Category Archives: Diet And Food

WTNH Connecticut News (press release)

Don't believe everything you read when it comes to fad diets WTNH Connecticut News (press release) In fact, some studies show gluten free diets in healthy people can lead to weight gain. And if you really want to protect your heart, skip the antioxidant supplements. No proof they work. A real, proven heart healthy diet adds extra virgin oil, berries ... The new heart rules: Cut down on eggs, forget antioxidant pills, and for God's sake STOP juicing: US surgeons ...Daily Mail all 11 news articles »

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Don't believe everything you read when it comes to fad diets - WTNH Connecticut News (press release)

When going through stressful times, it can be hard to get a good night's sleep. Now, researchers suggest that dietary prebiotics might be effective against stress-induced insomnia.

First study author Robert Thompson, of the Department of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, and colleagues recently reported their findings in the journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Current guidelines recommend that adults should aim to get between 7 and 9 hours sleep each night for optimal health and well-being. However, around 1 in 3 of us fail to meet these recommendations.

According to the American Psychological Association, stress is a key player in sleep loss. Approximately 47 percent of adults in the United States report a lack of sleep due to stress, and 21 percent report that poor sleep further exacerbates their stress.

Thompson and team note that previous studies have suggested that stress can alter gut bacteria in a way that interferes with the sleep-wake cycle. Until now, it was unclear whether prebiotics might help to improve sleep in the face of stress.

Prebiotics are nondigestible food components - found in chicory, artichokes, onions, leeks, and other vegetables - that fuel the growth of "good" gut bacteria. Research has indicated that when these good bacteria digest prebiotic fiber, they release byproducts that can affect brain function.

For their study, Thompson and colleagues put male rats on one of two diets for 4 weeks: a diet supplemented with prebiotics or a standard chow diet (the control diet).

On analyzing fecal samples from the rodents after 4 weeks, the team found that rats that were fed the prebiotic diet showed an increase in beneficial gut bacteria - including Lactobacillus rhamnosus, known to aid immune system function - compared with rats fed the control diet.

Using electroencephalography to measure the rats' sleep-wake cycles, the researchers found that rats fed the prebiotic diet also had more non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (the restorative sleep stage) compared with rodents fed the control diet.

"Given that sufficient NREM sleep and proper nutrition can impact brain development and function and that sleep problems are common in early life, it is possible that a diet rich in prebiotics started in early life could help improve sleep, support the gut microbiota and promote optimal brain/psychological health," note the authors.

When both groups of rats were exposed to acute stress (induced by tail shocks), the researchers found that the group fed the prebiotic diet had more rapid eye movement (REM) sleep than the group fed the control diet. The team notes that REM is the sleep stage associated with better recovery from stress.

Additionally, the researchers found that the rats fed the prebiotic diet were less likely to experience abnormalities in body temperature that can arise as a result of stress-induced alterations to gut bacteria.

While further studies are needed to better determine how prebiotics affect sleep quality, the researchers believe that their findings suggest that dietary prebiotics might offer benefits.

The team concludes:

"These data are the first to show that a diet rich in prebiotics can modulate the sleep-wake cycle both before and after stress and induce stress-protective effects in diurnal physiology and the gut microbiota.

Our results, however, cannot address how increases in Lactobacillus rhamnosus or other changes in microbial community structure contribute to the observed effects of a diet rich in prebiotics and more work is necessary to further elucidate the potential mechanisms. Nonetheless, our work is the first to demonstrate that consumption of a prebiotic diet can provide stress-protective effects on sleep-wake behavior."

Learn how chronic stress may increase the risk of obesity.

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Prebiotics could stop stress from harming sleep quality - Medical News Today

Its no secret that gluten-free, Paleo, vegan/vegetarian and plant-based lifestyle diets have been on a steady rise. Many of these lifestyle changes are motivated by specific health concerns, however more and more shoppers are browsing the shelves in hopes of improving their overall health through these lifestyle changes. With this, comes the question of whether this is simply a trend with room to grow and concerns of whether some of these diets are actually healthy for consumers who dont necessarily need them.

Why Are Alternative Diets Being Adopted Now Like Never Before? According to a report released by The Canadian Celiac Association and the Allergen Control group in January of 2017, one reason for the demand in gluten-free foods is due to 83 percent of Americans going undiagnosed. The report states that expected methods of accurate diagnosis will increase and, combined with increased awareness spurred by marketing and activist consumer groups, will create new avenues of growth in the market(1).

In addition to the American population increasingly getting diagnosed with celiac disease or similar food allergies, Lola ORourke, education supervisor of the Gluten Intolerance Group, Auburn, WA, believes since many foods which consumers commonly associate with gluten are often traditionally of relatively low nutritional quality (e.g. cookies, pizza, bread, donuts, etc.), many consumers who do not have a gluten-related disorder erroneously believe that going on a gluten-free diet will benefit their overall nutrition and health.

In the case of vegan and vegetarian diets, category growth is being spurred because of the environmental impact. It takes less water to make plant-based food and the carbon footprint is significantly lower, said Greg Blake and Andre Kroecher, founders of Daiya, Vancouver, BC, Canada. This is also a major factor in finding a more sustainable and cost-effective way of feeding the worlds population. Generally, as consumers become more conscious of how their food is made and where it comes from, they tend to make more conscientious, ethical and compassionate choices choosing plant-sourced food over animal-based products.

According to Jaqui Karr, CGP, CSN, CVD, weight loss was a driving factor for many without a food sensitivity when turning to a gluten-free lifestyle. However, once consumers figured out there were fattening and toxic foods in the gluten-free world, the misconception lead to a decline in growth, but eventually consumers looking for true results have caused the growth we see today.

Nutritional Benefits & Top Priorities Paleo. A Paleolithic diet, or Paleo, is an effort to eat a diet better suited for our ancestors, due to the strong presence of processed foods in the modern human diet which are incompatible with our bodies. While everyone experiences different results, the nutritional benefit that some consumers experience while on a Paleo diet is an increase in nutrient absorption and an improvement in gut health. Also called the caveman diet, the Paleo diet consists of high-protein, high fiber and low carbohydrates. Allowed foods consist of grass-fed meats, fish/seafood, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, eggs, nuts, seeds and oils such as olive and coconut.

However, because the diet seeks to emulate that of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, not farmers, wheat and dairy along with grains and legumes such as peanuts and beans should be avoided. In addition, refined sugars, potatoes, processed foods, any candy, salt and refined vegetable oils like canola oil are also not permitted on a Paleo diet. To help maintain a balance or fill nutritional gaps, Eileen Forte, president and CEO of Paleo Simplified, Clearwater, FL, suggests eating a colorful plate, avoiding white, processed foods and eating a balanced diet. In addition Taylor Collins, co-founder of Epic, Austin, TX, suggests a shoppers top priority should be focusing on quality meat, such as grass fed and pastured animals, not only due to the nourishment they provide when compared to conventional meat, but also due to the animals more appropriate diets.

Vegan & Vegetarian. Maintaining a vegetarian diet involves eating lots of fruits and vegetables, greens, nuts, seeds and legumes while avoiding meat, fish, poultry as well as dairy and eggs, unless an lacto-ovo vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian which allow for dairy and eggs or dairy, but not eggs, respectively. A vegan diet, in addition to being vegetarian, also involves not using animal products and by-products of any kind such as honey, eggs, fur, cosmetics, wool and more. Veganism is more deeply rooted in ideology, specifically the ethical treatment of animals. Both these camps may require that people acquire nutrients that would have been otherwise acquired from meat from plant-based sources. This is crucial for being a healthy vegan or vegetarian.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the more restrictive ones diet is, the more challenging it can be to get all the nutrients consumers may need. A vegan for example, eliminates natural food sources of vitamin B-12, as well as milk products, which are good sources of calcium (2). Although a multi-vitamin may help supplement any nutrients that are lacking, the main nutrimental benefits of a vegan and vegetarian diet are usually high in dietary fiber, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins C and D, iron and phytochemicals, and they tend to be lower in calories, saturated fat and cholesterol, long-chain n3 (omega-3) fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, zinc, and vitamin B-12 (3). Protein is important to maintaining health, so those switching to a vegan/vegetarian diet should make sure they get adequate protein from plant-based sources, said Brad Lahrman, director of marketing of Lightlife Foods, Turnee Falls, MA. Also, vitamin B12 is most commonly found in animal proteins so make sure to supplement this vitamin into ones diet.

Plant-Based. A plant-based diet includes eating whole, unprocessed, whole plant foods such as beans, fruits, lentils, nuts, seeds, vegetables and whole grains. Unlike a vegan diet, a plant-based diet does not include processed foods, which include oil, white flour and refined sugar, and for some consumers may also exclude or minimize the consumption of animal products such as dairy, eggs and meats (including fish and poultry). Someone who follows a plant-based diet may or may not be vegan and a vegan may or may not follow a plant-based diet. Nutritional benefits that are commonly associated with a plant-based diet include a lower rate of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity (4).

To ensure there is a balance and/or nutritional gaps are filled, Blake and Kroecher suggest adding plant-based staples that are rich in vitamins and minerals like protein and nutrient-dense nuts, seeds and whole grains [that] provide protein, fiber and essential fatty acids. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables [that] provide antioxidants, enzymes, fiber and healthy and sustaining carbohydrates. Pulses, such as peas and legumes, are also great for boosting protein. When choosing a plant-based diet, Lahrman says, Variety is the key, as well as incorporating easy changes into recipes that someone currently enjoys by swapping in a plant-based option. Blake and Kroecher believe the three top priorities should always be taste, texture and ingredients/nutrition. Being healthier shouldnt mean you have to sacrifice great-tasting food. For us, plant-forward eating isnt about limiting your options, but a means of expanding ones view of food.

Gluten-Free. Primarily implemented to avoid the symptoms of celiac disease, a gluten-free diet excludes the protein gluten that causes inflammation of the skin, small intestines, and respiratory symptoms. Gluten is found in grains such as barley, rye, wheat and a cross of rye and wheat called triticale. For those without a food sensitivity, the main concept behind adopting a gluten-free lifestyle is to help boost energy, and to help alleviate headaches, depression, ADHD, brain fog, IBS and so much more can disappear within weeks, said Karr.

Karr also points out that it is important to note that going gluten-free is not a miracle instant fix for everyone and to work with a qualified health care professional with specific training with gluten damage. As for the top priorities that should be considered when going gluten-free, ORourke suggests looking for certified gluten-free labels by companies such as the Gluten-Free Certification Organization to ensure shoppers are picking out products that are legitimate. Karr suggests avoiding empty calories, whether theyre gluten-free or not and to also understand and compare nutrient density.

Will Growth Continue? Over the past 2 years, the plant-based foods industry has seen an 8.7% growth, but there is still much work to be done in terms of educating consumers on the benefits of plant-based foods, said Blake and Kroecher. As a founding member of the Plant-Based Association, we are now able to advocate for better policies to meet the growing demand for plant-based foods. Over the coming years, we intend to increase visibility for plant-based foods and boost social acceptance while eliminating policies and practices that place plant-based alternatives to meats, milks, eggs, and butters at an economic disadvantage. Lahrman also believes launching new lines of frozen items for time-crunched consumers and updating formulations such as plant-based faux-chicken products to remove egg whites to make them 100% animal free will allow shoppers who are following a full or part-time plant-based diet able to enjoy the products better.

According to ORourke, there is still much work to do. Many consumers still feel that gluten-free is a fad and do not realize that millions of people who have celiac disease or a non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) require this diet for their personal health. In addition, ORourke believes there will be a strong area of growth in the food service industry, but first, there needs to be an understanding of safe processes and the dangers of cross-contamination by our restaurants and food establishments. Programs such as the Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) Certification are helping to lead the way in this area. Kerr also believes a ton of work needs to be done, but more in helping consumers become aware of their options. Pricing is still a factor, which is why demand for organic is not that high. The consumer is thinking as long as I avoid the worst of it GMO then I should be okI think that demand for organic will rise as consumers learn what non-organic food is doing to their bodies. Product formulations will be evolving faster in the next few years than weve seen in the past.

Like a gluten-free lifestyle diet, Collins believes the Paleo diet has the potential to be mainstream. The Paleo diet is for everyone, not just shoppers in the natural grocery segment. I believe that Paleo productshave made a lasting impact in the natural foods world and are here to stay, Collins explains. However, there is very littleavailability in conventional channels. This makes sense because all major food revolutions begin in thenatural space. One particular new formulation that could help is the reformulation of products. We recently reformulated all of our wild salmon products to incorporate the addition of coconut oil, he says. Wedecided to make this change in order to increase the levels of healthy fats within the product. Consumers arebeginning to seek our products rich in high quality fats as a source of energy as well as an establishednourishing macronutrient.

Like Collins, Forte has also made changes in formulations, which could entice consumers with ethical concerns. For me, it was the removal of egg white protein and adding in hemp protein, she explains. I could not verify what the chickens were eating so, even though they were farm raised, I opted to discontinue it.

Ten years from now, Jennifer Hryciw, customer service manager at Field Roast, Seattle, WA, believes all shoppers will be incorporating more vegan food into their daily lives. Vegan food is a growth leader in the food industry, she says. We are all becoming aware of the impact we can make by shifting our choices regarding what we eat. It makes a difference. One meal a week or a purely vegan diet, it all moves the needle. People are finally starting to see that they dont have to go all in with a vegan diet, although all the benefits are amplified when you do.

References 1. Canadian Celiac Association, Demand for gluten-free foods expected to substantially increase as awareness and diagnosis of celiac disease continue to rise. http://gfstakeholdersession.com/asset/ALLERGEN_STAKEHOLDER_SESSIONS_REPORT_.pdf, Accessed, February 1, 2017. 2. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, Nutrition and healthy eating, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/vegetarian-diet/art-20046446?pg=2, Accessed February 3, 2017. 3. Winston J Craig. Health Effects of Vegan Diets. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. (2009) http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/89/5/1627S.full, Accessed February 3, 2017. 4. Tuso, P. J., Ismail, M. H., Ha, B. P., & Bartolotto, C. (2013). Nutritional Update for Physicians: Plant-Based Diets.The Permanente Journal,17(2), 6166. http://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/12-085, Accessed February 3, 2017.

Published in WholeFoods Magazine March 2017

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More Than a Diet, It's a Lifestyle - WholeFoods Magazine

Robert Avsec Sponsored by Globe

In the 13 years since the 16 Life Safety Initiatives were first developed at the Tampa Summit, sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, we have seen much emphasis on firefighter personal safety. Consequently, weve also seen the number of fireground line-of-duty deaths and injuries decline.

And while that is certainly a positive trend, its a case of, the more you know, the more you dont know. Fire service leaders have come to realize the term safety only reflects one piece of a much larger puzzle: firefighter health and wellness.

So, what else do we need to emphasize to complete the puzzle?

We now know the inconvenient truth: more firefighters are dying from non-fireground causes such as heart attacks, strokes and vehicle crashes. Enter the term survivability.

Close examination of those 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives reveals that survivability is interwoven throughout each of them. During the Tampa 2 Summit in March 2014, where participants refined and ratified those 16 initiatives, important discussions took place about improving survivability in the fire service.

What is survivability? In the military, survivability is defined as the ability to remain mission capable after a single engagement. Engineers working in survivability are often responsible for improving four main system elements.

Isnt survivability what its all about in the fire service? Just a few examples of how we can increase our survivability include safe and effective training, responding to and returning from emergencies safely, eating a healthy and balanced diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight, wearing and maintaining personal protective equipment, and understanding that repeated exposure to toxins can lead to chronic and terminal illnesses like cancer.

Those same four elements that guide our military personnel in understanding survivability are equally applicable for us in the fire service. Lets consider what that can look like.

The goal of the soldier is to avoid detection so that they gain the advantage on their enemy. So how do we as firefighters gain the advantage on our enemies like fires, motor vehicle crashes, heart disease and cancer?

We can do it through size-up, information collection and analysis and risk assessment on every emergency incident. We can do it by using data on firefighter LODDs and LODIs to refine and focus our training and operations. And, we can do it through annual physical assessments that align with the requirements of NFPA 1500.

This pertains to the inability to avoid taking a hit from say a flashover, backdraft or structural collapse. But how about those non-fireground hits like heart attacks, strokes, exposure to infectious diseases or carcinogens?

Or, as were becoming increasingly more aware of, how can we avoid the adverse psychological impact on firefighters from single high-stress events or the accumulation of mentally stressful episodes?

This is comparable to the inability to withstand the hit because a firefighter was not following standard operating guidelines or the emergency incident was not being properly managed using the incident command system.

Other examples include the firefighter who was not seated and belted during response or who develops a cancer from repeated exposures during overhaul because he didnt use his SCBA.

Yet another example is firefighters whose hearts cant meet the increased demands of firefighting because they are obese and in poor physical condition.

When one of those hits occurs to a firefighter, what mechanisms are in place for medical care and rehabilitation for both physical and mental traumas? What are the workers compensation policies and procedures?

What are the departments policies and procedures for determining firefighter fitness for duty following treatment? If the firefighter cant return to full-time status, are there other employment options within the department or local government, policies and procedures for involuntary separation from the department or career counseling to assist the firefighter in obtaining new employment?

Fire service leaders agree that weve reached the time when its appropriate to move beyond solely emphasizing safety in the fire service. If were to continue making progress in reducing LODDs and LODIs from all causes, we must adopt the concept of survivability.

We must incorporate it into our fire service vocabulary, and embrace this concept in our understanding of our fire service culture.

Survivability means taking control. And theres nobody better than the company officer to take responsibility for increasing survivability for their crew.

Here are seven early actions to take.

Survivability means taking care of each other. And that begins with you, the company officer.

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Firefighter safety is about survivability - Fire Chief

February 27, 2017 11:58 PM By Greg Argos

DENVER (CBS) Bend over, heads down. Jump, jump. Jump!

Its the last thing youd ever want to hear while flying, but in flight emergencies happen.

Since 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration recorded more than five dozen unplanned evacuations.

We yell and scream to the best of our ability to leave everything and get out of the aircraft, saidStefanie Coppedge, in-flight training manager withFrontier Airlines.

What you do the moment you board a flight could make the difference between life and death, if youre ever forced to get off and get off quickly.

Frontier Airlines allowed CBS 3 unprecedented access to their 21-day flight attendant training facility in Denver.

And though passenger comfort is important, Coppedge says most of the three-week program focuses on passenger safety.

The public has the conception that its Coke or diet Coke, Coppedge says. Well, were first aid responders. We have to know CPR. We have to be able to know every part of the aircraft because if something happens to the wing, in the cockpit, they dont have that visual, right? They cant look to see whats going on in the wing.

And perhaps most importantly, flight instructors have to know how to get passengers off planes.

In flight instructor Michelle Knudson says the FAA requires airlines to evacuate all passengers in just a minute and a half.

And accomplishing that means using emergency evacuation slides.

If a passenger went into negative panic, wed give them a little gentle push to start that jump process,Coppedge says.

Though Frontier also uses training simulators and mock ups of partial plane cabin, a real emergency is often much more chaotic.

We want to shout positive commands to tell them what to do cause we dont know how our passengers are going to react in an emergency, said Knudson. So telling them what to do will help guide them to get out safely.

In a commercial airliner crash, experts say there is often the threat of fire, so flight attendants are also trained as firefighters.

Fire is a huge threat on board the aircraft in flight, says Knudson. You know we cant just leave, run. So we need to fight that fire immediately, get to the source of it and there is a limited amount of time.

Thats why its so important to listen to instructions and leave everything behind.

Last October, an American Airlines plane caught fire in Chicago.

Video taken by passengers on board show the evacuation was slowed by some taking their personal items, or simply not knowing what to do. Everyone escaped, but one crew member and seven passengers were injured.

Leave everything, meaning your personal items, they can be replaced but you, yourself might not, Knudson said. And I think some passengers dont realize that can be a big effect on whether you get out of that aircraft safely or not.

Statistically flying is the safest form of travel but if youre ever forced to get off at an unexpected stop, take ten seconds to read the Safety Information Card (SIC).

You just never know. The majority of evacuations occur unplanned, so you just need to be prepared in the event something does happen, said Knudson. Statistically, they have shown that passengers who look at the SIC have a better success rate in an evacuation of getting out safely.

And please, dont take anything with you down the slide.

I think the one tip is to go straight to that exit and evacuate leave everything behind, saidKnudson.

Greg Argos joined CBS 3s Eyewitness News team as a general assignment reporter in August, 2015. A New Jersey native who grew up in Dover, Delaware, Argos came to CBS 3 from KPHO-TV in Phoenix where he had been a reporter and back up anchor s...

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CBS 3 Gets Rare Access Into Life-Saving 21-Day Flight Attendant Training Program - CBS Philly

Only current Planning Board member Patrick Gannon said he supports the proposal to narrow a portion of Fruitville Road downtown and add roundabouts to three of its intersections.

SARASOTA Most of the candidates running for the Sarasota City Commission do not support a "road diet" plan that would narrow Fruitville Road and add three roundabouts to its intersections downtown.

The proposal will be submitted to the commission for review in April and has been the subject of several contentious public hearings over the past year, including one that erupted into shouting and cursing last week.

Of the eight candidates running for the two at-large commission seats next month, nearly all said they disagree with the plan at a forum Monday night hosted by STOP!, the ad-hoc group of neighborhood leaders advocating for changes to city development and improved pedestrian safety.

The so-called diet would eliminate two of Fruitville Road's four lanes from Lemon Avenue to Cocoanut Avenue, adding roundabouts at each of those intersections and at Central Avenue. City planners argue the idea would vastly improve the streetscape and pedestrian safety without worsening, and potentially marginally alleviating, traffic congestion there.

One by one, though, the candidates cited repeated concerns about traffic, commuters and the road's availability as an evacuation route in the event of a storm as pitfalls of the plan.

Only current Planning Board member Patrick Gannon, who lives on the bayfront and leads the Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association, spoke in support of the proposal as a way to safely and attractively bridge downtown and the booming Rosemary District.

"Do you want your commission making decisions based on fear or facts?" Gannon said. "If you come to the workshops or actually read the studies, some were actually done to include worst-case (traffic) figures.

"If you leave it alone its only going to get worse," he continued. "This is not for developers development is already underway. There are 12 projects being developed in the (Rosemary) district. Those are the facts were grappling with."

Incumbent Commissioner Susan Chapman argued instead the proposal highlights the limits of the Andres Duany-inspired downtown master plan. Fruitville is a major traffic artery and evacuation route that is not part of a larger, more elaborate traffic network, she said.

"One assumption about a road diet is you have a transportation grid, so there are alternatives to use in the event this road is on a diet," Chapman said. "There are no alternatives, thats the problem."

Businessman and frequent Chapman opponent Martin Hyde even agreed with her, noting as much to laughs in the audience several times throughout the night, and simply concluded: "Are you serious?"

"The ship has sailed, cmon," Hyde said. "This argument about traffic is fallacious. The reality about is traffic is ... these people are coming from elsewhere to here. No matter what you do here, unless you nuke them on the way here, theres nothing you can do."

STOP! co-founder Jennifer Ahearn-Koch, former Mayor Fredd Atkins, attorney Hagen Brody and St. Armands businessman Mikael Sandstrom all essentially echoed those same comments. Longtime city critic Matt Sperling, the eighth candidate in the race, was not present and has chided the STOP! group at previous forums.

The rest of the forum focused largely on development issues central to the STOP! campaign to reign in an existing administrative review process that can allow downtown projects to be approved without public hearings.

The candidates have discussed the issue at length before and split evenly on whether formal public hearings should be needed for major projects or whether the concerns STOP! has highlighted should be addressed in the zoning code.

Ahearn-Koch, Atkins, Chapman and Sandstrom all argue for formal hearings before the Planning Board and/or City Commission. Brody, Gannon, Hyde and Sperling have all argued against, with the former two specifically arguing the zoning code is the key.

"Changing the process does not address the substantive problem," Brody said. "We can talk about it 'til were blue in the face, but you have to address it in the zoning code. Thats the only way youre going to change the way buildings are built."

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Only one candidate endorses Fruitville 'road diet' plan - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Diabetes Study: Fasting Restores Pancreas Function

A study recently published in the journal Cell revealed a potential breakthrough in diabetes treatment. According to researchers, a type of fasting diet may help trigger the pancreas to regenerate. People with diabetes should not modify their diet or treatment without talking to their health care providers.

In animal studies, subjects were given a fast-mimicking dietlow-calorie, low-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that is high in unsaturated-fat diet, similar to a vegan diet with soups and nutsfor five days, followed by 25 days of unlimited eating, mimicking periods of famine and feast. The research showed this type of diet helped regenerate special cells in the pancreas called beta cells.

Normally, beta cells detect blood sugar levels and release the hormone insulin if glucose levels get too high. In type 1 and type 2 diabetes, however, these cells do not function properly. More research is needed to determine if this type of diet can be used to effectively and safely treat diabetes.

Image Credit: Thinkstock

Sourced from: BBC

A recent study showed a connection between high blood glucose levelshyperglycemiaand Alzheimers disease risk. Researchers in Australia discovered a molecular link between glucose and Alzheimersspecifically that high blood sugar can damage an important enzyme involved in brain inflammation in the early stages of Alzheimers disease.

Hyperglycemia is characteristic of both diabetes and obesity. Earlier research proved that people with diabetes are at increased risk for Alzheimers diseasea condition in which abnormal proteins accumulate in the brain and form plaques and tanglesand that blood glucose and its byproducts damage cell proteins through a process known as glycation.

In this recent study, scientists determined that glycation damages macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) enzymes in early Alzheimers. According to researchers, we now have yet another reason to limit the amount of sugar in our diets.

Image Credit: Thinkstock

Sourced from: FOX News

Living in an area with plenty of trees, bushes, and birdswhether in a rural, suburban, or urban neighborhoodcan be good for your mental health and well-being, according to a recent study. Researchers in Great Britain found that people who can watch birds from their homes have a lower risk for depression, stress, and anxiety than those who live in areas with limited bird activity. The study also showed that people report higher levels of depression and anxiety when they have to spend more time than usual indoors over a given period of time.

Specifically, researchers determined that the more birds people could watch during the afternoon hours, the less stressed they were likely to be. The study, which included many types of birdsincluding robins, crows, and othersand didnt show a correlation between bird species and mental health.

The benefits of bird watching were consistenteven when the researchers controlled for other factors like household income, age, and other socio-demographic factors. In general, watching birds was shown to help people relax and feel more connected to nature.

Image Credit: Thinkstock

Sourced from: ScienceDaily

Daily Dose Index

Originally posted here:
Diabetes Study: Fasting Restores Pancreas Function - HealthCentral.com

Every year Americans adopt new diet trends, from the juicing craze to gluten-free diets, and each new fad promises health benefits such as weight loss and higher energy.

But, as specific diets become more popular, doctors wanted to assess whether they would help the one part of the body that carries the most risk for both men and women in the U.S.: the heart.

In order to get a better sense of which diets were the most heart healthy, researchers examined more than 25 peer-reviewed studies and published their findings today in a new report in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

"There is sort of mass confusion about what foods are healthy or not healthy," lead study author Dr. Andrew Freeman, Director of Cardiovascular Prevention and Wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado, told ABC News.

"When you take the time to weigh through the data and the evidence it becomes clear," he continued. "Human beings havent changed all that much in the last many, many years."

Researchers from 12 institutions, including George Washington University School of Medicine and National Jewish Health, analyzed the studies - which together included tens of thousands of participants - in order to determine what types of foods appear, given currently available research, to help the heart.

After an in-depth review of the scientific data, researchers found the most heart-healthy diet includes foods like extra-virgin olive oil, antioxidant-rich berries, green leafy vegetables, plant-based proteins, nuts in moderation and can include lean meats. To cut down on cholesterol, the study authors suggest limiting or eliminating coconut and palm oils, which are high in saturated fatty acids, and eggs, which raise the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream.

"Dietary requirements havent really changed," Freeman continued. "The diet that is most cardioprotective is mostly plant based ... predominantly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and limited amounts of animal products if any."

However, Dr. Keith Ayoob, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who was not involved in the studies, says that diet issues are rarely so black and white and that doctors need to approach each patients diet in a more holistic manner.

"When youre talking about dietary cholesterol, sometimes I get more concerned with the companion foods. What kind of company are those eggs keeping?" Ayoob said. "Do you eat them plain boiled, fried in butter, cooked with olive oil?"

Simply relying on advice like eating in moderation is too vague, Ayoob added, and can mean different things for different people. He said patients should be given more guidance about exactly how to eat healthy.

"I think the idea of moderation is more of a mantra," Ayoob said. "But I think we would do well to define it a little bit better."

In addition to looking at the benefits of specific foods, researchers looked for evidence that recent popular diets to limit gluten or consume vegetables and fruits via juicing were heart healthy. Researchers found that the process of juicing fruits and vegetables with pulp removal actually concentrates the sugars more, making it easier to ingest more calories than needed. Adding sweeteners such as sugar or honey also increase caloric content of juices. The researchers found that the data regarding juicing where the pulp is retained is inconclusive for determining whether it provides harm or benefit for heart health.

"There are things that youre going to have in the whole fruit that you cant get into the juice," said Ayoob. "Also the other side is to remember that your gut is a great juicer, it just works more slowly. Let your teeth and digestive tract do what its supposed to do. And the fiber in fruits and vegetables is critical to a healthy diet."

Another trendy diet that was evaluated is a gluten-free diet, which has been proven to be a good treatment for patients who have gluten-related disorders such as celiac disease, wheat allergy, and nonceliac gluten sensitivity.

But only about 1 in 141 Americans have celiac disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, according to a Gallup poll in 2015, one in five Americans actively tries to avoid gluten in their diets. Researchers say there is no evidence that a gluten-free diet helps with weight loss in healthy individuals and some studies even show weight gain on a gluten-free diet. Gaining weight to the point of obesity is significantly associated with increased risk of heart disease.

"Our message here is if you are gluten sensitive, allergic, or have celiac disease, you should avoid gluten," says Freeman. "Otherwise gluten is not necessarily the enemy."

The studies reviewed in the analysis published today have a few limitations: Some of the foods and trends have not been studied over as long a time as others, there can be a "complex interplay" between nutrients in individuals and the lifestyle habits of the people included may have had some effect on their heart health.

For those searching for a heart-healthy diet, Freeman has some simple advice.

"If people want to eat animal products they should limit it as much as theyre willing, especially if they have risk factors for heart disease," he said. "For my patients I try to get them to go as low as theyre willing."

Ayoob agrees with increasing fruit and vegetable intake in the general population, but cautions against telling people to strictly eliminate certain foods from their diets. "Because a diet, no matter how nutritious," he says, "is only nutritious if people stay on it."

Dr. Joyce Park is a New York-based dermatologist at NYU Langone Medical Center and resident in the ABC News Medical Unit.

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