According to an article published in the Journal of Nutrition black and white pregnant women and neonates residing in the northern US are at high risk of vitamin D insufficiency, even when mothers are compliant with prenatal vitamins. Read the rest of this entry

A recent study concluded that “…consumption of apples and fish during pregnancy may have a protective effect against the development of childhood asthma and allergic disease.” Now I wouldn’t eat them together, Read the rest of this entry

In yet another study showing the importance of healthy gut bacteria it is shown that probiotics during pregnancy and early in life reduce the incidence of IgE associated eczema. (think of IgE as the sort lived, quick onset reaction from foods, molds, animals etc.) This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 188 families with a history of allergic disease. Lactobacillus reuteri was given orally Read the rest of this entry

In yet another study showing the importance of the vitamin of the year, Vitamin D, lower maternal intake is linked to an increase in wheezing among 5 year olds. The study was done here in New England (in Boston at the Brigham and Beth Israel) where the prevalence of asthma is the highest in the nation. Read the rest of this entry

An interesting study was released this week that made headlines stating Vitamin D can help prevent breast cancer. But reading the study what it really stated is that girls with the highest intake of Vitamin D during puberty/adolescents had the lowest incidence of breast cancer. Those with the highest amount of sun exposure had the lowest rates of breast cancer. This is very similar to my meta-analysis paper on soy phytoestrogen and breast cancer protection. Read the rest of this entry

A recent study showed that women who took the Pill for at least 6 months had significantly lower concentrations of CoQ10 and Vitamin E than women who were not on the Pill. CoQ10 and vitamin E, fat soluble anti-oxidants support energy production and protects against free radical damage. CoQ10 is produced by the human body and is necessary for mitochondrial energy production as well as antioxidant protection. Although the researchers did not discuss it in their article it is interesting that the lower concentrations of Vitamin E can be because of a CoQ10 reduction, as CoQ10 helps ‘recycle’ Vitamin E. Read the rest of this entry

In 2004 I wrote an unpublished meta-analysis paper investigating the potential protective mechanism of soy phytoestrogens and breast cancer. The conclusion was that “…the consumption of properly prepared fermented soy foods (miso, natto, tempeh) during adolescence appears to provide a chemoprotective effect later in life. Read the rest of this entry

A research article released last week concluded the importance of a healthy maternal diet, at least during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. It concluded that mothers who ate a diet high in omega-6 fatty acids, deep fried foods, citrus fruits and sweet raw peppers during the last 4 weeks had youngsters with a much higher allergy rate. Food allergies, inhalants, and eczema were the significant health issues. Interestingly a high intake of fish was inversely associated with eczema. I question the current scare about mercury consumption during pregnancy because it is stopping mothers from eating a very healthy food. At least mothers should be taking fish oils as obviously the anti-inflammatory effects reduced inflammation(eczema) in the offspring.

Where do the omega-6 oils come from? Usually the cheap vegetable oils and margarine. However the research only looked at omega-6 intake – perhaps the real culprit is the now thankfully maligned trans-fatty acids that go along with the cheap hydrogenated vegetable oils. Certainly if one is eating deep-fried foods they are most likely getting a good dose of omega-6 oils and trans-fatty acids. (Back at the turn of the last century lard from grass fed animals was a much better choice than the polyunsaturated oils of today!)

We already know that mothers low in folic acid at conception will cause neural tube defects. It seems that more and more kids have some sort of allergy/inflammatory issue. Perhaps it is the devitalized processed foods that permeate our culture!