Owls have been a part of our lives and folklore for a very long time. Today they are relatively widespread and frequently observed avian predators and are clearly depicted in ancient cave drawings in Europe and Asia.

European cultures generally reacted to owls with fear and avoidance, said wildlife biologist John Powers. Many people associated them with bad fortune and even death. Even back then, though, sentiments regarding owls were mixed. In some instances the call or presence of an owl was believed to bring good luck. Certain brews made from owl parts were thought to cure a variety of illnesses. Superstition aside, many a practical farmer recognized the value of a pair of owls as nearby neighbors. Also, the ancient Greeks believed the owl to be a bird of wisdom, an idea which continues today.

Owls were viewed with similar mixed emotions among Native Americans. Some Indian tribes believed owls were capable of transmitting important advice and information, especially to tribal shamans. Cherokee shamans, for example, considered owls valuable consultants for all important decisions. Some tribes believed the unique-looking raptors were responsible for guiding the souls of the dead safely to the afterlife. Other tribes highly prized the owls feathers, using them to fletch their arrows to ensure the arrows silent flight.

When Europeans arrived in North America they brought most of their negative feelings regarding owls with them, Powers continued. Few of their positive beliefs seem to have made the crossing. Many of them viewed the owl as wise, but that wisdom was usually regarded as being of a dark and somewhat suspect nature. In general, European Americans considered owls to be birds of ill omen. Their nocturnal habits have caused them to be associated in the minds of many people with everything thats evil and fearful. Strangely enough, there are some out there who still believe the untimely appearance of an owl is a warning of bad luck, approaching death, or witchcraft at work.

According to Powers, many early naturalists as well felt negatively toward owls, considering them highly destructive birds and wanton killers. They attributed considerable losses of poultry to owl depredation. Further, many of them believed owls were responsible for destroying large numbers of desirable game species such as ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasants, rabbits and hares, and both gray and fox squirrels. Factually, these commonly believed reports have not been supported by food-habit studies conducted since the late 1800s.

Research has found that poultry makes up only a small percentage of most owls diets, Powers explained. Also, game species, especially gamebirds, account for a relatively small proportion of an owls prey. Findings indicate that nocturnal rodents and, for some owls species, even insects, make up the largest share of their diets. Of course, this isnt to say they wont take whatever prey is available, including the less-preferred game species and poultry. That usually happens, though, only when populations of their preferred food species in an area are very low.

The species that make up the largest proportion of an owls diet in a given area will vary with regard to the population levels of whatever prey species are available. In general, the higher a species population grows, the more susceptible the individuals in that species are to predation. Put simply, a big population of, say, field mice in a particular habitat will result in a lot of field mice becoming entrees for predators, owls included. Like other wild carnivores, owls will focus their feeding efforts on whatever prey species are most readily accessible and available. Over time, this concentrated predation results in reduced population and reduced susceptibility in the prey population.

Fortunately for the owls, said Powers, while they are focusing on one prey species, one or more other species will experience a population increase. Eventually, the owls will alter their feeding habits and concentrate on the prey that has become more numerous. This switching behavior benefits man by helping to keep prey species from becoming so numerous they become a problem. At the same time, the owls feeding strategy benefits the prey species by helping reduce competition for limited resources.

The broad range in size exhibited by different owl species and the corresponding differences in the size of their prey helps to reduce competition among owl species for food. Taking everything into consideration, owls (like the vast majority of other raptors) primarily consume large numbers of small rodents, making them far more an asset to man than a liability.

Owls and other predators are indicators of the overall health and quality of their habitats, Powers concluded. As predators, populations of owls are limited by the number of prey species available to them. Also, owls are especially sensitive to disruptions in natural systems. Therefore, healthy owl populations, especially of multiple owl species, can indicate healthy populations of prey species and be viewed as positive evidence of a healthy, stable ecosystem.

As superstitions fade, owls are being held in high esteem by more and more people. For scientists, their importance as an indicator species for the health of natural systems is of obvious value. For others, the sensual and aesthetic values of simply seeing and hearing owls far outweigh whatever minor negative impacts they may have.

Bob Kornegay is an award winning outdoors writer.

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Negative myths about owls are just that myths - The Albany Herald

Some vegan and raw food bloggers believe that menstruation is unclean and a curseand that we'd be better off without periods at all.

"If it's so unhealthy for me to go through a period of not having my period, then why did I feel so amazing?" In a YouTube video called "How I lost my period on a RAW VEGAN Diet," vlogger Freelee the Banana Girl tells her 700,000 followers about something occasionally experienced by women who've made a big change to their eating habits: the disappearance of her period.

She says that within a month of starting a "100 percent raw vegan diet," her periods stopped and only returned after nine months, but much more lightly. But instead of being a little worried, as we might expect, she was stoked.

"I still believe that, largely, menstruation is toxicity leaving the body," she explains in her controversial video, which saw heavy criticism from some viewers and eating disorder charity Beat. "So a lot of people are having these heavy, heavy periods and painful periods because they have a toxic body or have a toxic diet."

Instead, Freelee believes a light periodor "mega light," in her wordsis a healthy one, and that uncomfortable periods are "not natural," and down to a fatty or "toxic" diet.

"At the end of the day if you're having a heavy period, if you're having a painful period, then get on a 100 percent high carb raw vegan diet as soon as you can." Her video has attracted over 395,000 views since it was uploaded.

Watch: The History of Birth Control

Missing your period oncelet alone for nine monthsis rarely considered a good thing by doctors unless you're looking to get pregnant. Stress, polycystic ovary syndrome, obesity, and sudden weight loss are among the assortment of cited reasons that a woman might stop experiencing what's usually considered a normal reproductive process.

But a handful of vegan, raw, and clean eating bloggers claim that using your diet to achieve a sporadic and light periodor one that's completely nonexistentis healthier and more natural.

"Many girls who lose their period often worry and try numerous things to get it back," writes Miliany on her blog, RawVeganLiving."It's often advised that to get your period back, you should stop exercising and eat more calories and incorporate more plant-based fats in your diet.

"What if I told you that everything you were taught about menstrual cycles was a complete LIE?!"

Read more: The Strange History of the Extremely Low-Carb Diet Fad

Through Freelee and Miliany espouse different theories, they both come to the same conclusion: that modern society has sold women the idea that menstruation is healthy and that periods are better lighter or halted altogether by adopting raw and vegan diets.

I reached out to Miliany, who told me that she believes "a non-menstruating body indicates the body is clean."

"If a woman or young girl decided she wanted to stop menstruating or lighten up her heavy periods, then I would recommend a raw foods diet to help them with that," she says. "The industry has done a great job of brainwashing too many women into thinking that if they do not get their periods on a monthly basis, that something is wrong with their body and hormones."

However, Dr Jackie Maybin, a clinical lecturer in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Edinburgh, warns against changing your diet in an attempt to alter your menstrual cycle.

"It's difficult to recommend a strict vegan diet without investigating hormone levels and endometrial health in these women," she says of bloggers like Freelee and Milliany. "It's likely that the complete absence of periodsamenorrheaindicates that ovulation is not occurring and could have a significant negative impact on reproductive health."

In comments reported by the Daily Mail, eating disorder charity Beat said of Freelee's video: "Although taken out of the new diagnostic criteria for anorexia as it excludes men, amenorrhea has in the past been used to diagnose anorexia nervosa. Being at a low weight and restricting intake for a significant lengths of time can have other serious side effectslow blood pressure, osteoporosis, organ failure, infertility, restricted growth among others."

Freelee the Banana Girl in her video about losing her period on a raw vegan diet. Screenshot via YouTube

For other bloggers, there is an almost quasi-religious connection between periods and clean eating, the diet turned lifestyle that can sometimes tip over into a form of disordered eating known as orthorexia.

A raw food blog titled RawforLife exemplifies this attitude, asking: "If we were all living natural [sic], in a 'Garden of Eden', without pads, tampons, tissues (or even clothes?), would we all be running around dripping blood all over the place for a few days a month?"

Despite being posted eight years ago, a post called "Periodsthey may be normal but are they healthy?" continues to be one of the site's most shared and commented on pieces today.

"The main aim of this article has been to challenge the prevailing view of periods as 'healthy,'" a raw food blogger called Debbie writes. She claims that menstruation could be a symptom of living a non-raw vegan lifestyle: "Perhaps periodsthe pain, the blood flow, PMT were rightly named a 'curse'a curse on us for falling short of living how we are meant to live physically and psychologically."

This idea comes up regularly among these bloggers: that women hundreds of years agoand animalshad or have lighter periods thanks to a plant-based diet.

Maybin, however, says that these claims have little basis in medical fact. "It's true that women previously had fewer periods; approximately 40 in their lifetime, versus about 400 for modern women in developed countries," she says. "However, I think this is unlikely to be due to a vegan or plant-based diet, but because these women were either pregnant or lactating for most of their lives."

Freelee and Debbie did not respond to comment (Freelee started a new ASMR-themed YouTube channel in April). But when asked directly by followers, they both refute the claim they're encouraging women to stop their periodsthough regardless of their intentions, their influence is clear.

While Debbie's comment section is packed with breastfeeding mothers and those on the cusp of the menopause deliberating these ideas, Freelee's is dominated by young peoplesome teenagers as young as 13thanking her for inspiring them to change their diet.

"The medical industry certainly doesn't tell us the truth," writes one under the "How I lost my period on a RAW VEGAN Diet" video. "Trust your fellow humans, not outdated tradition, disease and corporations who spread lies."

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But Maybin warns that a very restrictive diet or excessive exercise can also lead to a condition called hypothalamic hypogonadism. "In menstruating women, the brain sends signals to the ovaries to produce hormones to regulate the endometrium. This results in ovulation and, if pregnancy does not occur, menstruation.

"In hypothalamic hypogonadism, the body assumes a state of stress and shuts off the signal from the brain to the ovaries. This reverts the body to a pre-pubescent like state, where pregnancy is not possible as the ovaries temporarily shut down and menstruation does not occur.

"If this state is maintained long term, women can have problems due to low estrogen levels, e.g. risk of loss of bone mineral density and osteoporosis."

While she says that not enough research has been done to know exactly what effects diet can have on menstruation, it makes sense that a "healthy balanced diet"i.e. one that does not excessively restrict certain food groupsis good for all women and their periods.

Despite the risks, these blogs remain popular, including a new video uploaded by Freelee in September: "If you've got heavy periods, that's not normal," she says in the clip, which has been viewed almost 250,000 times. "That is not as healthy as you can be."

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The Vegan Diet Bloggers Who Think Periods Are 'Not Natural' - Broadly

Giant panda Tia Shan at National Zoo in Washington (Photo Credit: By Fernando Revilla (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons)

Tim Caro, Professor of Wildlife Biology at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) has made it his mission to understand the evolution of coloration in mammals. The researcher spent twenty years investigating why zebras sport black and white stripes (to ward off flies) and even wrote a book, Zebra Stripes, about his epic discovery. Now, Caro has solved the age-old mystery of why giant pandas also sport the dual coloration.

According to the researcher, Understanding why the giant panda has such striking coloration has been a long-standing problem in biology that has been difficult to tackle because virtually no other mammal has this appearance, making analogies difficult,

Over the years, there have been numerous theories to explain the animals signature black and white color. Some experts hypothesized that it was to scare predators. Others believed that the white fur provided the mammal with much-needed camouflage in the snow, while the dark patches enabled it to retain heat. There was also the theory that the markings on the pandas head kept it hidden from predators, while the dark circles around its eyes helped reduce the suns glare.

To solve the mystery once and for all, the UC Davis team who worked in collaboration with scientists at California State University, Long Beach, compared the coloring of different parts of the giant pandas body to those of 200 carnivore species, including 39 bear subspecies. This was no easy task given that the scientists had to carefully examine thousands of images and seek out the different areas of fur that were similar to those of the giant panda. Once they found a match, they looked further into the evolutionary pattern of the carnivore to ascertain if it could explain the reason the panda was sporting a similar color.

The team, who published their findings in the journal Behavioral Ecology, on February 28, discovered that different parts of the giant pandas coloring serve different purposes. As had been previously believed, the mammals white face, neck, belly, and rump, allow it to blend in with the snow during winter. Its black arms and legs are not to retain heat, but to help stay hidden in the shade during summer. This is particularly important for panda cubs that often perch themselves on tree tops to avoid being seen by predators, like jackals and snow leopards, who share the same mountainous habitat in China. The dark ears help scare off predators, while the black eye patches most likely enable giant pandas to recognize each other and, possibly, show aggression towards competitors.

According to the study, the giant pandas striking dual coloring may have to do with its poor diet, that comprises primarily of bamboo, which has little nutrition and very few calories. Since the mammals are unable to build up enough fat reserves to allow them to hibernate during the winter, they have no choice but to wander year-round in search of food.

The scientists speculate that instead of developing a summer and winter coat similar to those of small carnivores like the arctic fox, it (giant panda) has evolved a compromise white and black pelage [fur].

They maintain that the giant panda is not the only animal that has adopted this evolutionary strategy. Some larger species of wolverines (Gulo gol) that also traverse across several habitats often sport a similar black and white coloring.

Resources: livescience.com, forbes.com,academic.oup.com

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The Giant Panda's Striking Coloration May Stem From Its Poor Diet - DOGOnews

Sticking to a diet is hardeven if you have the willpower.I tried living on a Paleo diet once, but the sheer number of restrictions that complicated my grocery shopping list meant it wasnt long before I was back to eating boxed pasta.

An Alexandria meal delivery service is seeking to change that.

Formerly known as Power Supply, the healthy meal service has been up and running since 2011. Now operating under the new name Territory,the company has recently relaunched to make it easier to selectmore diet-specific optionsinto their line-up of pre-cooked, healthy meals that customers can choosefrom the online menu and have delivered to their homes.

Prior to the relaunch, the service offered meals that fit under the categories of mixitarian, vegetarian, and Paleo. Now, Territory has set the filters on their online menu to pull up meals that fit a much longer list of diets, including the initial three plus trendy diets like Whole30 and Mediterranean, as well as commonly practiced low-carb or low-fat diets, in addition to some eating plans of Territorys own design: the Air, Sea, & Plants diet and one for new and expecting moms.

Territorys co-founder,Patrick Smith, says that the goal of these new filters is helping people sustain their commitment to healthy eating over time. While some diets, like Whole30 or Paleo, may sound good in theory, they can be much harder to stick to when youre standing in front of your refrigerator at 8:30 on a Tuesday night, wondering how to turn frozen chicken and wilted lettuce into dinner.

The new filters are also intended to emphasize just how personal nutrition isthat choosing a healthy eating plan for yourself isnt a one-size-fits-all model. Rather, the service allows customers to try on different diets for size, to see which one suits them the best.

The filters for the different meals were set in place with the help of consulting nutritionists. The nutritionists outlined the guidelines for each diet, andthose rules were applied to the meals that Territory chefs were already making to identify which meals fit the diet. In some cases, such as the new and expecting moms, the nutritionists came up with the rules from scratch.

Ashley Koff, the DC-based nutritionist who designed the new and expecting moms meals, created guidelines by not just looking at the long list of foods pregnant women cant eat, but also looked at what nutrients pre- and postpartum moms should be getting more of in their diets. Additionally, Koff planned for the meals to be broken up and eaten as two or three mini meals, since pregnant women sometimes have difficulty keeping down food. Included in the new and expecting moms category are meals such as basil chicken with garlic broccoli or apple BBQ pulled pork with beet slaw.

One diet that Territory offers wasnt designed by their team of nutritionists. Rather, the MedStar Healthy meal filter on the site represents a collaboration between the meal delivery service and the DC-area hospital group.The partnership was inspired by MedStars Health for America fellowship program, in which four recent college graduates were challenged to find an innovative way to improve care for diabetics. The fellows worked to develop a system of healthy meals for diabetics, then tapped Territory to help with the delivery side.

According to Dr. Michelle Magee, director of the MedStar Diabetes Instituteand lead physician mentor for the fellowship, the meals are intended to be diabetic and pre-diabetic safe. But because the mealswhich range from pistachio-crusted tuna to ginger scallion pork pattiesare low in saturated fat and sit in a good calorie range, theyre really healthy for anyone, even those with no diabetes concerns.

Ultimately, it may not be cost effective for everyone to order all of their meals onlineSmith says that most of their customers order five or six of their meals through Territory each weekbut by getting to know what a tasty Paleo or aWhole30 or vegetarian meal looks like, people can become familiar with how to make healthy meals on their own. If nothing else, the delivery service can make it easier for those who have healthy eating goals without the time to fulfill them.

I believe that the way that we identify and enable our health is by having better tools, says Koff. Cooking can be what we call some assembly requiredand sometimes we dont even have time for some assembly required.

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This New Food Delivery Tool Makes Sticking to Your Diet SO Much Easier - Washingtonian.com

The reported benefits of apple cider vinegar range from helping you lose weight, protecting your heart, preventing cancer, and even banishing bad breath. So when I saw a fitness influencer attribute an ACV cleanse to her killer abs, I broke the one diet rule I've always kept and tried a fad diet prescribed on social media.

I always thought that diets shared by fitness influencers on Instagram tend to come across as shady and inauthentic, but when my by BFF sent me the Instagram post below, I forgot all about that skepticism. The post talked about a cleanse to eliminate bloat, help digestion issues, and get those much-coveted obliques. I was game.

I figured I didn't have anything to losethe ingredients are "real" food and ACV was having a moment. I'd seen other fitness peeps snap shots of gallon jugs, talking about their own concoctions. So, I committed to giving it a try.

Day 1: I'm just gonna say it: The shake tasted disgusting. I didn't even finish the whole serving. I drank what I could first thing in the morning when I woke up. I ate regularly at work and did an extra-long endurance run in the evening. I also worked in a few new abs exercises into my workouts. After all, this cleanse was about to give me abs, right? The post also recommended a magnesium supplement at night, so I took one after dinner.

Day 2: The shake still tasted sour (IDK why I was surprised about that; there's vinegar in it), but I managed to down the whole thing and felt kickass for it. The only major change waswarning: TMI aheadthat I went to the bathroom more than usual that day. Otherwise, I ate regularly again, went for a shorter run and did some weight lifting after work, and popped another magnesium pill. Day two of the cleanse, check.

Day 3: The taste of the drink got better (or I was getting used to it). I spent decent time in the bathroom again, which debloated me and made my stomach flat. I felt less hungry throughout the day and didn't feel a surge of early-afternoon fatigue like a normally do. Later, after I completed an endurance run at the gym, I lifted up my shirt, looked in the mirror, and...there they wereabs! Yes, legitimate abs (a first for me). At home, I piled my plate high with veggies andtook another magnesium supplement.

Day 4: The shake was tolerable, but I felt queasy in the morning, and I wasn't very hungry at lunch. I decided to take a rest day from my workouts. I completed my day with another round of magnesium, but little did I know this was the beginning of the end of my temporary abs.

Day 5: My stomach felt terrible. I dealt with a nauseous, acidic stomach all day. I tried to do my long run, but my stomach wouldn't allow it. I still took my magnesium pill with dinner.

Day 6-7: I woke up with the worst stomach ache I've ever had. I hesitantly made the shake and told myself I was almost done and maybe this was just part of the process. The post suggested trying the cleanse for at least 7 days. (I know now that I should have listened to my body.)

Day 8: No shake, no magnesium pill, continued stomach ache, and fading abs. This cleanse ended on a(nother) sour note.

So, sure, I got abs, kinda, and for a day or so, but the side effects were obviously not worth that mini reward. I knew I'd never do it again. I was curious about whether my circumstances were abnormal, or if there was actually some secret abs-sculpting benefits to an apple cider vinegar cleanse that I just missed somehow. So I talked to Jessica Crandall, R.D.N., a certified diabetes educator. Crandall says she's never prescribed ACV to any of her clients, and she doesn't see that changing anytime soon.

"Because it tastes nasty, it might curb your appetite," says Crandall. "But it's just a diet fad."

The other ingredients in the cleanse fared a little better from Crandall's expert point of view, though. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties; blueberries are high in fiber and antioxidants; lemon juice is high in vitamin C; and spinach is a great source of vitamin K (and boosts your fitness performance). The magnesium in the evening helps relax your muscles and blood vessels and (ironically) helps normalize your bowel movements. All good stuff, "but nothing in there will give you six-pack abs," says Crandall. In fact, she tells me that the acidity of the ACV may have been too much for my stomach to handle, which makes a lot of sense considering my frequent bathroom breaks and tossy-turny stomach.

So besides some obvious dehydration, to what does she attribute my day-long abs? Simply put, being aware of my goal and my diet. In theory, people who follow an influencer or fitness figure who suggests a diet, food, or detox will likely "eat something healthy they otherwise wouldn't and it kickstarts other habits like trying new exercises or eating better," hypothesizes Crandall. It's true. Remember, I did start doing a few new abs exercises during the cleanse.

Stay skeptical of words like detox and cleanse. While some may have their benefits, most are nothing more than fluff. Regardless, the moral of the story here to is listen to your body. I should have known something was up when I could barely stomach the first shake on day 1, or at least on day 4 when I was so queasy. Next time, I'll listen to my gut (pun intended).

Read more from the original source:
An Apple Cider Vinegar Cleanse Gave Me Abs...and an Awful Stomach Ache - Shape Magazine

Safe swallowing depends on the coordination of many muscles in the face, mouth and throat.

The medical name for swallowing difficulty is dysphagia. Dysphagia can occur at any stage of life, from birth through old age. Swallowing may be impaired because of prematurity or developmental difficulty; stroke or neurological disease; respiratory illness like COPD or emphysema; cancer; head injury; surgery; injury to the face, mouth or neck; weakness or incoordination from other sources; and other reasons.

A person with dysphagia may have food and liquid enter the lungs instead of the stomach, which is called aspiration. A person may aspirate without being aware of any swallowing difficulty because of impaired sensation or thinking. If dysphagia is not treated effectively, a person may either develop aspiration pneumonia, which is a serious medical condition, or become choked on food lodged in the airway.

Possible signs of dysphagia include:

Coughing, choking or strangling while eating, drinking or taking medicine.

Wet voice quality or chest congestion after eating or drinking.

Pneumonia, breathing difficulty, chest pain or rattling in the lungs.

Spitting food out of the mouth or pushing the tongue out of the mouth.

More trouble chewing or swallowing than usual.

Food sticking in the mouth or throat after meals.

Food coming back through the nose or mouth.

Not being able to swallow saliva or drooling.

Decreased intake of food or liquid; unexplained weight loss, malnutrition or dehydration.

Becoming more tired or short of breath while eating.

Taking a long time to finish a meal or giving up part way through.

When a person has signs of dysphagia, a physician may order an evaluation of swallowing ability. The medical professional who evaluates and treats dysphagia is a speech-language pathologist. A swallow evaluation may take place in an office or an X-ray department.

After being evaluated, dysphagia may be treated by strengthening muscles, compensating for weakness or changing the diet. Also, these simple guidelines may help make eating and drinking more safe:

Be fully awake and alert before eating or drinking.

Eat in a quiet, non-stressful environment with no distractions; turn off the television; do not hold a conversation while eating.

Take your time; do not rush; chew thoroughly.

Take small bites and sips.

Sit straight up any time you eat or drink; never eat while lying down.

Sit up for 20-30 minutes after eating.

If you begin to cough or strangle, stop eating or drinking until the sensation has passed; do not take a sip of liquid.

Brush your teeth and gums regularly.

There are times when a person cannot swallow any item safely or take in enough food or liquid to meet the bodys needs. If this happens, a physician may recommend an alternative feeding method, like a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube. These tubes bypass the normal swallow structures to provide food and liquid directly into the stomach. Even if one of these methods is used, a person may continue to work with the speech-language pathologist to improve swallowing abilities.

If you have signs of dysphagia, the first step to eating and drinking safely is to contact your physician and discuss your concerns.

Lisa Renfroe is a speech-language pathologist with Acute Rehabilitation at North Mississippi Medical Center.

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HEALTH LINES: Swallowing difficulty is serious but treatable - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Warding off the joint pain of gout may be as easy as eating right, a new study suggests.

Gout, a joint disease that causes extreme pain and swelling, is caused by excess uric acid in the blood. It's the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, and its incidence has risen among Americans over recent decades, Harvard researchers noted.

But the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet which is high in fruits and vegetables, and low in salt, sugar and red meat can lower levels of uric acid in the blood.

The American Heart Association has long supported the DASH regimen as a way to help avoid heart disease.

"Conversely, the [unhealthy] Western diet is associated with a higher risk of gout," said Dr. Hyon Choi, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues. The "Western" diet describes the fatty, salty, sugar-laden fare of many Americans.

One nutritionist wasn't surprised by the new findings, pointing out that the DASH diet is low in compounds called purines, which break down to form uric acid.

"I can see how the DASH diet may benefit someone with gout," said Jen Brennan, clinical nutrition manager at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "The DASH diet avoids excessive consumption of red and organ meats known to have high purine levels."

Brennan added that the DASH diet "also encourages high intake of fruits and vegetables. We want to encourage fluids and vitamin C for these patients to help rid the body of uric acid, and fruits/vegetables can support this."

In their study, the Harvard researchers analyzed data from more than 44,000 men, aged 40 to 75, who had no prior history of gout. The men provided information about their eating habits every four years between 1986 and 2012.

Over the study period, more than 1,700 of the men developed gout.

During 26 years of follow-up, those who followed the DASH diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, low-fat dairy products and whole grains, and low in salt, sugary drinks and red and processed meats were less likely to develop gout than those who ate a typical Western diet, the findings showed.

The Western diet is high in items such as red and processed meats, French fries, refined grains, sweets and desserts.

The study wasn't designed to prove a cause-and-effect relationship. However, the findings suggest that the DASH diet may provide "an attractive preventive dietary approach for the risk of gout," the researchers concluded.

Choi's team noted that many people who have high uric acid levels also have elevated blood pressure, or "hypertension" another reason to switch to the healthier DASH diet.

According to the study's lead author, Sharan Rai, of Massachusetts General Hospital, "The diet may also be a good option for patients with gout who have not reached a stage requiring [uric acid]-lowering drugs, or those who prefer to avoid taking drugs." Rai is with Mass General's division of rheumatology, allergy and immunology.

"And since the vast majority of patients with gout also have hypertension, following the DASH diet has the potential of 'killing two birds with one stone,' addressing both conditions together," Rai said in a hospital news release.

However, more studies are needed to track the diet's effectiveness in curbing gout flare-ups, the researchers said.

Dana Angelo White is a registered dietitian at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. She called the new study "another win for the DASH diet, a sensible plan that emphasizes whole foods and a healthy balance of all major food groups. I'm pleased to see a study that highlights the benefits beyond cardiovascular health. If more people ate this way, we would continue to see decreases in all kinds of chronic illness."

The study was published online in May in the BMJ.

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Eat this diet to lower your odds of gout - Chicago Tribune