ENAFS Connection Newsletter
LINKING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR FLORIDA'S ELDERSDecember 2000
This project is possible thanks to funding by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs in partnership with state, county, and local agencies.
HIGHLIGHTS
American Heart Association Releases New Dietary Guidelines
Since 1958, the American Heart Association (AHA) has published guidelines to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease through diet and other lifestyle practices. The latest recommendations place emphasis on foods, an overall eating pattern, and the need to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
Guidelines for the general population replace the previous "Step 1" AHA guidelines. More individualized approaches involving medical nutrition therapy for specific subgroups (for example, those with preexisting cardiovascular disease, lipid disorders, or diabetes) replace the previous "Step 2" AHA guidelines.
Summary of AHA Dietary GuidelinesPopulation Goals:
- Overall Healthy Eating Pattern
Consume food from all major food groups including a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat or nonfat dairy products, fish, legumes, poultry, lean meats.- Appropriate Body Weight
Match energy intake to overall energy needs, with appropriate changes for weight loss when needed- Desirable Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Profile
Limit foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat; substitute grains and unsaturated fatty acids from vegetables, fish, legumes, and nuts.- Desirable Blood Pressure
Limit salt and alcohol; maintain healthy body weight; consume diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, low-fat or nonfat dairy products.Specific guidelines can be obtained from AHA at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1330
JH Source: Circulation 2000;102:2284-2299.
New Resources -- Check It Out!
- http://www.consumerlab.com - Consumer Lab tests vitamins, herbs, and other dietary supplements.
- http://www.communityhealth.hrsa.gov - Provides health data for all US counties including information on population characteristics, leading causes of death, environmental health, and more.
- National Diabetes Month Resource Guide - Contact the National Eye Institute at 1-800-869-2020 for a free guide to Diabetes resources and materials.
- Home Food Safety...It's in Your Hands - For a free brochure from ADA / ConAgra, call 1-800-366-1655.
Focus on Food Safety
ENAFS is excited to have Dr. Amy Simonne, a new Food Safety Specialist for IFAS, contribute a regular column to the ENAFS Connection newsletter. Her first article is an introduction to foodborne illness and will be followed by a series of articles on specific food safety issues.
Although America's food supply is considered the world's safest, there is room for improvement to minimize foodborne illnesses. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 76 million cases of foodborne illness are reported each year, with 5,000 deaths and over 500,000 hospitalizations. Despite another year of decline in the number of incidences, we are still facing new food safety challenges from novel or emerging pathogens and from familiar pathogens that are growing resistant to treatments. Epidemiological data show that the majority of foodborne illnesses are caused by biological hazards such as bacteria (infection or intoxication), viruses, and parasites. However, less than 50% of the outbreaks are attributed to known pathogens. Of the known pathogens, Salmonella, Norwalk virus, E. Coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Hepatitis A, and Vibrio are among the top causes of foodborne illness. Thus, in the 21st century, foodborne illnesses remain a substantial public health burden.
Experts would agree that most cases of foodborne illness are preventable if foods are produced, prepared, cooked, handled, and stored properly. However, it is not as simple when dealing with human behaviors. Many of the outbreaks are associated with certain behaviors such as consuming raw or undercooked products of animal origin or having poor personal hygiene. Preventing foodborne illness is becoming highly complicated due to changes in agricultural practices, food production, and distribution. For example, pathogens normally found in food of animal origin such as Salmonella and E. Coli are no longer confined within the class of animal products because of cross-contamination.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), in conjunction with several other agencies, has launched two campaigns to increase consumer awareness of safe food handling to prevent foodborne illness. Fight BAC! (launched in Fall 1997) and Thermy (launched in Spring 2000) promote safe food handling steps that reduce the risk of foodborne illness. During this holiday season professionals can help clients by conveying the Fight BAC! campaign's simple message, "Be Clean! Separate, Cook and Chill," and the Thermy motto, "It's Safe to Bite When the Temperature is Right."
For more information visit:
http://www.fightbac.org http://www.fsis.usda.gov/thermy FDA's Food Information Line, 1-888-SAFEFOOD The USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-800-535-4555 Home for the Holidays: Preventing Foodborne Illness at Family Gatherings, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA Consumer, November-December, 2000.
ASFDA Warns Against Phenylpropanolamine
On November 6, the FDA issued a public health warning against phenylpropanolamine (PPA), a common ingredient in over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications and weight loss products. The warning comes after a recent study at Yale University that found an association between PPA use and hemorrhagic stroke in women. The FDA is taking steps to remove PPA from all drug products and is requesting that drug manufacturers discontinue selling products containing the ingredient. In the meantime, consumers should read the ingredient list of all OTC cold medications and avoid products containing PPA. PPA is found in every OTC weight loss product, so dieters should check with their doctors about alternatives. Consumers who have questions about PPA may call the FDA's toll-free hotline at 1-888-INFO-FDA. JH
Source: FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/ppa
Vitamin K Intakes Affect Incidence of Hip Fractures in Elders
In a recent study, scientists aimed to determine the association between vitamin K intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in older adults. The subjects in this study included 335 men and 553 women, with an average age of 75.2 years, who were participating in the Framingham Heart Study.
Researchers assessed vitamin K intake (through a food frequency questionnaire), BMD, and incidence of hip fractures over a period of seven years. No correlation was found between vitamin K intake and BMD. However, vitamin K intake was significantly associated with incidence of hip fractures in both men and women. The individuals in the highest quartile (median: 254 mcg/d) of reported vitamin K intake were as much as 65% less likely to suffer fractures than those in the lowest quartile (median: 56 mcg/d) (Booth, 2000).
These findings are consistent with a previous study of 72,327 women, aged 38-63 years, participating in the Nurses' Health Study. Vitamin K intakes less than 109 mcg/d were associated with an increased risk of hip fracture (Feskanich, 1999).
The current RDA for vitamin K is set at 80 mcg/d for men and 65 mcg/d for women. Vitamin K is important for bone health as it helps the body make certain proteins found in bone, but the mechanisms by which vitamin K affects risk for hip fractures is poorly understood. More research is needed.
Source: Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69:74-79. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:1201-1208.
JH
Welcome New ENAFS Staff
ENAFS would like to introduce and welcome Dr. Amy Simonne and Mr. Sergio Romero. Dr. Simonne is the new Food Safety Specialist at the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Amy came to us from Auburn University where she had a strong food safety research program, and also worked in Extension education. Amy is looking forward to working with the ENAFS Project to improve food quality and safety for elder Floridians. Mr. Romero was recently hired as the ENAFS Spanish translator and web developer. In addition, Sergio has a bachelor and masters degree in Exercise and Sports Science and will use his knowledge to create consumer materials promoting physical activity. LM
ENAFS Administrative Updates
ENAFS Newsletters
As many of you know the ENAFS professional and consumer newsletters are available on the Internet. The web site address has changed to http://fycs.ifas.ufl.edu. Starting this quarter the consumer newsletter ENAFS Connection . . . In Brief will also be available in Spanish at this web address.
ENAFS Modules and Lesson Plans
The lesson plans from the first contract year are now complete. One copy of each lesson plan was distributed to Area Agencies on Aging, cooperative Extension offices, meal provider agencies, and registered dietitians under contract with the Department of Elder Affairs. The lessons provided include: Unique Nutritional Needs of Elders, Importance of Eating and Strategies for Eating Alone, Misinformation and Quackery, Introduction to Diabetes, Blood Pressure: Know Your Number, and Medication Safety. In the last distribution, binder covers for the four modules (Healthy Living for Elders, Hypertension, Diabetes, Healthy Eating for Elders) were included to help you organize your ENAFS lessons and consumer materials.
Development of this year's lessons include: Diabetes: Diet and Exercise, Medication Interactions, Meals Without Cooking, and Nutritious Snacking. In addition, we are adapting the lessons Unique Nutritional Needs of Elders and Importance of Eating and Strategies for Eating Alone into eight shorter lessons. Look for your next lesson in January, 2001. LM
Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences
PO Box 110310
Gainesville FL 32611-0310Articles from ENAFS Connection newsletters may be reprinted for educational purposes with credit given to the ENAFS Project. Contributors to this newsletter are: Jennifer Hillan, Leigh Ann Martin, Sergio Romero, and Amy Simonne.
