Even Products Not Labeled “Gluten-Free” Benefit From The Phenomenon

The “most potent, generative force” in the food industry – gluten-free food and beverages -- is not going away. A visit to the recent Fancy Food Show bore that out: kombuchas, jerkies, prepackaged sauces, artisanal charcuterie, and small-batch jams were all labeled gluten-free. The U.S. market for gluten-free foods hit $11.6 billion in 2015, up 136 percent from 2013 (Mintel). But those figures only include products specifically labeled “gluten-free.” Other foods and beverages that just happen to be gluten-free are also benefiting. Examples include new dishes on San Francisco restaurant and café menus, in farmers markets and in pastry shops (e.g., almond flour cakes). The fact that gluten-free beer “tastes wretched” spurred the rise of wheat-free hard apple cider and honey-based mead.

"Is that gluten-free? The movement’s impact on the food industry", San Francisco Chronicle, January 19, 2016

Unilever Shrinks U.K. Single-Portion Ice Cream Packs To Cut Calories

Unilever is trimming the sizes of single-serve ice cream products by as much as a third in the U.K. to reduce calories per serving. Included in the effort are packages of Magnum, Cornetto, Ben & Jerry’s and Feast, all of which will be shrunk to bring the calorie totals below 250. According to reports, the prices of the products will only be cut 26 percent. Beginning in the spring, Ben & Jerry’s single portion packs will be reduced by 33 percent, from 150ml to 100ml. A Unilever spokesman admitted there was a risk of a customer backlash. But he said he expected shoppers to “appreciate what we are trying to do, and buy more.”

"Unilever to shrink Magnum and Cornetto in bid to cut calories", The Guardian, January 22, 2016

Low-Fiber Diet Reduces Beneficial Microbe Population In The Gut

Fiber – plant carbohydrates that people cannot digest – not only feeds humans, it also feeds the trillions of beneficial microbes in the gut. Bacteria in the intestine break fiber into chemicals that nourish cells and reduce inflammation. Microbes eat specialized diets, according to a new U.S. study in mice. That means a fiber-rich diet can nourish a wide variety of gut microbes, while a low-fiber diet nourishes a smaller community. Researchers found that low-fiber diets deplete the complex microbial ecosystems and can cause a loss of diversity and internal deficiencies that can be passed on to future generations. It is not known whether those lost microbes can ever be replaced, or what impact the loss of the microbes may have had on human health.

"Diet-induced extinctions in the gut microbiota compound over generations", Nature, January 15, 2016

Adding Fat To DASH Diet Proves Just As Effective In Reducing Hypertension

A higher fat version of an anti-hypertension diet not only lowered blood pressure tas much as the non-dairy version, but also reduced blood fats and did not significantly raise LDL cholesterol, a U.S. study has found. The DASH (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) diet was developed to lower blood pressure and includes low-fat and nonfat dairy foods, reduced sodium, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. Researchers tested 36 adults who alternated eating a control diet, a normal DASH diet and a modified DASH diet with higher amounts of fat. The higher fat DASH diet lowered blood pressure to the same extent as the DASH diet without raising “bad” cholesterol levels, making it a an effective alternative to the widely recommended DASH diet.

"Comparison of the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet and a higher-fat DASH diet on blood pressure and lipids and lipoproteins: a randomized controlled trial. ", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 24, 2016

Fruity Diet Reduces Risk Of Erectile Dysfunction

A diet that contains regular helpings of foods rich in certain flavonoids reduces the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men under age 70, a study by U.S. and British scientists has found. The most potent flavonoids are found in various fruits. Anthocyanins are found in blueberries, cherries, blackberries, radishes and blackcurrants; flavanones and flavones are found in citrus fruits. The study also showed that that eating more fruit generally was associated with a 14 percent reduction in the risk of ED. A flavonoid-rich diet is as good for erectile function as vigorously walking for up to five hours a week, the researchers noted.

"Dietary flavonoid intake and incidence of erectile dysfunction. ", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, January 24, 2016

Visceral Fat Increases With More Frequent Drinking Of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

New U.S. research has found a correlation between frequent drinking of sugary beverages and harmful visceral fat in middle-aged adults. Visceral (or deep) fat surrounds the liver, pancreas and intestines, adversely affecting hormone function. It is thought to play a large role in insulin resistance that boosts type 2 diabetes and heart disease risk. For the study, 1,003 men and women (average age 45) who answered food questionnaires and underwent CT scans were monitored for six years. At the end, researchers found that regardless of age, gender, physical activity, body mass index and other factors, visceral fat volume increased by 658 cm³ for non-drinkers, 649 cm³ for occasional drinkers, 707 cm³ for frequent drinkers, and 852 cm³ for those who drank one beverage daily.

"Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption is Associated With Change of Visceral Adipose Tissue Over 6 Years of Follow-Up. ", Circulation, January 24, 2016

Magnesium Seen As Increasingly Important To Good Health

Market researcher Packaged Facts says the current focus on whole food and natural food sources will mean that consumers will be looking for foods naturally rich in magnesium, a mineral that is increasingly recognized as a beneficial ingredient. Certain dairy products and milk and dairy substitutes, cereals, and breads will lead the trend, followed by baby food and food supplements, bars and beverages. Foods high in fiber are high in magnesium, including nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes, which also happen to be good sources of plant protein.

"Magnesium Rising in the Food Industry", US Daily Review, December 28, 2015

Americans Still Consume Unhealthy Levels Of Sodium

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report that says almost all Americans – no matter the sex, race, or health status – consume too much sodium. The newly-issued 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg (the amount in one teaspoon of salt) a day for people over 14 and less for younger children. But according to the CDC findings, based on the diets of 15,000 people, more than 90 percent of children and 89 percent of adults aged 19 and older consume much more sodium than that, and most comes from processed and restaurant foods. Evidence links excess sodium intake to high blood pressure and other health problems.

"Prevalence of Excess Sodium Intake in the United States — NHANES, 2009–2012", Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 08, 2016