| Search Weight Loss Topics: |
High fibre diet ‘could prevent type 1 diabetes’ – The Guardian
Diet 
Comments Off on High fibre diet ‘could prevent type 1 diabetes’ – The Guardian
Testing blood sugar level. Patients are usually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before the age of 14 and must have daily shots of insulin to control their blood sugar levels. Photograph: Trevor Smith/Alamy
Scientists have raised hope for the prevention of early-onset diabetes in children after a fibre-rich diet was found to protect animals from the disease.
More than 20 million people worldwide are affected by juvenile, or type 1, diabetes, which takes hold when the immune system turns on the body and destroys pancreatic cells that make the hormone insulin.
It is unclear what causes the immune system to malfunction, but patients are usually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before the age of 14 and must have daily shots of insulin to control their blood sugar levels.
Working with Australias national science agency, CSIRO, researchers at Monash University in Melbourne created a diet rich in fibre that is broken down in the lower intestine into molecules known as short-chain fatty acids.
The team, led by immunologist Charles Mackay, believe that short-chain fatty acids called butyrate and acetate dampen down the immune system, and have the potential to treat a range of disorders from asthma to irritable bowel syndrome.
For the latest study, the scientists monitored the health of mice that were bred to develop the rodent equivalent of juvenile diabetes. On a normal diet, more than 70% of the animals had developed the condition after 30 weeks. But another group that received the high fibre diet was nearly entirely protected from the condition.
What we saw was dramatic, Mackay said. When we give the diet to mice that spontaneously develop type 1 diabetes, we could almost completely eliminate their disease.
Mackay said it was too early to know whether such medicinal foods could protect people from juvenile diabetes. There have been frustrations in the past that findings in these animals have not translated particularly well to human patients, but at other times they do, he said. But we think our study establishes the concept that we can stop a disease with natural medicinal food.
The diet is rich in a specific type of fibre that comes from a plant product called high amylose corn starch. The fibre is resistant to digestion in the upper intestine, and instead is fermented into acetate and butyrate by bacteria in the large intestine, or colon.
Tests on the mice found that acetate and butyrate may work in different ways to cool down the immune reaction that destroys pancreatic cells in type 1 diabetes. Acetate appeared to lower the number of immune cells primed to attack the pancreatic cells, while butyrate boosted other cells that dampen the immune reaction. The study is reported in the journal Nature Immunology.
Mackay now hopes to test the diet in humans. If trials show that it can slow or prevent juvenile diabetes, children could potentially have it as a powder on their meals, or dissolved in a drink.
John Cryan, professor of anatomy and neuroscience at University College Cork, said: It really reinforces the importance of diet at shaping physiology and offers potential for tailored dietary-based interventions for diabetes. It highlights how little we know about short-chain fatty acids despite them being the among the most important microbial-mediated dietary breakdown products.
But he said more work was needed on the potential side effects of diets that boost levels of short-chain fatty acids. One recent study found that in the brain, the compounds could affect immune processes that underlie Parkinsons disease. Of course, all diet studies in mice need caution as human diet, the microbiome, and their interactions, are so much more complex, he added.
Emily Burns at Diabetes UK said: We know that our immune system and gut work closely together. Understanding how the gut works in more detail could shed light on how to combat conditions that involve an immune attack, like type 1 diabetes. But theres still a lot we dont know.
The idea that a special medicinal diet could help to regulate the immune system and prevent type 1 diabetes from developing is interesting, but this research is at a very early stage. We wont know how effective this approach could be in people at risk of type 1 diabetes until research moves into human clinical trials.
What we currently know is that type 1 diabetes is not linked to diet or lifestyle and it cant be prevented. Diabetes UK is funding a great deal of research to find ways to stop the immune attack against the pancreas, in order to prevent type 1 diabetes in the future.
View post:
High fibre diet 'could prevent type 1 diabetes' - The Guardian
A change in diet may have helped our brains get so big – BBC News
Diet Comments Off on A change in diet may have helped our brains get so big – BBC News
BBC News | A change in diet may have helped our brains get so big BBC News There are bones hidden away in almost every cupboard in many of the rooms of New York University's primatology department, and James Higham is keen to explain to me what they can tell us about an important part of our evolution: why we have such big, ... Is fruit eating responsible for big brains? Fruit foraging in primates may be key to large brain evolution |
Link:
A change in diet may have helped our brains get so big - BBC News
Liver fully recovers from a low protein diet – Science Daily
Diet Comments Off on Liver fully recovers from a low protein diet – Science Daily
Damage caused to the liver by a low protein diet can be repaired, a new study just published in the journal Nutrition has found.
During this study researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey in collaboration with the University of Sao Paulo examined the impact of a low protein diet on the liver. Monitoring groups of mice, one group receiving normal levels of protein in the diet and the other group nourished with low levels of protein for five weeks, researchers were able to uncover the damaging effect a reduction of protein can cause to the structure of this vital organ.
Using a novel method -- design-based stereology -- which enabled researchers to estimate the volume of the liver and the total numbers and sizes of its cells in 3D, it was found that the liver of mice on a low protein diet had decreased by 65%. It also found a 46% reduction in the volume of hepatocytes (liver cells) and a 90% increase in the total number of binucleate hepatocytes (liver cells with two nuclei), causing a decrease of the functionality of the organ. The research also discovered that a low protein diet led to a 20% reduction in albumin, a protein produced by the liver and an important biomarker of nutritional functionality of the organ.
Such damage to the liver can impair its ability to function properly, which can lead to a detrimental effect on both the nervous and the musculoskeletal systems and negatively impact upon the body's ability to metabolise medication. The research also detected the proliferation of binucleate hepatocytes a sign that the liver is attempting to rectify damage caused by a low protein diet.
After five weeks a normal protein diet was reintroduced to the malnourished group, leading to an 85% increase in the total number of uninucleate hepatocytes and a 1.5-fold increase in the volume of the liver. These findings demonstrate the liver's ability (plasticity) to regenerate itself and reverse the damage caused by a low protein diet. Researchers indicate that given more time the liver could potentially recover even further.
Dr Augusto Coppi from the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey and lead author of the paper said: "It is important not to underestimate the importance of protein in our diet. From building and repairing tissues, to making enzymes and hormones, protein is a vital component of our bodies' functionality.
"Too little protein can have a damaging impact on our liver. Our research has shown a worrying atrophy of the liver and of its cells, which can affect the whole body metabolism. However, on the positive side, what we have also found is that this harm is not permanent, and the liver has an amazing capacity to regenerate itself and return to its normal functionality.
"This is an encouraging discovery for those having suffered long periods of malnutrition that no permanent damage has been caused. Our work is novel in using Stereology to monitor these 3D spatial changes in the structure of the liver after protein malnutrition followed by the reinstatement of a renutrition diet with adequate levels of protein."
Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Surrey. Original written by Natasha Meredith. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Go here to read the rest:
Liver fully recovers from a low protein diet - Science Daily
The Healthiest Diet In The World Isn’t Just About Food – Seeker
Diet Comments Off on The Healthiest Diet In The World Isn’t Just About Food – Seeker
If you've ever been out in the world, you've likely seen the word UNESCO and this weird square in a circle all over the place. UNESCO is tasked with identifying, protecting and preserving human heritage; buildings, landscapes, and monuments. But in 2013, they added something intangible: The "Mediterranean Diet."
You may have heard of the "Mediterranean" diet, it's a big fad in the United States as of late, and it's considered to be one of the healthiest in the world.But thanks to UNESCO, it's not just healthy, it's also a piece of human heritage.
The Mediterranean Diet includes plant-based foods, as well as "healthy" fats and so on. Plus, and this is serious, limiting the amount of red meat. Grilled fish is a popular item, as are other seafoods. It also offers an alcoholic component: a bit of red wine.
The problem is, if you look at U.S. magazines and blogs for the "Mediterranean Diet," as we see it, you'd find lists of restrictions and requirements of what to eat, what not to eat, and how to prepare your meals. Because that's how American's see a "diet," but they're getting it all wrong.
Special thanks to Blue Apron for sponsoring this video!First 100 viewers will get three meals off their Blue Apron order free! Clickhere
Read More:
Huffington Post:What The World's Healthiest Diets Have In Common
BBC:Why are Mediterranean diets so healthy?
NCBI: Greek Orthodox fasting rituals: a hidden characteristic of the Mediterranean diet of Crete.
See more here:
The Healthiest Diet In The World Isn't Just About Food - Seeker
Fitbit Alta HR Is the Best Fitness Tracker For Normal People – Gizmodo
Fitness Comments Off on Fitbit Alta HR Is the Best Fitness Tracker For Normal People – Gizmodo
All Images: Alex Cranz/Gizmodo
Lets face it, the world of fitness trackers has plateaued. Most people who want a fitness tracker already have one, and more than a few of us have old trackers shoved away in a drawer, useless because the charging cable mysteriously disappeared, or because the company who made it decided it didnt care anymore and killed the software (RIP Nike FuelBand).
For people that really like fitness trackers, its been difficult to find one that is the right blend of features, functionality, and aesthetics. Last year, Fitbit released the Fitbit Charge 2, and I called it the best fitness tracker, period. In terms of functionality and features, I still think this is the case, its got GPS built in, and altimeter for tracking climbing distances. But the Fitbit Charge 2 is still bulkier than some people might like. Thats why I was excited to see the new Fitbit Alta HR, another fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor, that actually looks good on your wrist.
For me, size of a fitness tracker is a big deal. I have tiny, tiny wrists (child-like is a phrase a former colleague used), and as much as I like the Fitbit Charge 2, its a little bulkier than I prefer for a fitness trackerand I dont need to know how many stairs I climbed or track myself via GPS. The smallest Fitbit, the Fitbit Flex 2, looks great, but its lack of a screen makes it less useful, at least for me.
The Fitbit Alta HR is kind of the perfect middle ground. It has the stuff I actually want in a trackercontinuous heart rate monitoring features, and the ability to get calls, text, and calendar notifications on your wristbut in a much smaller and more attractive wrist band.
The Fitbit Alta HR looks just like last years Fitbit Alta. This is a good thing. The Alta was great because it doesnt treat fashion as an afterthought. The only real physical difference between the Alta and Alta HR is the new heart rate sensor on the bottom of the device and replaceable straps that are easier to replace. The straps slide off and on the Alta HR. On last years Alta they had a tendency to be stubborn when you tried to replace them.
The battery life on the Fitbit Alta HR is touted as lasting seven days, which is a day longer than what we got on the original Fitbit Alta. Yet in my tests, I still found myself charging most often at the six day mark.
As for the heart rate sensor, its the same we saw in the Charge 2 (which is the same that was used in the Fitbit Charge HR and the Fitbit Blaze). There have been some conflicting reports about the accuracy of that sensor, but in my own tests, the Alta HRs readings have been exactly the same as those measured by the Apple Watch on my opposite wrist. It might not be medically precise, but its accurate enough for most of us.
The small OLED display is black and white and and adequately serves up the information that matters, like total steps walked, heart rate, resting heart rate, distance traveled, calories burned, minutes active, and the time. Like the Fitibt Alta and the Charge 2, the Alta HR can also receive notifications for text messages, phone calls, and calendar events. Make no mistake, the Alta HR will not replace a smartwatch, there are zero apps on the tracker itself, but if you just wanted notifications about texts and appointments, its a nice addition.
As with last years model, the screen can be a little slow to respond. I didnt have any problems flicking my wrist and getting the display to turn on, or cycling through the screens with a tap, but the devices response time is definitely on the slow side compared to other gadgets.
Alongside the Alta HR, Fitbit is also releasing a new software feature called Sleep Stages. Fitbit already tracked sleep, but the new software offers more insight into how you sleep by breaking down a night of rest into different phases. Lots of other companies offer sleep tracking software, but this is the first product Ive seen that actually makes it easy to understand whats going on over the course of a night.
The Sleep Stages dashboard granularity shows what type of sleep takes place over a given night, and how long that type of sleep lasts. Those categories include, awake, REM sleep, light sleep, and deep sleep. I liked knowing just how poorly I sleep (I wake up frequently for brief spurts), how much time I spend in REM sleep, and how little time (relatively speaking) I spend in deep sleep.
Just a few days of data reveals certain (maybe obvious) patterns: I wake up at 6:30 every morning, even if I dont wheel myself out of bed until 7:45. Im not sure if knowing that information can help me make better choices, but its certainly interesting data to know. This new software feature is also available on the Fitbit Charge 2 and the Fitbit Blaze.
Looking at the size, aesthetics, battery life, and the new heart rate monitor, the Fitbit Alta HR is a great fitness tracker for the average person. And at $150, its a reasonable upgrade, especially for anyone who has an older Fitbit and is looking to add heart rate monitoring into their mix.
Im not sure if the fitness tracker fad will ever reboundFitbit itself laid off six percent of its staff in Januarybut for those that do care about tracking activities, heart rate, and sleep, the Alta HR is a real winner.
Continued here:
Fitbit Alta HR Is the Best Fitness Tracker For Normal People - Gizmodo
A celebration of female fitness – Palm Beach Post
Fitness Comments Off on A celebration of female fitness – Palm Beach Post
Womens History Month may be coming to a close Friday but the celebration will certainly extend into April for the Boston Marathon.
Thats because this years April 17 race scheduled as it always is on Patriots Day will mark the 50th anniversary of Kathrine Switzer being the first officially registered woman to compete in the event (unregistered female runner Bobbi Gibb participating as a bandit ran in the 1966-68 races).
What made Switzers open participation in the race so seminal is that, at the time, women were not allowed to enter the Boston Marathon. When race director John Jock Semple unsuccessfully tried to physically remove her from the course and was blocked from doing so by Switzers burly boyfriend Tom Miller the iconic images appeared in newspapers worldwide.
And thus the era of female distance running was born.
By 1972, Boston Marathon officials relented to growing public pressure, opening the race to both sexes.
And in three weeks, the 70-year-old Switzer who was named Female Runner of the Decade (1967-77) by Runners World Magazine and went on to become an acclaimed TV commentator, public speaker and author will show that there are no hard feelings. Shell celebrate the anniversary by serving as the honorary starter for the elite womens race, then will lace up her running shoes and traverse those legendary 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.
Yes, female participation in sports and fitness has come a long way in the last 50 years and 2017 marks the anniversary of a few other major milestones. Among them:
40th anniversary of the sports bra
Until recreational jogger Lisa Lindahl designed the jockbra which later became the jogbra and evolved into todays sports bra women of all ages had no options for proper support while training or competing. Lindahls 1977 invention was a game-changer and is now must-have apparel for every woman who strives to be active.
30th anniversary of Navratilovas last U.S. Open title
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova won the final of her four U.S. Open singles championships in 1987. And sure, the Czech leftys aggressive style of play helped transform womens tennis. But perhaps even more impactful was Navratilovas approach to fitness.
She performed agility drills.
And she made it acceptable some would even argue preferable for female athletes to be powerful and muscular.
20th anniversary of the WNBA
If you were an NBA fan in 1997 when Michael Jordan was winning the fifth of his six championships you couldnt escape those ubiquitous We got next TV commercials promoting the inaugural WNBA season.
Building on the popularity of the 1996 gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic Womens Basketball Team, the league which was subsidized by the NBA offered the nations top female collegiate hoopsters their first opportunity to earn a professional living stateside.
10th anniversary of equal prize money at Wimbledon
Part-time Palm Beach County residents Venus and Serena Williams are transformative figures. And their influence transcends mere sport. Theyve both spurred racial, cultural and equality changes that will be felt for generations to come.
An example of the latter: Venus spent a good decade relentlessly advocating for women to receive equal prize money as their male counterparts.
In 2007, the stodgy old All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club which, of course, hosts Wimbledon finally acquiesced.
Making their decision even sweeter for Venus: She won the fourth of her five Wimbledon titles that year.
Link:
A celebration of female fitness - Palm Beach Post
CARE tax could upgrade Orem Fitness Center | Orem News … – Daily Herald
Fitness Comments Off on CARE tax could upgrade Orem Fitness Center | Orem News … – Daily Herald
Applications for Orems CARE tax grants are in, and if Karl Hirst, director of parks and recreation, has his way, the next three years of recreation grants will go to upgrade the Orem Fitness Center.
The Parks and Recreation department shares the yearly CARE tax in a 50/50 split with the cultural arts programs in the city. For Hirst, that means he can dedicate approximately $1 million a year to parks and recreation projects.
This would not be the first time the tax for the Cultural Arts and Recreation Enrichment Program would be used to upgrade the fitness center at 580 W. 165 South.
On July 14, 2014, a ribbon cutting was held for the new pools at the center. The leisure pool was paid for with the money raised from the CARE tax, which takes one cent from every $10 in sales made in Orem in order to help build cultural and recreational buildings.
The new pool had a waterslide, basketball hoops and a splash pad, along with several other new attractions for families to enjoy.
Hirst is hoping this time around the City Council will approve all of the appropriated CARE tax for recreation for the next three cycles go to a major fitness center upgrade.
That would be $3 million dollars. Hirst is hoping the council would front another $1 million out of the General Fund to go with it so they can start the project next year.
Were talking about a major remodel, Hirst said. Overall, were looking at things like CrossFit training, a climbing wall, enlarging spin classes and gymnastics. There are a lot of ideas on the table.
He said they are hoping to bring the dark underground track up and into a brighter, lighter area.
Hirst said fitness and exercise trends have changed since the Fitness Center opened in the 1980s.
We need to look at the size of our footprint and compare it to costs to upgrade, he said. We would also get new carpets, paint and lights. We need a face-lift.
The fitness center also needs a place to drop off and pick up patrons and keep a good traffic flow in the parking lot and in front of the building.
Hirst said he hopes the council is behind the upgrade proposal. If they approve the extra $1 million in May, as they look at the new fiscal budget, the renovation process could move forward earlier.
In the meantime, Hirst said this years CARE tax allocation is helping build out the dog park at Mount Timpanogos Park. Construction has been moving forward this winter.
You can see a very visible change, he said. Most of the groundwork is done. It should be done in the next five weeks.
The splash pad at Palisade Park is also under construction and Hirst said he hopes the water feature will be open for Memorial Day.
Read this article:
CARE tax could upgrade Orem Fitness Center | Orem News ... - Daily Herald
Jim White: Fitness and Health Consultant – Virginian-Pilot
Fitness Comments Off on Jim White: Fitness and Health Consultant – Virginian-Pilot
White is the owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios in Virginia Beach and Norfolk. He specializes in personal training and individual nutritional counseling. He was named one of the Top Forty under 40 in Hampton Roads by Inside Business and was a 2016 Personal Fitness Professional Personal Trainer of the Year (named by whom?).
He has been consulted as a fitness and health expert by such outlets as ABC Family Channel, Today, TLC, Radio Disney, Shape, GQ, Mens Health, Muscle and Fitness, Prevention, USA Today, Details, and The Wall Street Journal.
What is your idea of success? We shouldnt measure ourselves on the worlds view of success. My idea of success is the measure of using our God-given talents to fulfill the need of something greater than ourselves. To make the world a better place through our craft. To be at peace, knowing we did everything we could to the best of our ability with the talents we were given.
Who was the most influential leader in your life (not a family member)? I would have to say my savior, Jesus Christ. He taught how to live life and spread peace, love and joy to others. Even though I regularly fall short, I try to live like him daily.
What worries you most? Failure.
What excites you most? Traveling around the world. I love learning about different cultures and seeing what I often read about.
What object or objects will always be in your office? My coffee pot, lined Post-it notes and pencils.
What are you listening to? The podcast How I Built This.
What are you reading? My wife is seven months pregnant with our first child so I am currently reading the book On Becoming Baby Wise and taking a ton of notes.
What three things do you save in a fire? My pup Flex (and other family members), childhood photos, and my Michael Jordan rookie card.
What quality do you most like in a colleague? Integrity, hands-down.
What quality do you like least in a colleague? Leave the ego at the door.
What one thing would you change about yourself? Being a workaholic.
If you had to change careers, what would you be? A sports agent.
What is your dream of the future? Expanding Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios to a national franchise. Q
Read more from the original source:
Jim White: Fitness and Health Consultant - Virginian-Pilot
Shape up with Rick – Timesonline.com
Fitness Comments Off on Shape up with Rick – Timesonline.com
We always talk about fitness and nutrition, but let's not forget to talk about patience.
Patience is critical during the process of fitness and nutrition. People want results right now! They are so impatient. This leads to frustration, and then they quit.
If you are unhappy about your physical appearance, its from poor nutrition and a lack of exercise. Time has added up, and maybe you are now in the worst shape of your life. Then you get into fitness and start working on changing your nutrition. You are now doing the opposite of what you have been doing, which is good. Keep it up.
But this is where people dont have enough patience. They feel as if a change in their diet is not the way to go. They have a mindset that food is what caused them to become so out of shape that they begin build a wall between them and nutrition.
Think about it this: If eating poorly and a lack of exercise put you in poor health, dont you think that improving your nutrition and adding exercise in your life will turn your entire life around?
You better believe it will, but you need to be patient. If it took you five years to get in the worst shape of your life, its surely not going to take only four months to get back in shape.
Thats just the start. Your body has to adapt to exercise and nutrition, and you have to gain a general understanding to how to properly train.
You can and will see results in four weeks. We have seen tremendous results in four-week contests at our facility. But a healthy lifestyle is not just a four-week contest. Its a 365-day-a-year process and adaptation.
When members start to train and look back a year later to their start date, they are completely different people. Physically they look leaner, younger, have more energy, sleep better, experience better moods and have a better overall lifestyle. They accomplished all of this through patience. What an accomplishment it is, too.
Youre almost there. You might be an inch away from hitting your stride in training and health. Most people quit before they reach that inch. They walk away before they discover the payoff.
Lets put it this way: Youre going to have great days. Youre going to have mediocre days. Youre going to have days where you almost quit. Every day you have to get back up, put your feet on the floor and get back at it.
Rick Daman runs Daman's Strength Training in Vanport. Daman's Strength Training runs many programs, including Women's Boot Camps, semi-private training, personal training and athletic development training programs for athletes starting at age 12. Visit http://damanstrength.com. Contact Rick Daman at damanstrength@gmail.com.
Read the original post:
Shape up with Rick - Timesonline.com
Blush Fitness provides women-only workout facility – KSHB
Fitness Comments Off on Blush Fitness provides women-only workout facility – KSHB
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Sometimes, the toughest part of getting fit is that first step: you inside a workout facility or gym.
Would a glass of wine help? More on that later.
Making that initial commitment to a healthy lifestyle is where Blush Fitness comes in.
According to owner Kelly Gellert, this is a place where women can work out without judgment or any feeling of intimidation.
Everything you need, for every level of fitness, is here: personal one-on-one training, group classes, heated studio, spinning, state of the art machines, 24/7 access.
And, as one of the signs makes clear, No Boys!
Blush Fitness had their grand opening last weekend. Now, they have new ways to introduce you to the workout.
For example, Free Lady Friday! As a member, you can bring your Mom, sister, or any other woman for free on a Friday.
Now, about that wine: About once a month, Blush hosts a Sweat and Wine Nightgoing from vigorous to vino.
It really comes down to providing a safe, welcoming community for women of all ages and fitness levels to live their best lives.
As Kelly Gellert puts it: First you sweat. Then you blush.
-----
Joel Nichols can be reached atjoel.nichols@kclive.tv.
Follow him on Twitter
Follow @joelkclive
Connect on Facebook
Read the original:
Blush Fitness provides women-only workout facility - KSHB