Exploring Nutrition News May - July 2002
• Food First for Vitamins and Minerals
• Smile - Cheese May Be a Dental Health Hero
• Breathe Easier: Dietary Magnesium and Potassium May Help
• Daily Activities Important in Maintaining a Normal Body Weight
• Beneficial Bacteria from Yogurt May Help Battle the Bug
• Building Better Tween Bodies
• See Kids Health Works on the Discovery Channel

Food First for Vitamins and Minerals
The message from a recent study published in Pediatrics is to give children food first over vitamin and mineral supplements to foster healthful eating habits. The study looked at diet quality and factors that predicted multivitamin-mineral use in close to 200 pairs of mothers and their 5- to 7-year-old daughters. The researchers found:

• Both the girls who took supplements and girls who did not exceeded their daily nutritional recommendations. However, their intake from most of the Five Food Groups compared to the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations was low. Researchers suggest that the girls were getting added nutrients from fortified foods.

• The researchers also note that the American Dietetic Association and the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances recommend consuming "food first" and a wide variety of foods to meet nutrient needs.

Editor's Note: Only 2 percent of children meet all of the Food Guide Pyramid recommendations and 16 percent do not meet any. Learn more about the Food Guide Pyramid.
Source: Lee, Y. et al. Pediatrics, 109(3): 1-7, 2002.

Smile - Cheese May Be a Dental Health Hero
Cavities are due to the erosion of tooth enamel by acids formed when bacteria in plaque break down sugars and starches. A new research review looked at how foods such as milk and cheese can lessen the effect of these acids and how these foods can help replace tooth enamel that may be lost while eating. The authors conclude that cheese has a strong anti-cavity effect, noting that it may protect teeth by:

• helping neutralize acids
• stimulating saliva flow
• reducing adhesion (sticking) of bacteria to teeth
• promoting the replacement of minerals in the tooth enamel
• reducing the loss of minerals from tooth enamel

Source: Kashket, S. and DePaola, DP. Nutrition Reviews, 60: 97-103, 2002.

Breathe Easier: Dietary Magnesium and Potassium May Help
A recent study found that low intake of magnesium may have an impact on the lung health of millions of American children. Magnesium and potassium help maintain healthy function of the lung's bronchial airways. Researchers studied the diets of 2,566 children and teens, ages 11 to 19 years, in Southern California to find out the effect of magnesium, potassium and sodium on lung function. The researchers found:

• Less than 14 percent of boys and 12 percent of girls had adequate intake of magnesium.

• Low magnesium intake was associated with lower lung capacity, airway flow and other measures of lung health.

• Potassium intake for both boys and girls was within current recommendations. However, low potassium intake in girls was associated with a decrease in two measures of lung function.

Based on a growing body of evidence, the researchers suggest that public health officials consider recommending intake of foods with high magnesium content.

Editor's Note: An 8-ounce glass of milk provides 8 percent of the Daily Value for magnesium and 11 percent for the Daily Value for potassium. Source: Gilland, FD, et al. American Journal of Epidemiology, 155(2): 125-31, 2002.

Daily Activities Important in Maintaining a Normal Body Weight
This 1-year study measured energy use during sleep and activity as well as other measures of metabolism to identify differences between women who were successful and unsuccessful in maintaining a normal weight. The study included 61 black and white normal-weight women, ages 20 to 46, who were pre-menopausal. Half had recently completed a weight reduction program. Researchers found:

• Women who gained weight over a year's time (average 20 pounds) used less energy for "activities of daily living" - walking, carrying packages, housework, etc.

• They also had less muscle strength than women who maintained their weight.

• Seventy-seven percent of their weight gain was explained by lower energy use in daily activities.

National guidelines currently recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity to prevent weight gain. The authors note that this guildeline may need to be increased to 80 minutes daily, depending on whether diet is used to contain weight.

Beneficial Bacteria from Yogurt May Help Battle the Bug
More than 16 million children under the age of five suffer from diarrhea each year. A review of nine studies looked at the effects of lactobacillus bacterial cultures (probiotics), such as those found in yogurt, to find out if they ease gastrointestinal disorders. The results suggest that lactobacillus is a safe and effective way to reduce how often and how long diarrhea occurs.

Editor's Note: To tell if a yogurt contains live cultures, look for "Contains Live and Active Cultures" on the label.

Building Better Tween Bodies
According to a new survey, healthful eating is not necessarily a priority for tweens, (kids ages 11 to 13 years). Results of a survey that looked at tweens' attitudes about their bodies, health and nutrition found:

• Tweens consider outward appearances such as clothes (54 percent), hair (52 percent) and clear skin (48 percent) more important than eating nutritious foods.

• Thirty percent of 11 year-olds said eating healthful foods is very important compared to only 19 percent of 13 year-olds.

• Most respondents are active, but do not meet the recommendation for 60 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. Less than one-third exercise or participate in sports daily.

See Kids Health Works on the Discovery Channel
"Kids Health Works," a new series about kids from birth to age 12, airs weekdays at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. (EST) on the Discovery Channel. The series includes several nutrition-focused segments. Four segments, which highlight the importance of milk and dairy products in children's diets, can be viewed at www.nationaldairycouncil.org. Topics include bone health, milk myths, weight management and lactose intolerance. You'll need to have Windows Media Player installed in order to view video content, so download it here.
Source: Impulse Research Corporation. Body Image Survey, February, 2002.