Dietary Fiber Regulates Appetite in the Brain
The bene
fits of including significant amounts of whole food dietary fiber have been shown to impart a number of benefits such as a reduction in levels of blood cholesterol and increased production of health promoting short-chain fatty acids in the gut. A new study published in the online edition of the journal Nature has found that consuming high amounts of dietary fiber appears to have the ability to regulate appetite sensors in the brain according to a recent study conducted on mice. For the study scientists fed a group of mice a form of fermentable fiber that’s known to produce short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Scientists then tracked chemical reactions as the fiber made its way through the digestive system and found that not only did evidence of the short-chain fatty acids appear in the gut, but they also appeared in the hypothalamus as well. They discovered that there appeared to be a direct correlation to the release of neurotransmitters and mechanisms in the brain associated with appetite control. Although the study was not conducted on humans, researchers are hopeful that they will be able to develop dietary intervention strategies that will help people be able to better regulate and control appetite throughout the day.
http://www.nature.com/news/dietary-fibre-acts-on-brain-to-suppress-appetite-1.15127
Coffee Decreases Risk of Developing Type-2 Diabetes
If you’ve been searching for a good reason to give ev
en more of your money to that cute barista behind the counter at Starbucks than you may be in luck. A new study published in the journal Diabetologia, and conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, has found a link between increased coffee consumption and a decreased risk for developing type-2 diabetes over a four year period. For the study researchers collected data from three major health long-term health studies; The Nurses’ Health Study 1&2, and the Health Professionals Follow up Study. After analyzing the data they determined that increased in coffee consumption of 1.5 cups her day over a four year period correlated with an 11% decrease in risk for developing type-2 diabetes. Conversely, those who decreased their coffee consumption by just 1 cup per day showed a 17% increase in the development of diabetes; while those whose consumption remained the same (three cups or more) had a 37% lower risk of developing the disease. So, the next time you find yourself debating whether or not you should upgrade from a Grande to a venti remember the old bodybuilding motto, up the dosage.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140424190516.htm
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More Muscle Improves Quality of Life in Dialysis Patients
As anyone who has undergone, or watched a friend or family member, undergo the process of kidney dialysis can attest to the difficulties that patients often suffer. However, new study soon to be published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has found dialysis patients who have more muscle mass are associated with having a better quality life. Researchers measured BMI, waist circumference, mid-thigh muscle, and abdominal fat in a group of patients undergoing dialysis. Researchers then had the patients engage in an exercise program and tracked the results over a twelve month period. At the conclusion of the program researchers found that patients with lower BMI and abdominal fat, and greater mid-thigh muscle were found to have improved quality of life according to questionnaires filled out by each participant. Researchers believe that increased muscle mass may help to prolong survival and be associated with greater recovery and physical function in patients.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-04/ason-mml041814.php
Diet Drinks Linked to Heart Trouble in Women
Diet soda
may contribute to the development of heart disease according new information being released by a team of researchers at The University of Iowa. Despite the fact that government agencies like the FDA and National Institute of Health report on that non-caloric sweeteners are healthy alternatives to sugar, current research has shown that they can be just as damaging and cause similar problems. Researchers from the University of Iowa analyzed data from the Women’s Health Initiative and concluded that over a nine year period women who consumed two or more diet drinks daily had an 8.5% increase in the development of cardiovascular disease while women who reported consuming only one-four diet drinks per week were found that have 6.8% increase in risk for development of CHD. Researchers note that although their results don’t prove that diet drinks cause heart disease, they do urge women to consider reducing their consumption on addition to other lifestyle modifications in order to help reduce cardiac risk factors.
http://now.uiowa.edu/2014/03/ui-study-finds-diet-drinks-associated-heart-trouble-older-women
Soy and Whey Protein Blend Extends Protein Synthesis
The ability of w
hey protein to build muscle, reduce body fat, and elevate protein synthesis have been repeatedly proven in the gym and in the lab as well. However, the use of soy protein and its role as a functional food and questions about its quality and efficacy have been cast in doubt by various industry experts, Dr. Scott Connelly amongst them. However, a new study published in the journal Applied Physiology has found that a protein blend consisting of soy, casein, and whey appears to increase muscle protein synthesis and build lean muscle to a greater degree than whey isolate alone. For the study researchers took sixteen healthy normal weight individuals and gave them a protein drink consisting of either a protein blend (25% soy isolate, 50% casein, 25% whey isolate) one hour after exercise. A second group received a whey isolate drink one hour after completion of exercise. Researchers took muscle biopsies five hours after the completion of exercise and consumption of protein in both groups. The biopsies revealed that rates of protein synthesis remained elevated in the protein blend group for one hour longer than that of the whey isolate group, and that the blend group also showed a greater net amino acid balance. Despite the results of the study it should be noted that soy protein has been proven to increase estrogen levels in men, is not a complete source of protein, and has numerous questions surrounding the use of pesticides and chemicals on large commercial soybean farms.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/276002.php
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