One molecule away from plastic?

I decided to write this article after my son made the offhand comment "after all margarine is only one molecule away from plastic" the other day.  Because college has taught me to be a critical thinker, I thought I would research the topic.

I went to Google and typed in the phase "one molecule away from plastic" and up came whole page of results.  Because Heart Foundation recommends replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat and margarine is unsaturated and butter is saturated, they have addressed this claim.  In summary here is what they say: Plastics are a polymer and can be made from natural products such as wood, corn, plants and even sugar and some of the earliest plastics were made from milk, so while plastics can be made from vegetable oils and so is margarine that is where the similarity ends. Adding one molecule to margarine won't turn it to plastic and even if it were true one molecule can make a world of difference.  For example, bleach and water only have one atom apart and they are vastly different. The article also addresses several other myths that are often passed around at the same time as this one (Heart Foundation, 2012).

In light of what I discovered from my research, what is my recommendation on the question of butter vs margarine. Here are my thoughts; margarine has vastly changed since it was first came out in 1869.  One of the big concerns when research was done on it in 1980 was trans-fat because it increased the risk of heart attack.  Since then margarine manufacturers have addressed this issue by making margarine's that are trans-fat free. Butter has also changed to address the saturated fat issue by adding oil to them to make spreadable butters with reduced calories and up to half the saturated fat.

So for me the question comes down to three things; taste, nutrition and health benefits.  As to taste, I prefer butter, as far as nutrition, they are essentially the same other than the fact the butter has more saturated fat and the nutrients in margarine have to be added in order to match butter. With regard to the health benefits I think it comes down to oils vs dairy.  Do you want your spread to be from oils (which are questionable themselves) or from a natural source such as milk? My personal opinion is that I prefer the taste of butter, but I want to reduce my calories and saturated fats; so I chose spreadable butter with oil added.

Reference:

Myth busting: butter versus margarine. Retrieved from http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/healthy-living/healthy-eating/food-for-a-healthy-heart/replace-butter/myth-busting-butter-versus-margarine

GMO's: Future Food or Frankenfood????

I have my own opinion about GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), but for the purpose of this article, I will present both sides of the issue. First, however, let’s discuss a little of the science behind them.

Biotechnology is the field of science concerned with modifying the DNA of plants by adding or removing genes. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) are plants or bacteria which have been changed in this manner to produce certain desired traits (Schlenker & Roth, 2011). Genetic Modification is accomplished through biotechnology or plant breeding. Prior to 1990, crops were grown using traditional methods. After that time, biotechnology dramatically changed the way food was produced. Today biotechnology is used in agriculture and food processing.

The three major goals of biotechnology are:

• Resistance to Disease and insects: Because plants that are produced using biotechnology have a built in resistance to disease and insects, fewer pesticides need to be used which is better for the environment (Biotechnology Industry Organization, 2012). Pesticides are designed to kill and therefore by their very nature pose a risk to all living organisms and the environment (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2011).
• Increased tolerance to weather conditions: Plants genetically modified to survive in extreme weather conditions are less likely to be destroyed by late frost. This has the potential to increase crop yields and food shortages, especially in the developing world (Schlenker & Roth, 2011).
• Increased nutritional value: Genetic modification has increased the monounsaturated fatty acid content of soybean oil and scientists are working toward increasing the lycopene content of tomatoes and increasing the protein and micronutrients of grain. This could help lessen nutrient deficiencies in developing countries (Schlenker & Roth, 2011).

The three major concerns those opposing GMO’s have are:

• Risk of allergic reactions: Biotechnology changes the proteins in these crops and may introduce proteins which have the properties of known allergens. There is a growing body of evidence of allergies which have been caused by GMO soy and corn and even though screening for this is recommended, many of the GMO crops in our food supply fail those tests (Institute for Responsible Technology, 2009).
• Potential toxicity: Biotechnology crops have been linked to disease, sterility and death. Animal deaths were linked to Biotech cotton plants, corn and potatoes and people in five Filipino villages became ill when Biotech corn was pollinating (Institute for Responsible Technology, 2009).
• Environmental concerns: The GM crops may themselves become weeds, they may move GM crops may serve as conduits and move to wild plants creating weeds, they could produce toxic substances which can spread to plants and animals, and they could affect the ecosystem. So far none of these concerns have come to fruition (Mellon & Rissler, 2003).

Here in the United States GMO’s are considered safe based on experience not on scientific testing. In order to know for sure whether they are safe or not, scientific research and testing must be conducted to find out how the new proteins which are formed affect human health and how the transfer of the new gene affects plant metabolism (GMO Compass, 2006).

The fact is that even through the benefits of GMO crops, have the potential to increase crop yields, reduce food shortages and improve the nutritional value of the world’s food supply; whether or not these foods are safe for human consumption makes eating them a questionable practice.

References:

Biotechnology Industry Organization. (2012, June 1).Global economic and environmental benefits of ge crops continues to rise. Retrieved from http://www.bio.org/articles/global-economic-and-environmental-benefits-ge-crops-continues-rise

GMO Compass. (2006, February 15). Evaluating safety: A major undertaking. Retrieved   from    http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/safety/human_health/41.evaluation_safety_gm_food_major_undertaking.html

Institute for Responsible Technology. (2009). Health risks - gmo's. Retrieved from             “http://www.responsibletechnology.org/health-risks

Mellon, M., & Rissler, J. (2003, June 12). Ucsusa. Retrieved from             http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts genetic_engineering/environmental-effects-of.html

Schlenker, E. D., & Roth, S. L. (2011). Williams' essentials of nutrition and diet therapy.    (Tenth ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2011, November 29).Environmental contaminants  program. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/contaminants/Issues/Pesticides.cfm

The Health Benefits of Journaling

   
All my life, the leaders of my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) have counseled us to keep a journal (LeAnn, 2011) . Their reason of doing this was to preserve your life history for your posterity. If you want to know more about the LDS (Mormon) perspective on journaling you can go to: http://mormonwoman.org/2011/06/06/the-purpose-of-a-journal/
      Recently, while studying stress for my Exercise Fitness class in college, I was reminded of the other benefits of keeping a journal. Journaling in general is a great way to get your feeling out and an excellent mental health strategy. Sometimes writing things down helps you identify your problems and get your feelings out. We sometimes don't recognize that we are under stress until we get our feelings on paper. One great thing to do in a journal is look for the positive things in your life.
      In an article I found entitled “The Health Benefits of Journaling”, the scientific benefits of journaling are discussed (Purcell, 2006).
     These benefits include:
           • Clarifying your thoughts and feelings. Taking a few minutes to jot down your thoughts and emotions will quickly help you get in touch with them.
          • Help you get to know yourself better. Writing routinely will help you get to know what makes you feel the way you do and become more clear about situations and people who are toxic.
         • Reduce stress. Writing about anger, sadness and painful emotions helps you feel release some of the intensity of the emotions and feel calmer.
        • Solve problems more effectively. Writing unlocks your creatively, which engages your right-brain and gives you another prospective on them.
        • Resolve disagreements with others. Writing about misunderstandings helps clarify your feelings thus releasing some of the emotions so that you are better able to understand the other persons point of view (Purcell, 2006).
     In addition to all the benefits previously mentioned, journaling helps you look back and see patterns, trends, improvement and growth over time. Reading your journal enables you to look back at past problems and see how you have resolved them (Purcell, 2006).

 References:
LeAnn. (2011, June 6). The purpose of a journal. Retrieved from http://mormonwoman.org/2011/06/06/the-purpose-of-a-journal/

Purcell, M. (2006). The Health Benefits of Journaling. Psych Central. Retrieved from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/

Why am I SAD?

In December of 2010, we spent two weeks in the Northwest. There were only a few days when there was sun. After a week that was cold, gloomy & rainy, I found myself sinking into a deep depression and I felt like I would go crazy if it went on much longer. I didn't know what was wrong. The first day that there was sun, I felt I just had to get out in it. As soon as I did, I felt better. Then there were several more days of gloomy weather and the depression came back. I didn't think that much about it until the Spring of 2011 when we had lots of gloomy whether at my home in Colorado. Again, I felt that I was to go crazy if it didn't stop. To make a long story short I discovered I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

 Since I made this discovery I have done some research on this disorder and found out that SAD was first described and researched by Dr. Norman Rosenthal while working at the National Institute of Health. He is the pioneer of light therapy to treat it and the author of the most popular book on SAD “Winter Blues” (Rothenthal, 2012). SAD is mainly a seasonal depressive disorder which develops in the late autumn or early winter and subsides in the spring. An estimated 10 to 20 percent of cases follow this seasonal pattern. Young adults and women are more likely to experience SAD. The rate of serotonin production is lowest in the winter which can affect mood. Studies have shown that people exposed to light therapy have shown marked improvement in depressive symptoms probably because insufficient light appears to cause a worsening of mood among SAD-vulnerable patients. These people seem to have an increased production of melatonin with the onset of longer winter nights. Studies suggest that the disorder may be an inherited disorder. Individuals with SAD experience fatigue, hypersomnia and increased appetite prior to developing depressive symptoms. Exercise and light therapy have been shown to be very effective treatments for SAD, especially morning outdoor exercise (Roecklein & Rohan, 2005). Dr. Rothenthal estimates that SAD affects approximately six percent of the population (fourteen million Americans). In his book, “Winter Blues” he focuses on how light therapy can be used to treat SAD (Rothenthal, 2012). In addition to light therapy, several supplements have been shown to help with the disorder.  I have chosen to discuss 5 supplements which I feel would best help. They are Vitamin D, St. John’s Wort, SAM-e, Evening Primrose Oil and Magnesium.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and because sunlight is one of the main sources of Vitamin D, researchers have studied it to see if supplementary Vitamin D also has an effect on depression and mood. Vitamin D is also involved in immune and neuromuscular function. Some research has found that diet and sunshine are not supplying all the Vitamin D that Americans need and supplementation may be necessary (Reynolds, 2010). “The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that likelihood of having depression in people with vitamin D deficiency is significantly higher compared to those whose levels are sufficient.” (Gullotti, 2011). Many experts believe that at least 1000 IU of Vitamin D is needed per day to avoid deficiency. Caution should be taken to avoid mega dosing. Doses should not exceed 20,000 IU from all sources (Schlenker & Roth, 2011).

St. John’s Wort

St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herb which has been widely used as a treatment for depression. It has been called “Nature’s Prozac”. Several studies have shown that it as effective as anti-depressant drugs. It appears to support serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. The ingredient in St. John’s Wort that seems to be responsible for much of the anti-depressant properties of herb is Hyperforin and studies show that the clinical effects of St. John’s Wort on depression correspond with its Hyperforin content (Moore, Goodwin, Jones, Wisley, Serabit-Singh, Willson, Collins & Kliewer, 2000). Also according to Mosby’s Handbook of Herb’s and Natural Supplements, hyperforin and adhyperforin which is found in the reproductive parts of the plant are the two constituents which may responsible for St. John’s Wort’s antidepressive properties (Skidmore-Roth, 2011). Results of over 20 trials have shown it to be as effective as anti-depressants for mild to moderate depression, with fewer side effects. It has also been used for a long time in folk medicine to treat sadness, worry, nervousness and poor sleep (Wong, 2011) which are some other symptoms of SAD. The recommended dosage for St. John’s Wort is 300 mg. hypercium extract, standardized to 0.3% tid. (1 to 3 capsules daily.) St. John’s Wort should not be given to children and those who are on anti-depressants (Skidmore-Roth, 2011).

SAM-e ( S-adenosyl-L-methionine)
SAM-e has been available by prescription in Europe as an anti-depressant for many years and available in the United States over-the-counter since 1996. SAM-e has been tested as an anti-depressant because of its role in making neurotransmitters. Several studies which have been conducted for depression both in the United States and in Europe show that SAM-e is more effective than anti-depressants and significantly more effective than a placebo and that the side effects are mild and transient. New research shows that SAM-e may be able to replace SSRI’s such as Prozac because when they failed to improve symptoms adding SAM-e improved the symptoms. SAM-e is also a good alternative for people who suffer from the hypersomnia associated with SAD because it produces alertness (Sahelian, n.d.). The recommended dosage for SAM-e is 200 - 400 mg daily. SAM-e should not be used during pregnancy or nursing, by children or by persons with bipolar disorder or Parkinson’s disease (Skidmore-Roth, 2011).

Evening Primrose Oil

Evening Primrose Oil is rich in essential fatty acids which are effective in treating depression (Steady Health, 2010). Fatty acids are needed for normal brain function and studies have linked low levels of fatty acids to depression. Because fatty acids are needed for normal brain function this might also help with the difficulty concentrating associated with SAD. Countries with high consumption of fish have depression rates 10 times lower than countries that don’t (Wong, 2011). The main essential fatty acid in Evening Primrose oil is GLA (gamma linoleic acid). When GLA is lacking, the nerve cell membranes do not function properly (Skidmore-Roth, 2011). The recommended dosage for Evening Primrose Oil is 1g containing 100 mg GLA (1 to 2 capsules daily). Patients who are pregnant or nursing should use caution and those who have seizure disorders should not take Evening Primrose Oil (Skidmore-Roth, 2011).

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for good health because it is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions including serotonin production, nerve function and energy metabolism (Office of Dietary Supplements, n.d.). Its numerous health benefits include the treatment of insomnia and depression (Newsmax, 2011). The UTL for Magnesium is 350 mg per day (Office of Dietary Supplements, n.d.). Magnesium should not be taken with antacids or laxatives containing magnesium because of the danger of magnesium toxicity. People with kidney failure should not take magnesium supplements because they will not be able to remove any excess magnesium.

Conclusion

While there are other supplements that could be useful for SAD such as 5-HTP, Folic Acid and Vitamin B6 (Wong, 2011), I chose these five because I think that they best support the depressive symptoms of SAD and are mood enhancers, support normal nerve function, supply nutrients essential for serotonin production, nerve function, energy metabolism, immune and neuromuscular function.

References:

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2011). Seasonal affective disorder. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195/DSECTION=symptoms

Roecklein, K. A., & Rohan, K. J. (2005, January). Seasonal affective disorder. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004726/

Moore, L. B., Goodwin, B., Jones, S. A., Wisley, B. G., Serabit-Singh, C. J., Willson, T. M., Collins, J. L., & Kliewer, S. A. (2000, April 26). St. John’s wort induces hepatic drug metabolism through activation of the pregnane x receptor. Retrieved from http://www.pnas.org/content/97/13/7500.full

Skidmore-Roth, L. (2011). Mosby’s handbook of herbs & natural supplements. (4 ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

Wong, C. (2011, September 26). Depression remedies. Retrieved from http://altmedicine.about.com/od/healthconditionsatod/a/Depression1.htm

Steady Health. (2010, August 30). Herbs for sad. Retrieved from http://ic.steadyhealth.com/herbs_for_sad.html

Gullotti, J. (2011, December 22). Vitamins and herbs: Don't let the winter blues make you sad!. Retrieved from http://ezinearticles.com/?Vitamins-and-Herbs:-Dont-Let-the-Winter-Blues-Make-You-SAD!&id=6774639

Reynolds, D. (2010, March 4). Can vitamin d help with seasonal affective disorder. Retrieved from http://www.emaxhealth.com/1506/25/35930/can-vitamin-d-help-seasonal-affective-disorder.html

Schlenker, E. D., & Roth, S. L. (2011). Williams\' essentials of nutrition and diet therapy. (Tenth ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Mosby.

Newsmax. (2011, January 20). Top 5 health benefits of magnesium. Retrieved from http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/Magnesium-health-benefits-supplements/2011/01/20/id/369647

Office of Dietary Supplements. (n.d.). Dietary supplement fact sheet: magnesium. Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium/

Rothenthal, N. (2012, February 14). Biography. Retrieved from http://normanrosenthal.com/biography.html

Sahelian, R. (n.d.). Sam-e supplement benefits. Retrieved from http://www.raysahelian.com/sam-e.html

Chinese & Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine

The first article I chose was titled subtitled “Modernising  Herbal Medicine” (2007).  It talked about India’s efforts to bring its system of traditional medicine into the mainstream.  Their system is based on the Ayurvedic system. To this end the Indian government is spending 40 million dollars to study the herbs they use scientifically. This is not an easy task because there are 80,000 Ayurvedic treatments used there involving 3,000 plants and there are 7,000 firms that make herbal compounds for medical use (The Economist, 2007). (No wonder they need to spend 40 million dollars). The purpose of the studies are to make herbal medicine itself more scientific by conducting clinical trials of traditional treatments for more than 20 conditions.  They are enlisting the help of drug companies and it is encouraging that at least one drug company at the time of this paper has opened a small research and development division for herbal medicine. They are studying how herbs are grown and harvested to try and establish a standard for them so that they might be patented. They want to protect the herbs from extinction as most of them are harvested in the wild and are endangered.  The idea behind this project sounds great, but I am not sure that I want my herbs to be patented because it sounds like they are trying to make them more like drugs.  Clinical trials are great, but I don’t want to have to get a prescription for them.

The other article that I looked at entitled “Herbalism, traditional Chinese” from the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. Chinese Herbalism is one of the major components of Traditional Chinese medicine whose aim is to treat the whole person and illness is seen as an imbalance. It is interesting to me that in China it is also being modernized to insure quality and is considered safer for self-treatment because they are also standardized. They are sold prepared for use with instructions for dosages. The basic goal of Chinese herbalism is to put the individual not the physician in charge of their own health. It also offers advice about which food can help and which foods can hinder and the herbalist helps the patient find out which foods they might be allergic to. Chinese herbs also help support the immune system and provide essential nutrients. The article pointed out that these treatments take time as their aim is to gently nudge the system back into shape not to produce an immediate reaction. They also pointed out the herbs are not compatible with certain drugs, foods and should not be taken during pregnancy. To me it seems that all this modernization that is going on is trying to make herbs fit more into the drug model. What do you think?

References:

Growing wiser; Herbal medicine.(Modernising herbal medicine) The Economist (US). August 18, 2007 v384 i8542 p71US. retrieved from Hw205-01, unit 8 reading, Kaplan Online University, 2/3/2012

Skinner, Patricia, Herbalism, Traditional Chinese, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. retrieved from Hw205-01, unit 8 reading, Kaplan Online University, 2/3/2012