subjects including: The Three Secrets to getting more Clients; Success is what we are - not what we have; Client Focus for Business Growth; and Starting a Business.
We also have a range of exhibitors showcasing their training courses and associated products so that you can see exactly what is on offer in the industry and work out how you can expand, develop, or simply refresh your skills.
The show promises to be an interactive experience through and through with our Taster Area - where students and graduates will provide mini taster treatments to visitors covering:
* Beauty
* Complementary therapies
* Hairdressing
* Sports
* Spa therapies
* Ayurveda
Interactive Workshops - An interactive area involving two different techniques taking place simultaneously. Visitors are invited to come and watch, or even take part if you dare!
The Business Clinic - Available throughout the show. Visitors have the opportunity to gain one-to-one professional advice from our team of industry experts on all issues relating to starting up, growing and managing a business.
The Networking Arena - speed networking is the fastest and most cost-effective way to positively impact your business - and it's fun! 'Mini meetings' that guarantee that you meet a large number of professionals that you would never otherwise have had the chance to network with, 30 min sessions FREE sessions to be arranged at the show.
The 2006 launch show was a huge success. Almost a hundred training centres promoted their courses to individuals eager to enhance their professional development. Now 2007 promises to be even bigger and better, with two shows planned in London and Harrogate:
* 19-20 May 07, ExCeL, London
* 17-18 Nov. 07, Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate
Entrance tickets to the show are just £5 in advance or £10 on the door. Each day-pass provides:
* Free entry into the seminars
* Free one-to-one advice, and
* Free participation in the Speed Networking area.
Come and see the industry's top training providers dedicated to improving skills.
www.trainingshow.co.uk
Tel: 0161 241 2918 - Ticket hotline.
Complementary Therapy on the Rise in Ireland
More people in Northern Ireland are using complementary and alternative medicine, a new survey has suggested.
The University of Ulster survey found the use of therapies such as reflexology, acupuncture and herbal medicines was increasing.
It found using such therapies was especially strong among women aged between 35 and 54.
Professor Suzanne McDonough said the findings provide a valuable backdrop to encouraging integrated medicine.
She said 29% of people interviewed had received some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) over the previous 12 months, with a very wide range of therapies being used.
'Compared to previous surveys in the UK there is an increasing use of CAM, with over 75% still being provided outside the National Health Service, indicating that the general population is willing to pay for these treatments,' she said.
She said evidence suggested that integrated medicine - medicine in which conventional and CAM approaches are combined - is more cost-effective than conventional medicine alone.
'However, until recently no figures for CAM use in Northern Ireland have been available,' she said.
The survey reported that the most-used therapies, in order, were aromatherapy, reflexology, massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal medicine and relaxation.
There has been pressure to integrate medicineUsage ranged from just over 14% for aromatherapy to 9% relaxation. CAM may involve self-treatment or a practitioner.
Of practitioner-treatments, reflexology was most commonly used.
According to the survey, acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal medicine were chosen most often for a health reason whereas aromatherapy and reflexology were more commonly used for wellness and relaxation.
It said common health problems were musculoskeletal, stress, women's health and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
In terms of how effective the treatment was, 74% of respondents who had received acupuncture thought it was definitely or probably very helpful; the least confidence was shown in aromatherapy in that 17% said it was probably or definitely not helpful.
The Northern Ireland 2005 Life and Times Survey interviewed 1,200 people.
Junk
Food Ad Ban has 'No Real Substance'
Broadcast
regulator Ofcom has let Britain's children down by failing to introduce
a 9pm watershed ban on junk food adverts, Which? says.
The broadcast regulator has confirmed it only wants a ban on adverts during
and around programmes of 'particular appeal' to children under 16.
But Which? says the new rules don't go far enough.
That's because many of the TV shows most popular with children will not
be covered by proposed new advertising restrictions.
Flawed rules
Responding to today's Ofcom statement, Which? chief policy advisor Sue
Davies said: 'Although this looks good on the face of it, there is no
real substance.
'The government needs to take a lead. With an escalating obesity crisis
we can't afford to wait another couple of years before stepping in.'
Which? research last December showed that the criteria used to define
which programmes 'appeal' to children under 16 was fundamentally flawed.
Unhealthy foods
We found that many more children aged four to 16 were watching TV during
the evening rather than during specific children's programmes.
Sue Davies added: 'Ofcom has let children down. These rules won't cover
the programmes most children watch. They will still allow cartoon characters
to promote unhealthy foods during Coronation Street and Dancing on Ice
- so how will this make a difference?'
The new restrictions will be phased in and will apply to food and drinks
products which are assessed as being high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS)
by the Food Standards Agency.
Adverts for HFSS products must not be shown in or around programmes aimed
at or which appeal to the under 10s from April.
Children's channels
A total ban on junk food ads during programmes aimed at or which appeal
to under-16s will then come into force from the beginning of January 2008.
Children's channels will be allowed a phase-in period for the new regulations,
which must be fully implemented by the end of December 2008.
British Approach to Junk Food Ads Praised in US
The UK's crackdown on advertising junk food to children should serve as an example to food companies and broadcasters in the US, according to an influential pressure group in the nation.
'The new British regulations are far superior to the situation here, where the Federal Trade Commission continues to support a failed self-regulatory system,' said the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) on Friday.
'If food companies and the advertising industry can survive under the new British standards, they could certainly survive under similarly tough standards in the United States,' said CSPI legal affairs director Bruce Silverglade.
The announcement comes after the UK's advertising watchdog, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), published its final statement on the television advertising of food and drink products to children.
Ofcom's statement follows the conclusion of its additional consultation. This proposed to extend restrictions on the television advertising of food and drink products high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) to include programmes and channels aimed at children aged under 16.
CSPI last week said similar measures should be adopted by multinational food companies in the US.
According to the consumer advocacy group, the industry-funded Children's
Advertising Review Unit (CARU) in the US enforces a set of 'narrow technical guidelines', which unlike the new British rules, do not consider the nutritional quality of foods.
The Council of Better Business Bureaus, which oversees both CARU and its parent organization National Advertising Review Council, is promoting a new initiative that 'merely requires food companies to pledge that 50 percent of their ads contain a message encouraging healthy diets or physical activity,' said CSPI in a statement.
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com.
OFT Warns - Don't Waste Money On 'Miracle' Health Cures
As part of its Scams Awareness Month the OFT is advising consumers not to waste money on 'miracle' health and slimming products which don't do what they claim.
Consumers are being bombarded with mailings and emails from unscrupulous sellers of products promising miracle cures for all manner of problems.
Treatments come in all forms including pills, lotions and creams offering cures for everything from baldness and obesity to impotence.
These medically ineffective and, in some cases, potentially dangerous products are sold by professional scammers using false claims that their product is a 'scientific breakthrough' following years of research and has been clinically proven. Typically claims are supported by fake testimonials from 'satisfied customers' and worthless 'money back guarantees'.
Recent OFT research found that around 200,000 UK consumers lose an estimated £20m a year to miracle health and slimming cures. The average amount lost per victim is £90. Women are the main target for slimming cures, and make up 78 per cent of the victim profile for this type of scam.
The OFT advises consumers:
* not to believe claims that a product available only by mail order or over the web from an exclusive supplier contains a 'special', 'secret', 'foreign' or 'ancient' formula that will provide instant cures to a wide variety of ailments,
* not to believe claims that the medical establishment has overlooked, or has hidden, a 'scientific breakthrough', and
* not to accept testimonials or case histories from so-called 'satisfied customers' as the only evidence that the product actually works.
Mike Haley, Head of OFT Scambusters Team said:
'Scammers exploit people's desperate hopes for a miracle cure to their health problem. Not only are the products a waste of money but they can be dangerous, containing untested ingredients. We urge everyone who sees a miracle health advert to stop, think and think again. Take medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist before you buy any medicinal product by mail order or over the web.'
Minister Calls for Improvements to Mental Health Services for BME Patients
Rosie Winterton, MP, today called for 'rapid improvement in the way mental health services respond to the needs of BME patients'.
Launching 'Positive Steps' a new resource for health professionals at the Delivering Race Equality in Mental Healthcare (DRE) Conference in Coventry, the Minister of State for Health Services said:
'One in five people treated in hospital for a mental health problem comes from a black and minority ethnic background. Although some of the reasons for this - such as social exclusion - cannot be tackled by the NHS in isolation, we still have a moral and legal duty to do more.
'Some communities view mental health services with mistrust and are dissatisfied with their care.
'Our DRE action plan sets out very clearly what positive steps services need to take to address this situation. We have also backed this up with resources, such as funding to recruit 500 community development workers. Now, with the help of this new guidance, front-line professionals can play their part.
'I have written today to the NHS to say clearly that although many services are already leading the way, for those who are lagging behind there is no excuse for inaction.'
'Positive Steps: Supporting race equality in mental healthcare' was produced with the help of mental health care staff and community workers and offers advice and support for better responding to the needs of BME patients.
The guide - which highlights good practice that already exists in the mental healthcare system - is part of the Government's five-year drive (Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care) to further improve services for these patients.
The guide also incorporates key mental health issues and religious and cultural needs for different ethnic groups, using needs for South Asian, African and Caribbean groups as examples. It also includes an extensive list of useful contacts, organisations and resources.
Commenting in support of the resource, Louis Appleby, National Director for Mental Health, said:
'Every person, whatever their background, should expect to receive the same high standard of care from mental health services. We know that 'One size does not fit all' and that if care is to be effective it should be tailored to an individual's needs. Evidence suggests that the treatment experience of patients from different sections of the community can vary. The reasons for this are complex. What we do know is that understanding the values, backgrounds and beliefs of specific communities, through engaging with these communities, can help to tailor the care provided to patients and help avoid simple misunderstandings that can prevent their needs from being fully met.
'This Positive Steps guide shares knowledge and best practice through DRE and I hope will give practitioners access to the many good ideas that are already making a difference to services across the country.'
Health Minister Slams Lords Over Mental Health Bill Amendments
Health Minister Rosie Winterton today expressed her deep concern about the impact on patient and public protection that the amendments the House of Lords has made to the Government's Mental Health Bill.
Rosie Winterton told the Local Government Association conference on the Mental Health Bill in London :
'Every year, over 1,300 people in contact with mental health services take their own lives. Every year, mental health patients commit around 50 homicides. Often, these are preceded by a reluctance to continue taking the treatment that would keep them well.
'We believe the present law can deny treatment to those who are in urgent need of it. We want to modernise the law to remove these obstacles both for community-based and hospital treatment for the good of patients themselves and to better protect the public.
'But the Peers have seriously weakened our plans for better protection for patients and the public. I want to spell out the impact of the changes that the peers have made and the very real risks if they are not reversed.'
The Lords have amended the Bill to:
• introduce a new treatability test that means patients with severe personality disorders will continue to be turned away from services because they are deemed 'untreatable';
• place restrictions on supervised community treatment so that far fewer people will benefit from living in the community. This means that patients will have to stay in hospital longer or be discharged without proper supervision, leaving patients untreated and families in distress; and
• introduce an 'impaired judgement' test so that if it cannot be shown that a patient's judgement is impaired, they cannot be detained - regardless of how much the patient needs treatment and however much they, and others, are at risk without it.
Rosie Winterton continued:
'We have made decisions which we believe strike the right balance between getting treatment to those who need it, putting in place patient safeguards and minimising the risk to the public.
'By choosing to ignore the strict conditions for detention already in place, downplaying the importance of the judgment of doctors and the implications of denying treatment for patients, the Lords have altered the entire balance of the Bill.
'These are people with profound mental health needs, who, at times, will pose a serious risk. For the sake of mental health patients themselves, their families and the safety of the public, these changes must be overturned.'
Update On Avian Influenza Outbreak In Suffolk
Defra has announced changes to the disease control measures put in place to tackle the H5N1 outbreak in Suffolk.
On 1st March, the specific Protection Zone (PZ) restrictions will be removed and will become part of the wider Surveillance Zone (SZ).
In addition, the requirement to house birds within all of the zones, including the Restricted Zone, will be lifted.
Defra has carried out enhanced surveillance of 148 premises of live poultry (including testing ducks and geese) and tested approximately 64 dead wild birds within the zones and tested faecal samples from the environment around the infected premises. This has not revealed the presence of disease outside the affected premises.
Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Fred Landeg said:
'This is a positive step that has resulted from our work to stamp out the disease. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. We must remain vigilant and I must stress again how important it is for poultry keepers to practice good bio-security.'
Minister for Animal Health Ben Bradshaw said:
'I would like to thank the public and poultry keepers in the areas of Suffolk and Norfolk for their co-operation and understanding in helping us deal with the outbreak and prevent its spread.'.
Homeland Security Officials Address Bird Flu Conference
Public Health Sector Specialist Kathie McCracken and Food and Agriculture Program Manager Col. Lyle Jackson will keynote bird flu talks.
Washington, DC (New-Fields) February 27, 2007 ˆExecutives from the US Department of Homeland Security will lead the panel of speakers at the 4th International Bird Flu Summit in Washington, DC on March 14-15.
Public Health Sector Specialist Kathie McCracken and Food and Agriculture Program Manager Col. Lyle Jackson will talk about key issues on bird flu and outline the department's countermeasures against a pandemic flu.
'In our fight against bird flu, we are very pleased to have people like Ms. McCracken and Col. Jackson on our side as we meet the challenges of effectively preparing against and preventing bird flu,'says New Fields President and CEO Samir Farajallah.
The US has stepped up its efforts to prevent the spread of bird flu, proposing to boost its budget to improve pandemic preparedness. Homeland Security plays a key role in the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza.
This year‚s bird flu summit will allow not just public health officials, but scientists, policy makers, and business leaders worldwide to discuss strategies and other measures to combat the rise of bird flu.
In addition to strategic planning, the two-day event also features topics on surveillance and data management, animal health and food safety, delivery of vaccine and antiviral medications, country reports and situation updates,
and the socio-economic impact of bird flu on the poultry industry.
For more information about the conference, please contact our Washington DC office at 202.536.5000 or visit us at www.new-fields.com
Coughs
And Sneezes Spread Diseases
Sneezing
or coughing without covering your mouth is more annoying than people talking
loudly on their mobile phone and more annoying than people who don't say
please and thank you - yet nearly half of people do not always carry a
tissue outside the home, a new survey has found.
And more than three in ten people interviewed in the survey said they
would use a tissue at least two or three times before throwing it away,
while one in ten people admitted to not always washing their hands before
preparing food.
Following findings such as this which show that general attitudes and
knowledge of effective coughing and sneezing etiquette are poor, a new
Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases campaign has been launched in a bid
to halt the spread of germs, diseases and infections through simple hygiene
steps.
The campaign aims to remind people of the importance of remembering that
simple steps can help stop the spread of colds and flu to you and others.
The main messages of the campaign are:
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Use disposable tissues and throw them away afterwards in a bin
• Clean your hands regularly - especially after coughing and sneezing
Campaign posters are being distributed to a wide variety of health and
public settings including GP surgeries, health centres, pharmacies, schools,
libraries and workplaces. In addition, retail organisations and major
employers are also being encouraged to support the campaign by raising
awareness amongst employees.
A survey has provided insights into the current hygiene practices of the
nation. Women are almost twice as likely than men to have tissues with
them outside of the home whilst nearly half of all people surveyed said
they caught colds at least twice a year. The North West was found to be
the region where people washed their hands the most while London proved
to be the place were people were less likely to wash their hands.
Professor Lindsey Davies, National Director of Pandemic Influenza Preparedness,
Department of Health said:
'Washing your hands regularly and covering your nose and mouth with a
tissue when you cough and sneeze are simple actions which stop the spread
of infections yet our research has shown that many people are forgetting
to carry out these basic hygiene steps. This campaign will serve as a
timely reminder of correct coughs and sneezes etiquette and will help
people get into good hygiene habits.
'This is particularly important now, as February and March are traditionally
the months for coughs and colds.'
Professor Brian Duerden, Inspector of Microbiology and Infection Control,
said:
'Many people don't realise that a cold or flu virus can survive on the
skin for several hours and thus spread to others, but they can easily
be removed by regular hand washing. This is why respiratory hygiene is
so important. You can reduce your chances of transmitting a cold or flu
virus, and may even prevent catching the infection in the first place
by: always covering your cough and sneeze with a tissue, binning the tissue
afterwards and ensuring that you regularly clean your hands'.
Afternoon Nap Reduces Risk of Heart Disease
A study of 23,681 Greek men and women found strong evidence in support of the afternoon nap.
Individuals who took a midday nap for 30 minutes or more at least three times a week were 37 per cent less likely to die from heart disease than those who stayed awake.
Even the occasional siesta was associated with a 34 per cent lower risk of dying.
Among working men, napping of any sort resulted in a 64 per cent reduced risk of heart disease death.
Midday naps
The volunteers, who were aged 20 to 86, had no history of heart disease or any other severe condition.
At the start of the study they were asked if they took midday naps, and if so, how often and for how long at a time. They were also questioned about their level of physical activity and dietary habits over the previous year.
Participants were monitored for an average of 6.32 years, during which time 792 of them died. Of these, 133 died as a result of heart disease.
The findings were calculated after taking account of known cardiovascular risk factors.
Siestas produced a 36 per cent reduction in heart disease death risk for non-working men. A similar analysis of working and non-working women was not possible because only six deaths occurred among working women.
Cadbury Recalls Thousands More Easter Eggs
Confectionery giant Cadbury has added thousands more Easter eggs to a list of products being recalled amid fears they could be dangerous for people with nut allergies.
On Saturday the chocolate giant said that selected products were produced on a line also used for items containing nuts but had not been given warning labels.
Nut allergy sufferers are at risk of illness or even death if they eat food containing nut traces.
But Cadbury has played down the risk from its eggs as 'small', saying that only certain product batches are affected.
The firm has now placed some additional packs on its list.
Salmonella scare
A spokesman said they were relatively 'small' lines, but represented thousands more eggs.
The list has also been revised so that some eggs which were being recalled in the UK and Ireland are now being recalled in Ireland only.
The company has been reluctant to put a total estimate on the number of eggs being recalled.
The announcement comes just two months after Cadbury revealed a salmonella scare, which saw it remove more than a million chocolate bars from shelves, costing the company £30 million.
It discovered the latest problem on Friday but has had difficulty pinpointing where in Britain the affected products might be on sale.
Nut allergies
Nut allergies are increasingly common among children in Britain and food labelling rules require pre-packed food to clearly indicate whether it may contain nuts.
The labels are vital because a sufferer who mistakenly eats a product containing nut traces can suffer a potentially fatal allergic reaction.
The immune system responds, believing the food to be harmful, and in extreme cases people can experience anaphylaxis - a sudden, severe, systemic, allergic reaction.
You can view the full list of recalled eggs on the Cadbury website.
Customers can also ring the helpline on 0800 818181 and should return the affected products to Cadbury Recall, Freepost MID 20061, Birmingham B30 2QZ for a full refund.
Eating Watercress Found to Kill Cancer Cells
Eating watercress daily can significantly reduce DNA damage to blood cells, which is considered to be an important trigger in the development of cancer, University of Ulster scientists have revealed this week.
The research, carried out by a team from the University's Coleraine campus and published in this month's American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that in addition to reducing DNA damage, a daily portion of watercress also increased the ability of those cells to resist further DNA damage caused by free radicals**.
The dietary trial involved 30 healthy men and 30 healthy women (including 30 smokers) eating an 85g bag (a cereal bowl full) of fresh watercress every day for eight weeks. The beneficial changes were greatest among the smokers. This may reflect the greater toxic burden or oxidative stress amongst the smokers, as smokers were also found to have significantly lower antioxidant levels at the start of the study compared to the non-smokers.
Professor Ian Rowland (pictured), who led the research project, said: 'Our findings are highly significant. Population studies have shown links between higher intakes of cruciferous vegetables like watercress, and a reduced risk of a number of cancers.
' However, such studies don't give direct information about causal effects. What makes this study unique is it involves people eating watercress in easily achievable amounts, to see what impact that might have on known bio-markers of cancer risk, such as DNA damage. Most studies to date have relied on tests conducted in test tubes or in animals, with chemicals derived from cruciferous vegetables.'
Professor Rowland added: 'Blood cell DNA damage is an indicator of whole body cancer risk, and, the results support the theory that consumption of watercress is linked to an overall reduced risk of cancer at various sites in the body. The nature of the study group also means that the results are applicable to the general population eating a normal diet.'
The single blind, randomised, crossover study was carried out with volunteers aged between 19 and 55. The volunteers ate one daily portion of watercress in addition to their normal diet.
The key findings of the watercress diet are as follows:
· significant reduction in DNA damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells), by 22.9 per cent.
· reduction in DNA damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells) when a sample was challenged with the free radical generating chemical hydrogen peroxide, by 9.4%
· reduction in blood triglyceride levels, by an average of 10%
· significant increase in blood levels of lutein and beta-carotene, which have antioxidant activity, by 100% and 33% respectively(higher intakes of lutein have also been associated with a lower incidence of eye diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration).
Average intakes of dietary fibre, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate and beta- carotene, were significantly higher during the watercress phase of the study.
The two year research project was funded by The Watercress Alliance, made up of British watercress producers, Vitacress Salads, Alresford Salads and The Watercress Company.
Member Steve Rothwell commented: 'We have known for years that the special mustard oil in watercress, PEITC, has significant anticancer properties. But research on PEITC has been confined mainly to laboratory cultures or animal studies.
'This is groundbreaking research on two fronts: it suggests the anticancer properties of watercress go beyond those attributable to PEITC and, more importantly, the study is the first to demonstrate a direct correlation between eating watercress and reducing one's susceptibility to cancer'
The confidence to run this study came from a large body of existing evidence which has demonstrated the anti-cancer potential of watercress, including a laboratory study with human colon cancer cells, run by the same research group.
Published in May 2006, the study showed for the first time that a watercress extract had beneficial effects on 'initiation', the DNA damage that triggers cancer cell development, 'proliferation' or uncontrolled growth of cancer cells, and 'metastasis', the spread of cancer cells. These are the three key stages of carcinogenesis, the process that results in cancer. Watercress extract was also shown to trigger cell death of cancerous calls - a process known as apoptosis.
TV presenter and survivor of bowel cancer Lynn Faulds Wood commented: 'The research from the University of Ulster is very interesting - it's great to know there are simple things that people can do - like eating watercress - which could help them avoid getting cancers like bowel cancer in the future. It's great that the watercress farmers want to raise awareness of bowel cancer, the commonest cancer in Europe. Thousands of people die unnecessarily of bowel cancer every year - with exercise and a good diet, many of them could live.'
Cultivated in pure spring water, watercress has been revered as a superfood down the centuries. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, is said to have located his first hospital close to a stream to ensure fresh watercress to help treat his patients. Greek soldiers were given it as a tonic before going into battle and the 16th Century herbalist Culpepper claimed it could cleanse the blood. It is brimming with more than 15 essential vitamins and minerals. Gram for gram, it contains more iron than spinach, more vitamin C than oranges and more calcium than milk.
Watercress is the UK's most historic salad leaf and in the 19th Century was a staple part of the working class diet, most often eaten for breakfast in a sandwich. If people were too poor to buy bread, then they ate it on its own, which is why it was sometimes known as 'poor man's bread.' Bunches were handheld and eaten ice-cream cone style - the first 'on the go food.'
After decades of being pushed to the side of the plate as nothing more than a decorative garnish, watercress is currently enjoying a renaissance, with sales increasing by £18 million a year to £55 million. Consumers and celebrities alike are re-discovering its distinctive peppery taste and its amazing nutritional benefits. - Liz Hurley has been known to drink seven cups of watercress soup a day!
http://www.watercress.co.uk
Elderly may use Caffeinated Drinks Against Heart Disease
Over-65s who drink four or more caffeinated beverages every day may reduce their risk of heart disease by a whopping 53 per cent, suggests research from the US.
But while the benefits of drinks were found to be dose-dependent, with increasing intake liked to lower risk, lead researcher James Greenberg and his co-workers stressed in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that this did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.
'This study does not provide a valid basis for recommending increased consumption of caffeinate beverage,' wrote Greenberg. 'Our findings require confirmation in future epidemiological, metabolic, and clinical trial studies.'
The apparent benefits were also only seen in people with normal blood pressure and are not applicable to hypertensives, said the researchers.
Writing in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Greenberg and his co-workers from the State University of New York and the City University of New York report the results of their epidemiological study of 6594 men and women aged between 32 and 86 using data from the 1971-1973 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) and follow-up until 1992.
Intake of caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea, and caffeinated cola and chocolate, was calculated from food frequency questionnaires, and classified according to average daily intake: less than half a serving, between half and two servings, two to four servings, four or more servings.
During the period of cardiovascular disease monitoring (between 1986 and 1992), in the participants over 65 years of age, 349 passed away from cardiovascular disease, 282 from heart disease, and 67 from cerebrovascular disease.
For this age group, the researchers report that increasing intake of caffeinate beverages was associated with decreasing risk of mortality from these conditions. Indeed, drinking four or more servings per day reduced the risk of heart disease mortality by 53 per cent.
The researchers also point out that, while significant effects were observed in people with normal blood pressure, or blood pressure at the upper limit of the normal range, no effect was observed in people with stage 2 hypertension.
Also, no significant effect was observed amongst the participants younger than 65.
The researchers called for significant further research into this area, and were prudent not to recommend caffeinate beverages for this age group. It seems the global coffee, tea and energy and stimulant drinks industries will have to wait for confirming studies. A Mintel report showed that energy and stimulant drink sales exceeded £1bn (€1.45bn) in the UK in 2005, with a 75 per cent increase in sales volume since 2000.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume 85, Pages 392-398
'Caffeinated beverage intake and the risk of heart disease mortality in the elderly: a prospective analysis'
Authors: J.A. Greenberg, C.C. Dunbar, R. Schnoll, R. Kokolis, S. Kokolis, J. Kassotis.
Vitamin A-rich Diet may Halve Stomach Cancer Risk
A diet rich in vitamin A (retinol) may cut the risk of stomach cancer by 44 per cent, suggests a prospective study from Sweden.
The study, which analysed dietary data from over 36,000 women and 45,000 men, also reported that similar risk reductions are obtained from high dietary intake of both alpha- and beta-carotene.
'High intakes of vitamin A, retinol, and provitamin A carotenoids may reduce the risk of gastric cancer,' wrote lead author Susanna Larsson from the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.
Stomach cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in the world, according to the European School of Oncology, and there are 800,000 new cases every year. It is Japan's most common form of cancer.
The research by Dr. Larsson and colleagues from the Central Hospital, Vasteras, Örebro University Hospital, and University Hospital, Örebro prospectively investigated carotenoid intake from foods only (dietary intake) and from foods and supplements combined (total intake) and the incidence of stomach cancer amongst the 45,338 men of the Cohort of Swedish Men and the 36,664 women in the Swedish Mammography Cohort.
Dietary assessment was performed using self-administered 96-item food frequency questionnaires in 1997, and during the average 7.2 years of follow-up, 139 incident cases of stomach (gastric) cancer were determined.
Writing in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the researchers report that, the relative risk of gastric cancer between people in the highest versus lowest intake groups of total vitamin A was reduced by 47 per cent.
The relative risks between people in the highest versus lowest intake groups of retinol, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene were reduced by 44, 50 and 45 per cent, respectively.
No significant gastric cancer risk reduction associations were found for beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin, or lycopene intake, said the researchers.
The results are in-line with another prospective study by the same researchers that reported that carotenoid-rich green leafy vegetables or roots vegetables could reduce the risk of stomach cancer by between 35 and 57 per cent (Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Vol. 15, pp. 1998-2001).
It should be noted that high vitamin A intake is not advisable for all sections of the population. Indeed, women who are pregnant or thinking of having a baby are advised to avoid taking supplements containing vitamin A since too much of the vitamin can cause development defects in unborn babies. There have also been some concerns raised over the vitamin for people at risk of bone fractures, such as post-menopausal women and older people.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
February 2007, Volume 85, Number 2, Pages 497-503
'Vitamin A, retinol, and carotenoids and the risk of gastric cancer: a prospective cohort study'
Authors: S.C. Larsson, L. Bergkvist, I. Näslund, J. Rutegård and A. Wolk .
Vitamins Not so Good for you After all, Study says
Researchers from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark say they found Vitamin A, vitamin E and beta carotene taken singly or with other supplements 'significantly increase mortality'.
The researchers found no evidence that vitamin C could increase longevity, while selenium did tend to reduce the risk of death.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, involved analysis of 68 previous trials of the five antioxidant supplements, involving 232,606 participants.
Antioxidant supplements
The Copenhagen team singled out 47 'low-bias risk' trials, with 180,938 participants, as being the best quality.
Based on these low-bias studies, the supplements were found to be associated with a 5 per cent increased risk of mortality.
Taking beta carotene was associated with a 7 per cent risk, vitamin A with a 16 per cent risk and vitamin E with a 4 per cent risk, while there was no increased mortality risk with vitamin C or selenium.
The authors wrote: 'Our findings contradict the findings of observational studies, claiming that antioxidants improve health.
'Considering that 10-20 per cent of the adult population (80-160 million people) in North America and Europe may consume the assessed supplements, the public health consequences may be substantial.'
Selenium Intake Prevents Loss of Brain Function as We Age
A person's selenium intake throughout life may influence how well they retain cognitive function as they age, according to a new study published in the 'American Journal of Epidemiology.'
'In this cross-sectional survey of cognitive function in rural elderly Chinese, we found that decreasing selenium levels as measured in nail sample are associated with lower cognitive scores when controlling for age, gender, education, body mass index and APOE status,' said Indiana University researcher Sujuan Gao, the study's lead author.
APOE is a protein that people's bodies naturally produce in different forms. Scientists have previously discovered correlations between the form of this protein and the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers in the China study found that the difference in cognitive scores between those with the lowest selenium levels and those with the highest was equivalent to a 10-year age difference among the latter group.
Because the brain reacts differently to selenium than other parts of the body, and because the slowest-maturing sections of the brain are the first to be affected by Alzheimer's, the researchers emphasized the importance of long- over short-term selenium intake.
'Long-term exposure to selenium may be needed to impact brain function later in life,' the study says.
But Gao found the results more empowering than disempowering. 'Selenium exposure, unlike other factors studied for Alzheimer's disease, is a factor that is easily modifiable by changing dietary habits or through supplements,' he said.
Consumer health advocate Mike Adams, author of 'The Seven Laws of Nutrition,' agreed.
'Selenium and other trace minerals are vital for proper functioning of the brain, heart, liver and immune system,' he said. 'Selenium is also an anti-cancer mineral that is strongly correlated with lower breast cancer risk.'
Adams recommended Eidon mineral concentrates, particularly the Eidon Immune Support formula, as excellent sources of bioavailable selenium, zinc and other minerals. (See Eidon's website at www.eidon.com)
As with all trace minerals, selenium can be toxic if taken in excess, and dosage recommendations on supplements should not be exceeded.
http://www.NewsTarget.com.
Defra Invites Views On Proposed New Site For GM Potato Trials
Defra gave approval in December for the company BASF to undertake research trials of a GM potato at two sites in England, one in Cambridgeshire and the other in Derbyshire.
BASF has now notified Defra that, instead of the previously intended site in Derbyshire, it proposes to conduct trials at a new location in Yorkshire.
Defra will be considering this as a new application in accordance with the Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) Regulations 2002. But before deciding on this it will consider any representations that people may wish to make about the risk of environmental damage posed by the GM trial. The deadline for representations is 20 April 2007. The new location is in the District of East Yorkshire, at ordnance survey grid reference TA1729.
The Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) has made an initial assessment of this proposed change in location. It has provisionally concluded that it does not affect its earlier opinion, that the trials do not raise any safety concerns for human health and the environment.
The GM potato has been developed by BASF for resistance to late potato blight, a significant disease problem for potato growers which they normally combat by using chemical fungicides. The trials will test the effectiveness of the potato's resistance against UK strains of the disease. Similar trials are already underway in Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands.
GDAs 'Fundamentally Flawed', Claims Health Group
Food industry-backed front-of-pack nutritional signposting is 'fundamentally flawed', according to the National Heart Forum (NHF).
The pressure group claims that the scheme, which is being promoted in competition with the Food Standards Agency 'traffic light' labels, 'can mislead and confuse consumers trying to choose healthier foods when they are shopping'.
Today's publication of the charity's findings is likely to up the stakes in the on-going battle for the hearts and minds of consumers between the UK food watchdog and industry heavyweights over nutrition labelling.
The heart charity looked at front-of-pack labels which display percentages of Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) currently appearing on products from a number of manufacturers and on many Tesco own-brand goods.
It claimed that these labels are misleading and confusing as companies often mix GDAs with other claims and promotional labels on the front of food packaging.
'This report shows that some manufacturers and retailers are failing their customers by using nutritional food labels which are overly complex and misleading,' said Jane Landon, deputy chief executive of the National Heart Forum.
'Some even appear to be manipulating the front-of-pack label to promote their products rather than to inform their customers.'
Guideline Daily Amounts represent population goals for particular nutrients. The NHF said that rresenting these as percentages on the front of food packaging suggests to the consumer that these are daily targets.
'Without reading the small print on the back of the packet it is not clear that for fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt these figures represent limits rather than targets,' said Landon.
'With as little as four seconds for each purchase, what consumer's need to be able to see 'at a glance' on the front of the pack is whether a product is high, medium or low in key nutrients.'
This of course is the goal of traffic light labelling. Last month, the FSA launched a promotional campaign for consumers with TV advertisements, poster campaigns, and ads in the national press.
'Our new labelling TV ads, like the traffic light approach, are clear and simple with the beauty being that these labels speak for themselves,' said FSA chair Deirdre Hutton in a release.
'Our extensive and published research demonstrates that the use of traffic light colours is key to helping people interpret nutritional information on foods. We want to highlight to shoppers that these labels are now out there and really can help us all to make healthier choices.'
The FSA's traffic light system rates each product as high (red light), medium (amber light) or low (green light) in the four key nutrients (fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar), is used by firms including Sainsbury's, Waitrose, the Co-Op, Marks and Spencer and Asda.
However, some of the UK's biggest food manufacturers including Danone, Kellogg's, Kraft, Nestle and PepsiCo and retailers Tesco and Morrisons argue that, while the GDA scheme is criticised for being too complicated, the FSA's traffic light labelling scheme is far too simplistic.
And in response to the FSA's publicity scheme, these companies have launched a new campaign called 'know what's going inside you.' The TV, online and print campaign - which will run between January and August - aims to explain how people can use Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) labels to assess the calories, sugars, fat, saturates and salt that are suggested for a balanced diet.
Business Continuity Research To Inform Food And Drink Industry
An independent report by Cranfield University on business continuity management in the food and drink industry has been published this week.
The study was commissioned by Defra to strengthen the evidence base for government policy and to encourage business continuity planning in the industry.
The report concludes that the drive for efficiency and the Just-in-Time philosophy has progressively reduced stock levels throughout the supply chain with consequences for its resilience.
The security of the supply chain as a whole is therefore more dependent on the availability of a range of sources and supply routes (a separate paper on food security was published by Defra on 22 December).
Robust and resilient business continuity plans provide food and drink retailers with the measures needed to deal with any threat of disruption.
• The report 'Resilience in The Food Chain: A Study Of Business Continuity Management in the Food and Drink Industry' is available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/project_data/DocumentLibrary/FT0352/FT0352_4705_FRP.doc
• Food Security: An evidence and analysis paper, with executive summary, was published on 22 December 2006 and is available at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/reports/foodsecurity/default.asp
Use
of Alternative Medicines May Impact Fertility Treatments
Research
from Melbourne, Australia has shown that some 66% of patients seeking
treatment at fertility clinics use complementary medicines and therapies
alongside prescribed medication. Most of these patients do not volunteer
this information to their doctors.
Tell your doctor about all the remedies that you take in fertility treatment
- including those complementary medicines and therapies - the therapies
may interact with each other and could impact on the chances of achieving
pregnancy.
Research has shown that some 66% of patients seeking treatment at fertility
clinics use complementary medicines and therapies alongside prescribed
medication. Most of these patients do not volunteer this information to
their doctors.
A paper published by Blackwell Publishing in the April 2007 issue of the
Australia and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology showed
although patients seeking fertility treatment consulted most frequently
with naturopaths, chiropractors and acupuncturists when seeking alternative
medical therapy, usage of such complementary medicines and therapies are
poorly documented by clinical staff.
Lead author Dr. Stankiewicz from the Flinders Reproductive Medicine at
the Flinders Medical Centre said, 'Most patients using complementary alternative
medicines will not inform their fertility specialist, and there is limited
research describing the use of complementary medicines and therapies among
people seeking infertility treatment.'
The lack of adequate studies documenting the safety and efficacy of complementary
alternative medicines modalities used to treat infertility or used as
an adjunct to treatment, coupled with possibilities that these therapies
may interact with each other and impact patients' chances of achieving
pregnancy - mean that health care practitioners need to be proactive in
acquiring and documenting use of these practices.
Dr. Stankiewicz added, 'There is a need to provide further information
to patients on the use of complementary medicines and therapies - including
further evaluation of the effectiveness of complimentary medicines on
pregnancy rates. Improved documentation may contribute to identifying
any positive or negative effects it has on fertility outcomes - and may
enable health care practitioners in identifying additional patient needs
in their quest to achieve pregnancy effectively.'
This paper is published in the April 2007 issue of Australian & New
Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
About Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ANZJOG)
is an editorially independent publication owned by the Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
and the RANZCOG Research foundation. ANZJOG aims to provide a medium for
the publication of original contributions to clinical practice and/or
research in all fields of obstetrics and gynaecology and related disciplines.
Articles are peer reviewed by clinicians or researchers expert in the
field of the submitted work.
About Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing is the world's leading society publisher, partnering
with 665 medical, academic, and professional societies. Blackwell publishes
over 800 journals and has over 6,000 books in print. The company employs
over 1,000 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Singapore,
Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell's mission as an expert publisher
is to create long-term partnerships with our clients that enhance learning,
disseminate research, and improve the quality of professional practice.
The company is in the process of merging with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.'s
Scientific, Technical, and Medical business. The acquisition by Wiley
should be completed in early February.
http://www.newswiretoday.com.
Natural Products New Zealand Industry Summit
'The place of natural health products in health care is changing rapidly in New Zealand, and so too are the opportunities for business developing those products' said a government spokesperson at a recent Natural Products Summit.
Parliament's Government Administration Select Committee is examining the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill and many of you will have made submissions. I welcome the debate that will unfold over the coming weeks about the Australia New Zealand Therapeutic Products Authority.
The separate consultation on the detail of the proposed joint scheme is ongoing. Submissions on the draft Advertising Rule, for example, are open until 15 June this year.
Many of you will have different opinions on the detail. However, in my mind, there is no doubt that the time for such a scheme has come. Increasing numbers of New Zealanders are electing to incorporate complementary medicines into their health care routines - and it is vital that these products are safe, of high quality and efficacious. We are also in a global market.
New Zealand is an island state surrounded by economic, social, and environmental bridges. To compete in the global market and to attract investment, New Zealand must continue to provide safe, high quality and innovative products.
To see the benefits of globalisation you only need to visit your local natural health store. There you can find products made from African aloe, Australian eucalyptus, Norwegian fish, Chinese ginger, and New Zealand manuka. But globalisation also opens us up to risks from unsafe imported products, such as herbal medicines spiked with potentially dangerous steroids.
At the heart of the debate about the use and recognition of complementary medicine, is the need for evidenced-based discussion and decision-making. In putting New Zealand product on the world-market and in preserving a presence on our own shelves we need to be very clear that what is offered is a safe and effective complement to pharmaceutical medicines.
A
product should not be condemned simply because it comes under the banner
'complementary medicine', but nor should it be blindly praised. Both need
to have a sound evidence base.
The Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring in Dunedin, which collects
reports of adverse drug reactions (or ADRs), has received 279 reports
of suspected ADRs associated with complementary and alternative medicines
since 1972 and of these 53 were classified as serious and three lead to
death.
We must address this risk in a risk-appropriate way. Product registration
under the new scheme will be quick and simple. And it will bring many
benefits to exporters, not only access to the Australian market but also
beyond to markets in Asia and elsewhere where Australian regulatory approval
carries a cache that smaller regulators don't. Doing it alone wouldn't
bring these benefits to your industry, and it would be far, far more expensive.
There are treatments out there that aren't being used as much as they
should, that aren't being utilised by GPs and other health practitioners,
but for which there exists good evidence of its safety and efficacy.
Equally however there are treatments that are widely used by patients
for which there just isn't good evidence. Or where there is really good
evidence, and it's pretty conclusive - the treatment doesn't work.
I want to ensure that our health system uses all the tools at its disposal
to make and keep people healthy and well. We are all committed to integrating
complementary medicine, where there's good evidence of safety and efficacy.
For me, the challenge is in closing the evidence-practice gap that exists
in our health system.
Natural Health Industry Announces Top Performers
Outstanding leaders in the Natural Products Industry were recognised last night at the 2007 Natural Products New Zealand Annual Gala Dinner in Nelson.
The Awards, which are hosted by Natural Products New Zealand and sponsored by New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, acknowledged companies and individuals making a phenomenal contribution to industry and society.
Multi-national manufacturing company, GMP Pharmaceuticals scooped the Natural Products New Zealand Exporter of the Year Award, sponsored by Lock Finance, and green lipped mussel extract pioneer John Croft was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to the New Zealand Natural Products Industry.
Natural Products New Zealand Executive Director Michelle Beckett said the size and depth of the industry is such that it can now justify holding its own awards.
'The natural products industry continues to grow both locally and internationally and currently contributes $500million to the New Zealand economy. The knowledge and expertise in this country is immense and it is wonderful to be able to recognise individual contributions. The awards were well contested with a high calibre of entries received during this inaugural year.'
Exporter of the Year GMP Pharmaceuticals manufactures a wide range of natural health products, from soft gel capsules to powders, chewable tablets to liquids and topical solutions.
The company offers a range of packaging options including bottles, blister packs, sachets and bags and a laboratory testing service, product development and registration services.
GMP Pharmaceuticals has seen phenomenal growth in exports to key Asian markets - an increase of 611% over the period July 2005 to June 2006.
The judging panel, which comprised Natural Products New Zealand members, said; 'GMP Pharmaceuticals have produced a well planned salesand marketing plan behind their growth which has been supported by NZ Trade & Enterprise and the company has ensured that it has world-class manufacturing standards which are pivotal to its success.'
The Awards also recognised John Croft, Research Consultant at Healtheries NZ Ltd, for his Outstanding Contribution to the industry during the last 35 years.
Croft has been instrumental in establishing the green lipped mussel extract market which has spawned the development of the New Zealand marine nutraceutical industry.
Croft is the author of four books on the topic, and has been responsible for the development and research programmes associated with the extract and other marine-based therapeutic products for arthritis sufferers and joint health.
According to the judges; 'John's contribution as the founder of marine natural products in New Zealand is extremely valuable, not just to the industry, but to the nation as a whole and to the people whose arthritic pain it relieves.'
The awards were announced on the back of the annual Natural Products Summit held during the day. Participating companies ranged from natural health specialists to contract manufacturers and industry brand leaders like Healtheries, Nutra-Life Health & Fitness, Blackmores, Lifestream and Thompsons as well as research organisations and government agencies.
More than 70 companies and 100 delegates attended from around New Zealand to discuss innovation, globalisation and the future of the industry.
The Summit, now in its sixth year, is one of the most important events on the calendar for the natural product industry.
Natural
Health Trends Corp. Announces Reorganisation
Natural
Health Trends Corpan international direct-selling company, today announced
that its Board of Directors has named Chris T. Sharng as the Company's
President effective immediately. Mr. Sharng has been the Company's Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since August 2004. Prior to
Natural Health Trends Corp., he worked in various financial and operational
roles at publicly traded companies such as Ultrak Inc. and Mattel Inc.
Mr. Sharng has an MBA from Columbia Business School and a bachelor's degree
from National Taiwan University.
In addition, Curtis E. Broome, President of NHT Global, is designated
as an executive officer of the Company. Prior to his current role of overseeing
all of the Company's markets, Mr. Broome ran the Company's Greater China,
Southeast Asia markets and, at an earlier appointment, the North American
market. Mr. Broome is credited for bringing the Greater China market back
on track from a difficult time in early 2004 and building it into the
largest revenue and profit source of the Company. He has over 20 years
of executive and entrepreneurial experience in network marketing, hospitality
and on-line development businesses.
At the same time, the Company announced the resignations of Messrs. Colin
J. O'Brien and Terrence M. Morris from the Board of Directors. Ms. Stephanie
S. Hayano resigned as the President and Chief Executive Officer as well
as from the Board of Directors. Gernot Senke resigned as the chief operating
officer. The Company is in the process of recruiting additional independent
directors.
Mr. Sharng, the Company's President, said, 'The past year has been
a traumatic and difficult period of time for the Company. We have heeded
the opinions of our stockholders and implemented a management structure
that empowers reliable and proven executives like Curtis and other key
executives to restore growth to the Company. Additionally, I have personally
met with Messrs. Woodburn and LaCore, the two founders of the Company,
and asked for their help in moving the Company forward and they have committed
their enthusiastic support. While both Messrs. Woodburn and LaCore previously
agreed to assist the Company, we did not take full advantage of their
expertise and expect to immediately change that. The Company is at a critical
juncture. We plan to aggressively restructure many of the Company's operations
to bring costs in line with revenue. We need the collective wisdom and
experience of our management team to turn the Company around.'
About Natural Health Trends Corp.
Natural Health Trends Corp. is an international direct-selling company
operating through its subsidiaries in 15 countries throughout Asia, North
America, Europe and Latin America. The Company markets premium quality
personal care products under the NHT Global (formerly Lexxus International)
brand. Additional information can be found on the Company's Website, and
management encourages interested parties to register for updated corporate
information via e-mail on the Company's homepage, www.naturalhealthtrendscorp.com.
Palm
Oil Research Targets Food Industry Benefits
A
new research centre in the UK focusing on palm oil research using latest
molecular techniques could benefit the food industry.
The University of Nottingham is collaborating with a Malaysian company,
Applied Agricultural Resources (AAR), to lead research into genetic improvements
that could make palm oil more resistant to disease, easier to harvest
and more valuable to producers.
Palm oil is found in a diverse range of products including bread, crisps
and margarine. The product is currently enjoying strong appeal as an ingredient
because it is free of artery-clogging trans fats, formed when fats are
hydrogenated to make them more solid and extend their shelf life.
In addition, the oil also continues to benefit from a growing awareness
of the health properties of the antioxidant-rich oil. According to the
UK's Food and Drink Federation (FDF) over 95 million tonnes of vegetable
oil are produced worldwide every year, of which 29 per cent is produced
by the oil palm, the world's second largest oil crop after soy.
Malaysian palm oil prices are expected to edge up by two to five per cent
in the near future on the back of growing demand in Europe for alternative
fuels, suggests a report. Demand for alternative fuels - triggered by
the surge in oil prices - has already had a significant impact on another
key commodity in the food sector, sugar.
But palm oil, the cheapest of the edible plant-derived oils, has been
somewhat protected by the plentiful supply from key producers in Malaysia
and Indonesia.
However, the growing popularity of palm oil has attracted concern from
environmentalists. Last year for example, pressure group Friends of the
earth (FoE) published its `Oil for Ape Scandal' study, which claimed that
that without urgent intervention the palm oil trade could cause the extinction
of the orang-utan ape within 12 years.
The problem, according to FoE, is that over 89 per cent of all palm oil
is produced in Malaysia and Indonesia, and as a result almost 90 per cent
of the orang-utan's habitat in Indonesia and Malaysia has now been destroyed.
The new facility, which is expected to open in October 2007, will be located
on a site adjacent to the Malaysia campus.
'The decision to locate the Research Centre at an adjacent lot to
the Malaysia Campus is to enable us to leverage on the resources and facilities
available at the School of Biosciences at the Malaysia Campus,' said
Dr Soh Aik Chin, head of agricultural research at AAR.
'We are pleased to be able to collaborate with an internationally
acclaimed centre of excellence for teaching and fundamental research.
I would like the AAR Research Centre to emulate Nottingham's success and
look forward to a successful and fruitful collaboration.' .
Pine Bark Extract Shows Promise for Diabetics
Extracts from French maritime pine bark may inhibit an enzyme linked to glucose absorption 190 times more than a synthetic medication, says new research from Germany that could offer significant benefits for diabetics if the results can be translated from the lab to humans.
The results of the new study, published on-line in the Elsevier journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, add to a growing body of research reporting anti-diabetic effects of the pine bark extract, Pycnogenol.
'Diabetes mellitus type II is a serious disease with rising prevalence,' said lead researcher Dr. Petra Hogger. 'This study is crucial for those suffering with the disease because it affirms that Pycnogenol is more effective than [a] prescription medication and supports the abundance of other research done on Pycnogenol and diabetes.'
An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU 25, equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.
In the US, there are over 20 million people with diabetes, equal to seven per cent of the population. The total costs are thought to be as much as $132 bn, with $92 bn being direct costs from medication, according to 2002 American Diabetes Association figures.
Source: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Published on-line ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.diabres.2006.10.011
'Oligomeric procyanidins of French maritime pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) effectively inhibit alpha-glucosidase'
Authors: A. Schafer, P. Hogger.
Spearmint Tea Helps Combat Unwanted Hair
Women with a condition that makes them grow hair on their breasts, faces and stomachs may find symptoms relieved by drinking a few cups of spearmint tea, new research shows.
Drinking between two and five cups of spearmint tea per day could reduce the level of androgens in the body, 'masculine' hormones such as testosterone that can make women grow hair on their faces and chests like men.
Researchers at the Suleyman Demirel University in Turkey conducted trials on women with the condition, known as hirsutism, and have published their work in the Phytotherapy Research journal.
The results could offer a new and simple way to treat hirsutism, which causes understandable distress.
Source: Phytotherapy Research
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1002/ptr.2074
'Effect of Spearmint (Mentha spicata Labiatae) Teas on Androgen Levels in Women with Hirsutism.'
Authors: Akdogan et al.
Study Questions Garlic's Cholesterol-lowering Powers
A new trial from the US has reported that garlic may not decrease harmful cholesterol levels.
The new trial, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, investigated the effects of garlic, both raw and from supplements, on the cholesterol levels of 192 adults with slightly elevated cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolaemia). After six months of garlic intervention, no significant changes in LDL-cholesterol levels were observed.
'The garlic products, all extensively characterised chemically, had neither a statistically detectable effect nor clinically relevant effect on plasma lipid concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolaemia,' wrote lead author Christopher Gardner from Stanford University Medical School.
High cholesterol levels have a long association with many diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), the cause of almost 50 per cent of deaths in Europe, and reported to cost the EU economy an estimated euro 169bn ($202bn) per year.
'Garlic supplements, many of which seek to package the benefits of raw garlic in more palatable forms, are promoted as cholesterol-lowering agents and are among the top-selling herbal supplements,' explained Gardner and collaborators from the University of Albany and Plant Bioactives Research Institute in Utah.
Crushing garlic is said to trigger the formation of allicin, a compound shown to prevent the formation of cholesterol in laboratory studies. Despite these positive results from the lab, however, clinical trials in humans have reported mixed results.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine
Volume 167, Pages 346-353,
'Effect of raw garlic vs commercial garlic supplements on plasma lipid concentrations in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia'
Authors: C.D. Gardner, L.D. Lawson, E. Block, L.M. Chatterjee, A. Kiazand, R.R. Balise, H.C. Kraemer
Editorial: Archives of Internal Medicine
Volume 167, Pages 325-326,
'Garlic: What we know and what we don't know'
Authors: M. Charlson, M. McFerren
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com.
Tea Tree Oil Can Lead to Antibiotic Resistance
Repeated exposure to low doses of Tea Tree Oil - a common ingredient in many beauty products - can increase the chances of suffering from 'superbug' infections, University of Ulster scientists have revealed.
They discovered that exposure to low doses of Tea Tree Oil make pathogens such as MRSA, E. coli and Salmonella more resistant to antibiotics, and capable of causing more serious infections.
Dr Ann McMahon and Professor David McDowell, members of the University's Food Microbiology Research Group, said: 'We have been growing pathogens such as MRSA, E-coli and Salmonella in low concentrations of tea tree oil. These concentrations are not sufficient to kill the bacteria, but can switch on their defense mechanisms. Unfortunately, these defence mechanisms have the added effect of making bacteria more resistant to antibiotics, and able to cause 'harder to treat' infections.'
Tea Tree Oil is used commercially in many products including shampoos, body lotions and toiletries, but there is no legislation requiring manufacturers to state the concentration of tea tree oil in these products. This increases the risks that people will use low concentrations of tea tree oil, which fail to kill bacteria, but increase their resistance to antibiotics. So, if a person uses tea tree oil products on their skin repeatedly, any MRSA on their skin could develop increased resistance to the antibiotics which are used to control MRSA infections.
'The bottom line is that tea tree oil should not be used at low concentrations - less than 4% - to make sure that bacteria are killed, not just stressed. Otherwise we are just arming the bacteria against treatment by antibiotics.'
Publishing their findings in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the scientists said: 'Although tea tree oil may be an effective antimicrobial agent when appropriately used at high (bactericidal) concentrations, its application at low (sub-lethal) concentrations may contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogens'.
Complaint
Against Air Ion Technologies Ltd Upheld
A
complaint objecting to a magazine ad for Air Ion Technologies Ltd was
upheld on both of the two objections according to information published
by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
A magazine ad, for Myairzone an air purifier, claimed ‘Clears the
air of pollutants, dust mites, cold and flu bugs, fungal spores, pet and
animal dander, smoke, moulds ... What our customers say: From our 2006
customer survey, Myairzone is used for asthma, anxiety, bronchitis, hayfever,
headaches, migraines, infection avoidance, odour removal, pet allergy,
skin conditions, deepens sleep, smoke clearance, driving, working, dust
mite allergy and mould ... '.
Issue
1. The complainant challenged the efficacy of the product.
2. The ASA challenged whether the claim ‘What our customers say:
From our 2006 customer survey, Myairzone is used for asthma, anxiety,
bronchitis ... ‘, misleadingly implied that the device could relieve,
or treat, the symptoms of the listed conditions.
The CAP Code: 3.1;7.1;50.1;50.3
Response
Air Ion Technologies (Air Ion) explained that the purpose of the product
was to clean the air in close proximity to the user; they said they believed
it was analogous to a water purifier. They said the process had been tested
in independent trials by the Workplace Environment Science & Technology
Research Association (WESTRA) and the Universities of Surrey, Leeds, Southampton
and Reading and its ability to clear the air of various particles had
been demonstrated by WESTRA regularly by using a particle counter at clients'
premises. They also claimed that the product cleared the air of various
micro-organisms and said this had been demonstrated by researchers at
Leeds and Southampton Universities. They sent a presentation from the
Healthy Buildings Symposium in June 2006 and a copy of their customer
satisfaction survey as substantiation for the advertised claims. They
pointed out that they had a 60-day money back guarantee that allowed purchasers
to assess the value of the product for themselves and obtain a full refund,
including postage, if they were not satisfied.
Assessment
1. Upheld
The ASA considered that the claim ‘Clears the air’ implied the
product removed all airborne allergens. We noted the information Air Ion
had supplied as substantiation was a short-term study on the impact of
improved air quality on productivity and health in the workplace. Because
it did not support the implication that the advertised product removed
all pollutants and because it was not designed to be controlled for a
placebo effect, we considered that the study was insufficient to support
the claim. Furthermore, we noted Air Ion had not provided robust, placebo-controlled
clinical studies that showed the product removed allergens from the surrounding
air of the user's homes, inside and outside, or for any specific irritant
such as animal dander. We concluded that Air Ion's submissions were insufficient
to prove the efficacy of the Myairzone.
2. Upheld
We noted the customer satisfaction survey had a very high response rate
and, from the graph provided, customers seemed to have enjoyed an improvement
in their various symptoms. We nevertheless noted that it was impossible
to know from the questionnaire whether any perceived change was directly
attributable to the product. We considered that the claim implied the
device could relieve, or treat, the symptoms of the listed conditions
including the serious medical condition of bronchitis. Because Air Ion
had not provided product-specific, clinically controlled trials on sufferers
of these conditions to prove the efficacy of the product, we concluded
that the claim was misleading. We were also concerned that the references
to bronchitis and migraines, serious medical conditions, could discourage
consumers from seeking help from a suitably qualified medical practitioner.
On points 1. & 2., the ad breached CAP Code clauses 3.1 (Substantiation),
7.1 (Truthfulness), 50.1 (Scientific substantiation) and 50.3 (Discouragement
of essential treatment).
Action
We told Air Ion not to repeat the ad and advised the company to consult
the CAP Copy Advice team before advertising again.