Diet

The sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D, has long been touted for its role in bone health and immune support. But could it also be a game-changer for cardiovascular health? A recent study by the Swiss Nutrition and Health Foundation, featured in Medical News Today, delves into this question. The study found a correlation between better vitamin D levels and a lower risk for cardiovascular events. However, it did not establish a link between normal vitamin D levels and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease or overall death. The study adds to the ongoing debate about the role of Vitamin D in heart health, suggesting that while it may not be a silver bullet, it could be a part of a broader strategy for cardiovascular disease prevention. Doctors believe that Vitamin D could influence cardiova...

In a world increasingly turning to natural remedies, honey is creating a buzz for its potential to lower triglycerides. A recent article from Medical News Today dives into this sweet subject, examining various studies that suggest honey may be more than just a natural sweetener. A 2021 review of seven clinical trials found that natural honey significantly reduced triglyceride levels while also positively impacting cholesterol. Another review in 2022 supported these findings. Theories abound on why honey has this effect. Some researchers point to compounds in honey similar to niacin, a vitamin known for its triglyceride-lowering properties. Others suggest that honey may stimulate the release of insulin, which could also contribute to lower triglyceride levels. While the rese...

New research from the University of Southern Australia confirmed the Mediterranean diet is good for health and fits a lower weekly budget. The study compared food baskets of the Mediterranean, the typical Australian Western and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating diets. The Mediterranean diet was more cost-effective than other standard diets, saving 28 Australian dollars (€17) per week while offering higher nutritional value. “Many people may think that eating ‘healthy’ is expensive and it takes a lot of time to prepare and cook food,” Karen Murphy, an associate professor at the University of Southern Australia, told Olive Oil Times. “We know from previous research from around the world and from our studies here in Australia that the Mediterranean diet is a healthy dietary p...

Here's a sobering statistic: more than 55 per cent of those who begin the year planning to lose weight have given up within six months. If that sounds like you, don't despair. Growing evidence suggests that it isn't just willpower that ruins weight loss plans. What if dieting doesn't work and the very act of radically reducing calories to drop kilos triggers a cascade of biological changes that all but guarantee the weight will return the moment you eat normally again? Obesity researcher Dr Nicholas Fuller, from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre for global health, says the changes to metabolism brought on by radical dieting can prompt the body to pull every trick it can muster to return to its starting weight. He has a hot tip for anyone with a goal to drop kilos: do not...

More than 1.5 million Australians now have high blood cholesterol, so chances are you know someone whose blood results have returned with a little asterisk when their GP or cardiologist checked their cholesterol levels. In isolation, elevated cholesterol may not be cause for concern, but high cholesterol levels – in particular high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels – are one of the risk factors for heart disease. And with heart disease still Australia’s No.1 cause of death, especially for older Australians, why would you not make some dietary changes to help lower your risk? What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy substance made by the liver and plays a key role in hormone production as well as the natural function of the body’s cells and nervous system. Read m...

The discovery of hundreds of genes that directly influence what we choose to eat paves the way for personalized healthy diet plans, say scientists. They believe new insights into the genetic basis for food preferences could help improve nutrition on an individual basis. In one of the first large-scale studies of genes related to diet, researchers uncovered almost 500 genes that appear to directly influence the foods we eat. They say their findings represent an important step toward using a person’s genetics to develop precision nutrition strategies that help improve health or prevent disease. Research team leader Dr. Joanne Cole told South West News Service, “Some genes we identified are related to sensory pathways — including those for taste, smell, and texture — and may also ...

Swollen arms, legs or ankles can be telltale signs your body is carrying more water and salt than normal, making moving pretty uncomfortable. About 60% of your body is water, and maintaining a healthy balance of fluids is critical for optimal health and normal function, per a 2018 article in BMC Public Health. High blood pressure, heart failure and kidney dysfunction disrupt your body's fluid balance and may require water pills for treatment. Water pills, or diuretics, help eliminate fluids from your body by making you pee more frequently. Without diuretics, extra water can make your organs work overtime, create electrolyte imbalances, and overall become life-threatening, according to a 2022 review in StatsPearls. Diuretics are among the most often used drugs in the medical field, accor...

n a recent Sunday morning in South Los Angeles, Crop Swap LA volunteers and staffers harvested bags of freshly picked produce from the front yard of a residence. Located just steps from Leimert Park Plaza, the Asante microfarm is the first of what will be numerous microfarms created by the organization, which is dedicated to growing hyperlocal food on unused spaces “in the neighborhood, exclusively for the neighborhood”. “Everything we’re growing is nutrient-dense and the food remains in the neighborhood,” says Jamiah Hargins, who founded Crop Swap LA in 2018 as a small monthly swap of surplus produce. After spending years in finance and consulting, Hargins decided to create a local food distribution system to address the fact that his neighborhood was a food desert, meaning most reside...

On the crowded supermarket shelves, food products clamor for attention, donning packaging and labels designed to clinch the deal. Some 72% of American consumers say that product packaging influences their purchase decisions—a statistic not lost on food manufacturers. This applies to not just the aesthetic design of packaging but what the labels say as well. Louis Biscotti, the National Leader for Food & Beverage Services Group at Marcum, writes in Forbes that when the FDA updated its nutrition facts label for packaged foods in 2020, companies found new opportunities to increase sales. “F&B [food and beverage] companies are finding they can use those labels and other real estate on their packaging to provide nutritional and other data to drive growth. The information on the FDA lab...