Cooking and Saving the nutrints

I found a news article that gave some great tips in saving the vitamins in your food while cooking them. One of the first suggestions was to leave the soup scum on the top of home made soup. People will take it off for the sake of presentation but it can provide nutrients that is lost from the meat or vegetables that are being cooked with. When cooking a pot roast 70 percent of vitamin B is lost into the residual liquids. The suggestion for this is to make a soup out of it so you will be putting the nutrients into your body instead of throwing them out. It is best to steam vegetables but not for very long and to do it in a glass, stainless steel, or enamel. Copper and metal pots can destroy nutrients.

Simmer down, it's just frothBy Eveline Gan, TODAY

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/health/view/393580/1/.html

Does vitamin B reduce cancer rates?

In a study done of 5,ooo women it was claimed that vitamin B's don't reduce cancer rates. Reported by the Journal of the American Medical Association researchers found that there was little difference in the number of women who developed cancer while taking supplements compared to the women that were taking the placebo. It was suggested that women should focus on heating healthy, exercising and quitting smoking to prevent cancer rather than relying on supplements.

The researchers analyzed the data form women who were 42 and older and had a pre-existing heart disease or carried three or more risk factors for coronary disease. The trial studied if supplements of folic acid and vitamin B6 and B12 prevented heart disease in women at high risk for the condition versus the placebo. Of the women that were given the supplement 187 developed invasive cancer compared to 192 women who took the placebo. Little difference was seen between breast cancer and deaths from cancer in either group. Of the women over 65 that took the supplements 25 percent reduction in their risk of developing cancer and a 38 percent reduction risk of getting breast cancer. It was also stated that more studies need to be done on this age group to rule out or back up the finding of this research.

If their is even a little percentage possibility that taking a supplement can help with reducing of developing cancer I would encourage people to take the supplement or make sure they are getting all of their nutrients from their food. 25 percent and 38 percent is not a lot but it is more than 0 and being efficient in vitamin b6 and b12 can have a little effect on not developing cancer. Much depends on the individual person.

The Daily Herald

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=251285&src=120

Dietary intake of B-vitamins in mothers born a child with a congenital heart defect

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the maternal dietary intake of B-vitamins and having a child with a congenital heart defect (CHD). This was a case control study that comprised of 192 mothers with children that have CHD and 216 mothers with healthy children. The mothers took a questioner that evaluated their dietary intake. Blood samples were used to determine vitamin b levels. It was discovered that education level played a large role in the amount of vitamin b the women were consuming. Mothers with low education level showed a lower vitamin b 12 intake than the controls. The CHD risk doubled if vitamin B12 intake in these mothers reduced by 50%.

The study concluded with a diet low in vitamin b12 was associated with an increased risk of a child developing CHD, especially in low educated women.

European Journal of Nutrition (EUR J NUTR), 2006 Dec; 45(8): 478-86 (41 ref)

http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.humboldt.edu/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=17&sid=e17e1d75-cac7-4764-982a-b903f2d0ccbe%40sessionmgr2&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=2009480614

Dificiency in vitamin B12 can have some serious effects on the body

The B vitamins play a key role in maintaining good health. In the case of vitamin B 12 deficiency it can cause damage to ones functional system. It can lead to irreversible damage to the brain and nervous system. At levels that are slightly lower than normal fatigue, poor memory, and depression have all been reported as leading symptoms. It is also stated that low levels lead to mania or psychosis. If a severe shortage occurs it can lead to a serious illness called pernicious anaemia. This is when their are not enough red blood cells in the spinal cord and nerve cells begging to get damaged.

The main reason for deficiency is that the body is not absorbing it properly or people are not getting enough of it in their diet such as vegans. This can be addressed by eating foods that have the vitamin in it, supplements, or injections. Fortified foods are the most common especially cereal. The other foods are in order, pig or calf's liver, fatty fish like salmon, white fish, beef, eggs, cheese, chicken and milk.

VIRGINIA WINDER - Taranaki Daily News Monday, 03 November 2008

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dailynews/4748320a6551.html

Treating Neuropathy With Some Vitamin B

Peripheral neuropathy, which is damage to nerves in hands and feet, can caused tingling, pain and numbness. Manufactures of a high-dose vitamin B supplement, Metanx, claim that this supplement can alleviate pain and improve sensations. In clinical studies it is found that Metanx has alleviated pain and relieved symptoms. The company states, "Metanx works by helping to boost the production of nitric oxide, which opens blood vessels and improves blood flow to peripheral nerves."

In this article it was reported in a study done for 20 weeks that patients who received Metanx and the others who received acetaminophen. 35% of the patients who took Metanx found a reduction in neuropathic pain and 12% found in those taking acetaminophen. This was not a blind study and it consisted of 97 patients who knew what supplement they were getting. A larger double blind study is underway right now.

If it is found that vitamin B helps in treating or preventing neuropathy it could be a big help for people that suffer from this disease. Diabetics are susceptible because of their poor blood supply to the extremities. I am interested to see what this larger study has to reveal about increased amounts of vitamin B.

The Wall Street Journal October 21, 2008

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122453878192251677.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Vitamin B and Breast Cancer

This study looked at plasma folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and risk of breast cancer. They used 712 breast cancer patients and 712 individually matched control subjects. They used a food questioner to determine dietary intake. In this prospective control study they took blood samples to measure plasma levels. Higher plasma folate levels were associated with lower risk of breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer were strong among women who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol. There was an inverse association between plasma vitamin B6 levels and risk of breast cancer was stronger in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. Of those premenopausal women who had high levels of vitamin B12 they were associated with low risk of developing breast cancer. The plasma homocysteine was not associated with risk of breast cancer among premenopausal or postmenopausal.

I found it very interesting that postmenapausal women were not as effected by low levels of vitamin B12 in association with risk for developing breast cancer. As the female body goes through changes as it ages hormone levels fluctuate. I wonder if this has something to do with vitamin B12. I do believe that it has a relationship with developing breast cancer.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 5, 373-380, March 5, 2003© 2003 Oxford University Press

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/5/373

B vitamins no help in slowing Alzheimer's: study

In a recent study done looking at Alzheimer's patients their was no coloration in slowing the effect of Alzheimer's with a high intake of vitamin B. It was an 18 month study and they found that those that did take the vitamin had lower homocysteine levels, but their cognitive test scores for memory and language didn't improve much, compared with those who took placebos. There were 340 participants who were involved in the trial, 202 took high-dose supplements and the rest took placebos. It was noted that "vitamin supplements are meant to maintain health, not to prevent or treat disease."