Bariatric surgeries vary in long-term benefits and risks

Of two major weight-loss surgeries, sleeve gastrectomy is safer long-term than gastric bypass, researchers reported on Oct. 6, 2021 in JAMA Surgery. But sleeve gastrectomy is associated with a higher long-term risk of need for surgical revision. “It’s really important for patients to understand the risk of significant issues like death, complications, and hospitalization after these two procedures because that […]

Plant-based diet associated with lower risk of covid infection and less severe disease

In a recent study led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Kings College Hospital published in Gut, people whose diets were based on healthy plant-based foods had lower risks of covid infection and severe disease.1 The beneficial effects of diet on COVID-19 seemed especially relevant in individuals living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation. Poor metabolic health and […]

Gut bacteria and flavonoid-rich foods are linked and improve blood pressure levels

Hypertension Journal Report AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION Flavonoid-rich foods, including berries, apples, pears and wine, appear to have a positive effect on blood pressure levels, an association that is partially explained by characteristics of the gut microbiome, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal. “Our gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolizing flavonoids to enhance […]

Ultra-processed food intake linked to inflammatory bowel disease

Consumption of ultra-processed foods appears to be linked to an increased risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), researchers reported on July 15, 2021 in the BMJ/British Medical Journal. “Higher intake of ultra-processed food was positively associated with risk of IBD. Further studies are needed to identify the contributory factors within ultra-processed foods,” the authors said. Ultra-processed foods include packaged baked […]

High BMI causes depression – and both physical and social factors play a role

With one in four adults estimated to be obese in the UK, and growing numbers of children affected, obesity is a global health challenge. While the dangers of being obese on physical health is well known, researchers are now discovering that being overweight can also have a significant impact on mental health. The new study, published in Human Molecular Genetics, sought […]

Ultraprocessed foods now comprise 2/3 of calories in children and teen diets

“Some whole grain breads and dairy foods are ultraprocessed, and they’re healthier than other ultraprocessed foods. Processing can keep food fresher longer, allows for food fortification and enrichment, and enhances consumer convenience,” said senior and corresponding author Fang Fang Zhang, nutrition epidemiologist at the Friedman School. “But many ultraprocessed foods are less healthy, with more sugar and salt, and less […]

New discovery explains antihypertensive properties of green and black tea

A new study from the University of California, Irvine shows that compounds in both green and black tea relax blood vessels by activating ion channel proteins in the blood vessel wall. The discovery helps explain the antihypertensive properties of tea and could lead to the design of new blood pressure-lowering medications. Published in Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, the discovery was made […]

A fermented-food diet increases microbiome diversity and lowers inflammation, study finds

A diet rich in fermented foods enhances the diversity of gut microbes and decreases molecular signs of inflammation, according to researchers at the Stanford School of Medicine. In a clinical trial, 36 healthy adults were randomly assigned to a 10-week diet that included either fermented or high-fiber foods. The two diets resulted in different effects on the gut microbiome and […]

Cutting 250 calories daily and exercising may improve heart health in obese older adults

Cutting just 250 calories a day with moderate exercise reaped bigger rewards than exercise alone for older, obese adults. Among older adults with obesity, combining aerobic exercise with a moderate reduction in daily calories resulted in greater improvements in aortic stiffness (a measure of vascular health, which impacts cardiovascular disease), compared to exercise only or to exercise plus a more […]