Research Factoids – 3rd February 2016

1. According to new research, a diet rich in fiber may not only protect against diabetes and heart disease, it may reduce the risk of developing lung disease.

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160122145457.htm)

2. Mindfulness, described as paying attention on purpose and being in the present moment with acceptance, could be an effective way to help children avoid obesity. New research published in the journal Heliyon suggests that the balance in brain networks in children who are obese is different compared to healthy-weight children, making them more prone to over-eating. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160121092312.htm)

3. Yo-yoing between eating well during the week and binging on junk food over the weekend is likely to be just as bad for your gut health as a consistent diet of junk, new UNSW research suggests.

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160120112112.htm)

4. A new study published in the online journal, Public Library of Science One (PLOS One) found that Vitamin B12 levels in the brain are significantly decreased in the elderly and are much lower in individuals with autism or schizophrenia, as compared to their peers at similar ages. For example, children with autism under the age of 10 were found to have three times lower brain B12 levels, which is similar to levels for generally healthy adults in their 50s, indicating a premature decrease. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160122144730.htm)

5. Encouraging people to eat healthy fats such as those found in olive oil or fish could help prevent more than a million deaths from heart disease worldwide each year, according to a new study. (http://www.livescience.com/53434-healthy-unsaturated-fats-reduce-heart-disease-deaths.html)

6. Short bursts of intensive exercise provide a more “time-efficient” and realistic way of preventing, delaying and managing Type 2 diabetes and also losing weight, a study has found. Obesity and Type 2 diabetes are linked, with over 80 per cent of people with the condition classed as overweight or obese – diet and physical activity interventions are the cornerstones for management of both conditions. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160119074550.htm)

7.Scientists are investigating whether an infusion of gut hormones could help people to stop over-eating, quit smoking, or give up alcohol. In the study, volunteers will have three infusions of hormones similar to GLP-1 and ghrelin, or a placebo infusion of salt water. There will be 90 participants in total — 30 will be overweight and trying to lose weight, 30 will be ex-smokers and another 30 will be ex-drinkers. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160115085339.htm)

8. A new study found that eating less fiber, more saturated fat and more sugar is associated with lighter, less restorative, and more disrupted sleep.

Results show that greater fiber intake predicted more time spent in the stage of deep, slow wave sleep. In contrast, a higher percentage of energy from saturated fat predicted less slow wave sleep. Greater sugar intake also was associated with more arousals from sleep. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160114213443.htm)

9. An explanation for the correlation between eating fish during pregnancy, and the health of the baby’s brain, has been uncovered by a group of researchers. Dietary lipid contains fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3, which are essential nutrients for many animals and humans. The research group found that a balanced intake of lipids by pregnant women is necessary for the normal brain formation of the unborn child. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160114113410.htm)

10. A recent Finnish study shows that high body adiposity, low physical activity, and particularly their combination are related to poorer physical fitness among 6-8 year old children. The results also suggest that physically active overweight children have better fitness compared to their inactive peers. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160113101115.htm)

11. Eating foods rich in amino acids could be as good for your heart as stopping smoking or getting more exercise – according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA). (http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-08/uoea-urs082715.php)

12. Swapping some specialist sports drinks in favour of water mixed with a spoonful of sugar could boost the performance of long-distance athletes.

Researchers at the University of Bath brought in a team of club cyclists and used an adapted MRI scanner to assess the impact of prolonged exercise on the levels of glycogen – stored carbohydrate – in the liver. (http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/nov/28/sugary-water-performance-sports-drinks-study-cyclists)

13. According to research carried out by the American Heart Association, replacing refined carbohydrates and saturated fats with vegetable oils could save 1 million lives per year. (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305325.php)

14. Australians are shunning fruits and vegetables while consuming three times the recommended daily allowance of junk food, a survey which asked more than 40,000 people about their eating habits has found.

A survey of 40,000 people on their eating habits found that junk food has ‘become mainstream and Australians are eating it each and every day’. (http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/10/australians-junk-food-intake-soars-but-vegetables-out-of-favour-csiro-finds)

15. B vitamins more effective in preventing cognitive decline in people with higher omega 3 levels.

While research has already established that B vitamin supplements can help slow mental decline in older people with memory problems, an international team have now found that having higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids in your body could boost the B vitamins’ effect. (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/305313.php)

16. A study published recently in JAMA Ophthalmology shows that a diet rich in green, leafy vegetables might reduce the risk of this debilitating disease. It is time to break out the spinach! (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305099.php)

17. A possible connection between fermented foods, which contain probiotics, and social anxiety symptoms, is the focus of recent study. The study is just the first in a series that the researchers have planned to continue exploring the mind-gut connection, including another examination of the data to see whether a correlation exists between fermented food intake and autism symptoms. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/06/150609092803.htm)

18. How does the size of the table we eat at influence how much we eat? According to a new study, quite a lot. It was discovered that table size has a significant impact on how people perceive the food it holds and consequently how much people eat. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160119073629.htm)

19. Plasticisers such as phthalates are always found in plastics. They can get into our bodies through the skin or by the diet. They affect our hormone system and are suspected of having an influence on our body weight. The exact correlations and mechanisms have been unclear thus far. In cooperation with the Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB) Adiposity Diseases at the University of Leipzig and the University Hospital Leipzig, researchers from the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) have now published a study in the PLOS ONE journal showing that the phthalate DEHP leads to weight gain and revealed the metabolic processes involved. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160118102654.htm)

20. Obesity has long been associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer, but the link has never been understood. The culprit for the link between obesity and colorectal cancer is excess calories, say scientists, but a new report suggests that the risk can be reversed through lifestyle modification or, potentially, use of an approved drug. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160115084806.htm)