Ra 4 Food - Health and Nutritional Tips

The link between obesity and preventable illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer is well documented, but is enough being done to combat this?

Health Campaigns targeting unhealthy lifestyles are rife, yet obesity rates continue to rise.  It is estimated that in England, more than 60% of adults and more than 30% of children are either overweight or obese & this could increase to 9 out of 10 adults and two-thirds of children by 2050.  We are now officially the fattest nation in Europe!

One response to this - according to the BBC – is that every ambulance service in Britain has begun to buy specialist equipment as a direct result of the rising rates of obesity.  Wider stretchers and lifting gear, as well as heavy duty wheelchairs are being installed in standard ambulances to cope with the increasing number of obese patients

The Director of the Ambulance Service Network – Jo Webber - said ambulance bosses had been left with no recourse but to take this action.

“The fact is patients are getting larger and larger and ambulances need to be able to respond immediately to what could be life-threatening situations.

“Every service is having to invest money in this. It shows that some of the lifestyle changes we are seeing have a range of costs. It is not just about treating them, but the infrastructure costs as well.”

Every ambulance service has confirmed the changes, though the scale & timing vary from area to area. As well as changes to standard ambulances, many services have bought what are referred to as specialist ‘bariatric’ ambulances. These are equipped with double-width trolley stretchers suitable for patients weighing up to 50 stone. Hoists and inflatable lifting cushions are also often included. The reported costs to the Health service are phenomenal with stretchers costing between £7,000 and £10,000 & inflatable lifting cushions around £2,500. Reinforcing an ambulance tail-lift costs around £800 for each one!

So – there is one universal & costly response to an ever rising level of obesity, bit it’s a measure to deal with an escalating problem not to combat it. Healthy eating campaigns aside, what is the government actually doing to help the people it represents to have a healthier diet?

Last summer there was disappointment & outrage when the European Parliament appeared to reject recommendations designed to promote better health among consumers, in favour of the interests of the food industry. Consumer & health groups were dismayed at the rejection of the proposals for a colour coded ‘traffic lights’ system which were the result of much research in an attempt to devise a universal & easily understood system.

A further anomaly occurs at the very place people end up for treatment for the illnesses & diseases they end up with - unhealthy eating patterns usually being a major contributory factor – namely our hospitals! Up & down the country patients are served food which is blatantly unhealthy – often the very things NHS public awareness campaigns advise them not to eat! There are no rigorous regulations covering the provision of hospital food & items such as fry-ups, burgers, chips, & ice cream are commonly found on hospital menus across the country with the options for children including chicken nuggets, sausage rolls, fish fingers, pizzas and pasties. There is even a Burger King on site at one well known cardiac unit & vending machines for the purchase of fizzy drinks, crisps & chocolate are widespread! As well as being unhealthy, the food served is often unpalatable, often being outsourced & previously frozen. Very few vegetables make an appearance.

It is possible for NHS trusts to work with the limited budgets they have to cook healthy appetizing meals on the premises made from fresh seasonal produce. Trusts such as the Royal Brompton in London have proved this!

The obvious conclusion to reach is that the government must turn the rhetoric of its public health campaigns into more direct action if the fight against obesity and the battle to improve public health is to be won. The health of the people it purports to represent must take precedence over the interests of the food industry if an escalation of the present crisis is to be averted!

For some time now the virtues of eating 5 portions of fruit & vegetables a day have been extolled for the health benefits that result, but now, according to research carried out in Scotland, eating fruit & vegetables can lead to a change in skin colour which renders us more attractive!

The change in skin colour is caused by the carotenoid present in fruit & vegetables such as plums, tomatoes, carrots & peppers. Ian Stephen who carried out the research at St. Andrew’s University explained how these lead to the change, which appears in Caucasians as a golden glow, “Carotenoids are stored in fat under the skin. They are also secreted through the skin in serum, and are then reabsorbed into the top layer of the skin, bestowing that golden colour.”

The research began at ‘The Perception Lab’ at St. Andrews which specializes in studying ‘the many facets of face perception…What makes one person appear more trustworthy and cooperative than another? What is the relationship between health and attractiveness, and which physiological factors influence this relationship?’ While there has been much research done on face shape there has been little on skin colour.

Stephen described how he conducted the research, ‘There are two main pigments that affect the yellowness of skin. One comes from carotenoids, the other from melanin, which is yellow and dark, giving the brown colour that we associate with a sun tan. Using a scientific instrument called a spectrophotometer, I measured the colour change associated with changes in carotenoid levels and melanin levels in the skin. Then, using a computer programme, I allowed participants to adjust the levels of carotenoid and melanin colour in photographs of faces to make them look as attractive as possible. Participants chose to increase melanin colour slightly, but increased carotenoid colour lots.’

Stephen used a questionnaire to ascertain the daily consumption of fruit and vegetables of another group of participants and then analysed skin tones to confirm that the changes in skin colour were due to changes in carotenoid levels rather than other pigments such as melanin.

The results of the study indicate that ‘a golden glow’ is equated with health & considered attractive by most people. Stephen cites Darwin’s view of skin colour as a contributory factor in sexual attraction: “The whole purpose of attractiveness from an evolutionary point of view is that the person doing the viewing is looking for a viable, healthy, high-quality mate,”

Professor David Perrett, who runs The Perception Lab points out: “This is something we share with other species. For example, the bright yellow beaks and feathers of many birds can be thought of as adverts showing how healthy a male bird is. What’s more, females of those species prefer to mate with brighter, more colourful males. But this is the first study in which this has been demonstrated in humans.”

It’s possible that these latest advantages of consuming 5 a day may just appeal to a whole new following!

In a bid to make cigarette smoking less appealing towards children, MPs are pushing for plain cigarette packaging.

In the early stages of 2011, shop owners will be expected to hide their cigarette displays.

Children have been attracted to the ”glitzy designs on packets” and “less attractive packaging” would help to prevent them from taking up smoking, according to health secretary, Andrew Lansley.

The reaction to the announcement has been met with mixed reaction, with smokers’group Forest stating that there was no evidence plain packaging would have any impact, and health campaigners fully behind the move.

Under the proposed legislation, the Department of Health may request tobacco companies to add only basic information, plus picture warnings to their packets.

The suggestions could support those in the process of giving up, and the suggestion of a simple, plain colour, may deter children from becoming attracted to taking up the habit in the first place.

Mr Lansley feels that every avenue needs to be looked into in order to deter people from smoking.

“The evidence is clear that packaging helps to recruit smokers, so it makes sense to consider having less attractive packaging. It’s wrong that children are being attracted to smoke by glitzy designs on packets,” Mr Langer explained.

“We would prefer it if people did not smoke and adults will still be able to buy cigarettes, but children should be protected from the start.

“The levels of poor health and deaths from smoking are still far too high, and the cost to the NHS and the economy is vast. That money could be used to educate our children and treat cancer.

“We will shortly set out a radical new approach to public health in a White Paper.”

Director of policy and research for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Martin Dockrell, believes packaging is very important for cigarette sales.

“They use it to seduce our kids and mislead smokers into the false belief that a cigarette in a blue pack is somehow less deadly than a cigarette in a red one,” Mr Dockrell revealed.

“By helping smokers who want to quit and protecting our children from the tobacco ad men this will be an enormous leap forward for public health, perhaps even bigger than the smoking ban.

“The government accepts that packaging and tobacco displays influence young people, so there is no time to waste. It may take years to pass a new law on plain packs but the law on tobacco displays is already on the statute books and comes into force next year.”

Public health professor at Kings College London, Dr Alan Marton-Davis, is pleased with the approach taken by the government.

“It’s a very welcome statement from the health secretary and a good example of how the government can help people choose a healthier way of life by ‘nudging’ rather than nagging,” he said.

Forest’s director, Simon Clark, isn’t swayed by the government’s actions.

“There is no evidence that plain packaging will have any influence whatsoever on smoking rates. Also, the policy is designed to discriminate against smoking and stigmatise the consumer, which is totally wrong,” he proclaimed.

Some evidence backs the suggestion to keep cigarettes out of sight in shops.

Tobacco Control recently found that cigarettes out of visible display not only altered the attitude of young people, but didn’t lose shop owners any money.

Tuberculosis is back in Britain with the number of people infected at the highest point since 1979.

The amount infected in 1979 was 9,266, but with 9,040 people infected during 2009, the figures are causing great concern to those in the medical industry.

The strain of Tuberculosis which is resistant to treatment by antibiotics is has doubled in nine years according to the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

According the HPA figures, 206 people were infected by the resistant strain in 2000, compared to 389 in 2009.

The cause for the dramatic increase appears to be from overseas immigrants bringing the disease with them, according to health experts, and the TB seems to be most prominent amongst immigrants from Asia and Africa.

Most cases are found to be in the London area, with the homeless and drug abusers also mainly affected.

If not caught early enough, TB can lead to fatality, and approximately 350 people die each year because of it.

One of the main reasons it spreads so quickly and so well, is that it can survive in the body for years without illness or awareness of its presence.

The bacteria damages the lungs, causing fever, coughing, loss of appetite, weight loss and tiredness.

If patients don’t complete the course of antibiotics as advised by their doctor, the disease can become resistant to drugs and even more dangerous to the public.

The HPA’s executive director of health protection services, Dr Paul Cosford, feels those affected should heed the instructions of their doctor well.

“Although drug-resistant and multi-drug resistant cases of infection represent only a small proportion of TB cases overall, each resistant case requires careful and often prolonged treatment and care,” Dr Cosford explained.

“Drug resistance is increasingly an issue in a wide range of infections.

“Patients must ensure they take their full prescription as instructed and, most importantly, they must finish any course of treatment that has been prescribed.”

Head of TB surveillance at the HPA, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar, has some worries: “We are concerned to see that cases of TB are at their highest levels since the 1970s.

“Tuberculosis is a preventable and treatable condition.

“But, if left untreated, it can be life threatening.

“The key to reducing levels of TB is early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

“Efforts to improve early diagnosis and control the spread of this infection must remain a priority and be increased in areas where prevalence is high.”

The local herbal medicine industry is set to soar in growth, according to industry experts.

The health products industry is anticipating increased demand and knowledge of health and wellness products.

Lito M. Abelarde, Chairman at the Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines, Inc. (CHIPI), spoke of the changes: “The demand from people in the Philippines and the whole world for natural wellness products is unstoppable. Even the pharmaceutical companies are going to it now.”

President at CHIPI, Albert M. G. Garcia expressed his agreement, and believes the international health and wellness industry is heading through promising developments.

“Globally, there is an undoubted global interest in preventive healthcare,” Mr Garcia explained.

“We are in advanced stage of negotiations to export to Thailand and Indonesia.”

The industry group is clearly keen to explore all avenues for expansion in the global market.

Mr Abelarde revealed how only 10% of sales are from export, but plans are afoot to increase this figure: ”We will become a major supplier of the world’s requirement. We are a tropical country so we can grow many plants all year round.”

The local natural herbal industry is of benefit to all, including smaller business, according to industrial officials.

“It is an industry where even small farmers and entrepreneurs can participate and the value of their output is high compared if they will just plant traditional crops,” Mr Abelarde continued.

Companies must ensure their products pass regulations set by the government.

CHIPI currently consists of 70 member companies, which range from manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to scientists and service providers.

The National Institute for clinical excellence – NICE – has recommended major changes round convenience & processed food.

NICE – The UK’s leading health watchdog - has challenged both the government & the food industry to take action to improve the nation’s health through diet, saying that this should no longer just be a matter for the individual consumer. In producing its report, the focus for the NICE committee – which spent two years considering the content of the report - was viewed as safeguarding the population, rather than advising the individual who may have limited options.

Klim McPherson - professor of health epidemiology at Oxford University and chairman of the NICE committee – said, “It is about busy people having a lot to do, having to make choices on the fly, making pragmatic choices on how they feed themselves and their children. Commercial organisations are very good at exploiting people who make choices on price and convenience.”

Some of the changes recommended by the report were:

• A total ban on trans fats.

• Halving the individual daily salt intake.

• Legislating if necessary to encourage manufacturers to slash the content of hidden saturated fats in all food products.

• Ensuring low fat and low salt foods are cheaper than unhealthier versions.

• Banning television adverts for high-salt and high-fat foods before the 9pm watershed, to protect children.

• Urging local councils to forbid take-aways and junk food outlets near schools.

• Bringing in the “traffic light” colour coding system to show whether a product has high, low or medium levels of salt, fat and sugar. The committee noted the regrettable decision by the EU not to support the system & urged the government to implement it via legislation.

The report met with a less than enthusiastic response from the government who claimed it was up to the individual to make healthy choices. The Food & Drink Federation claimed that the voluntary measures already taken by the industry had had a significant impact on the consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, salt & sugar.

The report was, however, supported, by the European Society of Cardiology and the British Heart Foundation. There are at least 150,000 deaths a year from cardiovascular disease, the majority through heart attack & stroke. According to Klim McPherson, “These are eminently preventable deaths.”

Simon Capewell, - professor of clinical epidemiology at Liverpool University and a public health physician - said that the changes would make economic sense too, including for example, fewer people having to give up work to be a carer. “We’re looking at well over £1bn a year in savings, not just to the NHS.”

Eating disorder charities are concerned that a marked rise in people obsessed with healthy eating may be indicative of a serious psychological condition.

Sufferers typically have strict rules around eating. Certain foods - such as sugar, salt, caffeine, gluten & dairy - are out, as are foods that contain artificial additives or may have come into contact with pesticides. But hey – that all sounds reasonable enough! Isn’t that along the lines of how many of us health conscious folk eat?

In 1996 a Californian doctor – Stephen Bratman – coined the phrase ‘Orthorexia Nervosa’ which he defined as ‘an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food.’ Initially intended as what he termed ‘tease therapy’ for some of his patients whom he considered to be overly obsessed with diet, it has since gained significance in an arena where such an obsession has sometimes become physically & psychologically unhealthy.

The concept has encountered much challenge because of the apparent contradiction that an emphasis on healthy food can be unhealthy. However it is the obsession with healthy food that is viewed as the unhealthy aspect. Bratman points to exercise addiction as a comparison & says, ‘I never intended the expression to apply to anything other than extreme cases of over-focus, particularly where the person themselves would rather lighten up and stop thinking about it so much.’

Until relatively recently there were so few cases that the medical profession placed them under the ‘Ednos’ label – eating disorders not otherwise recognized. Now – according to experts – they constitute such a high proportion of this group that it is felt they should receive separate treatment.

Ursula Philpot, chair of the British Dietetic Association’s mental health group said, “I am definitely seeing significantly more orthorexics than just a few years ago. Other eating disorders focus on quantity of food but orthorexics can be overweight or look normal. They are solely concerned with the quality of the food they put in their bodies, refining and restricting their diets according to their personal understanding of which foods are truly ‘pure’.”

This obsession orthorexics have about what constitutes ‘good’ food & ‘bad’ food can lead to malnutrition. Eating can become so stressful that it impacts on relationships. But a characteristic of the condition is that despite these difficulties, people who suffer from it feel an exaggerated sense of ‘righteousness’

Bratman says that since writing a book on the condition he has become ‘aware of a rare, darker form of orthorexia, in which the fixation can lead to death.’ He continues, ‘There are some, now, who use “orthorexia” alone to indicate the milder obsession and “orthorexia nervosa” to refer to the dangerous type.’

So, to go back to where we started, if you want to remain in a healthy state of body & mind, yes, be conscious of what you’re eating, just try not to obsess about it!

Earlier in the month research suggested that coffee may give some protection against developing Parkinson’s disease. Now scientists have found evidence that drinking coffee may also result in a reduced risk of getting head & neck cancers.

The study, led by Mia Hashibe from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, used studies from the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) consortium. The results were published online in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

The new study looked at & analyzed data from nine previous case controlled studies of head & neck cancers. Altogether this new research considered five thousand one hundred & thirty nine cases & compared these with nine thousand & twenty eight controls.

The results indicated that people who drank more than four cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a thirty nine per cent less risk of developing cancers of the oral cavity & pharynx. However, there was no similar association when it came to developing cancer of the larynx.

The data available regarding decaffeinated coffee & tea also indicated a lack of association, though in the case of decaffeinated coffee the amount of data was limited due to both the low number of participants drinking this, & the low amounts consumed.

The researchers concluded their report by saying, “Since coffee is so widely used and there is a relatively high incidence and low survival rate of these forms of cancers, our results have important public health implications that need to be further addressed. What makes our results so unique is that we had a very large sample size, and since we combined data across many studies, we had more statistical power to detect associations between cancer and coffee.”

However the report also pointed out that no definite biological mechanism has yet been established for the potentially positive role of coffee on head & neck cancers. It refers to the fact that coffee contains phenols, some of which are known to have antioxidant properties, & others to activate enzymes that help detoxify some carcinogens.

Ed Yong, speaking on behalf of Cancer Research UK, said: “Coffee is a cocktail of hundreds of different chemicals and we don’t know which of these, if any, could affect the risk of cancer. You often only see benefits in people who drink a great deal of coffee. And studies like these rely on people with cancer remembering how much coffee they drank years ago. We now need studies that look at larger groups of initially healthy people to see if the amount of coffee they drink affects their cancer risk over time.”

There was disappointment & outrage on Wednesday as the European Parliament appeared to reject recommendations designed to promote better health among consumers, in favour of the interests of the food industry.

Consumer & health groups were dismayed at the rejection of the proposals which were the result of much research in an attempt to devise a universal & easily understood system.

BEUC – the European consumer organization – pointed out that the traffic lights system has been endorsed by consumer groups, public health organisations and doctors, and is already in use in some of Europe’s major supermarkets.

Its director general - Monique Goyens - said: “Despite being presented with a wealth of independent research confirming that the vast majority of consumers wanted the colour coding system, MEPs have mystifyingly voted against it.

“One wonders how we are to convince lawmakers that the fight against obesity and the battle to improve public health needs to start with action today, not tomorrow.

“There is no doubt that this vote is a very, very serious setback.”

Members of the food industry have lobbied intensively against colour coded labelling, claiming that such a system would ‘demonize’ many of their products.

Conservative MEP, Struan Stevenson - speaking on Wednesday about the lobbying - said that hundreds of people from the food industry had been attempting to meet with him. He said that he had had five meetings with the Italian chocolate company Ferrero Rocher alone.

He told the BBC: “The lobbyists have now penetrated the inner sanctum of the MEPs and they’re walking into our offices very often without any appointments at all. People are objecting to that and saying we should have more control about where lobbyists are allowed to go. But on this issue there are armies of them. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Peter Hollins - chief executive of The British Heart Foundation – said that the vote went “against all the evidence”.

He said: “The European Parliament should be ashamed of putting the interests of the food lobby ahead of the health of the people they represent. Thousands of people across the UK have taken action to ask their MEPs to back traffic lights because they want help to make healthy choices.

“But the food industry has spent millions of pounds lobbying to block this improvement in food labelling. David has been no match for the industry’s Goliath.”

Before the new regulations become law, it is essential for all three parts of the European government – council, commission & parliament - to reach agreement.

Hollins said:  ”The European council and commission still have the opportunity to give this critical scheme the green light, and we will continue to fight for the health of ordinary people above the profits of the food industry.”