Handling Halloween Candy

The biggest candy-eating holiday of all is here. Instead of struggling with limiting your kids’ Halloween candy eating, let it be an opportunity to teach your kids moderation with their eating habits.

Let’s start with dispelling two big myths about sugar:

        Sugar Does Not Cause Hyperactivity: Many studies clearly show that sugar does not cause hyperactivity. It may make kids go nuts because they’re so excited to get it but it does not actually change behavior. Parent’s expectations may have something to do with their perceptions of their child’s behavior. One study showed that when researchers told parents that their children ate sugar – even when they had not – they perceived that their behavior was worse.

·      Sugar is Not More Addictive than Cocaine: We see these headlines all the time. In fact, there was one last week “Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Addictive like Cocaine”. These headlines are click bait. While sugar can increase dopamine, it does it in a very different way than cocaine. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant and is highly addictive. If sugar were as addictive as cocaine, we’d all be in rehab.   

Halloween is actually a great time to help your kids develop behavioral control with sugar.

Tips for a healthier Halloween:

•         Don’t be too restrictive The more you restrict them, the more they’ll want it.
•          Feed your kids a good dinner before they go out – this will keep them from bingeing on candy!
•          Teach Safety. For safety purposes, teach your children not to eat any of the candy they get until you’ve checked it out when they get home. But keep in mind that the scary things you’ve heard about tainted Halloween candy is exaggerated. The biggest danger to kids on Halloween night is not tainted candy but bad drivers.
•         Let them eat as much as they want Halloween night. When they come home from trick or treating, allow them to eat what they want. However, after Halloween, let them choose a few pieces to eat at one time. 
•          Challenge them to see how long they can make their candy last. Teach your kids to enjoy a few pieces of candy every day. See if they can make it last until Thanksgiving. One year, I still had some Halloween candy at Christmas!
•          Buy the candy back from them! Let your kids to “sell” you the candy they don’t like as much. This is a great way to teach kids to prioritize which candies they like best. It also helps them to avoid mindlessly eating candy that they don’t truly like.

For tips on healthy and sensible nutrition tips for kid, go to this website:

www.ellynsatterinstitute.org

Beth Kitchin PhD RDN
Assistant Professor & Director of Media/Community Engagement Nutrition Sciences

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Patient Educator UAB Osteoporosis Prevention & Treatment Clinic

I'm Still Drinking Juice Despite the Scary Cancer Headlines. Here's Why:

Did you see this recent headline? “Sugary drinks, including 100% fruit juices, may raise cancer risk”. I’ve read the study and I’m still drinking my orange juice every morning. Why? Because this is more of the same: weak study design with weak statistical outcomes that should drive any decent nutrition scientist to an early grave.

Here’s why this latest study doesn't change my mind about drinking juice:

•          It’s an Observational Study: Think of these types of studies as circumstantial evidence. In some areas of science, like climate change, this type of data is more useful and meaningful. But in the area of nutrition, they're bordering on useless particularly when they study a single food or nutrient. Observational studies cannot show cause and effect. The only thing they can show is that there may be some sort of relationship between two things - like juice and cancer.
  
•       It's Self-Reported Data: How well do you remember what you ate yesterday? Or last month?
  
•        An 18% increased risk is weak. While it may sound like a lot, it’s not. To give you some perspective, smoking 25 cigarettes a day increases the risk of lung cancer by 900%. That’s a strong relative risk. Not 18%. And this weak 18% would only hold true if the juice was the actual cause – which this study cannot show.

This does not mean you should load up on sugary sodas – or even 100% fruit juice. While sugary sodas and 100% fruit juice have the same calories and sugar by the ounce, they are not nutritional equals. Sodas are empty calories. 100% fruit juices have many nutrients depending on which ones you’re drinking. Vitamin C, folate, potassium are just a few of the nutrients that you might find in juices. 

·        I like to mix juice with mineral water to make a healthy spritzy drink. You’ll get more fiber when you eat whole fruits. Juice should not be your main source of fruit – but it still counts. Don’t quench your thirst with juice – but a morning glass of O.J. is a great way to start the day if you like it.

·         Look for 100% fruit juice. You’ll need to read the label carefully because they can be deceiving. Always look at the “Nutrition Facts” section of the label to find out just how much actual fruit juice is in it. Some juices are lower in their percentage of juice but they're actually lower in calories and sugar because they're diluting the juice and sweetening it with low calorie sweeteners. These are good choices particularly for cranberry juice - which can be too tart to drink straight up! The bottom line is to read labels and compare calories and sugars.

Beth Kitchin PhD RDN
Assistant Professor Nutrition Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham 

Are Energy Drinks Dangerous?

Energy drinks are big business – a business that brought in $2.8 billion in 2018 and continues to grow. These high caffeine drinks are particularly popular among teenagers, 30% of whom between12 -17 years old drink them on a regular basis. 45% of people in the military drink at least one a day while 14% drink three or more a day.

What exactly are energy drinks? Drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Rock Star contain caffeine plus other ingredients like B vitamins, guarana (caffeine), and sometimes taurine – an amino acid.  Companies promote this combination of ingredients as energy producing – but it’s likely just the caffeine that gives you a boost. Ounce per ounce, these drinks are not that much higher in caffeine than a cup of coffee. The problem with them is that they’re marketed to younger people who may be drinking a lot of them in higher amounts. Red Bull cans range in size from 8.4 ounces to 20 ounces – and some people drink several cans a day.

But are these drinks safe? Emergency room visits involving energy drinks are on the rise:  34 deaths over recent years were tied to these drinks. Researchers just published a new study that looked at the effects of these drinks on blood pressure and heart electrical activity.

Let’s take a look:

• The study was published in last week’s Journal of the American Heart Association.
• Researchers recruited 34 healthy people between the ages of 18 and 40 years old.
• They then had them drink either two 16-ounce cans of a caffeinated energy drink or a placebo drink on three consecutive days.
• The researchers measure blood pressure, heart rate, and did an electrocardiogram to examine the heart’s electrical activity. 
• They did multiple measures starting at 30 minutes after the participants drank the energy drinks.

Interestingly, the energy drinks did not increase heart rate compared to the non-caffeinated placebo drink. There was a modest increase in blood pressure and changes to the heart’s electrical activity. Both of these were seen as modest changes.

However, we are seeing more young people admitted to the ER because of energy drinks (1,499 teens in 2011). So it pays to be prudent.

Who Should Avoid Energy Drinks:

• Children under 12
• Pregnant women
• Anyone taking certain medicines (check with your doctor)
• Never mix them with alcohol

I recommend following these general caffeine guidelines:

• No more than 100 mg of caffeine a day for teenagers (12-18)
• No more than 400 mg of caffeine a day for adults
• 1 12-ounce can of Red Bull = 113 mg of caffeine
• 1 cup of coffee = 100 mg of caffeine
• 1 cup of tea = 30 mg of caffeine
• 1 can of cola = 35 mg of caffeine 

Caffeine levels are not required on labels but some show the caffeine level anyway. And if you’re like me – a troubled sleeper – you’ll need to cut off your caffeine intake by around noon.

Beth Kitchin, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham  

Three Health & Nutrition Headlines You Should Ignore

. . . or at least take with a grain of salt!

1.    Headline: “30 Foods You Should Never Eat Over the Age of 30”
Reality: Unless you're allergic, you should never ban any food that you like from your eating plan.

This was the most recent headline I’ve seen in the “Don’t ever eat this” genre. Don’t click on this click bait! Sure, the foods that they typically warn you about usually aren’t healthy to begin with but do you really need someone to tell you that Oreos and alcohol aren’t health foods? The idea that any food is completely off limits, barring a true food allergy, is absurd and can lead to unhealthy all-or-nothing thinking about food. Some of the other foods they banned if you’re over 30 included beer, veggie burgers, and iced coffee.

2.    Headline: “9 Foods that Fight Wrinkles”
Reality: No food has been shown to fight wrinkles - or cause wrinkles.

Despite what some “health experts” may claim, gluten, sugar, and dairy foods will not increase wrinkles. Fatty acids from salmon and nuts will not prevent dry skin and wrinkles. The best way to avoid wrinkles? Avoid the sun. Products like Retin A and Niacinamide creams can actually reduce the appearance of fine lines and have the research to back up that claim. Don’t get me wrong, eating salmon and cutting back on added sugar are healthy habits but don’t expect smooth skin as a result.

3.    Headline: “5 Foods That Reverse the Aging         Process”
Reality: Ponce de Leon couldn't do it - and neither can you.

We cannot reverse the aging process. Can we age more healthfully? Of course – but no single food is going to do that. Yet foods like beets and blueberries are often touted for their anti-aging effects. In fact, the two best health habits for aging well are weight control and exercise. There may be some specific meal patterns – like the MIND Diet that could benefit your brain but the evidence is far from conclusive!

Beth Kitchin, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham 

Diet Studies: What the Numbers Don't Tell You

This week I read a terrific article from last year by one of my favorite health journalists - Julia Belluz of www.vox.com.  She took a look at 4 dieters who were all participants in a study that compared a low-fat diet to a low-carb diet. Both diets produced pretty much the same results after a year - 11 pounds lost for low-fat dieters and 13 pounds lost for low-carb dieters. Those numbers are averages.

But averages are, of course, averages. What happens in a lot of weight loss studies is that some people do really well and lose a lot of weight. Others don't lose any weight at all or actually gain weight. And some are right there in the middle. So the average weight loss looks mediocre at best. But there are rich and instructive stories in each participant's experience that get lost in the averages. Why did the people who lost a lot of weight do so well? What kept the people who didn't lose weight, or even gained, from succeeding? Averages don't tell their stories. But Ms. Belluz takes a look at 2 people who succeeded - one on each diet. She did the same with 2 people who gained weight - one on each diet. She tells their stories here. Take a look:  

Why Do Dieters Succeed or Fail? 

What we see is where we fail as nutrition and diet experts. It's not just about the diet - it's about life. Our jobs, our environment, our families, our friends all have a big effect on our health and behaviors. Now, how do we design programs and studies that really help when all those factors are not helping? 

Beth Kitchin, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham 

Vitamin C – Should You Supplement?

When you get a cold, do you start popping the vitamin C tablets? If you do, you might want to think twice. Vitamin C supplements don’t do a whole lot to cut your cold chances and they might even be bad for your kidneys.

Does vitamin C prevent colds? Taking a vitamin C supplement regularly before you get a cold, may decrease the time you have the cold – but just a little. An analysis of 44 studies showed that 1000 mg a day can cut the time you have a cold by about half a day. The usual recommendation is 500 mg twice a day. But taking vitamin C after you have a cold, probably won’t do you much good. 1000 mg a day may also lower your risk of gout. A lower dose 60 to 250 mg may help prevent cataracts – but too much can actually increase your risk of cataracts.   

But, too much can be dangerous. Taking 2000 mg a day for a long time may damage the kidneys and increase the risk of kidney stones. So if you do supplement, keep it to 1000 mg a day or less. Vitamin C supplements can also cause diarrhea and intestinal upset.

I don’t typically recommend vitamin C supplements for my patients.  I do recommend that you get lots from your foods. Some studies show an association between higher intakes from food and a lower risk of stroke, some cancers, and overall health. Men need 90 mg a day of vitamin C and women need 75 mg a day. It’s a good idea to get more than that from your diet for optimal disease prevention. Luckily, it’s easy to get lots of C from your foods.  

How can you increase your dietary vitamin C intake? Here is a list of the foods highest in vitamin C:

Foods High in Vitamin C:
 

1/2 cup red pepper                  95 mg

¾ cup orange juice                  93 mg

1 cup strawberries                   84 mg   

1 orange                                  70 mg
1 medium kiwi fruit                  64 mg

1/2 grapefruit                           42mg

1/2 cup raw broccoli                80 mg 

½ cup cooked broccoli            58 mg

baked or sweet potato            25 mg

1/2 cup turnip/collard greens  20 mg

So as you can see, a diet high in fruits and vegetables can easily supply your daily need for vitamin C – and then some. Does this mean you should ditch your vitamin C supplement? Not necessarily – just don’t overdo it. Stick with no more than a 500 mg twice a day if you want to continue vitamin C supplements.  Just don't let a vitamin C supplement take the place of high C foods!

Hemila H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31

Beth Kitchin PhD RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition Sciences 

University of Alabama at Birmingham 

I Body Shamed My 4-Month Old Kitten. What Kind of a Monster Am I?

Beatrice the Kitten

A feral momma cat gave birth to her kittens at the top of my back steps this past March. This is how I came to adopt Beatrice who, with her Dalmatian spotted body and tiger striped head, is an oddly beautiful chimera of a cat. I couldn’t bear to give her up, despite the horrified glares of Francesca and Atticus Finch, my two adult cats. Nor was my boyfriend’s cat allergy enough to dissuade me because, you know, benadryl. I dismissed a psychologist friend’s warning that “more than two cats per capita in a household is a sign of psychosis”, because she was born at the top of my back steps. It was meant to be.

As my beautiful kitten grew, I began to notice a protrusion of saggy skin under her abdomen. As she grew, it grew – flapping unattractively side to side as she chased ribbons, attacked fuzzy felt mice, and trotted out to greet me when I walked in the door. I had pictured her growing into a sleek, elegant cat – abdomen firm, muscles sinewy – delighting guests with her feline prowess and balletic form. “How beautiful” they would say, “where did you get her?” I would proudly reply:  “She was born at the top of my back steps”, as though the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet had placed her there, just for me.

Beatrice and her primordial pouch 

But my kitten has a primordial pouch. Yes, that’s what it’s called. I know this because I googled “my kitten has saggy skin hanging down from her abdomen, what is that?” It’s a primordial pouch. Some cats have it and others don’t. It’s not a result of eating too much or spaying. Both male and female cats can have one. It’s simply excess skin and fat that allows cats extra flexibility and movement and helps them to wriggle loose in a fight. Wild cats often have them and it’s a breed standard for the Bengal and the Egyptian Mau. This last primordial pouch fun fact gave me cold comfort since Beatrice’s heritage is urban feral, making her ineligible for pageant competition.

So, when I took Beatrice in for her last round of vaccinations, I said to my vet, in a practiced tone that was half kidding, half serious, “Hey, you know she’s got a primordial pouch. So when you spay her next month, how about a little nip and tuck to tighten that thing up?” I added a little half-laugh to make sure she didn’t think I was seriously requesting cosmetic surgery on a kitten. But I was hoping she’d say “Sure – no problem, we do that all the time”. Instead, she said, “Oh, primordial pouches are normal. Perfectly healthy.”

So there it was. I had just body shamed my 4-month old kitten. I should know better. After all, I was body shamed when I was a teen in high school. This was back in the 70’s and 80’s when we didn’t call it “body shaming”. My “primordial pouch” was a nose that was too big, breasts that were too small, and a rotund butt that would have to wait decades before Kim Kardashian would make it fashionable. Everything about my looks was wrong, disproportionate – and some of the other students made sure I knew it. One male classmate called me “TT”. The first “T” was for “tiny”. I’m sure you can guess what the second “T” stood for. Another classmate once told me I was ugly. While I knew I was not ugly, I also knew I was not pretty and would never be considered so. These memories flashed back to me as I tried to humor my vet into giving a kitten a tummy tuck.

Thankfully Beatrice is and will remain unaware that I body shamed her. She’s a cat. But it made me wonder, what if I had not been so fortunate? What if the people who were supposed to love me had body shamed me? It made me think of a day a long time ago, when I was 14 or 15. It was summer. The phone rang and my mom answered. I heard her say, “well maybe you should ask her” and handed the phone to me. It was a woman from the county fair wanting me to participate in the yearly county beauty pageant. While she likely got my name from a list of girls from the high school, I felt patronized. Didn’t she know what I looked like? Didn’t she think I knew? I knew I was not pageant material. And I didn't care. “No thank you, I’m not interested”, I said and hung up the phone. My mother didn’t say anything as she continued cooking dinner, but I noticed a slight smile on her face. I knew she was proud of me – primordial pouches and all.

So now, I look down at Beatrice who is curled up in my lap purring.  And I know I will love her forever – not because she is beautiful, but because she was born at the top of my back steps.

Beth Kitchin PhD RDN
Assistant Professor, Nutrition Sciences
University of Alabama at Birmingham