Catherine – Page 93 – News by Nature

23Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Debate Over GM Foods Continues

According to Dick, there thousands acres of land being farmed within 25 miles of Fort Morgan. The need for food in Colorado is rising higher as the population grows, but the understanding of what that takes to produce enough food for all, according to Dick, is shockingly low. "A lot of people don't realize what it takes to get the food on their plate. They just think it comes from the grocery store," said Dick. "The bottom line is that there is no particular reason to believe that currently available GMO crops pose any health risk, or that they are different with regard to their safety and nutrition from their conventional analogues. There is also nothing about the current processes used to generate GMOs that would theoretically pose a unique health risk," state a report by the Nationa...

Can A Plant-based Diet ‘Reverse’ Heart Disease?

21Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Diet

Can A Plant-based Diet ‘Reverse’ Heart Disease?

Could eating a strict low-fat vegetarian or vegan diet really 'reverse' coronary heart disease, and if so should everyone be eating this way? BHF dietitian Victoria Taylor says: The idea that a low-fat vegetarian or vegan diet could ‘reverse’ heart disease has been circulating for more than 20 years. This way of eating has become more popular in the last couple of years. It has lots of benefits, but the truth is more complex than headlines suggest. A study published in 2014 looked at 198 patients to further investigate whether eating a strict plant-based diet could stop or reverse heart disease. It found of the 177 patients who stuck to the diet, the majority reported a reduction in symptoms and 22 percent had disease reversal confirmed by test results. But that study didn’t just ...

20Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Genetically Modified Foods

Are GMOs bad? Science Says They’re Safe

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are hotly debated all around the world. Many people are very concerned about engineering crops and animals because of the long-term effect this might have on our planet and our bodies. It’s no wonder then that the opinions people have about GMOs are so polarizing. According to a 2016 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, “about half of Americans (48%) say the health effects of GM foods are no different than other foods, 39% say GM foods are worse for one’s health and one-in-ten (10%) say such foods are better for one’s health.” About one in six Americans are deeply concerned with GMOs and predominantly believe GM foods pose health risks. Are GMOs safe? Despite the public having polarized opinions on the safety of GMOs, scientists overwh...

Genetically Modified Organisms Can Help With Food Security

11Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically Modified Organisms Can Help With Food Security

Abu Dhabi: Despite the controversy surrounding it, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used for food can play a big role in meeting the world’s future food security needs, with scientific studies thus far showing that genetically modified foods pose no harm to humans, said a distinguished researcher in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Held at New York University Abu Dhabi, the talk was given by Nina Fedoroff, a molecular biologist who has served as science adviser under former US secretaries of state, Condoleezza Rice and Hillary Clinton. During her talk, Fedoroff acknowledged that a public mistrust towards GMO foods existed, but pointed out that the use of GMOs was growing around the world. “GM crops were grown by roughly 18 million farmers in 26 countries on 457 million acres [of land in ...

9Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Remedies

Do Household Remedies Really Work?

Do household remedies really work? Whether it’s superstitions, family remedies passed down through the generations, or simply little tricks that you swear on, almost everyone has some unusual methods for fighting off common illnesses. Indeed, many of us have anecdotes of strange things our parents made us do because they promised it would rid us of our ailments. Others resolutely believe there are items in their kitchen cupboards better at fighting off the common cold than anything you can buy from a pharmacy. A mouthful of salty water One of the standout findings was that over half of Britons – 56%, to be exact – have tried gargling salty water to get rid of a sore throat. And of this sizeable group, 68% say it does the trick. But does it work? Well, gargling warm salty water can...

5Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Diet

The Keto Meal Plan for Beginners

So you've decided you want to try out the high-fat, low-carb diet, better-known as the fat-burning ketogenic diet. Whether it's to lose weight, have more energy, or fuel workouts differently, going keto is a popular choice right now. But figuring out a keto meal plan on your own is no easy feat, especially since eating a diet super high in fats doesn't come naturally to many people who are accustomed to the traditionally carb-heavy American diet. What's more, it's especially important to make sure your diet is well-planned when you're eating keto-style, because the foods you can choose from are limited. In addition to checking in with a dietitian if you're able, Stefanski recommends that you "talk to your doctor and make sure she or he is aware that you'll be starting a diet that comple...

Herbal Remedies With Prescription Drugs ‘Harmful’

5Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Remedies

Herbal Remedies With Prescription Drugs ‘Harmful’

London [UK], Feb 5 (ANI): Mixing herbal remedies with conventional drugs can result in a wide range of dangers, according to a study. The researchers uncovered dozens of cases in which alternative treatments appeared to have altered the effects of prescription medication, either diluting it, making it more potent or causing potentially dangerous side effects. The paper turned up examples of patients who had suffered serious problems after taking herbal medicines alongside drugs including antidepressants and medication for HIV, epilepsy, heart disease. Recent studies have shown it is possible for some active ingredients in herbal medicines to affect drug metabolism, speeding up the rate at which other medicines are broken down in the liver and reducing their effectiveness. Previ...

Why We Cannot Gamble On Genetically Modified Foods

1Feb

By CatherineNo Comments

Genetically Modified Foods

Why We Cannot Gamble On Genetically Modified Foods

It is nevertheless also important to recall the many instances where for-profit scientific breakthroughs have brought humanity dangerous products marketed by those with financial interests in them as silver bullets to our many problems. Think asbestos, think DDT, think plastics and hundreds of other products. Think also of such disasters as Bhopal, Chernobyl, Fukushima and similar catastrophes whose damaging effects will last for thousands of years. And nothing can be scarier than handing our food security to the ones whose abiding interest is to maximize their own profits, without any concern for the externalities they generate in pursuit of that narrow self-interest. In falsely claiming no adverse health effects from GMOs (when they have done everything in their considerable pow...

7 Women Share What “Wellness” Means to Them

28Jan

By CatherineNo Comments

Wellness

7 Women Share What “Wellness” Means to Them

2017 was a hard year for women’s health. From the roller coaster of legislation threatening to repeal the ACA to the federal de-funding of Planned Parenthood — not to mention the general stress and anxiety of living in our socio-political climate — this past year made very clear how important it is for us as women to protect our own health. 1. Emily, St. Louis, MO: “Wellness means a lot of things for me in this season — primarily taking care of my body and mind. I try to remember to wear supportive shoes so my body doesn’t get achy and I will want to exercise. Also, I monitor my social media intake. 2. Rachel, Europe via Kansas: “For me, wellness meant leaving the country — my husband and I are currently traveling Europe with our dog. American politics were giving me literal anxiety ...

Improving Your Diet Can Also Improve Your Skin

22Jan

By CatherineNo Comments

Diet, Wellness

Improving Your Diet Can Also Improve Your Skin

Revamping our eating habits can make for a healthier body. Did you know that making a few key changes to your diet could help to improve the look and feel of your skin, too? Here are some ways that adjusting your eating habits can help you achieve a brighter, more even, and healthier-looking complexion: ▪ Sugar contributes to signs of aging. Consuming too much sugar isn’t just bad for our waistlines; it can also contribute to signs of aging on our skin, including lines, wrinkles, and age spots. That’s because sugar triggers a chemical process called glycation within your body. ▪ Vitamin A boosts collagen. Vitamin A is found in many different foods, including carrots, sweet potatoes, and kale. This vitamin is a type of retinoid, which encourages collagen production within you...