March 2007 Newsletter

Prof Mark Wahlqvist AO, MD, FRACP Immediate Past President International Union of Nutritional Science

Welcome to the March edition of the HEC newsletter This edition looks at scientific studies published on: Spelt - what is it and why eat it ; Declining nutrients in Australian fruit and vegetables; magnesium supplements; Probiotics for health and weight management?; Pedanius Dioscorides - ancient Greek herbalist/doctor who wrote the precursor to all modern pharmacopeias; find a dietitian in Australia; artichoke,potato and asparagus salad

Dr Antigone Kouris-Blazos PhD, Grad Dip Diet, BSc (Hons) Honorary Nutrition Research Fellow, Monash University

Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition Read abstracts of the new edition vol16 (1) Read abstracts of the edition vol15 (4) Subscribe to APJCN for only $195 hardcopy and online or $150 on-line only

WHAT'S NEW IN NUTRITION RESEARCH

SPELT - what is it and why eat it?
Spelt or hulled wheat (Triticum spelta) is often referred to as the ancient wheat, but spelt is actually not that ancient and is related to common unhulled bread wheat (Triticum sativum).
New varieties of bread wheat have been developed over the last 50-100 years which may be the cause of many wheat allergies or intolerances that appear to be on the rise. This is possibly because humans have not had time to adapt to these new varieties. It is therefore not surprising that people with wheat intolerances find that they can tolerate the more 'ancient' spelt, which fortunately for them, has not been altered by plant breeders.
Spelt, however, does contain gluten (a wheat protein) which people with coeliac disease need to avoid. Studies have shown that it can be tolerated by many people who are normally gluten-intolerant. This could be because the larger quantities of available protein found in spelt are soluble and, therefore, can be easily assimilated by the body with the minimum of digestive work. Results of allergy testing in both the US and the UK has also shown that when many wheat sensitive individuals are exposed to both wheat and spelt the majority react adversely to the wheat sample only. However,it must be stressed that the Coeliac Society in Australia does not include spelt on its list of approved foods and people with this condition should not eat it. Also, people with fructose malabsorption (e.g commonly seen in Irritable Bowel Syndrome) should also avoid it. more...

Declining nutrients in Australian Fruits and Vegetables

The mineral content of fruits and vegetables has been declining over the last 60 years in Australia mainly due to growing bigger plants with more water resulting in greater dilution of nutrients and in soil that contains fertilisers rather than manure. The minerals significantly affected are magnesium and copper (dropped by about 50-80%), followed by calcium, iron and potassium (dropped by about 20%). Declining magnesium intake has been linked to diabetes and possibly osteoporosis. These trends suggests that we may need to eat much larger serves of vegetables and fruit than currently recommended to get adequate amounts of minerals. This is preferable to taking a supplement, but for many people eating large serves of plant foods is difficult or expensive, especially with rising prices due to the drought in Australia. Many first generation mediterranean migrants in Australia are consuming large quantities of vegetables from their backyard - lovingly grown with manure. Interestingly, Greeks and Italians, despite being overweight, have also been found to live longer than their slimmer Australian-born counterparts. Could their home grown vegetables be playing a role?

Professor Wahlqvist was intereviewed about declining nutrients in Australian fruit and vegetables by the Financial Review: /server/info/articles/diets-foods/fruitveg.htm

Magnesium supplements

Preliminary double-blind studies suggest that regular use of magnesium supplements may help prevent migraine headaches, hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noises, and kidney stones, and help treat high blood pressure, angina, dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), pregnancy-induced leg cramps, and PMS (including menstrual migraines). People with diabetes are often deficient in magnesium; and according to some (but not all) studies, magnesium supplementation may enhance blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes or prediabetic conditions. However, people with heart or kidney disorders should consult their doctor or dietitian before commencing magnesium supplements. If you think you need a supplement (due to chronic poor food intake or conditions/medications that leach magnesium from your body - check with your doctor or dietitian) it is advisable to avoid taking more than the recommended dietary intake (around 200mg is enough from supplements) and the balance should come from wholegrains, nuts and green vegetables. Also, your magnesium status can be checked with a blood test (red blood cell magnesium) more...
Other articles

Good Gut Bacteria, Health and Weight Control

When we are healthy, it is in large part because our digestive system is healthy via the 'good' gut bacteria.

Called beneficial flora, these small friends digest and help us absorb our food, they improve our immune systems, even contribute to the manufacture of vitamins (B vitamins and vitamin K). Acidophilus and Bifidobacterium strains increase the bioavailability of minerals that need short-chain fatty acids for absorption, such as magnesium, iron, copper and manganese. They also break otherwise indigestible carbohydrates down into short-chain fatty acids, providing us with energy and nutrients. Other forms of bacteria digest proteins, freeing up amino acids for absorption.

What affects the balance of microorganisms in the gut?
Illness
stress
medications
antibiotic use
reduced speed of peristalsis (the wave-like action of the digestive system) due to lack of physical activity or long term use of laxatives or medications (narcotics,antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, iron supplements).
not eating enough probiotics
not eating enough prebiotics

Impaired or imbalanced intestinal flora are implicated in:
obesity
Recent animal studies suggest that a lack of good bacteria in the gut is linked to weight gain in these animals and obese humans have been found to have less good bacteria in their faeces than lean people. Researchers are not sure what the mechanism is but good bacteria are known to breakdown plant compounds (thiocyanates) that can adversely affect thyroid function (the thyroid controls your metabolic rate). There are probably several other mechanisms involved.
heart disease, elevated cholesterol
Some good bacteria target the digestion and storage of fat, helping us normalize our cholesterol and triglyceride levels by helping with the circulation of bile and its detoxification.
more....
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NUTRITION/HERBAL RESOURCES ON THE WEB

Pedanius Dioscorides was an ancient Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist famous for writing a five volume book De Materia Medica that is a precursor to all modern pharmacopeias, and is one of the most influential herbal books in history. This book was written nearly 2000 years ago! He practised in Rome at the times of Nero. Unlike many classical authors, his works were not "rediscovered" in the Renaissance, because his book never left circulation. The Materia Medica was often reproduced in manuscript form through the centuries, often with commentary on Dioscorides' work and with minor additions from Arabic and Indian sources, though there were some advancements in herbal science among the Arabic additions.The Materia Medica is important not just for the history of herbal science, it also gives us a knowledge of the herbs and remedies used by the Greeks, Romans, and other cultures of antiquity. The work presents about 500 plants in all.

Plates showing many pages from an original illuminated Greek manuscript of the Materia Medica click here

More Information: Wikipiedia; HEC article on Herbs

If you need help with your diet, why not consult a dietitian.
They can assess your nutritional status and prepare dietary plans to correct nutritional inadequacies; they can help you manage various disorders like diabetes, high cholesterol, fatty liver, hypertension, kidney problems, gastrointestinal problems, oesteoporosis, allergies, weight management etc.

To find a dietitian in your state (Australia) click here

Please note that Dietetics is now on Medicare through the Enhanced Primary Care Plan.
Up to 5 visits to a dietitian are allowed on this plan in a calender year for eligible patients - ask your doctor for eligibility and for the referral. Many dietitians are bulk billing these visits (or charging a small gap).

If you live in Melbourne why not come and see HEC's Dr Antigone Kouris, who is now consulting at 4 clinics -
see home page


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