11/14/14 Health News: Body weight influenced by gut microbes ♦ High-fat diet postpones brain aging ♦ Children And Especially Babies Need to Eat Fish: Allergies

Why Children And Especially Babies Need to Eat Fish: Allergies

This past June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encouraged Americans to eat more fish. They pointed out that fish has lots of health benefits; not only is it a great source of protein, it’s a great source of other nutrients, including some that can help developing brains. That’s why they particularly want pregnant women and children to heed the advice. Continue reading

High-fat diet postpones brain aging in mice

New research suggests that signs of brain aging can be postponed in mice if placed on a high-fat diet. In the long term, this opens the possibility of treatment of children suffering from premature aging and patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.Continue Reading

Body weight heavily influenced by gut microbes: Genes shape body weight by affecting gut microbes

Our genetic makeup influences whether we are fat or thin by shaping which types of microbes thrive in our body, according to a new study. Scientists identified a specific, little known bacterial family that is highly heritable and more common in individuals with low body weight. This microbe also protected against weight gain when transplanted into mice. The results could pave the way for personalized probiotic therapies that are optimized to reduce the risk of obesity-related diseases based on an individual's genetic makeup.Continue Reading

11/12/14 Health News:DIRTY DOZEN LIST FOR FOOD ADDITIVES ♦ Pathway leading to obesity ♦ High-fat diets during pregnancy influence brain functioning &behavior of children

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP RELEASES FIRST ‘DIRTY DOZEN’ LIST FOR FOOD ADDITIVES

The Environmental Working Group – famous for its list of produce most likely to be contaminated with pesticides – has now released a “Dirty Dozen” guide for food additives. There are more than 10,000 additives in food distributed in the U.S., and EWG is trying to highlight “some of the worst failures of the regulatory... Continue Reading

Piecing together signaling pathway leading to obesity

A team of researchers has now drawn connections between known regulators of body mass, pointing to possible treatments for obesity and metabolic disorders. As scientists probe the molecular underpinnings of why some people are prone to obesity and some to leanness, they are discovering that weight maintenance is more complicated than the old “calories in, calories out” adage. Continue Reading

Research suggests high-fat diets during pregnancy could influence brain functioning, behavior of children

A diet high in fat can increase one’s risk for diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome; however few studies have assessed the effects of a maternal high fat diet on offspring. New research suggests that a high-fat maternal diet during pregnancy and while breastfeeding could have significant and lasting detrimental effects on the brain function and behavior of children. The study is one of few basic science studies conducted to measure the direct effect of a high-fat maternal diet on the cognitive functioning on offspring. Continue Reading