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The MIND diet is many things, but a fad diet for fast weight loss it is not.

And that's a good thing, because there are way too many of those dietsand not one of them is great for your long-term health.

The MIND diet, its proponents say, is all about delaying brain decline and slowing the onset of dementia. True to its name, what you put into your belly affects the performance of your brain.

So how's that work? In short: By eating more foods loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and disease-fighting antioxidants and fewer inflammatory foods (butter, cheese, red meat), youll increase your brainpower, MIND advocates say.

Those promises are pretty amazing and the MIND diet does have scientific backing. What's more, MIND might be easier to follow than even the much-heralded Mediterranean diet, which can be a tad restrictive and requires you to eat fish, like, every single day. Plus, the MIND diet even permits you to drink a little wine and you don't have to count calories.

That said, there are few knocks on MIND diet, particularly in terms of its bad brain foods, according to critics.

So is the MIND diet right for you? Can the MIND diet delay brain decline and slow the onset of dementia? Is the research behind it solid?

We had questions too. Thats why we contacted experts to gut-check the diet and find some answers.

Heres what our nutritional and mental health advisors on our Advisory Board sayand if the MIND diet is actually a smart idea.

The MIND diet is short for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. (Yeah, a doozy.)

Basically, youre taking in bushels of brain-aiding grains, greens, berries, fish, and even a little wine. This isnt some Internet fad, eithernutritional epidemiologist Martha Clare Morris, Sc.D., created the MIND diet from her decades of brain research. Morris built the diets pecifically to prevent Alzheimers in people 65 and older.

Food is one of the most important levers that we pull when it comes to brain health, says Drew Ramsey, M.D., a Mens Health advisor.

And the benefits of the MIND diet may go beyond the brain.

A 2021 study in the British Journal of Nutrition found that people on the MIND diet reduced their risk of cardiovascular conditions like hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.

Most of the research on MIND has only shown a relationship, not a direct cause, saysBrian St. Pierre, R.D., a Mens Health advisor.

So theres no proof that the MIND diet alone is the cause of the brain benefits. And that part about eliminating all those inflammatory bad brain foods?

The evidence against eating reasonable amounts of minimally processed red meat and aged cheese is not strong, St. Pierre says.

Even if youre younger than 65 and dont have a family history of neurological diseases, the MIND diet is a good way to eat, says St. Pierre.

Having more fruits and vegetables, plus fish rich in omega-3s, is a recommendation smart dietitians always make, brain health aside. And if you can do that without the headache of counting calories, all the better.

A version of this article originally appeared in the May/June 2022 issue of Men's Health.

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What Is the Mind Diet? Benefits, Drawbacks, & Brain Health - Men's Health

CLAIM

Exipure weight loss supplement is scientifically proven to be effective; BPS-5 supplement effectively reduces blood pressure

DETAILS

Inadequate support: There isnt reliable scientific evidence showing that Exipure effectively promotes weight loss or that BPS-5 is clinically proven to reduce blood pressure.

KEY TAKE AWAY

Many types of supplements or homemade remedies are being promoted on social media platforms. However, a closer examination of such claims often proves that they are greatly exaggerated or unsubstantiated by the scientific evidence. To date, there is no miracle solution for long-term weight control; to effectively achieve this goal generally requires increasing physical activity and eating a healthy, balanced diet.

REVIEW Numerous videos posted to Facebook in May 2022 publicized various health-promoting supplements (see examples here and here), claiming that these could aid in weight loss and reduce high blood pressure (hypertension). Its unclear who or what organization is behind the posting of these ads on Facebook. Health Feedback previously covered similarly dubious yet viral advertising campaigns on the platform, like these ones about CBD gummies, apple cider vinegar, and keto diet pills.

These posts contain links to web domains with innocuous-sounding names, such as thefriendshiphub.com, feeling-grateful-today.com, and naturalbloodpressurefix.com. The examples observed by Health Feedback so far led to websites that promote either a weight loss supplement called Exipure or a blood pressure-lowering supplement called BPS-5. These claims are purportedly posted by someone named Ted Bennett, although its unknown if this is the posters true identity or simply a pseudonym. These websites urge the user to click on a video, whereupon the user is directed to another page to order the supplement.

However, the bold claims are belied by a disclaimer on both webpages, stating that:

Statements found on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using our products.

These pages contain a list of scientific references that allegedly support their claims. Health Feedback examined these studies and found that the claims greatly exaggerated or misrepresented these studies; some werent even studies. We detail our findings below.

Exipure is marketed as a weight loss supplement that dissolves fat overnightthe product on the website is specifically retailed by BuyGoods, a company located in the U.S. The website cited 14 studies relating to the ingredients in Exipure, namely Perilla frutescens (beefsteak plant), kudzu, holy basil, ginseng, amur cork bark, propolis, quercetin, oleuropein.

Ten of these studies were conducted in animals like rats and mice, while two were performed on cells growing in the laboratory (cell culture). While in vitro and in vivo studies such as these are important in scientific research, they dont reflect the conditions in the human body. Instead, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans are the gold standard for determining if a treatment is effective.

Just one study cited in the list was a RCT. That study examined the effects of an extract of kudzu, or Japanese arrowroot, on weight loss in 81 people with obesity. If we take into account the fact that these 81 people were further divided into three groups (placebo, 200 mg extract, 300 mg extract), we can see that the groups are quite small, with 25 in the placebo group and 28 each in the extract groups.

The study reported that the extract reduced body mass index by reducing fat, however, this effect was only seen in the group taking 300 mg of extract. Exactly how much kudzu extract is present in Exipure is unknown. As a dietary supplement, Exipure is less strictly regulated compared to drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations regulations. The small size of the study also greatly limits the generalizability of the findings.

Overall, the evidence base for the claim that Exipure is effective at aiding weight loss is largely made up of animal studies that dont necessarily prove that the compounds work in humans. No large RCT examining the effects of the ingredients in Exipure, either individually or in combination, showing any effect, are available.

BPS-5 is promoted as a blood pressure and circulation support, marketed on a website named Golden After 50, using ingredients provided by Mother Nature herself. The ingredients listed are hawthorn berry, magnesium, GABA, nattokinase, and grape seed extract. The website appears to be owned by Healthy Trends Worldwide LLC in the U.S.

Like the Exipure supplement, part of the marketing tactic is to draw attention to the naturalness of the ingredients as a positive attribute. This is a common feature of health-related claims known as the naturalistic fallacy or the appeal to nature. In other words, if something is natural then it must be good. In reality, this is a poor line of reasoning; its easy to think of many examples of naturally occurring compounds, such as snake venom, that are harmful.

The website claimed that BPS-5 is supported by 17 studies. Two were actually animal studies, while another was a study in 36 people examining the ability of hawthorn extract and magnesium, individually or in combination, to lower blood pressure. However, the researchers actually reported no evidence of difference between treatments, although they suggested that this could be due to the low level of hawthorn extract used.

Another study was a RCT examining the ability of Chlorella, a type of algae, to reduce blood pressure based on its rich GABA content. GABA or gamma-aminobutyric acid is a neurotransmitter in humans involved in many biological processes, such as metabolism and immunity. Its also found in plants and insects. GABA is primarily an inhibitory neurotransmitter, meaning that it reduces the likelihood that neurons will fire. Its unclear how much GABA supplements would alter the level of GABA in the body, and whether such supplements could lead to adverse effects. But we know that excessive GABA can lead to problems, like daytime sleepiness.

The study reported that GABA-rich Chlorella significantly decreased high-normal blood pressure and borderline hypertension, and is a beneficial dietary supplement for prevention of the development of hypertension. However, the study is limited in two ways: firstly, patients were being treated with Chlorella extracts, which contain a mixture of various compounds, including GABA. This would make it difficult to attribute any observed effect specifically to GABA alone. Furthermore, the researchers didnt quantify the amount of GABA that patients consumed, so we dont know how well it would compare to the amount of GABA present in BPS-5.

The list of scientific references also include studies that are irrelevant to the claim that BPS-5 lowers blood pressure. One study was a Cochrane review of RCTs that looked at the effect of hawthorn in patients with chronic heart failure; it didnt examine the effect of hawthorn on hypertension. The same goes for a study about the effect of vitamin C and grape seed extract on people who had coronary artery bypass surgery; a study examining the effect of grape seed compound on oxidative stress that included ten people, which didnt examine blood pressure; a press release about a study reporting magnesiums importance for vitamin D absorption, which also didnt study blood pressure; an editorial, which isnt the same thing as a study, that made no mention of the ingredients in BPS-5.

One was a study about the biochemical properties of nattokinase, an enzyme found in a Japanese fermented bean dish called natto, that didnt involve animal or human studies; it didnt examine the effect of nattokinase on blood pressure. Another was a review about the effects of antioxidants on hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. However, that review concluded by saying that antioxidant therapy has not been shown to be consistently beneficial [] large clinical trials are needed to document the role of oxidative stress in hypertension and the possible treatment of hypertension with antioxidants.

In summary, the list of scientific studies that supposedly support the claims made by these companies very quickly dwindles to nothing, when we apply a critical eye to the studies themselves. There isnt reliable scientific evidence showing that Exipure effectively promotes weight loss or that BPS-5 is clinically proven to reduce blood pressure.

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No reliable scientific evidence supports the use of dietary supplements marketed as weight loss and blood pressure aids in viral Facebook posts -...

CLAIM

Apple cider vinegar and thermogenic supplements are effective for rapid weight loss

DETAILS

Inadequate support: Research about the effect of apple cider vinegar on weight loss is limited to a few studies in animals and small trials in humans. The modest effects observed after consuming apple cider vinegar and thermogenic supplements are unlikely to cause very large weight loss.

KEY TAKE AWAY

There are few studies examining the effect of apple vinegar consumption on weight control and these tend to be small and focused only on very specific situations or segments of the population, such as diabetic patients. As such, the results arent generalizable to everybody. Studies on the effect of thermogenic supplements, which are products that supposedly increase the bodys metabolism, are also scarce and dont show that these products lead to a large and rapid weight loss. People who lose weight gradually and steadily through a healthy diet and regular physical activity are more successful at keeping weight off in the long term.

REVIEW Posts promoting a weight loss beverage went viral on Facebook in May 2022. Multiple Facebook pages shared similar video clips of a cup containing a dark tea in which someone poured a spoon of apple cider vinegar and a spoon of an unidentified white powder. All the videos showed exactly the same glass and dosing spoons and seemed recorded at the same location. Many also contained the same text claiming to have lost 45 kilograms without diet and exercise after a simple 10 second liquid hack.

The pages that published the clip appeared related to a variety of topics, including wellness, sports, vehicles, and pets. Clicking on the Learn More button on these pages led to several different websites registered to Japanese and Vietnamese internet service providers. All the domains were registered in May 2022, and their only content was a testimonial from a woman claiming to have lost an incredible amount of weight.

The websites ran an Amazon ad for a dietary supplement containing caffeine, green tea, and the amino acid derivative L-carnitine. These ingredients are claimed to have a thermogenic effect, that is, to increase the amount of calories that the body burns in metabolic processes. Most of these ingredients are supposed to increase the release or reduce the breakdown of adrenaline[1], a hormone involved in the use and distribution of stored fat. The hypothesis is that these supplements lead to weight loss by boosting metabolism, reducing appetite, and/or reducing the amount of fat that the body stores.

But as we explain below, the claims that thermogenic supplements and apple cider vinegar are effective strategies for quickly losing large amounts of weight are widespread but unsubstantiated by scientific evidence. The use of scientifically unsubstantiated claims and the lack of transparency on the part of those posting these ads are signs of dishonest marketing tactics and suggest that these posts might be part of a viral scam.

Vinegar is a sour condiment that results from a two-step fermentation process. First, yeast converts the natural sugar present in some foods, like rice or fruits, into alcohol. A bacterium, generally from the genus Acetobacter, is then used to convert this alcohol into acetic acid[2].

Vinegar has been historically used to flavor foods, as a preservative, and as a home remedy. In recent years, apple cider vinegar has been widely promoted as a detox ingredient and a health booster, either on its own or combined with other ingredients such as baking soda and L-carnitine. Claims about the health benefits of apple cider vinegar go from making you lose weight to treating diabetes and even curing cancer.

However, there is little scientific support for most of these claims. There is no research on the effect of apple cider vinegar mixed with supplements or baking soda on weight loss. A few small studies have evaluated the effect of apple cider vinegar on weight loss, but evidence supporting a benefit is weak.

Not all research designs provide the same quality of evidence. Large-scale, double-blind, randomized controlled trials are considered the gold standard for evaluating the efficacy of a treatment. Such design allows researchers to reduce biases and control for confounding factors, such as differences in demographics or physical activity, which could otherwise be wrongly associated with the treatment. However, many of the studies on apple cider vinegar lack blinding, dont include an adequate control group, or are limited to specific groups of people. In addition, the small number of participants involved in these studies is unlikely to produce conclusive results.

In 2009, researchers in Japan administered none, one, or two daily tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the regular diet of 155 obese adults. After three months, the researchers observed that the groups consuming vinegar had lost one to two kilograms and had a slightly lower blood triglyceride level and fat mass. These results suggest that, at most, apple cider vinegar might have a modest effect on weight loss. But the study is still too small to be conclusive. It is also unclear whether these results would apply to other populations with diets that are very different from that in Japan, both in terms of calorie intake and type of foods.

In 2018, another small trial studied the effect of apple cider vinegar combined with a low-calorie diet on body weight and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels in 39 obese volunteers[3]. After three months, all the participants lost weight, but the group consuming apple cider vinegar lost about one kilogram more compared to those who didnt. However, the design of the study and the small number of participants make these results inconclusive.

Proponents of apple cider vinegar claim that vinegar makes you lose weight by reducing appetite and insulin levels. The authors of the 2018 trial did observe that the group consuming vinegar showed less appetite compared to those who didnt consume vinegar. A 2013 randomized controlled trial in the U.K. testing palatable and unpalatable vinegar found that the effect of vinegar on appetite control was related to the feelings of nausea caused by drinking vinegar[4]. However, it is unclear whether the slightly sweet apple cider vinegar produces the same effect.

There is some evidence suggesting that apple cider vinegar might lower after-meal blood sugar levels in healthy people[5] and in type 2 diabetic patients[6,7]. However, these are small studies that only showed temporary, modest effects on blood sugar level. And in general, these studies detected effects from vinegar only after consumption of high-glycemic level meals, that is, meals that tend to raise your blood sugar to a high level quickly. This effect didnt occur in the case of low-glycemic index meals[7].

Overall, these results suggest that while there might be some benefits to consuming apple cider vinegar, these are modest and unlikely to produce the miraculous levels of rapid weight loss that these Facebook posts claimed apple cider vinegar can produce. The benefit observed in these studies was also limited to certain situations, such as in diabetic patients, and therefore not generalizable to everybody. Furthermore, the quality of evidence is low, and drawing a definite conclusion requires larger and well-controlled clinical studies. A systematic review published in the European Journal of Nutrition in 2020 analyzed the effect of apple cider vinegar on body weight and metabolism from 12 previous studies in animals and 13 in humans[8]. The study concluded:

Due to inadequate research of high quality, the evidence for the health effects of AV is insufficient. Therefore, more large-scale, long-term clinical studies with a low risk of bias are needed before definitive conclusions can be made.

Consuming large amounts of apple cider vinegar can also have side effects and contraindications due to its high acidity. For example, vinegar can erode the tooth enamel, irritate the throat, and interact with certain medications, including diuretics and insulin.

Some studies do show that ingredients like caffeine, L-carnitine, and green tea might increase metabolism[9-11]. But whether this effect makes a meaningful difference in weight loss remains unclear as studies have produced mixed results[12-15]. A 2012 Cochrane systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials concluded that the effect of green tea in overweight and obese adults induced a small, statistically non-significant weight loss that is not likely to be clinically important[14].

Another review published in 2020 analyzed published literature about commonly-marketed supplements for weight loss from 2006 to 2016. The authors concluded that these supplements were unlikely to contribute to meaningful weight loss and in some cases may cause extreme side-effects such as liver and kidney failure[16].

Overall, the results from these studies dont suggest that thermogenic supplements cause large weight loss. Furthermore, supplements arent subject to the same strict regulations for safety and efficacy as medicines. Some might contain questionable ingredients, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found many of them to be downright dangerous due to the presence of hidden active ingredients.

In short, apple cider vinegar may be a healthy addition to the diet. While more research is needed to better assess the effect of apple cider vinegar on weight loss, consuming vinegar alone is unlikely to have a significant impact on weight. There is also no compelling scientific evidence suggesting that thermogenic ingredients are highly effective for weight loss, contrary to claims on social media. In addition, some commercially available supplements have been found to cause dangerous side effects.

To date, there is no known weight control method that produces significant weight loss within a short time without requiring a person to reduce their caloric intake or increase their physical activity. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reminds us that lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet and regular physical activity, are more effective at keeping weight off in the long term.

This review was updated to add further context regarding thermogenic supplements, including seven scientific references (1 and 11 to 16 ).

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No scientific evidence supports the claim that consuming apple cider vinegar is a rapid and effective long-term weight control approach - Health...

Winter Everett has gone on a public weight loss journey since she first appeared on 90 Day Fianc. During the upcoming season of her familys spinoff show, The Family Chantel, Winter takes a dramatic step for her health, undergoing weight loss surgery.

Fans first met Winter when she appeared as a guest in 90 Day Fianc: Happily Ever After? In 2017. Her family later became the stars of their spinoff show after grabbing fans attention with their relatable personalities.

Although Winter got her reality TV start as Chantel Jimenos younger sister, The Family Chantel now revolves around her own life. Season 3 focused on her relationship with former longtime boyfriend Jah. In the shows upcoming season, Winter dives deeper into her weight loss journey.

In a 2016 episode of 90 Day Fianc, Winter took cameras along to a consultation appointment for bariatric surgery. She was 313 pounds at the time. In 2020, Winter lost 50 pounds and has continued to shed weight ever since. During season 4 of her familys TLC show, Winter takes the next step in her health journey and moves forward with the weight loss surgery she contemplated years prior.

Winter underwent gastric sleeve surgery. The procedure, which is also called sleeve gastrectomy, is a type of bariatric surgery that shrinks the stomach for the purpose of long-term weight loss.

However daunting, Winter did not have to face the operation alone. Her mom, Karen Everett, and sister Chantel were there alongside her to offer support.

While comforting her sister before the surgery, Chantel assured Winter that its going to be OK, adding that it is the start of a new beginning for her.

After reassuring Winter, Chantel goes on to explain that the surgeon will be removing 75 percent of her siblings stomach.

The fourth season of the TLC show airs Monday, June 6.

See original here:
90 Day Fiance Star Winter Everetts Gastric Surgery: Everything We Know About the Weight Loss Procedure - inTouch Weekly

Paolo Carpaneto has always been the type of guy who was interested in getting in shape, but he just didn't know where to begin. Like many others in his position, he didn't come from a background of weight lifting or gym training and only briefly practiced sports in his youth.

"I always wanted to start any activity to get back in shape, but I didnt take it seriously," Carpaneto said. "I didnt have the support that I needed to continue and progress on my goals."

But in 2020, when his weight started to balloon and his daily activities began to become hindered, Carpaneto knew that he needed to act, and act now.

"At the time I was 227 pounds. Climbing the stairs, lacing my shoes, and finding clothes were all issues," he said. "I think this was my 'low point', and I said to myself: it's now or never."

Many people have experienced the type of low-point that Carpaneto is describing, and it can be made even more tough by not having someone in your corner to motivate you to get your life back on track. This is what ultimately spurred his decision to contact Ultimate Performance Singapore.

"One day, my boss described the UP Fitness method and suggested I give it a try," he said. "I remember that during the conversation he mentioned: 'Hey, they have a small package of 14 sessions, you can try'. These 14 sessions become 2 years."

Joining a new workout program is not always easy and can be daunting for many people who aren't in great shape. For Carpaneto, this was also certainly the case. He goes on to describe the shape he was in before he started his training plan.

"I think the correct definition is 'unbalanced'," he said. "Physicallybecause there was no diet or any planned activity, I was eating whatever was ready and when was possible, and mentallybecause I was focused only on what was easy for me without challenging myself in new activities or goals."

It's important to recognize that everyone feels a little overwhelmed when starting a new training plan, but the key is to stick with it. With the help of his trainer, Owen, Carpaneto was able to remain consistent in the gym and add strength fast.

"I usually have three sessions with Owen every week and one or two running /jogging alone," he said. "I had several weight programs too. The first was to learn the basic movement, then I had the 5x5 program and then high repetition. We gave them funny names such as Arnold Mode and TROY, but all of them are full body workout."

While Carpaneto found success in his new strength training routines, he also needed to get his diet on track too. This is often the step that people neglect when starting a new workout plan. As they say, six-packs are made in the kitchen, not the gym.

Prior to his transition, he would usually start the day with black coffee and finish it off with high- calorie and carb foods for lunch and dinner. This was something his trainer knew Carpaneto immediately needed to stop.

"It was not easy. Owen put a lot of effort on teaching me how to track the food, the calories and the macros," Carpaneto said. "He started from the basics. He gave me four meals per day and suggested a basic menu with plenty of options. He also sent me a lot of podcasts and articles that explained the importance of nutrition and being consistent to see results."

Having someone like Owen during a weight-loss transformation is vitally important to achieving the desired results. Exercise trainers are often well-versed, experts in all-things nutrition and weight-loss related, so their advice should be trusted.

During his transformation, his diet included the following:

3 large eggs and coffee

Chicken breast, broccoli or cauliflower or any vegetables to reach 150 grams

White fish/salmon or Chicken breast with vegetables.

Protein shakes

This strict diet mixed with multiple days of full-body workouts and cardio per week helped Carpaneto lose unwanted fat and gain muscle in its absence. In total, he lost just under 64 pounds and lowered his body fat percentage from 31 percent to 15.5 percent.

However, not all of the changes he's experienced are purely physical. Carpaneto said that his weight-loss transformation has helped him feel more confident and full of energyeven giving him what he describes as a "Navy Seal mindset." His new life has also spurred his love for a long-lost sportrunning.

"Before the transition, I wasn't able anymore to run for more than 100 meters," he said. "This was something that made me depressed. Now, I can perform a 5K in a reasonable time. I ran in a competition here in Singapore, and I did my 5K in little more than 30 minutes. Not bad for +40-year-old at his first competition."

Despite all the progress Carpaneto has made during his weight-loss transformation, he's not done achieving his goals yet.

"Im not yet finished," he said. "At the moment, I have one session every week with Owen, and we are working to build more muscle in a long term project. This will challenge me more on staying consistent and try to put in place what I learned until now."

This interview has been edited for clarity.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

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The Simple Diet and Workout Plan That Helped This Man Lose 60 Pounds in 6 Months - Men's Health

Two decades ago, the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) clearly demonstrated that type 2 diabetes could often be slowed or prevented in people diagnosed with early signs of it (prediabetes). One approach tested was a low-calorie healthy diet combined with at least 150 minutes of activity to help participants lose at least 7% of body weight. Another was metformin therapy, a medicine widely used to treat diabetes. Both were compared to a control group given a placebo (fake) pill.

A recent follow-up study has focused on death rates from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all causes in subsequent years and the findings for the three groups were in some ways unexpected.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common long-term illnesses worldwide. Over time, it can cause heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney problems, raising risks for disability and early death. If laboratory tests show that a person has prediabetes, well-vetted strategies can help them delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, or prevent it. This could allow people to remain healthier for many years.

The results from the original study show that lifestyle modification and metformin therapy each very effectively lower risk for developing diabetes in people who have prediabetes. The reduction in risk was 58% and 31%, respectively, compared to the control group.

The original DPP cohort of 3,234 participants was invited to remain in the follow-up observation study known as the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). Most participants have now been followed for over two decades, providing a unique opportunity to assess a number of important health outcomes.

The recent analysis looked at participant deaths from any cause, cancer, or cardiovascular disease after 21 years, on average. The researchers found no difference in the death rates in individuals originally assigned to the intensive lifestyle arm and the metformin arm of the study, compared with those originally placed in the control group.

Not at all! It is important to put things in perspective to be able to understand these results.

First, all of the original DPP study participants were notified of the benefits of intensive lifestyle modification and metformin, and invited to remain in the observation phase of this program. Since lifestyle modification had the greatest effect, researchers were ethically required to disclose these results to every participant and motivate people to implement these strategies. In fact, lifestyle modification sessions were offered to all participants after the DPP study ended.

Its likely that many participants in the follow-up study incorporated some beneficial changes into their meal plans and physical activity. This would limit the ability to distinguish the effect of intensive lifestyle modification on subsequent health outcomes.

Second, in the initial study only one group took metformin. In the follow-up study, any participant who developed type 2 diabetes was referred to their primary care physician to decide how to manage their blood sugar.

Metformin is the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes. Therefore, those who developed diabetes were commonly prescribed metformin even if they happened to be in the control group or intensive lifestyle modification group. Over time, the three groups became less well differentiated from one another. In this recent analysis, statistical tests were performed to eliminate this bias without affecting the main results, but some remaining bias cannot be totally dismissed.

The people who took part in these studies were a fairly healthy group of individuals, and 50 years old, on average, when research began. That helps explain lower than usual death rates compared with findings from international diabetes prevention studies, or even other US studies, on type 2 diabetes.

Its also interesting that cancer not heart problems, strokes, or other forms of cardiovascular disease was the leading cause of death in the follow-up study. In the general population, cardiovascular disease has topped the chart for many years.

Widespread strategies to reduce cardiovascular disease in adults may play a role here. Yet this advantage also may diminish the ability to see significant differences in death rates when researchers compare the three groups in the DPPOS.

The best course is to continue to work toward preventing or delaying diabetes. Thats healthy for us as individuals, and for our country collectively. Heres what we know based on research.

If you have prediabetes:

Lets not forget that many factors may also play a role in determining the best approaches to prevent type 2 diabetes for each person. Age, race and ethnicity, other medical conditions, overall type 2 diabetes risk, and what types of approaches an individual is able to follow are all important factors to consider. If you have diabetes in your family, or have prediabetes or concerns about developing diabetes, talk to your health care team to decide on the best combination of preventive strategies for you.

Read this article:
Diabetes: Does a long-term study reinforce or change approaches to prevention? - Harvard Health

It was 6:30 A.M., and I was getting ready to head down to the operating room (OR) for the first case of the day: an abdominal wall hernia repair. In preparation for the case, I logged on to the electronic health record portal and read through the patients medical history and the preoperative notes written by the surgical team. In many of the physician notes, the first line noted the patients body mass index (BMI) of 41. The patients ventral hernia was estimated to be 30 centimeters by 20 cm, one of the largest hernias ever repaired by the surgeon I was working with. The CT scan showed sections of the large intestine protruding through the hernia, which posed a high risk for bowel twisting, which can lead to perforation and sepsis or tissue deoxygenation and necrosis. The patients condition had reached a critical point.

I ventured down to the OR and located the CT and MRI images, as part of my medical student role of assisting the nursing and scrub technicians in prepping the OR prior to surgery. I projected the scans onto the large screen TVs hanging in the OR to help the surgeons better visualize the anatomy and their approach. As I pulled up the images, the team in the room erupted in shock. How could someone let a hernia get this bad before seeking medical consultation, they wondered. And others couldnt believe that someone could live with such a large defect and not want it fixed for cosmetic purposes. After rolling the patient into the OR and moving her onto the operating table, the team began to prep the surgical site. As she drifted off into a state of sedation, medical staff in the room could not stop talking about her BMI. The comments were unrelenting throughout the five-hour procedure, as people took turns gawking at the gaping hole in the patients abdomen. Two of the largest pieces of Strattice biologic mesh made by the supplier were sewn together to repair the hernia. The estimated cost of the mesh alone was $30,000.

As the surgery ended, I couldnt stop thinking about the obvious, yet ironic, connection between the weight comments from the health care team and why the patient procrastinated before getting the surgery. Why would anyone want to interact with a medical system that looked at them in such a derogatory way?

Antifatness is socially ingrained and virtually inescapable. Pop culture idolizes thinness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention created an alarmist obesity epidemic based on exaggerated data that havent held up. Like everyone else in society who is socially conditioned to this bias, clinicians are not exempt from harboring antifatness. In a recent study, 24 percent of physicians stated they were uncomfortable having friends in larger bodies, and 18 percent admitted they felt disgusted when treating a patient with a high BMI. This is upsetting, yet unsurprising considering that few programs actively train health care providers against this cognitive bias.

Abundant research demonstrates that obesity is not really a choice and is often a product of systemic inequity. The crux of this research explores the multiple systems that underpin weight: food insecurity, housing insecurity, poverty-induced scarcity mindset, medications, diseases, lack of education, mental health issues and chronic stress among them.

Many researchers and scholars have exposed the pervasiveness of antifatness culture, but some of the most prominent actors in maintaining this culture have not been discussed. Surgeons are central to dismantling the problems of antifat bias in health care, and that requires addressing aspects of surgeons training and day-to-day tasks that may make them more prone to this cognitive bias.

Weight bias is heightened and reinforced in the surgical setting, where surgeries on higher BMI individuals take more time, cost more money and have an increased risk of complications. Antifatness attitudes and behaviors may be higher among surgeons partly as a result of the lack of filter people may have when the patient is sedated. The increased time and care required in these cases can be difficult for surgeons, whose time and care are already strained given staff shortages. Together, these factors may lead surgeons to express their frustration through comments about the patients body.

In addition, professional culture and training are different for surgeons. Primary care physicians training may focus more on upstream factors contributing to care, including being taught about social determinants of health and multifactorial causes of the patients conditions. In contrast, surgeonswho on average spend 3,963 hours of training honing a complex motor and visuospatial skill may naturally focus more on the procedural task at hand rather than the factors contributing to their patients condition. Ultimately, the everyday demands of a surgeons job may make them less likely to think critically about antifatness when providing their day-to-day care. Yet, to provide optimal patient care, it is equally important for surgeons to work against weight stigma.

Surgeons are often the physicians who spend the most time in the hospital. As such, they play a vital role in forming the culture in the OR and hospital at large, and their understanding of weight bias and its associated behaviors is critical to counteracting pervasive weight stigma among health care providers. Post-surgery, many higher-weight patients will require intensive care, continual follow-up and long-term treatment adherence. Patients with a higher weight are also 12 times more likely to have a complication requiring extended hospitalization and continued interface with their surgical team. Surgeons must confront their own weight bias to build positive ongoing partnerships with patients.

A culture of antifatness among surgeons leads to compounding negative impacts on individual patients and the health system. Studies show weight bias from providers is palpable for patients. Patients can sense the lack of dignity and respect in providers attitudes and, in turn, may choose not to interact with the system that degrades them. Many clinicians turn weight loss into an ultimatum for patients rather than focusing on building their trust, understanding contributing factors and partnering with them to make incremental lifestyle modifications possible. Altogether this can harm patients self-worth and rapport with providers.

When providers alienate patients who first touch the health care system, through poor care or rapport, these patients are more likely to not resurface until reaching a critical health point, as with the hernia repair case discussed above. Research suggests that providers spend less time with larger patients, provide a lower quality of care and misdiagnose larger patients more frequently.

Antifatness is often a more socially acceptable masquerade for anti-Blackness. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that about four out of five African American women are overweight or obese, and Black Americans were 1.3 times more likely to be obese compared to white Americans. This intersection allows covert ways to harm Black and brown bodies.

Ultimately, the biases and behaviors that maintain antifatness need to change. Potential avenues for change include creating systemwide education, amending medical documentation, reframing patient conversations and advocating for upstream policies that increase access. A health providers goal should be healthvital statistics, lab results, symptom reduction, time spent exercising, mental healthnot thinness. There are health consequences to obesity, but the current BMI-focused approach is not the best way to capture a persons current health status. Lack of education among medical professionals is perpetuating antifatness. A health systemwide training should be developed to educate health care providers and shift conscious and unconscious attitudes.

Providers should also make a habit of noting diet and exercise in social history, as opposed to collapsing these factors into BMI. They could partner with patients and connect them with community resources to enable them to meet their health goals of lower blood pressure or better cardiovascular health. Providers can also focus on evidence-based methods, such as educating patients about nutrition, increasing access to food or exercise, discussing weight-loss surgery or medication and employing motivational interviewing. Understanding the multifactorial nature of weight and taking a patient-centered approach early on can ensure patients feel supported and empowered to achieve optimal health outcomes. This affirmative type of partnership will encourage patients to return to the health care system and invest in the provider-patient relationship and health goals. Providers must internalize the complexity of weight, learn how to utilize alternative health markers and even advocate for policies that reduce food deserts. Surgeons may read the above action items and write them off as tasks reserved for primary care physicians. But practicing unbiased medicine is possible. In one promising model, hospitals in Canada have recently launched a surgical prehabilitation program and toolkit that helps surgeons and their patients work on hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular health.

Recent movements around self-love and body acceptance are important, but they cannot replace the work that needs to be done by the people who manifest antifatness bias. America does not have an obesity epidemic; it has an unhealthiness epidemic. Yet the worse health outcomes compared to countries with similar economies are just as much a product of antifatness as they are of fatness. Through shame and blame, antifatness may be contributing to obesity and exacerbating poor health. Until surgeons and other health care providers choose to be a part of the solution to antifatness, then they will be part of the problem.

This is an opinion and analysis article, and the views expressed by the author or authors are not necessarily those of Scientific American.

Read more:
Antifatness in the Surgical Setting - Scientific American

I have spent most of my career working with cardiac patients with various related heart conditions, some of which include high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). While there are many risks for heart disease which we cannot modify, there are various modifiable risks that can affect the heart as well. Since we are able to control these modifiable risks, it will be important to make the best choices in regard to them to promote optimal heart health. Read on to find out moreand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Diet is so important for helping my patients overcome, manage or in some cases even prevent high cholesterol which can, in turn, help them maintain their overall health and well-being. There are many aspects of diet that can promote not only a healthy lifestyle but also help maintain one's cholesterol.

Oftentimes when we think of preventing high cholesterol, we think of foods we shouldn't eat. While there are some foods that if we limit, we can see improvement in cholesterol there are some foods that if we consume daily, we see positive effects on our blood work. One of these foods is fiber.

Fiber will help to transport "bad cholesterol" to the liver where it will then be broken down. Fiber typically comes from fruits and vegetables as well as grains (such as bread, pasta, rice, and cereal). When speaking about fiber and grains it is important to make sure we are choosing whole wheat grains to ensure they are fiber-rich. Examples include whole-wheat bread/pasta/rice. Other fiber-rich grains include oatmeal, quinoa, and barley.

By choosing these fiber-rich items you will also be limiting refined sugars this can have another added benefit on lab work as refined sugars increase the risk for elevated triglycerides. High triglyceride levels are associated with coronary heart disease. Beans, lentils, and legumes also contain fiber. When looking at the food label it is a good idea to attempt to choose foods with 6grams of fiber per serving. Daily fiber intake for women should be around 25grams, and daily intake for men should be able 30grams.

Staying away from saturated fat can also help to show improved cholesterol levels. You may hear saturated fat is referred to as "bad fat." The reason for this is that it can increase your bad cholesterol, also known as LDL (low-density lipoproteins). It can also lower your "good cholesterol" otherwise known as HDL (high-density lipoproteins). Common sources of saturated fat are full fat/whole fat milk/cheese, red meat/pork, butter/margarine, tropical oils, and the skin of poultry. Alternatives to the items mentioned above include low fat/skim dairy products, almond milk, skinless poultry, fish, olive oil, or vegetable oils. If red meat is consumed opt for mostly lean red meat or a choice/select cut of meat. If pork is consumed aim for a center lion cut. Look out for some kinds of butter and mayo which replace the bad fat with good fat some of these products are now made with soybean oil, avocado oil, or olive oil. When buying such products trans fat should be 0 grams and Saturday fat should be 2.5grams or less per serving. In total, The American Heart Association recommends aiming for a dietary pattern that achieves 5-6% of calories from saturated fat per day.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Consider limiting your daily cholesterol intake. While the body does need some cholesterol too much can result in negative health effects. The body does naturally make cholesterol, while we also can get cholesterol (or rather dietary cholesterol) from various foods. Too much cholesterol can increase the risk for stroke and Atherosclerosis. People will respond differently to dietary cholesterol and unfortunately, there is no way to determine who will respond in which way. For this reason, it may be wise to err on the side of caution and limit cholesterol intake if you personally have high cholesterol, or if you have a family history of cholesterol. Aim to consume no more than 200mg/day of cholesterol. Foods that contain cholesterol include egg yolks, organ meat (such as liver), and shellfish (such as shrimp, lobster, oysters, or mussels). Consider eating egg yolks no more than 2-3 times per week and limiting shellfish intake to 2 times per week.

Make sure to be including plant sterols and plant stanols into your diet. Sterols and stanols are found in plants and can help to block the absorption of cholesterol. They can be found naturally in many foods however in small amounts. They are naturally in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Various foods are now fortified (or enriched) with sterols/stanols. These foods include orange juice, cereals, and different breakfast bars. Ideally to get the most benefits one should consume about 2grams of sterols/stanols per day.

It is also important to keep in mind the benefits of an active lifestyle on heart health. Exercise will benefit our overall cardiovascular function. It also will help to promote weight loss which in turn will also positively affect cardiovascular function (safe and effective long-term weight loss usually comes in the form of losing about 1-2 pounds per week, anything more than that is not sustainable for the long term weight loss maintenance). Having a less active or rather sedentary lifestyle can also increase the chances of having raised LDL. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 mins per week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise is defined as physical activity that increases the heart rate and the body's use of oxygen often referred to a cardio workout. Examples of this include brisk walking, running, bike riding, swimming, and dancing. For those who aim to have a less sedentary lifestyle, it is a good idea to keep time spent sitting or ideal to about 30 mins this means if you are sitting for 30 minutes get up if possible. And to protect your life and the lives of others, don't visit any of these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

Nicole Roach is a registered dietitian with five years of experience. She works at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Nicole Roach

Read the original here:
Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol Fast Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Researchers will delve into the latest research in diabetes, obesity, thyroid and other endocrine conditions during the Endocrine Societys ENDO 2022 news conferences June 11-14.

The press conferences will feature select abstracts that are being presented at ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Societys annual meeting. The event is being held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga. News conferences will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person.

To register to view the news conferences, visit http://www.endowebcasting.com.Journalists can register to attend and learn more about the meeting on our website.

News Conference Schedule:

Saturday, June 11

Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals (noon EDT): Researchers will discuss how chemicals in hair care products affect breast cancer cells in Black women and how chemical exposure in the womb affects fear and anxiety behavior in rats.

Sunday, June 12

Diabetes (10 a.m. EDT): The Society will unveil its Clinical Practice Guideline on Management of Hyperglycemia in Hospitalized Patients in Non-Critical Care Settings. In addition, researchers will explore diabetes effect on metastatic breast cancer outcomes, regional variations in hospitalization for diabetes complications, and prediabetes as a risk factor for heart attacks.

Obesity(11 a.m. EDT): Featured studies will examine long-term weight loss maintenance with medications, how childhood obesity can contribute to male infertility, and the impact of wireless device overuse on obesity.

Monday, June 13

Reproductive Health (9 a.m. EDT): Researchers will discuss the COVID-19 pandemic stresses impact on womens ovulatory cycles, the results of the year-long phase 3 study on hot flash medication fezolinetant, the economic costs of treating mental health disorders in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, and a mouse model of in vitro fertilization in transgender men undergoing active testosterone treatment.

Thyroid Health (11:30 a.m. EDT): Studies will delve into artificial intelligences value for ruling out thyroid cancer, how soon individuals with thyroid conditions can take levothyroxine solution after drinking coffee, and the safety of COVID-19 vaccinations among individuals with hypothyroidism.

Register to attend the news conferences at http://www.endowebcasting.com. Credentialed journalists will be given priority to attend. Recordings will be available on the Societys website following the event.

# # #

Endocrinologists are at the core of solving the most pressing health problems of our time, from diabetes and obesity to infertility, bone health, and hormone-related cancers. The Endocrine Society is the worlds oldest and largest organization of scientists devoted to hormone research and physicians who care for people with hormone-related conditions.

The Society has more than 18,000 members, including scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students in 122 countries. To learn more about the Society and the field of endocrinology, visit our site at http://www.endocrine.org. Follow us on Twitter at @TheEndoSociety and @EndoMedia.

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Originally posted here:
Hybrid ENDO 2022 press conferences to highlight emerging diabetes, obesity, reproductive research - EurekAlert

Research has begun to emerge showing a causal link between COVID-19 and diabetes. In a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology in March, researchers found that people who suffered from COVID-19 were40% more likely than controls to eventually develop Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Brian Fertig, M.D., founder and president of the Diabetes & Osteoporosis Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, told BioSpace that the increased risk of diabetes can be added to the list of Long COVID effects.

In addition to the 40% increased risk of diabetes type 2 within 12 months, another recent study reported a significant increase in incidence of type 1 diabetes after 30 days from a diagnosis of COVID-19, highlighting pleiotropic mechanisms in physiology, he said. The additional study was released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January of this year.

Fertig said that insulin deficiency caused by COVID-19 in cases of type 1 diabetes could be related to a direct destructive effect of the virus on the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Another explanation could be that protein components of the virus may molecularly mimic proteins of the beta cells with destruction mediated by an autoimmune process, he continued.

As to why COVID-19 increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, Fertig drew parallels to other Long COVID symptoms, including the sleep/wake cycle disruption and neuropsychological effects which drive chronically activated hormonal and autonomic nervous system branches of the stress response.

He explained that in this case, cortisol and adrenaline stimulated states promote increased glucose production from the liver as well as other antagonistic effects on insulin secretion and its suppressive effects on blood glucose and lipid levels.

Fertig originally became interested in the growing endocrinology field during his medical training. Three decades later, I published a two-volume book series, Metabolism & Medicine, which spotlights hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance as core to the metabolic decline that occurs with aging, including important links not only to diabetes and obesity but to all chronic diseases, including heart, vascular, Alzheimers diseases and cancer, he said.

In his personal practice, Fertig shared that some of his patients with pre-existing controlled diabetes saw their conditions worsen due to COVID-19. Some (a small minority) of these patients have long term more aggressive therapy requirements to maintain glycemic and lipid levels in a safe range. Dexamethasone almost predictably worsens glucose levels in known diabetics, and often results in steroid-induced diabetes in preexisting non-diabetics, the vast majority of whom revert to normal glucose (and lipid) levels following discontinuation of steroids, he said. In congruence with the study, Fertig has also treated patients who developed new cases of type 2 diabetes post-COVID-19.

Fertigs typical recommendation for management of type 2 diabetes involves a low dosage of pioglitazone, metformin and a Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agent. He said that GLP-1 antagonists aid in weight loss, which improves insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose levels. Both pioglitazone (a direct insulin sensitizer) and metformin (an indirect insulin sensitizer) prevent the transformation of lipofibroblastto myofibroblasts, thus having an apparent important protective effect on COVID-19-related complications and mortality.

In his Metabolism & Medicine series, Fertig details a scientific approach for predicting and preventing disease as well as predicting patient responses to therapeutic interventions. His model, called the Physiological Fitness Landscape (PFL), uses bioinformatics to make these predictions.

When asked what he imagines diabetes treatment will look like a decade from now, he said I believe that type 1 diabetes will be cured by an injection of pancreatic insulin-producing beta stem cells that will seed and remain in the liver. Blood glucose levels will likely be higher than normal range per se, but low enough to be safe (complication-free) and not require insulin or other therapeutic interventions.

In terms of the management of type 2 diabetes, he predicts that a single oral drug containing the properties of pioglitazone, metformin and the GLP-1 antagonist will replace the triumvirate approach to treatment. It will likely be able to modulate the amount of insulin production and fat mass and distribution, he said, adding that the ideal future drug would be personalized according to the guidance presented in his PFL model.

For both COVID-19 patients and others, Fertig said that the best way to reduce the risk of developing diabetes is to commit to a healthy lifestyle which incorporates nutrient dense foods, regular exercise and quitting or reducing bad lifestyle habits.

He pointed out that though genetic predispositions to diabetes exist, living under stress, foregoing exercise and not prioritizing sleep and diet can be damaging. A poor micronutrient diet impairs the function of metabolic machinery also causing insulin resistance, thus predisposing to diabetes.

The doctor explained that insulin resistance and high insulin levels in the blood, present in up to 50% of the adult population in the U.S., contribute not only to diabetes but to all the major chronic diseases of aging including Alzheimers disease, heart and vascular disease and cancers.

Though type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, Fertig said that complete and partial remission are possible. In this case, the patients glucose levels would return to normal. Yes, beta cells have been damaged and the underlying genetic factors remain intact, he said, but individuals can control the damage by maintaining a healthy weight, an active lifestyle and a positive mental outlook.

More:
Exploring the Causal Connection Between COVID-19 and Diabetes - BioSpace

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