It's -really- NEVER too late for harvesting the benefits of a healthy lifestyle!

By Dr. Franco

Even from early age, we have a natural tendency to disregard changes in lifestyle under the perspective of a limited or self-limiting time horizon, perhaps driven by the will to avoid the potential efforts involved. Following the same approach -oriented towards the avoidance of efforts- when we consider ourselves young we delay changes and decisions trying to postpone them to a later age that when it arrives we then think it is too late. In the case of following a healthy lifestyle as the pathway to achieve healthy ageing there is never a case for being too early or too late.

Being a sine qua non of life, ageing starts from the moment we are conceived and stops only with a full cease of our bodily functions (i.e. we are deceased). It is therefore logical to consider that any decision, choice or habit that we undertake along our life course would affect how we age and feel. Following a healthy lifestyle has been associated with a different number of benefits among different populations at all stages of life benefiting children and elderly alike.

Furthermore, the benefits of following a healthy lifestyle are not only reserved to people that are currently healthy. As presented by researchers from the VA Medical Center in Durham (NC) in a recent publication in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) benefits of a healthy lifestyle can also be seen among elderly long-term cancer survivors. Their study evaluated whether providing information on the components of a healthy lifestyle through telephone counselling and mailed print material would ameliorate or even stop functional decline among older overweight cancer survivors.
The authors found after 12 months that those receiving information about following a healthy lifestyle, experienced a substantial amelioration of their functional decline and an improvement in quality of life compared to those that did not receive the information.

Perhaps following a healthy lifestyle imply certain efforts that to many may appear a great burden, nevertheless the efforts are greatly compensated and it is never too late to invest in the bank of the healthy lifestyle. Healthy ageing will be just one of the rewards.


Reference:
Morey MC, Snyder DC, Sloane R, Cohen HJ, Peterson B, Hartman TJ, Miller P, Mitchell DC, Demark-Wahnefried W. Effects of home-based diet and exercise on functional outcomes among older, overweight long-term cancer survivors: RENEW: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2009 May 13;301(18):1883-91

Avoid Alzheimer’s by going ‘Med’

by Dr. Franco

Mediterranean, is a word that to me evokes intensely-blue seas, sunny weather, slow-paced life, afternoon siestas but above all, great food… I mean, wonderful food. I can still feel that pizza I had in the small town of Pula in Sardegna. “Da Eleonora”, said the locals in Cagliari, go south… to Pula, you will find your best pizza ever. And so I did, the holy grail of pizzas. Simple, yet sublime, a feast to my senses and a recurrent theme in my dreams -while awake. But Mediterranean food goes beyond pizza of course, it includes high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals, olive oil, moderate intake of fish, low consumption of red meat and low to moderate consumption of wine with the meals. And is not just its taste, nor its simplicity, it is also the benefits that it can provide. In the last decades, many studies have studied and praised the benefits of following a Mediterranean diet. In multiple scientific publications this type of diet has been associated with increased life expectancy, reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (diseases of the heart and stroke), reduced risk of cancer and as two recent JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) publications suggest, a reduced risk of developing dementia. By studying over 1400 adults living in Bordeaux, France, French researchers found that higher adherence to Mediterranean diet was associated with slower cognitive decline. But these benefits are not only observed among Mediterranean people as demonstrated in a study published in the same August edition of the JAMA. Investigators from Columbia University Medical Centre in New York, found among a multiethnic group of 1880 elders living in New York that those that followed a Mediterranean-type diet had a 40% lower risk of developing Alzheimer disease (compared to those that didn’t). Although it wont hurt to visit Pula and drop by “Da Eleonora”, there is no need to go far to reach the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. All of us, at home, wherever we live, if we take the adequate choices and follow the basic principles of balance and moderation can reap the benefits and avoid suffering from the burden that Alzheimer disease can impose in our lives. Our taste and memory will be grateful.
References:
Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet, Cognitive Decline, and Risk of Dementia. Catherine Féart; Cécilia Samieri; Virginie Rondeau; Hélène Amieva; Florence Portet; Jean-François Dartigues; Nikolaos Scarmeas; Pascale Barberger-Gateau. JAMA. 2009; 302:638-648.
Physical Activity, Diet, and Risk of Alzheimer Disease. Nikolaos Scarmeas; Jose A. Luchsinger; Nicole Schupf; Adam M. Brickman; Stephanie Cosentino; Ming X. Tang; Yaakov Stern. JAMA. 2009; 302:627-637.

PS: this is the first post (special thanksgiving edition) of the blog entitled 'Splashes from the Fountain of Youth' created by Dr. O.H. Franco MD, DSc, PhD, FESC. This blog will be posted regularly every Sunday from the 29th of November.

Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD) presents: "BeneVia" Strength & Energy Juice Drink by HealthSpan Solutions (USA)

Company: HealthSpan Solutions

Brand: BeneVia

Category:  Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Country: USA

Price in local currency: $2.25

Price in US Dollars: $2.25

Price in Euros:   €1.5

Product Description

According to the Mintel Oxygen report, Seniors and Technology--US--April 2009, by the year 2014, seniors (aged 65+) will account for 14% of the US population, and 27% of people will be aged over 55. With the aging population growing and many seniors taking better care of their health than previous generations, there is a need for more products that speak to the defined needs and increased activity levels of this demographic. However, manufacturers must tread lightly, as overtly targeting this group in many markets may deter older consumers from purchasing these products. There is a delicate balance that must be achieved between formulating products that meet the needs of aging consumers without appearing too medicinal, and very few companies have been able to successfully achieve this position in the market. In the US, HealthSpan Solutions recently introduced a beverage that is formulated for the energy and muscular needs of aging consumers, but does not overtly target this group. The BeneVia Strength & Energy Juice Drink is a Cranberry Lemonade flavored therapeutic drink, which is claimed to improve muscle function and mobility. With 8 grams of protein per bottle, this beverage claims to contain four times more concentrated protein and amino acids than competing products. This product stands apart because it does not call out to seniors with any of the on-pack messaging, but instead is labeled as "therapeutic nutrition" and clearly details its nutritional benefits. For formulating a functional product that packs 8 grams of protein into every 8-oz. serving to support the muscle mass in aging consumers, BeneVia Strength & Energy is awarded five points in the formulation category. This company was further able to formulate and market a functional product for aging consumers without overtly targeting them. Instead, BeneVia speaks to the needs of aging consumers, making it easy for Boomers to see and understand the benefits of the beverage without feeling marginalized. It is also notable for a product aimed at older consumers to make claims relating to energy benefits, and the Strength & Energy beverage is awarded another five points for positioning. Although products for seniors' bone and joint health are growing in popularity, this appears to be the only product that specifically claims to help maintain muscle mass, and the nutritional beverage is awarded four points for originality.

In summary, on a 5 point scale they gave Benevia



5 points for Formulation

5 points for Product Positioning

4 points for Originality

STUDY WARNS WEIGHT GAIN 'SIGNIFICANT' IN CUTTING LIFE EXPECTANCY

By Jane Kirby
Press Association Health Correspondent


Putting on weight into middle age cuts the chance of living a long and healthy life by around 80%, researchers warned today. Obesity is a "significant factor" in predicting how long a person will live, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
 Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, and the University of Warwick in Coventry analyzed data gathered since 1976 from more than 17,000 female nurses living in 11 US states.
 They found that women who were obese in middle age had 79% lower odds of healthy survival compared with women who kept their weight at a healthy level.
 The study also found that putting on weight from the age of 18 until middle age was a predictor of how long women would live in good health.
 For every 1kg increase in weight gain since age 18, the odds of healthy survival decreased by 5%, the researchers said.
 Women who were overweight at age 18 and gained 10kg of weight to middle age had particularly low survival - reduced by 82% - compared with women who were lean and maintained a stable weight.
 Obesity was defined as having a body mass index (BMI) over 30, while lean women had a BMI of 18.5 to 22.9.
 At the start of the study, nurses filled in questionnaires on their lifestyles, weight and height and history of disease.
 They were questioned again every two years for more than a 20-year period, providing updates on their health as well as weight and current lifestyle.
 Any reported illnesses were checked against medical records and other data.
 The experts classed people as healthy if they reached the age of 70 or older while being free from major chronic diseases and associated surgery: cancer, diabetes, heart attack, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, congestive heart failure, stroke, kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
 The experts also determined that to be "healthy", they should have no major limitation on the use of their body and have good mental health.
 The authors concluded: "In summary, this study provides new evidence that greater adiposity at mid-life is a strong risk factor predicting a lower probability of healthy survival among older women.
 "In addition, our data suggests that weight maintenance throughout adulthood might be associated with optimal overall health at older ages."

HealthSpan Launches New Nutrition Beverage

HealthSpan Solutions LLC has announced the first-ever launch of its flagship product, BeneVia(R). Developed by leading experts in healthcare, nutrition and aging, BeneVia(R) is a revolutionary fruit-based nutrition drink with the nutrients to help consumers stay healthy and active as they age.

The four varieties of the BeneVia(R) product line target the four most common health conditions faced by aging consumers.

• Strength & Energy - Loss of muscle strength and energy
• Memory & Focus - Declining memory and speed of learning
• Heart Health - Cardiovascular health issues
• Immune Protect - Immune response and ability to fight infections

BeneVia(R) is a naturally flavored fruit juice drink that tastes better and is less filling than creamier "shake-based" nutritional drinks. BeneVia(R) is fat free and approximately half the calories of other beverages in the adult nutrition category.

BeneVia(R) is available in four-packs of eight ounce bottles and is sold in the adult nutrition section of retail food and drug stores. The recommended retail price for the four-pack is $7.99, in line with other adult nutrition drinks.

BeneVia(R) is rolling out in selected markets across the US this month with plans to be available nationally by the end of the year.

"We're thrilled to launch BeneVia(R) and also looking forward to making it available nationwide very soon," said HealthSpan CEO John Troup, PhD. "We know that the great taste and nutritional benefits of BeneVia(R) will soon help millions of aging Americans to lead healthy, active lives."

For more information about BeneVia(R), including nutritional profiles and availability, visit www.gobenevia.com.