Protein, Calcium, Vitamin D and Bone Health

Protein-rich foods don't prompt the loss of body calcium, in contrast to what some health professionals have believed. A new study-which confirms two other studies-finds no support for the notion that diets containing ample meat, fish and poultry increase the risk of osteoporosis. In the study, 14 postmenopausal women lost no more calcium when eating 10 ounces of meat, fish or poultry daily for 7 weeks than when eating only 1-1/2 ounces of these high-protein foods. Researchers attribute this to the phosphorus in these foods, which appears to save calcium.

The findings are important for elderly people, especially those with osteoporosis: They shouldn't limit their intake of protein-rich foods for fear of this disease. In fact, low amounts of protein in the blood has been associated with an increased risk of hip fractures. Many elderly consume too little protein and could benefit from regularly consuming moderate amounts of lean meat, poultry, or fish.

In another study on bone health, it was concluded that if older Americans consumed extra vitamin D along with extra calcium, it might substantially reduce the enormous cost of treating broken bones in the elderly-estimated to be $13.8 billion in 1995. That's the finding of a 3-year study of 389 men and women over age 65. The group that took calcium and vitamin D supplements daily had less than half as many broken bones during the study as the group that got a pill without vitamin D or calcium-11 fractures versus 26. The supplements contained 500 milligrams of calcium and 700 International Units (IU) of vitamin D.

During the study, participants consumed about 700 mg of calcium daily from their diets. That's at the high end of the typical intake for men and women over 65, which falls between 500 and 700 mg. By adding the supplements, they averaged close to the 1,200 mg, which is now recommended for people age 51 and over. To get that amount from foods, a person would need to consume a well-balanced diet, including three servings of dairy products daily.

Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Research Briefs, Foods Don't Trigger Calcium Loss, and Rate of Broken Bones Could Fall, October, 1997.

Reality Check

What's a serving? In theory and practice, service sizes vary tremendously, which helps explain why Americans tend to underestimate what they eat by as much as 50%.

Deciphering Dates on Food Labels

What do the dates on food labels mean? Anything the manufacturer wants them to! That's right, the Food and Drug Administration does not require food processors to date their products, with the exception of baby food and infant formula. There simply are no federal regulations for the kind of dating that is used on food packaging. Freshness dating is strictly voluntary on the part of food processors. Most processors adhere to a similar system to assure customers that their products will remain at peak quality for a certain period of time.

Basically, there are three kinds of dating being used to indicate food quality and safety. Phrases such as "Best Used Before" or "Best Used By" tell you how long the product will retain its best flavor or quality. Usually this type of statement is on "non-perishable" products such as baked goods, cereals, snacks and some canned goods. It means that the food is still safe to eat after this date, but the quality may have deteriorated in that it may affect the taste or texture of the product.

The "Use By," "Use Before," also called the expiration date, appears on foods like yogurt, eggs, and other foods that require refrigeration. A product past its expiration date is no longer considered to be suitable for consumption. In other words it may not be safe to eat after that date.

The "Sell By" date, often referred to as the pull date by food manufacturers, is usually found on the most highly perishable foods like meat, milk and bread. These foods have the shortest shelf life and with proper home storage they should remain safe, with the exception of meat, for up to a week. Fresh beef and pork should be kept in the home refrigerator no more than 3 to 5 days. Poultry, seafood and ground meat, like hamburger, should be used within a day or two of purchase.

Mistakenly, you may believe that it is against the law to sell anything that is still on the grocer's shelf after the "Sell By" has passed. However, legally, the store can leave the product on display for sale as long as it is safe.

A fourth kind of dating (in code form) is used on packaged or processed food by manufacturers to represent the date on which a food was packaged or processed for sale. The code is sometimes difficult to "crack" because it also may include the plant where it was processed, the type of product, and the time of day that it was packed. These coded dates are not intended for consumer use but for the manufacturers and retailers to track inventory and to locate items in case of a recall.

Freshness dating is for your protection to make sure you and your family purchase and consume safe, high quality food. Use it when you are shopping.

Source: Tufts University Health & Nutrition Letter, Nov. 1997.

Changes in Garment Care Labels -
FTC Approves Care Label Symbols

New IRA

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 created a new, tax-free nondeductible IRA called the "Roth IRA." Starting this year, individuals with an AGI of up to $95,000 and married couples with an AGI of up to $150,000 can make a full contribution of $2,000 and $4,000 respectively to a Roth IRA. A partial contribution can be made by individuals with AGI of $95,000 to $100,000 and married couples with AGI of $150,000 to $160,000. Individuals or couples with incomes above these limits cannot make contributions to a Roth IRA but can still contribute to a regular IRA. Distributions from a Roth IRA are tax-free if taken more than five years after the Roth IRA has been established and if the withdrawal is made after age 59 ½, death, or disability. This differs from an existing IRA where earnings grow tax-deferred but are taxed upon withdrawal.

In addition, the Act authorizes investors to withdraw funds from the Roth IRA, and all other existing IRAs, to pay for college expenses or, up to $10,000, for the purchase of a first home. These withdrawals can be made prior to page 59 ½ without paying the 10% penalty tax on early withdrawals.

Source: Today's Consumer, Volume 17, No. 3.

Cost of Raising a Child

How much does the stereotypical middle-income American family spend on their children annually? According to the recently released "Expenditures on Children by Families, 1996," it's anywhere from $7,860 to $8,960 depending on the age of the child. This is roughly a 3% increase over the past year.

The data reveal that families in the middle-income group spent 18% of their income on their children. Families in the lowest income group spent 28% and families in the highest income group spent 14%. The range in these percentages would be narrower if after-tax income were considered, since a greater proportion of income in higher income household goes towards taxes.

Estimated Annual Expenses for a Child (born in 1996)

If you are considering having children, the chart below will give you a good idea of how much it will cost to raise each one from birth to 18 years of age, at three income levels.

• Lowest range: less than $34,700 per year
• Middle range: $34,700 to $58,300 per year
• Highest range: more than $58,300 per year

The estimates of expenditures on a child by husband-wife families do not hold true for single-parent families, which account for an increasing percentage of families with children. Therefore, separate estimates of child-rearing expenses in single-parent household were made. Two income categories are used for single-parent families: incomes under $31,000 and incomes of $31,000 and above. Eighty-three percent of all single-parent families are in the lower income group. The average income for single-parent families in the lower income group was $14,500 compared with $21,600 for husband-wife families in this income group. $14,500 compared with $21,600 for husband-wife families in this income group. Despite the lower average income, single-parent families in this income category spent only 5% less on their children than two-parent households. Therefore, single-parent families are spending a larger proportion of their income on children (40% for single-parent households compared to 25% for two-parent families).

Interestingly, while the average income at all income levels was about 1% lower for families living in the west than for families in the overall U.S., child related expenditures were significantly higher. Child related expenditures were about 10% higher for the lowest income group, 7% for the middle-income group, and 4% for the highest income group.