Researchers Study Vegan Diet and Overall Health Issues

Vegan Diet Found to Improve Blood Sugar Levels in People With Diabetes

Researchers at the Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC studied dieters who lead a strict vegan diet to determine whether this lifestyle could improve glycemic control and cardiovascular factors with a benefit for people who suffer from diabetes.

The vegan diet in the study consisted of vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes. The participants were instructed to avoid food items which consisted of animal products and added fats and to favor low–glycemic index foods, such as beans and green vegetables. During the research study, portion sizes were not restricted nor were carbohydrate intake levels.

To combat the vitamin B12 deficiency that can result from a strict vegan diet, participants were asked to take a vitamin B12 supplement every two days.

The results of the twenty-two week study showed that a low-fat vegan diet and a diet following ADA guidelines improved glycemic control and helped to control blood sugar in patients who suffered from diabetes. Overweight women benefited from the vegan diet lifestyle with weight loss and increased insulin sensitivity.

Critics of Vegan Diet

Critics of vegan dieting state that if not managed properly, vegans can starve their body of important nutrients such as a vitamin B12 and protein. But if managed properly, a vegan diet can result in dramatic weight loss. It is important, however, that before embarking on a strict vegan diet, people learn more about a vegan lifestyle.

Woman Switches to Raw Diet and Loses More Than Half Her Body Weight

Angela Stokes was only thirty years old but weighed over three hundred pounds due to an under active thyroid problem. One day, a friend gave her a book about raw vegan dieting and her life changed. Now, nearly four years later, Stokes weighs less than one hundred forty pounds and has kept her excess weight off. She feels better and comments that her health has improved dramatically.

Stokes stated that eating raw food just makes sense and it is simple plus natural. It is easy to get started and takes no special skills. "Once you understand the simple principal that no other animal in the wild eats cooked or processed foods. That's it."

Results of a Vegan Diet Can Vary

Some researchers comment that a raw vegan diet is too extreme and can lead to vitamin and protein deficiencies. And although researchers differ on the results of a vegan diet, Ms. Stokes is an interesting case study. Upon learning about the vegan lifestyle, she immediately changed her diet and began eating raw foods and within one year had lost over one hundred and sixty pounds.

Stokes does recommend now, however, that people embark on a vegan diet as quickly as she did. Stokes went cold turkey, but she recommends people start at fifty percent raw vegan diet, then take it slowly from there. She admits that the change in lifestyle can be challenging at times and recommends their start by eating things like spinach, peaches or plums. By starting slowly, then over time incorporating a stricter vegan diet into a lifestyle, it can be more easily adapted. Also, Ms. Stokes recommends that people connect with other vegans to help build a support network of people who also share the same vegan lifestyle.

Stokes was never an overweight child, but as she aged her weight increased leaving her feeling tired, unwell and miserable. Nearly six years later, she feels healthy and in charge of her life. Her diet consists of vegetables and fruits in an unheated, unprocessed condition. She admits that she often gets asked if her diet consists of sushi, and Ms. Stokes acknowledges that no – her diet does not consist of only sushi but rather a healthy combination of raw fruits and vegetables.

Consult a Professional

As with any major lifestyle or health change, if you or a loved one is considering a vegan diet for weight loss, it is recommended that a licensed dietician of physician be consulted.

For further reading:

• Vegetarian Diet
• Vitamin Deficiency and Vegan Diet

Fast Food Meals Lower Intelligence in Children

Fast Food, Research Studies and Children's Diet

The age old saying that mothers repeat might well be true - eat your vegetables - children's diet and fast food have been found to be a participating factor in the intelligence quota. Indeed, youngsters who live on sugary sweets and fried foods such as chicken nuggets have been found to be performing at over ten percent lower levels in school than their counterparts.

A study was conducted on over fourteen thousand children amid the ages of six and ten and it was discovered that diet had a more profound impact on kids intelligence, much more so than other quality of life factors, such as lower income means or reduced housing rank. Children's diet was shown to remarkably impact the child's intelligence equation.

Researchers note that the discovery lends credence to the theory that eating a malnourished diet or a unhealthy fast food diet can have a significant impact on a child's performance at school. By consuming a large quantity of foods that are high in sugar and fat, the likelihood that healthy food is consumed may be reduced. And a healthy diet is believed to be rich in "brain building" factors because of the Omega 3 fatty acids, such as oily fish.

A leading nutritional researcher from the University of Bristol who conducted the study, Dr Pauline Emmett, noted that she was convinced that there was a direct association between children's unhealthy eating habits and their poor tests scores. Dr. Emmett continued by stating that this test shows evidence that eating patterns have profound effects that persist over time.

Foods Known to Increase Intelligence

There are several foods, which have been studied and found to increase intelligence. Among the food items suggested for high IQ, fish is at the top of the list, however, many physicians don't necessarily recommend its consumption because it is overwhelmingly contaminated with mercury and dangerous PCBs. What is recommended, however, is fish oil. Full of beneficial omega-3 fats together with DHA, fish oil may lower inflammation in the brain and present a protective factor.

Fresh vegetables are also highly recommended for overall nutrition of the brain. It is recommended that people eat one pound of vegetables every day for each fifty pounds of body weight. The best and easiest way to complete this is to regularly drink fresh vegetable juice.

Eggs, particularly raw eggs, are rich in nutrients and a very inexpensive food source. Indeed, raw eggs are very high in protein and high-quality fats. Although many admit that consuming raw eggs takes time to get used to, raw eggs are a simple way to improve one's mind and general health. Consuming cooked eggs, however, does not have the same benefits as raw eggs do, but if cooking is necessary to succumb to their consumption, researchers recommend eating eggs that are not cooked thoroughly. If you can't bring yourself to eat raw eggs, then cook them minimally.

Blueberries are a surprisingly delicious food that is potent in antioxidants. They are very small and compact with a variety of potent phytochemcials that can improve overall health, which include positive benefits to brain function. And with the added benefit of being a reverse aging agent, blueberries can help young people to improve brain function as well as help elderly to maintain brain health.

Consult a Professional about Fast Food and Children's diet

As with any health change, it is highly recommended that people who are considering altering their diet consult with a physician first to find definitive answers to the pros and cons of a fast food diet, children's diet and intelligence.

Kids' Meals at Fast Food Restaurants Unhealthy

Many parents have done it. The kids are hungry, the parents are busy and tired after a long day at work, so the easy solution is to just drive-through a fast food restaurant and grab a kids' meal for a quick lunch or dinner. Not surprising, however, are new reports that were released documenting that fast-food restaurant chains and kids' meals are loaded with calories and salt which can be detrimental to our kids' health.

A report released on Monday showed just how much fat, salt and calories the fast food restaurant kids' meals contain. In fact, nearly ninety percent of the popular kids' meals on the market today are characterized as unhealthy for children because they have more calories than what is recommended for one meal.

The report was instigated by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, also referred to as CSPI, which is an organization that documented the fat content in many popular treats such as movie popcorn and takeout food like Chinese. The group noted that it required a lot of effort to find anything healthy that is offered to children at the popular fast food restaurants.

Kids' Meals at Popular Restaurants Studied

The menu choices for children were studied at various restaurants such as Taco Bell, KFC, Sonic, Chic-fil-A and Jack in the box. The items listed as menu options for children at these restaurants all contained too many calories for one serving. CSPI also researched thirteen other fashionable restaurants that advertise meals for children and found that a whopping ninety-three percent of the choices had more than four hundred and thirty calories per serving. The calories contained in these meals are more than what is recommended for children who are between the ages of four to eight. The group also stated that children who eat these fast food meals would consume more calories than what is recommended for two meal's worth in one meal.

Options for Healthy Kids' Meals

Children, notably the younger ones, will most likely eat what is available in the kitchen at their home. And for this reason it is imperative to stock the kitchen with healthy choices. Healthy food alternatives instead of fatty foods that are loaded with calories and salt should be offered.

Dieticians' Recommendations for Healthy Kids' Meals

Dieticians recommend fruits and vegetables be integrated into at least one daily meal with the goal of a minimum of five servings per day. And it is recommended that at every meal, some fresh fruits and vegetables be served. The ultimate target is to make it convenient for children to select healthy in-between meal snacks by stocking fresh fruits and vegetables that are easy to grab and eat. Various complete snacks include low-fat yogurt, peanut butter and celery, or cheese with whole-grain crackers. Parents should try to serve meats that are lean and offer a good source of protein, which include options such as fresh fish, eggs, nuts and beans.

If you have any questions or concerns about your child's diet, it is recommended that you contact a physician or licensed dietician so that you can be sure that the menu choices you offer constitute healthy kids' meals.

Researchers Study the Exercise Pill

Exercise Pill, Weight Loss, and Obesity

Can we skip our workout and just take a pill? The exercise pill may be the answer that all couch potatoes have been looking for.

For those that struggle with the daily routine of getting off of the couch to exercise, a recent drug, which many call the “exercise pill”, may sound like a miracle. A recent study conducted by renowned scientist, Ronald Evans, showed that stationary mice that took the drug for a month actually burned more calories and had smaller fat percentages than did untreated mice. And when the very same mice were tested on a treadmill, they could run nearly forty percent further and twenty percent longer than the untreated mice.

They also confirm that in mice that did exercise preparation, another complimentary drug made their workout much more successful at boosting stamina. And after four weeks of drug administration and exercising, the mice could run sixty percent longer and seventy percent further distances than another mouse population that had performed the same exercise but without the drug.

Various Uses of The Exercise Drugs

The two drugs have been examined by researchers for varied uses. The no-exercise drug is in progressive human testing to determine if it can ward off a complexity of heart bypass surgery. The first drug, known as GW1516 and the second drug, the no-exercise medication is called AICAR

Exactly how the effects could result in successful reactions in humans is another question, however. Hopefully someday, researchers note, this type of drug could possibly help to treat obese people, people who suffer from diabetes and others with certain medical conditions, which obstruct their ability to exercise.

The study lends support to the theory that the medication which was developed for the management of metabolic diseases, when administered in combination with exercise, offers the ability to run even faster and farther than exercise alone can. Plus, another chemical administered led to stronger endurance in the mice, even within the group of mice who did not exercise.

Ronald Evens, who conducted the study and who is with the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California stated that the medicine "tricks" the muscles into considering that exercise has been conducted daily. Unfortunately, the pair of compounds is both extremely attractive targets for abuse by competitive athletes. However, people with health issues, which prevent them from keeping up with a consistent exercise regimen, could be benefited.

The publication by Evans and his associates was released in the July 31 online issue of the research journal Cell.

The research focused on two drugs that provoke genetic changes in the physical body, which are replicated by exercise and can eventually accompany improved muscle function and calorie burning abilities.

In the mice studies, the drugs appear to result in positive results.

Exercise Still the Best Way to Build Endurance

Nevertheless, it takes more than just changed muscles to turn a stationary mouse into a long-distance runner. Whether the same results would be present in humans is unknown at this time.

Preceding experiments propose that it might screen for weight gain while on a high-fat diet, which is why researchers theorize that the exercise drug could possibly be an effective means of treating obesity. However the drug would need to be administered for an extended period of time in order to be effective, so that the safety for people could be fully tested.

Test Results of Exercise Pill Still in the Preliminary Stages

Not so fast! Those who cannot follow an exercise regimen due to medical issues such as joint soreness or heart failure could indeed benefit from this drug.

Renowned research scientist from the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Eric Hoffman, noted that the AICAR drug simulates aerobic exercise only and not strength training that could be more beneficial to those that are bedridden or the elderly. Hoffman cautioned that the new test results that were conducted on mice have not yet been replicated in people.

Laurie Goodyear from the Joslin Diabetes Center, which is located in Boston, noted that AICAR may demonstrate useful effects, and someday might even be beneficial in treating diabetes. Several drug companies are pushing for research on such drugs for treating diabetic patients. And one reason for this is that in animals, AICAR can stimulate muscles to deduct sugar from the blood, but this theory is in the exploratory stages.

Goodyear commented on the fact that exercise has such extensive benefits in the body that she is unsure that any pill could ever be capable of supplying all of the benefits achieved from exercise.

Consult a Professional

If you have any questions about skipping your exercise routine in hopes that the exercise-pill will soon be available on the market, it is recommended that you consult a professional health care physician before making any drastic changes to your exercise regimen.

Mediterranean Diet - Pros and Cons

Over the past several decades, the Western diet has shown to cause obesity and a host of cardiovascular health problems. For health and weight loss reasons, many Americans are researching the pros and cons of a Mediterranean diet in an effort to lose weight and improve overall health.

The Pros of a Mediterranean Diet

A growing body of studies and documentation shows that a diet low in carbohydrates and the Mediterranean diet are not only safe, but also successful diet plans for losing weight.

Mediterranean Diet Cuts Cancer Risk

Research shows that a Mediterranean diet can cut the risk of developing cancer by a whopping twelve percent. And the health benefits of adopting a Mediterranean diet are achieved by embracing two aspects of the diet. By consuming a diet richer in "good" fats, such as those that are found in olive oil instead of fats found in packaged chips, cookies and cakes have a greater effect on health and reduce cancer by nine percent. Also, by making changes to the diet such as consuming more beans, peas, lentils and less meat could cut cancer risk by an astounding twelve percent.

By uncovering this data, researchers have given health conscious individuals an easy way to diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle. The pros of the Mediterranean diet are numerous, while the cons are minimum. By making a few painless changes to a diet, people can reduce the risk of cancer by following the Mediterranean diet plan over a period of only a few years.

Scientists Probe the Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet

In a recent publication in which nearly twenty-six thousand Greek adults were studied over a stretch of eight years, researchers documented the dietary evidence. Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos, who presided over the study and is a professor of the prevention of cancer and epidemiology at Harvard University, stated that the results indicate the importance of diet in reducing the risk of cancer. Trichopoulos continued by stating that among the twenty-six thousand people whose diets were carefully monitored, the adults who more closely adhered to the Mediterranean diet were the individuals who were expected to have a less chance of developing cancer.

Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet and Low-Carbohydrate Diet Plans

Indeed, more data points to the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet in Achieving Weight Loss.

Newly published findings were complete after a two-year study from Harvard University in which more than three hundred modestly obese Israeli individuals in their middle ages were studied. The data was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and documented that a Mediterranean diet and low-carbohydrate plan were found to be a beneficial alternative to low-fat diets. The study was funded by the foundation of the renowned Dr. Robert Atkins, who was a strict champion of the low-carbohydrate and high-protein diet regimen.

But researchers caution that before people add meat and butter in an effort to achieve a low-carbohydrate menu to their diet, be sure to keep this in mind: for weight loss goals, calories are more important than adding new foods to your diet strategy, according to Gary Foster, who is a well-known proponent of obesity research at the Temple University's Center for Obesity Research and Education.

Also noted from the Harvard study is the fact that men obviously have more muscle than do women, therefore, it is easier for men to lose weight.

The Health of the Mediterranean Diet

Among some of the primary explanations is believed to be the greater amount of olive oil used in the Mediterranean diet. Dissimilar to the American diet, which is high in animal fats, olive oil is known to lower cholesterol in the blood. It is also well known to reduce blood sugar levels and blood pressure. Analysis indicates that olive oil helps to prevent peptic ulcers and is also productive in the management of peptic ulcer disease, which may also be a beneficial factor in the sought after prevention of cancer. Also, the Mediterranean diet is high in red wine, which is believed to be a positive factor in the diet because of its overwhelming source of antioxidant properties.

The Traditional Mediterranean Diet

Because many countries are geographically near the border of the Mediterranean Sea, there are varying characteristics that create the benefits of the Mediterranean diet. The traditional Mediterranean diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, which are processed but only minimally. Also, this diet is rich in olive oil, fish and poultry. Red meats are consumed in moderate amounts.

The prescriptive Mediterranean diet is scant in saturated fat with only eight percent of the total number of calories derived from saturated fat.

Consult a Dietician

If you or a loved one is considering the Mediterranean diet, learning more about the pros and cons of the Mediterranean diet or embarking on a more healthy lifestyle, it is recommended that you consult a professional dietician.