Category Archives: Diet And Food

This November, we celebrate 100 years since the discovery of insulin, the hormone that provides the key to understanding and treating diabetes. In this Special Feature and podcast, we look at how far insulin research has come, and we consider what its future may hold.

Insulin is the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels, keeping them at healthy concentrations. The pancreas is the organ that produces this hormone, which is normally released in quantities dependent on the levels of blood sugar present in the system at any one time.

People whose bodies are unable to regulate blood sugar levels have diabetes mellitus, which can be of two types, depending on why this regulation does not occur.

In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin, while in type 2 diabetes, it does not respond to the insulin produced and released by the pancreas.

Around the world, hundreds of millions of people live with a form of this chronic condition, and insulin treatments are key to its management, particularly to the extent that type 1 diabetes is concerned.

People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin, as their bodies do not produce it. Individuals with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels typically through special medication and dietary and lifestyle interventions.

However, some may also require insulin treatment if the cells that produce insulin called pancreatic beta cells deteriorate in time and stop producing sufficient insulin.

In this Special Feature and associated In Conversation podcast, we offer an overview of the importance of insulin, its history, and what future research likely holds for insulin therapy and the management of diabetes.

To find out more about the impact of type 1 diabetes and the challenges of using insulin, we spoke to Virginie, a woman who received a diagnosis for this condition in her 30s.

For insights into current insulin research and potential future developments, we interviewed Dr. Thomas Barber, honorary consultant endocrinologist and assistant professor at the Warwick Medical School in the United Kingdom.

Diabetes was known as a collection of symptoms over 3,500 years ago, as a papyrus dating from 1550 before the common era (BCE) was already describing a condition consistent with the symptoms of diabetes.

Even though physicians have encountered and treated diabetes throughout history, researchers only discovered the reason behind it around 100 years ago: insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

In 1889, Joseph von Mering and Oskar Minkowski, two researchers at the University of Strasbourg in France, removed the pancreases of dogs and found that the animals would then go on to develop diabetes.

As we now know, the pancreas is the organ that produces insulin. However, von Mering and Minkowski were not able to establish this connection at the time.

It was a little over 30 years later, in 1921, that Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best working in the laboratory of John Macleod from the University of Toronto in Canada extracted insulin from the hormone-producing cells found in the pancreases of healthy dogs.

They then injected dogs with diabetes with this extract and thereby made the discovery that changed the face of type 1 diabetes treatment forever.

In 1922, Banting and Best treated a young boy with type 1 diabetes by injecting him with insulin. This saved his life at the time, type 1 diabetes became a terminal illness more often than not and cemented the importance of the researchers discovery.

Banting and Macleod won the Nobel prize in medicine for the discovery of insulin in 1923.

In 1946, researchers discovered intermediate-acting insulin, also known as Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, which persists in the body for 1424 hours, which means that people who take it require fewer injections. This is still one of the most widely used types of insulin to this day.

At present, however, NPH insulin is no longer extracted from animal sources. Instead, researchers synthesize artificial human NPH insulin in the lab.

At present, there are several different types of therapeutic insulin, and people may have taken one or several of these, depending on their individual needs.

These types are:

Depending on their needs and what is accessible to them, people may receive therapeutic insulin through:

While the subcutaneous delivery of insulin may make it harder for some people to adhere to the correct treatment regimen, other delivery methods have so far proved unsuccessful.

For example, in the 1990s, some companies have also developed and attempted to commercialize insulin inhalers, which would deliver the hormone in aerosolized form.

However, these never took off, most likely because they are less effective than delivering insulin subcutaneously, as some of the insulin gets lost in the process.

So what does the future hold for insulin research and therapy? In some ways, we could say, the future is now, as people are already using smartphone technology to assist them in adhering to their treatments and determining how much insulin they need to use.

Today, individuals use mHealth technology referring to the practice of healthcare supported by mobile smart devices to help them monitor their blood sugar levels, so they know how much insulin to take. Glucose monitors are currently available these are small sensors placed under the skin that pick up on variations in blood sugar levels.

These connect to a smart device and allow the person to read their blood sugar levels at any time and share them with a doctor in real-time.

Some fully automated insulin delivery systems are also available. These are called closed-loop insulin systems, also known as artificial pancreases. They work by transmitting real-time blood sugar level data to a smart device that then communicates with a persons insulin pump, regulating how much insulin enters the system at any one time.

However, some challenges remain that future developments need to address. These include insufficiently accurate glucose monitoring devices, as well as concerns regarding user data collection. Current closed-loop systems also rely on user control, while researchers are yet to develop fully independently running artificial pancreases.

Dr. Barber noted that independently functioning artificial pancreases are akin to the Holy Grail of diabetes therapy.

There is some fascinating research to suggest that [the independent artificial pancreas] can be done, Dr. Barber told us.

Its been shown that can actually reduce hypoglycemic rates by having that kind of technology in place. But were some way away from actually being able to have an artificial pancreas, which doesnt rely on the patient at all. And really, [] I think it will come, but were not quite there yet.

Dr. Thomas Barber

Another pathway for future research is gene therapy that would trigger the expression of insulin-producing cells, thereby tackling the cause of type 1 diabetes at the root. The research so far, while it has garnered some interest, has been in animal models, and scientists are yet to take this to the next step: clinical trials in humans.

Finally, scientists are also looking at ways of developing better insulin, and several areas of investigation appear to hold promise.

One option is developing glucose-responsive or smart insulin. One of the main challenges in treating type 1 diabetes and severe type 2 diabetes remains administering insulin doses that accurately match blood sugar levels.

If blood sugar levels become or remain too high, a person can experience hyperglycemia. This, in turn, can lead to various complications in the long term, such as eye problems or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Yet if a person takes too much insulin, they can develop hypoglycemia, where their blood sugar levels are too low. Its symptoms can include heart palpitations, dizziness, and blurred vision. It can also lead to further complications, such as seizures and loss of consciousness.

Smart insulin would help address the risk of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia by responding to changes in a persons blood sugar levels in a way that would mimic healthy insulin function.

Eliminating or attenuating insulin fibrillation and aggregation a process that renders insulin manufacturing more difficult would make it easier to produce and store insulin.

Another area of development looks at ultrarapid insulin, which starts acting sooner after delivery. It helps improve the management of fast changes in blood sugar from before to after a meal a process known as postprandial glucose excursions.

Another issue that needs addressing in the near future is the lack of accurate and consistent information regarding both insulin therapy and the unexpected factors that can influence a persons blood sugar levels, besides diet.

Virginie, for instance, wondered how much researchers and clinicians know about the relationship between anxiety and blood sugar levels and how this might affect people with diabetes who require insulin therapy.

In answer to her question, Dr. Barber explained that glucose control is far more complex than simply what [a persons] levels of insulin are, and indeed how much insulin you inject.

Theres actually 101 things [that] can influence blood sugar levels. And in fact, one of those is mental and emotional status at the time. And if youre worried, or stressed, or anxious, that in itself can actually push your blood sugar levels up, because its associated with the release of the stress hormone cortisol and also the sympathetic response as well, which is the fight or flight adrenaline release, both of which act to raise your blood sugar levels.

Dr. Thomas Barber

This is one of the many reasons why it is so important for doctors to listen closely to the experiences of people living with diabetes.

[W]hen Im seeing patients in clinic, Im acutely aware of the fact that they have far more insight into their own diabetes than I do, Dr. Barber noted. Theyve been living with this [condition] day after day, hour after hour, week, months, years, sometimes even decades. And I think its really important that as healthcare professionals, were aware of this and we respect that.

Virginie further noted that anxiety regarding insulin treatments can also affect those living with diabetes in another way. Often, those around her are anxious about how the condition affects her and whether she has been able to take the correct insulin dose at the correct time.

Diabetes can also take a heavy toll on the friends and families of those with this condition, she pointed out.

Dr. Barber acknowledged the real human impact of a diabetes diagnosis and the serious lifestyle adjustments that come with having to undergo insulin therapy.

One of these is the necessity of self-injecting insulin, which, he said, causes anxiety in many patients. And understandably, because of all of these factors, theres often quite a lot of resistance to the idea of going on to [insulin] therapy, he admitted.

The solution? Empathetic sensitive, and mental health-aware care, according to Dr. Barber:

There is a relative lack of proper psychology and talking-based therapies for patients with diabetes, and one almost feels as if theres a need for these patients not just to have the standard education on diabetes, but to have the focused psychological support, which is really a separate thing from education. I think they should have, obviously, the two together, but the psychological support is often lacking. And I think that really is an unmet need. And I think its something we could certainly do a lot more on in the future.

Perhaps the greatest challenge going forward, however, is ensuring equitable access to appropriate care and education for the management of diabetes.

While this condition is common worldwide, it does not affect everyone in the same way, and not everyone has timely access to diagnosis and care.

Black, Hispanic, and American Indian individuals have a higher likelihood of developing diabetes compared with people of other races and ethnicities.

Yet, people from these groups face the highest rate of disparities in access to appropriate healthcare, often due to systemic racism and socioeconomic factors.

To this day, Dr. Barber told us, lack of access to insulin remains the number one cause of death among children with type 1 diabetes worldwide:

Did you know that globally, the most common cause of death for a child living with type 1 diabetes is actually [the] lack of access to insulin? Thats an incredible fact. Its a tragic fact. And its actually quite shameful that after 100 years of having insulin, [which the World Health Organization (WHO) classes] as an essential medication, that children around the world with type 1 diabetes are dying because they dont have access to this therapy. Something needs to be done.

However, solving the issue of inequitable access to insulin therapy, glucose monitoring systems, and even basic education about diabetes is going to be no mean feat, according to Dr. Barber.

[I]ts a hugely complex issue, he pointed out. Its not just the case of providing insulin, [] there [are the] huge complexities of [] infrastructure, data collection, [taking] cultural differences [into account] and so on.

Some initiatives do exist to address these disparities. One example is the 100 Campaign, which is aiming to improve the situation for patients around the world to have access to insulin, Dr. Barber told us. However, we are still a long way away from solving this problem.

Virginie emphatically expressed a hope that going forward, healthcare decision-makers will work to improve access to care, health education, and diagnosis for people living with diabetes.

I think its very important that [] we make sure we provide the access for all [] not just [] to insulin, but access to the diagnosis, and to actually think about our own assumptions [about diabetes], she told us.

Certainly, I didnt know that thrush could be a symptom of diabetes. I also had a foot drop, which I didnt know could be a symptom. I was thirsty all the time. [Before my diagnosis,] I was drinking more than 6 liters [of liquid] per day and only stopping because I knew 6 liters thats a lot. [] So my hope is that [] any sort of worry and concern is taken seriously. [] It has taken a while for me to get the diagnosis, and were only talking months. So Im thinking about people who have to wait for years for [a] diagnosis. And I think its really important that [] we consider that as well.

Virginie

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How insulin has changed diabetes care, 100 years on - Medical News Today

What can you add to a wide variety of foods, from cereals to salads, thats crunchy, filling, and flavorful and good for your heart? The answer is nuts. While all varieties of nuts are chock full of important nutrients, walnuts may be especially good for protecting cardiovascular health, according to a recent study in the journal Circulation that supports earlier research in this realm.

The Walnuts and Healthy Aging study is a randomized controlled trial supported by a grant from the California Walnut Commission that tracked healthy older adults living in two communities. For the study, researchers recruited 708 adults ages 63 to 79 living in Loma Linda, California, or Barcelona, Spain, and split them into two groups. One group added a half-cup of walnuts to their daily diet for two years, while the other group ate no walnuts.

After two years, average levels of harmful low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were modestly lower in the walnut group. Of note: nearly a third of the participants were taking cholesterol-lowering statins, so the average cholesterol levels of both groups were already in a normal range. The researchers speculate that the cholesterol-lowering benefits from walnuts might be more pronounced in people with elevated cholesterol levels. There is no way to know from the current data if this is true.

"This recent trial confirms what earlier studies have found, namely, that that adding walnuts to your diet appears to improve your cholesterol levels," says Dr. Deirdre Tobias, an obesity and nutritional epidemiologist at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital. The new trial also lasted much longer than past walnut studies. However, its not clear what foods were being replaced by the walnuts in the participants diets, which might affect the magnitude of benefits the researchers saw. For example, replacing unhealthful, ultra-processed snacks with walnuts would presumably have a greater benefit than a lateral move from healthy options to walnuts, Dr. Tobias explains.

The researchers also analyzed the concentration and size of the LDL particles. Smaller, more dense LDL particles are more likely to trigger atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaque inside arteries thats the hallmark of most cardiovascular disease that results in heart attacks or strokes.

The walnut eaters had lower levels of these smaller particles. They also had decreased levels of intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL), which are also linked to a rise in cardiovascular-related risks. And even though a half-cup of walnuts contains about 185 calories, the walnut eaters did not pack on any extra pounds.

Earlier research has found that people who eat nuts regularly are less likely to have heart disease, and many studies have focused specifically on walnuts. In 2018, Dr. Tobias and colleagues published a meta-analysis and systematic review of studies that examined how eating walnuts affects a persons blood lipids and other heart-related risks. The review included 26 controlled trials involving a total of more than 1,000 people. It found that walnut-enriched diets led to lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, the most common form of fat in the bloodstream.

Although all nuts are good sources of healthy unsaturated fats, walnuts are especially rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). This is a precursor to the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA found in fatty fish that are known for their heart-protecting powers. Our bodies convert ALA to EPA and DHA, although the efficiency of this varies from person to person.

Whats more, walnuts are usually eaten raw. So they have greater antioxidant abilities than nuts that are usually eaten roasted. (Antioxidants help prevent or reduce the artery-damaging oxidation that contributes to heart disease).

If a half-cup of walnuts a day sounds like a lot, its good to know that eating even half that much may still be beneficial. In fact, the FDA allows a qualified health claim on some nuts (including walnuts). Foods made with them are permitted to include the following statement: "Eating a diet that includes one ounce of nuts daily can reduce your risk of heart disease." An ounce of walnuts is about a handful, or one-quarter cup.

As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

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Walnuts: A worthy addition to your daily diet? - Harvard Health

This can be a safe diet if done correctly, and if you ensure you are getting adequate calories and nutrition when youre eating, says Shapiro. Overall, IF diets (including more extreme versions, like OMAD) are unlikely to cause harm to adults who are a healthy weight, overweight, or who have obesity, notes a July 2017 review in Annual Review of Nutrition.

But OMAD is a restrictive eating approach that wont necessarily appeal to everyone. If youre following OMAD, youll need to take care not to overeat or overindulge on unhealthy foods during your main meal. You may also struggle to fit an entire days caloric intake into one large meal or find yourself feeling uncomfortably full after eating this much in one sitting. Theres also a lack of research on the long-term effects of OMAD

Moreover, OMAD may actually be unsafe for certain groups of people. This includes people who are pregnant or nursing, who are younger than 18, and people who have an eating disorder or a history of disordered eating, says Moskovitz.

Shapiro also advises that people living with diabetes who are taking insulin should not follow this diet, as OMAD can affect blood sugar levels. In general, people with diabetes need to eat balanced meals regularly throughout the day, adds Moskovitz. Going prolonged periods of time without eating can lead to harmful blood sugar lows followed by subsequent highs once a larger meal is inevitably consumed, she explains. This pattern of inconsistent eating can make it difficult to keep blood sugar levels low and stable.

Finally, if you often have gastrointestinal (GI) issues like bloating or an upset stomach, OMAD may not be a good fit for you. This diet requires you to eat a lot of food at one time, which may cause GI discomfort.

Still, many people who are not in these categories will decide to move ahead with OMAD and if youre one of these individuals, know that careful planning is key. If youre going to attempt it, you still have to make sure youre doing your best to eat balanced and nutritiously and make sure youre still eating enough calories for the day if you want to stay healthy, advises Moskovitz. Fasting alone wont be beneficial if [youre] not carefully constructing the meals youre eating in that time frame.

Always speak to your doctor before starting a new diet, especially if youre managing an underlying health condition or taking medication, or if OMAD represents a dramatic change in the way you eat.

If you are interested in trying OMAD but have not yet tried other types of IF, start slowly, suggests Shapiro. Start with a 12-hour fast and then build up to 14 or 16 hours. Then try OMAD for a few days once you have eased your body into it, she explains.

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OMAD Diet: Safety, Health Benefits, Risks, and More - Everyday Health

THE BEST diet for weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes has been revealed by experts.

They reviewed a dozen studies to compare popular diets that have all been promoted to help diabetics drop the pounds.

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Weight loss is hugely beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes because it can make their condition more manageable.

It may also reduce the risks of potentially deadly complications.

It is usually obesity that causes the onset of type 2 diabetes in the first place.

On the other hand, losing a substantial amount of weight, around 15kg if you are obese, could put the type 2 diabetes into remission, Diabetes UK says.

It removes abnormal body fat from the liver and pancreas, helping to restore organ function and allow insulin to work better.

Regardless of type 2 diabetes, losing weight can also make you feel energised, sleep better, get active and have a better mood.

Knowing the importance of weight loss for those with type 2 diabetes, researchers led by the University of Glasgow wanted to conclude the most effective way of doing it, publishing their findings in the journalDiabetologia.

They considered low-calorie diets, low-carb, high-protein, vegetarian, Mediterranean, high healthy-fat and low GI foods diets.

The only one the researchers praised was a low-calorie diet made of between 500 to 1,500 calories per day.

It may come as no suprise that cutting calories very low leads to weight loss.

But the analysis suggested it was a liquid-based diet - with shakes and soups as opposed to food - that worked best for weight loss leading to remission.

The best formula was meal replacement liquids of 800 calories a day for 12 weeks, followed by a high carb low-fat diet combined with some shakes and soups.

The researchers said: Very low energy diets and formula meal replacement appear the most effective approaches, generally providing less energy than self-administered food-based diets.

No other diet was found to support weight loss for those with type 2 diabetes - even common low-carbohydrate or Mediterranean strategies.

People using these diets saw no more than 2kg of weight.

It suggested there was no point in cutting out entire food groups to lose weight, and rather reducing portion sizes generally was the way forward.

Dr Lucy Chambers, Head of Research Communications at Diabetes UK, said the study answers important questions.

It also supported findings from the charitys own research - that low calorie diets for 12 weeks have the best success rates.

The DiRECT study, funded by Diabetes UK, showed a low calorie diet can help a quarter of type 2 diabetes patients lose 15kg or more of weight, and put 86 per cent of those into remission.

The results of the trial mean the NHS is now trialling it across the UK.

Dr Chambers said: Diets that focus on reducing calories, such as low-calorie meal replacement diets, rather than reducing intake of certain nutrients or foods groups, such as carbohydrates, were found to give people with type 2 diabetes the best chance of losing weight and going into remission.

"Even a small amount of weight loss can have a really positive impact on health and wellbeing.

Its important to remember that theres no one-size-fits-all diet for diabetes.

Low-calorie diets can be challenging, and if you have type 2 diabetes and want to lose weight, getting support from a healthcare professional can help you find an approach that is safe and works for you.

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The best diet to lose weight and reverse Type 2 diabetes revealed... - The Sun

As global trade in red and processed meats has increased, so have chronic diseases associated with meat consumption, a study looking at data from 154 countries found on Thursday.

Researchers focused on illness and death rates from three diseases strongly linked to red and processed meat consumption: colorectal cancer, type-2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

They drew on meat import and export figures from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to find out where in the world red and processed meats had become more available.

They then checked these findings against health data from the Global Burden of Disease project.

"The increased intake of red and processed meat products via trade caused the abrupt increase of diet-related non-communicable diseases," the study published in the British Medical Journal concluded.

The adverse effects of a diet high in red and processed meats is well known.

But the international trade of these products also has far-reaching impacts on the climate, through greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss, through shrinking habitat, the study noted.

"Few international initiatives and national guidelines for sustainable diets explicitly address the spillover impacts of the meat trade across countries," they said.

They calculated a worldwide increase in related deaths of nearly 75 percent between 1993 and 2018, with major variations by geographical region.

While they estimated a 55 percent rise in related deaths in developed countries, the rate of increase in developing countries was more than double: 157 percent.

"These higher rates are because many developing countries around the world exponentially relied on red and processed meat imports to meet their increased meat demands under rapid urbanisation and income growth," the study says.

Over the years covered by the study, developing countries expanded imports while rich ones expanded exports, the findings showed.

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The study suggests that to achieve healthier and more sustainable diets, international dialogue should involve both health and trade bodies, citing the World Trade Organization (WTO).

"Regional trade agreements of the WTO accelerate red and processed meat flows among countries," it said, and suggested it could coordinate with UN health and food agencies to improve future trade policy.

Since it is observational, the study can suggest but not confirm the cause-effect relationship between meat trade and diet-related illnesses.

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Diet-related illness increases with availability of red meat: study - Yahoo News

Tis the season for desserts, cocktails and everything thats delicious.

Although diet advice does change throughout the years, likely most health experts would agree: You dont want an excessive amount of sugar in your system. Occasional treats and splurges are fun, but a diet thats consistently filled with excess sugar can lead to things like obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Our bodies do need sugar, but youll want to steer clear of added sugars, like in processed food, which can be way more than what we need.

Follow these steps to limit the amount of sugar you consume daily, and improve your overall health.

A lot of people dont realize just how much sugar theyre consuming in their drinks every day.

A soda can have as much sugar as a candy bar.

Even if you dont eat candy or chocolate, you could still be overindulging when it comes to sugar.

Buying sugar-heavy coffee daily will absolutely cause your sugar intake to skyrocket. As hard as it may be, you have to skip the sugary drinks in favor of water.

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Simply switching to water with every meal will most definitely limit the amount of sugar you consume daily.

Healthy choices in the morning will set you up for success.

The sad truth is, a lot of breakfast food is full of sugar. Donuts, muffins, pancakes with syrup, and cereal can all be chock-full of unwanted sugar.

High sugar intake in the morning will leave you feeling sluggish instead of energized. Opt for healthier breakfast options like a fruit smoothie, oatmeal or eggs.

Dont let breakfast skew your sugar intake for the rest of the day.

There are probably a lot of foods you believe are low in sugar that actually arent.

Sugar can even hide in bread or dried fruit. Dont play the guessing game when it comes to sugar -- know exactly how much sugar is in everything youre purchasing.

Unfortunately, reading the label isnt always easy, as manufacturers use many names for sugar. Search the nutrition label for high-fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, maltose, dextrose, rice syrup, or molasses.

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When you get smarter about checking your nutrition labels, youll be more in control of the amount of sugar you consume.

Its fine to have dessert on occasion, but if youre a daily dessert eater, it might be time to cut back.

If youre eating something sweet every time you have a meal, your sugar intake might be too high.

If you find your sweet tooth is hard to control after you eat, try having a few pieces of fresh fruit. Allow natural sweetness to quell your cravings.

Remember, its OK to have sweet treats in moderation. Being militaristic about your diet will drain you and may cause you to give up on healthy eating entirely.

So, dont be afraid to grab some candy now and again, just make sure you arent also consuming too much sugar on a daily basis.

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3 easy ways to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet - KSAT San Antonio

Newswise Researchers at the University of Helsinki studied the relationship between allergy and atopy related skin symptoms at adult age and different types of diets as well as individual dietary food items in the same 4022 dogs when they were puppies.

The puppies that had been fed raw tripe, raw organ meats, and human meal leftovers during puppyhood showed significantly less allergy and atopy related skin symptoms in adult life. On the other hand, puppies not getting any raw foods, eating most of their food as dry food, i.e. kibble, being fed fruits, and heat-dried animal parts, had significantly more allergy and atopy related skin symptoms in adulthood, saysDogRiskresearch group team leader, DocentAnna Hielm-Bjrkmanfrom the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki.

According to the study, consumption of at least 20% of the puppys diet as raw food, or less than 80% of the puppys diet as dry food, associated with a significant decreased prevalence of allergy and atopy related skin symptoms in adult age. Also, in case of no consumption of raw food at all or eating 80% or more of the puppys diet as dry food, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of allergy and atopy related skin symptoms in the same dogs, later in life. Further, when feeding 20 % of other type of processed commercial dog foods (such as canned or sausage packed foods), also this associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of allergy and atopy related skin symptoms, while consumption of zero % of the puppys diet from these same foods, significantly decreased the prevalence of the disease in adulthood.

These findings indicate that it was the raw food component that was the beneficial health promotor, says Hielm-Bjrkman, and that even as little as 20% of the diet being raw foods, already gives health benefits.

In addition to the previous variables, puppies that were eating dead animals outside i.e. air dried raw food, also showed a decrease in the incidence of allergy and atopy related skin symptoms as adults.

Our mission is to find ways for the dog-owner to impact their own pets health-span. We could see an association between lower prevalence of allergy and atopy related skin symptoms as adult and serving puppies fresh foods and avoiding processed foods as well as sweet fruits. Thats a good start for any owner, saysManal Hemida, DVM from the DogRisk research group and from theHelsinki One Health network,and the main researcher of this study. However, the study only suggests a causal relationship but does not prove it. Diet intervention studies are required to further elucidate the in-depth association between the development of atopy and allergy related skin symptoms and dietary factors such as raw and dry foods, human meal left-overs and the correct dosing of oils, concludes Hemida.

The DogRisk team used answers that dog-owners had given in anonline feeding survey(in Finnish only) concerning their puppies diets when they had been 2-6 months of age. To avoid reverse causality i.e. looking at associations between first getting the disease and therefore changing the diet, only healthy dogs over 3 years of age (n=2864) were chosen as control dogs, whereas the dogs having the disease (n=1158) were chosen to be one year, or older. Adjusted regression models explained the associations between the disease and the food items while the associations between allergy and atopy related skin symptoms and the ratios of different diets backed up the previous results.

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A puppys diet seems to be a significant factor in the development of allergy and atopy related skin symptoms in adult dogs - Newswise

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Hellooo, omega-3 fatty acids, aka essential fats that can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke, lower your blood pressure and triglycerides and assist in reducing inflammation. Omega-3s are also rich in vitamin D and selenium, protect the heart from erratic cardiac issues, improve blood vessel function and can even aid in prenatal and postnatal neurological development.

Since our bodies dont produce omega-3s autonomously, its imperative that we consume them through food or supplementsand fish are packed with them. One to two three-ounce servings of fatty fish a week can reduce your risk of fatal heart disease by 36 percent, says the American Heart Association (AHA). Then again, fish are far from the only source of omega-3s out there. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in chia, walnuts, hemp, algae oil and more, says Stoler.

Fish has also been scientifically proven to work wonders for your brain. Research shows that eating baked or broiled fish at least once a week can significantly lower your risk of Alzheimers disease, according to the Fisher Center for Alzheimers Research Foundation. Fish is also known to reduce the risk of many chronic illnesses, lower triglycerides, reduce blood clotting, lower your stroke risk and aid with irregular heartbeats, says the Mayo Clinic. Due to all these perks, its recommended by the AHA that we have two servings of fatty fish a week (either 3 ounces cooked or a cup of flaked fish). On the pesco Mediterranean diet, youre likely going to consume even more per week.

If you still need convincing, the Mediterranean diet can even possibly boost your mood, meaning its fish-filled cousin can, too. In a 2017 study by BMC Medicine, researchers monitored a group of people with depression for 12 weeks as they tried the meal plan. By the end of the study, most participants reported a major improvement in their symptoms. Scientists have also noted a connection between fish and anxiety reduction. While a definite explanation hasnt been discovered, researchers believe omega-3s can travel to the brain easily and positively communicate with mood-regulating molecules and neurotransmitters, says JAMA Network.

Fish and other popular Mediterranean diet foods have also been found to improve headaches and migraines. If you suffer from chronic headaches, they may be triggered by nutritional deficiencies, says Maria Marlow, integrative nutrition health coach and author of The Real Food Grocery Guide. More magnesium (which is found in leafy greens, beans, nuts and seeds), riboflavin (which is found in broccoli, eggs and almonds) and omega-3s can counteract those deficiencies.

And of course, a major benefit of this diet plan is that theres no calorie counting required and no food groups are totally off limits (although refined sugars are largely avoided, which is inherently good for your health). The pesco Mediterranean or regular Mediterranean diets could be easy ways for you to eat more nutritiously (or even possibly lose weight) without feeling like youre depriving yourself.

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What Is the Pesco Mediterranean Diet? We Asked a Nutritionist - PureWow

Rujuta Diwekar often advises her followers to go back to the roots and trust the wisdom of their grandmothers. The celebrity nutritionist regularly shares videos on her social media handles busting myths and spreading useful information about health, nutrition and diseases.

Diwekar recently took to Instagram to share tips on identifying fad diets and urged everyone to not fall into the trap of 'so-called healthy diets' that could make you unhealthy in the long run.

The popular nutritionist says that although the fad diets are sold to us saying that they have been designed in a very scientific way, they actually cause more harm than good as they decrease strength to weight ratio and may lead to ageing in the long run.

ALSO READ: Diwali 2021: Detox diets may damage your liver, warns Rujuta Diwekar

Diwekar goes on to reveal three ways to identify if the diet you are following is a fad one or not.

1. Does it single out a single nutrient?

The author of bestseller Indian Superfoods says that many diets advise you to remove carbohydrate, fat or sugar from the meals altogether and ask you to load yourself with protein. She adds that if a diet is terming any food to be good or bad, it may be called a fad diet.

Diwekar says that currently many fad diets term protein and fat as good food and carbohydrates and sugar as bad food.

Urging people to not indulge in 'nutritionism', Diwekar says it can be as destructive as the other 'isms' like racism, ageism, sexism and damages not just a person but society as a whole.

"If a diet tags a food as good and bad, it attacks your common sense and behaves like culture, cuisine and climate have no role to play in our well-being, health and happiness," says Diwekar, adding one should go for sustainable diets instead.

2. Is it indulging in cultural appropriation?

Many diets these days are inspired by Indian culture and the spices and herbs that have been used in India since long. Rujuta says one must be beware of the diets that takes things from our culture but present them in their own style.

They ask you to add turmeric in everything, even pastry and pudding. They ask you to take spices in shots and pills, says Diwekar.

3. Is it asking you to measure everything?

The nutritionist says if a diet asks you to measure weight, food, steps, calories, then the life would be reduced to just a number. She says that a sustainable diet takes into account reason, season, culture. "It allows you to get good night's sleep, it allows you to wake up fresh in the morning, get rid of sugar cravings, allows you to have smooth digestion, exercise regularly and amplify every moment of life," she says.

Hope Rujuta's tips will help you identify these fad diets that are more harmful than beneficial.

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How to know if you are following a fad diet. Rujuta Diwekar reveals the trick - Hindustan Times

Heres more incentive to eat a healthy diet: its associated with a reduced risk of developing COVID-19 and its serious complications, according to a study published online Sept. 6, 2021, by the journal Gut. Researchers asked about 593,000 adults (mostly middle-aged and older) what they ate in February 2020, and then followed their health through September. Scientists found that people who reported eating the most fruits, vegetables, and legumes had a 9% lower risk of getting COVID and a 41% lower risk of developing severe COVID during the study period, compared with people who reported eating the least fruits and vegetables. Researchers also found a link between COVID and a poor diet or socioeconomic disadvantages. "If you could remove just one of those factors diet or disadvantage we think nearly a third of the COVID-19 cases could have been prevented," notes Jordi Merino, the studys lead author and a research associate at the Diabetes Unit and Center for Genomic Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. The study was observational and doesnt prove conclusively that a healthy diet prevents COVID. Researchers point out that getting vaccinated and wearing a mask in indoor settings are still the most important approaches to ward off the disease.

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Harvard study: Healthy diet associated with lower COVID-19 risk and severity - Harvard - Harvard Health