Category Archives: Diet And Food

Most people maintain a common understanding that protein is an important part of a balanceddiet. But what exactly are the benefits and how can you make sure you're getting enough?

According to naturopathic physician and registered dietitian, Jaime Schehr, N.D., R.D., Dietary proteins are made up of amino acids, which are largely responsible for both muscle building and muscle repair, making it especially important to eat after exercising.

Exercise aside, when combined with fats and carbohydrates, dietary protein promotes a slower breakdown of carbs and a more steady blood sugar level, registered dietitian Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN, tells mindbodygreen.

While the actual definition of high protein can differ based on labeling, Cording says, In general, for something to be high-protein, a serving needs to provide at least 20% of the recommended daily intake for protein. In the US that's about 56 grams per day.

While that definition can be a helpful tool in the grocery store, registered dietitian Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN, says you can also take a more general approach. Instead of focusing on the grams of protein in each food, she explains, focus more on the quality and serving size of the food. And try to eat protein at every meal and snack to increase satiety.

To spare you from mulling over nutrition labels, these are 15 of the most high-protein foods, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) food charts.

Visit link:
What "High Protein" Really Means + 15 Best Foods To Up Your Intake - mindbodygreen.com

Eating a healthy, balanced diet - including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day - could lower your risk of an early death, according to the NHS. One of the easiest ways to boost your life expectancy is to eat more tomatoes, it's been claimed.

You could also boost your lifespan by doing regular exercise. Its the miracle cure weve all been waiting for, it said.

Making some small diet or lifestyle changes could help to increase your life expectancy and avoid an early death.

You could lower your chances of an early death by regularly eating tomatoes, its been claimed.

Everyone should be aiming to eat around seven portions of tomatoes every week.

READ MORE: How to live longer - 70p herb to increase life expectancy

They also contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene, which may improve heart health and protect against a number of cancers.

Better still, looking seems to boost the lycopene-related benefits of tomatoes, as does serving them with a little fat, for example, olive oil.

A daily serving of tomatoes or tomato products is ideal. However, consuming tomatoes only a few times a week still offers many health benefits.

When buying fresh, choose ripe, dark red tomatoes, as they contain the most lycopene.

A single serving of tomato includes one whole, regular-sized tomato, six cherry tomatoes, 200g of chopped tomatoes, or one small glass of tomato juice.

But, sun-dried tomatoes have the highest proportion of lycopene, they added.

Lycopene lowers your chances of heart attacks, and even some cancers, they said.

But, the best way to make sure you lead a long and healthy life is to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

Here is the original post:
How to live longer - the number of tomatoes you should be eating every week - Express.co.uk

We need to ensure that we eat at the right place,the right time, and not to eat out of boredom. We need to be disciplined in that, said Degan, in a COVID-19 Task Force online press conference in the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Building, Jakarta, on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

The chefobserved that people overeating out of boredom during the Large Scale Social Restriction (PSBB) period is becoming an increasingly common problem. He, therefore,suggested for the people to adhere to a scheduled routine including thewake-uptime, activities, rest, andmealtimes, evenwhenstaying home.

More specifically, Degan suggested for the people to be cautious in their diet and avoid eating while doing another activity, such as watching television or working. He alsorecommended a balanced and nutritious diet, including the necessary carbohydrates, proteins, vegetables and fruits to meet the daily nutritional intake and maintain body immunity.

On top of that, Degan has called for the people to avoid drinks with sugar or soda, and instead opt for pure drinking water or infused water, for those looking to enjoy a refreshing beverage. "Make sure you drink enough in a day. For a small child, that would be around 1 to 1.5 liters, and adults 1.6 to 2 liters to stay hydrated," he added.

Lastly, Chef Degan reminded the importance of washing hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds before and after eating, also when cooking food.

ANTARA |Translator: DIO SUHENDA (Intern)

Read more:
Healthy Diet Tips When Staying Home to Avoid Overeating - Tempo.co English

(Reuters Health) Several popular diets that emphasize low-fat, low-carbohydrate, and moderate-macronutrient eating patterns are associated with moderate weight reduction and reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure at six months, according to a meta-analysis."Our research is aligned with the growing body of literature on diets to support weight loss and related cardioprotective benefits," said study co-author Gordon Guyatt of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Compared to the regular diet, low-carb diets like Atkins and Zone, and low-fat diets like Ornish, had a similar effect at six months on weight loss (4.63 v 4.37 kg, both with moderate certainty) , reduction of systolic blood pressure (5.14 mm Hg, moderate certainty v 5.05 mm Hg, low certainty) and reduction of diastolic blood pressure (3.21 v 2.85 mm Hg, both low certainty).The study also found that moderate macronutrient diets like DASH resulted in slightly less weight loss and smaller reductions in blood pressure.

Low carbohydrate diets had less effect than low fat diets and moderate macronutrient diets in reducing LDL cholesterol (1.01 mg / dL, low certainty v 7.08 mg / dL, moderate certainty v 5.22 mg / dL, moderate certainty , respectively), but low carbohydrate diets were also associated with an increase in HDL cholesterol (2.31 mg / dL, low certainty).

Among the popularly named diets, those with the greatest effect on weight reduction and blood pressure compared to the usual diet were Atkins (weight 5.5 kg, systolic blood pressure 5.1 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure 3, 3 mm Hg), DASH (3.6 kg, 4.7 mm Hg, 2.9 mm Hg, respectively), and Zone (4.1 kg, 3.5 mm Hg, 2.3 mm Hg, respectively) at six months (all with moderate certainty ).No diet significantly improved HDL cholesterol or C-reactive protein levels at six months.Overall, weight loss decreased at 12 months across all macronutrient patterns and popular named diets, while the cardiovascular risk factor benefits of all interventions except the Mediterranean diet essentially disappeared.

"While the Mediterranean diet is beneficial, at 12 months follow-up, it even had very limited evidence of efficacy," Guyatt said by email.This suggests that doctors should encourage patients to follow most diets if it is sustainable for their lifestyle, but that it might make sense to switch to a different healthy diet if the former does not help patients achieve their goals, Guyatt said."Given the difficulty with long-term adherence, doctors may even encourage overweight patients to switch between the most effective diets," added Guyatt.A limitation of the study is that many comparisons provided low-certainty evidence primarily because of inconsistency and imprecision, but also because of the risk of bias, the study authors write in The BMJ. Another is that many smaller trials included in the analysis did not report specific results at 12 months, and most of the evidence was low or very low certainty.

Diet adherence was also not reported in most trials, and macronutrients were determined based on the general characteristics of different popular diets and not based on measures of food intake or macronutrient intake of the individual participants.

Doctors and patients need to be careful about reading these results too much, said Helen Truby of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, co-author of an editorial accompanying the study.

"Adults tend to have maximum weight loss after 10-12 weeks when they reduce their energy intake and after the weight loss decreases and can stabilize," Truby said by email.

"Most & # 39; popular & # 39; diets do not include information and advice needed to extend the weight loss phase or provide information on how to maintain weight after losing that initial weight," said Truby. "This is a gap in what is provided and people often need much more support after the first 6 months to maintain that weight loss."

SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2yzV4wE and https://bit.ly/2xEgHvZ The BMJ, online April 1, 2020.

. (tagsToTranslate) hypertension (t) hypertensive diet recommendations (t) weight loss (t) weight control (t) meta-analysis (t) lipids (t) lipid control (t) CV risk (t) cardiovascular risk (t) cv risk factors (t) cardiovascular risk factors (t) cardiovascular risk management (t) diet (t) obesity (t) obesity

Original post:
Atkins, Ornish, DASH Diets linked to weight loss, lower blood pressure - NewsDio

Women who eat more vegetables before pregnancy may have a lower risk of preterm labor. That's according to a new study that found the health benefits of diets that include traditional vegetables, such as carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, squash, cabbage, green beans, and potatoes. The researchers analyzed the health of nearly 3,500 women before conception. They found that those who consumed large amounts of traditional vegetables before pregnancy had a greater chance of achieving a full-term pregnancy. "Traditional vegetables are rich in antioxidants or anti-inflammatory nutrients, which have an important role in reducing the risk of adverse outcomes in childbirth. "Dereje Gete, a doctoral candidate at the University of Queensland, said in a statement. "Women depend on certain stored nutrients like calcium and iron before conception, which are critical to the development of the placenta and the tissue of the fetus." The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, highlights the importance of being on a healthy diet early when planning to conceive. Gete said that starting to eat healthy foods only during pregnancy can be too late, especially at the end of the first trimester when babies are fully formed. Premature births in the US USA The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2018 that one in 10 babies in the U.S. USA It was born too soon. Premature birth rates have increased in the country in recent years.The agency said African American women reported more cases of preterm birth. The number was 50 percent higher than white women in the US. USAIt is very important to achieve a full-term pregnancy. The baby goes through major developments in the past months and weeks, involving the brain, lungs, and liver. The CDC said that babies born too early are more likely to die or become disabled. Preterm labor has been linked to a variety of health conditions, including vision, hearing, and breathing problems, feeding difficulties, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay. "Preventing preterm labor remains a challenge because there are many causes of preterm labor and because the causes can be complex and not always well understood," the agency said on its website. The researchers in the latest study said more testing is required to understand how eating more vegetables directly supports pregnancy. The researchers found that women who consume more traditional vegetables, such as carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, squash, cabbage, green beans, and potatoes, are less likely to experience preterm labor before having a baby. Pixabay. (TagsToTranslate) pregnancy (t) premature delivery (t) effects of premature delivery (t) premature delivery (t) diet (t) vegetables (t) diet tips (t) pregnancy tips

See the original post here:
Diet with more potatoes, carrots, and other vegetables reduces the risk of preterm labor - NewsDio

The Hindu diet is practiced by adherents of Hinduism, the third largest religion in the world (1).

Its a primarily lacto-vegetarian diet, which means that it includes dairy products but excludes meat. Still, some people who practice Hinduism choose to eat certain meats or other animal products.

You may be curious about its history, how it compares with vegetarianism, and whether it offers health benefits.

This article tells you everything you need to know about the Hindu diet.

The Hindu diet is the eating pattern usually followed by adherents of Hinduism, most of whom live in India. Yet, as an estimated 1.1 billion people practice this religion, there are many variations of the diet (1).

In general, Hindus follow a lacto-vegetarian diet, which excludes meat, fish, shellfish, and eggs but includes dairy.

Hindu religious texts advocate for ahimsa, a practice of nonviolence toward all living creatures. This tenet justifies a lacto-vegetarian diet, as the killing of animals for food can be considered violence in Hindu cultures (2).

Additionally, Hinduism considers cows sacred, as theyre representative of maternal gentleness. As such, even among Hindus who eat meat, beef and byproducts like beef lard are taboo (3).

There are no universal, mandatory dietary restrictions for practicing Hindus with the exception of abstinence from beef.

Thus, the Western concept of vegetarian diets, with its rigid bans on certain food groups like meat, fish, and poultry, doesnt apply to the Hindu diet.

All the same, a majority of Hindus follow what could be considered a lacto-vegetarian diet. Some may follow a stricter diet while others may have more relaxed practices even eating meat, such as chicken or goat.

In fact, many Hindus living in India report including at least some meat in their diet particularly those who are poorer or lower in the caste system (4).

The Hindu diet is followed by adherents of Hinduism. While its primarily a lacto-vegetarian diet, many Hindus may eat meats like chicken or goat.

The traditional lacto-vegetarian version of the Hindu diet may provide several health benefits.

Lacto-vegetarian diets can be associated with heart health, as they tend to be higher in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants than omnivorous diets.

Indeed, vegetarian diets are linked to lower blood pressure levels than diets that contain meat (5).

Additionally, one review found that vegetarian diets lowered levels of total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease. All the same, vegetarian diets also reduced HDL (good) cholesterol (6).

However, the Hindu diets inclusion of dairy products may help maintain or increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. That said, dairy products may also raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, depending on what types of dairy products are involved (7, 8).

In Hinduism, moderation of food intake is considered an important virtue called mitahara. This practice emphasizes diet and nutrition as keys to healthy living (9).

This focus on food moderation may promote healthier attitudes about food. In fact, dietary moderation is associated with lower calorie intake (10).

In turn, a lower calorie intake may aid weight loss.

Indeed, the traditional lacto-vegetarian Hindu diet is linked to lower body weights in India, compared with other eating patterns common in the country (11).

The traditional Hindu diet may be richer in fiber and antioxidants than other diets due to its high concentration of fruits and vegetables (12).

Fruits and vegetables both boast fiber, which has several health benefits. These include lowering cholesterol and promoting healthy digestion (13).

Fiber intake is also associated with a lower body weight because it promotes feelings of fullness. High fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, likewise tend to be lower in calories than low fiber foods (13).

Additionally, fruits and vegetables are some of the best dietary sources of antioxidants. These plant compounds may help prevent or reverse cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals (12).

Antioxidants may decrease chronic inflammation and lower your risk of illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers (14).

Notably, a study in 100 people in India revealed that those who followed lacto-vegetarian or ovo-lacto-vegetarian diets which include eggs had higher antioxidant levels in their blood than non-vegetarians (15).

The Hindu diet is primarily plant-based, but the addition of dairy products helps ensure that your body gets adequate vitamin B12 and zinc, which may help your body fend off anemia and certain chronic illnesses (16, 17).

Specifically, due to their fiber, nutrient, and antioxidant contents, plant-based diets are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes (18, 19, 20, 21).

One study in 32 vegetarians and non-vegetarians in India found that the non-vegetarians had ratios of gut bacteria similar to those of people with colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (22).

From these results, researchers inferred that a vegetarian diet may protect against these conditions. All the same, more research is needed (22).

The traditional Hindu diet may be associated with improved heart health and antioxidant status, as well as reduced body weight and chronic disease risk.

The Hindu diet is primarily lacto-vegetarian, though some practicing Hindus eat meat.

Generally, the only food completely banned for Hindus is beef. That said, many Hindus refrain from alcohol, and some may avoid onions and garlic, as these plants are tied to anger or passion according to certain religious doctrines (3).

Here are some foods that are commonly eaten or acceptable on the Hindu diet:

Ghee is a type of clarified butter widely used as a cooking fat in India.

Some Hindus follow a strict vegetarian diet, while others eat meat. Generally, the only food strictly off-limits on the Hindu diet is beef.

The Hindu diet is practiced by adherents of Hinduism and primarily lacto-vegetarian.

However, theres a large degree of flexibility, as some Hindus strictly abstain from meat while others eat certain meats, such as chicken or goat.

Thus, theres not necessarily one right way to follow the Hindu diet although its usually associated with a high intake of whole, nutritious vegetables and high fiber grains and legumes.

In general, lacto-vegetarian diets are associated with lower body weight and a decreased risk of several diseases.

Thus, the traditional Hindu diet offers a number of health benefits.

Read the original post:
Hindu Diet: Practices, Benefits, and Foods - Healthline

Photo credit: fcafotodigital - Getty Images

From Women's Health

If youve already given keto or any other low-carb diets a try, you might be eager to test out the Slow-Carb Diet, which is *somewhat* similar.

The eating plan is included in the book The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman by Timothy Ferriss (an entrepreneur, author, and podcast host), which was published in 2010. In the book, Ferriss details his Slow-Carb Diet approach. But the diet has also gained lots of followers who haven't necessarily read about it in The 4-Hour Bodyit's a buzzy diet that makes the rounds.

So what's the Slow-Carb Diet all aboutand can it really help you lose weight in a safe and sustainable way? Let's get into it, with the help of a registered dietitian.

The Slow-Carb Diet involves eating five food main groups (animal protein, vegetables, legumes, fats, and spices) and teaches to eat four meals a day for six days of the week. You also get one cheat day, on which you can eat whatever you want, explains Brigitte Zeitlin, a registered dietitian and owner of BZ Nutrition in New York City.

Basically, the idea is to follow a very low-carb regimen on the premise that it will increase your bodys ability to break down fat for energy and reduce your overall fat stores, says Zeitlinand in turn, reduce your body weight.

Ferriss also talks about various supplements (like calcium and magnesium) you can take while doing the diet, but they aren't a requirement. Now, a break down of the Slow-Carb Diet eating rules.

The slow-carb diet is based on the following five fundamental rules, which Ferriss also detailed on his blog:

Avoid white carbohydrates. If you are on this diet to lose weight, then you need to avoid all processed carbohydrates (like breads, pastas, cereals, baked goods, etc.) for six days per week. If you are on the diet to increase your muscle and strength, then youre allowed to eat these foods within 30 minutes of finishing a resistance-training workout.

Eat the same meals over and over. Basically just re-make the same meals from the approved five groups of foods (animal protein, vegetables, legumes, fats, and spices).

Watch what you drink. This diet boasts the importance of drinking water and other unsweetened tea or coffee. Consuming alcohol, juice, smoothies, sodas, or any calorie-filled beverage is discouraged.

No fruit. This diet bans all fruit intake on the premise that they contain too much sugar for weight loss. (Psssst, many other experts still recommend fruit on a weight-loss plan, though!)

Take one day off per week. One day a week of your choosing, you can cheat and eat and drink anything you wish. (More on that later.)

Story continues

Turns out, there are no foods that are actually dubbed slow-carbohydrate foods. "I believe the name of this concept comes from the approved-food lists and the fact that the carbs that are allowed are all complex carbohydrates, meaning they have fiber in them and therefore take your body longer to break down and process," says Zeitlin. "In other words, they move through your system at a slower rate than the simple, or white, carbs that are off limits on this diet."

For anyone unfamiliar with the concept of simple versus complex carbs: White-flour items or simple carbohydrates move through the body at a faster pace than complex ones like legumes or dark leafy greens, Zeitlin explains. So, simple carbs end up being less filling and satiating, plus they spike your blood sugar, compared to complex ones due to the removed fiber. So, complex carbs = slow carbs. Get it?

Foods allowed on the Slow-Carb Diet include:

Animal proteins: Eggs, cottage cheese, chicken, beef, pork, and fish

Legumes: Lentils, black beans, pinto beans, red beans, and soybeans

Certain vegetables: Spinach, asparagus, peas, green beans, sauerkraut, kimchi, and cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts)

Fats: Butter, olive oil, grapeseed oil, nuts, ghee, and dairy-free creamer

Spices: Salt, pepper, herbs, and seasonings

FYI: Several food groups are off-limits on this diet, including fruit, dairy (except for cottage cheese), fried foods, white-flour products, and alcohol.

One of the main aspects about this diet is that you must take one day "off" to eat whatever you want. The book calls it a "free day," during which you can eat and drink anything you wish.

"[Ferriss] believes this eases the mental stress that often comes along with dieting and that it may help to boost your metabolic rate, which can sometimes slow down with calorically restrictive diets like this one," says Zeitlin.

One of the principle rules of the diet is that you will eat the same things over and over. A variety of meals is not the goal or purpose.

The following are a few examples of meals you could enjoy that would fit the Slow-Carb Diet bill, provided by Zeitlin:

Slow-Carb breakfasts

Slow-Carb lunches

Slow-Carb dinners

Salmon with roasted broccoli

Stir-fry with all the allowed vegetables and soybeans

Grilled steak with cauliflower

The diet cuts out processed foods, sugary beverages, and other less-nutritious foods, and doing so can certainly yield weight-loss results. Allowing for a day of eating whatever you want may help some people feel less deprived, too. (However, the opposite can also be arguedsee the cons comin' up!)

The reviews about the Slow-Carb Diet online are mixed, but there are certainly lots of positive ones. "Even if you don't actually apply any of the techniques, this book will likely make you think about your overall health in a different way," one reviewer wrote on Amazon. "There is a wealth of information in this book, and it has helped me lose weight, gain strength, and run faster in the last 12 months."

The same reviewer went on to explain: "Like most of Ferriss' work, it could easily be misunderstood. Be clear that it isn't about shortcuts or 'hacks'it's about efficiently getting maximum benefit from the minimum inputbut that 'minimum input' still requires effort and dedication. You'll get out what you're prepared to put in." (That's only *one* person's opinion, of course, but valid points.)

There are very few pros to fad, restrictive diets like this one, according to Zeitlin. You can definitely lose weight, but she warns it may not be sustainable for everyone. As soon as you reintroduce the healthy food groups that have been removed, like whole grains and fruits, you will regain weight and likely gain back more weight than you originally lost, Zeitlin says.

Zeitlin also warns that you may feel guilty about falling off the plan, and you may end up going overboard on the restricted foods if you feel deprived while omitting simple carbs, alcohol, and more six days of the week. Additionally, the concept of a free or cheat day can create a messed-up relationship with food, reinforcing the notion that they are 'good' foods and 'bad' foods, when some of those 'bad' foods are vitamin-rich fruits and whole grains," she adds.

The choice is ultimately yours, and you know your body and personality best. Some people have an easier time losing weight by following structured guidelines and grocery lists, while others (like people with a history of disordered eating) may find that type of heavy guidance and rigidity harmful or even downright dangerous.

Zeitlin personally doesnt recommend trying an overly restrictive diet like the Slow-Carb Diet. "Diets that encourage cutting food groups out completely dont support your health-goals long-term and can leave you yo-yo-ing up and down with your weight," she says.

If you are trying to lose weight, Zeitlin recommends "concentrating on foods you should be adding in versus taking out," she says. This includes adding in more veggies, lean proteins, whole grains instead of white flour, and fruits. "Keep your grains and fruits to two servings each per day and dont forget to add in more water, along with sleep and physical activity," she says.

You Might Also Like

Original post:
The Slow-Carb Diet Is All About Eating Fiber-Rich Carbs, But It's Pretty Restrictive - Yahoo Lifestyle

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Emily Y. Chew, M.D.Director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical ApplicationsDeputy Clinical Director at the National Eye Institute (NEI),National Institutes of Health

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Dementia is a common disorder that was estimated to have a worldwide prevalence of 44 million in 2016 and is projected to hit 115 million by 2050. Many phase 3 trials of various therapies have failed and we have no treatment currently available for the prevention or reduction of the course of dementia. A slow neurocognitive decline throughout life is part of the normal process of aging. However, there is a subset of individuals who may have accelerated aging and is at high risk of development dementia. If the course of such accelerated decline could be altered in any way, it would be important to evaluate. The role of diet with biologic aging has been studied and diet has been also found to be associated with age-related conditions linked to dementia, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

We were interested in the cognitive function of our participants who had another neurodegenerative disease, age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We had conducted two randomized controlled clinical trials designed to evaluate the role of oral supplements for the treatment of AMD. We also studied cognitive function in both clinical trials of nearly 8,000 participants who were followed for 10 years. We also evaluated the dietary habits of the participants with food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) at baseline. Cognitive function testing was conducted in the first study, the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) near the end of the clinical trial while the AREDS2, the second study, evaluated cognitive function testing at baseline and every 2 years until year 6. AREDS study evaluated cognitive function with in-clinic study visits while AREDS2 was conducted using telephone interviews.

Our aim was to determine whether closer adherence to the alternative Mediterranean diet (aMED) was associated with impaired cognitive function these two studies. We were interested in the particular components of the Mediterranean diet that may be important. We also evaluated the interaction of genetics with the diet.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment. There was a dose response relationship in that the higher the adherence, the better the beneficial effect. The results were consistent between the two clinical trials of persons who did not have cognitive impairment at the baseline of the study but did have varying degrees of severity of AMD. The strength of this relationship of diet with cognitive function was fairly large with 40 to 50 % reduction.

Higher fish consumption was associated with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and slower cognitive decline. Fish may be the component that drives the effects of the Mediterranean diet on cognitive function to a certain extent. But in general, the Mediterranean diet with all its components may play a very important role in cognitive function.

MedicalResearch.com: What role did theApoE gene have on the results?

Response: Although APOE risk haplotypes were significantly associated with faster decline in cognitive impairment scores (p<0.0001) in general, APOE status did not influence the association of the Mediterranean diet with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and nor did it have an influence on the association of fish consumption with decreased risk of cognitive impairment and slower cognitive decline.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: It is important to consider possible modification with your diet. These are not the results of a randomized trial but the data are quite compelling. And other studies have supported this theory that you are what you eat. Eating fish twice a week has beneficial effects and having a Mediterranean diet has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of heart disease and impairment in cognition.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: This is a study of association so it would be important to have randomized controlled clinical trials to test the effect of a Mediterranean Diet on cognitive function. A randomized trial (PREDIMED) conducted in Spain with comparisons between Mediterranean diet vs. low fat diet found that participants randomized to a Mediterranean diet had higher cognitive function scores after 6.5 years than those randomized to a low-fat control diet. The NIH is also supporting the Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Study. This is a Phase III randomized controlled trial designed to test the effects of a 3-year intervention of a hybrid of the Mediterranean and DASH diets, called MIND, on cognitive decline among 600 individuals 65+ years without cognitive impairment who are overweight and have suboptimal diets, as described the clinicaltrials.gov. That would be the gold standard for establishing a potential treatment for cognitive impairment. This study is done in persons who are high risk of developing cognitive decline.

I have no financial disclosures or other relevant disclosures to report.

Citation:

We respect your privacy and will never share your details.

The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

0

See original here:
Effect of Mediterranean Diet on Cognitive Function in Patients with Age-Related Eye Disease - MedicalResearch.com

Life expectancy cannot be predicted with absolute certainty but informed predictions can be made based on your overall lifestyle. That's because the leading causes of death in the world are mostly attributed to unhealthy lifestyle habits. The most obvious being heart disease, which is directly caused by eating an unhealthy diet.

Committing to a healthy diet can therefore provide some guarantee of a long life.

There is no single miracle worker but evidence suggests certain ingredients provide numerous health benefits so it would be wise to include them in your diet.

One such superfood is sage, a staple herb used to spruce up various dishes.

Sage has shown promise in combating the mechanisms that may lead to serious health conditions, such as heart disease.

READ MORE:How to live longer: Limit one necessary, daily activity to increase your lifespan

The herb has been shown to lower LDL cholesterol, a fatty substance that is a precursor to heart disease.

In one study, consuming sage tea twice daily lowered bad LDL cholesterol and total blood cholesterol while raising good HDL cholesterol after just two weeks.

HDL cholesterol counters the negative effects of LDL cholesterol by transporting the harmful cholesterol to your liver where it is flushed out of your body.

The perennial herb has also been shown to lower blood sugar and increase insulin sensitivity, factors that underpin type 2 diabetes, another precursor to heart disease.

DON'T MISSScientists discover 'single biggest coronavirus risk factor'- and 3 out of 5 Brits have it[INSIGHT]Coronavirus: Two symptoms of COVID-19 you could mistake for another condition[INSIGHT]Coronavirus symptoms: Two new signs of the deadly virus you need to know[INSIGHT]

In one study, sage leaf extract lowered blood sugar and improved insulin sensitivity with comparable results to rosiglitazone, another anti-diabetes drug.

Another study in mice with type 2 diabetes found that sage tea acts like metformin a drug prescribed to manage blood sugar in people with the same disease.

What's more, it may boost memory and brain health, factors that may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, a degenerative brain condition.

In one study, 39 participants with mild to moderate Alzheimers disease consumed either 60 drops (2 ml) of a sage extract supplement or a placebo daily for four months.

Those taking the sage extract performed better on tests that measured memory, problem-solving, reasoning and other cognitive abilities

The benefits are partly attributed to the compounds found in sage, which can act as antioxidants.

Antioxidants are compounds that intercept unstable molecules called free radicals in the body.

Free radicals cause cell damage and are associated with the negative effects of ageing, such as brain decline.

In addition to packing your diet with healthy items, it is important to exercise regularly to ward off heart disease and other serious health conditions.

"Regular exercise will make your heart and blood circulatory system more efficient, lower your cholesterol level, and also keep your blood pressure at a healthy level," explains the NHS.

It also helps you to maintain a healthy weight, which is also essential for longevity.

Obesity is linked to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, warns the NHS.

Read the original here:
How to live longer: Sprinkle this 70p herb on your meals to increase your life expectancy - Express

SCOTS have been urged to give up smoking and cut down their alcohol consumption in a bid to reduce complications linked to conroavirus.

The countrys interim chief medical officer, Dr Gregor Smith, has called on people to cut their intake of alcohol and tobacco during the lockdown to reduce the likelihood of becoming more unwell if they contract Covid-19.

Dr Smith had called on the public to enjoy a balanced diet during the lockdown.

He said: Now more than ever, its important that we all take the steps possible to look after ourselves. Eating well, staying active are really important for both our physical health and our mental wellbeing.

Eating a balanced, healthy diet which includes a variety of different foodswill help ensure that you get all the essential nutrients and energy you need throughout the day. Foods an important part of our daily lives and something that many of us enjoy.

Dr Smith has he understood many found it tempting to turn to cigarettes or alcohol during times of stress, such as the lockdown.

He said: This is a stressful time for people. Sometimes, when we feel this way, we use substances like tobacco or alcohol more than we usually do.

READ MORE:Coronavirus in Scotland: SNP MSP says Covid-19 could have 'positive impact'

We know that both these habits can be harmful - particularly in relation to coronavirus.

Evidence suggests that smoking may contribute to the severity of Covid-19 disease. We know that people who smoke are much more likely to experience other respiratory infections such as flu.

READ MORE:Warning over 'backlog of surgeries' that could 'break' NHS as 72% cut in urgent cancer referrals revealed

Please, if you can, try to cut down or even stop your smoking. If you continue, please remember to wash your hands before and after so that theres less opportunity for the virus to spread.

He added: Alcohol can also reduce the immune systems ability to fight off infectious disease and also have an impact on your heart and your lungs.

Choosing to cut back on how much you drink may reduce some of the complicationslinked to coronavirus.

Read the original:
Coronavirus: Scots told to give up cigarettes and reduce alcohol from lockdown diet - HeraldScotland