Health

Saturday, 24 October 2009

VITAMIN WATERS EXPOSED
We lab-tested several enhanced waters to see if they contained the compounds they claimed — and if they had any extra substances they shouldn t.
And yet, on closer examination, many of these drinks are high in calories, and they rarely provide more than 10 percent of your recommended daily serving of vitamins. To find out what's really in some popular brands, we tapped Denver-based laboratory ChromaDex. The results* can help you determine what to grab for your specific nutritional needs. —Jamie beck man
nothing is better than fruits and veggies to gain the nutrients your hody needs. But vitamin-enhanced waters seem like a decent alternative: hydration and critical vitamins, such as B, C, and E, in one ready-to-drink package. The idea has certainly won over consumers: In the past year hoftled waters containing vitamins or minerals had sales close to $1 billion.

SOBE LIFEWATER
(BLACK AND BLUE BERRY) Tested higher than the label in:
Bl, B2, B5, B6, C, E Tested low in:B3 3% RDA of B3; label claims 10% Best for: Preventing headaches. New research shows that B2 may prevent migraines. Calories per bottle: 0 Evaporation test: 3 grams under what the label claims Verdict; Failed B3 tests but tested high in six vitamins, making it a clear second place.
Tested low in: B5. E
Half the B5 it claims; no E Best tor: Aiding digestion. Bl produces hydrochloric acid, which helps break down food. Calories per bottle: 0 Evaporation test: According to the company, the total dissolved solids (TDS) should be 21/2 grams, but the test found 7 "What is the other stuff?" asks tester and ChromaDex CEO Frank Jaksch. It could be anything from flavoring to dirt. Verdict: Zero calories is good, but the low levels of nutrients make it only slightly better than tap water.

PROPEL(BLUEBERRY
POMEGRANATE)
Tested higher than the labol ire
Bl, B5, B6, C Tested low in: B3. E
18% RDA of B3. but label claims 25%; half the E it claims Best for: Staying alert. A Bl deficiency can cause fatigue. Calories per bottle: 20 Evaporation test: Hits claim Verdict: Decent, but contains high-fructose corn syrup, a hard-to-digest processed sugar.
grams of solids; label claims below 30.
Verdict: More vitamins than advertised, but an extra 10 grams of unidentified solids.

VITAMIN WATER 10
(ESSENTIAL)
Tested higher than tho label in:
Bl, B2, B5, B6, C, E Tested low Ire B3
Little B3; label claims 10% RDA Best for Shortening a cold. C might get you better faster. Calorics per bottle: 25 Evaporation test: Hits claim Verdict: Best overall. Contains more vitamins than the others, and the TDS matches the claim.
SPECIAL K20 PROTEIN WATER (MIXED BERRY) Tested higher than the label ire
Bl. B2. B6
Tested low in: B3
No B3; label claims 20% RDA
Best for. Warding off viruses. BG
helps produce antibodies.
Calories per bottle: 50
Evaporation test: Tested at 40

SNAPPLE ANTIOXIDANT WATER (AGAVE MELON) Tested higher than the label in:
BI.E
Tested low inc Nothing Best for: Heart health. E may prevent LDL ("bad") cholesterol from narrowing arteries. Calories per bottle: 140 Evaporation test: Hits claim

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave comment

News

Patient 'killed unlawfully' by GP

By Nick Triggle and Emma Wilkinson
Health reporters, BBC News

An overseas doctor employed to provide out-of-hours care unlawfully killed a patient, a coroner has ruled.

German GP Daniel Ubani - on his first NHS shift - gave patient David Gray, 70, an overdose of diamorphine.

He was working for Take Care Now, a company that provided care in Cambridgeshire.

Coroner William Morris said the doctor had been "incompetent" and called for a shake-up of the out-of-hours care system to ensure patient safety.

“ We want to see him tried under UK law for his death but we also want safeguards put in place nationwide to prevent this happening again ”
Stuart Gray

He said Dr Ubani had made "a gross error" and was "not of an acceptable standard" in carrying out his duties in Cambridgeshire in February 2008.

But he also criticised the "insufficient induction" he was given by Take Care Now as well as the NHS system which meant his skills were not properly assessed. The company's contract has now been terminated.

Mr Morris called for a review of European regulations which allow free movement of doctors, a national database of overseas doctors applying to work in out-of-hours services in the NHS, and more consistent standards in monitoring by local health chiefs working for primary care trusts.

A second patient Dr Ubani had treated - Iris Edwards, 86 - was ruled by the inquest to have died of natural causes.

Dr Ubani had had an application to work in the UK rejected by the NHS in Leeds because of inadequate English.

But he later got approval in Cornwall after they did not test his language skills.

Mr Morris also said there should be better assessment by the NHS of overseas doctors' ability to work in the UK.

'Profound apology'

Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust issued a "profound apology" in court to the families of David Gray and other patients treated that day.

The PCT said Dr Ubani had delivered "substandard and dangerous treatment", and it apologised for "these failures and failures in the system".

Mr Gray's son Stuart, who is a GP, said: "My father's tragic death happened because of Dr Ubani's actions and because of serious failings within the Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust and Take Care Now.

"We want to see him tried under UK law for his death but we also want safeguards put in place nationwide to prevent this happening again."

He added that proficiency in English should be an requirement for those applying to work as doctors in the UK and that there should be mandatory training before overseas doctors start work for the NHS and training on out of hours systems needs to be an essential part of that programme.

Peter Walsh, chief executive of Action Against Medical Accidents, said there are "systemic failings" which could affect anyone using out-of-hours care and called for an urgent wide-ranging review.

NICK TRIGGLE, HEALTH REPORTER BBC NEWS AT THE INQUEST
It was an innocuous setting from which from which to lay bare the failings of the out-of-hours GP system.

But the verdict given by William Morris at the coroner's court in the Cambridgeshire town of Wisbech could end up being the catalyst the system needs.

His 70-minute reading raised serious questions about the standards of care provided not only to David Gray but everyone who needs help at night and at the weekends.

The coroner did not leave anyone out. He criticised everyone from the government and General Medical Council down.

How was it, he asked, that a doctor who was unfamiliar with the NHS, whose first language was not English and who was tired from travelling from his home in Germany was allowed to see patients with very little support?

That, in a nutshell, is the crux of a very complex issue - and one that everyone involved in the system is now trying to answer.

"No-one in their right mind would design out-of-hours services they way they currently exist across England if they started with a blank piece of paper," he said.

Mr Gray was suffering from renal colic when he was given 10 times the normal amount of the painkiller diamorphine by Dr Ubani at his home in Manea, Cambridgeshire on February 16 2008, and was pronounced dead fours hour later, the hearing was told.

In April 2009, the German authorities gave Dr Ubani a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and he was ordered to pay a £4,500 fine for causing Mr Gray's death by negligence.

But he continues to practise as a cosmetic surgeon in the west German town of Witten.

The German conviction meant he could not be extradited to face possibly more serious charges in the UK.

Ms Edwards' case was not part of the criminal inquiry, although medical experts believe she was inappropriately treated and should have been sent to hospital.

Mr Gray's family are now appealing to the European Court of Human Rights as the German authorities have refused an extradition request because of the action taken against him.

'Unacceptable variation'

The government, which had carried out a review of out-of-hours services in advance of today's verdict acknowledged improvements in the system were needed.

Changes will be made in the coming months but it is not yet clear whether they will meet the demands of the family or the coroner.

Dr David Colin-Thome who led the review said: "The quality of out-of-hours care for most people is better than it was in 2004 but there is unacceptable variation in how services are implemented and monitored around the country."

Responding to the coroner's inquest, Christine Braithwaite, head of investigation and enforcement at the CQC said: "The death of David Gray was a tragedy.

"It should not have happened and such an incident must not happen again.

"The coroner has clearly highlighted what went wrong.

"Take Care Now, and the PCTs that commission its services, must learn the lessons."

The Patient's Association said they had repeatedly called for PCTs to take their responsibilities on out-of-hours care seriously.

"The urgency of the out-of-hours situation is critical. Every PCT or equivalent throughout the UK should reassure their patients that the out of hours service for which they are paying is safe."

Health

Saturday, 24 October 2009

No comments:

Post a Comment

News

Blog Archive

Blogroll

Search This Blog

Labels

Deals

Subscribe Now: standard

Subscribe by Label

What's happening

What's happening

Followers

About Me

Visitors