Low-Fat Or Low-Carb. Which One Is Better?

Over time, many different types of diets have been popular, including low-fat and low-carb diets. Some years ago, low-fat was the mantra. More recently low-carb has been the rage, promising effortless weight loss while eating all the high-fat foods you want.

Low-fat usually means high-carb but doesn't always mean low-calorie if someone eats too many carbs, particularly processed carbs that are more concentrated in calories. Conversely, low-carb usually means high-fat. Many people who have tried this type of diet know it can be difficult to continue for a long time because a lot of good tasting fruits and other carbohydrates are off limits and high-fat goodies do get a little old after a while.

According to Dr. Donald Hensrud, the most important factor related to weight loss is not low-fat or low-carb — it is calories. Either type of diet could lead to weight loss if total calorie intake is low.

There have been a number of studies comparing weight loss with these two types of diets. In general, low-carb diets may result in a little more weight loss in the first 3 to 6 months. However, after 1 to 2 years there isn't much difference. What's interesting is that the amount of weight loss varies widely among people following either diet. So which type of diet you choose may matter less than whether you stick to it.

Another important factor is the healthfulness of the diet — and both of these types of diets could be healthy or unhealthy, depending on the types of fats and carbohydrates that are consumed. Other things that may influence how long a diet is followed include taste, satisfaction, satiety and practicality.

The Mayo Clinic Diet emphasizes healthy carbs (fruit, and whole-grain products) and fats (olive oil, nuts and vegetable oils). By consuming lower amounts of less healthy carbs (sugar, white flour, and other processed carbs) and less healthy fats (saturated and trans fats), total calorie intake is lower. Because the emphasize is also on good tasting foods, unlimited vegetables and fruits to achieve satiety, and making lifestyle changes and not a short-term "diet," the Mayo Clinic Diet can be easier to follow long-term.

What have been your experiences with low-fat or low-carb diets?

Why does eating a healthy breakfast help control weight?

According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.,eating a healthy breakfast may help you lose excess weight and maintain your weight loss:

Reduced Hunger

Eating breakfast may reduce your hunger later in the day, which may make it easier to avoid overeating. When you skip breakfast, you may feel ravenous later and be tempted to reach for a quick fix — such as vending machine candy or doughnuts at the office. In addition, the prolonged fasting that occurs when you skip breakfast can increase your body's insulin response, which in turn increases fat storage and weight gain. In fact, skipping breakfast actually increases your risk of obesity.

Healthy Choices

Eating breakfast may get you on track to make healthy choices all day. When you eat breakfast, you tend to eat a healthier overall diet, one that is more nutritious and lower in fat. When you skip breakfast, you're more likely to skip fruits and vegetables the rest of the day, too.

More Energy

Eating breakfast may give you energy, increasing your physical activity during the day. A healthy breakfast refuels your body and replenishes the glycogen stores that supply your muscles with immediate energy. Skipping breakfast is associated with decreased physical activity. So, if you skip breakfast — whether you're trying to save time or cut calories — you may want to reconsider, especially if you're trying to control your weight.

Does Grape Juice Offer The Same Heart Benefits As Red Wine?

Grape juice: Same heart benefits as wine?

According to Dr. Martha Grogan from the Mayo Clinic, some research studies suggest that red and purple grape juices may provide some of the same heart benefits of red wine, including:

Reducing the risk of blood clots
Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol
Preventing damage to blood vessels in your heart
Helping maintain a healthy blood pressure

Grapes are rich in health-protecting antioxidants, including resveratrol and flavonoids. These antioxidants are found mainly in the skin, stem, leaf and seeds of grapes, rather than in their pulp. The amount of antioxidants in grapes depends on many factors, including the kind of grape, its geographic origin and how it's processed. Dark red and purple grapes tend to be higher in antioxidants than are white or green grapes. Likewise, the level of antioxidants such as resveratrol found in wine varies, with higher levels in red wine.

Besides grape juice, other grape products may offer health benefits, including dealcoholized wine, grape extracts and grape powder.

Keep in mind that it's also beneficial to eat whole grapes — not just grape juice. Some research suggests that whole grapes deliver the same amount of antioxidants that are in grape juice and wine but have the added benefit of providing dietary fiber.

The First Person To Reach 150 Is Already Alive

It's a milestone that few, if any, of us expect to reach.
But the first person who will live to see their 150th birthday has already been born, according to a leading scientist.

Even more incredibly, Aubrey De Grey believes that the first person to live for 1,000years will be born in the next two decades.

The biomedical gerontologist and chief scientist of a foundation dedicated to longevity research claims that within his own lifetime doctors will have all the tools they need to 'cure' ageing.

This will be done, he believes, by banishing all diseases and extending life indefinitely.

Dr De Grey said: 'I'd say we have a 50/50 chance of bringing ageing under what I'd call a decisive level of medical control within the next 25 years or so.
'And what I mean by decisive is the same sort of medical control that we have over most infectious diseases today.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2011425/The-person-reach-150-alive--soon-live-THOUSAND-claims-scientist.html#ixzz1RqSDqLnY

Olive Oil Starves Off Strokes In The Elderly

Figures show that people over 65 who use olive oil for cooking and on salads and bread are 41 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke.

It can also help protect against other health problems, such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, high-cholesterol and obesity.

This scientific breakthrough could help prevent some of the 120,000 strokes suffered by Britons every year.

Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, starving the cells of oxygen and other nutrients.

It can be caused by a blockage or a bleed.

It causes some cells to become damaged and others to die, and can result in paralysis, loss of speech and blurred vision.

But olive oil helps unclog arteries, providing a cheap way of maintaining a healthy heart.

The study, published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, looked at medical records of 7,625 people aged 65 plus over a period of five years.

The study author Dr Cécilia Samieri with the University of Bordeaux, France, said: "Our research suggests that a new set of dietary recommendations should be issued to prevent stroke in people 65 and older.

"Stroke is so common in older people and olive oil would be an inexpensive and easy way to help prevent it."

During the research, olive oil consumption was categorised as "no use," "moderate use" such as using olive oil in cooking or as dressing or with bread, and "intensive use," which included using olive oil for both cooking and as dressing or with bread.

After a little over five years, there were 148 strokes.

After considering diet, physical activity, body mass index and other risk factors for stroke, the study found that those who regularly used olive oil for both cooking and as dressing had a two fifth lower risk of stroke compared to those who never used olive oil in their diet.

What Is Considered A Healthy Diet?

Healthy Diets

Do you want to adopt a healthy diet but aren't sure where to start? As you consider the parade of healthy diets in magazines and cookbooks, make sure to look for one that:

Includes a variety of foods from the major food groups: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean protein, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats
Provides guidelines for how much food to choose from each group.

Includes foods you can find in your local grocery store.

Fits your tastes, lifestyle and budget.

Also consider your health risks. Do you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure? If so, be sure to follow a diet that's low in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. For personalized advice, talk with your doctor or a dietitian.

Omega-3 May Reduce Mouth Bateria, Boost Oral Health

A recent study from the University of Kentucky reveals that all types of food-borne omega-3 fats (like tuna, walnuts and spinach) cut the numbers of oral disease bacteria by half or more.





Link to Article: http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Omega-3-may-combat-mouth-bacteria-boost-oral-health/?c=dmCIFMv2LEZFd%252B97BD4CPw%253D%253D&utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%252BDaily

The study found that “the dental health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids of marine and plant origin have been found to have strong anti-bacterial activity against a range of oral pathogens and “may include anti-bacterial effects, extending the benefits beyond inflammation.” The doctors involved in the study said that they planned to conduct further studies needed to prove that omega-3s acids work to benefit oral health. While this is encouraging news, we wanted to remind you that diet, hygiene, and other factors, are key to improving your oral health. Remember to consult us if you have any questions about your diet and the effect it can have on your oral health.