Green Tea Can Counteract Bad Effects of a Western Diet!

"Green tea is one of the most commonly consumed beverages across the globe, largely due to its associated health benefits. New research offers yet another reason to drink this popular beverage, after finding that it could help to combat the negative health implications of a Western diet." Read more...

Green tea compound may reduce the harms of a Western diet. Honor Whiteman. Medical News Today. July 31,2017. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318720.php?sr

Study: Fatty Diets Increase the Need for Afternoon Nap!

 

 Men who eat a lot of fatty foods may find themselves needing an afternoon nap, a new study suggests.

 Fatty Foods, Drowsy Days. Amy Norton. WebMD. May 3,2016. http://www.webmd.com/diet/20160503/fatty-foods-drowsy-days?ecd=soc_fb_160504_cons_news_fattyfoodsdrowsydays

Soy Protein May Limit Fat Development by Western Diet By Altering Gut Biome!

 

As many of you know I am not a fan of soy. I do not like the fact that it may activate genes that are active in breast cancer. However, I report on both the good and the bad so I will let you make your own decision. In a recent study, it was shown that soy protein may "diversify" the gut microbiome more than milk proteins. In addition, it was shown to have lipid lowering properties. We have previously noted that the "Western diet" alters the gut biome. After six weeks of soy protein supplements, soy altered the Western diet biome more so than milk protein. As we know, the Western diet has been identified as one of the most important factors contributing to obesity. This study demonstrates that soy protein may limit adiposity of the Western diet but altering the gut biome.

Soy protein may diversify gut microbiota more than dairy protein: Study

By Stephen DaniellsStephen Daniells, 07-Mar-2016.http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Soy-protein-may-diversify-gut-microbiota-more-than-dairy-protein-Study

 

Soy Protein Compared with Milk Protein in a Western Diet Increases Gut Microbial Diversity and Reduces Serum Lipids in Golden Syrian Hamsters. The Journal of nutrition (2 March 2016) by Dustie N. Butteiger, Ashley A. Hibberd, Nancy J. McGraw, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13972327?updated=1457439444&rejected=

  

Long-term Consumption of Western Diet Contributes to Development of Alzheimer's!

 

Recent research has established associations between certain environmental factors, including eating a western diet and being sedentary, with an increased susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. In fact, it is estimated that a combination of diet and inactivity contributes to as many as 25% of Alzheimer's cases.

 Research provides insight into the role of the western diet in Alzheimer's disease. Medical Xpress. March 7 2016. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-03-insight-role-western-diet-alzheimer.html

Chronic consumption of a western diet induces robust glial activation in aging mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Scientific reports, Vol. 6 (2016) by Leah C. Graham, Jeffrey M. Harder, Ileana Soto, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13971391

2 Weeks of a Western Diet Shows Marked Biological Changes!

"We all know that a diet heavy in processed foods isn't doing us any favours, but a new study has now provided insight into just how quickly fast food can trigger biological changes."

Here’s what happens when rural Africans eat an American diet for 2 weeks. Science Alert. Fiona Macdonald. http://www.sciencealert.com/here-s-what-happens-when-rural-africans-eat-an-american-diet-for-2-weeks

Western Diet Increases the Risk for Colon Cancer!

Scientists have found dramatic effects on risk factors for colon cancer when American and African volunteers swapped diets for just two weeks.

 Imperial College London. (2015, April 28). Diet swap has dramatic effects on colon cancer risk for Americans and Africans. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 29, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150428125038.htm

Western Lifestyle Linked to Low Gut Bacteria Diversity!

"A modern Western diet and lifestyle is linked to a lower diversity of bacteria in the gut, say researchers."

Western lifestyle may limit gut bacteria diversity: Study. Nathan Gray+, 17-Apr-2015. http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Western-lifestyle-may-limit-gut-bacteria-diversity-Study

Common Food Additive Contributes to Diabetes!

Carrageenan is a food additive and made from red seaweed. It is commonly used a gelling agent in food such as ice cream and as emulsifiers in baked good and vitamin supplement shakes and powders. Some studies have shown the use of this additive is safe while others have shown negative health effects such as inducing colitis and a possible role in tumor growth.

In a new study, researchers set out to find if there would be any health impacts on mice exposed to carrageenan and a high-fat diet or each of the two factors alone for one year. During the study, it was found that the mice exposed to carrageenan exhibited glucose intolerance after 6 days and elevated glucose levels at 23 weeks. The effects of carrageenan were more severe in mice fed a high-fat diet. It was demonstrated that in mice fed both the carrageenan and a high-fat diet, they exhibited an earlier onset of hyperglycemia and higher glucose levels and worse dyslipidemia. From this study, the researcher's concluded that the additive carrageenan may contribute to the higher prevalence of the Western diet's development of diabetes and the other effects of high-fat consumption. (Bhattacharyya)
   

Exposure to Common Food Additive Carrageenan Alone Leads to Fasting Hyperglycemia and in Combination with High Fat Diet Exacerbates Glucose Intolerance and Hyperlipidemia without Effect on Weight. Journal of diabetes research, Vol. 2015 (2015) by Sumit Bhattacharyya, Leo Feferman, Terry Unterman, Joanne K. Tobacman. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13585976

What Was One Of the Most Important Advances in Health of the 20th Century?

                                

"What was the number one most important advance in health according to one of the most famous medical figures of the 20th century? The discovery that “Many of the major and commonest diseases in modern Western culture are universally rare in third-world communities, were uncommon even in the United States until after World War l” yet are now common in anyone following the Western lifestyle. So it’s not genetics—they’re lifestyle diseases (See Dr. Burkitt’s F-Word Diet). This means they must potentially be preventable."

Don’t Forget Fiber. NutritionFacts.org. Dr. Michael Greger M.D. February 19, 2015. http://nutritionfacts.org/2015/02/19/dont-forget-fiber/

Omega 3 Fats are Nrf2 Activators - A Key Ingredient to a Healthy Diet!



It is believed the Western diet wholly or partially contributes to disease. "Sixty-five percent of Americans over 20 years of age are obese. 64 million people suffer from one or more type of cardiovascular disease." (Cordain) Many experts believe that one cause of the American diet's contribution to cardiovascular disease is the imbalance of fats. More specifically, a higher ratio of saturated fat and Omega 6 to omega 3 which are good fats.  Generally, the higher the consumption of omega-3 fats to other fats is correlated to a lower incidence of heart disease. (Dhalla) A recent study has shown that EPA omega 3 polyunsaturated fats protect against oxidative stress which contributes to heart disease. This is achieved by the EPA activating Nrf2 and Ho-1. (Lee)



For further reading:

     A Mediterranean Diet is Better Than Exercise and Can Halve the Risk of Heart Disease!
     The Mediterranean Diet : The Key to Preventing Disease and Life Extension?
     Natural Foods that Activate the Body's Antioxidant Response Against Cellular Stress


Origins and evolution of the Western diet: health implications for the 21st century The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 81, No. 2. (1 February 2005), pp. 341-354 by Loren Cordain, S. Boyd Eaton, Anthony Sebastian, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13571703

Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the cytoprotection via Nrf2-mediated heme oxygenase-1 in human endothelial cells. Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology (26 March 2015) by Seung Eun E. Lee, Gun-Dong D. Kim, Hana Yang, et al. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/13571703

Role of oxidative stress in cardiovascular diseases. Journal of hypertension, Vol. 18, No. 6. (June 2000), pp. 655-673 by N. S. Dhalla, R. M. Temsah, T. Netticadan. http://www.citeulike.org/user/kimberlykramer2015/article/11296916