Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Why Supplements? Should you have a Healthy Body Pack, “just in case”?

Do you sometimes wonder if it makes sense for you to take supplements? A 2010 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association noted the following on the state of a typical Standard American Diet (SAD):

• Seventy five percent of us use less than 2/3’s of the RDA recommendation for one or more nutrients
• Only one percent of us meet the Food Pyramid guidelines
• Sugar and fat now account for more than 65 percent of our calories
• Most minerals we ingest are now at 20- to 40 percent of 1930’s levels.

Nutritional supplements wouldn’t be needed if we’d eat properly but unfortunately for the vast majority of us, this just isn’t the case (or at least it’s not the case the majority of the time). Our philosophy with supplements is that they work as an insurance policy to help fill in the gaps of what we most likely are not getting through our daily diet.

A well-balanced multivitamin is a great place to start. The Cooper Healthy Body Pack is a comprehensive multi-vitamin & mineral supplement that contains a 30-day supply of our Basic One Multivitamin (which includes 2,000 IU of D3) and two Advanced Omega-3 soft gels (with a 60 percent concentration of the critical “long-chain” omega-3’s: EPA and DHA).

The level of vitamin D in our adult formulations is higher than found in most multivitamin/mineral formulations because according to our research here at Cooper and in large, comprehensive national studies, about 80 percent of us (infants to seniors) do not get the level of vitamin D we need in our diet or through sun exposure. While researchers haven’t figured out why, low vitamin D levels are tied to poor bone health, weak immunity systems and cardiovascular disease along with multiple other health issues – including cancer, depression, chronic pain, diabetes, and macular degeneration.

Omega-3 (also known as fish oil) is key to good health. Over 18,000 published studies indicate the heart, brain and immune system benefit from fish oil. Unfortunately most of us are very low in omega-3 because the best source in the diet is fish and, on average, we eat fish only once every 11 days. So, in place of eating fish, and fatty fish at that, more often, supplementation is an “easy fix” to this shortfall.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Our toll free number is 888-393-2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Prescription for Healthy Conception

Many of us know someone who has grappled with infertility, although only about 15 percent of couples trying to conceive don’t get pregnant as easily as they’d like.

Did you see the news report a few weeks ago about how antioxidants can help men with low sperm counts? Researchers in New Zealand reviewed more than 30 studies, focusing on men who were subfertile. Subfertility occurs when a man is less fertile than average but still capable of making a baby. While subfertility only affects about 5 percent of men, it is responsible for half of delayed conceptions.

Researchers believe that up to 80 percent of subfertility is due to the effects of oxidative stress on sperm cells, which lowers both their numbers and quality. They found that taking antioxidants seemed to help with fertility problems, as the men who took them were more likely to get their partner pregnant, and their partner was more likely to have a live birth.

While this is exciting data for any couple trying to conceive, the numbers of people in the combined studies was pretty small. The 34 studies combined totaled 3,000 couples undergoing fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization and insemination – two of the more common methods of increasing conception odds when sperm-related issues are involved. All of the studies looked at the potential role of at least one antioxidant.

Based on 96 pregnancies among 964 couples in 15 of the studies, the researchers found that antioxidant use by the male partner increased the odds of conception four-fold. In the three studies that contained birth data, the men who took antioxidants improved the likelihood of their partner giving birth to a live baby by a factor of five. While this is an exciting statistic, the findings of increased live birth rates with antioxidants was based on a total of only 20 births, which is a small number.

The antioxidants used in the studies varied and included vitamins C and E, and minerals including magnesium and zinc. Even though a large study is not on record, couples who are trying to conceive might want to take a multivitamin and mineral formulation rich in antioxidants. It’s an expensive and low-risk option that could speed the conception process.

A related story in the news last month caught my attention, and this one concerned women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects 5- to 10 percent of reproductive aged women. Women with PCOS have irregular cycles and problems ovulating. Since the 1990’s scientists have been studying how insulin resistance impacts PCOS. Being overweight and sedentary aggravates insulin resistance which worsens PCOS, so losing weight and getting (and staying) active are keys for women with this condition. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids are recommended for their anti-inflammatory benefits.

With omega-3’s and multivitamins so affordable, it makes sense for both men and women interested in conception to add these supplements to their daily routines.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Reference
Antioxidants may improve male fertility
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_107940.html

Role of antioxidants in treatment of male infertility: an overview of the literature
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15169573

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Most Common Hormonal Disorder for Women
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hillary-wright/polycystic-ovary-syndrome_b_813924.html

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Why Lutein? Lutein, supplement ingredient found in Dermatologic Health, Eye Health, and Cooper Complete original multivitamins (incl. Elite Athlete)

Lutein, a nutrient found in dark, green, leafy vegetables, increases skin hydration and elasticity and protects against skin inflammation and eye diseases. Lutein is present in tissues in the eyes, skin, cervix, brain, breast and blood serum, but is not produced by the body and must be consumed in food or supplements. Lutein is a supplement ingredient in Cooper Complete Iron Free and With Iron, Elite Athlete, Dermatologic Health and Eye Health.

“You probably eat foods containing lutein, like spinach, collard greens, kale, broccoli, corn and eggs, but you would need to consume a fair amount of them daily to reap lutein's full benefits,” says Todd Whitthorne, president and CEO, Cooper Concepts in Dallas.

Daily intake of lutein is low in industrialized countries and has been found to be even smaller among U.S. than European residents.

Developed by the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, the Cooper Complete Dermatologic Health supplement contains lutein and other key nutrients that promote healthy skin, hair and nails. The product was formulated by board-certified dermatologists and includes ingredients that have proven beneficial in scientific studies.

According to a study published in Skin Pharmacology and Physiology in 2007, FloraGLO® Lutein, made from marigold flowers, promotes long-term, skin health by increasing elasticity and lipid content, and by decreasing lipid oxidation – which can cause skin degradation. Skin's lipid content is comprised of oily components that create a healthy look. Lutein shields skin from exposure to ultraviolet light and protects against sun by bolstering the skin's antioxidant, defense system. FloraGLO® is the form of lutein contained in all Cooper Complete products.

Another supplement, Cooper Complete Eye Health, is formulated to provide nutrients that are clinically proven to help eyes.

“Lutein has been shown to lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration, which is the main cause of blindness in Americans ages 65 and older,” Whitthorne says. The macula is a yellow spot near the center of the retina of the eye, and it absorbs excess blue and ultraviolet light, acting as a natural pair of sunglasses. The macula's yellow color comes from its lutein and zeaxanthin content.

A study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology in 2007 included 4,500 participants between 60 and 80 years old, and found that lutein strengthens eye-cell membranes and prevents free radicals from harming eye cells. Lutein is an antioxidant that may protect the macula tissue by quenching free radicals. Lutein also filters high-energy, blue light that can damage the macula and skin.

“Our eyes are very active metabolically, and proper nutrition, including antioxidants, are vital to vision,” Whitthorne says. “Cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and dry eyes can trouble aging Americans.” Increased intake of lutein helps lower the risk of age-related macular degeneration.

Research has shown that lutein has anti-inflammation effects. In a study published in 2007, State University of New Jersey researchers found that lutein helps lower potentially dangerous, skin inflammation.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Our toll free number is 888.393.2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Omega-3’s – How’s it made? Fish Oil

We recently received an email asking us about how fish is processed to become fish oil.

Cooper Complete Advanced Omega-3 is a blend of sardines and anchovies, both small, cold water fish. The fish are wild caught off the Peruvian coast, as the Humboldt Current makes this part of the world particularly full of marine life.

While sardines aren’t a popular menu item here in the U.S., they are very popular in other parts of the world, so our blend is more heavily weighed towards anchovies as much of the sardine catch ends up being diverted to the global dinner table. The anchovies used are typically about 18 inches long, and they are processed whole. To extract the omega-3 fatty acids, the fish are cooked in order to liquefy the fats. The fish are then placed in gigantic drum which is rotated at high speed. The centrifugal force of the rotating drum separates the oil out from the fish.

The oil then goes through a multi-step purification, concentration and deodorization process that takes about 16 weeks before it is ready to be encapsulated, bottled and sold.

After the oil is removed, the remaining fish solids are then processed to use for fish meal. The fish meal is a food ingredient used in making feed for chickens, pigs, and farmed raised fish. Fish meal is also used as a high quality organic fertilizer for gardens and lawns.

Our toll free number is 888-393-2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Position Statement on Vitamin D | Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H.

There has been considerable interest and debate in the scientific community regarding the recent recommendations of the IOM (Institute of Medicine) as it relates to the proper intake of vitamin D. Commenting only on the relation to bone health, the IOM panel called for 600 IUs of vitamin D daily for all ages up to age 70 and 800 IUs after age 71. They also doubled the UL (safe upper limit) to 4000 IU per day.

These dosage recommendations were based on what the panel believes would allow most individuals to maintain a vitamin D blood level of 20 ng/ml.

Many internationally recognized vitamin D researchers, including Creighton’s Dr. Robert Haney feel these recommendations are too low:

“The statement by the IOM that skeletal health can be maintained at serum 25(OH)D levels of 20 ng/ml is incorrect. 30 ng/ml should be looked at as the lower end of the acceptable range for bone health. There have been randomized controlled trials showing major reductions in fractures by getting the serum level to 29 ng/ml. Fracture reduction does not reliably occur at levels less than 30 ng/ml and in some cases as high as 40 ng/ml. Osteoid seam width, a measure of vitamin D deficiency, only reaches normal values when the level is above 30 ng/ml. There is significant evidence above the IOM panel’s “adequate” level of 20 ng/ml.”

Dr. Walter Willett, the chairman of the nutrition department at The Harvard School of Public Health and a member of the Cooper Complete Nutritional Supplement scientific advisory committee agrees that the IOM recommendations are too low:

“We don't have all the evidence, but the data are clear that blood levels higher than 20 ng/ml are associated with higher BMD (bone mineral density), a strong risk factor for fracture. The main evidence used to set the level at 20 was from a study of osteomalacia in an autopsy series. Osteomalacia was not associated with age, which makes it a dubious sufficient indicator of bone health.”

In contrast to the IOM report, the IOF (International Osteoporosis Foundation) recommended in their 2010 position paper on vitamin D a threshold of 30 ng/ml for optimal fall and fracture reduction.

It is also very important to note that vitamin D levels are associated with much more than just bone health. There is tremendous data in the scientific literature showing a clear relationship between deficiencies of vitamin D and many cancers, including breast, colon, ovary, and kidney. In fact, Dr. Cedric Garland from the Moores Cancer Center at U.C. San Diego has stated that, “the benefit of vitamin D is as clear as the harmful link between smoking and lung cancer.”

In addition to many cancers, vitamin D deficiency has also been associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, immunity to infection, multiple sclerosis, age related macular degeneration and chronic pain.

The Cooper Clinic bases vitamin D dosage recommendations on a patients actual blood level (25(OH)D). Ideally we strive for individuals to maintain a serum level of between 40-60 ng/ml with 30 ng/ml considered to be an absolute minimum. The Clinic has been measuring vitamin D levels in our patients since May, 2007 and we know two things are certain. One is that the majority of first time patients fall below, some well below, the 30 ng/ml minimum target and, the dosage needed to achieve sufficiency varies greatly from patient to patient.

For over 40 years Cooper Clinic has focused on preventive medicine and we base all of our recommendations on the preponderance of published scientific evidence. This is why all of our adult formulations of Cooper Complete multivitamins contain 2000 I.U. of vitamin D-3. For many that amount is adequate to achieve and maintain a vitamin D blood level of at least 40 ng/ml. However for others that only serves as a starting point. I have several patients that need to take 3000-4000 IU of vitamin D-3 daily and some require 50,000 IU/week in order to maintain adequate blood levels. The important point is that one size does not fit all. Of note Dr. Michael Holick, an internationally recognized vitamin D researcher from Boston University has conducted studies giving subjects 50,000 IU of vitamin D twice a month for six years and has seen no harmful effects.

Should you have an interest in exploring the vitamin D topic in greater detail I encourage you to visit www.grassrootshealth.net or e-mail Todd Whitthorne, President and CEO of Cooper Concepts, at twhitthorne@cooperwellness.com. He can also be reached at 972-560-2656.

Sincerely,

Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H.
Founder, CEO, Cooper Clinic

Monday, December 20, 2010

Do Your Skin, Hair, or Nails Need a Pick-Me-Up?

Skin is the body's largest organ and it, along with the eyes, is constantly assaulted by household and outdoor pollutants and sunlight. Almost non-stop exposure to one or several of these elements creates cell-damaging free radicals. To fend off that relentless assault, defenses beyond sunscreen and lotions are needed, says Adean Kingston, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Cooper Clinic.

Cooper Complete Dermatologic Health provides an array of nutrients that our skin, hair and nails welcome. Vitamin A, in the form of natural beta carotene with mixed carotenoids, and zinc are included to improve your complexion. Both nutrients counter facial oil and acne and its lesions.

Lutein is included in the formula for skin health. Lutein filters high-energy, blue light that can damage skin cells, and protects the skin by attacking free radicals. Lutein is an antioxidant found in spinach, kale, collard greens and other vegetables. Lutein also supports eye and cardiovascular health.

Results of a 2007 study published in the Skin Pharmacology and Physiology journal showed that 10 milligrams of lutein can improve skin hydration and elasticity and enhance the skin's photo-protective activity. Data indicate that lutein inhibits skin reactions to ultraviolet light and prevents UVB-induced skin cancer. Cooper Complete Dermatologic Health contains 10 milligrams of FloraGLO lutein, the most bioavailable form of lutein.

“Copper, essential to enzyme reactions, is part of the supplement's formula to increase elastin production and reduce the appearance of stretch marks, lax skin and wrinkles,” said Dr. Kingston. Copper combats psoriasis and other skin conditions. Biotin, a member of the B Complex and essential to skin, hair, and nail rejuvenation, is also in the formula.

Vitamins C and E are included as potent anti-oxidants, countering the effects of sun exposure by scavenging for free radicals. Studies have shown that when Vitamins A and E are taken together, the risks of basal cell carcinoma, a common, sun-induced skin cancer, are reduced. Selenium is included to protect skin from sun damage and lower the risk of skin cancer.

An antioxidant called polypodium leucotomas, derived from a tropical plant in South and Central America, is included in the supplement, too, to protect against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Polypodium leucotomas is often marketed as heiliocare. Native Americans used the plant's extract to treat inflammatory disorders and skin diseases. Dr. Kingston says polypodium leucotomas is beneficial for dermatitis and psoriasis, and it lowers the risk of skin cancer.

Horsetail extract, included in the supplement's formula, is a living fossil that contains high levels of the element silicon, found to be effective in hair growth. Dermatologic Health also contains biotin and zinc to promote healthy hair. Biotin and horsetail extract are often used to help brittle fingernails, a condition affecting 20 percent of Americans. Brittle nails can be caused by a lack of nutrients, an underlying health condition, and other factors like repeated washing of hands.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Our toll free number is 888-393-2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Stop The Stink

I know it’s a somewhat personal question, but do your feet stink? In a recent “Dear Annie” advice column, Annie had a nurse write in and report that a zinc deficiency can cause body odor, including stinky feet. I decided to look up the science on zinc to find any literature connecting a zinc deficiency with odor.

Our body requires zinc for the functioning of more than 300 enzymes. The U.S. recommendations for daily intake are 8 mg for women and 11 mg for men. While food sources of zinc include oysters, shellfish, poultry and meat, as well as fortified cereals and nutrition bars, the average diet may not contain enough zinc. Zinc supplements come in several forms – zinc chelate, citrate, picolinate and sulfate. The sulfate form is less expensive than the other forms. (Cooper Complete products use the chelate form of zinc.)

The scientific literature on zinc is extensive, and there is good evidence to support zinc supplementation to:

• Reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea in malnourished children

• Help the healing process of gastric ulcers

• Help manage or reduce symptoms of sickle cell anemia
In the studies, participants showed an increase in heath, weight, immune system function, and testosterone levels, while reducing the number of sickled cells.

• Prevent zinc deficiency
Zinc deficiency symptoms include hair loss, impotence, skin and eye conditions, and reduced appetite.

There’s conflicting research on the impact of zinc in treating the severity and duration of the common cold. In a small double-blind trial of 100 people experiencing early cold symptoms, the half given 13.3 mg of zinc from zinc gluconate recovered from their cold much more quickly than the placebo group. Coughing disappeared within 2.2 days (versus 4 in the placebo group), the sore throat lasted 1 day (versus 3), nasal drainage lasted 4 days (versus 7), and headache time fell from three days to two days. Unfortunately, other studies show little difference between zinc and a placebo.

In a search of the scientific literature, I came up empty when seeking a connection between smelly feet and zinc. In anecdotal information, the writer to “Dear Annie” reports that taking zinc supplements eliminated foot odor. The Graedon’s at the People’s Pharmacy have heard 50 to 100 mg zinc daily made a dramatic reduction in foot odor within 30 days. Another home remedy found in the People’s Pharmacy is to soak the feet in warm water with tannic acid. Because tea is high in tannic acid, adding tea bags to a foot bath is an easy way to try this remedy.

Because long-term high levels of zinc can be toxic, it’s important to talk with your doctor about any supplements you take.

The adult Cooper Complete multivitamin and mineral supplements (including Elite Athlete and Basic One) contain 15 mg zinc per daily serving.

To purchase Cooper Complete supplements, visit the Cooper Store.

Our toll free number is 888-393-2221; email us at Questions@CooperWellness.com.

Reference

Ask Annie Advice Column Suggests Zinc for Body Odor and Stinky Feet

Zinc Gluconate Lozenges for Treating the Common Cold

Zinc

Strange Solutions for Smelly Feet

Smelly Feet – free download from the People’s Pharmacy with Joe and Terry Graedon

Jill Turner is VP Operations for Cooper Concepts, the company that markets Cooper Complete nutritional supplements. Email (jsturner@cooperwellness.com) or call 972-560-3262 with your questions and comments regarding supplements.