People Whose Exercise Is “Fun” Are Less Likely To Snack Heavily Later

People who think of their exercise activities as fun rather than a workout are less likely to chow down on calorie-packed snacks and desserts, two U.S. studies have found. In both studies, participants walked around a lake. In the first, some were told it was an exercise walk, others that it was just a scenic walk. At the subsequent lunch, those who thought they’d been exercising ate 35 percent more chocolate pudding than those on the scenic walk. The second study had the same result: those who thought they were exercising ate 124 percent more calories worth of M&Ms than the scenic – “fun” – walkers.

" Is it fun or exercise? The framing of physical activity biases subsequent snacking. ", Marketing Letters, July 09, 2014

Fungal Pathogens Can Be As Dangerous As Bacteria, Viruses

Last September, Chobani recalled Greek yogurt manufactured in its Idaho plant after customers complained of severe gastrointestinal discomfort. The company said the yogurt had been contaminated by a relatively harmless fungus dangerous only to people with unhealthy immune systems. After complaints from otherwise healthy individuals, however, scientists took a closer look. They found that the yogurt had been tainted by one particular fungal strain that, unlike other strains, showed an ability to cause lethal infections in mice when spores were injected into the bloodstream. They also  survived passage through the GI tract when ingested orally. The conclusion? “Fungal pathogens can threaten our health systems as food-borne pathogens."

"Analysis of a Food-Borne Fungal Pathogen Outbreak: Virulence and Genome of a Mucor circinelloides Isolate from Yogurt. ", mBio, July 08, 2014

Cocoa-Rich Dark Chocolate Makes Walking Easier For PAD Patients

Reduced blood flow to leg arteries – called peripheral artery disease or PAD – can make it painful for people to walk. A new clinical study in Italy suggests that eating dark chocolate might provide some relief from the pain, cramping and fatigue associated with PAD. Twenty patients aged 60 to 78 walked on a treadmill in the morning and later after eating 40 grams of dark and milk chocolate on separate days. Participants increased their ability to walk unassisted after eating dark chocolate (85 percent cocoa content and rich in polyphenols), compared to eating milk chocolate. The authors suggested that the polyphenols in the dark chocolate reduced oxidative stress and improved blood flow in the leg arteries.

"Dark Chocolate Acutely Improves Walking Autonomy in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease", Journal of the American Heart Association, July 02, 2014

Orange Honeydews, Cantaloupes Are Packed With Healthful Beta-Carotenes

Researchers at the USDA say that orange honeydew and cantaloupe melons are both rich in beta-carotene, the precursor compound of vitamin A, which is involved in immune function, vision, reproduction, and cellular communication. People in many parts of the world are deficient in vitamin A and lack access to supplements. The researchers said the beta-carotene found in orange-fleshed honeydews and cantaloupes provides a solution to vitamin A deficiency , because it is as readily bioavailable as the beta-carotene found in carrots.

"Orange-Fleshed Honeydew Melon: Ripe for Beta-Carotene Analysis", Report, USDA, July 01, 2014

Popular Herbal Supplement Used To Treat Depression Has Its Drawbacks

U.S. researchers have determined that St. John’s wort, a popular herbal supplement commonly used to treat mild depression, renders some medications dangerously ineffective when they are combined. Patents get a false sense of safety, the researchers, said, believing that because St. John’s wort is natural, it is safe to use. The researchers analyzed data collected in a national health survey from 1993 to 2010. They found that 28 percent of the St. John’s wort combinations with oral contraceptives, blood thinners, cancer chemotherapy and blood pressure medications were potentially harmful because therapeutic concentrations were reduced by the supplement.

"Use of St. John's Wort in Potentially Dangerous Combinations", The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, June 30, 2014

Almonds Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease

A daily serving of almonds in the diet boosts the level of antioxidants and reduces the risk of heart disease, according to British scientists. The study tested the impact of an almond-rich diet on both healthy middle-aged and young men, and on younger men who were both overweight and hypertensive. Researchers found that at the end of the study those who had eaten an almond-enriched diet – 50 grams a day – had higher levels of alpha-tocopherol in their bloodstream, improved blood flow and lower blood pressure, potentially reducing their risk of heart disease.

"An almond-enriched diet increases plasma α-tocopherol and improves vascular function but does not affect oxidative stress markers or lipid levels. ", Free Radical Research, June 30, 2014

Link Between Vitamin D Deficiency And High Blood Pressure Found

Australian scientists using “Mendelian randomization” techniques to analyze data from 146,500 people of European ancestry have found that vitamin D deficiency seems to actually actually cause high blood pressure. The finding adds weight to the hypothesis that many cases of hypertension can be alleviated simply through vitamin D supplementation. The researchers said randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the causality link and the potential clinical benefits of vitamin D supplementation. So far, results of clinical trials have been inconclusive.

"Association of vitamin D status with arterial blood pressure and hypertension risk: a Mendelian randomization study. ", The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, June 25, 2014

Whole Grain Foods, Refined Grain Foods – Kids Will Eat Either Without A Problem

A new U.S. study finds that, despite parents’ beliefs, kids will eat whole grain foods if they are offered. For the General Mills-funded study, 83 middle school students ate either whole- or refined-grain foods for six weeks in 2010. Foods given to the kids included pasta, rice, bread and other foods to eat at home. They were given whole- and refined-grain snack foods to eat at school. Though the kids liked the whole grain snacks served at school the best, they were generally indifferent to whether the other foods they ate were made from whole grains or refined grains. Starting this fall, federal dietary guidelines require schools to offer only whole-grain rich products.

"Whole-Grain Intake in Middle School Students Achieves Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate Recommendations when Provided as Commercially Available Foods: A Randomized Trial. ", Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, June 23, 2014

Drugs, Surgery Work Better For Some People Determined To Lose Weight

Research presented at a recent scientific meeting shows that diet and exercise simply don’t work for all people who want to lose weight. In fact, obese and overweight Americans were most satisfied with weight loss surgery (gastric bypass or laparoscopic gastric banding) and prescription weight loss medications when it came to shedding pounds. The U.S. study analyzed data from more than 39,000 respondents to a national health survey from 2012. Thirty-nine percent of obese respondents in the surgery/medication group said they were extremely or very satisfied with their weight loss method, compared to only 20.2 percent of those that used “self-modification”. One disturbing fact: 58 percent of obese respondents were not doing anything at all to lose weight. 

"Among weight loss methods, surgery and drugs achieve highest patient satisfaction", News release, study presented at the joint meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society, June 23, 2014