This Week In Wellness

TWIW 8: Alcohol advertisers aiming for ‘health halo effect’

This week in wellness alcohol advertisers are attempting to put a “health halo” on their products in order to attract increasingly health conscious consumers whilst Instagram influencers have also been used in quote, unquote “underhanded” alcohol marketing as researchers call for greater regulation.
Research at Curtin University and published in Public Health Research and Practice examined both interviews conducted by alcohol industry executive and alcoholic products released to conclude that alcohol advertisers were attempting to regain lost and reduced consumers using labels such as vegan, gluten free, ‘natural flavours’, low carb or sugar free as well as healthy imagery.
http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/online-early/proliferation-of-healthy-alcohol-products-in-australia-implications-for-policy/
https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/advertisers-put-%E2%80%98health-halo%E2%80%99-on-alcohol-products
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/apr/09/australian-instagram-influencers-often-plug-alcohol-but-do-not-declare-sponsorship
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TWIW 7: Increasing your muscle power may prolong your life

This week in wellness a study presented at EuroPrevent 2019 showed that those in the lowest quartile of muscle power had a massive 10-13 times higher chance of dying compared to those above the median for maximum muscle-power.
The study looked at non-athletes between 41 and 85 years of age and used an upright row test to determine power, defined as the amount of work performed per unit time. The researchers determined each participant’s maximal muscle power by taking the highest value that they achieved over two or three attempts with increasing weight and then calculating the power exertion per kilogram of body weight. The upright row exercise was chosen for the study because it is a common action in daily life for things like picking up groceries and grandchildren.
Click here for the link to the press release https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190412085247.htm
And here are the fitness references Brett mentions in the show.
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-workout-plan-basics/
https://www.crossfit.com/what-is-crossfit
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TWIW 6: Sugar labels may save millions

This week in wellness a study, published recently in Circulation, estimates that the US FDA’s added sugar label could prevent or postpone nearly 1 million cases of cardiometabolic disease, including heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes, over a 20-year period in the US alone.
In 2016, the FDA announced several mandatory changes to the Nutrition Facts label in order to provide consumers with enhanced nutritional information. Among the changes was adding the grams and percent Daily Value of added sugar content, which would help consumers limit calories from added sugar in accordance with the recommendations of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (which suggest limiting added sugars to less than 10% of calories per day).
The links mentioned in the show are as follows.
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.036751
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190415081951.htm
https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/
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TWIW 5: A back flip on natural therapies?

This week in wellness just days after the removal of health fund rebates for natural therapies came into effect on 1 April, Greg Hunt MP has announced $2 million for updated natural therapy reviews to re-examine which therapies should once again be eligible for Subsidy through the Private Health Insurance rebate.
The review update will also look at removing the ‘banned’ list so insurers can cover whichever therapies they want, even if they won’t attract the Subsidy.
The instigators of the ‘your health your choice’ campaign have given credit to the 13,323 members of the public who took the time to send a personalised message to Minister Hunt and LNP MPs and Senators and the over 110,000 people who signed the petition. They state that “The Minister and the LNP have been flooded with protest from consumers on a scale that simply could not be ignored”, and that “Removal of natural therapy rebates pushes costs to consumers and makes private health insurance less worthwhile”.
A poll of nearly 4,000 people conducted by YHYC in 2018 showed that 95% would either cancel (50%) or reduce (45%) their level of private health cover if the policy went ahead.
The link to Greg Hunt’s announcement and to the Your Health Your Choice website’s are below. 
https://www.greghunt.com.au/review-of-natural-therapies-for-private-health-insurance/
https://www.yourhealthyourchoice.com.au/news-features/breaking-2mil-pledged-to-update-natural-therapy-reviews/?fbclid=IwAR3z9JEu-IsaDLITtroaWkjfUs_mLphdcKDNE23qOMIQq1Jfo5aMvqjpz6E
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TWIW 4: Proposed restrictions on integrative medicine

The Medical Board of Australia is consulting on options to regulate medical practitioners who provide complementary and unconventional medicine and emerging treatments.
They claim the draft guidelines aim to prevent harm that may occur directly from the complementary and unconventional medicine or emerging treatments or indirectly, from delays in accessing other treatments.
The consultation has been extended until the 30th of June. More information about the draft guidelines and the consultation process is on the current consultations page below.
https://www.medicalboard.gov.au/News/2019-02-15-public-consultation.aspx
In response a website www.integrativemedicinefreedomofchoice.com has been set up claiming to be independently created to help gain awareness of, and for anyone to place direct submissions to, the public consultation paper issued by the Medical Board of Australia.
They state that The consultation paper is proposing draconian regulation of medical practitioners who provide complementary and unconventional medicine and emerging treatments.
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TWIW 3: Monsanto sued for $80 Million

This Week In Wellness a federal jury in San Francisco has found that Glyphosate, and in particular Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup, was a substantial factor in causing Edwin Hardeman’s Non-Hodkins Lymphoma ( a cancer that affects the immune system). Jurors in the case awarded Mt Hardeman 80 Million dollars in damages amid accusations that they hid the carcinogenic properties of glyphosate, manipulated the science and unduly influenced the EPA in regards to the known dangers of the product.
The reputation of Monsanto and Bayer also took a battering with the judge stating “Although the evidence that Roundup causes cancer is quite equivocal, there is strong evidence from which a jury could conclude that Monsanto does not particularly care whether its product is in fact giving people cancer, focusing instead on manipulating public opinion and undermining anyone who raises genuine and legitimate concerns about the issue.”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/mar/19/monsanto-trial-roundup-verdict-edwin-hardeman-cancer
https://www.ewg.org/release/second-time-8-months-bayer-monsanto-s-roundup-liable-cancer-lawsuit?fbclid=IwAR0t02nuS5jlaldG_b6WgXKGcdO2RFi7EkTJIzOq5T3RTF6g5RHXumYj0Do
If you want to know more about glyphosate and would like a sample letter to send to your local council or politician I encourage you to listen to episode 296 of the Up For A Chat Podcast with Cyndi O’Meara.
http://thewellnesscouch.com/uc/uc-296-glyphosate-and-roundup-causing-a-train-wreck-with-our-health-with-cyndi-omeara
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TWIW 2: Eggs Associated with Heart Disease and Death

This Week In Wellness eggs have been once again associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. A study released this week by the Journal of The American Medical Association combining the findings from 6 prospective cohort studies and almost 30,000 people from diverse backgrounds stated that each additional half egg consumed per day was significantly associated with a 17% higher risk of cardiovascular disease and an 18% higher all-cause mortality.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2728487
Brett talks about the challenges with this kind of study and how this will change his approach to eating eggs.
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TWIW 1: An inquiry into Chiropractic care for children

This Week In Wellness COAG (the Council of Australian Governments) has announced that Victoria will commission an independent review of the practice of spinal manipulation on children under 12 years.
These findings will be reported to the COAG Health Council, including the need for changes to the National Law. It is stated that ministers will consider the outcomes of the independent review and determine any further changes needed to protect the public.
For more information about the inquiry head tohttp://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Portals/0/Final%20CHC%20Communique%20080319_1.pdf
To see the ACA response to the inquiry go tohttps://chiropractors.asn.au/images/COAG_announces_review_of_spinal_manipulation_on_children.pdf 
And to sign the petition in support of Chiropractic care for children under the age of 12 head tohttps://www.change.org/p/coag-health-council-keep-chiropractic-available-for-all-ages-in-australia
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TWG 389: The last EVER episode!

This is the LAST EVER episode of The Wellness Guys. After almost 8 years as the #1 health and wellness podcast in Australia, The Wellness Guys is finally coming to an end. In an emotional episode, Brett and Damian share their thoughts on the last 8 years in wellness, where they think things are going and what they are most proud of from their 8 years on The Wellness Guys.
Don’t forget that you can still find Brett and Damian on The Wellness Couch. Damian will remain as Marcus Pearce’s co-host on 100 Not Out and Brett’s new show This Week In Wellness will debut next Monday!
So for the last time…
Make sure you go to our Facebook page, facebook.com/thisweekinwellness and tell us what you thought of this episode. Share this podcast with your friends and family and other strangers you think need a wellness update. Subscribe to us on iTunes and while you are there leave us a five-star rating and give us a comment. Until next week, begin creating wellness ‘into your lives’, lead by example and let’s change the world’s health together. Thanks for joining us… on The Wellness Guys Show.
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TWG 388: The biggest announcement EVER!

This week we reveal the biggest announcement EVER on The Wellness Guys! If you are a fan of The Wellness Guys Show you will not want to miss this episode. What has changed? What will stay the same? What does this mean for the future? All will be revealed in this VERY important episode of Listen In
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TWG 387: The Australian Chiropractic College

This week Brett and Damian are rejoined by Patrick Sim (we will explain why you won’t find his name in the previous episodes list) from the Australian Chiropractic College (ACC). This new program is and has been strongly supported by both of the boys as it has fought for registration and accreditation to teach Chiropractic in Brett’s home town of Adelaide. Pat explains why this program is necessary in the Australian health landscape and what will be the point of difference of both the college and it’s graduates. If you are passionate about the kinds of messages that The Wellness Guys share and want to make an impact on the health status of Australians then we strongly encourage you to consider studying at the ACC.
For more information head to www.accinitiative.com.au 
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TWG 386: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

This week The Wellness Guys are joined by Gastroenterologist Dr Paul Froomes to talk about the latest research and developments into Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT). Yes FMT is exactly what it sounds like and yes it is getting some great results. Whilst FMT is now well recognised as a treatment for C. difficile infections there are also a number of potential benefits that are being explored. From GI disorders, to obesity, arthritis, depression, Parkinsons and even autism there is research being undertaken and low level research done that may indicate the benefit of FMT in the future. The challenge at the moment is the proposed restrictions on the use and trial of FMT by the TGA.
If you want to have your say on the categorisation of FMT by the TGA then click on the link below.
https://www.tga.gov.au/consultation/consultation-options-regulation-faecal-microbiota-transplantation-materials
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