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In a new USC study on the health effects of a low-calorie diet that mimics fasting in the body, researchers found regular five-day cycles of the diet in mice seemed to counteract the detrimental effects of their usual high-fat, high-calorie diet. The findings point to the potential of using a fasting-mimicking diet as "medicine," according to the researchers. A fasting-mimicking diet, or FMD, is a low-calorie diet that "tricks" the body into a fasting state. One group of mice ate a high-calorie, high-fat diet (with 60% of their calories from fat) and became unhealthy and overweight. A second group of...

An international panel of experts from four renowned diabetes research centers, including UT Southwestern Medical Center, has reviewed current literature and is recommending a pivotal change in treatment of Type 2 diabetes to focus on obesity first and glucose control second. The researchers state that dropping 15% or more of body weight can have a disease-modifying effect in Type 2 diabetes, an outcome that is unattainable by any other glucose-lowering intervention. The new focus would require updating current treatment guidelines and providing significant provider education, they note. The panel's recommendations are published in The Lancet and were presented at the...

A likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease offers a significant finding that offers potential new prevention and treatment opportunities for Australia’s second-leading cause of death. Ground-breaking new Curtin University-led research has discovered a likely cause of Alzheimer’s disease, in a significant finding that offers potential new prevention and treatment opportunities for Australia’s second-leading cause of death. The study, published in the prestigious PLOS Biology journal and tested on mouse models, identified that a probable cause of Alzheimer’s disease was the leakage from blood into the brain of fat-carrying particles transporting toxic proteins. Lead investigator Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI) Director...

This morning I saw a dog in my neighborhood barking. The trash truck had pulled up. A young worker stepped down from the truck with several dog treats in his hand. He tossed the treats onto the pavement inside the nearby yard, and the dog immediately stopped barking and started gobbling up the treats. By the time the dog finished snacking, the guy and the trash truck were gone. They have this thing down to a science! The incident brought to mind a sadly, near-universal truth–a “dog” will stop barking for a treat.” This simple principle explains how we’ve ended...

A perspective article challenges the 'energy balance model,' which says weight gain occurs because individuals consume more energy than they expend. According to the authors, 'conceptualizing obesity as a disorder of energy balance restates a principle of physics without considering the biological mechanisms underlying weight gain.' The authors argue for the 'carbohydrate insulin model,' which explains obesity as a metabolic disorder driven by what we eat, rather than how much. * Public health messaging exhorting people to eat less and exercise more has failed to stem rising rates of obesity and obesity-related diseases. * The energy balance model, which says...

In January 1999, the NHLBI of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) convened the NHLBI Workshop on Sodium and Blood Pressure... By definition, public health policy is intended to promote the health of the public. If such policy is to accomplish this goal, the policy must meet criteria established to promote public health. A public health policy recommendation can be justified only if the answers to the following questions are all “yes”: Will its implementation benefit most of the population? Will the benefit be significant across the general population? Is it the most effective means of achieving the stated goal?...

Abstract: Analysis of the mid-Victorian period in the U.K. reveals that life expectancy at age 5 was as good or better than exists today, and the incidence of degenerative disease was 10% of ours. Their levels of physical activity and hence calorific intakes were approximately twice ours. They had relatively little access to alcohol and tobacco; and due to their correspondingly high intake of fruits, whole grains, oily fish and vegetables, they consumed levels of micro- and phytonutrients at approximately ten times the levels considered normal today. This paper relates the nutritional status of the mid-Victorians to their freedom from...

Can starchy snacks harm heart health? New research published today found eating starchy snacks high in white potato or other starches after any meal was associated at least a 50% increased risk of mortality and a 44-57% increased risk of CVD-related death. Conversely, eating fruits, vegetables or dairy at specific meals is associated with a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer or any cause. According to their findings: Eating a Western lunch (typically containing refined grains, cheese, cured meat) was associated with a 44% increased risk of CVD death; Eating a fruit-based lunch was associated with a 34%...

Participants in a large-scale study who more commonly consumed a Southern-style diet – high in added fats, fried foods, processed meats and sugary drinks – had a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than people who had lower adherence to a Southern-style diet. However, participants who closely followed a Mediterranean diet, which is high in vegetables, fruits, fish, whole grains and legumes while being low in meat and dairy, had a lower risk of sudden cardiac death than people who tended not to follow the Mediterranean style diet. Regularly eating a Southern-style diet may increase the risk of sudden cardiac...

A GRAN claimed to be the world’s oldest person has celebrated turning 119 - and puts her long life down to her fatty diet of butter and cheese. Seker Arslan was reported to be even older yesterday in Turkish media after her cake had a large number 120 on top - as even her family appeared uncertain how old she is. She was said to have celebrated the event at home in Amasya, north Turkey, surrounded by her relatives on Sunday. But an ID card offered as proof of her age suggested she was born on June 27, 1902 -...

A new study conducted at the University of Worcester and published in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, has found low fat diets decrease men’s testosterone levels by 10-15%. Optimal testosterone levels are critical to men’s health. Low testosterone levels are linked to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Healthy testosterone levels are also key for men’s athletic performance, mental health, and sexual health. Since the 1970s, there has been a decrease in men’s average testosterone levels and rates of hypogonadism (medically low testosterone) have been increasing. Low risk dietary strategies could be a...

A New Jersey gym owner is riffing on Krispy Kreme’s popular offer of free donuts for vaccinated customers — by handing out free memberships to people who don’t get vaccinated. Ian Smith, co-owner of The Atilis Gym, located in Bellmawr, NJ, tweeted out the provocative offer earlier this week, kicking up a storm of controversy in the process. "In light of @krispykreme giving free donuts for receiving the CVD shot, here at @TheAtilisGym we are giving out free memberships to all who don’t get vaccinated. We believe in health – the real way – exercise, good diet, plenty of Vitamin...

Sarah Hughes, 40, is using diet and exercise to prolong her time with her three kids A mum diagnosed with cancer just months after giving birth to identical twins is attempting to "starve" the disease out of her body. Last month, breast cancer sufferer Sarah Hughes found out she had months to live, after doctors found the rare cancer had spread to her liver. However, the mum-of-three is determined to prolong her time with her children, taking on natural therapies and a special diet designed to help her body "starve" out the cancer. Sarah, 40, was first diagnosed with the...

As we age, our skin is one of the first places it shows. But skin aging is caused by a number of things beyond just the years we're alive for. "Skin aging is the result of both intrinsic biologic processes that contribute to chronologic aging, as well as extrinsic factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, smoking, pollution, and poor nutrition," says Jacquelyn Sink, MD, a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. While it's important to wear a hat outside and avoid smoking, another preventative anti-aging skincare measure is to eat a healthy diet. "As with all aspects of our...

Two men and a woman were rescued from a deserted island on Tuesday after surviving on coconuts, conch and rats for 33 days, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The Coast Guard spotted people waving handmade flags on Monday The Coast Guard picked up the case as a rescue mission and returned to drop water, food and a radio to them on Monday.

Potassium is an important nutrient for many body processes. Bananas are a well-known source of potassium, but many other foods contain just as much — if not more — of this nutrient. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid and blood levels in the body. Many fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of potassium. Meat, milk, yogurt, and nuts are also good sources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a diet high in potassium and low in sodium — an electrolyte in table salt and processed foods — can lower blood pressure and reduce the...

From processed meats to high fructose corn syrup, these are all the items linked to early death. Though it may come as a surprise to some, not all "processed" foods are created equal. There are minimally processed foods, such as canned vegetables and frozen meats, and then there are highly processed foods, such as mass-produced, store-bought breads, TV dinners, and other items that come packed with saturated fats, added sugars, and practically zero fiber. (For more on those, see our complete list of the 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.) "Nutritionally speaking, minimally processed foods generally offer similar nutritional benefits—vitamins,...

A recent study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health and Washington University School of Medicine, claims that the ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbohydrate diet) is capable of mitigating clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in elderly people by improving immune-metabolic functions and reducing inflammation. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

EXCLUSIVE: Nick Carson suffers from auto brewery syndrome, which turns carbohydrates into alcohol in his body, and has to carry a breathalyser around with him at all timesA man whose body acts like a brewery says his rare condition means he can get blind drunk eating a slice of cake. Nick Carson, 62, suffers from auto brewery syndrome, a disorder that causes his body to turn carbohydrates into alcohol. It leaves him intoxicated without touching a drop of alcohol. The condition also makes Nick crave Victoria sponge cake – which then leaves him so sozzled he can pass out –...

Looking for food recommendations and recipes to help. Any recommendations for pain, etc. Just diagnosed. More tests to follow from a specialist (when I can get in).