Dietary Strategies for Improving Post-Prandial Glucose; Lipids; Inflammation; and Cardiovascular Health
The highly processed; calorie-dense; nutrient-depleted diet favored in the current American culture frequently leads to exaggerated supraphysiological post-prandial spikes in blood glucose and lipids. This state; called postprandial dysmetabolism; induces immediate oxidant stress; which increases in direct proportion to the increases in glucose and triglycerides after a meal. The transient increase in free radicals acutely […]
A large randomized individual and group intervention conducted by registered dietitians increased adherence to Mediterranean-type diets: the PREDIMED study.
Objective To assess the effectiveness of an intervention aimed to increase adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Design A 12-month assessment of a randomized primary prevention trial. Subjects/settings One thousand five hundred fifty-one asymptomatic persons aged 55 to 80 years; with diabetes or = 3 cardiovascular risk factors. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned to a control […]
Increased aflatoxin contamination of dried figs in a drought year
Dried figs (4917 samples) destined for export from Turkey to the European Union were collected between September and December during the very dry crop year of 2007 and tested for aflatoxins B(1); B(2); G(1) and G(2) by immunoaffinity column clean-up and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). While 32% of the samples contained detectable levels of […]
Nuts as part of a healthy cardiovascular diet
The increasing trend of obesity has been associated with a greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and may lead to more vascular disease. Nuts; a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids and fiber; have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Numerous studies […]
Physico-chemical characteristics and total quality of date palm varieties grown in the southern of Tunisia
The date palm; Phoenix dactylifera; is a palm extensively cultivated for its edible fruit. The chemical composition and the water content of ten Tunisian date varieties were determined. For all analysis; the Deglet Nour variety was taken as reference. Compositional analysis showed that the littoral varieties were very rich in reducing sugars (26 to 51%) […]
Brazil nut ingestion increased plasma selenium but had minimal effects on lipids; apolipoproteins; and high-density lipoprotein function in human subjects
The Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) of the Amazon region is consumed worldwide. It is rich in both monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids and is known for its high selenium content. This study tested the hypothesis whether the consumption of this nut could affect the plasma lipids and apolipoproteins and some functional properties of […]
Nut consumption and risk of heart failure in the Physicians' Health Study I
BACKGROUND: Heart failure is highly prevalent among older adults and is associated with high cost and societal burden. Although previous studies have reported beneficial effects of dietary factors on heart failure predictors; no previous study has examined whether frequent consumption of nuts is associated with a lower risk of heart failure in a large prospective […]
Early consumption of peanuts in infancy is associated with a low prevalence of peanut allergy
BACKGROUND: Despite guidelines recommending avoidance of peanuts during infancy in the United Kingdom (UK); Australia; and; until recently; North America; peanut allergy (PA) continues to increase in these countries. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of PA among Israeli and UK Jewish children and evaluate the relationship of PA to infant and maternal peanut […]
Olive oil and walnut breakfasts reduce the postprandial inflammatory response in mononuclear cells compared with a butter breakfast in healthy men
BACKGROUND: Inflammation is crucial in all stages of atherosclerosis; and few studies have investigated the effect of dietary fat on markers of inflammation related to this disease during the postprandial period. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the chronic effects of dietary fat on the postprandial expression of proinflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in healthy […]
Effect of a low-glycemic index or a high-cereal fiber diet on type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial
CONTEXT: Clinical trials using antihyperglycemic medications to improve glycemic control have not demonstrated the anticipated cardiovascular benefits. Low-glycemic index diets may improve both glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors for patients with type 2 diabetes but debate over their effectiveness continues due to trial limitations. OBJECTIVE: To test the effects of low-glycemic index diets on […]