News Alerts: Week 34, 2016

A new approach to diabetes

A small, but groundbreaking new trial has been published exploring the effects that a change of lifestyle can have on diabetes and obesity. The results of the study are described as “impressive and the implications ground breaking“. The study shows that the traditional low fat, calories-in equals calories-out approach is not working and instead utilises an approach “right at the other end of the spectrum”, with the 372 participants following a low carbohydrate diet. The results have been described as, “very encouraging – most had ‘unusually large improvements in their health'”. “Among those who had had various risk biomarkers measured, 58% had unhealthy levels at the beginning of the trial compared to 19% at the end” and as a result of these changes, “many were able to cut their drug intake”. The latter of course is one of the reasons why, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary, a low carb approach is still not the standard of care. Diabetes is big business. Research published in the British Medical Journal last week reveals that in one year companies making diabetes drugs paid $100 million to the doctors who prescribe diabetes medications in just 306 American hospitals. The money was for hospitality, speaking and consulting fees and payments correlated with higher prescribing rates of the paying company’s drug.

Hormone replacement therapy triples cancer risk

Just days after we interviewed Dr Alison Grimston, a specialist in addressing hormone imbalances using natural approaches, mainstream media is full of the findings of “The biggest ever study” linking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with an increase in breast cancer. The results of the study carried out by the Institute of Cancer Research and Breast Cancer Now has found that HRT can triple the risk of developing the life changing disease, providing further justification for choosing natural alternatives.

Dr Lee campaigns against HPV vaccination in China

Based on an extensive knowledge of the health impacts of HPV vaccines, Dr Sin Hang Lee, a Chinese American who received his formal medical education and training in China, has written an open letter to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang of The People’s Republic of China, asking them to delay the implementation of an HPV prevention vaccination program in China. This comes after GlaxoSmithKline announced that their HPV vaccine, Cervarix, had been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration and was expected to be rolled out to millions of young women in early 2017.

School fights back after mandatory vaccination law is passed

A school in California, USA is fighting back after the implementation of mandatory vaccination in the state. The new bill means that those who are not vaccinated are not permitted to mix with fellow pupils and therefore cannot continue their studies in regular attendance. Redding School of the Arts, however, has fought back with a virtual independent study program, allowing unvaccinated students to continue with their studies from their own home helping to encourage vaccine choice.

The governments flawed obesity strategy

The UK government’s much delayed childhood obesity strategy has received a mixed response from health lobby groups and the food industry alike, with neither side feeling it provides a truly holistic solution to the childhood obesity crisis . Food and Drink Federation director general, Ian Wright, claimed that the strategy, “focuses too strongly on the role of a single nutrient”, referring to the implication of a sugar tax. He explains that obesity is caused by excess calories from any nutrients, and he is not the only one to voice his concerns over the plan. No provision has been made in the strategy to curtail supermarket promotions of unhealthy food or Big Food’s advertising to children of junk food and confectionery. Alex Neil, director of policy and campaigns at Which? claimed, “the government is in denial if it thinks this vague plan and voluntary scheme are enough to tackle the current obesity crisis”.

Omega 3 supplementation fights stroke

A new study has found that long term supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) prevents the development of intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) in rats, one of the most common causes of stroke worldwide. The authors of the study say, “While similar effects in humans need to be determined, O3FA dietary supplement shows promising results in the prevention of ICAS”.

Supplement recommendations during pregnancy

Despite being aware that folic acid and iodine are recommended supplements to take during pregnancy, a new study has shown that only a quarter of Australian women adhere to the recommendations. It found that although 90% of the 857 participants knew that folic acid was beneficial during pregnancy only 27% took the correct dosage. The knowledge of iodine requirements was even poorer with only 23% of people knowing the correct dosage. The authors believe that healthcare providers are going to have to play a bigger part in enforcing the requirements during GP visits. Our ANH-Intl Food4Health guidelines for nutrition during pregnancy are a good place to start for a solid ‘food first’ approach.