Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 3«..2345..1020..»

Home » Diet » Page 3

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

Continued here:
Maximize memory function with a nutrient-rich diet - The Daily News Online

Following a Mediterranean diet and taking omega-3 supplements may help reduce acne severity in patients with mild to moderate cases, according to new research published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.1 The study also showed that increased omega-3 levels led to improved clinical appearance and quality of life.

Diets high in processed foods and dairy products are known to increase the risk for acne, but there has been little research on how dietary interventions could help alleviate the severity of symptoms.

In the pursuit of skin health, and particularly in a juvenile patient cohort, such as acne vulgaris, clinicians and patients are more than ever seeking treatment approaches that go beyond the conventional options of topical and systemic prescription medications, the authors wrote. As the understanding of the interplay between so-called exposome factors and skin health deepens, there is increasing evidence pointing to the pivotal role of nutrition in shaping dermatoses.

Investigators from the University Hospital at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich conducted a study to assess EPA and DHA levels in patients with acne, as well as to examine the effect of dietary interventions and supplementation on clinical severity. The single-center intervention study occurred over a 16 week period .

The study cohort included 60 patients who were not currently taking a prescription medication, of which 23 had acne comedonica and 37 had acne papulopustulosa. For the study, patients adhered to a Mediterranean diet that focused on plants and unprocessed, seasonal, nutrient-dense ingredients. Patients were encouraged to make homemade meals and limit ultra-processed foods, dairy products, and meat.

Study participants also took 2 different doses of oral algae-derived omega-3 supplements throughout the study period: 600mg of DHA and 300mg of EPA for weeks 1 through 8; and 800mg of DHA and 400mg of EPA for weeks 8 through 16. Patients were evaluated at 4 follow-up visits: baseline, week 6, week 12, and week 16.

At baseline, 98.3% of patients had an EPA/DHA deficit. Investigators found that mean HS-omega 3 index scores rose from 4.9% at the first follow-up visit to 8.3% at the fourth follow-up visit. Patients with acne comedonica had higher indices at the fourth follow-up visit compared to patients with acne papulopustulosa. There were also objective improvements in inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions.

Additionally, although self-reported appearance in 4 patients worsened, patients overall quality of life improved. This was particularly seen in patients with acne papulopustulosa. No adverse events were reported during the study period.

Study limitations include an inability to provide each patient with meals and supplements due to time constraints, potential recall bias due to self-reported adherence to dietary recommendations, and a predominance of female participants, though the authors noted that this may not have significantly impacted the studys results.

Lifestyle interventions, including dietary recommendations, should not be considered in opposition to prescription medications, but rather as a valuable adjunct to any modern acne treatment plan, Anne Guertler, MD, a corresponding author on the study, said in a release.2 Future studies should build on the foundation laid by our current findings in a randomized, placebo-controlled design to improve dietary recommendations for acne patients.

References

[This article was originally published by our sister publication, Drug Topics.]

Excerpt from:
Mediterranean Diet and Omega-3 Supplements Shown to Reduce Acne Severity - Dermatology Times

Wanda Hammock experienced high cholesterol and knew she needed to change her eating habits. She switched to a plant-based diet after facing a diabetes diagnosis.

CASWELL COUNTY, N.C. We all know about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.

It helps boost your energy, supports weight loss, and helps protect you against many diseases.

One type of diet, Cone Health providers say can be beneficial, is a plant-based diet.

A Caswell County woman knows about the diet all too well. Wanda Hammock experienced high cholesterol and knew she needed to change her eating habits.

She switched to a plant-based diet in 2022 after facing a diabetes diagnosis.

She says the switch to eating healthy happened gradually.

"It was difficult at first because it was changing my habit. I am a busy person so I was eating on the run a lot. I was eating a lot of convenience foods, hitting the drive-thru - that sort of thing. I had to change my habits to start doing more meal prep for when I would eat and where I would eat," Hammock said.

Hammock said she began to eat more salads and beans by eliminating fast foods and processed foods.

Because of the diet, her health has improved.

She is much more happy and has lost over 70 pounds in 13 months.

"My lab work is phenomenal at this point - when I started this," Hammock said.

Dr. Gebre Nida, a diabetologist with Cone Health, works with more than 200 patients benefiting from the diet.

He says 93% of people in the world are medically unhealthy and that the top five medical conditions including diabetes benefit from a whole food plant-based diet.

"Keep foods simple from the ground or from the farmer as much as possible, instead of from the factories," Nida said.

He said the diet can help your body fight inflammation, giving you a good medical advantage.

See the rest here:
Triad woman loses 70 pounds after switching to a plant-based diet - WFMYNews2.com

Register for free to listen to this article

Thank you. Listen to this article using the player above.

Want to listen to this article for FREE?

Complete the form below to unlock access to ALL audio articles.

Children can reap the benefits of the Mediterranean diet just as well as adults, according to a new meta-analysis.

Researchers from the University of the Americas, Ecuador, reviewed nine previously published clinical trials which assessed how Mediterranean diets can affect cardiovascular health among children and adolescents.

The authors found that just eight weeks of Mediterranean-style nutrition was associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure and total cholesterol.

The results were published in JAMA Network Open.

Prior to the work of the University of the Americas researchers, there were several hundred published studies on the effects of the Mediterranean diets on the cardiometabolic health of children. There was no known meta-analysis of this literature, however.

To undertake this mammoth review, the researchers sifted through the available studies to find nine randomized controlled clinical trials. These robust studies accounted for 577 participants (59.6% girls, 40.4% boys) with an average age of 11 years. Six of the trials focused on children who were overweight; one trial enrolled children with prediabetes; the other two studies involved apparently healthy children.

After assessing the results of all nine trials, the researchers found that, compared to the control groups which didnt consume a Mediterranean diet, the children who did try the famed European regimen experienced a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure, blood lipids and total cholesterol. The Med-dieting children also experienced an increase in high-density lipoproteins, which are often known as good cholesterol.

The researchers believe these changes may be explained by the low levels of saturated fats and higher levels of mono- and poly-unsaturated fats (from olive oil, nuts, fish, etc.) typically found in Mediterranean meals.

The diets absence of ultra-processed foods the class of artificially altered food thought tocontribute to the rise of obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancers seen in the Western world may also have contributed to the health benefits seen in the children.

While the authors do acknowledge the caveats of their analysis mainly, the small number of trials involved they nonetheless conclude that Mediterranean diet-based interventions could be vital in curbing cases of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases that some children would otherwise have gone on to develop in later life. Mediterranean diet-based interventions in schools and hospitals could, they say, be a valuable tool for preventing these illnesses and optimizing cardiometabolic health in the younger population.

Reference: Lpez-Gil JF,Garca-Hermoso A,Martnez-Gonzlez M,Rodrguez-Artalejo F. Mediterranean Diet and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.JAMA Netw Open.2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.21976

See the original post:
Mediterranean Diets Benefit Childrens Heart Health as Well as Adults - Technology Networks

Hello, health enthusiasts! My name is Kaitlin, and Im here to provide you with some wellness tips to help you live your best life. The holiday week may have come and gone, but summer is still in high gear and so is extreme heat. Before you pick out your outfit, check out our guide on how to dress on hot days. Plus, read up on how to have the best July, from celebrating the Summer Olympics to getting your eyes checked. (It is Healthy Vision Month, after all.)

As always, check the weather in your area and your horoscope, if youre so inclined. Then read up on the below health and wellness tips to keep your summer the best one yet.

A new study found that older women who experienced more gratitude had a 9% lower risk of death from any cause over three years. Fortunately, gratitude is an easy skill to practice for anyone. Try writing down what you're thankful for in a gratitude journal each day it will also help you become more mindful overall.

July 11 was National Polyphenol Day but you should be including polyphenols in your diet year-round. Polyphenols are natural compounds found in plants, which have the power to potentially lower cancer risk, boost brain health and reduce inflammation. Berries, dark chocolate, green tea, red wine, apples and nuts like almonds and walnuts all have polyphenols in them, so you have plenty of opportunities to enjoy these good-for-you compounds.

We know that sitting all day is bad for your health and sitting on the wrong chair all day, or in the wrong position, can cause major pain. Aim for a chair that has good lumbar support, which can help distribute your body weight more evenly and dont stress about maintaining a straight, perfect-posture position all day, which can actually lead to more pain. Instead, incorporate many micro-movements throughout your day (like crossing and uncrossing your legs, or shifting your weight) in order to stay comfortable.

Gut health is a major topic on social media but in general, experts say we may be overly concerned with the so-called healing of our digestive systems. According to experts who spoke to Womens Health, though, there are certain signs that you should get a literal gut check, like frequent bouts of diarrhea, constipation or bloating. Just make sure to consult your doctor not your FYP.

The Mediterranean diet gets plenty of praise, but you may also want to try the Atlantic diet, which is inspired by the diets of the people living in northwest Spain and Portugal. While theres plenty of overlap between the Mediterranean diet and the Atlantic diet (both love olive oil, for example!), the Atlantic diet proposes eating more seafood, dairy, lean meat and nuts, as well as carbs like potatoes and bread. (The Mediterranean diets carb of choice is pasta.)

Got acne? The Mediterranean diet might be your better bet, according to a new study, which found that the diet led to significant reductions in skin lesions for participants. Researchers think that the anti-inflammatory effects of the low-sugar, high-omega-3 diet could be the reason why.

This newly trendy food (which includes sardines, anchovies and mackerel) is shelf-stable, and comes with good-for-you nutrients like B12 and vitamin D, as well as minerals like calcium and selenium. Toss some tiny fish in your salad, or blend them into a pasta sauce for a rich umami flavor.

Theres a lot of buzz (pun intended) around vibration plates, with some people claiming that exercising on these platforms can improve bone density and increase muscle strength. Experts say theyre onto something: These plates make your muscles contract in an attempt to maintain balance, which can make your body work harder overall. Next time you see one of these shake machines at the gym, hop on and try some squats or arm circles.

Going to a party where you wont know anyone? Saba Harouni Lurie, a licensed marriage and family therapist, gives helpful tips on how to feel more comfortable striking up conversations like offering to assist the host.

A new study published in Nature Medicine found that swapping out saturated animal fats (like butter) for plant-based unsaturated fats (like olive oil, a major component of the Mediterranean diet) may lower your risk of developing conditions like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. So, next time youre looking for a simple pasta dish, go for a drizzle of EVOO instead of butter and noodles.

More here:
Try the Atlantic diet, snack on berries and skip the butter. 9 health and wellness tips to help you have a healthy week. - Yahoo Life

State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe

Read the original:
Warsaw road diet work delayed - News on the Neck

Sleep may be one of the most underrated health habits. When we dont get enough of it, it can affect everything from mood and anxiety levels to immunity and heart health. But quality sleep can feel elusive to many of us. Whether you have a sleep disorder, like sleep apnea or insomnia, or find it difficult to unplug earlier in the evening so you get enough sleep, youre not alone. Around 40% of American adults are not getting sufficient sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sometimes the reason for insufficient sleep is difficult to figure out. If you feel like youre doing everything rightyouve got a bedtime routine that prepares your body for sleep and you sleep in darkness, allowing your body to produce melatoninand yet, you still dont sleep well, you might have a microbiome problem. A new literature review published on July 13, 2024, in Nutrients sheds some light on this very topic. Lets see what these researchers found when they dug into 203 studies on the sleep-gut connection.

Your gut contains millions of different microorganismsboth beneficial and potentially damagingthat influence gut and overall health. These microorganisms produce metabolitessubstances that are necessary for or a result of chemical reactions in the cells. All these microorganisms and their metabolites make up your microbiomeand this includes disease-causing bacteria, as well as health-inducing types of bacteria.

According to these researchers, our microbiomes begin to form at birth when the baby picks up bacteriaincluding healthy, beneficial bacteriafrom the mothers skin and vagina, depending on whether its a vaginal or cesarean birth. By the age of 5, the foundation of gut bacteria has been laid. And while its established early on in life, the microbiome will fluctuate throughout our lives, depending on many factors including diet, sleep, stress, exercise, medications, infections and environment.

Besides building a healthy gut, these microorganisms also produce chemicals (metabolites) necessary for overall good health. One of these is serotonin, which acts as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter (neurotransmitters carry messages between nerve cells) and plays a pivotal role in your bodys circadian rhythms, cognitive function, pain perception and emotional control. Circadian rhythms are a type of biological clock and are related to sleep-wake cycles. When youre regularly operating outside of your bodys natural circadian rhythms, youre more likely to get less quality sleep. It also affects your microbiomes health.

Serotonin is a precursor of melatonin, the chemical that is necessary for sleep. In other words, you must have enough serotonin to produce melatonin. And you must have enough melatonin to get good sleep. And to have enough serotonin, you need a healthy gut.

Are you starting to see a connection here?

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, GABA for short, is another chemical that is produced in the gut. GABA plays a role in stress relief and sleep regulation. Like serotonin, you must have a healthy gut to produce enough GABA.

Then there are short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These are formed in the gut from fiber, polyphenols (antioxidants) and omega-3 fatty acids. According to these researchers, certain types of SCFAs can signal the brain when its time to sleep. There is evidence that people with insomnia have been shown to have a decrease in the number of these SCFAs in their gut.

SCFAs also influence the production of serotonin and GABA. You must have enough SCFAs in your gut to produce enough serotonin (which, remember, is a precursor of melatonin) and GABA, which in turn will influence your sleep.

Its important to note that all of these connections are bidirectional. For example, while these metabolitesSCFAs, serotonin, melatonin and GABAcan affect sleep, sleep also influences the production of these metabolites. And so the cycle goes.

This literature review also revealed what foods contribute to a healthy gut and which ones negatively affect the microbiome. Regular, excessive intake of saturated fats, sugar, red and processed meats, and alcohol changes the microbiome in unhealthy ways.

Foods that are high in fiber, polyphenols and unsaturated fatty acids, on the other hand, can stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the growth of unhealthy bacteria, supporting a lush microbiome thats loaded with beneficial bacteria and metabolites.

These researchers also point out that the timing of eating matters, too. They found that studies suggest that eating later at night can negatively affect circadian rhythms and the microbiome. There is also evidence to suggest that eating at regular intervals helps with circadian rhythms, whereas irregular eating patterns and skipping meals can mess with the rhythmsand consequently, the microbiome.

At EatingWell we believe that all foods can fit into a healthy, balanced diet and that health is about overall patterns. This means that occasionally eating something sweet or having an old-fashioned bologna-and-cheese sandwich on white bread is probably OK in moderationprobably because it depends on each individuals health status and lifestyle. But it's important to consider your eating pattern as a whole.

Are you regularly noshing on a variety of foods that are high in fiber, antioxidants and healthy fats? This includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains and seafood. Many plant-based foods act as prebiotics, providing food for your beneficial bacteria so they can multiply and thrive.

While this study doesnt specifically mention fermented foods, we know that they also contribute to a healthy gut by adding probioticsthe beneficial bacteria in our microbiome. This includes foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and miso.

This also applies to other health habits. For example, we all go through stressful times in our lives. Its when that stress becomes chronic and habitual that it negatively influences our health. Same with sleep.

To start, examine your current patterns in the areas of eating, exercise, stress and sleep. Are your patterns contributing to health or deterring from it?

This literature review includes hundreds of studies that help connect the dots between sleep and gut health. Hormones that contribute to quality sleep are produced in the gut, so it makes sense that you need to have a healthy, thriving microbiome to produce these hormones at optimal levels. Including a variety of foods that support gut health and limiting those that dont will go a long way toward cultivating a healthy microbiome. Its important to remember that this is a bidirectional relationship. While your microbiome will influence your sleep, how much quality sleep youre getting will influence your microbiome. Other health habits also influence gut health, including diet, exercise and stress.

See more here:
Having Trouble Sleeping? Your Diet May Be the Reason, According to a New Study - EatingWell

According to a new study from the University of Georgia, genetics play an important role when it comes to determining if a vegetarian diet is right for you. Published by PLOS Genetics, the study was written by lead author Michael Franics, a graduate of UGAs Institute of Bioinformatics and co-authored by Kaixiong Ye of UGAs Department of Genetics and both Kenneth Westerman and Alisa Manning, of Harvard University.

For many, vegetarianism leads to health benefits like lowered cholesterol and decreased risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. But for some, this specialized diet may come with a cost, the researchers said. The study examined how differences in genes influence how a person responds to nutrients and potential diet-related disease.

Fracis said it provides a strong knowledge base for improving overall health outcomes through nutrition. Francis was a vegetarian for seven years throughout his teens and 20s and, though he eats meat now, he said that it was one of the main reasons he chose to study nutrigenetics.

We are building a scientific foundation for personalized nutrition, which optimizes human health at the level of the individual, instead of one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations, Francis said in a press release.

The researchers analyzed data from over 150,000 participants, and identified 2,300 who followed strict parameters for a vegetarian diet to determine how genetics affect health benefits. They found that most vegetarians had lower cholesterol across all measures, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein levels, which can be beneficial for heart health.

Vegetarians also had lower Vitamin D levels and higher levels of triglycerides than non-vegetarians. Vitamin D is important for bone health and immune function, and a deficiency can lead to negative health effects. Higher levels of triglycerides, which are a type of fat in the blood, can also increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

By including a genetic component to their analysis, the study found that when specific gene variants, also known as minor alleles, were present, participants saw different health outcomes. This included a variant of the gene MMAA, which relates to calcium metabolism. While most vegetarians see decreased calcium levels, which can have noteworthy negative effects, individuals with this minor allele saw increased calcium levels. This could lead to improvements in bone health and dental health, but high levels of calcium can also have negative health effects including kidney stone development or cardiovascular issues.

Others might see an impact on their hormone levels. While the majority of vegetarians see a decrease in testosterone, a smaller group with another gene variant saw increased testosterone levels. The third significant interaction, according to the study, was a gene variant related to kidney function and kidney filtration rates. The presence of this minor allele modified the effect of vegetarianism, taking it from increasing the eGFR, or estimated glomerular filtration rate, to decreasing that filtration rate.

Highlighting these differences can help individuals find the best diet for the individual needs according to Francis.

People with specific and immediate nutritional requirements related to these three traits should consider being tested for the variants we describe in this manuscript and making changes accordingly, Francis said in a press release.

Moving forward, this study can support future nutrigenetics studies and clinical trials, helping researchers better understand the impact of diet on different groups.

Original post:
UGA study reveals vegetarian diet benefits arent one-size-fits-all - Red and Black

Summary: Female athletes consuming only half their caloric needs for 14 days experienced significant drops in performance and muscle mass. This low energy availability also weakened their immune systems.

The harmful effects couldnt be reversed by short-term refeeding, highlighting the risks of weight loss practices in sports. The findings emphasize the need for awareness and better support for athletes.

Key Facts:

Source: University of Copenhagen

Whether selected to swim, row or run in the Olympics, or gearing up to ride in the Tour de France, achieving the right weight has been a focal point of many elite athletes for decades. It could be to look lean and mean in a swimsuit or jersey, or to qualify for a certain weight category. But there is also a belief that losing weight enhances performance.

As such, it is a widespread phenomenon among athletesespecially inendurance sportslike running, swimming, cycling and rowingto reduce theirdietary intakein the run-up to competition.

It is particularly problematic among female endurance athletes. Many athletes focus heavily on weight in their respective sports. Consequently, they tend to go into short-term, but intense periods of weight loss with the expectation of performing better, says Professor Ylva Hellsten of the University of Copenhagens Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports.

She and Ph.D. student Jan Sommer Jeppesen are two of the researchers behinda new studyon the effects of low energy availability amongfemale athletes.

The paper is published in the journalRedox Biology.

We know that the phenomenon of not eating enough is associated with many things that are harmful to healthincluding missed periods, compromised bone health and changes in metabolism. But there is still plenty that we dont know. As such, we investigated some of the possible consequences more closely, says Jeppesen, who is the studys lead author.

For the study, the researchers recruited twelve female triathletes, all of whom had a normal energy intake. During one part of the trial, the athletes were given enough calories for 14 days, after which their performance was tested. The same athletes also went through a 14-day period during which they consumed only about 50% of their energy needs while sticking to their normal intensive training schedule.

During the period with insufficient calories, athletes lost an average of roughly 4% of their body weight, about half of which was muscle mass. And they experienced a loss in performance:

The fourteen days of insufficient food intake reduced their performance by 7.7% in a 20-minute time trial on a bike, which is quite significant. And during a more intense short-term test, their performance slid by as much as 18%. So there is no doubt that this practice greatly impairs ones performance as an athlete, even over shorter periods of time, says Jeppesen.

In addition to sports performance, the researchers examined the effects on athletes immune function.

Among other things, we saw that insufficient energy intake was associated with increased systemic stress. The athletes had a large increase in cortisol, a stress hormone, and a dramatically increased stress level in immune cells. This suggests that there is a quite severe impact on several aspects of the immune system if one doesnt eat enough. This may potentially contribute to athletes being more exposed to illness, says Jeppesen.

The researchers hope that the results of the study will help create more awareness of the phenomenon.

Many coaches continue to pressure athletes to lose weight. For many years, it has been a part of the culture in the sports worldand remains so. We need to shed light on the phenomenon and ask critically: What are we actually doing to our athletes both physically and psychologically? says Hellsten.

Team Denmark, the Danish elite sport organization, welcomes the new research results with open arms.

It focuses on a really important topic and challenges the attitude that lighter is always better. The theory and culture remains prevalent in many sports. I experience many athletes who trim their weight in the weeks leading up to a competition, but without understanding the consequences of doing so, says Majke Jrgensen, a sports nutritionist and manager at Team Denmark.

She sees the results as useful knowledge that can support a message that Team Denmark has been trying to promote:

My experience is that elite athletes and coaches are curious, but need research that backs up any critiques of the phenomenon. Here, the fact that thetest subjectsare actual athletes is a major strength, so that the results can be transferred to the athletes and coaches that Team Denmark supports.

We will use these results to support what we are already trying to communicate, both when we sit down with athletes one-on-one, as well as during workshops and presentations in these types of contexts, says Jrgensen.

After fourteen days of low energy availability (LEA), the athletes underwent a three-day refeeding period as part of the trial, during which they were provided plenty to eat.

We had expected that the three days of enough food would restore their performanceand maybe even improve itbut there was absolutely no effect. Their performance was just as degraded as prior to the three days. This tells us that the negative effects cannot be reversed by quickly replenishing energy stores, which is a strategy used by many athletes, says Jeppesen.

According to the research literature, men tend to be more resilient when it comes to insufficient energy intake.

Based upon the rather limited research in this area, it seems that men are able to tolerate reduced energy intake before it affects us negatively. This indicates that women in particular are a vulnerable population in this respect, says Jeppesen.

The gender difference is partly due to the fact that low energy availability can cause a womans estrogen levels to drop drastically. Since estrogen protects the circulatory system, muscles and bones, etc., estrogen loss has extensive effects on a womans physiology.

Hellsten points out that theharmful effectsof not eating enough for long periods of time, especially in women, can therefore also be lifelong.

Author: Ylva Hellsten Source: University of Copenhagen Contact: Ylva Hellsten University of Copenhagen Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access. Low energy availability increases immune cell formation of reactive oxygen species and impairs exercise performance in female endurance athletes by Ylva Hellsten et al. Redox Biology

Abstract

Low energy availability increases immune cell formation of reactive oxygen species and impairs exercise performance in female endurance athletes

The effects of low energy availability (LEA) on the immune system are poorly understood. This study examined the effects of 14 days of LEA on immune cell redox balance and inflammation at rest and in response to acute exercise, and exercise performance in female athletes.

Twelve female endurance athletes (age: 26.83.4yrs, maximum oxygen uptake (O2max): 55.25.1 mLmin1kg1) were included in a randomized, single-blinded crossover study. They were allocated to begin with either 14 days of optimal energy availability diet (OEA, 522kcalkg fat free mass (FFM)1day1) or LEA diet (222kcalkg FFM1day1), followed by 3 days of refueling (OEA) with maintained training volume. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and plasma obtained at rest before and after each dietary period. The PBMCs were used for analysis of mitochondrial respiration and H2O2emission and specific proteins. Exercise performance was assessed on cycle by a 20-min time trial and time to exhaustion at an intensity corresponding to 110%O2max).

LEA was associated with a 94% (P=0.003) increase in PBMC NADPH oxidase 2 protein content, and a 22% (P=0.013) increase in systemic cortisol. LEA also caused an alteration of several inflammatory related proteins (P<0.05). Acute exercise augmented H2O2emission in PBMCs (P<0.001) following both OEA and LEA, but to a greater extent following LEA. LEA also reduced the mobilization of white blood cells with acute exercise. After LEA, performance was reduced in both exercise tests (P<0.001), and the reduced time trial performance remained after the 3 days of refueling (P<0.001).

14 days of LEA in female athletes increased cortisol levels and had a pronounced effect on the immune system, including increased capacity for ROS production, altered plasma inflammatory proteome and lowered exercise induced mobilization of leukocytes. Furthermore, LEA resulted in a sustained impairment in exercise performance.

More here:
Low-Calorie Diets Harm Athletes Performance and Health - Neuroscience News

When artificial sweeteners entered the U.S. market in the 1950s, food manufacturers made a big claim: That they could satisfy the American sweet tooth without the negative health effects and calories of sugar.

Today, artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes have become ubiquitous in the food supply, showing up in a slew of products including diet sodas, sliced bread and low-sugar yogurts not to mention your morning coffee.

But questions about sugar substitutes have been swirling for decades, with scientists and public health officials suggesting they might come with certain health risks of their own.

The research on how sugar substitutes affect our bodies is preliminary, complex and sometimes contradictory.

They havent been studied as much as they should be in humans, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University.

That leaves us with many questions about how to weigh their potential benefits and risks. Heres what we know.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit andlog intoyour Times account, orsubscribefor all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?Log in.

Want all of The Times?Subscribe.

Read more here:
Are Artificial Sweeteners Safer Than Sugar? - The New York Times

Page 3«..2345..1020..»

Home » Diet » Page 3