The West Coast is home to a growing phenomenon in the bread industry: local grain economies whose goal is to scale up production of whole grain products in a way that is profitable for farmers and competitively priced for consumers – “a true alternative to an industrial economy”. The whole grains movement is based on locally grown grain varieties that result in flour very different from what’s available commercially today. The grains are milled without ever separating the germ, the embryo of a grain kernel, and the bran, the protective outer layer. Baked goods – from cookies to bread – not only taste better than the so-called whole grain products available in supermarkets today, they may also be healthier. Advocates and scientists say people who are gluten sensitive – but not celiac sufferers – report they can enjoy breads made from whole grains without the adverse effects.

A study of 141 type 2 diabetics by Canadian researchers has found that eating a low-glycemic diet, including bread made with canola oil, led to a significant reduction in blood glucose levels and in LDL or “bad”, cholesterol. The canola bread diet was compared to a similar diet with whole wheat bread. The results translate into a seven percent reduction in cardiovascular events, or the equivalent of an additional 20 mg dose of the cholesterol-reducing drugs known as statins. Interesting finding: patients on the whole wheat diet seemed to have better blood flow after 12 weeks than those on the canola bread diet. Whole wheat foods have consistently been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A study that analyzed health data from more than 37,000 adult men of all ages showed that eating processed red meat – smoked, cured, salted, and laced with preservatives or other chemicals – increases the risk of heart failure. Participants in the Swedish study completed questionnaires on food intake and other lifestyle factors from1998 to the date of heart failure diagnosis, death or the end of the study in 2010. Men who ate the most processed red meat (75 grams a day or more) had a 28 percent higher risk of heart failure and a 2-fold increased risk of heart failure death. The risk of heart failure or death among those who ate unprocessed red meat did not increase, however.

Grain legumes, also known as pulses, are packed with essential micronutrients, and are highly sustainable because they do not require nitrogen fertilization. But unfortunately they are not cultivated on the same scale as cereals in most countries, a joint U.S.-Canadian study reports.  The researchers noted that a 3.5 ounce serving of any of field peas, lentils, chickpeas, and common bean provides a significant amount of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese, copper, and nickel. The only key micronutrient that the crops lacked is calcium. The researchers recommended that agriculturists and dieticians around the world should encourage Increased production and consumption of grain legume crops, because of their nutrition profile and sustainability.

A British clinical study that focused on the health effects of the powerful antioxidant lycopene, found in tomatoes and available in supplement form, discovered significant cardiovascular benefits. Thirty-six cardiovascular disease patients and thirty-six healthy volunteers were given either an off-the-shelf supplement containing 7 mg of lycopene or a placebo. Lycopene improved and normalized endothelial (blood vessel lining) function in the patients, but not in healthy volunteers. Lycopene improved the widening of the blood vessels by 53 percent compared to baseline. However, the supplement had no effect on blood pressure, arterial stiffness or levels of lipids.

Adding prunes to a weight loss diet program can help people shed pounds, a British clinical study has found. Scientists tested the impact of prunes for 12 weeks on 100 overweight and obese participants who generally ate a diet low in fiber. Participants either ate prunes every day (140 g for women and 171 g for men), and a control group only given advice on healthy snacking. Those who ate prunes as part of a healthy lifestyle diet lost 2 kg (4.4 lb) and shed 2.5 cm (0.98 in) off their waists, and the prunes were well-tolerated. The people in the control group lost only 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) and 1.7 cm (0.67 in) from their waists.

Adding prunes to a weight loss diet program can help people shed pounds, a British clinical study has found. Scientists tested the impact of prunes for 12 weeks on 100 overweight and obese participants who generally ate a diet low in fiber. Participants either ate prunes every day (140 g for women and 171 g for men), and a control group only given advice on healthy snacking. Those who ate prunes as part of a healthy lifestyle diet lost 2 kg (4.4 lb) and shed 2.5 cm (0.98 in) off their waists, and the prunes were well-tolerated. The people in the control group lost only 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) and 1.7 cm (0.67 in) from their waists.

Swiss and Spanish researchers have determined that the polyphenols in red wine and grape seed extract are effective in getting rid of the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease, common problems globally. For the study, the researchers grew cultures of bacteria responsible for dental diseases as a biofilm. The biofilms were immersed for a few minutes in red wine, red wine without alcohol, red wine spiked with grape seed extract, and water and 12 percent ethanol for comparison. They found that red wine with or without alcohol and wine with grape seed extract were the most effective at eliminating bacteria. The findings could lead to the development of natural products that prevent dental diseases with fewer side effects.

One reason childhood obesity rates have stalled and started to drop in recent years is the fact that parents of preschoolers are buying less junk food and sugary drinks, according to a U.S. study. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that obesity rates among preschoolers (aged two to five) have slid from 12.1 percent to 8.4 percent. To find out why, the researchers analyzed food and beverage purchase data between 2000 and 2011 from 43,000 U.S. households with preschool-age children. They identified the top 20 foods and beverages purchased per capita, finding declines especially in milk, soft drinks, juices and juice drinks, and grain-based desserts, all of which include higher calorie solid fats and added sugars.

Interventions to help obese children conquer their diet and weight problems work best when the families live near a supermarket, according to a Canadian study. The researchers analyzed data from a randomized, controlled clinical trial involving children aged  six to 12 in 14 pediatric practices in one state. The study compared the results of two different interventions that focused on the type of support provided to the families by the physicians. Though living closer to a supermarket did not affect consumption of sugary drinks, it did help increase the intake of fruits and vegetables. Kids who lived farther away also had larger body mass indexes.

Forty years ago two Danish scientists suggested that a whale and seal blubber diet protected the Inuit of Greenland from coronary artery disease. Nutritionists and physicians have relied on those findings in recommending oily fish to protect arteries. But a new Canadian study that looked at data from four decades of research shows that the Inuit actually did suffer from coronary artery disease (CAD), but it was underreported to medical authorities because of the difficulty of collecting health information from people in remote areas.  The new investigation shows that the Inuit not only are just as likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease as non-Inuits, but they have very high rates of mortality due to strokes.

Danish research shows that meals supplemented with whey protein could help improve metabolism for people who are obese but not yet diabetic. For the study, participants ate the same meal of soup and bread plus one kind of protein: whey, gluten, casein or cod. They found that the meal supplemented with whey, which is found in milk and cheese, caused stomachs to empty more slowly. They also had lower levels of fatty acids in their blood after meals and higher amounts of the types of amino acids that boost insulin, which keeps blood sugar levels where they’re supposed to be.

Unilever acknowledged it is reviewing the sales performance of its SlimFast weight loss brand as well as its pasta sauces unit, which includes the Ragu brand. A company spokesman said the review could lead to a divestiture of the product lines, but “it doesn’t necessarily have to”. Purchased in 2000 for £1.4 billion, the SlimFast line was badly bruised by the rise of the Atkins low-carb products starting in 2003, and has recently felt the impact of Kellogg’s refocus of some of breakfast cereals as weight loss products. Industry experts say Unilever’s plan is to focus more tightly on its health and beauty businesses.

Previous studies have reported evidence of a correlation between vitamin D supplements and a reduced risk of falls among older people. But a new meta-study of 20 clinical trials involving 29,535 people found no evidence at all that vitamin D reduced falls. But because most clinical trials report on only the total number of falls, not the number of falls per person, it cannot be established whether vitamin D might reduce falls in particularly vulnerable older people – i.e., those who fall often. The researchers acknowledged they are not sure whether a large clinical trial “in this vulnerable population” would be feasible.

A U.S. study adds to the mounting evidence that vitamin D deficiency in seniors is associated with cognitive decline over time. The researchers looked at 2,777 well-functioning adults aged 70 to 79 whose cognitive performance was measured at the start of the study and again four years later. Vitamin D levels were measured at the 12-month follow-up visit. Low vitamin D was associated with worse cognitive performance on one of the two cognitive tests used. The researchers were careful to point out they could not determine a direct cause-and-effect relationship, but there was enough associative data to support a campaign to increase vitamin D supplementation among the elderly.

U.S. researchers who tested the influence of food volume on calorie intake – they used a rolling pin to gradually reduce the size of cereal flakes and the volume by weight – found that smaller flake size led to increased caloric consumption. Even though people poured a smaller volume of the crushed cereal into their bowls, they ended up eating more cereal by weight – and more calories. As the volumes decreased, people thought they were eating less cereal and the same or fewer calories, “but instead they ended up significantly overeating”. The researchers recommended that, when eating cereals with small pieces, people should reduce the recommended serving size to account for the low volume.

Researchers who analyzed data from nearly 60,000 women found a significant relationship between diet drink consumption, heart attacks and mortality in those who had reached menopause. The U.S. study compared cardiovascular outcomes among women who never or rarely drank diet beverages and those who consumed two or more a day. Heavy diet soda drinkers were 30 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 50 percent more likely to die from coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, coronary revascularization procedure, ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. The researchers acknowledged that they had only found an association, not a cause and effect relationship.

Greek researchers who analyzed data pooled from 19 clinical studies and 162,000 participants found that adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 21 percent reduced risk of diabetes when compared to control dietary groups. The effect was especially notable among people at high risk for cardiovascular disease: they were 27 percent less likely to develop diabetes. A Mediterranean diet generally features fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, fish, olive oil and even small amounts of red wine.

Vitamin E has been shown to improve age-related diseases and conditions, like Alzheimer’s and macular degeneration. That fact, and the growing proportion of older people in the world, led Swiss vitamin supplier DSM to recently call for a substantial increase in the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin E. But supplements are not the only viable source, Euromonitor says. The two most common food sources are gamma-tocopherol – found in corn oil, soybean oil and margarine – and alpha-tocopherol, found in wheat germ oil, sunflower and safflower oils, as well as sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts and peanuts. According to Euromonitor, in 2012 nearly 1,500 tons of vitamin E were consumed in food and drink products, of which 40 percent came from oils and fats.

A two-phase U.S. clinical study in which participants were taught strategies for substituting herbs and spices for salt found that those involved in the intervention learned to consume healthier levels of sodium. More than 60 percent of the participants had high blood pressure, 18 percent had diabetes; all were overweight. In phase 1 of the study, all participants ate a low-sodium diet for four weeks, reducing average sodium intake by half. In phase 2, half of the participants spent 20 weeks learning how to use herbs and spices in recipes, how to make low-sodium intake permanent, etc. Those in the intervention group consumed on average 966 mg less sodium daily than the control group, indicating that the coaching process was a more effective way to reduce sodium intake.

Louisiana State University chemists recently told a scientific meeting that dark chocolate is healthful because good microbes (e.g., Bifidobacterium and lactic acid bacteria) in the intestines “feast on chocolate”, growing it, fermenting it and producing compounds that fight inflammation. When absorbed by the body, the compounds reduce cardiovascular inflammation and cut the long-term risk of stroke. But how? It seems that cocoa powder, found in dark chocolate, contains several polyphenolic (antioxidant) compounds such as catechin and epicatechin, as well as some dietary fiber. None of these are well-digested or absorbed. But when they reach the colon, the beneficial bacteria do their job.

Mothers-to-be can reduce the risk of a premature or preterm birth by making sure they eat a “prudent” diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and water, and even a “traditional” diet of boiled potatoes, fish and cooked vegetables, a British study finds. The researchers examined data from a Norwegian study of preterm births among 66,000 women between 2002 and 2008. They said their findings do not establish a causality between poor diet and premature births: the "Western" dietary pattern, for example, was not independently associated with preterm delivery. The data do show a link between maternal dietary habits and the health of the unborn child.

Earlier studies have shown that high density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol), especially large HDL particles, efficiently clean extra cholesterol off artery walls, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study from Finland shows that diet can play a major role in the process. Participants who consumed at least three or four meals of salmon, rainbow trout or herring a week had more of these large HDL particles in their bloodstream than less frequent fish eaters. The researchers used advanced state-of-the-art metabolomics in the study that enabled a detailed analysis of lipoprotein particles.

Physicians, nutritionists and researchers continue to argue about whether consuming excess fructose plays a major role in the onset of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Now a meta-analysis by Canadian researchers of data from 13 clinical trials involving 260 healthy participants shows that fructose in and of itself is not to blame for the increase in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The researchers could find no evidence that there is something unique about the fructose molecule, or the way it is metabolized, that would cause the obesity epidemic. Overall intake of excess calories, not the source of the calories, is the real culprit.

A small, week-long study among dieters has found that late night cravings, alcohol use and friends contribute significantly to a drop in willpower and self-control. For the study, 80 people who were dieting were given mobile phones to use as an electronic diary. Researchers found that participants gave in to food temptations just over 50 percent of the time, and were especially vulnerable at night. They were more likely to give in to alcoholic temptations than to eat a sugary snack or to overindulge. And they were often influenced by the presence of others, regardless of whether a dietary temptation was unexpected or whether the dieter went looking for something to eat.

A 30-day test program that encouraged high schoolers in the Appalachian foothills of Ohio to drink fewer sugary drinks and more water has succeeded, according to the program’s developer.  Dubbed “Sodabriety”, the program was presented as a challenge to teens in the region, where the  average number of sugared drinks was 2.5 servings a day over an average of four days a week. The teens – who had no idea about the high calorie content of sugared beverages – were particularly fond of oversized drinks. But during the program, which was monitored by teens themselves, rather than teachers or other adults, the average daily number of sugary drinks dropped  to 1.3, and the number of days dropped to two a week. Water consumption increased nearly 30 percent.

The perception by obese patients that their primary care physician had passed judgment on their size led to less effective weight loss efforts, a Johns Hopkins University study has found. The study involved a national Internet-based survey of 600 obese adults who regularly saw their primary care doctors. Asked if their doctor ever judged them because of their weight, 21 percent believed they had. Ninety-six percent of those who felt judged said they tried to lose weight, compared to 84 percent who did not. Fourteen percent of those who felt judged lost 10 percent or more of their body weight, though 20 percent of those who did not feel judged lost a similar amount.

Oregon researchers who used functional brain imaging in live, older rhesus macaque monkeys show that animals whose diet was rich in omega-3 fatty acids had highly connected and well-organized neural networks compared to those whose diet lacked omega-3s. The imaging data show how similar the brain networks in monkeys and humans are, but “only in the context of a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids”. The next step is to see if monkeys with deficits in certain neural networks have behavioral patterns similar to those in humans with neurological conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.

Scientists in Florida have concocted a dietary supplement rich in antioxidants and other natural components that boosts the speed of information processing in the brains of older adults. The supplement (NT-020) contains extracts of blueberries and green tea combined, as well as vitamin D3 and amino acids like carnosine. The mixture was tested in a two-month clinical trial involving 105 healthy adults aged 65 to 85. Test results at the end of study show modest improvements in two measures of cognitive processing speed for those taking the supplement compared to those taking a placebo. Processing speed – in areas like memory and verbal ability – is most often affected early in cognitive aging.

Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish – basically the Mediterranean diet – is a better way to reduce cardiovascular risk than by lowering fat intake, according to a review of studies on the subject. Clinical trials conducted over the last fifty years usually compared low fat, low saturated fat, low dietary cholesterol and high polyunsaturated fat eating to conventional meals. Though those diets did reduce cholesterol levels, they did not reduce fatal heart attacks or other coronary heart disease deaths. In their survey of studies, the U.S. researchers found that Mediterranean-style diets prevent heart disease, even though they may not lower total serum or LDL cholesterol.