Category Archives: Health Issues

Report On “Predatory” Baby Formula Marketing

Health Issues

Less than half of infants around the world are breastfed as recommended, and baby formula is in high demand despite failing to offer the same health and developmental benefits as breast milk. The report states that misleading claims and political influence are to blame.

The report from health experts at institutions around the world says that commercial milk formula sales tactics violate the international code on breastfeeding marketing and calls for stricter government regulation of irresponsible baby formula marketing and widespread industry interference.

The report comes as more children than ever are being fed formula and as climate, political and economic crises threaten global supply. The US is still recovering from a monthslong shortage of infant formula that stressed families and may lead to sweeping changes at the US Food and Drug Administration. According to the report, other countries have faced similar supply chain disruptions caused by events like flooding South Africa, war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 Pandemic, events that companies capitalized on to garner more donations and customers.

The authors acknowledge that formula is necessary for some women who choose not to or who can’t breastfeeding and note that criticisms of the commercial milk formula industry should not be seen as criticism of women.

New Study Finds Lack of Food Label Info at Online Food Retailers

Health Issues

A new study has found that while packaged foods are required by federal law to have nutritional facts and ingredients listed on the packaging for consumers when the are shopping in-person, at a physical location this information is not always available when shopping online for groceries.

Study authors believe it to be a misconception that consumers don’t read food labels. Many people, including those who have a disease, are at risk for a disease, the elderly, people with allergies, people with children as well as others who just want to be informed read food labels. The authors believe people read food labels for all kinds of reasons and not having this information is a serious health risk for some.

The study examined 10 major national packaged products available at 9 online retailers. For 11% of the products no information was provided across all retailers. 63% of products that contained an ingredient that was a common food allergen did not disclose the presence of that ingredient.

The U.S. FDA states specifically what information needs to be available for consumers. This includes nutrient content like daily values of fats, protein, sodium, sugar, fiber and carbs as well as serving sizes, calories, added sugars, allergens, and ingredients.

Study authors stated that they found this lack of information at online food retailers a “deceptive act.”

Some peers of the study authors did point out that there are limitations to a study with such a small sample size and that more research needed to be done to get a more accurate picture of online food retailers and what information they are providing.

 

 

All About Cheese

Health Issues, Healthy Eating, ,

Cheese is a beloved food all over the world. And between Thanksgiving and the new year, many snack trays presented to us will include cheese.

The USDA reported that in 2020 Americans ate a whopping 38 pounds of cheese per capita.

But how healthy is all this cheese eating?

While cheese is high in protein, vitamins, calcium, and amino acids it also is calorie-dense and is sometimes high in fats and sodium.

Many dieticians believe it can be a good source of both calcium and protein but that we should watch not to go overboard as the calories add up quickly when it comes to cheese. The protein in cheese is a good alternative to eating meat (attention: vegetarians) because it is still of animal origin and contains those same essential amino acids as meat that our body needs but cannot make on its own.

This makes cheese a so-called “complete protein.”

As with any food how much one consumes should be considered in the context of what else one is eating. Totally eschewing or eating tons of one kind of food or macronutrient is rarely healthy.

However, rest assured, consuming cheese in moderation can be a regular part of a healthy lifestyle.

New Study Looks at Correlations Between Poor Sleep and Migraines

Health Issues, , , ,

According to a new study people who experience migraines might get less of the REM sleep stage which is crucial for thinking and memory. REM, rapid eye movement, portion of sleep is a very important part of the sleep cycle which includes more dreaming, bodily movement and faster heart rate and breathing.

The new meta-analysis of 32 studies found that children and adults who experience migraines were more likely than others without migraines to both objectively and subjectively to experience lower quality sleep.

The research in the 32 studies comes from experts wondering whether migraines cause poor sleep quality or if lower quality sleep leads to migraines. The correlation between sleep and migraines has been difficult to study as changes in sleep can also be a trigger for migraines, a result of migraine treatment or even a symptom of the migraine itself.

Study authors wrote that even though about 1 billion people suffer from migraines around the world and that it is a leading cause of disability not many conclusions have been drawn about migraine patients think about their sleep quality and whether or not research data reflects the patients’ experience.

Neurology published the findings.

 

 

 

 

New Study Suggests “Heavy but Healthy” is a Myth for Heart Health

Fitness, Health Issues, , ,

A new study has examined the relationship between weight, physical activity, and cardiovascular health.

According to this new research regular exercise cannot offset negative effects of excess body weight on heart health. Giving pause to the idea that one can be heavy and completely healthy.

The study was published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology.

This new study contradicts previous studies which found that physical activity could help counter the effects of extra body weight on the heart. The study stated that being heavy but healthy equates approximately to being thin and unhealthy when it comes to the cardiovascular system.

The author of the study worries that recent prioritization of physical activity overweight loss is a dangerous road for many patients to go down. They believe their data shows that the opposite is true.

The study examined over fifty thousand Spanish adults and found that physical activity was important for everyone to maintain cardiovascular health but that weight is still a factor.