Newsbites: Coffee consumption; impact of smoking; benefits of dietary vitamin C; “healthy” label to be redefined;
Habitual Coffee Consumption Associated with Health Benefits
A study that followed nearly 400,000 middle-aged individuals in the U.K. for a median of over 10 years found that, compared to individuals who reported drinking less than one cup of coffee a day, drinking four or more eight-ounce cups a day was associated with lower risk of 30 medical conditions (for reference, a Starbucks “grande” equals two cups). The most common conditions were cardiometabolic (including high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, and diabetes) and gastrointestinal (like stomach ulcers, diverticulitis, and gallstones).
This study confirms the results of many earlier studies suggesting coffee consumption has health benefits. Coffee is a bean extract and contains a number of components that may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, including phenolic compounds. High intake of decaffeinated coffee was also associated with health benefits, although the association was somewhat weaker.
This study does not prove cause and effect. If you do not currently drink coffee, there is no recommendation to start. If you drink a lot of coffee, avoid brews with lots of added sugar and cream—otherwise, enjoy it.
Study Assesses Years of Life and Income Lost Due to Smoking
Smoking is a leading preventable cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Analysis of health and earnings data found that, among U.S adults ages 25 to 79 years, cancer deaths caused by cigarette smoking accounted for 2.2 million person-years of life lost and approximately $21 billion in lost lifetime earnings.
The analysis did not include deaths and lost earnings due to smoking-related cardiovascular diseases, which would greatly increase the estimated burdens. Still, this study puts into stark perspective how important it is for smokers to seek help quitting and for nonsmokers to avoid starting. Keep in mind that a 2019 study found that young people who vaped were four times more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes than their non-vaping peers.
Dietary Vitamin C Intake (not Supplements) Associated with Better Health
A review of existing research found that dietary patterns containing the recommended amount of vitamin C from foods was associated with health benefits. Daily dietary intake of 50 to 100 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C from foods was associated with a number of positive health outcomes, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer of the esophagus, stomach, cervix, and lung, and death from any cause. (The current recommended vitamin C intake is 90 mg for men aged 19 and older and 75 mg for women.) Dietary patterns containing foods rich in vitamin C (like fruits and vegetables) are likely also high in other health-promoting compounds, which likely contributed to this finding. Foods high in vitamin C may also have displaced less healthy food choices and contributed to the effects observed.
The same effect was not found for vitamin C supplements. Indeed, use of vitamin C supplements was associated with higher risk of breast cancer and kidney stones.
This study supports the recommendation that the emphasis should be on a healthy dietary pattern rather than individual foods or nutrients.
FDA Proposes New Definition of “Healthy” on Food Packages
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed new draft guidelines for food manufacturers who want to label their products as “healthy.” This term was last defined in the 1990s. According to the FDA, “our current definition permits manufacturers to use the claim ‘healthy’ on some foods that, based on the most up-to-date nutrition science and Federal dietary guidance, contain levels of nutrients that would not help consumers maintain healthy dietary practices.”
The proposed change requires foods labeled as “healthy” to contain a minimum amount of food from one of the food groups recommended by the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, protein foods, and plant oils; and also to contain low levels of salt, added sugar, and saturated fat. The FDA may allow products meeting these standards to display an “FDA Healthy” icon on the front-of-package.
This proposal is aimed at helping consumers make informed choices about the foods that should form the basis of their dietary pattern. Either electronic or written comments on the proposed rule may be submitted before December 29, 2022.
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