It is important to recognize the signs of a heart attack, which can vary by person. Sometimes a person may have a heart attack without realizing it and not seek the emergency medical care they need. That could lead to lasting heart damage.

The medical name for a heart attack is a myocardial infarction (MI).

A heart attack usually happens because a coronary artery becomes blocked, reducing or stopping the nourishing blood supply to the heart muscle.

Chest pain is the most recognized sign of a heart attack, but the symptoms someone experiences can depend on their gender and age.

It is essential to identify a heart attack as early as possible and seek prompt medical attention. Treatment can minimize damage and increase the chances of a full recovery.

This article looks at the various symptoms of heart attacks, how these may vary in females and older adults, and when to seek medical attention. It also looks at risk factors, treatment, and prevention.

Most people know that chest pain is a typical heart attack symptom. However, a heart attack can affect the entire body, not just the heart.

Individuals of different ages and sexes may experiences heart attack symptoms differently.

Most heart attacks do have several defining symptoms, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are:

Heart attacks typically involve some level of pain or discomfort in the chests middle or left side. It may feel like sharper pain, or more like squeezing, fullness, or uncomfortable pressure.

Usually, this accompanies chest pain, but shortness of breath may also begin before any chest discomfort.

A person may feel pain or discomfort in one or both arms, which can radiate to the shoulders. There may also be pain in the neck, jaw, or back.

Someone may feel weak, faint, or break out into a cold sweat.

Heart attack symptoms may show up differently in females, and may seem less evident or unrelated to heart problems.

The following are common heart attack symptoms in females that can occur with or without chest pain:

Because heart attacks are commonly associated with chest pain, females often misread their symptoms and delay consulting a doctor.

It is crucial that everyone, especially females, recognize heart attack symptoms that may be atypical and seek immediate medical help when necessary.

Like females, older adults who experience heart attacks may have non-typical symptoms.

Asymptomatic or silent heart attacks are more common in older adults, and chest pain is an infrequent finding.

During a silent heart attack, someone may experience no symptoms and feel relatively well apart from feeling unusually tired or short of breath. They may also show one or more of the signs associated with heart attacks in females.

The National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute state that acting quickly could save someones life in the case of a heart attack.

Even if an individual is not entirely certain they are experiencing a heart attack, it is best to seek emergency medical help to limit any potential damage to the heart.

The consequences of an untreated heart attack could be severe.

People should always seek medical attention if they suspect a heart attack.

If someone experiences heart attack symptoms for more than 15 minutes, the hearts muscle cells are at a high risk of damage.

From the onset of symptoms, an individual has less than 90 minutes before critical damage levels occur.

If the heart does not receive oxygenated blood, it cannot function normally, which can cause a heart attack. This can happen when a coronary artery is partially or fully blocked.

The most common cause of blocked coronary arteries is coronary heart disease.

When coronary heart disease occurs, fats and cholesterol can form deposits or plaques on the arterial walls, called atherosclerosis.

Over time, the plaques narrow the arteries, and eventually, this obstructs blood flow.

Use of recreational drugs, such as cocaine, can also cause heart attacks.

Several factors increase an individuals risk of a heart attack. These include being age 65 or over, being male, or having a family history of heart disease.

Race also plays a part, as people of African, Mexican, and American Indian descent are at higher risk.

There are also modifiable factors that increase the risk of heart attacks. These include:

The good news is that people can change, treat, or control the modifiable risk factors to reduce the chances of having a heart attack.

Anyone who thinks they are having a heart attack should immediately seek medical attention.

A doctor will diagnose heart attack based on symptoms, age, general health, and family history. They will also carry out tests including:

If the tests show that an individual has had a heart attack, doctors may recommend the following procedures:

A doctor may also treat a heart attack with medications to thin the blood, break up clots, relax the blood vessels, and help with pain relief.

Heart attacks can damage the heart muscle, leading to complications including:

The severity and duration of any complications often depend on how much damage the heart attack caused to the heart muscle.

Although people cannot control all the risk factors of heart attacks, such as gender, age, and genetics, habit changes could help with prevention. These include:

Fortunately, for most people, having a heart attack does not mean the end of a normal, healthy life. However, around 20% of people over age 45 will have further heart attacks in the 5 years following their first.

For this reason, it is important to focus on living a lifestyle that can help prevent heart problems in the future.

Although most people are familiar with a heart attacks common signs, such as chest pain and breathlessness, they may not realize that females and older adults can experience heart attacks differently.

In these groups, heart attack symptoms such as indigestion and extreme fatigue can seem unrelated.

If someone is experiencing any symptoms that may be related to heart problems, they should seek immediate medical attention.

Prompt treatment can save someones life and prevent permanent heart damage from occurring.

Read more from the original source:
How to recognize the signs of a heart attack and what to do - Medical News Today

Plant-based diets have skyrocketed in popularity over the last decade, with vegetarianism and veganism becoming more mainstream across the world. Thatchange could help save the planet.

A new report this month by the Chatham House advocacy organization states that in order to maintain the health of current ecosystems, more people will have to shift to a plant-based diet or we risk severe habitat destruction around the world.

The global food system is the primary driver of habitat loss around the world, researchers write, coming as climate change and deforestation additionally threaten species.

Researchers claim that clearing land for pasture and crop production have been the leading cause for habitat and biodiversity loss, thanks to the growing demand to produce more food at the lowest cost.

The report also specially notes that the current food system is also leading to increased contact with both wild and farm animals, which is exposing the public to zoonotic diseases how scientists believe COVID-19 first spread to humans.

Our food system today is driving both environmental harm and deteriorations in public health, researchers wrote. They ultimately argue that reforming the food system, especially the ways humans cultivate food, will heal biodiversity loss and help protect human health.

Three methods were identified as crucial to overhauling how humans farm. First, dietary habits must shift to plant-based foods on a global scale. This will ultimately reduce the amount of land allocated toward animal farming, which occupies about 78 percent of land used for agricultural purposes across the globe.

In turn, the decrease in carbon emissions from cattle would reduce the total volume of greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere. Multiple ecosystems and habitats for flora and fauna would be preserved as well, helping increase global biomass.

Implementing policies and initiatives dedicated to preserving nature is another crucial component researchers say is needed.

Biodiversity is highest in areas of unconverted land, the report reads. From a purely theoretical perspective, and according to a growing body of academic literature, setting aside land for biodiversity to the exclusion of other uses, including farming, and either protecting or restoring natural habitat would offer the most benefit to biodiversity across a given landscape.

To reduce extinction and habitat depletion, conservation is the most effective strategy, researchers also write.

Finally, scientists note that some animal farming will still occur, but it must be done safely. This requires excluding chemicals like pesticides from crops and moving to smaller-scale animal farming.

This is key to helping reduce carbon emissions.

Intensive, large-scale animal farming entails the raising of large herds on relatively small areas of land, creating volumes of manure that leak nutrients into soils and water courses at scales that become harmful, researchers explain. Ploughing disturbs the soil, liberating carbon into the atmosphere. It exposes soils to erosion by wind and water, damaging nearby water courses.

Changes to how humans cultivate food will have to be done at the policy level, researchers say. The study concludes that the primary path to preserving biodiversity and improving human and planetary health is to forge international dialogues that translate to global action.

Specifically, they mention the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, set for Nov.1-12, as a platform to begin discussions on sustainable agriculture.

See the article here:
Switching to a plant-based diet is crucial to saving global wildlife, says new UN-backed report | TheHill - The Hill

Especially for teens, I feel that it is very hard to eat healthy. When we are with friends, its never lets go get a salad or maybe we should cut back on our calories. Its always what fast food place sounds the best right now; and that place is usually Chick-fil-A. But, as the pandemic rolled around, I wasnt able to see my friends hardly at all. Meaning I had more control over every meal I had. With a combination of my dads teaching and a strong desire to get shredded for the summer, I ate one of the healthiest diets imaginable.

Most people can agree that they want to eat healthy and get in shape. Well, now is the time to do so. You have so much control over what you eat right now and what you do during the day. With school being only a few hours long and sports being cancelled, now is the time to eat healthy and focus on getting in shape.

Jack, Desmond

At the start of quarantine everything was closed. Because gyms and other places to work out were closed, it was my responsibility to get myself moving each day. If you dont know, exercise creates happy chemicals in your brain, causing your mood (and health) to improve. When I wasnt working out as consistently, there was a steep decline in my mental health. I was just kind of sad all of the time and I felt drained. And so, I reached for food as a way to help me cope. It was nothing too extreme, I didnt have an eating disorder or anything, but that was my way of coping with what was going on. That cycle of not feeling great, then reaching for food, and then feeling worse, continued for a few weeks.

I was probably at an all-time low and I wasnt feeling great about myself. I began to start running to get myself into shape, and started cooking more often. My family assigned my siblings and I one night to cook dinner for the family, and I thought that was fun and almost therapeutic. And so, I got really into cooking for myself and in turn, started eating healthier. I try to pay attention to the foods I eat, but I never obsess about it, because I know that can lead to toxic cycles and patterns. I try to fit in fruits and veggies when I can, but I dont always get my five a day in.

Keener, Hoggard HS Wilmington, NC

Your diet is essential for many aspects of your life whether you realize it or not. And though Covid-19 has made it more difficult for many to have access to fresh produce and healthy food options it shouldnt be an excuse to not be educated how to eat properly and make good food decisions. In fact, Covid-19 was one of the reasons I chose to become vegetarian. I wanted to have more control over my diet and cook at home more. This provided the me with the opportunity, through trial and error to see how my diet affected my body and mind. I was astonished to find that by eating more fruits and vegetables I had more energy and I actually began to enjoy learning new recipes and cooking for myself. It also made me realize just how much Id been depriving myself of a very important part of any diet, fiber. And this is why I believe that its essential for people to think more deeply about what they chose to put into their body, because you only have one.

Jason J., Glenbard West HS Glen Ellyn, IL

This year my taste has changed in food, meaning my diet looks completely different from last year. I have cut all soda from my diet and replaced it with water. I have been eating healthier foods like salads, turkey, and chicken. The most important part to me about having not only a clean input of food but a good consistent exercise routine, without working out eating healthy has little impact.

Badr Abusalah, Palestine

As an athlete, I try to maintain a healthy diet and to be cognizant of what I eat and drink. While I certainly eat fruits, vegetables, and healthy grains, I also enjoy dessert, pancakes, and more everything in moderation! However, I do think that it is important to note the harm of perpetuating diet culture, especially in teens. Eating disorders are widespread and incredibly common, and putting too much emphasis on food itself can lead to unhealthy practices. Rather than focusing on eating healthy to look a certain way, we should promote the concept of eating healthy for just that: health. To make sure that teenagers are eating according to Ms. Carons recommendations, we should recommend tasty ways to eat fruits and vegetables (for instance, a healthy smoothie) and promote healthy eating to feel better, perform better in sports, and be ones best self, rather than for physical appearance.

Sarah Faz, Mountain View, CA

Continued here:
What Students Are Saying About Social Media Consequences, Healthy Diets and Wild Weather - The New York Times

NEW YORK, Feb. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The global infant nutrition market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.7 percent to reach an incredible $61.6 billion by 2026. One of the major demographic factors contributing to this rapid growth is a fast growing population of young working mothers around the world relying on the convenience of infant nutrition formulas. According to the Journal of Taibah University Medical Sciences, many young mothers participating in the workforce lack the time for frequent and lengthy breastfeeding, creating intense demand for nutritious formula alternatives. Furthermore, markets in developed countries have seen an increased focus on health in recent years. These factors are contributing to huge opportunities for companies in the infant nutrition space, such as Else Nutrition (TSXV:BABY) (OTCQX:BABYF), Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), Danone (OTCQX:DANOY) and Walmart Inc (NYSE:WMT).

Else Nutrition Expands Market Footprint

As the infant nutrition market surges, Isreal-based food and nutrition company Else Nutrition (TSXV:BABY) (OTCQX:BABYF) is capitalizing on the rise of plant-based foods and increased focus on consumer health. Else Nutrition has developed a 100 percent plant-based, non-soy, and GMO-free infant nutrition formula that meets the highest standard for nutrition and industry standards to be considered a clean label product. At a time when nutrition products that parents can trust are in higher demand than ever, Else Nutrition is bringing to market a highly disruptive product that is backed by leading US pediatricians and nutritionists.

In recent months, Else has made significant headway distributing its infant nutrition products in the North American market. The company successfully launched its products online through its e-store and via Amazon in 2020 and Else products are now being made available at a rapidly growing list of major US retailers. On December 23, the company announced that beginning in February 2021, its products would be available at major US health food retailer Sprouts Farmers Market. In early January, Else announced that plant-based food ecommerce retailer PlantX would be stocking Else products as part of PlantX's newly created baby products section on its ecommerce platform. On February 2, Else announced that it had signed an agreement with Thrive Market, a US-based online retailer of wellness, nutrition, and better-for-you food products, providing the company with yet another valuable distribution channel.

On January 27, Else announced that its products had been chosen for the high-profile KeHE Distributor's Elevate program. This highly selective program curates unique brands and promotes them in the US market to maximize their growth and success, and to better serve market demands. This selection represents a significant feather in Else's cap and could open numerous doors for the company.

"We are thrilled to have our products chosen for this unique program. KeHE offers best in class distribution and via the Elevate program we will be able to increase our brand awareness and visibility across the U.S. channels served by KeHE," Else Nutrition CEO and Co-Founder Hamutal Yitzhak said in the company's release.

Infant Nutrition Companies Update Offerings Amid Market Surge

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), makers of Similac baby formula, released an earnings and revenue report on February 1 showing better-than-expected growth in 2020 amid challenging pandemic-related market factors. Among other key indicators, the company posted 5 percent sales growth in the pediatric nutrition segment led by the increased market share of Abbott's Similac infant formula brand.

Danone (OTCQX:DANOY), maker of Aptamil, Karicare, Laboratoire Gallia, and Nutrilon brand formulas, announced last year that the company would be launching a tracking service that helps users follow the supply chain of its products. Danone hopes that this approach will help foster greater transparency and consumer trust in its products.

Rather than focusing on the infant formula market, Kraft Heinz Co (NASDAQ:KHC) offers a range of products for infants aged from under six months to over twelve months under its Heinz By Nature brand. Kraft Heinz revamped its baby nutrition line last summer with a greater focus on all-natural, plant-based offerings.

Walmart Inc's (NYSE:WMT)store brand Parent's Choice infant formula is one of the top selling infant formula brands in the United States market for its lower cost compared to its competitors. Recently, Walmart has been undergoing a significant overhaul of its Parent's Choice brand, adding about 120 new products and improving another 100.

The infant nutrition market is surging, but it is also ripe for disruption from innovative and nutritious products that capitalize on ongoing trends in the food industry. This is why there is a huge opportunity for innovative infant nutrition companies like Else Nutrition.

For more information onElse Nutrition, click here.

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The Article and content related to the profiled company represent the personal and subjective views of the Author (MSC), and are subject to change at any time without notice. The information provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the Author (MSC) has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all such information. None of the Author, MSC, FNM, or any of their respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any such information. This Article and content are not, and should not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and review all of the profiled issuer's filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment decisions and should understand the risks associated with an investment in the profiled issuer's securities, including, but not limited to, the complete loss of your investment. FNM was not compensated by any public company mentioned herein to disseminate this press release but was compensated twenty five hundred dollars by MSC, a non-affiliated third party to distribute this release on behalf of Else Nutrition Holdings.

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Consumer Health Trends are Fueling an Infant Nutrition Surge - PRNewswire

The Center for Food Safety is challenging the FDAs approval of a color additive used to make Impossible Foods plant-based burger appear to bleed like real meat. The advocacy group claims that the FDAs decision was not based on convincing evidence as required by regulation.

In a brief filed Jan. 28 inthe Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals,the center is specifically challenging the Food and Drug Administrations 2019 approval of soy leghemoglobin.

FDA approved soy leghemoglobin even though it conducted none of the long-term animal studies that are needed to determine whether or not it harms human health, said Bill Freese, science policy analyst at the Center for Food Safety (CFS).

This includes studies for cancer, reproductive impairment and other adverse effects called for by FDAs Redbook, the Bible of food and color additive testing. We find this to be all the more troubling because a number of potential adverse effects were detected in a short-term rat trial: disruption of reproductive cycles and reduced uterine weights in females and biomarkers of anemia, reduced clotting ability and kidney problems.

The novel heme colorant is produced in genetically engineered (GE) yeast and is modeled on a protein found in the roots of soybeans. The ingredient is also referred to as genetically engineered heme, soy leghemoglobin. It is the color additive Impossible Foods uses to make its plant-based burger appear to bleed as if it were beef.

FDAs failure to require Impossible Foods to conduct long-term tests called for in the agencys own authoritative guidelines means it does not have convincing evidence that this color additive, consumed by millions, is safe, said Ryan Talbott, staff attorney at CFS.

The approval of soy leghemoglobin must be revoked, unless and until truly convincing evidence proves it to be safe.

The GE heme is a color additive preparation that also contains more than a dozen yeast proteins.

In order to make this GMO heme, Impossible Foods uses the process of synthetic biology to extract DNA from the roots of soy plants where a small amount of heme is produced and then inserts the DNA into genetically engineered yeast where it is fermented to mass-produce the genetically engineered heme.

Because GE heme is new to the human diet, and substantial quantities are added to the Impossible Burger, CFS contends that the FDA should have required extensive safety testing before approving its use as a color additive, as required by law.

The FDA is supposed to have an extremely high bar for approval for color additives in food. The agencys convincing evidence standard means that a color additive cannot be approved without the strongest possible evidence of safety, a higher bar than for other food additives. However, Impossible Foods products containing GE heme are now widely available in supermarkets across the country because of what CPS believes was the FDAs unlawful approval of GE heme as a color additive. according to the center officials.

The full legal brief can be viewed here.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

See the original post here:
Lawsuit challenges FDA approval of additive that makes Impossible Burger 'bleed' - Food Safety News

A new way to create 'food inks' from fresh and frozen vegetables that enables 3D-printed food has been developed by Singapore researchers.

The research team claims their method preserves the nutrition and flavour better than existing methods.

Food inks are usually made from pureed foods in liquid or semi-solid form, then 3D-printed by extrusion from a nozzle and assembled layer by layer.

Pureed foods are usually served to patients suffering from swallowing difficulties known as dysphagia. To present the food in a more visually appetising way, healthcare professionals have used silicone moulds to shape pureed foods, which is both labour and time intensive and requires storage.

While 3D food-printing means food can be easily produced in a desired shape and texture in a shorter time, the dehydrated food and freeze-dried powders used as food inks usually contain a high percentage of food additives such as hydrocolloids (HCs) to stabilise the ink and enable a smoother printing process.

High concentration of HCs usually changes the taste, texture and aroma of the printed food, making it unappetising to patients with dysphagia. This may lead to reduced food consumption and malnutrition among patients.

To overcome this challenge, the research team explored various combinations of fresh and frozen vegetables to make the food inks stable.

They said they were able to better preserve the nutrition of the printed food, which was also more palatable and therefore should lead to increased meal consumption by patients.

Professor Yi Zhang, principal investigator from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, said, Our technology helps to provide dysphagic patients with adequate nutrient-rich and safe diets.Their feeding is more dignified, enabling them to socialise and consume meals that look, feel and taste like regular food.

Our method of 3D-printing fresh vegetables can be used easily in hospitals; nursing homes; day-care centres for the ageing population with dysphagia, and other swallowing disorders. Our research is also another step forward in digital gastronomy, where we can cater to specific requirements prescribed by dieticians, such as nutrition customisation and visual appeal.

Corresponding author professor Chua Chee Kai added: The next frontier of additive manufacturing is 3D food-printing. As the 3D food-printing landscape is increasingly evolving, we are excited to continue pushing the boundaries of this industry to find innovative solutions for global issues, such as food security and sustainability.

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3D-printed fresh vegetables become reality with new method - E&T Magazine

This story was published on Thrive

Finding the purr-fect diet for your pet can be a dogs breakfast. Fiona Ralph digs in to the raw food diet to find us answers.

As many of us revert to more traditional ways of eating, its only natural we should consider what we feed our fur babies. The growing popularity of raw pet food has sent some pet owners back to basics.

But theres disagreement in the industry about exactly how far back we should go. Is a raw-food diet what nature intended, or is it a step too far?

Because of some risks around raw feeding, the veterinary industry has traditionally advised against it, but more holistic vets view it as a solution for many health issues.

READ MORE:* Pet numbers have to shrink if we want to help save the planet, expert says* Supercharge your pets health with a fresh, natural diet* The Kiwi dogs who aren't allowed to eat meat* Raw food infiltrates canine market

We asked four professionals from different sides of the debate to weigh in.

Raw Essentials vet Dr Rebecca Brown spends her days consulting with clients about their pets health issues and figuring out how she can help them via a species-appropriate raw diet.

Shes long had an interest in wholefoods and lives by the quote, often credited to Hippocrates: Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

Rebecca says the company supports those who choose to give their pets raw food to make sure they do it well. We frequently observe positive, sometimes phenomenal, health benefits and feel happy to extend this to as many pets as possible.

She has worked as a vet for 25 years, and joined Raw Essentials six years ago.

The company has 12 stores around the North Island, as well as an online store, selling freeze-dried and frozen meat, bones and organs for cats and dogs.

Meat and seafood is sourced from sustainable, local sources and includes salmon, beef and chicken, as well as wild pest species such as wallabies, rabbits and possums.

As well as helping to alleviate some disease states, raw diets can help with coat and body condition, energy levels and even behavioural issues, she says.

But she warns that raw diets are not a panacea for all health conditions and wont suit every pet. Disease states can be very complex.

Mathilde Langevin/Unsplash

Raw diets are not a panacea for all animal health conditions.

She says few studies have been published on raw feeding, but she cites research by Finland-based DogRisk, which found that a raw diet may be beneficial for cats and dogs, and that there was a low incidence of the pathogens campylobacter, salmonella, and yersinia in the frozen raw foods they tested.

The risk of these pathogens to owners and pets, alongside the danger of pets choking on bones, are two of the main concerns cited by opponents to raw feeding, including the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.

However, the UK-based Raw Feeding Veterinary Society contests these criticisms, and says that their evidence points to the gold-standard raw diet being as close to the evolutionary diet of dogs and cats as is practically possible.

My own cat has gone from pedigree food to raw meat, and is now on prescription biscuits.

My experience was that the raw food completely cleared up his asthma and some unfortunate digestive issues. However, it may have created other digestive issues, so he is now on a prescription high-fibre food and, unfortunately, his asthma has come back.

After researching this story, I suspect I may not have been feeding him a complete raw diet with enough cartilage and bones, which are necessary for fibre, and are a source of essential minerals such as calcium and phosphorus.

Thats one of the main issues Jennifer Hamlin sees with raw diets.

The senior lecturer and programme leader at Otago Polytechnics School of Veterinary Nursing and chair of the Allied Veterinary Professional Regulatory Council says that while either raw food or a high-quality commercial diet can work, she encourages those feeding raw to research exactly what their pets need, and to talk to professionals, such as the team at Raw Essentials, to ensure they are doing it right.

Talk to a lot of different people, she says.

Ben Hanson/Unsplash

Research is needed for animals being moved to a more raw and seemingly healthier diet.

Focus on people who are objective and thinking about science. One of the biggest problems with people who are feeding their pets raw food diets is that theres a concern that the animals will be unsafe either because of bones that are not fed properly or because of pathogens in the food, but when thats properly managed in a safe way, then (a raw diet) can be a very good diet.

Some animals are at higher risk if you feed them raw food, so one way around that is to cook the raw food before giving it, to kill off some of the pathogens.

Bones need to be the right size for an animal so they dont choke, and should never be cooked, she adds.

You should also ensure your pets are eating organs as well as bones, she says, as meat alone does not supply all the required nutrients. And dont feed your pets raw bones in combination with extensive carbohydrates because the stomach requires quite a lot of acidity to digest bones, and carbohydrates decrease the acidity of the gut.

It takes a bit of research to get it right.

If you dont have the time for that, raw feeding may not be for you, says Jennifer.

Most people dont have time to do a lot of reading and research to try and find the perfect diet. For those people, a very high-quality commercially prepared pet food diet is probably the best solution.

She says any of the premium brands are safe to feed to your pets, since they heavily invest in research to try to ensure their products are safe and effective, but cautions against anything thats too processed.

We do know by looking at human research and human nutrition that processed foods can actually be harmful to health. And that is what most commercial pet food diets are theyre processed."

Its not a one-size-fits-all answer. Unfortunately, we dont have a perfect nutritional profile for an animal. And its the same with humans there is no perfect diet that humans should adopt.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials, which regulates pet food in the US, sets minimal requirements for product ingredients, but that doesnt mean those foods are ideal nutritional sources.

The majority of (conventional) pet food diets are sourced from animals that are not going to be used for human consumption, says Jennifer.

That means they might have drugs in their system, they might be diseased, they might have been very stressed or ill for a long time before they died. Theres not very good regulation around the source of those animal products.

There is, however, a growing number of New Zealand brands producing ethically sourced pet food, marrying the demand for raw food with the need for convenience.

Ziwi Peak makes air-dried and wet food from sustainably sourced New Zealand meat and seafood such as beef, lamb, venison, mackerel and mussels.

Animals Like Us, launched in August by Icebreaker founder Jeremy Moon and former Icebreaker creative director Rob Achten, offers dog food that is a mix of freeze-dried raw and oven-baked meat, with cat food to follow.

Though these products are still processed, albeit not as much as some conventional pet foods, Dr Liza Schneider of Holistic Vets in Tauranga says that freeze-dried or air-dried products can be more convenient for some owners and can help to reduce risks of pathogens such as bacteria and hydatid cysts in meat.

Liza has been feeding raw food to her own pets, and recommending it to clients for years, since observing improvements in some of her patients as a young vet.

Dogs and cats in the wild eat mainly meat, and its common sense that they should thrive on a diet that they are adapted to eating, she says.

For most pets, I find that a well-balanced meat/protein-based food that has no carbohydrates, foreign chemicals or preservatives optimal. Although many pets survive on conventional pet food, I have always wanted the very best for my patients and find that most thrive on more wholesome, natural food.

However, she says prescription diets have their place, and in some cases can be invaluable.

Its always a matter of weighing up the pros and cons in any situation, and diet recommendations often need to be individual-specific for animals with certain health issues.

A word of caution Madison Parslow, a veterinary nurse at Whangaparaoa Veterinary Centre north of Auckland, is concerned that raw diets can be dangerous.

She says food that contains bones can cause obstructions and tears in the gastrointestinal tract, broken teeth and even fractures, and raw food is more likely to carry parasites and bacteria, such as salmonella.

Even frozen raw food can still contain harmful bacteria when thawed.

Although I like the idea of a raw food diet, raw diets are often not balanced and therefore are not ideal. There are some cases where this diet has benefited individual animals. However, I do believe a lot of the time they cause more harm than good.

Madison says that the benefits of a raw-food diet seem to last only for a short term.

More problems seem to arise the longer the animal is eating the raw food. If you are going to attempt a raw food diet, it is important to do your research, seek help from a veterinary specialist and do regular blood testing to ensure you are giving your pet the correct levels of nutrients.

Jennifer Hamlin believes that vets need to work with pet owners who are feeding their animals raw diets to ensure a good outcome.

I think the vet industry is coming around to the idea that we need to work with clients who want to feed raw, to help them be safe. If we dont, we risk alienating them and then they wont have the support they need to look after their pets.

While vets may be divided on the issue of raw food, the experts I spoke to agreed that low-cost commercial pet food is the worst option.

If you are limited with your budget, however, look for foods with the most natural ingredients and the least artificial flavours and colours.

Many brands that are readily available at supermarkets have low nutritional value and usually have inappropriate levels of ingredients such as fat and salt, in a bid to make them cheaper for the buyer, says Madison.

These foods are usually filled with unnecessary fillers that provide no nutritional benefits to the pets.

Jennifer agrees. Some of those pet foods in the store might be okay, but you need to actually be an expert to be able to read pet food labels and determine which ones those are. My rule of thumb with nutrition is to be as sceptical as possible.

For animals, we just dont have the answers we need so we need to be open-minded, be focused on safety and be prepared to do the research if were not going to feed from a bag.

Madison recommends high-end commercial pet foods, such as Hills and Royal Canin.

They are specifically formulated to meet the individual needs of your pets and control the levels of ingredients such as salt and fat, unlike some supermarket brands, she says.

She also sometimes recommends a cooked omnivorous diet, including meat, vegetables and rice, prepared without oil or seasoning.

Whatever you decide, its important to transition your pet slowly to any new diet and seek advice from your veterinarian.

While this article focuses on cats and dogs, the same principles apply to other pets, says veterinarian nursing lecturer Jennifer Hamlin.

One of the key fundamentals is to really become knowledgeable in nutrition for the pets that you have.

Guinea pigs need fresh foods with vitamin C, such as fresh greens, while a birds diet depends upon the shape of its beak and the type of food it would eat in the wild. Canaries, for example, need a range of different foods, including protein, greens and the occasional insect.

You never want to just feed seed. That is not a sufficient diet for a bird. You want to feed a range of wholefoods very similar to what they would get in the wild.

More:
Everything you need to know about a raw food diet for your pet - Stuff.co.nz

Bring back Grade 13 to help kids catch up

I dont know to what extent provincial government responses to the COVID pandemic have affected the academic progress of students in elementary and high schools in Hamilton. Shutting down schools, limiting the number of students in school and teaching via the internet change both the quantity and quality of the education students receive. I cannot believe that the majority of students have learned as much as they would have in a normal year. Even though the pandemic situation is fluid, surely it is past time for the province to announce plans for the 2021-22 school year. If teachers confirm that most students have not made sufficient progress, the province must change the curriculum so that each grade has a remedial component and should consider reintroducing Grade 13 to ensure that students have progressed to the same level they would have if the pandemic had not happened.

Andrew Bell, Stoney Creek

Doug Fords half-baked lockdown

Doug Ford has done it again. A half-baked version of a lockdown. No outdoor activities of more than five people, no dollar stores and restrictions should be implemented at places like Costco and Walmart. Essential workers cannot work from home, but everyone else who can, should. Get real Mr. Ford and put some teeth into a lockdown. How about a curfew like Quebec?

Property tax comparisons dont add up

I read the article about property on Beach Boulevard in Hamilton. In this article you show two properties that sold recently.

Number 1 property was 755 Beach Blvd. which sold for $1.3 million. The property was 5341 square feet in size with a house that is enormous. The taxes for 2020 were $2,863.

Number 2 property was 733 Beach Blvd. which sold for $1.1 million. The property was 8750 square feet in size with a house that is big. The taxes on this property for 2020 were $5,229. The properties are only a few feet apart.

I live in Waterdown with a two-level bungalow half the size on a small lot and my taxes for 2020 were $5,200. I wish someone, maybe a councillor, could tell me why the big discrepancy in tax levels in these examples.

Eric Halliwell, Waterdown

Diets just dont work

Straight talk on intermittent fasting (Jan. 12)

I was dismayed to read the article about intermittent fasting. At Body Brave, we see people struggling with eating disorders, which are life-threatening illnesses. Often our clients tell us that their disordered eating began with dieting, and intermittent fasting is yet another diet. The author of the article rightly points out that there is little research evidence to support intermittent fasting as a safe and healthy way to lose weight. Yet there is an abundance of research to show that diets are almost always ineffective in the long run people regain the weight theyve lost. Meanwhile, the abnormal eating patterns associated with the diet lead to an increasing obsession with food, weight and body image. All too often, this leads to the development of an eating disorder. The prevalence of eating disorders has dramatically increased since the advent of COVID-19, due to the multiple stressors associated with the pandemic. Lets not make things worse by advocating intermittent fasting!

Karen Trollope-Kumar, MD, medical director, Body Brave

Trudeau should be impeached

We have had the opportunity to see a free and open vote in the U.S. Congress to impeach former president Donald Trump an unprecedented second time. Ten Republicans crossed the aisle and voted against their own party. If we had the same open and free vote here in our own country, the prime minister would have been impeached three times. One for the Agha Kahn visit, two for the SNC Lavalin scandal and finally for the We charity misadventure. Im sure he would have been tried and the verdict would have been guilty.

Vote the entitled PCs out

A recent letter said: if you want someone to represent you, then vote for someone like you. That made my decision for the next provincial election easier. I hope people take this to heart and vote this current entitled PC party out.

Supply management protects farmers

Carbon tax could lead to food insecurity (Jan. 13)

Mr. Charlebois projects that the carbon tax could increase to $170/tonne by 2030 which could cripple many of Canadas food producers and make us more dependent on imported food especially from countries with a lower carbon tax and lower food safety standards. He also says that farmers cant increase their prices even if production costs increase and therefore could exit their business. This is not necessarily true. Some farmers (dairy and poultry) have a system called supply management which monitors the costs of good farmers in these industries so that prices can be set accordingly to cover these costs. It is not a guarantee of success because the cost of production is not set so as to protect inefficient producers. But it does give a certain stability to good farmers which generally enables them to pay debts and earn a decent living which keeps their suppliers and creditors satisfied and does help the economy of our country. It also allows them to invest in techniques and strategies which keep them producing quantities and quality and safe food which satisfies the public demand and does so at a fair price.

Brian Griffith, Mount Hope

Read this article:
Opinion | Feb. 5: Let's impeach Trudeau, bring back Grade 13, Doug Ford's half-baked lockdown and other letters to the editor - TheSpec.com

WASHINGTON -- U.S. congressional investigators found "dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals" in certain baby foods that could cause neurological damage, a House Oversight subcommittee said in a report released on Thursday.

The panel examined baby foods made by Nurture Inc, Hain Celestial Group Inc, Beech-Nut Nutrition and Gerber, a unit of Nestle, it said, adding that it was "greatly concerned" that Walmart Inc, Campbell Soup Co and Sprout Organic Foods refused to cooperate with the investigation.

The report said internal company standards "permit dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals, and documents revealed that the manufacturers have often sold foods that exceeded those levels" and it called on U.S. regulators to set maximum levels of toxic heavy metals permitted in baby foods and require manufacturers to test finished products for heavy metals, not just ingredients.

Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat who chairs the panel that released the report, said it found "these manufacturers knowingly sell baby food containing high levels of toxic heavy metals ... Its time that we develop much better standards for the sake of future generations."

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spokesman said it was reviewing the report.

The agency noted toxic elements are present in the environment and enter the food supply through soil, water or air. "Because they cannot be completely removed, our goal is to reduce exposure to toxic elements in foods to the greatest extent feasible," the FDA said.

Campbell said in a statement on its website that its products are safe and cited the lack of a current FDA standard for heavy metals in baby food. The company said it thought it had been "full partners" in the study with congressional researchers.

Walmart said it submitted information to the committee in February 2020 and never received any subsequent inquiries. The retail giant requires private label product suppliers to hew to its own internal specifications, "which for baby and toddler food means the levels must meet or fall below the limits established by the FDA."

Hain Celestial, which makes Earth's Best, said it had not seen the report and did not have a chance to review it.

A Gerber representative said the elements in question occur naturally in the soil and water in which crops are grown and added it takes multiple steps "to minimize their presence."

The report was critical also of the administration of former President Donald Trump, saying it "ignored a secret industry presentation to federal regulators revealing increased risks of toxic heavy metals in baby foods."

The report said "in 100% of the Hain baby foods tested, inorganic arsenic levels were higher in the finished baby food than the company estimated they would be based on individual ingredient testing."

It said that in August 2019 the FDA received a secret slide presentation from Hain that said "corporate policies to test only ingredients, not final products, underrepresent the levels of toxic heavy metals in baby foods."

The report said the FDA took no new action in response. "To this day, baby foods containing toxic heavy metals bear no label or warning to parents. Manufacturers are free to test only ingredients, or, for the vast majority of baby foods, to conduct no testing at all," the report said.

The FDA has declared that inorganic arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury are dangerous, particularly to infants and children, the report noted.

The FDA in August finalized guidance to industry, setting an action level of 100 parts per billion inorganic arsenic in infant rice cereal.

"We acknowledge that there is more work to be done, but the FDA reiterates its strong commitment to continue to reduce consumer exposure to toxic elements and other contaminants from food," the FDA said Thursday.

Additional reporting by Chris Sanders and Silke Koltrowitz Editing by Howard Goller and Steve Orlofsky

Read more from the original source:
High levels of toxic heavy metals found in some baby foods: report - CTV News