NEWSYOUCANUSE

NEWSYOUCANUSE Issue 2/2007 Page 1

Issue 2/07

It is an established, biological certainty that in order to live lifeto the full and help avoid degenerative disease that dietarydiversity is a key factor. This seems to reflect a basicphysiological need for a wide variety of nutrient types includinga broad range of fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other vitalsubstances such as fibre. Seen in this light, dietary diversityshould be a number one priority.

In practice however maintaining a nutritionally diverse diet iseasier said than done. Due to pressures that a modern lifestylerepresents, obtaining, preparing and consuming these foods iscertainly a difficult task.

It could be said that a nutritional gap exists between ourphysiological needs and our dietary intake. This crucial ‘gap’can over time represent the difference between good healthand the occurrence of disease. Let’s look at a few examples ofwhere these specific nutrients obtainable from a diverse diet orsupplement regimen can result in positive health effects.

It has been known for decades that omega-3 fats are essential for goodhealth. Recently however the specific effects on immunity and bone healthhave been studied.

In a study entitled “Effect of docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oilsupplementation on human leukocyte function” researchers investigatedthe effect of (DHA)-rich fish oil supplementation on human leukocyte, orwhite blood cell function. The research, which was conducted using 10male volunteers, found that supplementation with fish oil increasedimmune system activity by up to 145%. In addition, the production ofreactive oxygen species, which is one weapon of the immune system, alsoincreased.

The research also found that the composition of the leucocytes andneutrophils was influenced by the supplementation1. This study providesmore evidence that supplementation with fish oil directly improves cellmembrane structure and cellular vitality.

In addition to having a positive effect on immune function, omega 3 fatsalso improve bone health. A study, which looked at the rate of mineralaccumulation in young men, published in the March 2007 issue of theAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reinforced this idea. The cohort studyperformed at a Swedish University found of the 78 men they followed, agedbetween 16 and 22, those with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fattyacids, and DHA in particular amassed the highest bone density in the bodyand spine. The study “nicely adds to a growing body of evidence thatomega-3 fatty acids are also beneficial to bone health,” Dr. William Connorand Dr. Chaim Vanek noted in an accompanying editorial to the study2.GNLD has been spreading the word about the importance of omega-3 fattyacids to health, vitality and longevity: both physical and cognitive, fordecades. From our ongoing investigation of the role of lipids in cell structure

and function we have long known that omega-3 fatty acids were of criticalimportance. We focused our attention specifically on delivering omega-3’swhen we introduced the first whole food nutritional supplement derivedentirely from pure, natural Salmon Oil in the 1970’s. Over the decades thathave passed since then we have spread the message about the importanceof omega-3 fatty acids to the far corners of the world, empowering millionswith the opportunity for better overall health.

Dietary

Diversity

Wins Again

Omega-3 fats improve immune function and bone health

For the last several years health researchers andinstitutions like the US Food and DrugAdministration, USDA, Centres for DiseaseControl and others have been vigorouslypromoting the need for the population toconsume more whole grain. Yet in spite of allthis activity whole grain consumption by theaverage person has not risen significantly. As aresult, scientists Wake Forest University whohave just completed a comprehensive review ofthe potential health benefits of whole grain arepressing policy-makers, scientists and cliniciansto redouble their effort in getting this importantmessage across. In their combined prospectivestudy that included a total of 149,000participants, and was published April 24, 2007in the Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism andCardiovascular Disease, they stated “There is aconsistent, inverse association between dietarywhole grain and incidence of cardiovasculardisease in epidemiological cohort studies.” Theyfound that as little as 2.5 grams per day of

whole grain can provide a 21% reduction incardiovascular disease risk. Though fibre playsan important role in this benefit they specificallypoint out there is much more involved. Theyexplain that when grains are refined many oftheir biologically active agents; including fibre,vitamins, minerals, phytosterols and other plantcompounds are removed. They made specialnote that: “These biological agents influencecardiovascular risk through effects on glucosehomeostasis, lipids and lipoproteins, endothelialfunction (the function of a special type of cell)and other mechanisms, potentially accountingfor much of the observed benefit of high intakeof whole grains”5.

Tre-en-en contains natural vitamin E in additionto vital lipids and sterols present in wholegrains. Tre-en-en provides an indispensiblesource of these vital lipids and sterols and has afundamental role in a balanced supplementregimen.

An expanding body of scientific evidencesuggests that all members of the vitamin Efamily, in addition to alpha tocopherol, arefunctionally unique. Eight substances havebeen found to have vitamin E activity in nature:alpha, beta, gamma and delta tocopherols; andalpha, beta, gamma and delta tocotrienols. In astudy entitled, “Tocotrienols: Vitamin E BeyondTocopherols”, researchers at The Ohio StateUniversity Medical Center in Columbus, Ohiostated that “Tocotrienols possess powerfulneuroprotective, anti-cancer and cholesterollowering properties that are often not exhibitedby tocopherols. Current developments invitamin E research clearly indicate that

members of the vitamin E family are notredundant with respect to their biologicalfunctions. At nanomolar (extremely low)concentration, alpha-tocotrienol, not alpha-tocopherol, that prevents neurodegeneration(nerve cell degeneration)”4.

The study reinforces the idea that all forms ofvitamin E are vitally important to humannutrition and that we must strive obtainnutrients as they are found in nature foroptimal health.

Based in Nature and Backed by Science arefounding principles on which all GNLD

supplements are based. These isomers ofvitamin E are all found, as nature intended, inGNLD’s Vitamin E complex.

A review type study of the effects of Vitamin Csupplementation helps to explain some of themechanisms by which that vitamin plays inimmune function.

The authors’ conclusions were that “Vitamin Cconcentrations in the plasma and leukocytesrapidly decline during infections and stress.Supplementation of vitamin C was found toimprove components of the human immunesystem such as antimicrobial and natural killercell activities, lymphocyte proliferation,chemotaxis, and delayed-type hypersensitivity.Vitamin C contributes to maintaining the redoxintegrity (chemical) of cells and therebyprotects them against reactive oxygen speciesgenerated during the respiratory burst (brief

free radical production) and in the inflammatoryresponse. Likewise, zinc undernutrition ordeficiency was shown to impair cellularmediators of innate immunity such asphagocytosis (cellular eating), natural killer cellactivity, and the generation of oxidative burst(brief free radical production). Therefore, bothnutrients play important roles in immunefunction and the modulation of host resistanceto infectious agents, reducing the risk, severity,and duration of infectious diseases”3.

Not only does this review demonstrate theimportance of vitamin C supplementationbut it also helps elucidate the importanceof nutrient synergy in immune function.

Page 2 NEWSYOUCANUSE Issue 2/2007

Vitamin C and Immune Function

Whole grains reduce cardiovascular disease risk

Vitamin E family has many functions

Yet more evidence that consumption of a widerange of foods has a protective effect continuesto pile up. Flavonoids, polyphenolic compoundsfound in plant foods, have both antioxidant andantiinflammatory properties. In anepidemiological study conducted by Mink andcolleagues in the U.S.A and Norway, as reportedin the March 2007 issue of American Journal ofClinical Nutrition, it was found that a dietaryintake of flavanones and anthocyanidins wasassociated with decreased risk of mortality fromCVD and CHD inpostmenopausal women.The researchers testedthe link between dietaryflavonoid intake and hearthealth in a prospectivecohort study of 34,489postmenopausal women.Consumption of pears,apples and red wine wasassociated with lowerCHD and CVD mortalities,and grapefruit intake waslinked to lowered CHDmortality. Using the mostcomplete data on foodflavonoid content thestudy demonstrated several significant linksbetween total flavonoid intakes, frequency ofconsumption of flavonoid-rich foods, andreduced CVD and CHD mortality6.

The huge gap in critical fruit and vegetablephytonutrients that exists in the average diet hasbeen cause for alarm and action at GNLD fornearly 20 years. The facts are the average persongoes through day to day life needlessly exposedto disease causing – age accelerating biologicalevents in the body simply because they do notget enough fruits and vegetables and thepowerful protector nutrients they contain in their

diet each day. Our message has been consistent“Eat your fruits and vegetables!!!”. We have beenso committed to the idea that we haveresearched, developed and delivered a whole lineof products that are made from, and draw theirpowerful nutrient content entirely from these

same fruits and vegetables we humans need andsimply aren’t getting. As powerful and proven asthese products are we still see them asnutritional “supplements” not “substitutes” andstrongly urge everyone to eat more fruits andvegetables. We know that assuring anabundance of these foods and the healthprotecting, disease preventing nutrients theycontain is a key to life long health and vitality. Wealso know that the best way to assure thatabundance is by eating more fruits andvegetables AND supplementing with GNLD wholefood, human food chain products. There simply isno better way…and we have the science toprove it.

NEWSYOUCANUSE Issue 2/2007 Page 3

Flavonoid Intake Reduces Cardiovascular Disease Mortality

Greg & Nancy DohertyHighest Quality Health & Fitness Ltd0800 552 8789 1800 552 8789P +64 9 478 2111 F +64 9 478 9111info@hqh.com www.hqh.com