Showing posts with label Diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diet. Show all posts
The trace mineral iodine is well known for its crucial role in enabling the body's manufacture of vital thyroid hormones, but it is also important for the health of the immune system and for optimal brain function. It is widely believed by many authorities that iodine deficiency should never be seen in the affluent West, although this problem affects millions throughout the developed world.Some nutritionists argue, however, that this conventional view is too optimistic, because the content of all minerals in foods is heavily dependent on the mineral content of the soil from which those foods are derived. The assumption must therefore be that the continuing de-mineralisation of farm soils has led to a reduction in the amount of dietary iodine commonly consumed.
Fish and other seafood, however, remain a relatively rich source because these ocean creatures concentrate the sea's iodine in their flesh. Though not commonly eaten in the West, seaweed, or kelp, is also an excellent source of iodine for this reason, and is readily available in the form of a dietary supplements. Dairy products and certain meats may also be a good source, particularly where iodine is routinely added to farm animal feed. But in countries, including most of Western Europe, where animals are grazing fields growing on iodine depleted soils, levels are likely to be much lower.
So even in the West, those not including fish or seafood in their diets, and not using iodised or sea salt, may be at real risk of deficiency. In an effort to compensate for low levels of dietary iodine, the mineral has been routinely added to ordinary table salt in the US for many years. But the practice is not as common in the UK and other European countries, where specially iodised or natural "sea-salt" has been marketed more as a luxury alternative. The problem of insufficient dietary iodine has been compounded on both sides of the Atlantic, however, by increasing concern about the possible adverse health consequences, particularly high blood pressure, of excessive salt intake. Many nutritionists, however, regard these fears as exaggerated, and believe that any such potential problems are far less serious than the consequences of an insufficiency of iodine, and may be easily resolved by the use of the low sodium salt alternatives available.
Iodine, however, cannot in any case be regarded as a luxury. Its essential function lies in the production of the vital thyroid hormones; thyroxine, sometimes known as T4, and tri-iodothyronine, or T3. And as is well known, these hormones are crucially important in ensuring a healthy metabolic rate and the release of energy from food; so an underactive thyroid gland is commonly the villain in cases of excessive weight gain, particularly where this of sudden onset, and in cases of difficulty in losing weight even when following a sensible reducing programme. A healthy thyroid gland is also crucial for the optimal functioning of the immune system.
But perhaps even more importantly, iodine deficiency is also known as a major cause of avoidable brain damage; a problem which the World Health Organisation has estimated to affect an astonishing 50 million people worldwide. Sadly, many of these cases occur in children whose mothers were iodine deficient in pregnancy, resulting in a condition of severely retarded brain development known as congenital hypothyroidism, or "cretinism". Even where such catastrophic consequences are avoided, iodine deficiency in childhood may also have serious effects on the developing brain, leading to low energy and motivation for learning, and measurable impairment of IQ scores.
Since 2001 the Food and Nutrition Board of the US Institute of Medicine (FNB) has prescribed a Recommended Dietary Allowance for iodine of 150 mcg for all individuals over 14, rising to 220 mcg for pregnant women and 290 mcg for those breastfeeding. Somewhat confusingly, however, an excessive consumption of iodine is also associated with a malfunctioning or enlargement of the thyroid gland, as well as mouth ulcers, headaches and gastric upsets, and the FNB therefore advises an upper safe limit for daily iodine consumption of 1,100 mcg for adults. Most people eating a conventional Western diet are unlikely to exceed this level.
With the possible exception of pregnant and breastfeeding women, people in the West who use liberal quantities of iodised salt as a regular seasoning are unlikely to need further supplements. But many commercial multi-mineral preparations contain iodine in reasonable quantities, usually in the form of potassium iodide, and whilst not perhaps strictly necessary, such supplementary doses will do no harm and may be regarded as a useful insurance policy given that, like all minerals needed by the body, iodine functions best in the presence of adequate supplies of all the others. And it should be particularly noted in this context that the effects of any deficiency of iodine may be intensified by any deficiency of selenium, iron or vitamin A.
Share by: Steve Smith
Fish and other seafood, however, remain a relatively rich source because these ocean creatures concentrate the sea's iodine in their flesh. Though not commonly eaten in the West, seaweed, or kelp, is also an excellent source of iodine for this reason, and is readily available in the form of a dietary supplements. Dairy products and certain meats may also be a good source, particularly where iodine is routinely added to farm animal feed. But in countries, including most of Western Europe, where animals are grazing fields growing on iodine depleted soils, levels are likely to be much lower.
So even in the West, those not including fish or seafood in their diets, and not using iodised or sea salt, may be at real risk of deficiency. In an effort to compensate for low levels of dietary iodine, the mineral has been routinely added to ordinary table salt in the US for many years. But the practice is not as common in the UK and other European countries, where specially iodised or natural "sea-salt" has been marketed more as a luxury alternative. The problem of insufficient dietary iodine has been compounded on both sides of the Atlantic, however, by increasing concern about the possible adverse health consequences, particularly high blood pressure, of excessive salt intake. Many nutritionists, however, regard these fears as exaggerated, and believe that any such potential problems are far less serious than the consequences of an insufficiency of iodine, and may be easily resolved by the use of the low sodium salt alternatives available.
Iodine, however, cannot in any case be regarded as a luxury. Its essential function lies in the production of the vital thyroid hormones; thyroxine, sometimes known as T4, and tri-iodothyronine, or T3. And as is well known, these hormones are crucially important in ensuring a healthy metabolic rate and the release of energy from food; so an underactive thyroid gland is commonly the villain in cases of excessive weight gain, particularly where this of sudden onset, and in cases of difficulty in losing weight even when following a sensible reducing programme. A healthy thyroid gland is also crucial for the optimal functioning of the immune system.
But perhaps even more importantly, iodine deficiency is also known as a major cause of avoidable brain damage; a problem which the World Health Organisation has estimated to affect an astonishing 50 million people worldwide. Sadly, many of these cases occur in children whose mothers were iodine deficient in pregnancy, resulting in a condition of severely retarded brain development known as congenital hypothyroidism, or "cretinism". Even where such catastrophic consequences are avoided, iodine deficiency in childhood may also have serious effects on the developing brain, leading to low energy and motivation for learning, and measurable impairment of IQ scores.
Since 2001 the Food and Nutrition Board of the US Institute of Medicine (FNB) has prescribed a Recommended Dietary Allowance for iodine of 150 mcg for all individuals over 14, rising to 220 mcg for pregnant women and 290 mcg for those breastfeeding. Somewhat confusingly, however, an excessive consumption of iodine is also associated with a malfunctioning or enlargement of the thyroid gland, as well as mouth ulcers, headaches and gastric upsets, and the FNB therefore advises an upper safe limit for daily iodine consumption of 1,100 mcg for adults. Most people eating a conventional Western diet are unlikely to exceed this level.
With the possible exception of pregnant and breastfeeding women, people in the West who use liberal quantities of iodised salt as a regular seasoning are unlikely to need further supplements. But many commercial multi-mineral preparations contain iodine in reasonable quantities, usually in the form of potassium iodide, and whilst not perhaps strictly necessary, such supplementary doses will do no harm and may be regarded as a useful insurance policy given that, like all minerals needed by the body, iodine functions best in the presence of adequate supplies of all the others. And it should be particularly noted in this context that the effects of any deficiency of iodine may be intensified by any deficiency of selenium, iron or vitamin A.
Share by: Steve Smith
When people try to work out why diets fail almost inevitably different from those in the short term, usually focus on the biological fact that the body will rebound with stored weight after suffering food deprivation.This theory is now so well tested as to be true to some extent. If it is accurate, in reality it is only secondary value in explaining why obsessive diet not only persists in our culture but is actually increasing.
The answers are crucial in the minds until Dieters are helped to unpick and re-frame the influences that trap within anxious minds and bodies overweight, the only thing that changes is the name of the next diet craze.
The weight Foundation have launched an awareness campaign on a worrying escalation of the food industry hard sell, which we call Stealing Pasto. Extra pressure is accumulating on the millions of people already suffering confusion and panic regarding what they should do next about their growing weight and diet concerns.
And the attack on promoting unhealthy habits coincides with the release of our new 3 Small Steps self-help system, designed to be a collaborative solution to help Dieters problem worldwide to regain self-control against all influences Support obsessive diet.
Stealing meal is a dramatic display of commercial pressure creating the diet culture, with a strong emotional and cultural pressures to complete the Dieter's Unholy Trinity of beliefs and behaviors.
Consumers are used to seeing sex, fashion, love and being used to sell food - and food companies and one can of course do everything within the law to promote themselves.
However, we are seeing more and more attempts not just to squeeze certain foods to the menu, but also to force themselves further in as major dietary staples.
In the U.S., where food and snacks out-and-out for the garbage has a number of years has sought to move the traditional and balanced meals from the menu of family, the trend is even more advanced than what is the United Kingdom - But this market is rapidly catching up.
The weight Foundation identified three specific areas which illustrate the trend. The first concerns breakfast cereals, whose advertising has traditionally been about the choice of start-up of fuel in the early hours of the morning. However, many hours spot in packaged cereal as an all-day food option.
Another example is the attempt to re-branding of flavored noodles from a snack in a traditional staple food. This is a progression down the same road already well traveled in the United States, where a TV dinner mentality has become semi-legitimized by time alone.
A third area is that of convenience shopping. A typical example is that of multi-role juggling of a modern Housewife. His late late at night and the food is shown as something like ice cream or chocolate, or alcohol instead of food altogether, of course, on special offer that week in his local convenience store.
The weight Foundation does not support suggestions that the law should be changed to clamp down on food advertising, concentrating instead on developing strategies to help people make more informed choices about their eating habits and lifestyles.
The answer must be found even in something to address the charity has recorded identified as Diet Shock, which is the distressing uncertainty of many persistent Dieters whose natural instincts have become paralyzed by an overload of conflicting and often poor diet advice.
Seduced away from conventional eating by advertising on the one hand and bamboozled by the other ceaseless tide of eating and diet advice, many people have simply lost a clear picture of how to feed and care for themselves.
The weight Foundation publishes on-line already very popular his Hardcore Diet Index free self-test questionnaire, helping Dieters to assess their personal behavior. Feedback from many long-term Dieters in several countries has allowed the completion of a new methodology to tackle unhealthy obsessions with eating, weight loss and self-image issues.
3 small steps is designed to loosen the three restricting bands which usually keep diet fixations in place despite endless failed attempts diet.
These ties are identified as the emotional, cultural and commercial pressures which make Hardcore diet "Manchester United Kingdom-based charity deadline for persistent and obsessive diet - so rampant in the West. Many experts acknowledge that now repeatedly diet is not a factor that contributes to obesity endemic. The growing frustration and disillusionment with diet approaches stems from their inability to address these broad-based concerns.
Ignoring any one of them will almost certainly condemn a problem eater to weight-control failure.
Dieters are invited to question closely what they're using for food. This is a substitute or a comfort for other factors in their lives? Emotional well-Food is meant to be an important contributory factor in many cases long-term obesity.
On the cultural front, persistent Dieters are asked whether they are unthinkingly buying into a cult of excessive thinness, or following the herd instinct on the run from a fad diet to the next.
Everyone thinks of operating as individuals but in reality we are all under great pressure to conform. For many women, that can mean aspiring to excessive thinness, which in many cases is sure to lead to a resumption of self-deprivation in too much and even more misery.
Less widely appreciated than the unrealism Waif-thin icons is the need women especially feel to be involved with the diet - the need to adapt your friends and society in general as to be able to speak, live and suffer it . Hardcore diet has unfortunately become for many a rite of passage into womanhood.
3 small steps approach to commercial pressures to eat abnormally or diet is to ask Who steal my meals? and refuse to be dragged from a natural and normal eating rhythm.
All counting calories and all the BMI charts in the world can not teach what actually matters. The difference between a lighter, happy and a person of weight one is sad that for them the food is an important and 'dominance.
Mind-shifts do not happen on paper charts, or through contrived and unnatural diets. Changes of attitude occur in the mind and that is where the battle on diet and obesity is won.
Share by: Malcolm Evans
The weight Foundation have launched an awareness campaign on a worrying escalation of the food industry hard sell, which we call Stealing Pasto. Extra pressure is accumulating on the millions of people already suffering confusion and panic regarding what they should do next about their growing weight and diet concerns.
And the attack on promoting unhealthy habits coincides with the release of our new 3 Small Steps self-help system, designed to be a collaborative solution to help Dieters problem worldwide to regain self-control against all influences Support obsessive diet.
Stealing meal is a dramatic display of commercial pressure creating the diet culture, with a strong emotional and cultural pressures to complete the Dieter's Unholy Trinity of beliefs and behaviors.
Consumers are used to seeing sex, fashion, love and being used to sell food - and food companies and one can of course do everything within the law to promote themselves.
However, we are seeing more and more attempts not just to squeeze certain foods to the menu, but also to force themselves further in as major dietary staples.
In the U.S., where food and snacks out-and-out for the garbage has a number of years has sought to move the traditional and balanced meals from the menu of family, the trend is even more advanced than what is the United Kingdom - But this market is rapidly catching up.
The weight Foundation identified three specific areas which illustrate the trend. The first concerns breakfast cereals, whose advertising has traditionally been about the choice of start-up of fuel in the early hours of the morning. However, many hours spot in packaged cereal as an all-day food option.
Another example is the attempt to re-branding of flavored noodles from a snack in a traditional staple food. This is a progression down the same road already well traveled in the United States, where a TV dinner mentality has become semi-legitimized by time alone.
A third area is that of convenience shopping. A typical example is that of multi-role juggling of a modern Housewife. His late late at night and the food is shown as something like ice cream or chocolate, or alcohol instead of food altogether, of course, on special offer that week in his local convenience store.
The weight Foundation does not support suggestions that the law should be changed to clamp down on food advertising, concentrating instead on developing strategies to help people make more informed choices about their eating habits and lifestyles.
The answer must be found even in something to address the charity has recorded identified as Diet Shock, which is the distressing uncertainty of many persistent Dieters whose natural instincts have become paralyzed by an overload of conflicting and often poor diet advice.
Seduced away from conventional eating by advertising on the one hand and bamboozled by the other ceaseless tide of eating and diet advice, many people have simply lost a clear picture of how to feed and care for themselves.
The weight Foundation publishes on-line already very popular his Hardcore Diet Index free self-test questionnaire, helping Dieters to assess their personal behavior. Feedback from many long-term Dieters in several countries has allowed the completion of a new methodology to tackle unhealthy obsessions with eating, weight loss and self-image issues.
3 small steps is designed to loosen the three restricting bands which usually keep diet fixations in place despite endless failed attempts diet.
These ties are identified as the emotional, cultural and commercial pressures which make Hardcore diet "Manchester United Kingdom-based charity deadline for persistent and obsessive diet - so rampant in the West. Many experts acknowledge that now repeatedly diet is not a factor that contributes to obesity endemic. The growing frustration and disillusionment with diet approaches stems from their inability to address these broad-based concerns.
Ignoring any one of them will almost certainly condemn a problem eater to weight-control failure.
Dieters are invited to question closely what they're using for food. This is a substitute or a comfort for other factors in their lives? Emotional well-Food is meant to be an important contributory factor in many cases long-term obesity.
On the cultural front, persistent Dieters are asked whether they are unthinkingly buying into a cult of excessive thinness, or following the herd instinct on the run from a fad diet to the next.
Everyone thinks of operating as individuals but in reality we are all under great pressure to conform. For many women, that can mean aspiring to excessive thinness, which in many cases is sure to lead to a resumption of self-deprivation in too much and even more misery.
Less widely appreciated than the unrealism Waif-thin icons is the need women especially feel to be involved with the diet - the need to adapt your friends and society in general as to be able to speak, live and suffer it . Hardcore diet has unfortunately become for many a rite of passage into womanhood.
3 small steps approach to commercial pressures to eat abnormally or diet is to ask Who steal my meals? and refuse to be dragged from a natural and normal eating rhythm.
All counting calories and all the BMI charts in the world can not teach what actually matters. The difference between a lighter, happy and a person of weight one is sad that for them the food is an important and 'dominance.
Mind-shifts do not happen on paper charts, or through contrived and unnatural diets. Changes of attitude occur in the mind and that is where the battle on diet and obesity is won.
Share by: Malcolm Evans
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