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Dietetics
The ‘clean eating’ movement is 'ugly, malevolent and damaging'
At best, the "clean eating" fad is nonsense dressed up as health advice, writes a British eating disorder expert Dr Max Pemberton in an...
Artificial sweeteners may leave a bitter aftertaste
Artificial sweeteners may be linked to risk of weight gain and a greater risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, found...
Balloon that can be swallowed helps obese lose weight
A swallowable intragastric balloon which is filled with water while in the stomach, can help obese people to lose large amounts of weight without...
Little difference between alternate day fasting and calorie restriction
A randomised clinical trial demonstrated that alternate-day fasting did not produce superior adherence, weight loss, weight maintenance or improvements in risk indicators for cardiovascular...
Yo-yo dieting hikes death, heart and diabetes risks
Among people with coronary artery disease, fluctuation in body weight was associated with double the mortality and a double rate of cardiovascular events independent...
Substantial role of dietary factors in heart, stroke and diabetes deaths
Nearly half of all deaths due to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes in the US in 2012 were associated with sub-optimal consumption...
5-day fasting diet lowers risks for major diseases
A randomised phase-II trial of a fasting-mimicking diet of five days over a three-month cycle, reduced blood pressure, signs of inflammation and decreased insulin-like growth...
Physical activity not linked with weight change in African-origin adults
An international study of young adults from South Africa, Ghana, the US, Jamaica and the Seychelles found that neither physical activity nor sedentary time were associated...
Long-term effect of lifestyle intervention on cardiovascular risk in diabetes
Weight reduction in patients with diabetes via an intensive life-style intervention programme can be maintained for five years and is predicted by patients’ ability to...
WHO and US sugar restriction guidelines based on poor evidence
Nutritional guidelines restricting sugar intake are not based on low to very-low quality evidence, finds a Canadian meta-analysis.
The study was led by McMaster University...
High-protein risk for weight gain and heart disease
High-protein food diets — such as the Atkins Diet — actually increase the risk of putting on weight and even dying for people at high risk of heart disease, suggest Spanish study of 7,447 people.
Although diets high in protein have become increasingly popular, there has been mixed evidence about their efficacy, and fears they could increase the risk of heart disease.
High fibre African diet reduces colon cancer risk
American and African volunteers swopping diets for just two weeks had dramatic effects on risk factors for colon cancer. Western diets, high in protein and fat but low in fibre, are thought to raise colon cancer risk compared with African diets high in fibre and low in fat and protein. The study confirmed that a high fibre diet can substantially reduce risk.
Social groups boost weight loss
Users of an online weight loss programme lost more when they participated in the social group, compared to more isolated users, a US study finds.
Coffee keeps endometrial cancer at bay
An Imperial College London study on 1,303 women has found that drinking three to four cups of coffee a day could reduce the risk of endometrial cancer by almost a fifth.
Guidelines on added sugars 'need revision'
Clinical experts propose drastic cuts to current dietary guidelines that allow up to 25% of total daily calories as added sugars. This follows research showing that added sugars, particularly those containing fructose, are a principal driver of diabetes and pre-diabetes, even more so than other carbohydrates.
DASH leaves Paleo dragging its knuckles
The DASH diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy, has been named by health experts the best overall diet for the fifth consecutive year.
Heart health benefits of avocado
Eating one avocado a day as part of a heart healthy, cholesterol-lowering moderate-fat diet can help improve bad cholesterol levels in overweight and obese individuals, according to American Heart Association research.
Combinations give Mediterranean diet its healthy edge
The combination of olive oil and leafy salad or vegetables is what gives the Mediterranean diet its healthy edge, say Professor Philip Eaton, from...
Study finds snacking, not large meals, contributes to abdominal fat
Researchers from The Netherlands found that snacking on high-fat and high-sugar foods was independently associated with abdominal fat and fatty liver (hepatic steatosis). Science...
Mediterranean diet slows progression of type 2 diabetes
In people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, eating lots of olive oil, fish and whole grains slows progression of the disease more than...
Five-a-day more than enough for optimal health
New research backs the five-a-day target for fruit and vegetables, but suggests eating more may have no added benefits, reports BBC News. An analysis...
‘Banting’ diet neither healthier nor better than balanced diet
SA’s celebrity Professor Tim Noake’s popular low-carbohydrate ‘Banting’ diet is neither healthier nor better for dropping kilos than a balanced weight-loss diet. Health-e reports...