Health, Microbes, and More
Can eating a vegetarian diet lower blood pressure? Both this review and other reviews of studies say YES, that those following vegetarian diets have a lower prevalence of hypertension. Overall, the mean prevalence of hypertension was 21% in those consuming a vegetarian diet and 29% in those consuming a nonvegetarian diet (the differences varied between studies).Those ...continue reading "Can Eating A Vegetarian Diet Lower Blood Pressure?"
Of course eating meals prepared at home is healthier! The study results - that people who often consume meals prepared at home are less likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes than those who consume such meals less frequently shouldn't be surprising. The researchers attributed the higher incidence of type 2 diabetes to weight gain in those ...continue reading "Eating Meals Prepared At Home Linked To Lower Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes"
Previous research on the health benefits of eating fish, fish oil supplements, and other sources of omega-3 fatty acids has shown mixed results, with some studies revealing cardiac health benefits and others finding no benefit. However, when looking at recent studies separating eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids versus taking supplements, it appears that eating foods has ...continue reading "Omega-3s and Heart Disease"
A second study was just published about the benefits of eating whole grains daily - again a significantly lower risk of premature death, and again the effects were dose-related. That is, the more whole grains eaten daily, the lower the risk of early death. Like the first study, this also was a review study. This ...continue reading "Eating Whole Grains Linked To Living Longer"
Eating whole grains is good - lower death rate, fewer cardiovascular disease related deaths, fewer cancer deaths! And recent research (a review of studies) showed that the more whole grains consumed, the lower the death rate. Current dietary guidelines suggest 3 servings a day. Whole grains include: whole wheat, barley, buckwheat, millet, oats, quinoa, brown ...continue reading "Whole Grains Are Very Good For You"
A plant-based diet (eating lots of plant foods - fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, seeds and nuts) once again shows health benefits in a new study - here a lower incidence of type 2 diabetes. But what kind of plant-based foods one eats is important: consumption of a plant-based diet that emphasized healthy plant foods ...continue reading "Should a Healthy Plant-based Diet Include Lots of Sweets?"
That a male's preconception behaviors and exposure to all sorts of environmental contaminants (alcohol, drugs, medicines, chemicals at work, pesticides, etc) has effects on sperm and is linked to birth defects has been known for decades. What is new is the focus on epigenetics, or as some researchers call it: inherited paternal epigenetics. Three different ...continue reading "Father Passes Down More Than DNA to Baby"
Great article about cancer and sugar. Yes, there is more and more research recently finding a connection with sugar, raised insulin levels, and cancer (as in sugar feeds cancer). Do go read it. Some excerpts from the May 15 Sunday magazine of the NY Times: AN OLD IDEA, REVIVED: STARVE CANCER TO DEATH Today Boveri ...continue reading "Sugar and Cancer"
Another yes to daily chocolate consumption - a 3.5 oz. chocolate bar a day! This study looked at 1,153 people aged 18-69 years old and found an inverse relationship between daily chocolate consumption and levels of insulin and liver enzymes. This suggests that chocolate consumption may improve liver enzymes and protect against insulin resistance (risk factors ...continue reading "Eat A Chocolate Bar Daily For Health?"
Two new studies finding benefits from chocolate consumption: dark chocolate boosting athletic performance (in cycling), and long-term chocolate consumption (several times a week for many years) linked to better cognitive function. From Medical Xpress: Eating chocolate improves cognitive function, study finds People who ate chocolate at least once a week performed better on multiple cognitive ...continue reading "Chocolate, Cognitive Function, and Athletic Performance"