Category Archives: Diet And Food

Walking past a corner bakery, you may find yourself drawn in by the fresh smell of sweets wafting from the front door. Youre not alone: The knowledge that humans make decisions based on their nose has led major brands like Cinnabon and Panera Bread to pump the scents of baked goods into their restaurants, leading to big spikes in sales.

But according to a new study, the food you ate just before your walk past the bakery may impact your likelihood of stopping in for a sweet treat and not just because youre full.

Scientists at Northwestern University found that people became less sensitive to food odors based on the meal they had eaten just before. So, if you were snacking on baked goods from a coworker before your walk, for example, you may be less likely to stop into that sweet-smelling bakery.

The study, Olfactory perceptual decision-making is biased by motivational state, will be published August 26 in the journal PLOS Biology.

The study found that participants who had just eaten a meal of either cinnamon buns or pizza were less likely to perceive meal-matched odors, but not non-matched odors. The findings were then corroborated with brain scans that showed brain activity in parts of the brain that process odors was altered in a similar way.

These findings show that just as smell regulates what we eat, what we eat, in turn, regulates our sense of smell.

Feedback between food intake and the olfactory system may have an evolutionary benefit, said senior and corresponding study author Thorsten Kahnt, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

If you think about our ancestors roaming the forest trying to find food, they find and eat berries and then arent as sensitive to the smell of berries anymore, Kahnt said. But maybe theyre still sensitive to the smell of mushrooms, so it could theoretically help facilitate diversity in food and nutrient intake.

Kahnt said while we dont see the hunter-gatherer adaptation come out in day-to-day decision-making, the connection between our nose, what we seek out and what we can detect with our nose may still be very important. If the nose isnt working right, for example, the feedback loop may be disrupted, leading to problems with disordered eating and obesity. There may even be links to disrupted sleep, another tie to the olfactory system the Kahnt lab is researching.

Using brain imaging, behavioral testing and non-invasive brain stimulation, the Kahnt lab studies how the sense of smell guides learning and appetite behavior, particularly as it pertains to psychiatric conditions like obesity, addiction and dementia. In a past study, the team found the brains response to smell is altered in sleep-deprived participants, and next wanted to know whether and how food intake changes our ability to perceive food smells.

According to Laura Shanahan, a postdoctoral fellow in the Kahnt lab and the first and co-corresponding author of the study, theres very little work on how odor perception changes due to different factors. Theres some research on odor pleasantness, Shanahan said, but our work focuses in on how sensitive you are to these odors in different states.

To conduct the study, the team developed a novel task in which participants were presented with a smell that was a mixture between a food and a non-food odor (either pizza and pine or cinnamon bun and cedar odors that pair well and are distinct from each other). The ratio of food and non-food odor varied in each mixture, from pure food to pure non-food. After a mixture was presented, participants were asked whether the food or the non-food odor was dominant.

Participants completed the task twice inside an MRI scanner: First, when they were hungry, then, after theyd eaten a meal that matched one of the two odors.

In parallel with the first part of the experiment running in the MRI scanner, I was preparing the meal in another room, Shanahan said. We wanted everything fresh and ready and warm because we wanted the participant to eat as much as they could until they were very full.

The team took a scientific approach to baking, using a scale to measure the exact amount of icing to place on each cinnamon roll

The team then computed how much food odor was required in the mixture in each session for the participant to perceive the food odor as dominant. The team found when participants were hungry, they needed a lower percentage of food odor in a mixture to perceive it as dominant for example, a hungry participant may require a 50% cinnamon bun to cedar mixture when hungry, but 80% when full of cinnamon buns.

Through brain imaging, the team provided further evidence for the hypothesis. Brain scans from the MRI demonstrated a parallel change occurring in the part of the brain that processes odors after a meal. The brains response to a meal-matched odor was less food-like than responses to a non-matched meal odor.

Findings from this study will allow the Kahnt lab to take on more complex projects. Kahnt said with a better understanding of the feedback loop between smell and food intake, hes hoping to take the project full circle back to sleep deprivation to see if lack of sleep may impair the loop in some way. He added that with brain imaging, there are more questions about how the adaptation may impact sensory and decision-making circuits in the brain.

After the meal, the olfactory cortex didnt represent meal-matched food odors as much as food anymore, so the adaptation seems to be happening relatively early on in processing, Kahnt said. Were following up on how that information is changed and how the altered information is used by the rest of the brain to make decisions about food intake.

Funding for this research was provided by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (grant T32HL007909), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (grant R21DK118503) and the National Institute of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (grant R01DC015426).

More here:
Your sense of smell may be the key to a balanced diet - Northwestern University NewsCenter

Thanks to today's advanced research and new innovations, it's more than possible for us to live longer, stronger and healthier lives.

While life expectancy in the U.S. dropped one full year during the first half of 2020, according to a CDCreport,much of that was attributed to the pandemic. Prior to Covid, however, life expectancy in the U.S. was 78.8 years in 2019, up a tenth of a year over 2018.

As a longevity researcher, I've spent the bulk of my career gathering insights from world-leading health experts, doctors, scientists and nutritionists from all over the world. Here's what I tell people when they ask about the non-negotiable rules I live by for a longer life:

Early diagnosis is critical for the prevention of disease and age-related decline, so it's important to get yourself checked regularly, and as comprehensively as possible.

At the very least, I make it a point to have a complete annual physical exam that includes blood count and metabolic blood chemistry panels, a thyroid panel and testing to reveal potential deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B, iron and magnesium (all nutrients that our body needs to perform a variety ofessentialfunctions).

Poor diet is the top driver of noncommunicable diseases worldwide, killing at least 11 million people every year.

Here are some of my diet rules for a longer life:

Just 15 to 25 minutes of moderate exercise a day can prolong your life by up to three years if you are obese, and seven years if you are in good shape, one study found.

I try not to focus on the specific type of exercise you do. Anything that gets you up out of the chair, moving and breathing more intensely on a regular basis is going to help.

That's why the method I practice and recommend the most is extremely simple: Walking. Brisk walking can improve cardiovascular health and reduce risk of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. It can even ease symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Clinical data shows that intermittent fasting an eating pattern where you cycle between periods of eating and fasting can improve insulin stability, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, mental alertness and energy.

To ease into the "eat early, and less often" diet, I started with a 16:8-hour intermittent fasting regimen. This is where you eat all of your meals within one eight-hour period for instance, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., or between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

But keep in mind that a fasting or caloric-restricted diet isn't for everyone; always talk to your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet and eating routine.

One of the biggest toxic habits is excessive use of alcohol. Studies show that high and regular use can contribute to damages your liver and pancreas, high blood pressure and the immune system.

Large amounts of sugar consumption is another bad habit. Sure, in the right doses, sugars from fruits, vegetables and even grains play an important role in a healthy diet. I eat fruits and treat myself to some ice cream once in a while. But make no mistake: Excess sugar in all its forms is poison. To lessen my intake, I avoid processed foods and sugary drinks.

Lastly, I don't smoke but for anyone who does, I recommend quitting as soon as possible. According to the CDC, cigarette smoking is behind 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

More here:
A longevity expert shares the diet, exercise and sleep rules he lives by for a longer, stronger life: These are 'non-negotiable' - CNBC

Name: The Mediterranean diet.

Age: Coming up for 60 years old.

Effect: Positively tumescent.

Oh no, am I going to need a sick bucket for this? Not at all. The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been well known for decades. The combination of olive oil, legumes, fruit and vegetables, and comparatively low amounts of red meat is incredibly good for the human body.

Why am I so nervous? Dont be nervous. Observational studies have shown that this diet has any number of benefits. It has been claimed to lower the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and dementia.

Right. Plus it could help with erectile dysfunction.

OK, see, there it is. I knew you couldnt keep this wholesome. There is nothing wrong with a better sex life. Erectile dysfunction is thought to affect around a third of men at some point. Its a serious condition.

And olive oil helps? It can, yes. According to research presented at this years European Society of Cardiology congress, men with high blood pressure are twice as likely to experience erectile dysfunction than their peers with normal blood pressure. And the Mediterranean diet is fantastic for lowering blood pressure.

Which can get things working downstairs again? Yes. The researchers found that men who stuck closely to the Mediterranean diet had higher coronary flow reserve (which means they were better able to increase blood flow when needed), and better erectile performance.

Wow! We should all be eating the Mediterranean diet. No, really, we should. Especially the part about red meat. The Mediterranean Diet Foundation states that you should try to eat no more than two servings of red meat a week. Not only is that better for your health, but it is also better for the environment.

This is all well and good, but I dont enjoy sex and therefore cannot see the benefit of the Mediterranean diet. Im glad you brought this up. What if I told you that the diet had another benefit?

Im listening. Well, in 2014, Spanish researcher Fernando Azpiroz examined the Mediterranean diet for other benefits, and found that it can also reduce the incidence of farting by 28%.

Astonishing. It isnt the best fart-decreaser, though. For that you have to adopt a much more regulated anti-fart diet. But nobody is going to knock 28%.

So youre saying that people who eat the Mediterranean diet are healthier, less prone to disease, have better sex and fart almost a third less than their peers? Thats right. Out of interest, what did you have for breakfast this morning?

Three Mars bars and a steak. Well, at least that explains the smell.

Do say: Ill have Greek salad, please.

Dont say: And a cold shower, just in case.

Read more here:
The Mediterranean diet: why it could lead to a more satisfying sex life - The Guardian

Dont smoke.

Dr. Lagergrens team found that tobacco can extend the time it takes for acidic foods to leave the esophagus. In an analysis of 30 studies, GERD affected about 20 percent of smokers, compared with about 16 percent of nonsmokers.

Those who engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day were less likely to develop symptoms of GERD, the Harvard team reported.

The risk of GERD was reduced among those who consumed no more than two cups of coffee, tea or soda each day.

Those who followed a Mediterranean-style diet, for example, featuring fruits and vegetables, legumes, fish, poultry and whole grains, but little or no red meat and other sources of saturated fats, were less likely to develop acid reflux.

Genetics can also affect ones risk of developing acid reflux, so people with a family history of the problem would do best to avoid the risks highlighted above. Doing so will also help protect against leading killers like heart disease, diabetes and many forms of cancer.

If you already have acid reflux, theres much you can do to minimize symptoms and perhaps avoid them entirely. Instead of consuming large meals, eat smaller ones more often. Minimize fatty foods and skip fried and fast foods entirely. A friend uses an air fryer to achieve a crispy skin on chicken, but I prefer grilled chicken and skip the skin. Choose lean meats (if you eat meat) and low-fat or nonfat dairy products, and avoid eating within three hours of bedtime. Also, try sleeping as if on a recliner, with the head of the bed propped higher than the foot.

Foods that many people with GERD find most irritating include tomatoes and citrus (like oranges and grapefruit) and their juices, coffee (even decaf for some people), alcoholic and carbonated beverages, spicy foods, garlic, chocolate and peppermint. I long ago switched to low-acid orange juice, consuming only a few ounces a day to dissolve a fiber supplement. Ive also found instant coffee to be less irritating than brewed, and drink the latter only with food to help protect my digestive tract.

Read more from the original source:
5 Diet and Lifestyle Measures to Ward Off Heartburn - The New York Times

The specific carbohydrate diet (SCD) is popular among people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It focuses on simple carbohydrates and unprocessed foods.

In the 1920s, gastroenterologist Dr. Sidney Haas developed the SCD while focusing on treatments for celiac disease. The diet gained popularity when biochemist Elaine Gottschall published Breaking the vicious cycle: Intestinal health through diet in 1994.

Haas and Gottschall claimed the diet could change the gut microbiome.

The SCD involves eating carbohydrates that are easy to digest and avoiding those that are difficult to digest. Although the diets strict nature makes it hard to stick to, some evidence suggests it may help reduce symptoms of intestinal distress.

Read on to learn about the SCD, allowed and restricted foods, potential benefits and risks, and more.

The SCD is popular among people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

IBD refers to conditions that cause chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. The two main types of IBD are ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohns disease. UC occurs when inflammation affects the colon and rectum. With Crohns disease, inflammation occurs anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus.

The SCD focuses primarily on the type of carbohydrates a person eats.

It allows carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These are monosaccharide carbohydrates, which are made of a single molecule and do not require an enzyme to break them down. They are easy to absorb and digest.

Complex carbohydrates are restricted. Because they are harder to digest, some scientists believe they promote intestinal inflammation.

Harder to digest (complex) carbohydrates include disaccharides, which contain two monosaccharides, and most polysaccharides, which contain a number of monosaccharides.

Learn more about the difference between simple and complex carbs.

The SCD focuses on easily digested carbohydrates and whole, unprocessed foods. Allowed foods include:

The diet restricts carbs that are more difficult to digest, as well as many processed foods. Excluded foods include:

Although some studies indicate the SCD may help people with IBD, the evidence is preliminary. Further research is needed.

One 2015 study of people with IBD showed that the subjects following the SCD had improved symptoms and quality of life. However, all participants disease was in remission, which indicates the SCD may only help people maintain a state of remission.

A 2017 analysis reviewed studies exploring the effect of diet on IBD. Some studies indicated symptom improvement among participants, and another showed that people on the SCD had more diverse bacteria in their gut than those following a Western diet.

A 2016 study showed that the SCD improved symptoms in people with IBD.

However, not all research on the SCD is encouraging.

Although there are potential benefits, there are several risks associated with the SCD.

The SCDs limited permitted foods make it difficult to follow.

Because Gottschall recommends strict adherence, it poses a challenge for people who may not want to follow a restrictive diet.

However, there is some evidence that a more relaxed form of the diet can be beneficial to people long term. This means the strict SCD may be a good starting point for people with IBD, and they can adapt the diet to fit their lifestyle and symptoms going forward.

Some scientists speculate the SCD may result in certain nutritional deficiencies due to its restrictive nature. These include:

The Crohns & Colitis Foundation also notes that the diet has the potential to affect growth in children.

Doctors may not recommend the SCD for everyone with IBD.

Since the eating plan is high in fiber, it may not be a good choice for an individual with a significant number of small bowel structures. This is because the high fiber content could lead to an obstruction.

The SCDs strict criteria make it time-consuming and socially restrictive.

Since a major characteristic of the diet is cooking from scratch, people with families, busy schedules, and demanding jobs may find it too time-consuming. Additionally, people who live in food deserts may not have access to foods on the allowed list.

Due to the possibility of nutritional deficiencies, experts advise people following the SCD to contact a dietitian.

A dietitian can ensure a person is eating a nutritionally balanced diet, and they can also help them manage the issues associated with a restrictive eating plan.

The SCD is popular among people with IBD. It involves eating unprocessed foods and simple carbohydrates. It restricts complex carbohydrates and processed foods.

Some evidence indicates this diet may reduce IBD symptoms and bowel inflammation. However, its restrictive nature has multiple risks and may not be practical for everyone.

If a person is interested in trying the SCD, they should consult a dietitian or doctor.

Original post:
What is the SCD diet? - Medical News Today

8. You might smell better

Research suggests that when you remove meat from your diet, your body odour may improve.

One study found that when smelling clothing samples from vegetarian versus red meat-eating men, women found the vegetarian samples less intense, more pleasant and more attractive!

This is likely due to the changes in substances emitted from sweat glands as well as the bacteria feeding on these substances as a result of dietary changes9.

There is a misconception that eating a vegan diet is more expensive.

Of course it is always fun to try out the latest vegan alternative on the market, but this may not be so good for your wallet (or your health!).

Stocking up on whole plant food staples like potatoes, beans, rice, bananas and oats, as well as frozen fruits and vegetables is a great way to save the pennies.

In fact, it could even reduce your food bill by 40% compared to an omnivorous diet10.

If you are used to a diet that is high in fat, a few weeks of no dairy, eggs, butter and meat has been shown to increase your taste sensitivity to fat. This can result in a change in your taste preferences11.

This is also true for salt.

This suggests that the longer you are on a healthy vegan diet, the better it will taste. An unexpected benefit of a vegan diet!

If you are switching to a plant predominant diet, you are very likely to be increasing your fibre intake and reducing your saturated fat.

This is great news for many aspects of our health, but research has found that this could also be key in supporting a deeper and restorative nights sleep12.

Over 800 million people go to bed on an empty stomach, yet we produce corn purely for animal feed on 90 million acres of land.

Choosing to go vegan supports our global requirement to reduce animal agriculture, and instead use land to grow crops for starving populations13.

Link:
13 health benefits of a vegan diet you may not have considered - Vegan Food and Living

I am sitting inside the semi-circular hall of the bright red, old building of the Connemara Public Library in Chennai one February morning, wishing that it was a bit cooler inside. The library staff has taken my reference receipts inside to get the books for me. In the meantime, I have been craning my neck to get an eyeful of the intricate designs on the roof of the main hall. That part of the old building is not accessible to visitors.

I am there that day to read the issues of The Dietetic Reformer and Vegetarian Messenger. The magazine was started in 1861 by the Vegetarian Society which had its headquarters in Manchester. Established in 1847, the objects of the Society were to induce habits of abstinence from the Flesh of Animals as Food, by the dissemination of information upon the subject, by means of tracts, essays, and lectures, proving the many advantages of a physical, intellectual, and moral character, resulting from Vegetarian habits of Diet.

The Society had a branch in Calcutta which was run by Baboo Keshub Chandra Sen, one of the most influential and prominent social reformers in 19th century Bengal. According to the September 1885 issue of The Dietetic reformer, a branch was opened in Bombay that year of which Mr Byramjee Panday was the chairman.

The magazine makes an interesting read. Almost all the articles preach the virtues of a vegetarian diet and urge the readers to abstain from three Fs Fish, Flesh, and Fowl. Most of the articles are argumentative, yet eloquent.

While I am a little overwhelmed by the huge stack of magazines on my desk, in one of the issues I find some handwritten pamphlets and notes. All of them are signed as JM Lane, Poona. Some have dates on them, many dont.

The first pamphlet bears the date 23/8/1885. It says During the past twelve months four entirely Vegetarian restaurants have been opened in London, and at least three other dining rooms have undertaken to provide Vegetarian meals. Manchester has seen the establishment of two new restaurants, and one has opened in Leeds. I urge the members to start a Vegetarian restaurant each in Bombay, Poona and Mahabaleshwar.

This pamphlet seems to be meant for private circulation of an organisation, because it is clearly addressed to members, perhaps of the Vegetarian Society.

Another interesting pamphlet was probably written to convey a decision taken collectively in a meeting, or by Mr Lane himself - A Vegetarian badge, for which many friends have been so anxiously waiting, has been decided upon in the form of a narrow silk ribbon, with a red center, narrow gold lines on either side and blue margins. This badge may be worn by all Vegetarians, its signification being simply that the wearer is an abstainer from fish, flesh, and fowl. By the general use of this badge, especially at festivals and meetings, Vegetarian friends will be able to recognise each other, while it will frequently afford an excellent opportunity for introducing the subject to the notice of others. It is neither dated nor addressed to anyone in particular.

The other pamphlets have appeals to come up with innovative vegetarian recipes, to preach vegetarianism during the Sunday mass, to meet medical practitioners and sell them on the idea of giving up meat, to visit hospitals and explain to the patients the benefits of a plant-based diet. Then there are a couple of notes which request the presence of members at the residence of JM Lane in Civil Lines, Wanowrie on certain Wednesday evenings from 1891 to 1893.

The Dietetic Reformer mentions in August 1885 that Lane published a useful pamphlet in Poona. There are no other mentions of him or the city again in the magazine. This means that Lane was affiliated with the Vegetarian Society from Manchester. But, did he start a branch in Poona, or was he associated with the one in Bombay? In what capacity did he convene meetings at his residence in Poona?

I dig a little in the hope that I find answers and come across a report published in The Bombay Gazette on September 10, 1891. On September 6, Sunday, a meeting was held in Church Gate Street, Bombay. One Mr Gostling took the chair. In his opening address, he mentioned that he had personal experience of the advantages of natural living, which had cured him of the chronic dyspepsia from which he had suffered for over twelve years. Dr Daji then moved the resolution referring to the formation of a Vegetarian Society. He said that the Vegetarian Society at Manchester had repeatedly requested their friends in Bombay to form a similar organisation in Bombay that would find work to do in educating the native vegetarians in the land in the physiology of digestion and the chemistry of food.

The chairman then declared that the society would be called The Natural Living Vegetarian Society, so as to guard against the misconception that vegetarians had to live upon vegetables alone.

The report ends with a quote from Gostling The admirers of British rule were not right in attributing the success of the British Army to their eating beef since the poor Irishmen and Scotch men who form the bulk of the army were brought up from childhood on potatoes and oatmeal respectively.

This report suggests that the branch of the Vegetarian Society opened in 1885 in Bombay was short-lived and that another was started in 1891.

What interests me is the revelation that the last quote by Gostling is replicated verbatim in one of the notes written in Lanes handwriting. This means that he was either present at the meeting in Bombay, or he copied it from the newspaper to use it later.

Lane and his pamphlets have remained a mystery to me after I first saw them three years ago. How the pamphlets ended up in the Chennai library, is another question. He probably shifted there from Poona. Or the pamphlets were brought there by another member of the Vegetarian Society. I have found no mention of Lane in the newspapers or magazines published from London, Manchester, Bombay, Poona, and Madras. Yet his pamphlets tell us that he kept championing the cause of vegetarianism till 1893 at least.

I hope to find out more about JM Lane someday.

Original post:
Taste of Life: Vegetarian messengers and the no three Fs diet plan - Hindustan Times

Herculaneum was covered by Mount Vesuviuss eruption in 79 C.E., but unlike Pompeii, many human remains there were well preserved.

By Andrew CurryAug. 25, 2021 , 2:00 PM

Almost 2000 years ago, a volcanic eruption buried the seaside Roman town of Herculaneum in the same rush of hot ash and gas that decimated Pompeii. The catastrophe didnt just preserve buildings and bonesit saved clues to the Roman diet. A new analysis of the bones of 17 victims reveals what these ancient villagers were eating, and in what proportions. Residents scarfed a lot of seafood and olive oil, confirming historians estimates that average Romans consumed 20 liters (more than 5 gallons) of the oil each year.

Previous studies have only given broad outlines, not the nitty-gritty details, of the ancient Roman diet, says Erica Rowan, an archaeobotanist at the Royal Holloway University of London who was not involved with the new work. Here they do a good job of filling in those details.

In 79 C.E., in a desperate attempt to escape the impact of the Mount Vesuvius eruption, the people of Herculaneum huddled in boathouses along the towns waterfront, situated on the west coast of central Italy. But a sudden blast of 250C ash and gas killed them instantly, cooking their flesh while preserving their bones almost perfectly.

In previous work, scientists analyzed the collagen in those bones to conclude that men at Herculaneum had a more diverse diet than women. In the new study, researchers isolated specific amino acidsthe building blocks of proteinsfrom the collagen, and determined the ratios of varieties, or isotopes, of nitrogen and carbon atoms. Those isotopes can be traced to specific foods.

Thanks to the remains of plants and animals found at the site, archaeologists know the people of Herculaneum ate grains such as wheat and millet. They also consumed lentils, beans, cherries, peaches, and olives, plus 70 kinds of fish and shellfish from the Bay of Naples. But the proportions remained a mystery.

Using the new method, We can tell where their calories were coming from, says study co-author Oliver Craig, an archaeologist at the University of York. We were able to see foodstuffs were usually not able to see because theyre not proteins.

The analysis held some shocks: People at Herculaneum ate a lot of seafood, especially compared with humans in the Mediterranean region today. Approximately one-quarter of their protein was netted from the nearby sea, nearly triple the amount in the modern Mediterranean diet, the team reports today in Science Advances. We havent been able to see that before in regular isotopic analysis, Rowan says.

Olive oil was also a big hit. It made up at least 12% of calories consumed at Herculaneum, and perhaps much more. The find supports historical sources indicating the average Roman consumed 20 liters of oil each year, and that the oil was one of the most significant fat sources in the Roman diet. Olives were grown widely all across the Roman Empire, providing ample supplies. Oil wasnt a condiment, it was a proper ingredient, says co-author Silvia Soncin, an archaeologist at Sapienza University of Rome. They got a lot of energy out of it.

The women of Herculaneum also ate fewer grains and cereals than did the men. Herculaneums men, meanwhile, seemed to down more fish and shellfish. Soncin and Craig suggest mens varied diets might be a sign that they spent more time outside of the house.

The scientists acknowledge that the Herculaneum diet may not be representative of ancient Rome as a whole. Its possible the people of the townsituated on the rich Bay of Naples, surrounded by fertile volcanic soil, and near a major port importing goods from across the Mediterraneanhad an especially diverse diet.

Still, Rowan says, the approach could shed light on other ancient diets across the globe. If they could use the same methods at different sites, it would be really interesting.

See original here:
Ancient Roman vacationers consumed gobs of olive oil and fish, volcano victims reveal - Science Magazine

Almost five million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, while a further 13.6 million are considered to be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, or might be at risk, it can help to make some changes to your diet. You can start by avoiding these five foods that cause high blood sugar symptoms.

Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to regulate blood sugar. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.

Those with type 1 diabetes will need to inject insulin to manage their diabetes, and their condition is not a result of their lifestyle. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by lifestyle choices and can be managed by adopting healthier ones.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 in the UK, with around 90 percent of diabetics having type 2.

But what are the worst foods for diabetes patients to eat?

READ MORE:Scientists may have found the most important indicator of Covid death

These fruity yoghurts can often be packed full of sugar.

Make sure you check the label carefully to see how much sugar is in your choice of yoghurt.

For a diabetes-friendly swap, try eating plain yoghurt instead.

Cereals with a high sugar content are not the best way to start the day if you have diabetes.

Some cereals contain a high sugar and carbohydrate content, as well as providing you with very little protein.

Swap sugary cereals for a protein-based low-carb breakfast, like an omelette, to keep you fuller for longer.

There are loads of health benefits that come from eating fruit, but unfortunately for diabetics when fruit is dried, its sugar content becomes more concentrated.

Raisins, for example, can contain four times more carbohydrates than grapes.

Diabetics dont have to give up on fruit altogether though. Sticking to lower-sugar fruits like fresh berries or a small apple is a much better alternative.

Theyre delicious, but unfortunately not a good choice for diabetics.

Potatoes are pretty high in carbohydrates already, but deep frying them in vegetable oil makes them even more unhealthy.

All the oil can also cause inflammation and other health problems.

Why not instead opt for a small portion of sweet potato?

Read the original here:
Diabetes diet: 5 of the worst foods to eat for high blood sugar symptoms - Express

You may think you know all about calories. Many people have been counting them, cutting them, and adding them up for most of their lives. But when it comes to weight loss, theres actually still a lot of confusion out there about calorie counting. It turns out that many of the most common beliefs on the subject are really just myths. Here are seven of the most persistent calorie counting myths plus the facts, straight from experts.

Plenty of people believe that as long as they stick to a certain number of calories per day, theyre eating healthy. This myth can get in the way of eating a balanced, nutritious diet. You cannot compare 100 calories of salmon to 100 calories of soda, says Samantha Cassetty, RD, former nutrition director of Good Housekeeping, who is based in New York City.

She points out that salmon is loaded with beneficial nutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids and protein one reason the American Heart Association recommends eating it twice a week that work really hard to nourish your body. With soda, its the opposite those calories are working against you, she says. Not only are they lacking in nutrition, but they are also full of sugar, and drinking them has been associated with an increased risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes, past research shows. Its a total mistake to think all calories are the same, Cassetty says.

With only about 9 calories a stalk, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), its obvious how this myth got started. Its easy to imagine that the act of chewing celery erases enough of those calories to take the food into negative calorie territory. Its an idea leftover from another era, says Cassetty.

Cucumbers, radishes, lettuce, and other water-rich vegetables are also sometimes said to be negative-calorie foods, but just like with celery, its nothing more than a myth. There are no negative calorie foods, says Cassetty.

Related: What Is the CICO Diet and Can It Really Help You Lose Weight?

What you see is not necessarily what you get when it comes to calorie information on nutrition labels. There is leeway for manufacturers, says Cassetty. In fact, by law, food manufacturers can be up to 20 percent off the mark with this number, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). That means a product youre eating that you believe has 200 calories might actually have up to 240 calories. A study published in the journal Obesity investigated the accuracy of nutrition labels andfound that prepackaged convenience meals had 8 percent more calories on average than their labels claimed. That can add up.

This is a gross oversimplification of the science of calories, and hardly the way weight loss works in real life, according to Cassetty. Overall body size, genetics, sleep, and stress can all complicate this general rule, she says. As a body loses weight, the amount of calories it needs to maintain that weight goes down.

The 3,500 calories-equals-one-pound math simply doesnt account for this. Nor does it take into consideration other factors including gender, changing diet and exercise habits, and poor compliance, according to an article in Todays Dietitian. Carson C. Chow, PhD, a senior investigator in the mathematical biology section of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is quoted in the article explaining: Every 10 calories per day decrease in calorie intake leads to an eventual one-pound loss, but it can take three years to get there." (You can check out the National Institutes of Healths Body Weight Planner tool to try this new math out for yourself.) This rule of thumb isnt quite as appealing to dieters as the 3,500 calorie rule, but its more accurate.

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Theres a difference between the number of calories a given food contains and how many calories your specific body absorbs from that food. The number of calories you may assimilate can vary based on the makeup of your gut microbiome, according to research, among other things. In anotherprevious study, researchers from Harvard even discovered that calorie counts can vary between raw and cooked foods. And then theres the fiber effect. Because your body doesnt absorb fiber (its the indigestible part of plants), the amount a food contains can also affect the calories you actually get. One small study of 18 people, which was published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that almonds contain more calories than they contribute to a persons diet. Almonds, in particular, are a source of prebiotic fiber, which we do not absorb, according to previous research.

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Many calorie counters live and die by the calories burned readouts on their exercise equipment and fitness trackers. Its very common for people to decide to eat an extra snack or have dessert based on a number supplied by their device, says Cassetty. But a study from Stanford Universitypublished in May 2017 in the Journal of Personalized Medicinefound that wearable fitness trackers are generally off by 27 percent. Thats a substantial amount. If youre overestimating your calories burned by that much, it can not only make it impossible to lose weight, it can result in weight gain, she says.

People dont realize when they exercise, theyll unconsciously decrease other energy spent throughout the day, says Cassetty. Previous research supports the notion that after exercise people may fidget less, stand less, or take the stairs less often. The body is always compensating, making small adjustments to maintain energy balance below the level of your awareness. Its not necessarily something you can control, says Cassetty.

People do a really bad job of estimating the number of calories they eat, then they get an inflated idea about how many calories they burned thanks to these devices, says Cassetty. You can really end up on the wrong side of that equation.

Can calorie counting be a helpful guide for weight loss? Sure. But theres no need to feel like youll never shed excess pounds if you cant commit to tracking every calorie especially when research suggests otherwise. A study published in September 2017 in Perspectives on Psychological Science concluded that reducing calorie intake may not be the golden ticket to weight loss that people assume it will be.

And a study published in February 2018 in JAMA found that other dietary changes, for instance eliminating processed foods, can be just as effective for weight loss. Notably, the study was designed to determine whether a low-carb or low-fat diet was better for weight loss. Neither group counted calories, but they were given nutrition advice. Both groups lost around the same amount of weight, and what they had in common was a diet of natural whole foods, not processed food. So count, or dont count, but know that the best approach is the one that works for you.

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The 7 Biggest Myths About Calories - Everyday Health