Latest diet news, recipes, food and nutrition facts

Diet News 2010 - 2011

We have stored the most interesting diet news articles as they contain great tips and nutritional advice for a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Health news items A-L

Bad diet causes high blood pressure in younger people.

A health study of over 8,000 young people in the UK, aged between16 and 34, has revealed that up to a third had high blood pressure (hypertension). This condition increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Only 25 per cent of those in the study had a normal blood pressure reading. 35% of those tested were in the high risk category and suffering from hypertension. Men were found to be more at risk than women.

Health experts believe that the increased high blood pressure is starting earlier due to teenagers' bad nutrition, obesity, excessive drinking and general lack of exercise. They recommend that young people should be encouraged to get their blood pressure checked regularly, and urge people to recognise that this condition does not only affect the middle-aged.

The Biggest Loser diet

Viewers of the popular NBC TV programme 'The Biggest Loser', where contestants race to lose the most weight with the help of personal coaches and nutrition experts, can now follow the 'Biggest Loser' weight-loss programme at home with the diet book and online programme. More info: The Biggest Loser Diet

Breathalyser test reveals fat-burning

An Oxford professer has discovered a way to show when your body is actually fat-burning. So eventually, when you are exercising you may be able to do a quick breath test to discover when your body has used up its supply of food energy, and has switched to breaking down fat. This will help dieters exercise to their fat-burning potential and enable them to lose weight more effectively in the future.

When the body starts to burn fat, a molecule called acetone becomes detectable in the breath. This new breath test picks up even minute changes in levels of acetone. The scientists are hoping that this may also lead to a simpler test for diabetic patients, and perhaps eventually replace the need to use blood tests to check blood-sugar levels.

Fat Burning Breath Test news report (opens in new window)

Burgers linked to asthma risk in children

An international study involving 500,000 children, has found links between eating 3 burgers or more a week and a higher occurrence of developing asthma. Health experts cannot say it is eating burgers themselves that increases the risk, it may be a marker for lifestyle, such as lack of exercise and obesity. However, the research showed that a 'Mediterranean diet', high in fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fish seems to help reduce the risk of children developing asthma. This is believed to be due to the high levels of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory elements and vitamins, particularly vitamin C which is known to aid lung function.

Calorie Counting at US restaurants

The introduction of a new US Health Care bill means that chain restaurants, with 20 or more outlets, are now legally required to list calories on menus.

It is believed this will spread to the UK shortly, and will enable us all to know exactly what we are eating in terms of calories.

Cataracts in women reduced by healthy diet

A new US ophthalmic study, involving over 1800 women, has revealed that those who eat a vitamin and mineral packed diet can reduce their chances of developing cataracts. Cataracts are one of the main causes of blindness as we age. A healthy diet, combined with no smoking and avoiding obesity, can contribute to maintaining healthy eyes.

Eat your greens
To protect your eyes and help prevent vision loss from common age-related conditions, such as, macular degeneration, eat plenty of dark, green leafy green foods - spinach, chard, kale, romaine lettuce and leeks and peas.

These foods are rich in Lutein, a natural antioxidant which can help protect the eye as a natural sun block to the retina, and by neutralizing damaging free radicals.
Other healthy foods for the eye are Omega-3 fatty acids - salmon, herring, mackeral; vitamin C - oranges, grapefruits; vitamin E - almonds, walnuts.

Cherry Juice - a muscle repairing superfood

Research has linked drinking cherry juice to aiding muscle repair. Cherries contain powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, called anthocyanins, and are thought to help muscle recovery after exercise.

A group of US athletes were studied, and it was discovered that their muscle recovery after strength training was improved by drinking cherry juice concentrate, as opposed to other equally nutritious fruit juices. Scientists are hoping that cherries could help reduce inflammation in conditions like heart disease and arthritis.

Chocolate can be good for the heart

Choose fruit juice for healthy kids

Children aged 2-12 years who regularly drink 100% fruit juice are higher in nutrients, like vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium and dietary fibre, according to a new study. They are also likely to consume more whole fruit and grains in their diet. The doctors in the study recomended drinking fruit juice (only 100%), as it supplies important nutrients during a child's key growth and development years.

Fruit juice has always been recognised as being a healthy drink, but the high sugar content has restricted many parents choosing it too often for their children, especially with obesity rising in young people. However, the health benefits seem to outweigh this concern. The 100% juice contains fibre and multi vitamins.

Dash Diet lowers heart attack risk by 20%

The DASH diet plan is rich in minerals, such as: potassium, magnesium and calcium, also protein and fibre. It is low in saturated fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol, which combined with a healthy, active lifestyle can help prevent and control high blood pressure (hypertension).

More info: www.strokeassociation.com

Department of Health works with fast food companies

The government are involving fast food companies with UK health policy. Five 'responsibility deal' networks with business have been set up and they will be invited to come up with health policies, aimed at tackling diet and health problems. Various campaign groups have expressed their concern that such an alliance between big businesses and government could create a conflict of interest between public health and profits.

Diet drinks can make you fat

A US study, involving 474 people over 10 years, has found that drinking diet drinks does not seem to help with weight loss.

In fact, the effect is opposite - diet soft drink consumers were found to have a 70 percent greater increase in waist circumference than non consumers.

Heavy use of diet drinks in a diet was found to increase weight increase by around 500 percent. However, the study did not include details of the participants lifestyle and diet, but health experts believe that those consuming a lot of diet drinks generally tend to have a less healthy diet.

Low-calorie and diet drinks contain artificial sweeteners, like saccharine and aspartame to replace the sugars.

Diet link to depression

Divorce Diet

It has been reported that reality TV star, Kerry Katona, puts her recent weight-loss down to her 'Divorce Diet' and exercise. She has apparently dropped 3 stone since splitting up with her husband. This is not a diet choice that many will be following.

Drinking water before meals can help you diet

A US study has found that drinking water, just before a meal, reduces the calorie intake by 75-90 calories.

The researchers studied a group of 48 adults, aged 55 to 75 years old.They all ate a low-calorie diet, but half drank 2 glasses of water just before their meals.

After 12 weeks those that drank the water before meals lost on average about five more pounds than the other group.

Water contains no calories and fills up the stomach, making you less hungry and therefore likely to eat less.

Exercise improves arthritis symptoms

A medical study, involving obese mice on a high-fat diet, has found that it isn't only excess weight that causes the pain of osteoarthritis; exercise alone can improve the symptoms of this inflammatory disease.

Gaining extra pounds can increase the risk of osteoarthritis, but regular exercise could slow the progression of the disease.

Fat Burning Food

Eating peppers and chillies can help you to lose weight - it's been scientifically proved!

Research from a top American university has revealed fruit and vegetables containing 'capsaicin' really can increase your metabolism and so burn off more calories, if you are following a low-calorie diet. The study also showed that capsaicin can actually 'oxidise' layers of fat by getting the body to use more fat as fuel.

So, incorporating fresh chillies and peppers into your daily diet can be helpful towards achieving steady weight loss. Other studies of Capsaicin have found evidence that it can lower 'bad cholesterols' (LDLs - Low-density lipoproteins), but raises 'good cholesterol' levels (HDLs - High-density lipoproteins).

Capsaicin is already used in pain-relieving topical ointments for muscle and joint pain and for conditions such as arthritis. It is believed to reduce a chemical involved in transmitting pain impulses to the brain.

For those dieters who can't take the heat of chillies there are other plants that produce a non-burning type of capsaicin called dihydrocapsiate (DCT), and it is believed that this could have the benefits of peppers without the heat.

Try these delicious fat-burning recipes:

Chilli beans and tortillas | Chilli chicken with broccoli | Moroccan chicken | Japanese Chicken Broth

Increased BMI needs a bulging wallet

A recent Columbia University study has revealed that women can ignore a 10 per cent increase in their man's body mass index, as long as it is accompanied by higher earnings.

A researcher has created a formula: for every 10 per cent increase in their BMI, single men must increase their annual salary by 2 per cent to compete in the dating game. Money and power it seems does make men more attractive to women. The study found women can offset weight gain with partners by becoming more educated.

Feeling cold burns body fat

A US study has linked lower temperatures with the formation of brown adipose tissue, which burns white fat molecules in the bloodstream in order to heat up the body. Scientists believe that adults no longer have as much brown adipose fat, due to our homes being heated throughout the cold seasons.

Prolonged exposure to cold is thought to convert white harmful fat to brown fat-burning adipose tissue. If the body is cold it will produce its own energy to warm it, and so burn more calories.

Five fruit a day help keep five cancers away

Research has shown that eating a diet rich in fresh fruit can help reduce 5 main cancers: lung, larynx, mouth and stomach. The high fibre in fruit can also protect the body from bowel cancer. As well as containing many healthy vitamins and minerals, fruit is full of phytochemicals - including flavanoids - powerful antioxidants which protect the body from cell damage.

Fizzy drinks accelerate ageing process

A report has suggested a link between the chemical phosphate in many fizzy drinks and premature ageing. The study was carried out using mice, so there is no conclusive evidence yet to suggest this applies to humans. It has however prompted medical investigation into the effect of excess phosphate on health.

It is also debatable whether the levels of phosphate in fizzy drinks are high enough to affect health. Fizzy drinks are already not a healthy option, due to their high sugar and calories.

The HCG Diet

The HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) diet, although in the news as a popular weight-loss programme, is not a new diet, it has been around since the 50s. HCG is a pregnancy related hormone that affects the hypothalamus (the area of the brain that affects metabolism), which in pregnancy brings nutrients to the placenta by using fat stores.

On the HCG diet daily injections of HCG, combined with a very low calorie diet of 500 calories, causes the metabolism to burn more fat and it is claimed can help you lose around 1-3 pounds per day. Some use a couple of drops of HCG on the tongue. Side effects ranging from headaches and dizziness to blood clots, have been reported in some people on this diet. Such a low calorie intake can affect stores of protein, muscle and vital organs.


This is a short-term crash diet, which is never a good idea, as you are far more likely to lose weight successfully and keep it off if you adopt a healthy diet and incorporate some exercise into your lifestyle. The prospect of daily injections is enough to put most people off trying this diet!

Hip to eat protein

Studies, involving 1,000 pensioners, have shown that older people are less likely to suffer hip fractures, if they eat more protein in their daily diets. Protein is already recognised as helping to strengthen muscles, and it is thought these help reinforce bones when subjected to a fall and a possible hip injury. A protein rich diet is also believed to be linked to higher bone density, which is important in older people, as this can gradually decrease with age, such as in conditions like osteoporosis.

Try these delicious protein recipes: Chicken and peppers in black bean sauce Chilli chicken with broccoli Grilled chicken breast

Lack of sleep can make you fat

A study by the University of Chicago has discovered that lack of sleep can increase the production of the hormone Ghrelin.

Ghrelin is an appetite-stimulating hormone which is mainly released by the stomach. When ghrelin levels increase so does your hunger, which is not good news for dieters!
So we all need our beauty sleep to stay slim.

When those involved in the study were only allowed 4 hours sleep their ghrelin levels were found to be around 28% higher than those volunteers who slept for the normal 8 hours. The news that effortless sleeping can help to keep you slim must be good news to dieters!

 

Loving your body can help you to get in shape

Scientists have found that having a positive body image can be vital when you are trying to lose weight. Low self esteem and bad body image problems are common in overweight people, and this can often lead to emotional comfort eating.

The study, involving over 300 women, found that following a weight control programme that included tackling such issues as the causes of emotional eating, finding enjoyable exercise options and generally working on improving body image, helped dieters to self-regulate their eating and achieve greater success. Group work involving reducing anxiety about other peoples' opinions of their bodies was believed to have a positive effect for dieters.

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