Functional foods still booming, despite recession dent

By Jess Halliday, 14-May-2009

Functional foods have seen a slowdown in growth in the last year as the recession bites into grocery spending, but analysts’ outlooks are not all grim. They are cheaper than supplements in the short term, and cheaper than medical bills in the long, notes Packaged Facts.

In a new report called Functional Foods and Beverages in the US, 4th Edition, the market researcher valued the US functional foods and beverages market at $30.7bn at retail in 2008, up 6 per cent on the 2007 value.

“This performance reflects a slow-down from the 8 per cent growth rate seen in 2007, reflecting both the increasing maturity of the market and the impact of recessionary pressures on consumer spending on ‘fancier’ and less essential food and beverage items,” says the report.

The compound annual growth rate between 2003 and 2008 was 8 per cent.

Nonetheless, the expectation is that revenue will not drop dramatically, and consumers will save in areas such as restaurant meals before cutting back their grocery bills.

Functional foods also carry the same nutrients as are available in nutritional supplements, Packaged Facts points out, but are less expensive. In the long-run, it says they can help consumers avoid expensive medical bills later on, as ensuring adequate nutrient intake can ward off ill health.

The US functional foods market is predicted to be worth around $43bn by 2013.

Proactive consumers

According to Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts, consumer are now much more proactive about their health than in the past, when issues were dealt with only after they occurred.

“Consumers are re-evaluating their health, nutrition and lifestyle choices adopted years ago. This re-evaluation includes considering the role functional foods and beverages could or should play in diets in order to avoid or help treat all kinds of health conditions.”

In an online poll of 2600 US adults in February 2009 55 percent of respondents said they prefer to buy foods for nutritional benefits rather than vitamins or supplements. By contrast, only 24 percent said they prefer to take pills.

Sixteen percent agreed strongly that they are buying more foods for this reason.

Gender-wise, women were seen to be more receptive to functional foods than men, with 19 percent agreeing strongly that they prefer foods or beverages with specific nutritional benefits instead of pills.

Just 13 percent of men strongly agreed to the same question.

Source: nutraingredients-usa.com

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from

a hidden or soft-tissue injury

►Muscle Stiffness

►Spasms

►Neck Pain

►Headaches

►Jaw Pain

►Numbness or Tingling

►Mid Back Pain

►Low Back Pain

►Difficulty Sleeping

►Irritability

►Memory Loss

►Fatigue

►Difficulty Concentrating

Or worse, you may be feeling none of the above because your injury

hasn’t starting producing any of these symptoms.

Pick up the phone right now and call (503) 908.0122 and ask Dr. LoGiudice for a free no-obligation consult to see if we can help you with your soft tissue injuries.

A slip on the snowy sidewalk, in winter, is a small thing. It happens to millions. A fall from a ladder, in the summer, is a small thing. That also happens to millions. The slip or fall produces a subluxation. The subluxation is a small thing. The subluxation produces pressure on a nerve. That pressure is a small thing. The pressure cuts off the flow of mental impulses. That decreased flowing is a small thing. That decreased flowing produces a dis-eased body and brain. THAT is a BIG thing to THAT man. Multiply THAT sick man by a thousand and you control the physical and mental welfare of a city. Multiply THAT man by a million, and you shape the physical and mental destiny of a State.  Multiply THAT man by one hundred thirty million, and you forecast and can prophesy the physical and mental status of a nation.  So the slip or the fall, the subluxation, pressure, flow of mental impulses, and dis-ease are BIG enough to control the thoughts and actions of a nation. Now comes a man. Any one man is a SMALL thing. This man gives an adjustment. The adjustment is a small thing. The released pressure restores health to A man. That is a BIG thing to THAT man. The adjustment replaces the subluxation. That is a small thing. The adjusted subluxation releases pressure upon nerves. That is a small  thing. Multiply that well man by a thousand, and you step up the physical and mental welfare of a city.  Multiply that well man by a million; and you increase the efficiency of a State. Multiply that well man by one hundred thirty million, and you have produced a healthy, wealthy, and better race for posterity. So the adjustment of the subluxation, to release pressure upon nerves, to restore  mental impulse flow, to restore health, IS BIG enough to rebuild the thoughts and actions of the world. THE IDEA that knows the cause, that can correct the cause of dis-ease, IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST IDEAS KNOWN.  Without it, nations fall; with it, nations rise.

THE IDEA is the BIGGEST I know of.

B.J. PALMER, D.C.

This is an extreme workout schedule and should not be attempted if you are de-conditioned. As always, consult your personal physician before starting a new workout routine.

RUNNING SCHEDULE I

WEEKS 1 - 2: 2 miles/day, 8:30 pace, M/W/F (6 miles/week)

WEEK 3: No running. High risk of stress fractures.

WEEK 4: 3 miles/day, M/W/F (9 miles/wk)

WEEKS 5 - 6: 2/3/4/2 miles, M/Tu/Th/F (11 miles/wk)

WEEKS 7 - 8: 3/4/5/2 miles, M/Tu/Th/F (16 miles/wk)

WEEK 9: same as #7, 8 (16 miles/wk)

PHYSICAL TRAINING SCHEDULE I (Mon/Wed/Fri)
SETS OF REPETITIONS X # OF REPETITIONS

WEEK 1: 4 X15 PUSHUPS

WEEK 2: 5 X 20 PUSHUPS

WEEK 3 - 4: 5 X 25 PUSHUPS 4

WEEKS 5 - 6: 6 X 25 PUSHUPS 4 X 20 SITUPS 6 X 25 SITUPS 3 X 3 PULLUPS 2 X 8 PULLUPS

WEEKS 7 - 8: 6 X 30 PUSHUPS, 5 X 20 SITUPS 6 X 30 SITUPS 3 X 3 PULLUPS 2 X 10 PULLUPS

WEEK 9: 6 X 30 PUSHUPS, 5 X 25 SITUPS, 6 X 30 SITUPS, 3 X 4 PULLUPS 3 X 10 PULLUPS

* Note: For best results, alternate exercises. Do a set of pushups, then a set of sit-ups, followed by a set of pull-ups, immediately with no rest.

SWIMMING SCHEDULE I (Sidestroke or crawlstroke with no fins 4-5 days a week)

WEEKS 1 - 2: Swim continuously for 15 min.

WEEKS 3 - 4: Swim continuously for 20 min.

WEEKS 5 - 6: Swim continuously for 25 min.

WEEKS 7 - 8: Swim continuously for 30 min.

WEEK 9:          Swim continuously for 35 min.

* Note: If you have access to a pool, swim every day available. 4-5 days a week and 200 meters in one session is your initial workup goal. Also, you want to develop your sidestroke on both the left and the right side. Try to swim 50 meters in one minute or less.
CATEGORY II is a more intense workout designed for those who have been involved with a routine PT schedule or those who have completed the requirements of category I.

DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WORKOUT SCHEDULE UNLESS YOU CAN COMPLETE THE WEEK #9 LEVEL OF CATEGORY I WORKOUTS.

RUNNING SCHEDULE II (M/Tu/Th/F/Sa) TOTAL

WEEKS 1 - 2: (3/5/4/5/2) miles 19 miles/week

WEEKS 3 - 4: (4/5/6/4/3) miles 22 miles/week

WEEK 5: (5/5/6/4/4) miles 24 miles/week

WEEK 6: (5/6/6/6/4) miles 27 miles/week

WEEK 7: (6/6/6/6/6) miles 30 miles/week

WEEK 8 - 9: (6/6/6/6/6) miles 30 miles/week - increase your speed

PT SCHEDULE II (Mon/Wed/Fri)

SETS OF REPETITIONS
WEEK 1 - 2:
6 X 30 PUSHUPS
6 X 35 SITUPS
3 X 10 PULLUPS
3 X 20 DIPS

WEEK 3 - 4:
10 X 20 PUSHUPS
10 X 25 SITUPS
4 X 10 PULLUPS
10 X 15 DIPS

WEEK 5:
15 X 20 PUSHUPS
15 X 25 SITUPS
4 X 12 PULLUPS
15 X 15 DIPS

WEEK 6:
20 X 20 PUSHUPS
25 X 25 SITUPS
5 X 12 PULLUPS
20 X 15 DIPS

PYRAMID WORKOUTS # of REPETITIONS

PULLUPS: 1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1
PUSHUPS: 2,4,6,8,10,8,6,4,2 (2x #pull-ups)
SITUPS: 3,6,9,12,15,12,9,6,3 (3x #pull-ups)
DIPS: same as pushups

SWIMMING WORKOUTS II
(4-5 days/week)

WEEKS 1 - 2: Swim continuously for 35 min.

WEEKS 3 - 4: Swim continuously for 45 min. with fins.

WEEKS 5: Swim continuously for 60 minutes with fins.

WEEKS 6: Swim continuously for 75 minutes with fins.

*Note: At first, to reduce initial stress on your foot muscles when starting with fins, alternate swimming 1000 meters with fins and 1000 meters without them. Your goal should be to swim 50 meters in 45 seconds or less.

STRETCH PT - Since Mon/Wed/Fri are devoted to PT. It is wise to devote at least 20-40 minutes on Tue/Thu/Sat to stretching. You should always stretch for at least 15 minutes before and during workout; however, just stretching the previously worked muscles will make you more flexible and less likely to get injured. A good way to start stretching is to start at the top and work your way down or start at the bottom and work your way up. Stretch to tightness, not to pain; hold for 10-15 seconds. DO NOT BOUNCE. Stretch every muscle in your body from the neck to the calves, concentrating on your thighs, hamstrings, chest, back and shoulders.

Let me know your personal challenges and truimphs with this work-out program.

LifeStep to Wellness # 5

Drink More Water 

Are you hungry or thirsty? Can you tell the difference?  I learned that I had been mistaking thirst for hunger when I began skiing with a hydration system backpack.  Prior to carrying water, I could barely make it to lunchtime; now I prefer to ski straight through lunch!

Water is your body’s principal chemical component, making up on average, 60 percent of your body weight.  It’s no surprise that seventy five percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated.

Are you drinking an adequate amount of water every day?  Apply the 8 by 8 rule (8oz. of water 8 times a day) or divide your weight by two to calculate the number of ounces of water you should drink daily (150 lbs/2 = 75 oz. or just over 9 - 8oz. glasses).
 
You can encourage yourself to drink more water by wearing a digital watch that beeps at every hour.  Pour six ounces of water and vow to drink it before the next beep.  Add a lemon or lime wedge in your water to improve the taste or try a cucumber slice or a sprig of mint.  Don’t forget to drink even more water when exercising or when it’s warm outside.

We are designed to drink pure, natural water.

Water is important to the mechanics of the human body.  Our entire body’s anatomy and physiology depends on water for proper cell and organ function.  Clean, unadulterated water is the best supply choice.  If you are committed to a healthy lifestyle and long-term health, make water a habit and a priority in your life.

Avoid sodas/soft drinks because of their high sugar content and artificial flavors.  Tea, coffee, soft drinks contain water, but the diuretics contained in these caffeinated beverages flush water out of your body. Therefore, you can’t count on them to replenish fluid loss.  Only pure natural water will avoid compromising your long-term health.

Our bodies use water in:
1.     Blood to carry oxygen to the body        
2.     Lymph fluid of the immune system to fight off illness.
3.     Digestive fluid to break down food into essential nutrients.
4.     Perspiration to regulate body temperature.
5.     Cytoplasm for normal cell function.
6.     Joint fluid for lubrication.
7.     Saliva to moisten mucus membranes, facilitates chewing and swallowing, and transport antibacterial and digestive enzymes.
8.     Alleviating constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste - the best detox agent.

Water prevents dehydration. If you are thirsty, your cells are already dehydrated.  A dry mouth is the last outward sign of dehydration. Thirst does not develop until body fluids are depleted well below levels required for optimal functioning.  Monitor your urine to make sure you are not dehydrated: 

A hydrated body produces clear, colorless urine.

A somewhat dehydrated body produces yellow urine.

A severely dehydrated body produces orange or dark-colored urine.

A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen.  Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue and headaches.
 
How much water?

The Replacement Approach is another way of calculating how much water to drink.  The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day.  You lose an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements.  Since food accounts for approximately 20 percent of your total fluid intake, you will need to consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet to replace lost fluids.

Don’t start drinking an extra gallon of water a day, especially if you are fasting or eating very little.  Water taken in must be in balance with body salt - electrolytes.  Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water, are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average American diet.

Tap, Spring, or Designer? 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the standard for public water systems while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water based on the EPA’s tap water standards.  Most bottled water is filtered tap water.  It’s a matter of cost vs. benefit.