A new study suggests that humans who live in industrialized societies don’t have the guts to stomach a real hunter-gatherer diet. Compared with hunter-gatherers, industrialized peoples’ intestines have fewer kinds of microbes - and are missing at least one major group of ancient bacteria.
Finally, the world is paying attention to the dangers of consuming trans-fatty acids in food.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called all nations to rid foods of artificial trans-fats in the next five years. Artificial trans-fat is made by converting healthy unsaturated oils (those that are fluid at room temperature) into ones that are chemically more stable through a process known as hydrogenation(illustrated below). The food industry began using this deceptive technique in the 1950s to increase the shelf-life of perishable grocery items such as pastries, and fried foods sold at restaurants.
Numerous studies have linked these fats to an increase in cholesterol levels, which can lead to cardiovascular diseases. One of the reasons for ...
An experimental "vaccine" for celiac disease is set to be tested in a new clinical trial to see if the treatment can protect patients with the condition from the effects of eating gluten — or, in other words, allow those patients to eat gluten safely.
The treatment, called Nexvax2 and made by the biotech company ImmusanT Inc., is a type of immunotherapy that aims to "reprogram" the immune system to be tolerant of gluten, the researchers said.
Celiac disease is a condition in which people's immune systems react abnormally to gluten — a protein found in wheat, rye and barley — and this reaction damages the lining of the small intestine. The condition affects about 1 out of every 100 people in the United States.
With so many diets springing up these days - from keto to the paleo diet - the one thing they all "arguably" have in common is weight loss. With that being said, I introduce to you the fork and spoon diet. Simply drill a hole into your spoon, and break a few tines off your fork, and you get the ultimate weight loss formula! ...
Scientists have often questioned the necessity for organic foods (those not produced with pesticides). In a pioneering study titled "Organic diets significantly lower children's dietary exposure to organophosphorus pesticide," conducted in 2006, researchers delved into this very question. By monitoring and analyzing the urine of children exposed to both organic and conventionally produced foods, the study aimed to shed light on the potential advantages of choosing organic options. Some of the results are summarized in the table below:
The study's findings provided intriguing insights into the effects of organic and conventional diets on children's health. The key takeaways were as follows:
Lower Levels of Metabolites: During the phase when th ...
According to a recent editorial by three researchers specializing in human biology, while physical activity can stave off the effects of several common and debilitating diseases, when it comes to weight loss, the devil is in the diet.
"A recent report from the UK's Academy of Medical Royal Colleges described 'the miracle cure' of performing 30 min of moderate exercise, five times a week, as more powerful than many drugs administered for chronic disease prevention and management," they write. "Regular physical activity reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers by at least 30 percent. However, physical activity does not promote weight loss."