African-American Women Need To Exercise More, Eat Less Than Caucasians To Lose Weight

Researchers who looked for metabolic reasons why African-American women don’t lose as much weight as white women when they diet or exercise have found that the African-American women had lower resting metabolic rates and generally expended less energy during activity. That means that to lose weight they need to eat fewer – and burn more – calories than Caucasian women. The U.S. study was conducted among 39 severely obese African-American and 66 Caucasian women who participated in a six-month weight loss program. The African-American women lost about seven pounds fewer than the Caucasian women, even though their starting body mass index, or BMI, measures were comparable and they consumed the same number of calories and exercised the same way.

"African American women exhibit similar adherence to intervention but lose less weight due to lower energy requirements", International Journal of Obesity, December 19, 2013

Tomato-Rich Diet Reduces Risk Of Breast Cancer In Post-Menopausal Women

U.S. researchers who conducted a longitudinal cross-over study examining the effects of diet on 70 postmenopausal women found that a tomato-rich diet may help protect against breast cancer. A diet rich in tomatoes had a larger impact on the levels of hormones that regulate fat and sugar metabolism in women who maintained a healthy weight, the researchers said. Breast cancer risk rises in postmenopausal women as their body mass index climbs. With the tomato-rich diet, participants' levels of the hormone adiponectin climbed nine percent.

"Effects of Tomato and Soy on Serum Adipokine Concentrations in Postmenopausal Women at Increased Breast Cancer Risk", Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, December 18, 2013

Skip The Supplements, Stick To Nutrient-Rich Foods, Studies Advise

Dietary supplements may help some people with special nutrient needs, but generally eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods is the best way to get healthy nutrients needed to reduce the risk of chronic disease, U.S. studies have found. The studies, along with an accompanying editorial, say there really is not clear benefit for most healthy people to take vitamin supplements. Choosing foods that provide the most nutrients per calorie “can build a healthier life and start down a path of health and wellness”. Recommendations include a healthy breakfast, whole grains, fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, omega 3-rich seafood and fiber- and folate-rich beans.

"Enough Is Enough: Stop Wasting Money on Vitamin and Mineral Supplements", Annals of Internal Medicine, December 17, 2013

Daily Apple – Or Statin – Equally Likely To Keep The Doctor Away

Eating just one apple a day would prevent or delay around 8,500 vascular deaths such as heart attacks and strokes every year among adults over age 50 in the U.K., a British study has found. The same result could also be achieved, perhaps with more side effects and complications like muscular myopathy, by taking statins each day. The researchers used mathematical models to analyze the effect of eating an apple a day on common causes of “vascular mortality”. Subjects in the study did not already take statins. A daily statin given to 17.6 million more adults would reduce vascular deaths by 9,400 a year, while a daily apple given to 22 million Britons over 50 years would prevent 8,500 vascular deaths.

"A statin a day keeps the doctor away: comparative proverb assessment modeling study", BMJ, December 17, 2013

Outer Ear Acupuncture Effective At Reducing BMI, Abdominal Fat

Korean researchers who looked at the impact of outer ear acupuncture on weight loss found that  five points seemed to reduce abdominal fat a little better than only one point. During the eight-week study, 91 overweight participants followed a careful, but not a weight loss, diet without extra exercise, and received either 5-point, 1-point or sham acupuncture treatment. Significant differences were apparent after four weeks: active treatment groups showed a 6.1 percent (5-point treatment) in BMI and reduction in abdominal fat, while 5.7 percent (1-point treatment) experienced a reduction in BMI. The sham treatment group experienced no reduction in BMI.

"Randomised clinical trial of five ear acupuncture points for the treatment of overweight people", Acupuncture in Medicine, December 16, 2013

Pediatricians Caution Against Consumption Of Raw Milk By Babies, Pregnant Women

Expectant mothers, babies and young children should not consume unpasteurized (raw) milk or milk products – which can be legally purchased in 30 U.S. states – and should only consume pasteurized products, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises. Raw milk and milk products are a continuing source of bacterial infections that are especially dangerous to pregnant women, fetuses, the elderly, young children and people with compromised immune systems, the organization says. Raw milk and raw-milk products, such as soft cheeses, have become increasingly popular, because of unfounded claims of health benefits. From 1998 through 2009, there were 93 recorded outbreaks of disease resulting from consumption of raw milk or raw-milk products, causing 1,837 illnesses, 195 hospitalizations and two deaths.

"Consumption of Raw or Unpasteurized Milk and Milk Products by Pregnant Women and Children", Pediatrics, December 16, 2013

A Healthy Diet Does Cost More, But Is Offset By Much Lower Healthcare Costs

Harvard scientists have figured out that it really is more expensive to eat healthy, but not that much more – only $1.50 a day, or $550 a year. In a meta-analysis of 27 studies across 10 affluent countries that compared the costs of eating healthy versus less-healthy meals, the researchers found that healthier diet patterns – for example, diets rich in fruits, vegetables, fish, and nuts – cost significantly more than unhealthy diets (i.e., those rich in processed foods, meats, and refined grains). The researchers said the price difference is very small in comparison to the economic costs of diet-related chronic diseases, “which would be dramatically reduced by healthy diets”.

"Do Healthier Foods and Diet Patterns Cost More Than Less Healthy Options? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis", BMJ Open, December 15, 2013

Risk Of Kidney Stones, Linked To Obesity Problem, Can Be Reduced By Mild Exercise

Physical activity – even relatively small amounts of exercise – was associated with as much as a 31 percent decrease in the risk of kidney stones, U.S. researchers report. The study looked at information on dietary intake and exercise from 84,225 postmenopausal women gathered since the 1990s. The occurrence of kidney stones in women has risen significantly and has been linked to obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. But a little exercise goes a long way in preventing the painful condition, according to the researchers, who also found that consuming more than 2200 calories a day increased the risk of developing kidney stones by up to 42 percent.

"Activity, Energy Intake, Obesity, and the Risk of Incident Kidney Stones in Postmenopausal Women", Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, December 12, 2013

Wolfberries Enhance Protective Effect Of Flu Vaccines Among Older Mice

U.S. scientists have shown in a study in older mice that ingestion of wolfberries, also known as Goji berries, improves the protective effect of flu vaccines. The researchers believe the berries increase the activity of dendritic cells important to the immune system’s ability to defend against viral infections. They said the results are important because they suggest that the berries have the potential to reduce age-related risk and severity of the flu virus in the presence of the flu vaccines. Flu vaccination is recommended for older people, but the vaccine is only 40 percent  effective in protecting older adults against infection

"Dietary wolfberry supplementation enhances protective effect of flu vaccine against influenza challenge in aged mice", Journal of Nutrition, December 11, 2013

Reduced Dementia And Heart Disease Are Key Benefits Of Healthy Behaviors

Welsh researchers who studied 35 years of health data from 2,235 men aged 45-59 in South Wales found that those who consistently followed at least four of five healthy behaviors – regular exercise, non-smoking, low body weight, healthy diet and low alcohol intake – were much healthier than those who didn’t. Data showed that men who consistently followed four of five of the healthy behaviors were 60 percent less likely to suffer from dementia and cognitive decline, and 70 percent less likely to experience diabetes, heart disease and stroke than those who followed none of the behaviors.

"Healthy Lifestyles Reduce the Incidence of Chronic Diseases and Dementia", PLoS ONE, December 09, 2013