Tag Archives: diet

Study claims new diet that mimics fasting could reverse biological age

Posted on by
Reply

A new study led by the University of South Carolina Leonard Davis School of Gerontology suggests that fasting-mimetic dieting (FMD) cycles can significantly reduce disease risk factors and decrease human biological age. FMD was developed by Professor Walter Longo and his team, involving a five-day diet high in unsaturated fats and low in overall calories, protein, and carbohydrates. The diet mimics the effects of water-only fasting while providing necessary nutrients and making fasting more manageable for individuals.

During the five-day fasting period, participants were allowed to consume specified amounts of plant-based soups, energy bars, energy drinks, chip snacks, and tea and given supplements to ensure they didn’t miss out on important vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.

Previous studies have shown the various health benefits of FMD, including promoting stem cell regeneration, reducing chemotherapy side effects, and decreasing signs of dementia in mice. The recent study focuses on the effects of FMD on human immune system aging, insulin resistance, liver fat, and biological age.

The research team analyzed two groups of men and women aged 18-70 who received three to four cycles of FMD per month. The results showed reductions in diabetes risk factors, reduced fat in the abdomen and liver, and rejuvenation of the immune system. Data analysis also demonstrated that FMD participants lost an average of 2.5 years in biological age.

Professor Longo hopes these findings will encourage more doctors to recommend FMD cycles to patients with elevated risk factors for disease and to the general public interested in improving their health and vitality. He suggested that healthy people between the ages of 20 and 70 should consider trying FMD two or three times a year, cautioning that there may be concerns when used in combination with certain diabetes medications.

About our experts:

Walter Longo is the Edna M. Jones Professor of Gerontology and Biological Sciences and Director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The reasons behind diet failures, as explained by a weight loss surgeon, and the key to successful eating.

Posted on by
Reply

Perhaps many of us have attempted to reduce our waistline by watching our calorie intake or hitting the gym, only to find little success. Should we be doing things differently?

According to Dr. Andrew Jenkinson, a consultant bariatric surgeon at University College London Hospital and the author of “Why do we eat (overeating)?” and “How to eat (and still lose weight)”, losing weight has more to do with eating foods that manage levels of leptin hormone rather than focusing on calorie counting or exercise.

So what exactly is leptin, and how does it work? Dr. Jenkinson shared insights in a recent discussion with us about leptin, food consumption, and strategies to reduce appetite.

When it comes to the problem of obesity, Dr. Jenkinson views it as a major health and economic issue that could lead to the collapse of healthcare systems. He highlighted the prevalence of obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, joint problems, and an increased risk for cancer.

Leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells, regulates body weight by signaling the hypothalamus, the weight control center of the brain. However, certain foods can block leptin signals, such as sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods, which increase insulin levels and block leptin.

Dr. Jenkinson emphasized that the concept of calories alone is not an effective approach to weight loss. Instead of focusing on calorie counting, he suggested avoiding foods that negatively impact insulin, which can shift the weight set point downward without significant effort.

In terms of exercise, Dr. Jenkinson explained that intense exercise can burn calories, but it can also lead to increased hunger and decreased metabolic rate if not balanced with calorie restriction. He recommended a combined approach of calorie restriction and intense exercise to achieve effective weight loss.

This interview with Dr. Andrew Jenkinson has been edited for clarity and length.

Dr. Andrew Jenkinson is a Consultant in Bariatric (Weight Loss) and General Surgery at University College London Hospital and the author of “Why do we eat (overeating)?” and “How to eat (and still lose weight).”

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet: Uncovering the Reasons Behind its Effectiveness

Posted on by
Reply

When it comes to eating healthier, there has always been a sense of having your cake and eating it too. For decades, we've been told that the secret to staying healthy is to indulge in the fresh, delicious food of the Mediterranean. Adding more tomatoes, focaccia, and olive oil to your dinner plate, along with a glass of Chianti, is said to reduce your chances of developing a heart attack and type 2 diabetes.

The most surprising thing is that this is not just some exaggerated nonsense. Evidence that the Mediterranean diet can actually improve health in many ways has been growing for more than 50 years. “We are conducting large, long-term clinical trials that result in difficult clinical events,” he says. miguel martinez gonzalez at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, ​​Spain.

And there are not so many diets that are on the UNESCO list. Ten years ago, this United Nations agency Adding the Mediterranean diet to the representative list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

But despite all this praise, it was difficult to understand what it was about the diet that led to such benefits. First of all, nutritionists cannot agree on the exact form it should take. Additionally, family meals, home cooking, and other non-dietary factors should be considered. The good news is that over the past decade, we've begun to understand which components of our diets provide the greatest health benefits and why. This means we are now better able than ever to offer you the best advice…

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Changing Diet of Animals over Time

Posted on by
Reply

Researchers used tools from geology and genetics to find evidence of changes in how the first organisms ate, based on molecular fossils and traces of organic matter in rocks from billions of years ago. is made clear. Modern annelids, like earthworms and this bearded fireworm, retain genes that make certain lipids that most animals have lost.

Paleontologists led by David Gold are uncovering the evolution of early life through chemical signatures in ancient rocks and genetic studies. They found that changes in sterol lipids in the rocks corresponded with significant changes in animal diets and increases in algae, shedding light on life more than a billion years ago.

Paleontologists are gaining glimpses of life over the past billion years based on chemical signatures in ancient rocks and the genetics of living animals. Research results announced on December 1st nature communications Combining geology and genetics, it shows how changes in the early Earth prompted changes in the way animals ate.

Molecular paleontology: bridging geology and biology

David Gold, an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis, works in the new field of molecular paleontology, which uses tools from both geology and biology to study the evolution of life. . A new technique allows researchers to recover chemical signatures of life from ancient rocks where animal fossils are rare.

Lipids in particular can survive in rocks for hundreds of millions of years. Trace amounts of sterol lipids derived from cell membranes have been found in rocks dating back 1.6 billion years. Most animals now use cholesterol, a 27-carbon (C27) sterol, in their cell membranes. In contrast, fungi typically use C28 sterols, and plants and green algae produce C29 sterols. C28 and C29 sterols are also known as phytosterols.

Tracking the evolution of life through chemical markers

C27 sterols have been found in rocks that are 850 million years old, and traces of C28 and C29 appear about 200 million years later. This is thought to reflect the increased diversity of life at this time and the evolution of the first fungi and green algae.

Without actual fossils, it’s difficult to say much about the animals and plants these sterols come from. However, genetic analysis by Gold and colleagues has shed some light.

Don’t make it, eat it

Most animals cannot make phytosterols themselves, but they can obtain them by eating plants and fungi. Recently, annelids (a group that includes segmented worms and common earthworms) smt, required to make long-chain sterols.by seeing smt Gold and colleagues used the genes of different animals to create family trees. smt first within annelids and then across animals in general.

They discovered that this gene originated long before the evolution of the first animals and then underwent rapid changes around the same time that phytosterols appeared in the rock record. After that, most animal lineages smt gene.

“Our interpretation is that these phytosterol molecular fossils document an algae outbreak in the ancient oceans, when animals had easy access to phytosterols from this increasingly abundant food source. “We think they may have abandoned production of phytosterols,” Gold said. “If we are right, the history smt Genes record changes in animals’ feeding strategies early in evolution. ”

Reference: “A common origin of sterol biosynthesis suggests changes in feeding strategies in Neoproterozoic animals” T. Brunoir, C. Mulligan, A. Sistiaga, KM Vuu, PM Shih, SS O’Reilly, RE Summons, DA Gold, November 31, 2023; nature communications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43545-z

The co-authors of this paper are: hers Tessa Brunoir and Chris Mulligan of the University of California, Davis; Ainara Sistiaga, University of Copenhagen. KM Vuu and Patrick Shih, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Shane O’Reilly, Atlantic Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland. Roger Sammons, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This research was supported in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Source: scitechdaily.com

The unexpected connection between diet, diabetes, and mental well-being

Posted on by
Reply

New research reveals important links between nutrition, diabetes, and mental health. Poor dietary choices can put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Conversely, a diet rich in essential nutrients and low in processed foods can reduce these risks. The findings highlight the importance of informed dietary choices in the management and prevention of diabetes, anxiety, and depression and have implications for public health policy and medical practice.

A new literature review by researchers at the College of Public Health provides new insights into the relationship between nutrition and mental health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with diabetes (diabetes mellitus) are two to three times more likely to experience depression than people without diabetes. Current treatments include therapy, medication, or both.

However, understanding of the multifaceted relationship between nutrition, mental health, and DM is relatively new in scientific discussion. Mason researchers sought to learn about the relationship between nutrition, diabetes, and mental health.

The impact of nutrition on diabetes and mental health

Two literature reviews by Associate Professor Raedeh Basiri show that malnutrition plays a dual role in contributing to both the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and mental health effects such as anxiety and depression. I am. According to the results of this study, mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety increase his risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and diabetes is also associated with an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety. Nutritional interventions can help with both of these health issues.

“Our findings highlight that dietary choices play a vital role in reducing the risks associated with both diabetes and mental health. These findings The implications of these findings extend beyond the scientific community, as they are expected to inform public health policies, medical practices, and dietary recommendations that can positively impact people. ” said Basili, lead author of the paper.

Strengthen dietary choices for health and prevention

“This research ultimately aims to enable individuals to make informed health-promoting dietary choices, which will help prevent and manage diabetes, anxiety, and depression. It serves as a proactive strategy,” Basili said.

More specifically, the research team’s findings provide a comprehensive view of the relationship between dietary patterns, health impacts, and the important role of eating behavior in the context of type 2 diabetes and mental health. Masu.

The research team found that eating foods rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products may be associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety. found that it was associated with lower risk. Conversely, a diet high in processed foods has been found to have negative effects, making you more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, depression, and anxiety.

The importance of a nutritious diet

Additionally, the researchers found that although people consume energy-dense foods, they lack essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, selenium, chromium, and magnesium. I found the meals to be nutritious. It is associated with worsening of unfavorable symptoms in both mental health and the development of type 2 diabetes. This relationship highlights the importance of nutrient-dense food choices for overall health and well-being.

“Current scientific evidence highlights the potential benefits of adopting a balanced diet in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression while enhancing glycemic control in people with diabetes.” said Basili.

References: “Exploring the interrelationships of diabetes, nutrition, anxiety, and depression: Implications for treatment and prevention strategies,” by Raedeh Basiri, Blessing Seidu, and Mark Rudich, September 29, 2023. nutrients.
DOI: 10.3390/nu15194226

“Key Nutrients for Optimal Glycemic Control and Mental Health in People with Diabetes: A Review of the Evidence,” by Raedeh Basiri, Blessing Seidu, and Lawrence J. Cheskin, September 9, 2023. nutrients.
DOI: 10.3390/nu15183929

Source: scitechdaily.com