Diet Nation

Milk May Improve Heart Health

Barb — Tue, 29 May 2007 13:15:00 GMT

Researchers in Ireland that a diet that is high in milk may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The study was published in the May edition of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health . Researchers studied the diet diaries of 665 men between the ages of 49 and 59 who took part in the Caerphilly Cohort Study during the early 1980s. They found that men who consumed the most amount of milk – more than 12 ounces – had a much lower risk of stroke, had lower blood pressure...(read more)

Soda Additive Causes Same Cell Damage as Alcohol

Barb — Mon, 28 May 2007 12:55:00 GMT

A new study out of Britain reveals that a certain additive commonly found in soda can have the same damaging affects on the body as binge drinking. Researchers at Sheffield University found that sodium benzoate, also know as additive E211, can result in DNA damage and make the body more susceptible to diseases and other health problems. Sodium benzoate is found in a number of sodas, including Sprite and Dr. Pepper, as well as fruit drinks, crackers, cookies and sauces. In small amounts it is considered...(read more)

High Salt Diet Can Cause Ulcers

Barb — Wed, 23 May 2007 12:43:00 GMT

Researchers from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Maryland believe that people who consume a lot of salt are more prone to ulcers of the stomach and duodenum. A team at the university discovered that a high salt diet causes an increase in the activity of bacteria called H. pylori, which cause gastric ulcers. Researchers discovered that not only did the activity levels of the bacteria change when exposed to high levels of salt, they also affected cell division. Aside from ulcers,...(read more)

Guess Model Says No to Dieting

Barb — Fri, 18 May 2007 18:59:00 GMT

An article out of Vancouver, Canada caught my attention today and I felt compelled to write about it. The story was about a 22-year-old girl who has just been signed by Guess to star in its ads for Guess Watches. The model was awarded the job after winning an international model search. As it turns out, the model, Serinda Swan, had all but given up on her dream of modeling after being told my agencies that her body was too curvy for the runway. She is five-foot-eight and wears a size 27 jean. Swan...(read more)

Mediterranean Diet May Prevent Lung Disease

Barb — Thu, 17 May 2007 13:38:00 GMT

American researchers have found that following a Mediterranean-style diet can lower the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by 50 percent. The study, headed up by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, looked at the diets of nearly 43,000 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The men who consumed a diet rich is vegetables, fruits, fish and whole grains were found to be far less likely to suffer from COPD than men who consumed a...(read more)

Supplements May Prevent Weight Gain in Postmenopausal Women

Barb — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:18:00 GMT

According to a U.S. research study postmenopausal women who take calcium and vitamin D supplements are less likely to gain weight. Scientists from the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research initially conducted the study to determine whether or not supplementation decreased the risk of colorectal cancer and hip fractures, but found that the nutritional supplements also helped women maintain a healthy weight. The study involved over 36,000 postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 79. Women who...(read more)

Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise Killing Millions

Barb — Tue, 15 May 2007 13:00:00 GMT

Over one billion people around the world suffer from high blood pressure, according to a Swedish study – even those in developing countries. Research conducted by the Karolinska University Hospital, along with the State University of New York and the London School of Economics, revealed that high blood pressure leads to other serious health conditions, such as heart disease, which kills millions of people each year. According to researchers, the reason for the startling numbers is that many countries,...(read more)

FTC Puts Stop to Dairy Weight Loss Ads

Barb — Mon, 14 May 2007 13:04:00 GMT

The Federal Trade Commission is clamping down on the U.S. Department of Agriculture by ordering it to stop two advertising campaigns that tout the supposed weight loss benefits of milk. The decision is in response to a FTC petition filed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine , which argued that the government was making misleading claims about the benefits of milk and other dairy products. The committee reported that there is no scientific evidence to back the claims. The U.S. Department...(read more)

Thin on the Outside, Fat on the Inside

Barb — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:00:00 GMT

A study out of Britain suggests that individuals who appear thin may be storing fat around their organs that can lead to the same health problems suffered by those who are obese. Researchers at Imperial College in London, England have conducted MRI scans on approximately 800 people and found that some who appeared thin were actually storing fat around their internal organs. Researchers determined that people who ate unhealthy diets and did not exercise remained thin largely because they ate small...(read more)

Germany to Implement National Exercise Program for Children

Barb — Fri, 11 May 2007 13:10:00 GMT

The German government is stepping up its fight against childhood obesity and western administrations should take notice. With astonishing rates of illness, childhood obesity is putting a strain on the European country’s healthcare system. In response the government is proposing to implement a program in the school system that would make exercise mandatory. According to news reports, childhood obesity is such a problem in Germany that the country experiences an increase of 6,000 cases of Type 2 diabetes...(read more)

Pure Fruit Juice Not Linked to Childhood Obesity

Barb — Thu, 10 May 2007 13:32:00 GMT

Pure fruit juice does not cause children to become overweight, according to researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas. In fact, it may even help children to avoid weight gain. Researchers studied the juice intake of more than 3,600 children between the ages of two and 11 years old and found that 100 percent pure fruit juice provides important nutrients that are beneficial to children’s health, including vitamins B6, C and folic acid. The data was taken from the National Health and...(read more)

Consumer Reports Rates Best Diets

Barb — Wed, 09 May 2007 13:44:00 GMT

Consumer Reports has come out with its picks for best diet plan and best diet book. The Volumetrics Eating Plan by Barbara Rolls, a professor in the nutritional sciences department at the University of Pennsylvania was named the diet winner based on results from clinical studies. In the book category The Best Life Diet by fitness expert Bob Greene, and endorsed by Oprah, earned top marks. The diet includes fitness advice and offers tips for portion control. Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig both received...(read more)

A Healthy Diet and Exercise May Reverse Dementia

Barb — Tue, 08 May 2007 12:44:00 GMT

Australian scientists have discovered that seniors who engage in exercise and increase their intake of essential fatty acids and antioxidant-rich foods may be able to prevent dementia and even reverse the condition. The findings were published in the British Journal of Psychiatry . Doctors and researchers from Sydney University, St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Black Dog Institute studied the affects of diet and exercise on the brain and found that physical and mental exercise, along with a diet rich...(read more)

TrimSpa Replaces Anna Nicole Smith with Average Joes

Barb — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:25:00 GMT

Weight loss supplement giant TrimSpa will launch its new advertising campaign today. The company halted advertisements following the death of Anna Nicole Smith Feb. 8. Smith had been a celebrity spokesperson for the diet pills since 2003 shortly after she became a customer. She claimed to have lost 68 pounds by taking TrimSpa. TrimSpa is moving away from celebrity endorsements and will instead feature the stories of approximately 200 regular customers. Television commercials will last 30 seconds...(read more)

Diet Drugs Don’t Help Teens

Barb — Fri, 04 May 2007 13:02:00 GMT

Dutch researchers have concluded that taking a popular weight loss drug in addition to following a low-calorie diet and exercise program may not help overweight teenagers. The results were published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism . While the drug sibutramine has been proven to help adults lose weight, a study of 24 obese teenagers by the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam found that the drug did little if anything to enhance weight loss. The teens were divided up into...(read more)