The Mainstreaming of Vegan Diets

Once the purview of a small group of devotees, more people -- including nutritionists -- are embracing plant-based eating plans

December 27, 2011

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Dec. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Vegan diets are considered by some to be extreme, a strict way of eating that exists on the radical fringes of vegetarianism.

But today, a growing number of people are giving vegan diets a second look, and nutritionists now believe that a well-thought-out vegan eating plan could be the most healthy way to live for most people.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/diet-fitness/diet/articles/2011/12/27/the-mainstreaming-of-vegan-diets?msg=1

Giving babies salty food may create a lifelong preference

Diets including crackers, cereals and other high-sodium solid foods are linked to a greater fondness for salt, a study finds.

By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times

December 21, 2011

Feeding young babies solid foods such as crackers, cereals and bread, which tend to be high in salt, may set them up for a lifelong preference for salt, researchers reported Tuesday.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggests that efforts to reduce salt intake among Americans should begin early in life.

http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-babies-salt-20111221,0,6606273.story

Nutrition a key element in fighting autoimmune diseases

"The same diet recommended for the prevention of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and other chronic illness--one rich in plants and low in animal fats and highly-processed foods--is the same one recommended to reduce the risk of autoimmune disease and manage an existing one. Look to foods that help prevent oxidation and inflammation."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-201112201500--tms--premhnstr--k-h20111221dec21,0,5250677.story

http://www.environmentalnutrition.com/

Stroke Risk Driven By Diet Quality And Overeating, Rather Than Individual Nutrients

"A review published in the special strokeissue of The Lancet Neurology says that many of the numerous studies on stroke prevention have been based on unreliable evidence. The same applies to headlines that have highlighted potential benefits of specific nutrients and foods. According to researchers, the risk of stroke is more likely to be predicted by dietary patterns and excess energy intake, i.e. overeating."


Written by Petra Rattue 
Copyright: Medical News Today 
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/239202.php 

Reference: ”Nutrition and the risk of stroke” Prof Graeme J Hankey

The Lancet Neurology, Volume 11, Issue 1, Pages 66 - 81, January 2012 doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(11)70265-4

The Real Anti-Aging Secret

The Real Anti-Aging Secret

Just Released Diet Guidelines

Below is the just released Diet Guidelines for Australians. A variety of vegetables, fruit and whole grains are on the increase. Unfortunately, they also recommend an increase in the consumption of dairy. I will have to speak with them about that one!

So meat, salty and sweet things are on the decline as are saturated fat and trans fats. At last the demonisation of fat is on the decline! We need good fats to be healthy and they come from plants (avocado, nuts and seeds etc). Fat, per se, does not make you fat. It depends on the type of fat.

There is also the recognition that diet affects obesity and chronic disease.

"Based on the evidence reviewed, key recommendations of the Guidelines include:

People should eat a variety of nutritious food; advice that has not changed over many years, but is now reinforced with stronger scientific evidence.
Most Australians need to increase our intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grain cereal foods, and milk products- particularly reduced fat varieties.
Some population groups need to eat more of some food groups and less of others. For example, some women who consume an omnivore diet may benefit from eating more red meat, while some adult males may need to reduce their consumption.
Most Australians may benefit from reducing excessive intake of energy-dense nutrient-poor foods and drinks which are high in saturated fat, salt and added sugar, particularly sugar sweetened drinks, if we are to tackle obesity and diet-related chronic disease"

http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/media/releases/2011/providing-scientific-evidence-healthier-australian-diets