BodSolutions - National scheme has little impact on diabetics
Control of blood sugar levels in Maori and Pacific diabetics showed little improvement in two years, despite their participation in the national "Get Checked" programme, a new study has found.Auckland University researchers evaluated clinical measures two years apart for nearly 8000 people on the programme, under which diabetics can have a state-funded medical check and care-planning session once a year.
Nearly half of Maori patients and 69 per cent of Pacific patients had poor glycaemic (blood-sugar-level) control at the start of the study period "and only small improvements were made over the two years," the researchers report in the journal Primary Care Diabetes.
"However, there have been questions asked about the impact it has had on patient outcomes."The aim of Get Checked, introduced in 2000, is to minimise the impact of diabetes and its complications - like kidney failure, blindness and limb amputations - by improving management of the disease and screening for related problems.
"Data ... indicates that people are generally not making lifestyle changes or may not be being given the appropriate support or treatment. Better monitoring and audit of the quality of treatment plans and the support provided to patients would help ensure that the plans fulfil their key role."
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Obesity on increase to cost not just on your health...
Obesity on increase to cost not just on your health...
BodSolutions - The Ministry of Health is considering a radical and controversial expansion of obesity surgery financed by taxpayers.
District health boards have given provisional approval to the scheme to operate on more than 900 "morbidly obese" people annually. This would cost more than $17 million in the first year and around $15 million in each of the next two years.But there will be debate over using taxpayers' money for what some regard as an individual problem caused by overeating and laziness - despite the argument that the obesity "pandemic" is caused by our electronic lifestyles and appetite for commercially prepared food.
A survey of 400 people, commissioned by health boards, found that 61 per cent believed obesity surgery should be state funded and 35 per cent said it should not be. Seventeen per cent of the sample agreed "strongly" that it should be state funded, and 20 per cent strongly opposed the idea.Obesity surgery is the fastest-growing surgical area in Australia. Several private clinics offer it in New Zealand and some health boards, including those in Auckland, pay for a limited amount.Private and public sector surgeon Michael Booth said North Shore Hospital performed 20 to 30 of the operations a year.
The surgery was life-changing for the majority of those who had it, he said. But it failed in 40 to 50 per cent of gastric-band cases because the patient did not eat or exercise properly or the band slipped or eroded. In up to 30 per cent of gastric bypass cases the patients regained weight because they snacked constantly - instead of eating three small meals a day - and stopped exercising.
An assessment for the ministry found that providing the surgery would be cost-effective. It offered "a potential cost saving for the health sector, with a payback time of around eight years post surgery". The operations cost between $15,000 and $25,000.Obesity increases many risks, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The mortality risk for the morbidly obese is double that of lean people.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
BodSolutions - The Ministry of Health is considering a radical and controversial expansion of obesity surgery financed by taxpayers.
District health boards have given provisional approval to the scheme to operate on more than 900 "morbidly obese" people annually. This would cost more than $17 million in the first year and around $15 million in each of the next two years.But there will be debate over using taxpayers' money for what some regard as an individual problem caused by overeating and laziness - despite the argument that the obesity "pandemic" is caused by our electronic lifestyles and appetite for commercially prepared food.
A survey of 400 people, commissioned by health boards, found that 61 per cent believed obesity surgery should be state funded and 35 per cent said it should not be. Seventeen per cent of the sample agreed "strongly" that it should be state funded, and 20 per cent strongly opposed the idea.Obesity surgery is the fastest-growing surgical area in Australia. Several private clinics offer it in New Zealand and some health boards, including those in Auckland, pay for a limited amount.Private and public sector surgeon Michael Booth said North Shore Hospital performed 20 to 30 of the operations a year.
The surgery was life-changing for the majority of those who had it, he said. But it failed in 40 to 50 per cent of gastric-band cases because the patient did not eat or exercise properly or the band slipped or eroded. In up to 30 per cent of gastric bypass cases the patients regained weight because they snacked constantly - instead of eating three small meals a day - and stopped exercising.
An assessment for the ministry found that providing the surgery would be cost-effective. It offered "a potential cost saving for the health sector, with a payback time of around eight years post surgery". The operations cost between $15,000 and $25,000.Obesity increases many risks, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The mortality risk for the morbidly obese is double that of lean people.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
BodSolutions, Fat Distribution May Be Best Predictor of Health Risks
Your Health: Body Shape, Fat Distribution May Be Best Predictor of Health Risks
BodSolutions. Excess body fat is a health hazard, but the distribution of that fat may be the best predictor of future health risks. The results of a new study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate that how much fat a person has is less important than the location of fat when it comes to determining risk for cardiovascular disease.
For the study, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center evaluated body fat distribution in nearly 400 adults between the ages of 47 and 86. They found that the amount of non-subcutaneous fat -- the fat deposited around organs and between muscles -- was directly correlated to the amount of hard, calcified plaque present in the body.
Calcified plaque is associated with the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a condition that increases the risk of developing heart disease. Among American men and women, heart disease is the leading cause of death.
Over the past decade, dozens of studies have demonstrated the importance of body shape and body fat distribution in determining a number of health risks. Individuals who tend to store body fat around their waists are considered to be apple-shaped because, like the fruit, they're largest around the middle. Pear-shaped individuals, on the other hand, store more of their excess body fat around their hips, buttocks and thighs.
How do you know which fruit you most resemble? The answer lies in a measurement called the waist to hip ratio (WHR). To determine your WHR, all you need is a tape measure and a calculator.
Start by standing erect, and measuring your waist at a point about one inch above your navel. Next, measure your hips by placing the tape measure around your buttocks. To determine your WHR, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.
If your WHR is 0.8 or less, your body can be classified as pear-shaped. If your WHR is higher than 0.8, your body shape falls into the apple category. To a large degree, the shape of your body determines which type of fat you'll accumulate most when you gain weight.
Body fat comes in two main varieties: subcutaneous fat, which lies just under the skin, and non-subcutaneous fat, which is stored deep in the torso and the muscles of the body. The most clinically significant type of non-subcutaneous fat appears to be visceral fat, which surrounds the organs, including the heart and liver.
While pear-shaped individuals tend to have more subcutaneous fat, people who are apple-shaped tend to have more visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat is close to the surface of the body. It's the visible fat you can pinch with your fingers. While this type of fat may be cosmetically unappealing, it typically doesn't represent a significant health hazard.
Several studies have shown that regardless of total body weight, apple-shaped individuals have a greater risk of heart disease than those who are pear-shaped. Because the subcutaneous body fat that collects around the hips, thighs and buttocks is typically associated with higher levels of HDL, pear-shaped individuals appear to have greater protection against cardiovascular disease.
Compared to pear-shaped individuals, those who are apple-shaped are significantly more likely to develop diabetes.
Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin, the hormone responsible for maintaining normal blood-sugar levels. Regardless of body shape, the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes increases with every inch added to the midsection. The good news is that with positive changes in diet and exercise habits, it's entirely possible to reduce waist circumference. Studies show that losing just two inches from the midsection can lower total cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
When it comes to protecting yourself from heart disease and diabetes, losing a few pounds is great, but losing a few inches from your waist may be even better.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
BodSolutions. Excess body fat is a health hazard, but the distribution of that fat may be the best predictor of future health risks. The results of a new study published in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicate that how much fat a person has is less important than the location of fat when it comes to determining risk for cardiovascular disease.
For the study, researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center evaluated body fat distribution in nearly 400 adults between the ages of 47 and 86. They found that the amount of non-subcutaneous fat -- the fat deposited around organs and between muscles -- was directly correlated to the amount of hard, calcified plaque present in the body.
Calcified plaque is associated with the development of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a condition that increases the risk of developing heart disease. Among American men and women, heart disease is the leading cause of death.
Over the past decade, dozens of studies have demonstrated the importance of body shape and body fat distribution in determining a number of health risks. Individuals who tend to store body fat around their waists are considered to be apple-shaped because, like the fruit, they're largest around the middle. Pear-shaped individuals, on the other hand, store more of their excess body fat around their hips, buttocks and thighs.
How do you know which fruit you most resemble? The answer lies in a measurement called the waist to hip ratio (WHR). To determine your WHR, all you need is a tape measure and a calculator.
Start by standing erect, and measuring your waist at a point about one inch above your navel. Next, measure your hips by placing the tape measure around your buttocks. To determine your WHR, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement.
If your WHR is 0.8 or less, your body can be classified as pear-shaped. If your WHR is higher than 0.8, your body shape falls into the apple category. To a large degree, the shape of your body determines which type of fat you'll accumulate most when you gain weight.
Body fat comes in two main varieties: subcutaneous fat, which lies just under the skin, and non-subcutaneous fat, which is stored deep in the torso and the muscles of the body. The most clinically significant type of non-subcutaneous fat appears to be visceral fat, which surrounds the organs, including the heart and liver.
While pear-shaped individuals tend to have more subcutaneous fat, people who are apple-shaped tend to have more visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat is close to the surface of the body. It's the visible fat you can pinch with your fingers. While this type of fat may be cosmetically unappealing, it typically doesn't represent a significant health hazard.
Several studies have shown that regardless of total body weight, apple-shaped individuals have a greater risk of heart disease than those who are pear-shaped. Because the subcutaneous body fat that collects around the hips, thighs and buttocks is typically associated with higher levels of HDL, pear-shaped individuals appear to have greater protection against cardiovascular disease.
Compared to pear-shaped individuals, those who are apple-shaped are significantly more likely to develop diabetes.
Unlike subcutaneous fat, visceral fat reduces the body's sensitivity to insulin, the hormone responsible for maintaining normal blood-sugar levels. Regardless of body shape, the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes increases with every inch added to the midsection. The good news is that with positive changes in diet and exercise habits, it's entirely possible to reduce waist circumference. Studies show that losing just two inches from the midsection can lower total cholesterol levels and blood pressure.
When it comes to protecting yourself from heart disease and diabetes, losing a few pounds is great, but losing a few inches from your waist may be even better.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Monday, 30 March 2009
BodSolutions - Obesity linked to less sleep in childhood
BodSolutions - Obesity linked to less sleep in childhood
Cameron Donaldson, 10, holds the results of a school survey at Fairfield Primary in Dunedin. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Less sleep in childhood equals more obesity in adulthood.
That is the conclusion Otago University researchers have come to - showing a possible link between the obesity epidemic and a suggested decline in the number of hours children are sleeping.
The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study used data collected from 1000 Dunedin people born between 1972 and 1973.The researchers used the "body mass index" of the group at 32 years old when 53 per cent were overweight including 18 per cent who were obese.They set those data against "time in bed" data from group members when they were 5, 7, 9 and 11 years old.
Three categories were established for the data from the 5- to 11-year-olds - "short sleepers" spent a mean of up to 11 hours in bed, "moderate sleepers" had between 11 and 11.5 hours and "long sleepers" more than 11.5 hours.
A 2003 Japanese study of 3-year-olds found 49.6 per cent fell asleep at 10pm.
The study also did not look at how lack of sleep as a child affected weight in later life, but some suggestions had been proposed.
One was that shorter sleep times were associated with higher levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin and lower levels of the appetite suppressing hormone leptin.
Other suggestions were that tiredness reduced physical activity and that it caused people to prefer high-energy foods to compensate for perceived low-energy levels.
"It also has been suggested that more time spent sleeping simply reduces the opportunity to eat."The paper acknowledged that the correlation between lack of sleep in childhood and obesity in adulthood was "weak" but it was of a "similar magnitude" to the connection between obesity and diet and exercise.
"In view of the increasing prevalence of obesity, an effect of this size may have important public health implications."
Researcher Dr Erik Landhuis said it was well known children needed an "adequate" amount of sleep.
"The only problem is that people ask us, 'well what is adequate?' And that's a little bit tricky ... we're looking at about 11 hours but that varies a little bit for the ages so it's probably a bit more for five year olds and probably a bit less for 11 year olds."
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Cameron Donaldson, 10, holds the results of a school survey at Fairfield Primary in Dunedin. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Less sleep in childhood equals more obesity in adulthood.
That is the conclusion Otago University researchers have come to - showing a possible link between the obesity epidemic and a suggested decline in the number of hours children are sleeping.
The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study used data collected from 1000 Dunedin people born between 1972 and 1973.The researchers used the "body mass index" of the group at 32 years old when 53 per cent were overweight including 18 per cent who were obese.They set those data against "time in bed" data from group members when they were 5, 7, 9 and 11 years old.
Three categories were established for the data from the 5- to 11-year-olds - "short sleepers" spent a mean of up to 11 hours in bed, "moderate sleepers" had between 11 and 11.5 hours and "long sleepers" more than 11.5 hours.
A 2003 Japanese study of 3-year-olds found 49.6 per cent fell asleep at 10pm.
The study also did not look at how lack of sleep as a child affected weight in later life, but some suggestions had been proposed.
One was that shorter sleep times were associated with higher levels of the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin and lower levels of the appetite suppressing hormone leptin.
Other suggestions were that tiredness reduced physical activity and that it caused people to prefer high-energy foods to compensate for perceived low-energy levels.
"It also has been suggested that more time spent sleeping simply reduces the opportunity to eat."The paper acknowledged that the correlation between lack of sleep in childhood and obesity in adulthood was "weak" but it was of a "similar magnitude" to the connection between obesity and diet and exercise.
"In view of the increasing prevalence of obesity, an effect of this size may have important public health implications."
Researcher Dr Erik Landhuis said it was well known children needed an "adequate" amount of sleep.
"The only problem is that people ask us, 'well what is adequate?' And that's a little bit tricky ... we're looking at about 11 hours but that varies a little bit for the ages so it's probably a bit more for five year olds and probably a bit less for 11 year olds."
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Almonds Boost Weight Loss, Health Gains
BodSolutions. Almonds Boost Weight Loss, Health Gains
If you're searching for a snack food that can help you lose weight and gain health, almonds are an excellent choice. For years, many dieters have shied away from nuts, largely because of their high fat and calorie content.
The results of a study published in the International Journal of Obesity may help put almonds back on the menu for many dieters. The study, conducted at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif., demonstrated that the tasty morsels can be an important part of a successful weight-loss program.
Lead investigator Michelle Wien, Dr.P.H., R.D., found that when she asked volunteers to include raw or roasted almonds in their calorie-restricted diets, their weight-loss efforts were dramatically accelerated.
The study included 65 overweight and obese adults who were placed on one of two diets designed to promote weight loss. The caloric value and protein content of the two diets were equivalent, but only one included a 3-ounce serving of almonds daily.
After 24 weeks, the two groups showed a striking difference in their weight-loss patterns. The almond-eating group lost 62 percent more weight and 56 percent more body fat than the nut-free group. The almond-eaters also experienced significantly greater reductions in waist circumference and blood pressure.
According to Wien, "The weight-loss benefits of eating almonds came as something of a surprise, since the study was originally designed to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effects of almonds. As it turned out, the dieters who ate almonds lost more weight than would be expected if they were taking prescription diet pills."
Wien offered several explanations as to why eating almonds helps dieters peel off unwanted pounds.
"Because of their unique texture and savory taste, almonds are very satisfying," she said. "A 3-ounce serving contains about 70 to 75 nuts, and this amount really fills people up, so that they're less likely to snack later on."
Wien noted that almonds provide a healthy source of "crunch" that many dieters miss, especially when they're cutting back on carbohydrates.
"Some of the study participants found that they couldn't eat the entire three-ounce serving in one sitting," she said. "All that chewing made their jaws tired."
For folks trying to cut back on high-cholesterol animal foods, the crunchy nuts are a protein-rich alternative to eggs and meat. Ounce for ounce, almonds contain nearly as much protein as lean meat.
Unlike animal sources of protein, nuts are high in fiber. Wien's research indicates that the fiber in almonds prevents some of the calories and fat from being absorbed by the human body.
"The fiber binds with a portion of the fat, so that it doesn't come into contact with the intestinal wall," she explained. "It just gets flushed out of the body."
In light of all their proven benefits, almonds are a smart, convenient addition to any diet, whether the goal is to lose weight or gain health. These nuts stay fresh without refrigeration or special handling, so you can keep them stashed in your car, your desk or your briefcase.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
If you're searching for a snack food that can help you lose weight and gain health, almonds are an excellent choice. For years, many dieters have shied away from nuts, largely because of their high fat and calorie content.
The results of a study published in the International Journal of Obesity may help put almonds back on the menu for many dieters. The study, conducted at the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, Calif., demonstrated that the tasty morsels can be an important part of a successful weight-loss program.
Lead investigator Michelle Wien, Dr.P.H., R.D., found that when she asked volunteers to include raw or roasted almonds in their calorie-restricted diets, their weight-loss efforts were dramatically accelerated.
The study included 65 overweight and obese adults who were placed on one of two diets designed to promote weight loss. The caloric value and protein content of the two diets were equivalent, but only one included a 3-ounce serving of almonds daily.
After 24 weeks, the two groups showed a striking difference in their weight-loss patterns. The almond-eating group lost 62 percent more weight and 56 percent more body fat than the nut-free group. The almond-eaters also experienced significantly greater reductions in waist circumference and blood pressure.
According to Wien, "The weight-loss benefits of eating almonds came as something of a surprise, since the study was originally designed to evaluate the cholesterol-lowering effects of almonds. As it turned out, the dieters who ate almonds lost more weight than would be expected if they were taking prescription diet pills."
Wien offered several explanations as to why eating almonds helps dieters peel off unwanted pounds.
"Because of their unique texture and savory taste, almonds are very satisfying," she said. "A 3-ounce serving contains about 70 to 75 nuts, and this amount really fills people up, so that they're less likely to snack later on."
Wien noted that almonds provide a healthy source of "crunch" that many dieters miss, especially when they're cutting back on carbohydrates.
"Some of the study participants found that they couldn't eat the entire three-ounce serving in one sitting," she said. "All that chewing made their jaws tired."
For folks trying to cut back on high-cholesterol animal foods, the crunchy nuts are a protein-rich alternative to eggs and meat. Ounce for ounce, almonds contain nearly as much protein as lean meat.
Unlike animal sources of protein, nuts are high in fiber. Wien's research indicates that the fiber in almonds prevents some of the calories and fat from being absorbed by the human body.
"The fiber binds with a portion of the fat, so that it doesn't come into contact with the intestinal wall," she explained. "It just gets flushed out of the body."
In light of all their proven benefits, almonds are a smart, convenient addition to any diet, whether the goal is to lose weight or gain health. These nuts stay fresh without refrigeration or special handling, so you can keep them stashed in your car, your desk or your briefcase.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Bodsolutions - Middle-aged more active than young adults
BodSolutions -- A 10-year study in Britain finds the comfortably off, white and middle aged are the most likely to participate in sporting activities, researchers said. It was therefore concluded that middle-aged more active than young adults.
The findings are based on data from several of the annual Health Surveys for England from 1997 to 2006 involving 61,000 adults -- 27,217 men. In 2006, men were around 10 percent more likely, and women around 20 percent more likely to participate regularly in sports compared to 1997.
This suggests that the perception that there is a decline in sporting activities may be "oversimplistic," however, the study authors at the University College London conclude that the decline in sporting activity among younger people is a cause for concern.
The increase is mainly attributable to gym and fitness activities, with both sexes about 20 percent more likely to participate in them than they were in 1997. The proportion of regular female runners also doubled to 4 percent over the decade.
The study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found the increases in sports participation was largely restricted to middle-aged and older people, with clear increasing trends seen among both sexes over the age of 45 and older and among 30- to 44-year-old women.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
BodSolutions - High-Fat Diets Are Bad for Your Brain
New Research Suggests High-Fat Diets Are Bad for Your Brain
At Bodsolutions we know that eating too much junk food does more than just wreak havoc with your weight and your waistline. A growing body of research suggests that diets loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat are bad for your brain.
In an article published in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina and Arizona State University offered evidence supporting a strong link between diet and brain function. The researchers reported that middle-age laboratory rats consuming a diet rich in cholesterol and saturated fat for just eight weeks showed significant declines in working memory.
Rats fed a high-fat diet were found to have detrimental inflammatory changes in their brains. The scientists concluded that this diet-induced inflammation might also contribute to the loss of hearing and eyesight that typically occurs with advancing age.
Earlier research demonstrated that mice fed high-cholesterol diets had high levels of beta amyloid protein, a finding consistent with Alzheimer's disease. Beta amyloid protein is a sticky substance that accumulates in the brain and interferes with critical cognitive tasks, including thinking, learning and remembering.
The results of the new study suggest that as we age, memory and other brain functions may be improved -- or at least maintained -- by lowering our intake of foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats. As an added bonus, eating a low-fat diet can dramatically reduce the risk for other age-related afflictions, such as high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
Cholesterol and saturated fat are found primarily in animal products, including eggs, beef, pork, poultry and dairy foods. Saturated fats are also found in snack foods and fried foods prepared with coconut oil and palm kernel oil.
According to the American Heart Association, intake of saturated fat should be limited to less than 7 percent of total daily calories. The organization recommends a daily intake of no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily for good health.
While you're cutting back on your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol, it's a good idea to rid your diet of foods rich in trans fats. Found in many snack foods, pastries and fast foods, trans fats can trigger inflammatory changes in the brain and body.
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are considered to be beneficial fats. Both are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, substances known to help reduce inflammation.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in nuts and seeds, avocados and olive oil. They're especially abundant in fatty fish, including tuna, mackerel and salmon.
In the brain and body, antioxidants neutralize free radicals -- highly reactive molecules that can injure cellular components, particularly the genetic material. Free radical-induced damage, known as oxidative damage, is implicated in memory loss and in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
When researchers at the University of Reading in Pennsylvania and Peninsula Medical School in England fed blueberries to laboratory rats over a 12-week period, the rats exhibited an 83 percent improvement on tests of memory within just three weeks. Scientific evidence suggests that the anthocyanins in blueberries can help prevent or even reverse some age-related memory decline in humans, as well.
Memory loss isn't an inevitable part of aging. Making a few simple changes in your diet can go a long way toward boosting your brainpower and improving your overall health.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
At Bodsolutions we know that eating too much junk food does more than just wreak havoc with your weight and your waistline. A growing body of research suggests that diets loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat are bad for your brain.
In an article published in the June issue of the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina and Arizona State University offered evidence supporting a strong link between diet and brain function. The researchers reported that middle-age laboratory rats consuming a diet rich in cholesterol and saturated fat for just eight weeks showed significant declines in working memory.
Rats fed a high-fat diet were found to have detrimental inflammatory changes in their brains. The scientists concluded that this diet-induced inflammation might also contribute to the loss of hearing and eyesight that typically occurs with advancing age.
Earlier research demonstrated that mice fed high-cholesterol diets had high levels of beta amyloid protein, a finding consistent with Alzheimer's disease. Beta amyloid protein is a sticky substance that accumulates in the brain and interferes with critical cognitive tasks, including thinking, learning and remembering.
The results of the new study suggest that as we age, memory and other brain functions may be improved -- or at least maintained -- by lowering our intake of foods rich in cholesterol and saturated fats. As an added bonus, eating a low-fat diet can dramatically reduce the risk for other age-related afflictions, such as high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes and heart disease.
Cholesterol and saturated fat are found primarily in animal products, including eggs, beef, pork, poultry and dairy foods. Saturated fats are also found in snack foods and fried foods prepared with coconut oil and palm kernel oil.
According to the American Heart Association, intake of saturated fat should be limited to less than 7 percent of total daily calories. The organization recommends a daily intake of no more than 300 milligrams of cholesterol daily for good health.
While you're cutting back on your intake of saturated fat and cholesterol, it's a good idea to rid your diet of foods rich in trans fats. Found in many snack foods, pastries and fast foods, trans fats can trigger inflammatory changes in the brain and body.
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are considered to be beneficial fats. Both are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, substances known to help reduce inflammation.
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in nuts and seeds, avocados and olive oil. They're especially abundant in fatty fish, including tuna, mackerel and salmon.
In the brain and body, antioxidants neutralize free radicals -- highly reactive molecules that can injure cellular components, particularly the genetic material. Free radical-induced damage, known as oxidative damage, is implicated in memory loss and in the development of Alzheimer's disease.
When researchers at the University of Reading in Pennsylvania and Peninsula Medical School in England fed blueberries to laboratory rats over a 12-week period, the rats exhibited an 83 percent improvement on tests of memory within just three weeks. Scientific evidence suggests that the anthocyanins in blueberries can help prevent or even reverse some age-related memory decline in humans, as well.
Memory loss isn't an inevitable part of aging. Making a few simple changes in your diet can go a long way toward boosting your brainpower and improving your overall health.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Thursday, 5 March 2009
BodSolutions - Easy steps to healthy child nutrition
The Easy steps to healthy child nutrition is our responsibility. Children are our future, and they deserve the best possible start in life.
One of the most important things you can do for your children is to bring them up on a healthy diet, because a strong nutritional foundation will give them highest chance of remaining healthy later.
It also gives them the tools they need in order to maximize their potential in every area of life: academically, emotionally, socially, and in sport. In addition, good child nutrition and a healthy eating pattern and mainly plant-based diet in early life will help your child develop good dietary habits later.
Start early
Making sure your child has a strong health profile can start even before they are born. As early as 1989, reports began to suggest that the foetal environment affected a child’s risk of developing non-communicable diseases in adult life, such as heart disease and diabetes.
But it’s not just later life that good early child nutrition can help. Good food, exercise and a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals and omega oils can prevent children becoming overweight.
Childhood obesity
Obesity is a rising problem in all parts of the world, because of a lack of exercise and the unhealthy diet many people consume.
In addition, our food no longer contains all the nutrients it should, because it’s subject to long storage periods and chemical intervention; it’s grown in poor quality soil, and is often processed. This kind of junk food only offers us ‘empty calories’ with low nutritional content, and high levels of salt and fat.
Surprisingly perhaps, most overweight and obese people, including kids, are malnourished! That’s because to be ‘malnourished’ means the body is not getting the nutrients it needs in order to be healthy, and most obese people are eating the wrong foods, and putting unnecessary strain on their organs, which means everything works less efficiently and they don’t absorb the nutrients they need.
They’re also struggling against a load of oxidative stress as the body tries to cope with ‘poisonous’ elements of junk food and can’t sweep out free radicals produced by its own metabolic processes.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
One of the most important things you can do for your children is to bring them up on a healthy diet, because a strong nutritional foundation will give them highest chance of remaining healthy later.
It also gives them the tools they need in order to maximize their potential in every area of life: academically, emotionally, socially, and in sport. In addition, good child nutrition and a healthy eating pattern and mainly plant-based diet in early life will help your child develop good dietary habits later.
Start early
Making sure your child has a strong health profile can start even before they are born. As early as 1989, reports began to suggest that the foetal environment affected a child’s risk of developing non-communicable diseases in adult life, such as heart disease and diabetes.
But it’s not just later life that good early child nutrition can help. Good food, exercise and a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals and omega oils can prevent children becoming overweight.
Childhood obesity
Obesity is a rising problem in all parts of the world, because of a lack of exercise and the unhealthy diet many people consume.
In addition, our food no longer contains all the nutrients it should, because it’s subject to long storage periods and chemical intervention; it’s grown in poor quality soil, and is often processed. This kind of junk food only offers us ‘empty calories’ with low nutritional content, and high levels of salt and fat.
Surprisingly perhaps, most overweight and obese people, including kids, are malnourished! That’s because to be ‘malnourished’ means the body is not getting the nutrients it needs in order to be healthy, and most obese people are eating the wrong foods, and putting unnecessary strain on their organs, which means everything works less efficiently and they don’t absorb the nutrients they need.
They’re also struggling against a load of oxidative stress as the body tries to cope with ‘poisonous’ elements of junk food and can’t sweep out free radicals produced by its own metabolic processes.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
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