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Woman claims she eats sand as a part of her everyday diet: ‘I’ve felt perfectly fine’ – AOL
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Why have a picnic on the beach when you could have a picnic of the beach, instead?
Kusma Vati, an80-year-old from Varanasi, India, says she has included sand and gravel in her diet every day for the last six decades.
In fact, the elderly woman claims the secret to her good health lies in herrather unorthodox eating habits.
"I have been eating sand and gravel for around 63 years now," she said, according to Yahoo News UK. "I love eating them and I don'tthink they have any harmful effects."
Vati says shefirst began consuming sand with her daily meals when she was about 15 years old to remedy an upset stomach and has been hooked ever since with allegedly no downsides.
"I haven'tsuffered any problems in my stomach and mouth, and my teeth are absolutely fine," she claimed."If anything, its made them tougher. I can bite into the hardest stone without a problem."
"I have never seen a doctor because there has just been no need," she continued. "For as long as I can remember, I've felt perfectly fine."
Vati cleans her sand by storing it in a clay pot and allowing it ample time to dry in the sun. The rest of the sand-eating process is pretty self-explanatory.
Not everyone is supportive ofVati's diet, particularlyher grandkids, who have been urging her to quit cold turkey.
However, the elder has no plans to listen to them whatsoever.
"My grandchildren insist I get medical help to get rid of this addiction," she said. "But, I see no need for it."
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Woman claims she eats sand as a part of her everyday diet: 'I've felt perfectly fine' - AOL
Weight Watchers still banks on Oprah amid competition from other diet plans and its own subscription programs – MarketWatch
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Oprah will be going on tour for WW in 2020
WW International Inc., more commonly known as Weight Watchers, is banking on another well-known name to drive growth Oprah Winfrey.
WW WW, +0.26% announced Monday that it has extended its partnership with Oprah through 2025. Oprah has been a board member, shareholder and advisor since 2015. She has also served as a face of the brand.
Oprah is scheduled to join WW on a nine-city tour next year.
UBS analysts think Oprahs presence on the tour, along with other famous guests and a supporting marketing campaign, will benefit WWs subscription plans. Moreover, analysts expect ramped up promotion of the companys new plan.
Read: Weight Watchers is launching a new program on Nov. 11, but shares sink 15% after revenue miss
UBS is modeling for 8.3% subscriber growth in 2020. Analysts say there was a spike in Weight Watchers searches after the launch of its latest program, but that trend has turned flat since.
Still, we think the new program launch in combination with more intense marketing efforts around New Years will lead to increased interest, analysts wrote.
UBS rates WW stock neutral with a $38 price target, which is below current levels.
WW stock, which was up 0.4% in afternoon trading Tuesday, has fallen 13% over the past year as the S&P 500 index SPX, +0.10% has gained 25%.
As part of the extended partnership, WW will grant Winfrey, subject to shareholder approval,a fully vested option to buy about 3.3 million WW shares at an exercisable price of $38.84 a share. The option represents up to 4.3% of the shares outstanding, and would cost Winfrey $127.3 million if fully exercised.
If approved at next years annual shareholder meeting, the company expects to take a charge of $62 million.
Winfrey is currently WWs second largest shareholder with a stake of 5.4 million shares, or 8.1% of the shares outstanding, according to data provided by FactSet. That stake was part of the original collaboration agreement announced in October 2015, in which Winfrey spent $43.2 million to buy about 6.4 million shares at $6.79. The stock price has increased by nearly 6-fold since then.
WW also disclosed Monday that Winfrey has established a stock trading plan to sell 2.9 million shares she acquired as part of the 2015 collaboration agreement, for purposes of asset diversification, charitable giving and liquidity. Based on current prices, the value of the 2.9 million shares Winfrey plans to sell have increased by about $94.4 million since they were acquired.
But it hasnt all been rosy for Winfrey since she took a stake in WW.
The shares took a tumble in November after the company reported a third-quarter revenue miss. Nicholas Hotchkin, the companys chief financial officer, said growing studio membership was key.
The company has seen less expensive digital subscriptions grow, but the studio subscription, which provides access to the perks of a WW location, have stalled.
See: IHOPs fast-casual Flipd breakfast chain should satisfy investors, analysts say
Intense focus on the business has led to consistently improving trends since the start of the year, and we expect year-over-year studio recruitment to turn positive in Q4, he said on the earnings call, according to the FactSet transcript. Despite these actions, the studio business continues to be a drag on our revenue metrics given the price of a studio subscription is twice that of a digital subscription.
WW is also facing competition from dietary plans like keto and paleo, which have become part of many peoples health-and-wellness plans rather than just a way to lose weight. Large food companies like Conagra Brands Inc. CAG, +0.95% and General Mills Inc. GIS, -0.63% have launched a variety of products found at the local supermarket to satisfy these tastes.
And Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. CMG, +0.79% has launched a line of Lifestyle Bowls, made with these sorts of diet regimens in mind.
Dont miss: Beyond Meat might not be the only plant-based burger McDonalds uses if it launches in the U.S.
But with word that Oprah was working her magic, KeyBanc Capital Markets analysts also posted a bullish note after third-quarter earnings.
The Oprah Winfrey 2020 Vision, Your Life in Focus, is more than 80% sold out nationwide, analysts wrote at the time. This demand was above managements expectations and we think the company should benefit from press coverage heading into Q4 and 2020.
KeyBanc rates WW shares sector weight.
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Weight Watchers still banks on Oprah amid competition from other diet plans and its own subscription programs - MarketWatch
How to diet and exercise while pregnant: The Do’s and Dont’s – wobm.com
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When you find out that you're expecting a child, how much do you have to alter your diet and exercise routine and how does it benefit the pregnancy?
In part two of our three part series on pregnancy and baby life, we examine how to put together the proper exercise plan.
Dr. Susan Passarella, an M.D., OB-GYN and Hospitalistwith Hackensack Meridian Healthcare, says women who exercise while pregnant are healthier and have better deliveries.
She says activities like running, zumba, yoga and swimming are great to do while pregnant.
"The American College of OB-GYN recommends about 150-minutes of exercise per week for patients and you can split that up into 30-minute increments five times a week or you can break it up into even smaller ones," Dr. Passarella said. "A long time ago they used to look at a heart rate and didn't want a mom's heart rate to go over 120 and what we found is that doesn't really make a difference, it's really what your baseline heart rate is."
Dr. Passarella says it's important to build up endurance during a pregnancy to make things easier during labor and delivery.
"Anything that gets your heart rate up is going to help," Dr. Passarella said. "When you're pushing in labor your heart rate is going to go up so it's going to be similar to that and it'll give you more endurance."
You should stay away from contact sports like rugby, soccer, sky diving and water skiing while pregnant.
"The uterus is very protective of the baby but you don't want to take part in any big, high energy sports," Dr. Passarella said.
Having a good diet during a pregnancy is important for you and the baby.
Dr. Passarella says women need to add an additional 300 calories to their diet but weight gain is unique to the individual.
"It really depends what your pre-pregnancy weight is, that's what we look at," Dr. Passarella said. "If you're an average weight we expect someone to gain between 25-35 pounds. During the first trimester people are usually nauseous and sick and they tend not to gain a ton of weight but it tends to catch up to them in the last month where you can gain a half-a-pound to a pound a week."
However, it's not recommended to buy into the "I'm eating for two" diet.
"I know everyone always says when you're pregnant you can eat for two but that's not necessarily what we recommend because then you'll have patients gaining 50, 60, 70 pounds and those patients tend to have more complicated deliveries, they're at a higher risk for diabetes and hypertension and are more likely to have c-sections or have babies that are really small and may not grow as well," Dr. Passarella said.
Do you have to change what and how you eat while pregnant?
Dr. Passarella says you should always wash fruits and vegetables before consuming and meat should be cooked well done, fish is ok but only with low mercury, listeria which is found in certain foods, is definitely a concern.
"We worry about different bacteria's in pregnancies, you do have a mom and a baby and if that baby is exposed to a bacteria that can potentially get in utero that can cause really harmful affects to the baby," Dr. Passarella said.
It's not known how much alcohol causes fetal alcohol syndrome so doctors say don't drink any amount, smoking leads to smaller babies and pre-term labor, caffeine is fine but limit it to 300 milligrams a day.
On the flip side, you should drink 10-12 glasses of water a day to prevent dehydration and pre-term contractions.
One of the biggest misinterpretations associated with pregnancy is heartburn and what it means.
Dr. Joanne Chang, an OBGYN with Hackensack Meridian Healthcare says the belief that a lot of heartburn leads to your baby being born with a lot of hair is an old wives tale with no study's to back that up.
"There's no studies that have shown that what you eat affects how much hair your baby has," Dr. Chang said. "You hear anecdotally that women will say 'oh, I had so much heartburn and my baby had so much hair' but on the flip side you'll talk to women who will say 'I had a ton of heartburn and my baby had no hair'."
Dr. Chang says heartburn is a normal part of the pregnancy due to the hormonal changes as well as the baby pushing your stomach which pushes everything up and causes acid-reflux in the esophagus.
"Heartburn is very normal during pregnancy. It's one of the side effects of the hormone changes and from physical space. As the baby grows bigger it pushes up on everything and makes the acid reflux a little bit into your esophagus," Dr. Chang said.
In part three of our series tomorrow a Jersey Shore mom of five children, including her first son that was born over the summer, gives her point of view on what pregnancy is like and how to be a good parent.
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How to diet and exercise while pregnant: The Do's and Dont's - wobm.com
Whats The Best Diet If You Want To Live Longer? – Medical Daily
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Over the past few decades or so, different diets have rose up to prominence, all promising a health benefit that can positively change your life. Of course, most of these diets focus on helping you lose weight like most diets are. However, some of these focus on something better: longevity and helping you live healthily for as long as you can.
But when theres an abundance of diets available, its easy to get confused in the mix and not know when to begin. According to some health experts, the Mediterranean diet is a good place to start, which is why its being championed for its health benefits. However, studies show that when it comes to increasing your lifespan, the Japanese diet can offer something new. Heres how.
The Japanese Diet
While most diets focus on helping you achieve weight loss, the ultimate goal in its core is to still help increase your lifespan. In fact, its practically the blueprint of eating a healthy diet, which is why its tailored to help you avoid suffering from chronic diseases of all sort.
And now, an increasing number of studies are showing that this can be achieved by opting to try Eastern diets, such as the Japanese one.
Low in added sugar and fats (which are primary factors in developing numerous types of health-threatening diseases), the Japanese diet mainly consists of noodles, steamed rice, fish, seaweed, tofu, natto and either freshly picked or pickled fruits and vegetables. As a stark contrast to unhealthy Western eating habits, the diet may sometimes contain a modest amount of meat, dairy or eggs.
Because of these food choices, the Japanese diet is also shown to aid in weight loss, in addition to helping increase longevity. This is because traditionally, the Japanese diet has smaller portion sizes, as well as rich in both fruits and vegetables. Along with the fact that it has minimal added fat and sugars, all of these factors lead to a low calorie count, which can then help you lose weight.
Along with helping you feel good, weight loss is also crucial in avoiding tons of health problems.
Guess Which 5 Foods Help You Live Longer? Herbalmax
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Whats The Best Diet If You Want To Live Longer? - Medical Daily
Enjoy A Good Nights Rest When You Adhere To This Diet Regularly – International Business Times
Diet Comments Off on Enjoy A Good Nights Rest When You Adhere To This Diet Regularly – International Business Times
KEY POINTS
An average person needs approximately eight hours of quality sleep time every night for their body to function perfectly. In the UK, however, distractions and many other factors cause many to fall short of the required amount of sleep. If you are among those who are unable to get the required amount of sleep, making a few lifestyle changes can greatly help.
Dietary Habits
Did you know that dietary habits could help or hinder your sleep-wake cycle? Some types of diets can prevent you from getting a good nights sleep and other types can help you get a good sleep.
According to popular belief, eating too much food can make you sleepy. That is partly true. Studies have shown that consuming high-carb meals can stop you from getting quality sleep. While high-carb diets may make you quickly feel drowsy, it may not be a restful sleep.
A high-fat diet, on the other hand, could help you get a deeper, peaceful sleep.Past studies have echoed the finding that a high-carb and low-fat diet considerably lowered sleep time when compared with a high-fat, low-carb diet. Both diets contain the same amount of calories. diet for a good night's sleep Photo: StockSnap - Pixabay
The Low-Carb, High-Fat Diet
The key component of this type of diet are nuts like walnuts and almonds. The National Sleep Foundation said that these nuts contain rich amounts of melatonin, a hormone proven to regulate the sleep-wake cycle.
According to the health body, consuming these nuts can increase melatonin levels in the blood, helping you sleep more deeply. Another type of food that can promote a good, quality sleep is cheese. The National Sleep Foundation said that some types of cheese, such as cottage cheese, are high in lean protein. They are also rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that helps increase serotonin levels.
Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that promotes wellbeing and happiness. Studies have shown that low levels of this chemical can hugely contribute to insomnia.Consuming foods rich in lean protein can help you achieve a good nights sleep.
Other high-fat, low-carb foods include fish like tuna, salmon, cod, and herring, butter, seeds like chia, flax, and sunflower, butter, and avocado. Foods like meat, which include turkey, chicken, beef, and pork, eggs, and oils like flaxseed, olive, and coconut, are also classified as high-fat, low-carb foods.
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Enjoy A Good Nights Rest When You Adhere To This Diet Regularly - International Business Times
People Are Still Googling One of the Most Annoying Diets of the Decade – VICE
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According to Googles own data, the second-most popular health-related search on its engine in 2019 was, What is keto? Thats a slightly lower ranking than last year, when What is keto? was the number one health-related question people typed into Google. but its still disconcertingly high. The staying power of the ketogenic diet (what keto is short for) has simply gotta be admired; how does a diet that is largely bad for you remain something people still want to know about?
People who do keto talk about it as if theyre being paid to. Like most other diets, ketos best advertisers are the people painfully dragging themselves through its rigorous limits: No carbs, no sugars, no alcohol, no joy, etc. Keto followers are supposed to obtain 75 percent of their calories through fats, like meat (and bacon!!!). Itinerant dieters are inordinately thrilled by this, maybe because most diets dont afford them any category of food from which they can eat anything they want, or maybe because its an extremely sharp shift away from the Fats Are Evil discourse that dominated the 90s. Yes, I can eat all the cheese I want!!!! may as well be the unofficial slogan of keto, even though eating all the cheese one wants isnt a wise or sustainable choice, and overeatingeven keto-approved foodswill still cause weight gain.
Keto is supposed to work by putting the body into a state of ketosis, a sort of shock-state where the body starts breaking down stored fats to gain energy. It also works because it limits carbs so severely, dieters cant even eat one (1) whole apple if they properly abide by the rules. Most varieties of restriction diets often work, at least temporarily, because while its still possible to overeat and gain weight no matter which arbitrary restriction rules youre following, its simply boring to eat a lot of a limited range of things after a while, even if those things include bacon. Many people who lose weight by following the keto diet mightve lost weight by paying attention to what they are eating in general, which is another thing any arbitrary restriction forces them to do.
But that wouldnt be any fun at all, would it? Its way less exciting to say, no, thanks to a post-lunch cookie than it is to chomp into a wheel of bacon-wrapped cheese (is this real?) while yelling, My diet allows this!!! Keto was born in this decade and unfortunately will probably not die within it; January is just around the corner, and many people will likely continue to type what is keto into their little Google search bars, looking for a way to lose holiday pounds that probably dont exist, and that dont need losing.
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People Are Still Googling One of the Most Annoying Diets of the Decade - VICE
The Science Behind the Ketogenic Diet and Sleep – Psychology Today
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Its not uncommon to hear people report sleep problems when they start a ketogenic diet. A big reduction in carbohydrate intake combined with significant increase to fat intakewhich happens on a keto dietcan cause changes to sleep patterns. These macronutrients have different effects in the body and can affect sleep in distinct ways.
Studies of high-fat diets show mixed results. Some research suggests eating abundant fats can improve sleep quality, while other studies showhigh-fat diets linked to more disruptive sleep and trouble falling asleep. (Ill talk about the effects of protein and carbohydrates on fats in a minute.)
There are a small number of studies that look at keto diets and sleep. They show this very low-carb, high-fat diet may offer benefits for sleep, both through weight loss and other pathways. A just-released study onthe effects of ketofound that adhering to this eating plan helped reduce daytime sleepiness in a group of obese patients. Previous studies have foundsimilar results, along with increases to REM sleep. Other research has shownketogenic diets increase REM sleep and sleep qualityin a group of children with epilepsy. (A ketogenic diet has shown the capacity to reduce seizures, making it an effective dietary therapy for people with epilepsy.)
Theres some very interesting emerging research showing that ketogenic diets have an effect on a brain chemical that is important to sleep regulation: adenosine. Youve heard metalk about adenosine before, in relation to caffeine. Adenosine builds up in the body throughout the day. It contributes to our feeling increasingly less alert and wakeful as the day goes on, and eventually helps to promote deeper slow-wave sleep at night. Caffeines ability to block the effects of adenosine is one important way it delivers us that stimulating, alertness-producing mental boost. Studies show a ketogenic diet promotes adenosine activity in the body, helping to relax the nervous system, as well asreducing pain and inflammationall of which can help improve sleep.
We need to see more research to better understand the relationship of ketogenic diets to adenosine, and to sleep directly. There may be short-term issues on a ketogenic diet that eventually give way to benefits for sleepbut we need to see more research to know.
Sleep issues with high-protein, low-carb diets?
Its tough to find research that specifically addresses the Paleo diet and sleep. (There are currently studies underway, which Ill talk about when theyre published.) From talking with my patients and others, I know people who start eating paleo sometimes have a harder time sleeping, similar to people who adopt a ketogenic eating plan.
The shift away from carbohydrates and toward protein may explain these sleep issues. Carbohydrates increase levels of the amino acid tryptophan in the brain, which helps facilitate sleep when it converts to serotonin. Serotonin is necessary for the body to produce the sleep hormone melatonin. Protein, on the other hand,increases levels of tyrosine, an amino acid that triggers the production of stimulating, alerting brain chemicals, including epinephrine and norepinephrine. Reducing serotonin by limiting carbohydrateswhile at the same time elevating the alertness-promoting chemicals associated with tyrosinemay result in difficulty falling asleep and getting a full night of rest.
Research on the effects to sleep of high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets is mixed. Some studies have shown people with sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleepapnea tend to consume less carbohydrates than people without these sleep disorders. Other research shows reductions to slow-wave sleep in people who consume high-carb diets, compared to low-carb.
One factor that seems clearly to matter when it comes to carbohydrate intake?Quality. Diets that derive their carbohydrates from healthy, fiber-rich whole foodsas opposed to sugars and processed starchesare associated with better sleep. The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole foods, lean proteins, fresh vegetables and fruits, a moderate amount of grainwhile minimizing sugarsis linked toimprovements in insomniaand other sleep problems. The effects on sleep from moving from a high-carb to a low-carb diet may depend heavily on the types of carbohydrates youve been eating, the ones you keep in place in your new regimen, and thetiming of your eating, especially in the evening.
High protein diets have also shown both benefits and drawbacks for sleep. Some studies showconsuming greater amounts of proteinis linked to longer sleep times, moreconsistent sleep patterns, andhigher sleep quality. Other research suggests higher protein intake is linked to shorter sleep amounts. Recent research indicates thathigh-protein diets in people who are overweight may lead to improvements to sleep.
A couple takeaways on low-carb diets and sleep
There isnt a one-size-fits-all message about how these popular diets affect sleep. To navigate sleeping well alongside any new eating plan, keep these things in mind:
Losing weight will help you sleep better.A diet that helps you get safely to a healthy weight and stay there will benefit your sleep. Your risks for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders will go down. Youll sleep more comfortably, and wake with more energy for the day. But keep this in mind also: losing weight at the expense of a sound, consistent sleep routine is not a smart strategy. The key is to identify the eating habits that allow you to lose excess weight, maintain a healthy weight, and sleep well at every step along the way.
Any dietary change can alter your sleep. Our eating and sleeping lives are deeply connected. What and when we eat affects our circadian rhythms, ourgut health, our energy levels, and the hormones and biochemicals that stimulate and sedate us. If youre starting on a new diet, be aware your sleep may change at first. Be prepared to pay extra attention to how youre sleeping. If sleep issues arise in connection with a new diet and dont ease after a few weeks, take a look at modifying your eating strategy in consultation with your doctor, to improve your rest.
Theres some exciting research coming on this topic, which well return to soon. In the meantime, eat well and sleep well as we head into a fresh new year.
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The Science Behind the Ketogenic Diet and Sleep - Psychology Today
Low Carb Diets: Are they Really Healthy? – Men’s health UK
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Cutting carbs has long been viewed as the simplest route to weight loss, and the emergence of the ketogenic diet has only served to re-energise this theory.
Because low-carb diets initially help with weight loss, people assume that theyre healthier, says Helen West, Saunts partner at the Rooted Project. But going all-in for low-carb in the long term could cause more problems than it solves.
Research published last year in the Lancet Public Health journal found that following a diet made up of less than 40% carbs was associated with a higher mortality risk.
A separate study linked low-carb diets to increased chances of dying from coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The conclusion is simple, really: the NHS suggests that starchy carbs should make up a third of your plate, with the other two-thirds equal parts protein and fibrous veg. If youre cutting carbs for weight loss, you can (most likely) expect a rebound as soon as you add them back into your diet.
Cutting out an entire food group is never a recipe for long-term success. Sorry.
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Low Carb Diets: Are they Really Healthy? - Men's health UK
Eating This Many Chili Peppers Linked to Lower Risk of Dying From Heart Disease – Newsweek
Diet Comments Off on Eating This Many Chili Peppers Linked to Lower Risk of Dying From Heart Disease – Newsweek
Eating chili peppers regularly as part of the Mediterranean diet has been linked to a lower risk of dying early and from cardiovascular disease in a study.
Scientists looked at data collected between 2005 and 2010 on 22,811 men and women living in the mountainous Molise region of southern Italy. The chili pepper is a staple of the Mediterranean diet, and used to flavor traditional food in southern Italy, according to the authors of the paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The diet earns its name from the lifestyle traditionally followed by the populations of the Mediterranean basin. It is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Olive oil provides the biggest chunk of fat, while fish, eggs, wine and poultry are consumed in moderation.
The participants filled in questionnaires about what they ate at the start of the study, which the researchers used to place them into four categories: those who never or rarely ate chili peppers; those who ate them twice a week; between twice and four times; and four or more.
By the end of the study, 1,236 of the volunteers had died. Eating chili pepper regularly, at least four times per week, was linked with a 23 percent lower risk of dying of any cause compared with those who never or rarely ate chilis. Participants who often consumed the spicy fruit also had a 34 percent lower chance of dying of cardiovascular disease.
Past studies suggest capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers which makes them spicy, could carry health benefits, the authors of the paper explained. More research is needed to explain what is behind the link and to characterize the potential role played by capsaicin, the team told Newsweek in a joint statement.
First author Marialaura Bonaccio, an epidemiologist at Maastricht University in the Netherlands; Dr. Giovanni de Gaetano, senior investigator and president of Italy's I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed; and Dr. Licia Iacoviello, professor of public health at the University of Insubria, Italy, spoke to Newsweek.
"The strength of the association between chili pepper and cardiovascular mortality risk is quite strong, but also the risk reduction toward total death risk is actually surprising," they said.
The study was limited, however, because it was observational. That means the researchers didn't control what participants did, but simply examined data collected on them. In addition, as the dietary data was only collected once, it's not clear if what the participants ate changed over time. But the researchers said they performed statistical analyses to make sure their findings were as robust as possible.
So should we increase our intake of chili peppers in response to the study? No, the authors said. "Diets should not be treated as drugs," they argued. "We should not talk in terms of amounts per day, as if we were dealing with drugs, rather our effort should be addressed to promote a global healthy lifestyle, starting from diet.
They continued: "We may encourage people who usually add chilis to their food to continue in doing so, since now there is a good scientific evidence for this. Moderation is an important characteristic of [the] Mediterranean diet. If people dislike chili, well, they should just follow a healthy Mediterranean diet."
"This study contributes to increase the knowledge on how healthy lifestyles, such as diet, act in improving our health," the researchers said: "This is of crucial importance especially at a time when pharmacological treatments are systematically preferred to healthy changes in lifestyles."
This study is the latest to link the Mediterranean diet to better health. Earlier this year, separate teams of researchers found it appeared to help with sleep, and may prevent depression.
Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State and Fellow of the American Heart Association, who did not work on the research, told Newsweek: "It's too simplistic to say that incorporating chili peppers alone can lower your risk of a heart attack, especially if they are just added to a poor quality diet.
Certainly chili-peppers can be part of a healthy eating pattern that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, nuts/seeds, whole grains, lean protein and fish, limits foods high in saturated fat and dietary cholesterol, and minimizes trans fats, sodium (salt), processed meats, refined carbohydrates and sweetened beverages. The overall eating pattern is most important for decreasing risk of cardiovascular diseasenot just a single food."
Duane Mellor, a registered dietitian and senior teaching fellow at Aston Medical School, Aston University, U.K., who did not work on the study, pointed out in a statement that the paper doesn't prove that eating chili peppers improves health. It "hints that those who were following a more traditional Mediterranean diet seemed to benefit less than those not following this type of diet," he said.
"This could suggest it is how chilis are used as part of an overall dietary pattern and lifestyle. It is plausible people who use chilis, as the data suggests, also used more herbs and spices, and as such likely to be eating more fresh foods including vegetables."
Mellor went on: "So, although chilis can be a tasty addition to our recipes and meals, any direct effect is likely to be small and it is more likely that it makes eating other healthy foods more pleasurable."
Ian Johnson, nutrition researcher and emeritus fellow at the Quadram Institute Bioscience, who also didn't work on the paper, said in a statement the paper was of high quality and based on a large population.
Johnson also argued the link is likely down to some other dietary or lifestyle factor related to eating chilis.
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Eating This Many Chili Peppers Linked to Lower Risk of Dying From Heart Disease - Newsweek
The diet and diabetes link: It’s not what you think – ISRAEL21c
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Can diabetics throw away their insulin pumps simply by changing their diets?
Israeli research published in Diabetes Care suggests that the standard diet recommended for diabetics is making things worse.
Perhaps counter intuitively, eating a big breakfast of starches and sugars can help diabetics replace the need to inject insulin, while at the same time reducing the weight gain associated with diabetes and improving overall cardiovascular health.
Type 2 diabetics must inject themselves with insulin, a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into liver, muscle and fat cells, up to four times a day. The injections keep patients alive but trigger a vicious cycle where increasingly higher doses are required.
In addition to insulin injections, diabetics generally follow a diet nicknamed 6M six small meals spread throughout the day, including a bedtime snack to prevent a drop in sugar levels during the night.
The new diet protocol is dubbed 3M and calls for just three meals a day, starting with bread, fruit and sweets in the early hours of the morning, a substantial lunch and a small dinner (specifically lacking any starches, sweets and fruits).
The 3M diet seems to be better matched to our circadian rhythm, which is optimized for eating in the morning and fasting during the evening and night, the research shows.
The 6M diet, by contrast, has not been effective for sugar control, so diabetics require additional medication and insulin, explains co-lead researcher Prof. Daniela Jakubowicz of Tel Aviv University and Wolfson Medical Centers Diabetes Unit.Insulin injections [also] lead to weight gain, which further increases blood sugar levels.
In a study of 29 Type 2 diabetes patients, those on the 3M diet lost weight and experienced substantially improved sugar levels. The 6M diet group did not lose weight or experience any improvement of sugar levels.
Their need for diabetic medication, especially for insulin doses, dipped substantially. Some were even able to stop using insulin altogether, said Jakubowicz.
In addition, the 3M diet improved the expression of biological clock genes. This suggests that the 3M diet is not only more effective in controlling diabetes, it may also prevent many other complications such as cardiovascular disease, aging and cancer, which are all regulated by the biological clock genes.
This may be the mechanism that makes the 3M diet successful, as it enhances insulin secretion and improves sugar delivery into the muscles, creating a balanced daytime and nocturnal glucose metabolism.
The researchers also from the Hebrew University, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center and the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, as well as Lund University in Sweden will next investigate the role certain proteins play in breakfast foods consumed by diabetics.
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The diet and diabetes link: It's not what you think - ISRAEL21c