USDA Says Nuts Can Be Processed To Make Them Less Allergenic

A USDA scientist says he and his colleagues are developing a technology to process cashews and other nuts that will render them safer for people with nut allergies to eat them. Current clinical trials are testing ways to help nut-allergic people avoid severe immune reactions. But the USDA plan is to come up with an “agricultural” solution to the problem. The basic idea is to modify proteins in tree nuts and peanuts (which are legumes) that trigger an immune response in people who are allergic. They have tested the safe compound sulfite, finding that it can effectively disrupt the structure of a couple of the cashew allergens.

"Making cashews safer for those with allergies", News release, American Chemical Society, August 11, 2014

Diet Is Only One Factor Contributing To Brain Health

Lifestyle factors may be more important for brain health than specific food ingredients, a U.S. study has found. The data indicated that people who ate baked or broiled fish at least once a week had greater grey matter brain volumes in areas of the brain responsible for memory (4.3 percent) and cognition (14 percent) and were more likely to have a college education than those who didn't eat fish regularly. Whether the fish was rich in omega 3 fatty acids didn't seem to matter. The researchers concluded that they may have tapped into a general set of lifestyle factors affecting brain health, only one of which is diet.

"Regular Fish Consumption and Age-Related Brain Gray Matter Loss. ", American Journal of Preventive Medicine, August 04, 2014

Resistant Starch Reduces Colorectal Cancer Risk Of Red Meat Diet

Researchers in Australia report that resistant starches – e.g., slightly green bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes, whole grains, beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. – reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in people whose diet is rich in red meat. Participants in the study ate 300 g of lean red meat a day for four weeks. Levels of certain genetic molecules increased by 30 percent along with an increase in cell proliferation. For another four weeks they ate 40 g of butyrated resistant starch each day with the red meat. Levels of the molecules returned to normal. Resistant starches are not digested in the stomach and small intestine, but pass through to the colon where they act like fiber.

"Dietary Manipulation of Oncogenic MicroRNA Expression in Human Rectal Mucosa: A Randomized Trial. ", Cancer Prevention Research, August 04, 2014

Interval Walking By Diabetics Improves Glucose Metabolism

Type 2 diabetics would better manage their blood sugar levels if they did interval walking – alternating speeds during a walk – rather than constant-speed walking, according to Danish research. Diabetics in the study were divided into three groups: a control, an interval-walking group, and a continuous-walking group. The researchers found that blood sugar control improved significantly in the interval-walking group only, probably because of improved glucose metabolism. No changes occurred in the continuous-walking or control groups.

"Mechanisms behind the superior effects of interval vs. continuous training on glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. ", Diabetologia, August 04, 2014

Analysis Finds That Some Weight Loss Programs And Pills Are Much More Cost-Effective

As insurance companies consider covering commercial diet plans and weight loss drugs, U.S. researchers who studied three of each found that some are more cost-effective than others. The Weight Watchers plan and the drug Qsymia offer the most weight loss bang for the buck. People on the Jenny Craig program lost the most weight, but Jenny Craig was the most expensive of the plans tested. Other programs/pills that met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis were Vtrim, and the drugs Lorcaserin and Orlistat. Weight Watchers is the cheapest intervention, costing an average of $377 a year. Jenny Craig cost more than $2,500. Annual costs for the diet pills are $1,743 for Lorcaserin; $1,518 for Orlistat; and $1,336 for Qsymia.

"Meta- and cost-effectiveness analysis of commercial weight loss strategies. ", Obesity, August 02, 2014

Scientists Find A Natural Way To Kill Deadly Foodborne Pathogens

Washington State University scientists who tested the impact of a common cooking spice on dangerous bacteria may have found a natural way to prevent at least some foodborne illnesses. In the study, Cinnmomum cassia (cinnamon) oil in low concentrations destroyed the top six strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria. Ten drops of the oil diluted in a liter of water killed the bacteria within 24 hours. The researchers said the oil can be incorporated into films and coatings for packaging both meat and fresh produce, and can be added into the washing step of meat, fruits or vegetables to eliminate microorganisms.

"Inhibitory effect of Cinnamomum cassia oil on non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. ", Food Control, August 02, 2014

Social Anxiety Disorder May Be Treatable With Lifestyle Changes

People who view the world around them as threatening suffer from anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress, obsessive-compulsive, and panic disorders. They are usually treated with medications or psychotherapy. But new Canadian research shows that exercise and relaxation activities can change the way people perceive the world so that they find it less threatening and less negative. For the study, participants diagnosed with anxiety disorders who either walked or jogged on a treadmill for ten minutes, or performed progressive muscle relaxation (yoga), focused less on anxiety-inducing things, breaking the cycle of anxiety-fostering behavior.

"Both Physical Exercise and Progressive Muscle Relaxation Reduce the Facing-the-Viewer Bias in Biological Motion Perception. ", PLoS ONE, August 02, 2014

Federal Nutrition Standards Raise Havoc In School Fundraising World

A federal anti-obesity law that takes effect this fall will put a crimp in school fundraising efforts like bake sales and candy sales. The sales must adhere to nutrition requirements meant to lower calorie, fat, sugar and salt consumption by schoolchildren. The rules govern food and beverages sold during the school day in vending machines, snack carts and daytime fundraisers. "Infrequent" fundraisers are okay, and states can decide themselves how many questionable bake sales would be allowed. School administrators, parents and others worry that the well-meaning federal standards will not only hurt fundraising, they will push schools to sell more processed-food products to raise money.

"Put Down the Cupcake: New Ban Hits School Bake Sales", The Wall Street Journal, August 01, 2014

Caffeine Detector For Beverages Could Help Prevent Dangerous Overdoses

With the introduction of new caffeine-rich beverages and foods reaching flood stage, the risk of caffeine overdosing has increased as well. Caffeine is normally well tolerated, but in excessive doses it can lead to insomnia, hallucinations, vitamin deficiency, several types of cancer, and even death. Now U.S. scientists report progress in developing a rapid, in-home test to detect even low levels in beverages. An enzyme called caffeine dehydrogenase can detect caffeine in a variety of drinks – with the exception of teas – in one minute, in concentrations as low as 1 to 5 parts per million.

"Validation of Caffeine Dehydrogenase from Pseudomonassp. Strain CBB1 as a Suitable Enzyme for a Rapid Caffeine Detection and Potential Diagnostic Test. ", Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, July 30, 2014

Nutrients In Dairy Products Help Preserve Bone, Muscle In Aging Population

A study by scientists in North America and Europe finds four nutrients found in dairy products are especially beneficial in preserving bone and skeletal muscle. Calcium, inorganic phosphate, vitamin D, and protein interact with each other through cellular and physiological pathways. The nutrients are abundant in dairy foods, which should be an important dietary component, especially among the aging population. Combining the four nutrients with physical activity decreases the likelihood of bone and muscle degeneration-related injury in older adults, the researchers said.

"Dairy in Adulthood: From Foods to Nutrient Interactions on Bone and Skeletal Muscle Health. ", Journal of the American College of Nutrition, July 28, 2014

Even A Little Time Spent Running Has Significant Health Benefits

U.S. researchers who studied 55,137 adults between the ages of 18 and 100 over 15 years found that, compared to non-runners, runners – even those who run for only a few minutes a day – had a 30 percent lower risk of death from all causes and a 45 percent lower risk of death from heart disease or stroke. On average, runners also lived three years longer than non-runners. From a public health perspective, promoting running is as important as preventing smoking, obesity or hypertension. They also noted that the benefits of running can come from only five to 10 minutes a day rather than the recommended15 to 20 minutes (or more) a day that many find too time-consuming.

"Leisure-Time Running Reduces All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality Risk. ", Journal of the American College of Cardiology, July 28, 2014