An exposé appeared today in the New York Times that is a must-read for anyone concerned about the source of their medicines and dietary supplements. The headline in today's post links directly to the NYT article about this issue, but does require you to fill in a brief, no-cost registration. It's worth it just for this extensive article.
It seems that yet another Chinese scandal is developing regarding contaminated products being sold for human consumption. While many of these scandals deal with the basic environmental contamination that is so rampant in mainland China (absorbed into anything that grows, such as herbs, mushrooms, agricultural crops), this news is even more repulsive because it is a story of greed and corruption. It shows that there are literally no controls on what business people say and do in China, which can lead to very serious consequences.
In this case, greed led to industrial solvents being sold as glycerine, which was later used around the world in a number of contaminated pharmaceutical products including enemas used on little children and cough syrups that killed dozens of senior citizens in Central America. Researchers say the number of deaths could be in the "thousands."
This topic ties directly into a recent "Sham vs. Wham" post entitled, "Does the Source of an Ingredient Matter?". It is quite an issue, because anyone producing a quality Dietary Supplement or Pharmaceutical product using ingredients from the USA or Europe faces this problem. Chinese products are SO much cheaper -- the temptation is there for anyone looking for an herb or a botanical product of any kind to go with the Chinese supplier. And the Chinese are very aggressive marketers on the OEM front, advertising their botanicals and pharma ingredients along with low, low prices in all the major marketplaces.
In the case of our small business, ProActive BioProducts, we've had experiences with this China problem as well. Before we imported the Swedish Herbal Institute brand into North America, a company had actually stolen our Swedish brand name and put it on boxes of Chinese herbs sold here. Even today you can go on the Internet and find companies from China selling low-grade OEM herbs using our trademarks (they want to sell these less effective and potentially contaminated products to other manufacturers). Sadly, I know they will find buyers, because there are people in every country, not just China, who care more about profits than safety. (And there are always consumers who will grab the $12.95 bottle of supplements instead of the $19.95 because "it's all the same.")
Where will this China problem lead us? Will you be one of those Wal-Mart customers buying their new "organic" foods, much of which will come from China? Personally, I'm going to make sure that anything I ingest originates as far from China as possible.
Dave
[PS added 5/7: Some specialized herbs come from China, and are grown nowhere else. In that case, you've got to rely on the diligence of a quality provider who examines all raw materials and conducts scientific testing to ensure quality and a product free of contamination]
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Wham: Chia, a very complete food
Did you ever have a "Chia Pet" when you were a kid? Or, perhaps one of those "Chia Heads"? If so, you'll remember how those seeds make a sort of paste that gets spread around the little clay animal or human head. Soon, "hair" grows, nice and green!
I remember reading that my son's Chia Pet seeds were "not for human consumption." And yet, did you know that these tiny seeds have been consumed by humans for thousands of years? That's right . . . their use as a food goes back far into recorded time. Today, the seeds offer a huge benefit to us in our daily diet.
Aztec warriors would carry only Chia seed when going on long journeys, finding that they only needed a teaspoon or so of these seeds per day in order to remain fit for travel. The seeds are highly nutritious, and extremely nourishing, a great source of protein. In fact, the lowly little Chia seed has more of the essential omega-3 fatty acid than any other vegetable source (including flax seeds, which are used all the time for that reason). Chia has 3 to 10 times the oil concentration of most grains and up to twice the protein content of other grains as well. You just can't find a better food source in such a small package.
The odd thing about Chia becomes quite evident when you place a teaspoon of seeds into a glass of water and then come back about an hour later. You won't find water in that glass any longer . . . instead, you'll see an almost solid, nearly-clear substance, a result of the gel-forming properties of Chia's soluble fiber. Chia can hold 12 times its weight in water. Can you imagine that? That would be like a 100 lb. person being able to carry around more than a ton of water on their back!
When you consume Chia seeds, your body is naturally hydrated. The seeds' ability to carry water along with them offers you the ability to prolong hydration. They are full of vitamins A, D, E and K, and even are a rich source of Calcium. Those Aztec warriors had the right idea. Chia seeds can truly be called a "wonder food."
There are a number of great recipes for Chia in the book which is linked to the headline of today's post, and you'll also find some on the Internet. The recipes fall into two categories . . . they are either for the seeds themselves, as nutty and crunchy ingredients in baked goods (cookies, etc) or they are recipes for the use of Chia gel. You can take that thick gel that comes when Ghia is mixed with water and you can use it to extend and thicken soups, etc.
Chia is definitely in the WHAM category!
[PS added May 5th: See Ed's remarks in the comment section. Chia is a rich source of Alpha Linolenic Acid. If you have a history of prostate cancer in the family, you need to talk to your doctor about adding ALA. Otherwise, to anyone else, this ingredient is a healthy advantage.]
Dave
I remember reading that my son's Chia Pet seeds were "not for human consumption." And yet, did you know that these tiny seeds have been consumed by humans for thousands of years? That's right . . . their use as a food goes back far into recorded time. Today, the seeds offer a huge benefit to us in our daily diet.
Aztec warriors would carry only Chia seed when going on long journeys, finding that they only needed a teaspoon or so of these seeds per day in order to remain fit for travel. The seeds are highly nutritious, and extremely nourishing, a great source of protein. In fact, the lowly little Chia seed has more of the essential omega-3 fatty acid than any other vegetable source (including flax seeds, which are used all the time for that reason). Chia has 3 to 10 times the oil concentration of most grains and up to twice the protein content of other grains as well. You just can't find a better food source in such a small package.
The odd thing about Chia becomes quite evident when you place a teaspoon of seeds into a glass of water and then come back about an hour later. You won't find water in that glass any longer . . . instead, you'll see an almost solid, nearly-clear substance, a result of the gel-forming properties of Chia's soluble fiber. Chia can hold 12 times its weight in water. Can you imagine that? That would be like a 100 lb. person being able to carry around more than a ton of water on their back!
When you consume Chia seeds, your body is naturally hydrated. The seeds' ability to carry water along with them offers you the ability to prolong hydration. They are full of vitamins A, D, E and K, and even are a rich source of Calcium. Those Aztec warriors had the right idea. Chia seeds can truly be called a "wonder food."
There are a number of great recipes for Chia in the book which is linked to the headline of today's post, and you'll also find some on the Internet. The recipes fall into two categories . . . they are either for the seeds themselves, as nutty and crunchy ingredients in baked goods (cookies, etc) or they are recipes for the use of Chia gel. You can take that thick gel that comes when Ghia is mixed with water and you can use it to extend and thicken soups, etc.
Chia is definitely in the WHAM category!
[PS added May 5th: See Ed's remarks in the comment section. Chia is a rich source of Alpha Linolenic Acid. If you have a history of prostate cancer in the family, you need to talk to your doctor about adding ALA. Otherwise, to anyone else, this ingredient is a healthy advantage.]
Dave
Friday, May 4, 2007
Wham: Acupuncture for Pregnancy Pain
An interesting report today on the medical wire from Newswise. You may find this of interest if you're pregnant or know someone who is. (Use the little email icon beneath the article to send it to your pregnant friend!). As it turns out, stretching exercises and acupuncture could help relieve back and pelvic pain that often occur during pregnancy, according to an updated review.
As pregnancy progresses, back and pelvic pain can interfere with daily activities such as carrying groceries, cleaning and walking, and can disrupt work or sleep also. More than two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain and almost one-fifth report pelvic pain.
“When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is off. You have to arch your back to balance this huge tummy, so you end up with extra strain on your back and pelvic muscles,” said Victoria Pennick, M.H.Sc., registered nurse and one of the lead authors of a review of these practices written up in the Cochrane Library.
Women who participated in a variety of intervention programs recognized some relief of back and pelvic pain, said Pennick, a senior clinical research project manager at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.
The review looked at eight studies that examined the effect of adding pregnancy-specific strengthening exercises, water exercises, acupuncture and other pain-relief interventions to regular prenatal care. None of the studies dealt specifically with back or pelvic pain prevention. The studies involved 1,305 pregnant women from Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Thailand and Australia.
The review authors found that women who participated in prenatal exercise programs reported significant decreases in back pain compared to women who received the usual prenatal care.
The intervention programs taught moms-to-be movements to stretch the pelvic muscles, strengthen the abdominal and hamstring muscles and increase spinal flexibility.
In one study that evaluated work absenteeism during pregnancy, only 12.9 percent of the pregnant women who participated in water gymnastics missed work due to low-back pain, compared with 21.7 percent of the women who received usual prenatal care.
In one study of women with both back and pelvic pain, 60 percent who received acupuncture reported less intense pain, compared to 14 percent of women who did not. The study found no complications associated with the use of acupuncture in pregnant women.
On average, women who followed through with the pelvic or back pain interventions experienced some pain relief and reported less need for pain medication, physical therapy and posture-support belts.
Dave
As pregnancy progresses, back and pelvic pain can interfere with daily activities such as carrying groceries, cleaning and walking, and can disrupt work or sleep also. More than two-thirds of pregnant women experience back pain and almost one-fifth report pelvic pain.
“When you’re pregnant, your center of gravity is off. You have to arch your back to balance this huge tummy, so you end up with extra strain on your back and pelvic muscles,” said Victoria Pennick, M.H.Sc., registered nurse and one of the lead authors of a review of these practices written up in the Cochrane Library.
Women who participated in a variety of intervention programs recognized some relief of back and pelvic pain, said Pennick, a senior clinical research project manager at the Institute for Work & Health in Toronto.
The review looked at eight studies that examined the effect of adding pregnancy-specific strengthening exercises, water exercises, acupuncture and other pain-relief interventions to regular prenatal care. None of the studies dealt specifically with back or pelvic pain prevention. The studies involved 1,305 pregnant women from Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Thailand and Australia.
The review authors found that women who participated in prenatal exercise programs reported significant decreases in back pain compared to women who received the usual prenatal care.
The intervention programs taught moms-to-be movements to stretch the pelvic muscles, strengthen the abdominal and hamstring muscles and increase spinal flexibility.
In one study that evaluated work absenteeism during pregnancy, only 12.9 percent of the pregnant women who participated in water gymnastics missed work due to low-back pain, compared with 21.7 percent of the women who received usual prenatal care.
In one study of women with both back and pelvic pain, 60 percent who received acupuncture reported less intense pain, compared to 14 percent of women who did not. The study found no complications associated with the use of acupuncture in pregnant women.
On average, women who followed through with the pelvic or back pain interventions experienced some pain relief and reported less need for pain medication, physical therapy and posture-support belts.
Dave
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Does the source of an ingredient really matter?
As you know, there are products on the shelves that vary quite significantly in price for what appears to be the same item. This is true whether it is a bottle of herbal supplements or an extract of healthy mushrooms. A decade ago, I would select what I was looking for by grabbing the "best value" off the shelf. If there was a $8.99 version and a $19.95 version, as there so often is, I would select the cheap one. Thinking about that buying philosophy years later, I now understand why so many of those products I bought proved ineffective.
With dietary supplements, the expression "you get what you pay for" is almost universally true. While there are certain products that are just chemical entities and priced as commodities, most products have significant differences between them based upon where in the world they come from. (As an example of a commodity, ascorbic acid is just plain ascorbic acid, no matter which way you look at it. Of course, brands and quality control will differ, but hey -- even Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling said you should buy Vitamin C as cheaply as possible.) Plants, on the other hand, can vary dramatically even in the same species, depending upon where they are grown. Rhodiola rosea would grow right in my backyard in Arizona if I wanted. But, in comparison to a plant from the Arctic circle, it would have almost none of the same impact on my system.
And yet, I could grow and market the plant as a supplement and have no problem with regulators, even though the product would give the consumer no boost in energy, mental clarity, or any of the other benefits of daily consumption of Rhodiola with a product like Arctic Root. In the case of Rhodiola, this is because the plant gets its power by fighting the odds, and developing its own immune system in the extreme conditions of the Arctic region.
Another wonderful product category are the immune boosting mushrooms that we are hearing so much about lately. One of those companies is located right here in Arizona (Desert Forest Nutritionals). And yet, their mushrooms come from Brazil. They specialize in a very unique and highly potent medicinal mushroom which we'll talk about more on this website in the near future, the Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom.
Unfortunately, in the field of herbs, particularly mushrooms, the plant sucks up whatever is in the ground and whatever toxins are in the water supply. That's why the Japanese, huge consumers of Agaricus blazei Murrill mushrooms, buy 90% of the market for the Brazilian mushrooom. You'd think they'd buy it from Asian sources, right? Not so . . . the Japanese realize how dangerous certain plants and herbs can be that are grown in countries like China and South Asia, where unrestrained industrial growth has contaminated so many formerly pristine growing areas for botanical remedies.
The source of your herbs and supplements REALLY does matter, not only for the most effective use of the product, but also for safety from contamination by heavy metals and toxins. The excellent article linked to the headline of today's post describes this safety issue in more detail.
Next time you are considering a specialized supplement, consider its source, and how much difference this makes in the quality of the outcome. In a future post we'll discuss whether or not the herbal products industry is truly a long-term sustainable industry, or whether we are tapping all the earth's botanicals without consideration of the needs of future generations.
[PS added May 5: Just found a great article from Taipei, Taiwan. Even the Taiwanese people are concerned about the contamination of products coming from mainland China. See the comments section for link!]
Dave
With dietary supplements, the expression "you get what you pay for" is almost universally true. While there are certain products that are just chemical entities and priced as commodities, most products have significant differences between them based upon where in the world they come from. (As an example of a commodity, ascorbic acid is just plain ascorbic acid, no matter which way you look at it. Of course, brands and quality control will differ, but hey -- even Nobel Laureate Dr. Linus Pauling said you should buy Vitamin C as cheaply as possible.) Plants, on the other hand, can vary dramatically even in the same species, depending upon where they are grown. Rhodiola rosea would grow right in my backyard in Arizona if I wanted. But, in comparison to a plant from the Arctic circle, it would have almost none of the same impact on my system.
And yet, I could grow and market the plant as a supplement and have no problem with regulators, even though the product would give the consumer no boost in energy, mental clarity, or any of the other benefits of daily consumption of Rhodiola with a product like Arctic Root. In the case of Rhodiola, this is because the plant gets its power by fighting the odds, and developing its own immune system in the extreme conditions of the Arctic region.
Another wonderful product category are the immune boosting mushrooms that we are hearing so much about lately. One of those companies is located right here in Arizona (Desert Forest Nutritionals). And yet, their mushrooms come from Brazil. They specialize in a very unique and highly potent medicinal mushroom which we'll talk about more on this website in the near future, the Agaricus blazei Murrill mushroom.
Unfortunately, in the field of herbs, particularly mushrooms, the plant sucks up whatever is in the ground and whatever toxins are in the water supply. That's why the Japanese, huge consumers of Agaricus blazei Murrill mushrooms, buy 90% of the market for the Brazilian mushrooom. You'd think they'd buy it from Asian sources, right? Not so . . . the Japanese realize how dangerous certain plants and herbs can be that are grown in countries like China and South Asia, where unrestrained industrial growth has contaminated so many formerly pristine growing areas for botanical remedies.
The source of your herbs and supplements REALLY does matter, not only for the most effective use of the product, but also for safety from contamination by heavy metals and toxins. The excellent article linked to the headline of today's post describes this safety issue in more detail.
Next time you are considering a specialized supplement, consider its source, and how much difference this makes in the quality of the outcome. In a future post we'll discuss whether or not the herbal products industry is truly a long-term sustainable industry, or whether we are tapping all the earth's botanicals without consideration of the needs of future generations.
[PS added May 5: Just found a great article from Taipei, Taiwan. Even the Taiwanese people are concerned about the contamination of products coming from mainland China. See the comments section for link!]
Dave
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The costs of marketing: A Sham and a Shame
It would be great if your favorite dietary supplements, vitamins and minerals, etc, didn't have to cost so much.
One business owner told me recently about how her $20 bottle of tablets would have to be sold for $50 if she were to market them via the "multi-level marketing" method. It's true that when you have 50%, 60% or more of a product's retail price invested in the cost of commissions (everyone gets a piece), what you end up with is not a bargain for the consumer.
Don't get me wrong, there are some good products that are sold by Multi-Level marketing, and we'll talk about those and weigh their merits as Sham's or Wham's on this website. Still, a good supplement that you have to pay $50 for would be a heck of a lot better for all of us if you could just buy it for what it is really worth.
But it's not just MLM distribution that costs the consumer so much. Here's another example. . .
As an importer and business person myself, I can tell you that it is difficult in ANY marketing scenario to get a healthy product out the door at a fair price to the consumer. If you sell through health food stores or vitamin stores, you need to sell a distributor first. The really big outlets even require you to go through brokers to service their outlets. So, you have the cost of importation (high enough with the low value of the US Dollar), added customs duties, and then you mark the product up and sell it to a distributor. The distributor adds a similar markup and then sells it to the retail store, and then the store doubles the price and sells it to the consumer. If there were brokers involved, that's another markup to add to the mix.
The cost of marketing is compounded by the fact that a single small ad in a relatively modest magazine is $1,000 or more (the kind of health magazines you find in your health food store). Try and advertise in the big magazines and you'd be paying ten times that amount.
Yes, the cost of marketing is a SHAM. But, a sham that is completely necessary in order to get products out into the world. I'd like to see all my favorite products take the route with the fewest "bumps" in price before they get to the consumer. While that may SOUND like multi-level marketing ("You're buying right from me, no middleman, and I get it from the factory"), that isn't what happens in reality. (See the excellent tips article linked to the headline of this post for those who are considering a Multi-Level Marketing commitment).
Dave
One business owner told me recently about how her $20 bottle of tablets would have to be sold for $50 if she were to market them via the "multi-level marketing" method. It's true that when you have 50%, 60% or more of a product's retail price invested in the cost of commissions (everyone gets a piece), what you end up with is not a bargain for the consumer.
Don't get me wrong, there are some good products that are sold by Multi-Level marketing, and we'll talk about those and weigh their merits as Sham's or Wham's on this website. Still, a good supplement that you have to pay $50 for would be a heck of a lot better for all of us if you could just buy it for what it is really worth.
But it's not just MLM distribution that costs the consumer so much. Here's another example. . .
As an importer and business person myself, I can tell you that it is difficult in ANY marketing scenario to get a healthy product out the door at a fair price to the consumer. If you sell through health food stores or vitamin stores, you need to sell a distributor first. The really big outlets even require you to go through brokers to service their outlets. So, you have the cost of importation (high enough with the low value of the US Dollar), added customs duties, and then you mark the product up and sell it to a distributor. The distributor adds a similar markup and then sells it to the retail store, and then the store doubles the price and sells it to the consumer. If there were brokers involved, that's another markup to add to the mix.
The cost of marketing is compounded by the fact that a single small ad in a relatively modest magazine is $1,000 or more (the kind of health magazines you find in your health food store). Try and advertise in the big magazines and you'd be paying ten times that amount.
Yes, the cost of marketing is a SHAM. But, a sham that is completely necessary in order to get products out into the world. I'd like to see all my favorite products take the route with the fewest "bumps" in price before they get to the consumer. While that may SOUND like multi-level marketing ("You're buying right from me, no middleman, and I get it from the factory"), that isn't what happens in reality. (See the excellent tips article linked to the headline of this post for those who are considering a Multi-Level Marketing commitment).
Dave
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Sham: Green Tea Consumption for Weight Loss
The March 30th issue of the American Botanical Council's "HerbClip" reports on a new study conducted in the Netherlands to determine the validity of Green Tea use as a weight loss maintenance tool. The results of this moderately large study (120 individuals) are very interesting in light of all the press that Green Tea has gotten in the diet world. Do a Google search on Green Tea for diets and you'll find everyone and their brother has included Green Tea in their diet formulas. Even Oprah has been seen to tout this tea as a diet ingredient.
This trial involved overweight or moderately obese, but otherwise healthy, men and women aged 18 to 60 years, and was conducted at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. The trial was reported on in the British Journal of Nutrition.
American Botanical Council's reporter, Brenda Milot, writes that the results indicate that green tea consumption does NOT improve weight-loss maintenance relative to placebo. The metabolic and blood variables measured were not significantly different between the green tea and the placebo groups.
It appears, based on this study, that Green Tea falls into the SHAM category, at least for weight management after body-weight loss. Of course, we all know that Green Tea has other heath benefits -- but as a diet aid to maintain weight loss, forget it.
Dave
This trial involved overweight or moderately obese, but otherwise healthy, men and women aged 18 to 60 years, and was conducted at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. The trial was reported on in the British Journal of Nutrition.
American Botanical Council's reporter, Brenda Milot, writes that the results indicate that green tea consumption does NOT improve weight-loss maintenance relative to placebo. The metabolic and blood variables measured were not significantly different between the green tea and the placebo groups.
It appears, based on this study, that Green Tea falls into the SHAM category, at least for weight management after body-weight loss. Of course, we all know that Green Tea has other heath benefits -- but as a diet aid to maintain weight loss, forget it.
Dave
Wham: Pistachios are a snack with a healthy punch!
I thought this was an interesting research study, because so many of us can use some help in our snacking habits. Now, perhaps we'll be drinking pomegranate juice and eating pistachios in front of the tube, instead of beer and pretzels!
“Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among both men and women and another 20 million people are living with diabetes each year – so these findings are very exciting and relevant,” said Dr. Cyril Kendall, lead researcher of the study and a professor in the University of Toronto's Department of Nutritional Sciences. “We know that controlling blood glucose levels is important for preventing and controlling diabetes and recent data indicate that it is also important in preventing heart disease. Controlling postmeal fluctuations in glucose appears to be particularly important. Pistachios have been shown to decrease risk factors for heart disease, however little has been known about the specific effects of pistachios on blood glucose until now. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that suppressing the glycemic (blood sugar) response of high carbohydrate foods may be part of the mechanism by which pistachios contribute to cardiovascular health and to the prevention and control of diabetes. More research is definitely warranted.”
“Glycemic Response of Pistachios – A Dose Response Study and Effect of Pistachios Consumed with Different Common Carbohydrate Foods on Postprandial Glycemia was presented today to more than 10,000 scientists at the Experimental Biology Conference in Washington, DC. The study is the first of its kind to examine the effects of pistachios and glucose levels in combination with carbohydrates. The research was led by University of Toronto’s Dr. Cyril Kendall and Dr. David Jenkins - researchers well known for their studies of the glycemic index which measures how rapidly sugars from foods are absorbed into the blood stream. Certain carbohydrates elevate blood sugar levels more quickly than other foods – like pistachios – that contain higher levels of protein, fiber and monounsaturated fat. In general, foods that do not quickly raise blood sugar are often considered healthier than their more processed counterparts.
Drs. Jenkins and Kendall and their research colleagues studied 10 healthy individuals who participated in a number of acute dietary studies over the course of two months. After an overnight fast, participants were given a one-, two- or three-ounce serving of pistachios alone or served with a slice of white bread and blood sugar levels were measured over a two-hour period. The findings suggest that consumption of pistachios with a carbohydrate-rich meal significantly lowered the d blood glucose response. As consumption of pistachios increased, the blood sugar lowering response was enhanced. In addition, when pistachios were consumed alone, the rise in blood glucose was minimal.
The researchers also monitored the effect of pistachios consumed with different common carbohydrate foods on postprandial glycemia, or blood sugar levels after eating. The addition of pistachios to a number of other commonly consumed carbohydrate-rich foods – such as mashed potatoes, pasta and rice – also resulted in significant reductions in the blood sugar response, compared to when these foods were eaten alone.
In July 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a much-awaited qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease prevention. The claim states, "Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease." According to the California Pistachio Commission, the University of Toronto’s research findings are important for individuals who are living a heart-healthy lifestyle and those that monitor their blood sugar levels.
“Most people with diabetes have other risk factors – such as high blood pressure and cholesterol that increase one's risk for heart disease and stroke. When combined with diabetes, these risk factors can add up to serious health problems,” explains Constance Geiger, PhD, RD, and consultant to the California Pistachio Commission. “Recent research has suggested that pistachios are a heart-healthy, high-protein snack. Now people have yet another reason to grab a handful – they may blunt the blood sugar response of meals and may be beneficial for assisting with long-term blood glucose control.”
Dave
“Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among both men and women and another 20 million people are living with diabetes each year – so these findings are very exciting and relevant,” said Dr. Cyril Kendall, lead researcher of the study and a professor in the University of Toronto's Department of Nutritional Sciences. “We know that controlling blood glucose levels is important for preventing and controlling diabetes and recent data indicate that it is also important in preventing heart disease. Controlling postmeal fluctuations in glucose appears to be particularly important. Pistachios have been shown to decrease risk factors for heart disease, however little has been known about the specific effects of pistachios on blood glucose until now. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that suppressing the glycemic (blood sugar) response of high carbohydrate foods may be part of the mechanism by which pistachios contribute to cardiovascular health and to the prevention and control of diabetes. More research is definitely warranted.”
“Glycemic Response of Pistachios – A Dose Response Study and Effect of Pistachios Consumed with Different Common Carbohydrate Foods on Postprandial Glycemia was presented today to more than 10,000 scientists at the Experimental Biology Conference in Washington, DC. The study is the first of its kind to examine the effects of pistachios and glucose levels in combination with carbohydrates. The research was led by University of Toronto’s Dr. Cyril Kendall and Dr. David Jenkins - researchers well known for their studies of the glycemic index which measures how rapidly sugars from foods are absorbed into the blood stream. Certain carbohydrates elevate blood sugar levels more quickly than other foods – like pistachios – that contain higher levels of protein, fiber and monounsaturated fat. In general, foods that do not quickly raise blood sugar are often considered healthier than their more processed counterparts.
Drs. Jenkins and Kendall and their research colleagues studied 10 healthy individuals who participated in a number of acute dietary studies over the course of two months. After an overnight fast, participants were given a one-, two- or three-ounce serving of pistachios alone or served with a slice of white bread and blood sugar levels were measured over a two-hour period. The findings suggest that consumption of pistachios with a carbohydrate-rich meal significantly lowered the d blood glucose response. As consumption of pistachios increased, the blood sugar lowering response was enhanced. In addition, when pistachios were consumed alone, the rise in blood glucose was minimal.
The researchers also monitored the effect of pistachios consumed with different common carbohydrate foods on postprandial glycemia, or blood sugar levels after eating. The addition of pistachios to a number of other commonly consumed carbohydrate-rich foods – such as mashed potatoes, pasta and rice – also resulted in significant reductions in the blood sugar response, compared to when these foods were eaten alone.
In July 2003, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a much-awaited qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease prevention. The claim states, "Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease." According to the California Pistachio Commission, the University of Toronto’s research findings are important for individuals who are living a heart-healthy lifestyle and those that monitor their blood sugar levels.
“Most people with diabetes have other risk factors – such as high blood pressure and cholesterol that increase one's risk for heart disease and stroke. When combined with diabetes, these risk factors can add up to serious health problems,” explains Constance Geiger, PhD, RD, and consultant to the California Pistachio Commission. “Recent research has suggested that pistachios are a heart-healthy, high-protein snack. Now people have yet another reason to grab a handful – they may blunt the blood sugar response of meals and may be beneficial for assisting with long-term blood glucose control.”
Dave
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