Gastric bypass surgery has been seen in the past as one of the most effective therapies in treating or reversing type 2 diabetes.

And now we know why.

It isnt the surgery itself, as was once presumed, but the resulting weight loss.

Experts say this means major weight loss through dieting produces the same beneficial metabolic effects as surgery-induced weight loss.

That contention is at the heart of a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri.

Researchers studied people with obesity and type 2 diabetes who had undergone gastric bypass surgery and then lost 18 percent of their body weight.

They compared these study participants with others who also had diabetes and obesity but had lost the same percentage of body weight through diet alone.

The health improvements across both groups included lower blood sugar levels throughout the day, improved insulin action in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue, and a reduction in the need for insulin and other diabetes medications.

Dr. Vijaya Surampudi, an internal medicine specialist at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in California, says weight loss can have numerous health benefits.

It can improve blood glucose control, blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, improve mood, and reduce depressive symptoms, Surampudi told Healthline.

There is also some evidence of prevention of certain cancers, including breast and colorectal cancer. And weight loss can improve functional capacity, she added.

But that doesnt mean losing weight is necessary for everyones health.

People vary in the ideal body fat/weight range for them, said Krista Scott-Dixon, PhD, the director of curriculum at Precision Nutrition.

What is ideal is not a specific number, but rather a set of indicators about physical function, well-being, and thriving, she told Healthline.

Scott-Dixon adds that different ethnic groups and genetic subpopulations can be healthy and functional with different body mass indexes (BMIs), body weights, and body fat percentages.

For instance, we know that folks whose ancestors have East Asian genetic heritage tend to be less healthy at a lower BMI than folks from other regions, she explained.

When determining if weight loss is recommended, a medical professional will consider not just BMI, but weight distribution (adipose tissue volume and location), medical history, family history, and/or current lifestyle, said Caroline West Passerrello, MS, RDN, LDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Scott-Dixon says high levels of body fat can change the hormonal and chemical environment within the body.

These changes can elevate a persons risk for conditions such as:

And when body fat gets too high, it starts depositing into places where it shouldnt be, or shouldnt be in high amounts, she said.

These areas include the heart, liver, kidneys, muscle tissue, bone, and in and around other internal organs.

Past a certain point, excess body weight loads our structures primarily our joints in the lower body, Scott-Dixon said.

For example, Surampudi says 1 pound of weight loss is 4 pounds off your knees and ankles.

Surampudi says bariatric surgery is simply a tool in ones health journey for weight loss.

She adds that there are several types of bariatric surgeries, but the two most commonly offered are the gastric sleeve and the gastric bypass surgery.

The decision on which surgery [is appropriate] is based on the individual patient, their medical history, and what the individual and their physician feels is the best choice, she explained.

But surgical weight loss, including gastric bypass surgery, isnt for everyone, says Scott-Dixon.

So, individuals looking to improve their glucose control need to know they have options to reduce their adipose tissue volume, she said.

Passerrello has these general tips for weight loss:

Its also accurately stated [in the study] that losing 18 percent of body weight with diet therapy alone is difficult, Passerrello told Healthline.

Scott-Dixon says its also difficult to maintain in the long run.

In part, this is because most traditional diets are not only nutritionally poor and relatively unsustainable, theyre also done in a context where building deep health and the broad foundation for long-term changes arent addressed, she said.

Scott-Dixon defines the concept of deep health as that which addresses a multifaceted set of indicators, including:

There are so many things to consider: your access to food, your schedule, your current medical history, and your lifestyle, to name a few, Passerrello said.

A registered dietitian may use the social ecological model of health to frame a plan that will address these factors, as well as the amount of food to eat and how much movement to strive for, she added.

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Losing Weight by Dieting Has the Same Health Benefits as Surgery - Healthline

A person'sheart beats about 2.5 billion times over the span of an average lifetime. We seem to take that for granted. Heart failure affects more than half a million people a year in the US, brought on by lifestyle choices like being sedentary and smoking, and other risk factors such as eating a meat-based diet, according to a recentstudy. Prioritizing getting daily exercise and eating a whole food plant-based diet is the bestway toboost your hearthealth, naturally.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States according toa CDCreport, outpacing cancer and more than twice the number as COVID-19, yet we don't take extreme measures to stop it in its tracks. There is a simple way to reduce the chances of heart disease, regardless of your age, right now, which is to eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. These 7 foods are among the best to boost heart health without the need for medication, In fact, a new study found that all it takes to move the needle on heart health and diabetes is to eat one more serving of fruits and vegetables a day.

Foods containing high levels of saturated fats like meat, processed foods and pastries may be a leading cause of the risk of heart disease. Choosing a plant-based diet significantly reverses heart failure symptomsbecause wholefoods with fiber naturallylower your cholesterol and help maintain healthy blood circulation.

When you are seeking heart-healthy foods, turn to those that are closest to what you couldgrow inthe earth, like fruits and vegetables and minimally processed foods (potatoes not chips).

Everyone can benefit from eating this way, not just people with heart disease.If you don't know where to start here are7 ways to eat less meatand lower your risk of heart disease by cutting back on saturated fat. And check outTheBeet's new healthy plant-based recipesevery day that you can enjoy too add more plants to your plate, and years to your longevity.

1. Beets

If you've ever heard someone say, "a beet helps the heartbeat," they're right. In fact, these small vibrantly-coloredroot vegetables contain a high concentration of nitrates. Nitratesare a natural chemical found in soil, air, water, andsome foods that can help your body to reduce blood pressure, which can lead tolessrisk of heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke. You can't beat eating beets! Mix them into your smoothie or chop them into fine pieces and add them to your salad.

2. Berries

These are berry good for your heart! "Eating a cup of blueberries a day reduces risk factors for cardiovascular disease," according to a study by the National Library of Medicine.To be specific, eating 150 grams (about 5 ounces) of blueberries a day reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 15 percent.

The study examined the effect of six months of blueberry intake on insulin resistance and cardiometabolic function in patients with metabolic syndrome.The research team concludedthat "blueberries and other berries should be included in dietary strategies to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease particularly among at-risk groups." Add berries to your smoothies, yogurt parfaits, salads, or simply enjoy them on their own.

3. Avocados

Avocados have a bad reputation because most people think eating fat will make you fat, but the opposite is actually true in the case of plant-based fat like avocado. The 5 grams of fat in an avocado can help you lose weight and boost heart health because it trains your body to burn fat as fuel. The two fats in avocados are mono andpolyunsaturated fats that take place ofsaturated or trans fats when eaten in moderation. This can help reduce bad cholesterol in the body and decrease your risk of heart disease.Because avocados are full of "good fat" they can help your body absorb nutrients without raising LDL levels (so-called bad cholesterol) in the body. LDL creates plaque, blockages and eventually heard disease. If you'refighting high cholesterol,try eating avocados regularly, or adding them to your smoothies and salads.

4. Tomatoes

When people say, "A Tomato a Day Keeps the Heart Doctor Away," they're actually talking about Lycopene. This chemical that gives tomatoes their bright red color, and can be found in watermelon and grapefruit, is a powerhouse antioxidant that helps to keep cells from becoming damaged.Lycopene may work to lower LDL. Lycopene in the diet also appears to prevent clotting, which can limit the risk of stroke according to health studies.

5. Garlic

Aside from garlic'spowerfulaftertaste, the food has powerful health benefits. Garlic, when chopped releases allicin which can help lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol that canlead toheart disease. People with high cholesterol should consider taking garlic supplements because they appear to reduce LDL by about 10-15 percent according to a health study by The National Library of Medicine.

6. Edamame

Edamame is neither a fruit nor vegetable, but a powerhouse legume that delivers major benefits when it comes to boosting heart health. Edamameis rich infiber, antioxidants and vitamin Kwhich together work to lower LDLand improve your blood lipids. "Eating 47 grams of soy protein per day can lower total cholesterol levels by 9.3 percent and LDL by 12.9 percent, according to a health study by The National Library of Medicine. In addition, the vitamin K in edamame helps regulate your blood vessels and improves circulation in the body.

7. Oranges

Oranges are the perfect refreshing fruit to enjoy all year round and they appear to protect your heart against aging. Oranges contain flavonoids which is a class of pigments that help give it structure. Specifically, the chemical hesperidinfound in citrus may support heart health according to several studies. In one recentstudy, hesperidinhelped improveblood pressure, and lower cardiovascular risk. Results show that drinking orange juice daily for just four weeks has a "blood-thinning effect and may reduce blood pressure" for overweight men.

Original post:
The 7 Best Foods for Heart Health to Eat Today and Everyday - The Beet

Peggy Liu, University of Pittsburgh

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Peggy Liu, University of Pittsburgh and Kelly L. Haws, Vanderbilt University

(THE CONVERSATION) The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

The big idea

Dieters looking for a healthier substitute of their favorite high-fat food such as a bag of potato chips typically have two choices in the grocery aisle: a smaller package of the exact same food or a larger portion of a light version. In a series of studies, we put this choice to consumers and found that people who frequently try to cut back on their eating or are essentially always on a diet known as restrained eaters prefer the larger portion size of the light version, even though both contained the exact same number of calories. Participants who indicated that they rarely dieted tended to pick the smaller size with the full flavor.

Our first study involved a vending machine choice between a medium-sized bag of Lays Baked BBQ potato chips and a smaller package of the regular version both 150 calories. Participants who took a survey in which they reported frequently trying to cut back on their eating for example, by taking smaller servings and skipping meals opted for the larger bag of baked chips. We got similar results over four additional studies involving other snacks, such as popcorn and cookies.

Why it matters

People tend to want food to be tasty, healthy and filling. Our studys restrained eaters were definitely interested in choosing a snack that seemed healthier, but their choice of the larger size suggested they wanted a snack that they felt would make them feel full as well possibly at the expense of taste. Feeling full can help people consume fewer calories overall.

The problem is research suggests eating more of lighter foods might not make people feel full, and this may point to a reason why most diets fail. Some psychologists argue that restrained eaters do not achieve the health and weight outcomes they desire possibly because, in depriving themselves of the fattier, tastier food, they may later engage in binge-eating or overconsume.

By opting for the lighter, less pleasurable food, even in larger packages, restrained eaters might be depriving themselves of the food they actually crave regular chips, buttered popcorn or a sugary cookie.

What still isnt known

More research is ultimately needed, however, to test whether the emphasis on increasing the portion sizes that one can eat of light foods, rather than focusing on eating smaller portions of foods that are more satisfying, is a successful long-term strategy. Or, as past research indicates, might it actually backfire and contribute to failed dieting? Its still not entirely clear.

Whats next

At the moment, we are working on new research examining how people decide what to eat, how much to eat and how frequently to eat it. For example, why do some people decide to try to avoid any treats, whereas others try to seek moderation? If they seek moderation in their diet, would they rather have a small treat every day or have a cheat day on the weekend?

Were also trying to understand whether or not consumers actually feel as full as they think they do by eating more lighter foods rather than less of calorie-dense foods.

How we do our work

We use a variety of approaches in our research on food, including conducting lab and online-based experiments, field studies and exploring existing data sets, such as food diary data. For this particular research, we recruited participants to pick chips out of a vending machine and used online panels to simulate real-world choices.

[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.]

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/constant-dieters-might-be-choosing-the-wrong-way-to-lose-weight-143961.

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Constant dieters might be choosing the wrong way to lose weight - Alton Telegraph

You don't have to be involved in the antidiet, intuitive eating world to know that dieting messages are everywhere. Registered dietitian Dalina Soto, MA, LDN, shared that sometimes they're disguised as "lifestyle" changes, or maybe you're told to simply cut out certain food groups. When people go on restrictive diets, she said they'll discover that they don't work, "but somehow we all want them to work. We want to be the successful ones," and we work so hard to make it happen.

Soto explained that when we fail, we feel like crap, but it isn't our fault. "The diet and weight-loss industry banks on you failing so they can profit on you for years. They want you to continue to buy their shakes, or the frozen meals they can mail to you weekly," she said, adding that whatever diet you follow, "you're never in control, they are."

In case you're thinking about going on another diet, or you're currently on one and feeling miserable, watch this video to learn five reasons why diets suck. POPSUGAR asked Soto to explain each reason, so read on and you just may feel inspired to ditch that restrictive diet forever!

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An Antidiet Dietitian Shares 5 Reasons Why Diets Suck and Why You Should Ditch Them Forever - POPSUGAR United Kingdom

Between a quarter and a half of the population of USA suffers from allergies. Allergy testing is widely available in the US and in many other countries but in India, its not common to run these tests. However, it is important to remember that when there are highly stressful situations, like the present time, high cortisol in the body can increase the predisposition towards these allergic responses in many people. So, check out your allergies in time.

Food allergies cause inflammation in the body (Pic credit: Shutterstock)

Let me explain some of these allergens a little more...

Choose gluten free foods if you are allergic to the gluten found in many foods

The very first problem is that most of us have insufficient enzymes and stomach acids to break down gluten, which is a complex molecule. This leads to a wide range of digestive problems from bloating to indigestion to constipation. Gluten increases the amount of zonulin in the body which is responsible for wedging itself in the tight gaps of the small intestine and eventually leading to intestinal permeability.

When our immune system becomes confused, intestinal inflammation increases. Our immune system is on high alert if we keep eating certain foods that do not suit us. Thus, we are not able to actually safeguard ourselves against true pathogens and we become susceptible to many infections.

Our skin tries to help us by releasing some of these toxins via the skin, and this can lead to anything from acne to eczema and urticaria. As our villi, the hot spot for nutrient absorption in the small intestine gets worn down and since different villi absorb different vitamins and minerals, we become deficient in many important nutrients too.

Many people are allergic to dairy as the body cannot breakdown casein and whey. (Pic Credit: Shutterstock)

Many people lack the enzymes needed to breakdown casein and whey in dairy products.

This causes lymphatic congestion which can lead to symptoms like sinusitis, depression, headaches, migraines, swollen joints, joint pain and much more. It also triggers an overactive immune response, where you can become allergic to many more foods.

Nuts are loaded with nutrients, but you may be allergic to them (Pic credit: Shutterstock)

There is a link between gluten intolerance and nut intolerance. A lot of people who do not eat animal protein rely on nuts as a major source of protein. This can become a problem when they do not have the digestive capability to breakdown these nuts. Nut allergies can range from digestive distress, immune challenges and inflammation.

Baking everything with almond flour or eating peanut butter in large quantities can trigger pain in the joints and many other inflammatory conditions as they contain oxalates. These oxalates can also trigger learning challenges in children.

Give eggs a complete break if they cause an allergic reaction (Pic credit: Shutterstock)

Eggs are a great food when they are free range, but they are definitely not for everyone. I know a large number of people who cannot tolerate them, as eggs can create an inflammatory cascade and cause pain.

As you can see, allergies are not black or white. It is different in every persons body. It also depends on the state of inflammation overall. When times are stressful, inflammation is heightened.

One of ways that you can support your body in the fight against COVID, is by keeping away from inflammatory foods. This will help you lower inflammation and strengthen your immune system.

(Images credit: Shutterstock)

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)

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Smart eating: Follow diets that do not cause inflammation in the body - YourStory