A Summer Drink

How about this idea for a lovely refreshing drink on a hot Summer day? Use some elderflower or hibiscus cordial (from supermarket or health shop) and make a jugful with sparkly water, loads of ice and some sprigs of fresh mint. Gorgeous!

Lovely Recipe Book Feedback – Thanks!

I’m extremely impressed with your book. I am referring to it all the time. I’ve already bought the Agave syrup and lots of your other recommendations have gone on my shopping list. Thank you! MF, May 09

This has really made a difference to my life already. It’s so nice to have a book I can refer to that I trust to tell me the truth. Roll on the next edition! GT, May 09

 

Any more would be really welcome so I can encourage publishers to get it into print!

Bring Me Sunshine

This was an interesting post by John Briffa this month about some surprising benefits of sunshine on skin problems such as psoriasis (well known), but also on blood sugar and cholesterol levels. As he says at the end, perhaps there are deeper reasons why we come back from sunny holidays feeling better in ourselves…

“Vitamin D is made in the skin in response to sunlight, so one question we might ask is whether vitamin D might also somehow promote health here. One piece of indirect evidence which supports this concept relates to the experience that many sufferers of the skin condition psoriasis have in the sun. Psoriasis is characterised by raised, red, usually scaly skin ‘plaques’ (often on the knees, elbows and scalp). Quite often, these can improve considerably and may even disappear when exposed to sunlight, say when on holiday.

Psoriasis is thought to be caused by the excessive proliferation of cells in the outer layer of skin known as keratinocytes. Vitamin D regulates a large number of genes in the keratinocytes, which means that vitamin D might have a role to play in the regulation of the division of these cells. In fact, compounds related to vitamin D (vitamin D ‘analogues’, such as something known as calcipotriol) are sometimes used in the treatment of psoriasis.

Light therapy is also sometimes used to treat psoriasis. This can be provided by ‘sun lamps’ giving off ultraviolet B (UVB) light. But of course this might just come directly from the sun.

I was interested to read a recent study where the effect of sunlight on psoriasis was tested. 20 Swedish men and women (average age 47) were taken off for a 3-week break in Gran Canaria (an island in the Atlantic sea about 130 miles/210 km off the northwest coast of Africa) [1].

The severity of psoriasis in this group was measured using something known as the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Over the course of their time on Gran Canaria, PASI scores declined an average of about 73 per cent. There was no control group (a similar group not sunning themselves in Gran Canaria to compares these results too), but nevertheless, my feeling is that these results are impressive, and add at least some scientific support for the anecdotal experiences of many psoriasis sufferers.

However, this study did not look only at individuals’ responses to sunlight. The researchers also measured vitamin D levels. I was particularly interested in this, seeing as I recently discovered my own vitamin D levels were crashingly low, and one thing I am doing to remedy this situation is to get as much sun exposure as I can without burning. At the beginning of the study, the average vitamin D was 57.2 nmol/l (22.9 ng/ml). At the end of the study, levels had risen to an average of 104.5 nmol/l (41.8 ng/ml) – a rise of almost 83 per cent.

The researchers also measured blood fat levels and the level of a substance known as HbA1c (also known as glycosylated haemoglobin) which gives a measure of blood sugar control over the preceding 2-3 months. Over the course of the study, there was improvement in the ratio of supposedly ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol to supposedly ‘good’ HDL cholesterol. This would traditionally be regarded as a sign of reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Levels of HbA1c fell too. All changes were statistically significant.

Of course, some of these changes might have been down, at least in part, due to changes in factors others than sunlight/vitamin D levels (such as diet). Though dietary change tends not to change these parameters very quickly. The speed of the changes suggests that non-dietary factors (e.g. sunlight) were more likely to be responsible for these positive changes.

This study demonstrates, I think, sun exposure really does have the capacity to improve skin psoriasis. Sufferers will be generally glad of this relief, not just because the condition can be unsightly, but because it can be uncomfortable too (the plaques can crack and bleed for instance). The study also shows that sunlight exposure can dramatically enhance vitamin D levels. It should be borne in mind that the study subjects were from Sweden, and are likely to have had fair skin (more vitamin D is made in fair skin in response to a given amount of sunlight than in darker skin).

Finally, sunlight (and maybe other factors) appeared to lead to positive changes in the biochemistry of these individuals with regard to blood fat and blood sugar levels.

People who go off on holiday to sunnier climes very often report feeling better at the end of it. For many, getting away from one’s routine and perhaps hectic and stressful life at home has a part to play here. However, it does seem that, through the action of sunlight, one of the reasons that people feel healthier at the end of a holiday is because they are healthier. It seems to me that there is really is such a thing as a healthy tan.” John Briffa May  09.

References:

1. Osmancevic A, et l. Effect of climate therapy at Gran Canaria on vitamin D production, blood glucose and lipids in patients with psoriasis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 24th April 2009 [Epub ahead of print publication]

Arsenic in Rice Milk – Is This True?

Thank you to those of you who pointed out the recent media story about arsenic being in rice milk. It seems the Food Standards Agency has issued a new guideline that babies and toddlers under four years old shouldn’t be given rice milk as it contains too much arsenic. Shocked, I have looked into it for you. First, a quick summary and then I have included the press release from the FSA, and finally a response from the makers of Rice Dream. Hope it helps.

 

My summary: It seems a lot of foods contain a natural level of arsenic and rice has an ability to store it slightly more from what I read. Most experts are saying there is no real danger as it is endemic in our environment and foods, but that because babies and toddlers tend to drink a lot of it per body weight, the possibility of having too much should be recognised. The  best approach seems to be to not to have too much and to vary different milks around ie. not be too reliant on rice generally at that age. Another example of saying what’s wrong with something, but not really much help to those little ones who can’t drink cow’s milk (or soya)! Don’t forget too that the body is very efficient at getting rid of metals like this as it is a normal part of our environment. That said, it should be limited and we always need to ensure the right vitamins and minerals are in place to achieve the detox process in the body. It’s just a problem when a little one has to have a lot of it. Perhaps we need to think of alternatives such as oat and a little soya milk if little ones can’t have cow’s milk and are too young for nut milk, and always buy organic rice products.

 

From the FSA Press Release: The Agency has today published results from two studies: arsenic levels in rice drinks and one on cooking methods to reduce arsenic levels in rice. As a result of the rice drink study, the Agency recommends that toddlers and young children should not have rice drinks, often known as rice milk, as a replacement for cows’ milk, breast milk or infant formula.The rice drink study followed concerns about results from a study published last year that measured arsenic levels in these types of drinks. The research published today examined 60 samples of rice drinks and found low levels of arsenic in all of them (see The science behind the story section below).

The level of total arsenic ranged from 0.010 – 0.034 milligram/kilogram and the levels of inorganic – the more harmful – form of arsenic ranged from 0.005 – 0.020 milligram/kilogram. The proportion of inorganic arsenic in the rice drink samples ranged from 48 – 63%. None of the results were over the current legal limit (but see the Current regulations section below).

In the second study, researchers looked at the effect of cooking methods on arsenic content of rice. The Agency is not advising anyone to change the way they cook rice as a result of this study as the impact on the overall dietary intake of arsenic from different cooking methods is minimal.

What the Agency advises

As a precaution, toddlers and young children between 1 and 4.5 years old should not have rice drinks as a replacement for cows’ milk, breast milk, or infant formula. This is because they will then drink a relatively large amount of it, and their intake of arsenic will be greater than that of older children and adults relative to their bodyweight. This is both on nutritional grounds and because such substitution can increase their intake of inorganic arsenic, which should be kept as low as possible. A daily half pint or 280 millilitres of rice drink could double the amount of the more harmful form of arsenic they consume each day.

There is no immediate risk to children who have been consuming rice drinks and it is unlikely that there would have been any long-term harmful effects but to reduce further exposure to arsenic parents should stop giving these drinks to toddlers and young children. If your child is allergic to cows’ milk, you are strongly advised to seek advice from your health professional or dietitian on suitable replacements. Other groups of people do not need to change their diet because their exposure to inorganic arsenic from rice drinks is lower relative to their bodyweight. Children under a year old should drink breast milk or infant formula milk. Cows’ milk or alternatives are not suitable as a drink until an infant is 12 months old.

The research published today does not affect the Agency’s advice on any other weaning foods. Advice from a survey in 2007, which included baby rice and other rice products, concluded that these foods did not have levels of inorganic arsenic that caused concern.

Further information:

For further information on this survey, please contact: arsenic_enquiries@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.

The science behind the story

Arsenic is widely distributed in the environment. It occurs in soil, water – both sea and fresh – and in almost all plants and animal tissues. As a result, arsenic occurs naturally at very low levels in many foods and it is not possible to avoid it completely. How harmful the arsenic is depends on the chemical form in which it is present. The organic form is less harmful than the inorganic form which can cause cancer by harming our genetic material (DNA). Rice and rice products have higher levels of the inorganic form of arsenic compared with other food. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) (an independent scientific committee that provides advice to the Food Standards Agency) has concluded that people should consume as little of this form of arsenic as reasonably practicable.

Related links

Survey of metals in weaning foods and formulae for infants Read the Food Survey Information Sheet

Survey of total and inorganic arsenic in rice drinks Food Survey Information Sheet 02/09

See more background at http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/fsis0209arsenicinrice.pdf

 

Rice Dream response:

“All Rice Dream and Lima products are significantly below the legal maximum limit for levels of arsenic in food products….They pose no risk to customers and this has been confirmed by tests conducted by the FSA and an independent laboratory.”

I shall keep you updated if anything else comes to light.

Oy! Green People Launch New Teen Skincare

No, I’m not being rude. The new skin range for teenagers is called Organic Young , or Oy! for short! There are six products, all organic with ‘no gunk’ or artificial perfumes, fair trade ingredients and not tested on animals – and, of course, no toxic chemicals. Decent prices, there is an easy 3-in-1 cleanser, make up remover and moisturiser for those who’ve got better things to do, a foaming anti bacterial face wash, cover and clear-it spot concealer, peel off-face mask to draw out grime, self-glow gradual tan and a moisturiser with F15 sun screen. You can get these from Nutricentre or The Natural Dispensary as usual. If you’d like a copy of the free brochure about it, please ask.

BMIs Bigger

Did You Know…that people are generally bigger than they were three decades ago? Between 1994 and 2004, the average male body mass index (BMI) in England increased from 26 to 27.3, with the average female BMI rising from 25.8 to 26.9. That’s about 3 kg – or half a stone – heavier. Oops..

France Bans Mobile Use In Primary Schools

After a six-week review of mobile and wi-fi radiation, the French government recently announced their decision to take some strongly precautionary measures, especially in schools with young children. Although campaigners who wanted the measures to go further walked out of the talks, the government has chosen to implement an outright ban of mobile phones in primary schools and now require operators to provide ‘stripped down’ handsets only capable of texting or without a loudspeaker. There is a rising level of public concern in the country about the dangers inherent in mobile phones, masts and wi-fi and the campaigners wanted a ban on mobile phones for children up to 14, who are considered more vulnerable, and more to be done to control the location and power of masts, again especially near children.  I couldn’t agree more and am getting increasingly concerned about the prevalence of what is, let’s face it, new technology without long-term safety studies. We ARE the long term study! British government please take note. Source: Powerwatch May 09.

Acupuncture Now Free On The NHS For Back Pain

For the first time ever, an alternative therapy is officially recognized by the NHS and will be offered free for back pain sufferers! Acupuncture has been known for decades to relieve lower back pain and now NICE, the official body which determines what drugs and therapies should be offered to patients, has come out and agreed. Clinical and public health director Peter Littlejohns says: “As with many interventions the underlying process of how acupuncture works is still not completely clear, but I think the evidence still shows that on balance patients do better.” A bit lukewarm maybe, but actions speak louder than his words and now any patient who has been suffering lower back pain persistently for at least six weeks will be offered acupuncture as part of their NHS treatment.

Interestingly, the NHS spends around £1.6bn a year treating lower back pain, including on tests and some treatments that have very little benefit.  It’s estimated that offering acupuncture will add only £77,000 to the total. Pleased as I am, I worry now that they will ignore the thousands of well-trained and experienced acupuncturists already in private practice in favour of training nurses and GPs in weekend acupuncture courses as has happened in the past. That would be a huge shame and rather miss the point (if you’ll pardon the pun). We’ll see. Source: The Times, May 27, 2009.

On a similar theme, and to much furore from pharmaceutical drug manufacturers I’m told, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHPRA) has approved Nelson’s Arnica 30c homeopathic tablets as a successful remedy for treating sprains and bruises. I don’t believe it – making real headway at long last! Source: WDDTY May 09.

Christine’s Chocolate, Almond and Coconut Fudge

250g (9oz) sesame seeds 200g (7oz) almonds ½ tsp ground cinnamon 4tbsp Organically grown sprouted flaxseed 4 tbsp tahini 2tsp Organic virgin coconut butter 25g (1oz) Zylosweet 150g (5 ½oz) plain unsweetened carob bars or dark chocolate (75% cocoa) melted

Place the sesame seeds and almonds in a mill or food processor and blend until finely ground. Add the cinnamon and flaxseed and mix thoroughly. In a pan melt together the tahini, coconut butter, Zylosweet and chocolate. Stir in the almond mixture and beat well to form a sticky paste. Press the mixture into a lightly greased and lined tin (approx 30cm by 20cm) and chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours until firm. Cut into small bars to serve.

This was taken from The Intelligent Way To Lose Weight by Dr Mark Atkinson and Christine Bailey, published in Higher Nature.