Sleep and Diet: Mounting Evidence of a Cyclical Relationship.

Two factors intrinsic to health are diet and sleep. These two behaviors may well influence one another. Indeed, that insufficient sleep adversely impacts dietary intakes is well documented. On the other hand, diet may influence sleep via melatonin and its biosynthesis from tryptophan. Experimental data exist indicating that provision of specific foods rich in tryptophan […]

Effects of a Brazilian cardioprotective diet and nuts on cardiometabolic parameters after myocardial infarction: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Nut consumption has been related to improvements on cardiometabolic parameters and reduction in the severity of atherosclerosis mainly in primary cardiovascular prevention. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effects of the Brazilian Cardioprotective Diet (DIeta CArdioprotetora Brasileira, DICA Br) based on consumption of inexpensive locally accessible foods supplemented or not with […]

The role of a Mediterranean diet and physical activity in decreasing age-related inflammation through modulation of the gut microbiota composition.

Chronic inflammation is known to be a predominant factor in the development of many age-related conditions including cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that during the ageing process there is an increase in inflammatory biomarkers, which may be partially brought about by detrimental changes to the gut microbiota. The […]

Pro-vegetarian food patterns and cardiometabolic risk in the PREDIMED-Plus study: a cross-sectional baseline analysis.

Purpose. We explored the cross-sectional association between the adherence to three different provegetarian (PVG) food patterns defined as general (gPVG), healthful (hPVG) and unhealthful (uPVG), and the cardiometabolic risk in adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS) of the PREDIMED-Plus randomized intervention study. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from 6439 participants of the […]

Intake of Nuts and Seeds Is Associated with a Lower Prevalence of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in US Adults: Findings from 2005–2018 NHANES.

Background. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease globally. Nuts and seeds, due to their unique nutrient composition, may provide health benefits for the prevention of NAFLD. To date, no research has investigated the association between nut and seed intake and NAFLD prevalence in a non-Mediterranean Western population. Objectives. This study […]

Are fatty nuts a weighty concern? A systematic review and meta‐analysis and dose–response meta‐regression of prospective cohorts and randomized controlled trials.

Nuts are recommended for cardiovascular health, yet concerns remain that nuts may contribute to weight gain due to their high energy density. A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohorts and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to update the evidence, provide a dose–response analysis, and assess differences in nut type, comparator and more in […]

Twist and lock: nutshell structures for high strength and energy absorption.

Nutshells achieve remarkable properties by optimizing structure and chemistry at different hierarchical levels. Probing nutshells from the cellular down to the nano- and molecular level by microchemical and nanomechanical imaging techniques reveals insights into nature's packing concepts. In walnut and pistachio shells, carbohydrate and lignin polymers assemble to form thick-walled puzzle cells, which interlock three-dimensionally […]

Is a Handful an Effective Way to Guide Nut Recommendations?

Dietary guidelines recommend consuming 30 g of nuts per day to reduce the risk of chronic disease. A 'handful' is commonly used to guide consumers. Research is lacking on how this translates into actual gram amounts. This study quantified the grams of nuts represented by different portion size measures, including a 'handful' and '30 g […]

The nutritional impact of replacing dietary meat with meat alternatives in the UK: A modelling analysis using nationally representative data.

Dietary patterns high in meat compromise both planetary and human health. Meat-alternatives may help facilitate meat reduction, however the nutritional implications of displacing meat with meat-alternatives does not appear to have been evaluated. Here, data from the 9th cycle of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey was used as the basis of models to assess […]