Diet

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 ...

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...

Entering a new year is a good time to correct some dietary deficiencies. So this article revisits a topic I covered eight years ago. When it comes to injuries such as muscle strains, ligament tears, nerve irritation, tendon tears, tendonitis, etc., most people would think about taking Advil, getting a cortisone shot, receiving physical therapy, chiropractic treatment or even surgery. In particular, there are three main dietary components that can have a positive influence on the recovery and prevention of injury. These three components are simple yet elusive: calcium/magnesium and zinc; hydration; and an anti-inflammatory diet. Calcium and magnesium are essential minerals for all of our bodily systems. Calcium is required for all muscle contractions and nerve functions. Without calci...

Another day, another diet (or another diet headline at least) and this new diet, named CICO for “Calories In, Calories Out” is particularly appealing because you can eat whatever you like and still lose weight. Sprouted on the Reddit website, it is claimed that the CICO diet works wonders as it allows dieters to eat whatever types of foods they like, in whatever form they want, as long as they consume fewer calories than they burn — the good old weight loss equation. As such we are likely to see the CICO Diet in the pile of old, useless diets in a few short months. So here are just some of the reasons it is unlikely you can eat masses of cake, fast food, and sugary processed snacks while dropping the kilos. 1. Weight loss is not a one size fits all model While we often talk ab...

A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition examined the role of diet quality in increasing rates of insulin resistance in a Chinese population. As you consume a meal, glucose (sugar) from the carbohydrates you ingest is released into the bloodstream. This triggers a response causing your body to produce the hormone insulin, enabling the glucose to be absorbed by the cells in your body to be used for energy. As the glucose enters your body’s cells, the concentration of glucose in your blood decreases. Insulin resistance is a condition in which cells cannot respond normally to insulin. This leads to high blood sugar, which eventually leads to type 2 diabetes. Over the past 20 years, China has experienced rapid economic growth, concurrent with shifts in diet and physical activity...