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Univ. of Michigan researchers who studied 713 women aged 70 to 79 years found that those who were most physically active and ate the most fruits and vegetables were eight times more likely to survive the five-year follow-up period than women with the lowest rates. Information for the study was gathered from participant questionnaires about physical activity and from measurements of blood levels of carotenoids, beneficial pigments from fruits and vegetables that the body turns into antioxidants. Key findings: women in the most active group at baseline had a 71 percent lower five-year death rate than the women in the least active group; women in the highest carotenoid group had a 46 percent lower five-year death rate.
"Fruit and Vegetable Intake, Physical Activity, and Mortality in Older Community-Dwelling Women", Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, May 30, 2012
Imitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, it’s also the best way to teach kids healthy eating habits, a U.S. study finds. The research focused on the eating habits of low-income families, finding that preschool children of mothers who led by example -- persuading rather than forcing their kids to eat fruits and vegetables -- tended to eat healthier foods. Parents are better off adopting balanced eating habits themselves, subtly controlling their children's diet quality by not bringing unhealthy foods into the house. Conversely, overly restricting certain foods can lead to unhealthy eating.
"Feeding behaviors of low-income mothers: directive control relates to a lower BMI in children, and a nondirective control relates to a healthier diet in preschoolers", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 30, 2012
U.S. researchers have found that bananas are more beneficial to vigorous exercisers than sports drinks. The study showed that half a banana given to trained cyclists every fiftyeen minutes during a 75-kilometer road race (nearly 3 hours long) provided antioxidants not found in sports drinks, plus fiber, potassium, vitamin B6 and a healthier blend of sugars. According to one of the researchers, the findings show that healthy carbohydrate sources like bananas "before and after exercise will support athletic performance just as well as a sports drink."
" Bananas as an Energy Source during Exercise: A Metabolomics Approach", PLoS ONE, May 29, 2012
A study by Spanish researchers has linked the Mediterranean diet – fruit, vegetables, pulses (beans, peas, chickpeas and lentils etc.), fish, olive oil and nuts – to improved mental and physical health. Scientists analyzed the influence of the Mediterranean diet on the quality of life of a sample of more than 11,000 university students over four years. Dietary intake data was taken at the beginning and measured after four years. Those who stuck more to the Mediterranean diet scored higher on the quality of life questionnaire in terms of physical and mental well-being. The link was even stronger in terms of physical quality of life.
"Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life in the SUN Project", European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May 29, 2012
A focus-group study of 83 African-American men has found that most will put up with healthier dietary changes at home to keep the peace, but will often overindulge on foods they like when they’re away from the house. The majority of men interviewed in focus groups said their wives did not consult with them before imposing a healthier diet. But to avoid conflict, the men acquiesced in the changes to maintain a happy home. According to one of the researchers, men “compensate for the dissatisfaction of not eating what they want by making unhealthier choices outside the home."
" “She Looks out for the Meals, Period”: African American Men's Perceptions of How Their Wives Influence Their Eating Behavior and Dietary Health", Health Psychology, May 22, 2012
A new British study shows that expectant mothers who consume a healthy diet monitored by health professionals prevents excess weight gain in pregnancy and reduces the risk of pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes, high blood pressure and early delivery. Women – event the overweight and obese – who followed a calorie controlled diet were 33 percent less likely to develop pre-eclampsia, one of the most dangerous pregnancy complications involving raised blood pressure and protein in the urine. Their risk of gestational diabetes was 60 percent lower, of gestational high blood pressure, 70 percent lower, and of early delivery, 32 percent lower.
"Effects of interventions in pregnancy on maternal weight and obstetric outcomes: meta-analysis of randomised evidence", BMJ, May 18, 2012
A U.S. study in mice offers a significant insight for people trying to lose weight. Regular eating times, coupled with an extended period of fasting each day, seems to override the adverse health effects of a high-fat diet. Consequently, researchers found, such a dietary pattern may prevent obesity, diabetes and liver disease. Mice limited to eating during an 8-hour period were found to be healthier than mice that ate freely throughout the day, regardless of the quality and content of their diet.
"Time-Restricted Feeding without Reducing Caloric Intake Prevents Metabolic Diseases in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet", Cell Metabolism, May 17, 2012
Certain dietary supplements widely available in the U.S. are harmless when taken at triple the recommended dose, but pose a cancer risk if taken at higher doses, a U.S. study has found. Beta-carotene, selenium and folic acid are essential nutrients, and are beneficial and harmless when taken in a certain balance, researchers say. But when taken at much higher doses, as some manufacturers recommend, they have been shown to increase the risk of developing a wide variety of cancers.
"Dietary Supplements and Cancer Prevention: Balancing Potential Benefits Against Proven Harms", Journal of the National Cancer Institute, May 15, 2012
A U.S. study confirms that eating a high-fructose diet for a long period of time harms the brain’s ability to learn and remember information, but increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet counteracts the adverse effects. The study in rats showed that fructose – from, for example cane sugar (sucrose) and high fructose corn syrup – impedes the synapses’ ability to transmit signals between brain cells. But the problem can be overcome if the brain has access to omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA, which improves synaptic functions.
"'Metabolic syndrome' in the brain: deficiency in omega-3 fatty acid exacerbates dysfunctions in insulin receptor signaling and cognition", The Journal of Physiology, May 15, 2012
Researchers in Israel and the U.S. have found that the children of overweight mothers-to-be tend to be overweight as well, and have a greater tendency toward being overweight and experiencing higher blood pressure and excess sugar and fat levels in the blood. The study analyzed clinical data – including pregnancy weight and birth weight of children – on 1,400 people born in Jerusalem in 1974-76. They then gathered data on the children at age 32. The results showed a clear influence of the overweight of the mothers on the overweight of their children, affecting in turn other health risk factors in adulthood.
"Associations of Maternal Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain With Adult Offspring Cardiometabolic Risk Factors", Circulation, May 13, 2012
A low-calorie fruit-based, high-fiber nutrition bar rich in vitamins and minerals has been tested successfully in small U.S. clinical trials and found to lead to favorable metabolic changes after only two weeks. Participants in the studies at the “CHORI-bar” (from the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute) twice a day for two weeks. Researchers found that eating the bar improved biological indicators – increased HDL-c and glutathione, and lowered homocysteine – all of which have been linked to risk of cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and associated decline in antioxidant defenses. The researchers have developed two additional bars that expand the number of biomarkers improved by the bar to include measures of insulin resistance, inflammation, etc.
"A nutrient-dense high fiber, fruit-based supplement bar increases HDL, particularly large HDL, lowers homocysteine, and raises glutathione in in a 2-week trial", FASEB Journal, May 10, 2012
A substance produced when soybeans are soaked in water shows promise in cancer prevention, new U.S. research has found. Bowman-Birk Protease Inhibitor (BBI), currently manufactured in a time-consuming industrial process, has been tested successfully in clinical trials. Scientists believe the BBI from soybeans, which are widely consumed by the Japanese, are the basis for lower cancer rates in Japan. The researchers found that soybean seeds incubated in water at 122 degrees (F) naturally release large amounts of BBI that can be easily harvested from water.
" Imbibition of Soybean Seeds in Warm Water Results in the Release of Copious Amounts of Bowman–Birk Protease Inhibitor, a Putative Anticarcinogenic Agent", Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, May 09, 2012
A study by Lithuanian scientists finds that people who eat quickly are at much greater risk of type 2 diabetes than people who eat more slowly. The study compared 234 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients to 468 people who were diabetes-free. Researchers analyzed questionnaires from the participants, who reported their eating speed, weight, height, and waist and hip measurements. After adjusting for other risk factors (e.g., family history of diabetes, education level, smoking etc.), the researchers found that those who ate faster were two-and-a-half times more likely to have diabetes. Higher body mass index and significantly lower education level were also indicators of diabetes risk.
"Eating Fast Increases Diabetes Risk", News release, presentation at the International Congress of Endocrinology and European Congress of Endocrinology, May 07, 2012
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Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, May 15, 2012
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