As a man I can say — there’s no doubt about it, men do some crazy things. As a society, it seems as though we’ve become numb to the news of scandalous love affairs when it comes to politicians, celebrities and other public figures. But for some reason, the world stopped and held its breath while Tiger Woods addressed the media and finally admitted his infidelities. Is it because of his squeaky clean reputation as a world champion and role model? Do we feel “cheated” because of our societal obsession with celebrity? It’s unfortunate that something so personal and heartbreaking for his young family has to be put on display for the world to consume, but that’s the life he chose … isn’t it?

Just yesterday, my 10-year-old daughter asked me why Tiger Woods would cheat on his wife, and I didn’t have an answer for her. That got me thinking, there has to be some useful information within the media circus gaining speed while we anxiously await all the intimate details of his “transgressions.” So I talked to sex expert, Dr. Belisa Vranich to get some answers.

Q: Are men “wired” to cheat?
A: Being monogamous is an intellectual decision – men are wired to have lots of sex – whether they decide to have it with one woman or several women depends on their definitions of what’s acceptable.

Q: What constitutes cheating?
A: Each couple decides their own definition, not one universal definition. It’s very personal. For instance, one couple affairs outside of their zip code are acceptable, for another couple intercourse without kissing may be acceptable.

Q: What are some of the common reasons that people cheat?
A: Common reasons are: feeling neglected, bored, entitled. Those are the three most common reasons.

Q: Why is infidelity so rampant among people in the public eye?
A:  They live lives that are more scrutinized…I don’t think they cheat more than the average person. When you are having an affair with the UPS guy, you don’t have headlines about it. They actually should be having less affairs because they are being watched so closely.

Q: What are some tips for people dealing with infidelity?
A: My take on it – the person that has been cheated on — realize that the person who was cheated on will have trust and anger issues for a very long time . . . the worst breach of the relationship is when it wasn’t one brief indiscretion, but rather an entire relationship that lasted for a long time. (If it’s an entire relationship, there were more lies attached to it.)

Even healthy men who exercise stand a high likelihood of incurring BPH around age 50. BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland, usually accompanied by urinary difficulties, most notably frequent nighttime urination. Left untreated, BPH can increase susceptibility to urinary and bladder infections, and kidney stones.

Enter saw palmetto, the berries (and various preparations made from them) of the low growing palm tree Serenoa repens, which is native to the southeastern United States. A traditional remedy for diverse purposes, saw palmetto was used by native Americans as a diuretic and a sexual tonic. For more than 30 years saw palmetto has been employed in European phytotherapy for the relief of urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, BPH. Today saw palmetto is a widely popular dietary supplement in the US as well for this purpose. Over 30 clinical trials have assessed the efficacy of saw palmetto, and the results of these studies show that saw palmetto is as effective for mitigating BPH as drugs for the same purpose.

In the early 1900’s saw palmetto was commonly recommended by physicians for prostate disorders. Saw palmetto appeared in the US Pharmacopoeia and the National Formulary. In the 1960’s  French researchers undertook investigation of the natural phytochemical constituents of saw palmetto. Their analysis led to an improved understanding of the lipid-rich nature of the berries, and of the more specific composition of the lipids.

Saw palmetto contains a variety of lipids (fats) which influence hormone function. The various constituents in the berries demonstrate diuretic, antiseptic, and gland-influencing properties.  Saw palmetto appears to reduce two factors which contribute to BPH, known as 5-alpha-reductase and aromatoase. Further investigation of saw palmetto shows that the berries also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-exudative properties.  Exudation is a process by which material including metabolic debris, fluid, proteins, cells, or other “stuff” in the body leaks from cells and deposits into tissue. So the anti-exudative activity of saw palmetto means that it inhibits this deposition of debris.

A large body of science shows that saw palmetto is effective for relieving urinary symptoms of BPH. Even Consumer Reports, which is conservative by nature, gave a thumbs-up to saw palmetto in its September 2000 issue. Among many researchers, saw palmetto is largely regarded as the standard against which other purported remedies for BPH must be measured.

A comprehensive review of the scientific literature on the use of saw palmetto in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia found that saw palmetto is safe with no recognized adverse effects. Placebo controlled trials and meta-analyses have suggested that saw palmetto leads to subjective and objective improvement in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Saw Palmetto has successfully jumped through all the medical hoops.

To keep your prostate healthy and happy, look for saw palmetto supplements standardized to 85 percent - 95 percent fatty acids and sterols. The recommended dosage of saw palmetto for the treatment of BPH is 160 mg 2 times per day of an extract standardized to contain 85 percent - 95 percent fatty acids and sterols.  Remember, a healthy prostate is a happy prostate.

Scoop of the Week

Just a few hours after I’m done filing this article, my wife Zoe and I will head off to the Peruvian Amazon for two weeks. This is part of the work I conduct, traveling to remote places, making contacts with native people, and establishing trade in medicinal plants.  As you may know, the Amazon rainforest is the most bio-diverse of all places on earth, and is home to untold health riches in the form of beneficial plants. In Peru we’ll hook up with a trader and friend Sergio Cam, and we will head to a village where we hope to establish trade in two significant rainforest botanicals, Cat’s Claw and Dragon’s Blood. I have previously written about Cat’s Claw in this column.

You never see any Naturex products, because they extract botanicals into ingredients that then are used in most other brands of herbal supplements. By establishing trade with a native community in the Peruvian Amazon, we hope to fulfill what has come to be known as “the triple bottom line” of enhancing human health with medicinal plants, helping to preserve some of the natural environment, and helping native people to become more economically well off. Trade can play a dynamic role in environmental and cultural preservation. Medicinal plants not only enhance human health and well being, but the trade in these plants provides alternatives to extractive industries such as mining, cattle grazing, timber cutting and petroleum exploration, all of which gravely damage rainforest environments. Upon our return from the Amazon, I’ll fill you in on what happened. Feliz senderos (happy trails).

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany courses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide.  His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com

If Michaele and Tareq Salahi faked their way into President Obama’s first state dinner at the White House, they join Richard and Mayumi Heene (Balloon Boy’s parents) and Nadya Suleman (Octomom) as massive examples of the vulnerability of our shared reality to manipulation by “reality terrorists.”

“Reality terrorists” are those who seek to explode real news, real-life events, real politicians, real law enforcement officials and real feelings of admiration or panic or disgust and turn them into fabricated, staged entertainment events to pump up their egos or their wallets by becoming TV stars.
 
This is more than a game or a gaffe.  This is a kind of psychological terrorism that assaults our collective ability to trust that dramatic events unfolding around us are serious ones that should indeed command our attention and elicit our genuine concern.  If a state dinner is no more than a dry run for The Real Housewives of D.C.—in which Michaele Salahi hopes to star—then the White House is no better than the set of a sitcom and deserves no special respect or awe.  

If a boy drifting away in a helium balloon, followed by the Colorado Army National Guard, is no more than a family’s pathetic ruse to net a third appearance on Wife Swap, then the Guard is no better than a troop of circus clowns running after a beach ball.  If a sick woman and her reprehensible fertility “doctor” are allowed to turn childbirth and children into a freak show and get paid for it, then our real efforts to cure infertility and love our sons and daughters is just so much filler between commercial interruptions.
 
Make no mistake about it, the convergence of television and the Internet can end up providing devastating weapons to a new breed of homegrown terrorists who value only their own causes (fame and fortune) and hijack our media, our empathy and our cultural/political symbols and icons, turning them upside down and inside out, leaving them as meaningless carcasses for camera crews to step over—like so many crushed Coke cups on the floor of a movie cinema.
 
One inherent problem with this kind of piracy is that it works even better than Somalis grabbing tankers.  The White House Party Crashers, Balloon Boy and Octomom did hit the fame jackpot and may all end up profiting in one way or another, despite their truly despicable acts.  Reality terrorists know that we will fall all over ourselves as a society to watch titillating events, in preference to complex, important ones.  It’s our psychological Achilles’ heel.  We’ll take drama over substance, every time—and pay up for it.
 
Notice the amount of newspaper ink wasted on Tiger Woods lately, when we’re sending 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan.  Did he have sex with another woman?  Was he drinking when he crashed his car?  Did he have a spat with his wife?  Who cares?  Well . . . America does.
 
In a world that worships the lens of a camera and cares not for fact over fiction, in which the President of the United States is happy to joke with any late night TV host who’ll have him and grace the cover of any men’s magazine that can disseminate his image, is it any surprise that an Iranian dictator who might just blow up an entire nation one day is perceived as a petty prankster puffing out his chest?  A silly clown?
 
We’re confused now about what is real and what is fake, and we’re going to pay very, very dearly for it.

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement including www.livingthetruth.com. Dr. Ablow can be emailed at info@keithablow.com.

Research shows the average adult weight gain through the holiday season is slight, but it sticks with you.  A pound or two annually can equal 25-30 over the course of adulthood.  Nowadays, the winter holidays tend to span a couple months rather than a few weeks so there is plenty of time to enjoy your favorites– in moderation.  Enjoy pumpkin pie a time or two around Thanksgiving, but then agree to pass.  Splurge on a peppermint mocha here and there when you’re out holiday shopping, but then swear them off until next season.

Here are a few other tips to beat winter weight gain:

Beware of beverages

Specialty coffees:

o    There is a reason holiday lattes and mochas taste so good!  Depending on size and extras (syrups, whipped cream, etc.) they can easily be in over 400 calories.
o    If you can’t resist, choose a smaller size, ask for less syrup than the recipe calls for, choose lowfat milk, and hold the whipped cream.

Eggnog:

o    Made with milk, cream, beaten eggs, and sugar, this holiday treat contains 340 calories per 8 ounces.  Often paired with alcohol, eggnog is one holiday treat that can blow your calorie budget.  As a general rule, beware of any beverage that feels more like a milkshake going down.

Alcohol:

o With more family and friends around, holiday parties to attend, and increased stress levels, many Americans tend to increase their alcohol intake around the holidays.  If you choose to include it, remember the rules of moderation.

o    Moderate alcohol intake is considered one drink per day for women or two per day for men.

One drink is equal to:

1.5 oz liquor
12 oz beer
5 oz wine

o    These contain anywhere from 75-150 calories alone, not including mixers or foods you may pair them with.

Start your exercise resolution early

o   Nothing will feel better than escaping the holidays without weight gain.  Set goals for number of days per week and total time spent exercising.  Most gyms have incentives on initiation rates and monthly fees.  It’s all about planning- try new classes and use the buddy system.  Think of it as a gift to yourself!
o  Be realistic- there will be days you can’t workout so don’t beat yourself up over it, just pick up where you left off as soon as you can.

Go to holiday parties with a plan

o  Eat normally throughout the day and avoid arriving extremely hungry.
o  Choose carefully between drinks, appetizers, second helpings, and desserts.  For example, choose between appetizers OR desserts, but not both.  Use the small plates to your advantage in helping control portion sizes.
o  Do all the talking.  You’ll have less time to eat.

Be careful while shopping

o  Go between meals, or pack snacks to avoid eating poorly on the run.

Give away your baked goods

o  Sure the holidays are a great time to bake, but give baked goods away and share any you receive.  To avoid excess “taste tests,” avoid baking when you’re hungry.

Monitor stress eating

o Keep cravings out of the house.
o Use a journal to help keep your stress level in check.

Give leftovers a short shelf life

o They’re great for a couple days, but we tend to overeat when they’re around.  Keep them around for a day or two and then be done.  If you think you’ll end up with too much, give some away to your guests.  Buy extra storage containers and zipper bags in advance to encourage you to share.

Traveling tips

o Remember previous posts regarding what to eat in an airport and what to eat on the road when you embark on holiday travels.  Whatever you do, leave the baked goods in the trunk.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

There is a lot of confusion about the H1N1 swine flu shot. There is confusion, demand, and fear. I have written a column about my own experience dispensing the vaccine and trying to decide who should get it. My column is in today’s LA Times describes how I temporarily lost my cool with someone who was demanding the vaccine and might or might not have needed it. I also received a very poignant email from a 68 year old heard transplant patient in Pennsyvania who says he cannot get the vaccine despite a compromised immune system because he is more than 64 years old.
I would also like to bust a few myths regarding the vaccine:

• The vaccine is safe. It has been given to millions around the world so far and has been very well tolerated. No cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome (ascending paralysis) have yet been conclusively linked to the vaccine.
• The GSK vaccine Pandemrix, which uses a squalene adjuvant (additive) so that less vaccine material is needed to provide immunity, has been linked to allergic reactions and is being withdrawn in Canada, is not approved for use in the U.S.
• The vaccine is a very good match for the virus. The prevailing novel A H1N1 swine flu strain has not changed significantly in structure since returning in force from the Southern Hemisphere and bringing the “second wave” which we are still in the middle of.
• High priority groups are still pregnant women, children, those with chronic conditions, and health care workers. The elderly appear to have some immunity from exposure to previous flu viruses, but as more vaccine becomes available, the guidelines are being liberalized, and more will be able to receive it.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News medical contributor and writes a health column for the LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel’s new Ebook: Swine Flu; the New Pandemic, will be published in early October. Dr. Siegel is also the author of “False Alarm: The Truth About the Epidemic of Fear“ and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic.” Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com

Recently, I treated a patient struggling with depression and substance abuse who had found a legal way to get high.  He had ordered Kratom capsules on the Internet.  Lots of his friends have ordered up supplies, too. I hadn’t heard of Kratom, and you probably haven’t, either, but I think you will.  

It mimics some of the effects of opiates (like morphine and opium) and can relieve physical pain and produce a sense of increased well-being and increased energy. Depending on the dose taken and the way it is used (smoking versus chewing leaves versus drinking Kratom tea), it can cause anything from euphoria to sedation.

Kratom trees are native to Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia, but plants can be and are being grown in this country, as well. While Kratom may turn out to have medicinal uses in treating chronic pain, helping people detox from heroin and even in controlling anxiety and depression, very little is known about its real risks and benefits. It can certainly be addictive, especially for those who end up using Kratom on a daily basis.  Abruptly stopping it can lead to severe depression and severe anxiety.

With marijuana decriminalization potentially on the horizon across the country, I expect to see even more of the long-term effects of daily marijuana use in my psychiatric practice.  I have treated many patients who have lost motivation, succumbed to chronic depression and found it difficult to focus their attention after months or years of smoking marijuana. Kratom could be another “quick fix” that young people flock to in order to avoid their complicated emotions and the complex realities of the world in which we live.  

Only time will tell, but I can tell you this:  My patient didn’t limit his substance abuse to Kratom. He ended up using cocaine, too.  And Oxycontin.   Underneath it all, there’s an epidemic of anxiety and depression in our population. Ultimately, that epidemic will only be addressed through introspection, counseling and the judicious use of approved medications. Kratom, alcohol, marijuana and the rest of the quick fixes for unwieldy feelings are really only roads to my office and those of my colleagues.

Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement including www.livingthetruth.com. Dr. Ablow can be emailed at info@keithablow.com.

Green tea? In a field glutted with performance beverages that promise you’ll get ripped, zipped and buff, green tea may seem tepid. Think again. Green tea, hot or cold, may be the single most beneficial beverage a fitness-oriented person can swallow besides water.

Why is green tea of particular value to the fitness set? Despite the benefits of exercise, there is one drawback to working out. Exercise increases oxidation in the body, the deterioration of cells as a result of chemical reactions involving oxygen. Oxidation produces free radicals, which cause damage to DNA, lipids and protein, destroying membranes, altering genes and injuring cells. They contribute to aging and the promotion and severity of numerous health problems, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Free radicals are generated primarily as a result of breathing oxygen. Thus aerobic exercise can lead to increased cellular damage as a result of increased breathing. This is where mighty green tea plays a role in a personal fitness program.

Green tea contains a family of powerful antioxidant compounds known as polyphenols. There are four primary polyphenols in green tea. While all four appear to possess protective value, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) occurs in the greatest concentration, and appears to offer the strongest antioxidant benefits. In fact, EGCg is several times more potent an antioxidant than vitamin E.

According to extensive research conducted worldwide, green tea

• Protects against several types of cancer.

• Lowers cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol absorption and reducing the body’s cholesterol production.

• Reduces blood pressure by the exact same mechanism by which several expensive, prescription blood pressure medicines work.

• Reduces blood platelet stickiness, thus inhibiting atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries.

• Demonstrates anti-bacterial action against the bacteria that cause dental plaque.

• Promotes the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria in the intestines.

• Protects against certain toxins, including harmful bacteria in foods.

• Protects against adverse effects of radiation.

The easiest way to derive the health benefits of green tea is to drink it. Three eight-ounce cups of green tea daily will give you a significant amount of protective polyphenols, including approximately 375 milligrams of EGCg. That amount is sufficient to provide the benefits described above. Whenever you have a choice, use green tea that is organically grown, without pesticides. This is the purest green tea available.

Drinking green tea is not the only way to derive its benefits, though it is the simplest and least expensive way. You can also find green tea supplements in many natural food stores. Choose products which state on the label that they are standardized to guarantee a potency of at least 40% green tea polyphenols Two 500 milligram capsules daily will give you approximately 375 milligrams of EGCg, the same as three cups of green tea.

I predict that we will see a lot more green tea around. As more people come to realize the need for ever-greater antioxidant protection, green tea stands to become one of the most popular drinks of the new millennium.

Chris Kilham is a medicine hunter who researches natural remedies all over the world, from the Amazon to Siberia. He teaches ethnobotany at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he is Explorer In Residence. Chris advises herbal, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies and is a regular guest on radio and TV programs worldwide.  His field research is largely sponsored by Naturex of Avignon, France. Read more at www.MedicineHunter.com 

Pick of the Week
Despite best intentions, the odds are pretty good that you’ll over-eat on Thanksgiving. Most people indulge more during the holidays given the option. Knowing that you may do so, stock up on this one essential item – Peppermint tea. Simple peppermint tea is naturally rich in menthol, which soothes digestive upset and helps to take away that overly full feeling. Caution, this may not work if you’ve had eight slices of pie! Otherwise, after you’ve pushed back from dessert, make a good strong cup of peppermint tea with two bags, and let it steep for a full five minutes. Remove the bags, and sip. You will feel soothing relief. As for brands? I like Traditional Medicinals Organic Peppermint Tea. Oh, this tip is good for people of all ages. Enjoy and happy holiday to you.

Dear Yvonne,
Are men’s nipples really that sensitive? I wouldn’t think so. What would make them so?
—Brad

Dear Brad,
In both men and women, the nipples are surrounded by the areola and consist of smooth muscle fibers that cause them to become erect, (like when cold or sexually excited). During sexual stimulation, the nipples fill with blood, becoming more sensitive to the touch in some individuals; male or female.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

There are key players in your child’s educational experience. The teacher, the principal, and you all have clearly defined roles in your child’s emotional, cognitive, and physical growth. There is, however, an often under-used player in schools across America; someone who is ready and willing to help. Each school has a guidance counselor, an important figure in the school but one that is often overlooked. The guidance counselor has a variety of “hats” to wear and can assist you and your child in many ways.

Scheduling
High school guidance counselors often aid in the creation of class schedules. Your child may want to meet with his guidance counselor to discuss his schedule for next year. Although most core classes are pre-determined based on state graduation requirements, your child may have elective classes to choose from and having the guidance counselor discuss his options helps him choose the right one.

School-wide campaigns
Schools have begun adapting specific curriculum or programs targeting bullying, drug or alcohol use, and healthy lifestyles among children. The guidance counselor is often the point person implementing these programs and training other school personnel to respond to situations regarding these issues. Reach out to the counselor for more information or for pointers on how to discuss these important topics with your children. Should your child be affected by any of these issues, you can use the counselor as a mediator or support for your family.

Individual counseling
Guidance counselors are often wearing their “other hats” so don’t forget their area of expertise. Your child may be having a hard time transitioning to a new school, establishing a positive relationship with a new teacher, or navigating a difficult friendship. Each of these situations may warrant a chat with the school counselor. Introduce yourself and your child to the counselor at the beginning of the school year so you have an established relationship.

References
School guidance counselors often have experience beyond the school and a network of professionals to reach out to. If you feel your child needs help beyond the parameters of school, ask for a reference from the guidance counselor. Your child may need to speak with a professional whose experience is in a specific area, such as childhood depression or eating disorders. You may also feel your child may need more extensive counseling that will require time beyond the school day.

These are just some ways the school guidance counselor can help your child. Don’t be afraid to reach out to the counselor and ask for assistance in other areas or ask her to direct you to the appropriate person. With all their roles in school, counselors are exceptional resources for you and your family.

Jennifer Cerbasi teaches at a public school for children on the autism spectrum in New Jersey. As a coordinator of Applied Behavioral Analysis programs in the home, she works with parents to create and implement behavioral plans for their children in an environment that fosters both academic and social growth. In addition to her work both in the classroom and at home, she is also a member of the National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Who knew there was so much to a food package? To follow up on last week’s nutrition labeling article, we’ll cover a few more key items – % Daily Value and label claims.

% Daily Value:

These percentages are targeted at adults and children over 4 years of age and are derived from two separate references: Daily Reference Values (DRVs) and Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs).

These should not be confused with Dietary Reference Intakes, more commonly known as DRIs.  DRVs and RDIs are based on adequate research, and though dated they provide a framework for the average American’s 2000 Calorie Diet.  What you see on the package is a simple interpretation of these two values combined into one (hopefully) more meaningful percentage known as the Daily Value.  The goal of the % Daily Value (DV) is to assist consumers in interpreting information regarding the amount of a certain nutrient present in food, and to make comparing food products easier.  For example, you could pick up a bag of pretzels and a box of saltines and quickly compare total fat by using the % DV per serving.

There are a couple things to keep in mind about % DV.  One, it’s based on a 2000 calorie diet which, depending on your age, weight, and other factors could be too many or too few.  In other words, 65 grams of fat is too much for a sedentary 5 year old needing only 1400 daily calories daily, but not enough for an athletic adolescent in need of 3,000 calories each day.  These recommendations also don’t take into consideration disease-specific prevention guidelines such as “heart healthy” or “low glycemic index.” For a middle age consumer at risk for heart disease, 2400 milligrams of sodium and 20 grams of saturated fat are far too high.

%DV are based on the following:

Making the Claim

There are three types of label claims to be aware of.  Okay, technically four types of claims, but for our purposes here…just three.

Nutrient Content Claims characterize the level of a given nutrient in a food.  Examples include “Free,” “Low,” “Reduced/Less” and their approved synonyms.  For example, “Zero,” “Contains a small amount of,” and “Lower,” respectively.

•    Examples include: “Trans Fat Free,” “Low Calorie,” or “Reduced Sodium”
•    Remember each has their own definition so let’s learn from calories and fat:

Health Claims establish that a relationship exists between the presence of a level of a substance in a food and a disease or health condition.  They require Significant Scientific Agreement, or in layman’s terms, lots of research-based evidence that this relationship indeed exists.

•    An example of a health claim is the paragraph on most oatmeal boxes that vaguely suggests that a diet rich in soluble fiber and low in saturated fat can decrease the risk of heart disease.

Qualified Health Claims are the technicality I mentioned above.  There are only four of these and to the untrained eye (or even trained eye for that matter) they are difficult to spot because the language is similar to health claims; they are simply expedited health claims that do not require “Significant Scientific Agreement”.  They’re still trustworthy so don’t bother trying to distinguish between the quick and dirty version and the real thing.

Structure/Function Claims are statements seen on dietary supplements that describe the role of a nutrient pertaining to a specific bodily function.  These are typically more vague and don’t clearly establish a relationship between a given nutrient and disease.  “Helps Maintain Iron-Rich Blood,” on a bottle of iron tablets is one example.  Note: These claims are typically linked by asterisk to this statement:

•    “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”

Today’s tidbits are just a reminder that EVERY word on a food label absolutely has meaning behind it.  While there are entire regulatory departments at each major food company crossing their T’s and dotting their I’s, it’s important to always remember to go with you what you know, not with what the label sells.  Again, go in with a list and come out with what was on the list.

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and founder of www.Skinnyandthecity.com.    She is also the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.