Processed Foods Carry a Penalty
Do processed "diet" foods leave you with lingering hunger and a desire to nibble on other foods, thus leading you to consume more calories than if you had prepared a wholesome meal? Researchers have found we burn 50% more calories metabolizing whole foods (WF) than comparable processed food (PF) meals with the same number of calories. Diets with…
Read MoreHealthy Lifestyle Can Prevent MI
Swedish investigators following 20,000 healthy men for 11 years found that each "low risk" lifestyle factor (healthy diet, no smoking, physically active, not overweight, and moderate alcohol use) was independently associated with a lower risk for myocardial infarction (MI). Those with all five healthier lifestyle factors experienced an 86% lower risk. Sadly, less than 1% of the…
Read MoreStatins and Grace
Statins are an important class of medications for lowering blood cholesterol levels. Statins can help unblock arteries and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The first line of treatment for high cholesterol is dietary. Eating fewer dairy products, eggs, and red meat will often dramatically lower cholesterol levels. Statins can be added if diet alone…
Read MoreEat Well, Think Well
Depression is a common and serious mental disorder. A new 21-study meta-analysis of diet and depression found that eating a healthy diet (high fruit, vegetable and whole grain intake) lowered the risk of depression by 16% compared to the average. A"western diet" (high in refined grains, processed meat, snack foods high in sugar and saturated fat)…
Read MoreExercise and Diet Helps Knee Pain
An 18 month study found diet and exercise combined resulted in better outcomes for knee osteoarthritis than either alone for overweight and obese patients. Pain, inflammation, quality of life and pain strongly favored the combined approach. All subjects were sedentary at baseline. The diets focused on reducing calories to encourage weight loss. Those on the combined…
Read MoreGreen Space Reduces Risk of Diabetes
A cross-sectional study of over 267,000 people in Australia has found that those living in neighborhoods that were 41-60% green space had significantly lower rates of type 2 diabetes compared to those with less open space. Parks and other green spaces promote an active lifestyle, and were tied to lower rates of obesity, fewer smokers,…
Read MoreWestern Diets Prevent Ideal Aging
It should not be a big surprise to our readers to learn that the "Western" dietary pattern so high in fried, sweet, and processed foods is associated with aging marked by chronic disease and mental health problems. A large French cohort study has found that those consuming the typical Western-style diet had significantly lower chances…
Read MoreRecommended Resource: Vegetarian Infants
Many vegetarian mothers and fathers wonder if a vegetarian diet is adequate for their infant? Vegetarian Infants, a free resource from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics provides guidelines for vegetarian parents in making healthy choices for their infant. Supplements for mom and baby, guidelines for choosing a formula, and when to introduce solid foods…
Read MoreGood Diets Benefit Heart Patients
According to a Canadian study, healthy eating can benefit those who already have heart disease regardless of the medications they are taking. After 56 months of follow-up, patients consuming the healthiest diet experienced an almost 25% reduction in further cardiovascular events compared to those who ate the poorest quality diets (P < 0.001). These results…
Read MoreUse Your Fork to Lower the Risk of Cancer
Have you ever wondered how you should eat to fight cancer? While no single food or component of food can guarantee you will not get cancer, evidence is strong that a diet composed of a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains may lower your risk for a good number of cancers. The American…
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