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Researchers have shown that the carotenoid phytoene increases the lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and can slow the onset of paralysis associated with the formation of amyloid plaques in a model of Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, increases in longevity of between 10% and 18.6% and decreases in the proteotoxic effect of plaques of between 30% and 40% were observed. The studies tested pure phytoene and extracts rich in this carotenoid obtained from microalgae. According to Dr. Paula Mapelli Brahm, "These are very exciting preliminary results, so we are looking for funding to continue this line of research and to find...

For decades Americans have been told bacon and butter are bad for our health - as well as too many eggs. The reason? They are high in fat and cholesterol, which have been demonized for their apparent links to heart disease and weight gain. But a doctor from Georgia who ate the breakfast trio for 30 days straight claims they actually made him healthier. Dr Sten Ekberg saw his bodyweight and body fat go down, as well as his levels of insulin, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and indicators of liver damage. Ekberg, a registered nutritionist, regularly conducts diet-related experiments on himself....

It’s hard to imagine a life without sugar. But how much sugar is too much? The American Heart Association recommends that women eat no more than six teaspoons of sugar a day; for men, no more than nine. This means no more than 25-36 grams or about 100-150 calories a day of sugar. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating a maximum of 50 grams, but preferably no more than 25 grams of sugar per day. Does that sound like a lot or a little? Well, when you consider that a 12 oz can of regular Coke has 39 grams...

I asked ChatGPT: If a person has little money, please list a low-cost meal plan for one day that would maximize nutrition and minimize cost. This is the answer that it gave: Creating a low-cost meal plan that maximizes nutrition involves choosing affordable, nutrient-dense foods. Here’s a sample meal plan that aims to balance cost, nutrition, and simplicity: Breakfast: Oatmeal with Fruit and Seeds Oats: Cooked with water or a small amount of milk (or a plant-based alternative). Oats are inexpensive and provide fiber, protein, and various vitamins and minerals. Flax Seeds: Add a tablespoon of ground flax seeds to...

In 2014, the International Olympic Committee named a syndrome affecting many of its athletes: relative energy deficiency in sport, or REDs. It's now estimated that more than 40% of professional athletes have REDs, and the rate could be even higher in recreational athletes and exercisers. Athletes develop REDs when they consistently expend more energy through their physical activity than they take in through their diet. Over time, this prolonged energy deficit can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including hormonal and reproductive issues, insomnia and fatigue, bone weakness and injury, and a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Now,...

Keto, carnivore, low-carb. These are all just “fad diets,” right? Not so fast. Scientists at UC San Francisco recently published a study in Nature that showed a high-fat ketogenic diet combined with fasting restricted the growth of pancreatic tumors in mice.The study took a look at how certain tumors use ketone bodies as an energy source and that fasting and a ketogenic diet change the way messenger RNA “feeds” those tumors. Let’s take a step back for a moment and talk at a basic level about how this all works. Disclaimer: I am a mere journalist and not a doctor...

Participants on a self-directed dietary education program who had the greatest success at losing weight across a 25-month period consumed greater amounts of protein and fiber, a study found. Personalization and flexibility also were key in creating plans that dieters could adhere to over time. At the one-year mark, successful dieters (41% of participants) had lost 12.9% of their body weight, compared with the remainder of the study sample, who lost slightly more than 2% of their starting weight, according to a study. The dieters were participants in the Individualized Diet Improvement Program, said Manabu T. Nakamura. "The iDip approach...

Ah, olive oil. The golden elixir that has graced everything from the most luxurious Mediterranean feasts to the humble kitchen counters of suburban America. It’s been hailed as the heart-healthy darling of the culinary world, the so-called “nectar of the gods,” worshipped almost as fervently as the wine it accompanies. But is this liquid gold as divine as we’ve been led to believe, or is there something more nefarious lurking beneath its glossy surface? Let’s start with the basics. Olive oil is one of those pantry staples that’s been given an almost holy status. We’re told it can do no...

A team of health and nutrition specialists has found that people on a ketogenic diet may experience an increase in LDL cholesterol levels, higher apolipoprotein B levels and reductions in certain gut bacteria. In their study, volunteers went on a ketogenic diet for a month so the researchers could study its impact on their bodies. A ketogenic diet consists of a drastic reduction in consumption of carbohydrates, replacing them with fats. In this new effort, the research team suspected that the diet may also lead to increases in LDL cholesterol levels and possibly other problems. To find out if that...

A new paper shows how an amino acid may hold the secrets of oral cancers. Upper aerodigestive squamous cell carcinoma is a common and aggressive malignancy—it attacks more than half a million people each year, leaving them battling fatal tumors in the airways of the head and neck. Even with so many individuals impacted, there are few effective therapeutic options. Assistant Professor Dechen Lin may just have a solution. New research shows that a pathway of a particular amino acid may be critical in shutting down the growth and proliferation of oral cancers, and a specific diet could be a...

A new study suggests it doesn't take long for a diet free of animal products to slow biological aging rates, with the heart, liver, and hormonal and inflammatory systems all benefitting from the temporary change. Led by a team from the Stanford University School of Medicine, the study analyzed the rate of DNA methylation; a kind of reversible genetic modification which is often used as an indicator of how quickly the body is wearing out. Among a group of 21 pairs of identical twins, one of each pair adhered to a vegan diet over the course of eight weeks, while...

As November's US election edges ever closer, with her husband now facing Kamala Harris after Joe Biden's withdrawal from the race, Melania Trump is firmly front and centre once more, after a few low-key years following the couple's White House exit. The 54-year Slovenian-American beauty, who was First Lady during Donald Trump's 2017-2021 presidency, looks every inch as model-esque as she did when her husband first starting taking his political ambitions to a new level 20 years ago. Melania, who grew up in Sevnica, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia), has been on glowing form recently as the election race hots up -...

Findings from a new mouse study indicate that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, can significantly lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. This research suggests the potential for developing safe, inexpensive natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obese diabetic mice treated with elenolic acid showed improved blood sugar regulation and weight loss comparable to, or better than, current diabetic medications. The study highlights the compound’s ability to induce metabolic hormone release in the gut, promoting satiety and reducing food intake. Researchers are now investigating the compound’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion to ensure...

Two studies may provide hope for patients with irritable bowel syndrome struggling to implement the traditional low-FODMAP diet. In the low-FODMAP diet, patients with IBS restrict their intake of certain carbohydrates (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), before gradually reintroducing each to determine sensitivity. In the first study, participants started on the traditional low-FODMAP restriction diet, but then had different FODMAP foods reintroduced blindly. The researchers found that patients reacted to an average of two FODMAPs. The data also suggested that individual FODMAPs alone could cause symptoms—as opposed to all the FODMAPs at once. The most significant, finding however, was...

Data from the United Nations shows that China has surpassed the US in the amount of daily dietary protein available to its population – an important indicator of a modern quality of life, and one that some commentators and politicians in the West thought would be impossible to achieve. According to the latest data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), China overtook the US in 2021, reaching a daily supply of 124.61 grams (4.39oz) of protein per capita. In the same year, Americans had access to 124.33 grams (4.38oz). For comparison, Japan’s daily protein supply per capita...

After five decades of inaction, the Food and Drug Administration revoked the authorization of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food on July 3, 2024. The additive bromine, used to stabilize fruit flavorings in beverages and sodas, has toxic effects and has already been banned in many places, including California, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. What was the agency’s excuse for its 50 years in limbo? The FDA insisted it was “waiting for more safety data.” Right. Consumer advocates called the FDA’s ban on brominated vegetable oil in food “a victory for public health.” Still, digging deeper, it is indisputable...

A team of researchers has discovered that dietary fiber plays a crucial role in determining the balance between the production of healthy and harmful substances by influencing the behavior of bacteria in the colon. Different types of bacteria inside our colon compete to utilize an essential amino acid called tryptophan. The research reveals that when we eat a lot of dietary fiber, gut bacteria help turn tryptophan into healthy substances. But if we don't eat enough fiber, tryptophan can be converted into harmful compounds by our gut bacteria. "The gut bacterium E. coli can turn tryptophan into a harmful compound...

A team of researchers has identified specific bacteria in the gut that are associated with both mice and humans developing an addiction to food that can lead to obesity. They have also identified bacteria that play a beneficial role in preventing food addiction. Prof. Martín-García used the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS 2.0) to diagnose food addiction. She and her colleagues investigated the gut bacteria in mice who were and were not addicted to food and found an increase in bacteria belonging to a group called the Proteobacteria phylum and a decrease in bacteria belonging to the Actinobacteria phylum in...

Researchers say their study of 40 older adults with obesity and insulin resistance offers important clues about the potential benefits of both eating plans on brain health. The new study tested the effects of intermittent fasting on women and men at risk for cognitive impairment. The results revealed that both types of diet plans had benefits regarding decreasing insulin resistance and improving cognition, with improvements in memory and executive function with both diets, but more strongly with the intermittent fasting diet, according to Mark Mattson, Ph.D. To test the effects of the two diets on brain function biomarkers, participants in...

Consuming ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is on the rise globally, leading to a displacement of healthy diets, according to Professor Carlos Monteiro of the University of Sao Paulo. Monteiro, who coined the term “ultra-processed food,” will address the International Congress on Obesity this week, highlighting the dangers UPFs pose to both children and adults. Consumption of UPF’s is growing This stark warning comes as consumption of UPFs, including sugary cereals, processed meats, instant noodles, and sugary drinks, skyrockets worldwide. In countries like the UK and US, these convenient yet unhealthy options now make up over half of the average person’s diet....