Americans concerned about weight, but don't understand link to heart conditions, health

A new survey finds that while most Americans (88 percent) understand that there is a connection between a healthy heart and a healthy weight, most aren't doing enough -- or anything -- to combat their own weight issues. The survey found 65 percent are worried about getting heart disease due to extra pounds, yet less than half (43 percent) of Americans have tried to make dietary changes to lose weight.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2ScUugL

Children exposed to air pollution at school may be at greater risk of overweight and obesity

Exposure to air pollution, particularly at school, could be associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity during childhood.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2WxqsUg

Nature’s Rx Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Silver Bullet 10x to Undeclared PDE-5 Inhibitors in the Product

Nature’s Rx voluntarily recalls quantity lots of Silver Bullet 10x because of undeclared sildenafil and tadalafil.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2Rr6WF9

Human milk is a 'life-saving intervention' for infants with congenital heart disease

With a lower risk of serious complications and improved feeding and growth outcomes, human milk is strongly preferred as the best diet for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), according to a new research.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2HFBGm5

Calorie restriction prevents asthma symptoms linked to inflammation in mice

Experimenting with mice, researchers report that a low-calorie diet prevented asthma symptoms regardless of the diet's fat and sugar content. The researchers also say they found that obesity resulting from a high-calorie diet led to asthma symptoms in the animals by causing lung inflammation, and a drug that blocks inflammation eased those symptoms.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2FZw5Wb

New study shows how vegans, vegetarians and omnivores feel about eating insects

Many non-vegan vegetarians and omnivores are open to including insects in their diet. For vegans, however, that is not an option, a new study shows. Researchers examined consumers' intentions to consume foods of insect origin among vegans, non-vegan vegetarians and omnivores. They examined the attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and food neophobia toward the consumption of foods of insect origin, as well as the conditions for eating insect-based foods among these dietary groups.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2RWAuzw

Drug shows promise to treat diet-induced osteoarthritis

Scientists have found that a drug derived from omega-3 fatty acids can reduce osteoarthritis inflammation that's been caused by a high-fat diet.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2MGRp3j

Some gut cells slow down metabolism, accelerate cardiovascular disease

Researchers have discovered how specific cells in the guts of mice slow down metabolism and eventually contribute to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and atherosclerosis. The findings, scientists say, could have important implications for the prevention and treatment of these kinds of metabolic diseases in humans.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Tiosgu

A New Year’s Message from NCCIH’s Director: Helene Langevin, M.D.

It is my great pleasure to welcome the New Year as the director of NCCIH and to share some thoughts on my personal vision for the Center. It has been my longstanding conviction that integrative health care is more than just the sum of conventional and complementary health approaches. When combined, these approaches can provide a frontier of new insights into the physiology of health and the pathophysiology underlying diseases and disorders. 

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2CWLLph

Want healthier eating habits? Start with a workout

Researchers have found that formerly sedentary young adults who were instructed to exercise regularly for several weeks started choosing healthier foods without being asked to.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Tu68Ru

Ingestible, expanding pill monitors the stomach for up to a month

Engineers have designed an ingestible, Jell-O-like pill that, upon reaching the stomach, quickly swells to the size of a soft, squishy ping-pong ball big enough to stay in the stomach for an extended period of time.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Tlcm6f

Faster weight loss no better than slow weight loss for health benefits

Losing weight slowly or quickly won't tip the scale in your favor when it comes to overall health, according to new research. Health researchers found that people who lose weight quickly versus those who lose it slowly don't get any additional health benefits and it's the amount of weight lost overall that can have an impact.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2FXTAif

Oversized meals have been shown to be a factor in obesity

A study conducted in Brazil, China, Finland, Ghana, India and the United States found 94 percent of meals served in restaurants contain more than the recommended number of calories.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2DImO2m

Exploring the connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline

A new study adds to a growing body of evidence that hearing loss is associated with higher risk of cognitive decline.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2G6WS1U

A New Year’s Message from NCCIH’s Director: Helene Langevin, M.D.

It is my great pleasure to welcome the New Year as the director of NCCIH and to share some thoughts on my personal vision for the Center. It has been my longstanding conviction that integrative health care is more than just the sum of conventional and complementary health approaches. When combined, these approaches can provide a frontier of new insights into the physiology of health and the pathophysiology underlying diseases and disorders. 

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2CTnEYA

Does the 'buddy system' approach to weight loss work?

One of the more common self-improvement goals, particularly in the winter months before 'beach body' season, is to lose weight. How people attempt to achieve their goals may vary by individual, but one of the more popular approaches is enrollment in a commercial weight loss program that uses a 'buddy system' approach to weight loss. But does it work? According to some new research, it does, but possibly not in the ways most people assume.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Utl0jr

Whopping big viruses prey on human gut bacteria

Sequencing gut microbiomes typically turns up new microbes and other denizens of the intestinal tract, including viruses or phages that prey on these microbes. A new study has discovered the largest phages every found in humans, with genomes 10 times the average and larger than the genomes of the smallest bacteria. They target bacteria found primarily in people eating non-Western diets. Their large size seems to blur the line between life and non-life.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Sk8HIV

Media Advisory: Shaw Prize winner to chair one-day NIH workshop on the search for novel, nonopioid natural products for pain relief

NCCIH’s Natural Products and Pain workshop will take place Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. Join us (in person or via the NIH Videocast website). Read this & learn more.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2RmqbzI

Updated treatment guidelines for atrial fibrillation recommend a new class of blood thinners to help prevent stroke

Newer anticoagulants, known as non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs), are recommended over the traditional warfarin to prevent stroke in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib). Weight loss is recommended for overweight or obese people with AFib.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2MDs8qz

What you eat could impact your brain and memory

High levels of a satiety hormone could decrease a person's likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. For individuals who have higher levels of the hormone, their chance of having mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease decreased by 65 percent.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2sRPNdN

Not all saturated fats are equal when it comes to heart health

The type of saturated fats we eat can affect our risk of a heart attack.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2G5UgS2

Bad cholesterol: 'Slim down' fat-carrying particles to reduce its spread

The enzyme that 'loads up' fat-carrying particles in the liver before they are transported around the body has been identified for the first time.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2RUrivB

Women gain weight when job demands are high

Heavy pressures at work seem to predispose women to weight gain, irrespective of whether they have received an academic education. This is shown in a study of more than 3,800 people in Sweden.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2sMEDa7

Lower-carbon diets aren't just good for the planet, they're also healthier

Researchers have examined the carbon footprint of daily diets from a survey of more than 16,000 Americans. They found that the most climate-friendly diets were also the healthiest.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2FQoJ7g

Fried food linked to heightened risk of early death among older US women

Regularly eating fried food is linked with a heightened risk of death from any cause and heart-related death, among postmenopausal women, finds a US study in The BMJ today.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2RbQcSd

Research Workshop Will Delve into Search for New Pain Treatments in Natural Products

Learn more about an upcoming workshop (co-sponsored by NCCIH) on natural products and pain research.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2B5IGD2

Slim people have a genetic advantage when it comes to maintaining their weight

In the largest study of its kind to date, researchers have looked at why some people manage to stay thin while others gain weight easily. They have found that the genetic dice are loaded in favor of thin people and against those at the obese end of the spectrum.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2HwvDQH

NIH Research on Health and Well-being To Be Discussed at February 8th Advisory Council Meeting

In this blog post, Dr. Partap Khalsa gives an overview of the upcoming February 8, 2019 meeting of NCCIH’s National Advisory Council.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2FUUTxA

Zinc deficiency may play a role in high blood pressure

Lower-than-normal zinc levels may contribute to high blood pressure (hypertension) by altering the way the kidneys handle sodium.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2B07IU6

Diet low in added sugars significantly improves fatty liver disease in children

A randomized clinical study of adolescent boys with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) found that a diet low in free sugars (those sugars added to foods and beverages and occurring naturally in fruit juices) resulted in significant improvement in NAFLD compared to a usual diet.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2S2BKQN

New Funding Available for Basic and Mechanistic Research on Pain and Complementary Approaches: Explore NIH HEAL Opportunities

Interested in pursuing pain treatment research with grants from the NIH HEAL Initiative? Read more about basic and mechanistic research funding opportunities here.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2DtlvEd

Widely available food in US workplaces: Perk or hazard?

Nearly a quarter of employed adults obtain foods and beverages at work at least once a week, according to a new study. Foods obtained at work are often high in calories, refined grains, added sugars, and sodium.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2S255L7

Leaving 2-hour gap between dinner and bedtime may not affect blood glucose

Leaving a two-hour gap between the last meal of the day and bedtime doesn't seem to be associated with any discernible difference in blood glucose levels among healthy adults over the long term.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2HtkH6F

New genes associated with the leading cause of blindness

A new study identifies genes associated with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) that could represent new targets for future drug development.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2CzYWfC

Body size may influence women's lifespan more than it does men's

Body size-height and weight- may influence women's lifespan far more than it does men's.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2AXgqTc

Fecal transplants: The 'super-donor' phenomenon

Fecal transplants could be used to treat intestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease -- and perhaps even help prevent Alzheimer's and cancer -- if we can unlock the secrets of the gut-rejuvenating 'super donor,' say researchers.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2T1o6uy

Salad, soda and socioeconomic status: Mapping a social determinant of health in Seattle

Seattle residents who live in waterfront neighborhoods tend to have healthier diets compared to those who live along Interstate-5 and Aurora Avenue, according to new research on social disparities. The study used local data to model food consumption patterns by city block. Weekly servings of salad and soda served as proxies for diet quality.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2QUWg1i

Fighting deadly drug resistant bacteria in intestines with new antibiotic

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a potentially deadly infection in the large intestine most common in people who need to take antibiotics for a long period of time, particularly in Australia's ageing population. But when doses of a new antibiotic called Ramizol were given to hamsters infected with a lethal dose of the bacteria, a significant proportion of hamsters survived the infection.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2FHLM3j

Placentas adapt when mothers have poor diets or low oxygen during pregnancy

Researchers have discovered the placenta regulates how much oxygen and nutrients it transports to babies during challenging pregnancies in the first study of its kind. The placenta is one of the least understood human organs and it is notoriously difficult to study. This new research focused on analyzing the placental mitochondria and it is hoped the new findings could lead to tests to determine whether a mother's placenta is functioning properly.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2RDfKwE

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Complementary Health Approaches

Are any complementary health approaches helpful for seasonal affective disorder (SAD)? Find out here.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2BNk7fU

Blocking hormone uptake burns more fat

A newly discovered regulatory mechanism helps the body control the rate of fat metabolism, according to a new study. The finding may lead to new drugs to help burn stored fat and reduce weight.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2HeawT8

Diet and food production must radically change to save planet

Transformation of the global food system is urgently needed as more than 3 billion people are malnourished (including people who are undernourished and overnourished), and food production is exceeding planetary boundaries -- driving climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution due to over-application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and unsustainable changes in water and land use.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Dhw6lU

Wired for obesity

Researchers have discovered a set of genes that help to establish brain connections governing body weight.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2FykWeC

Gastric bypass surgery may benefit muscle strength more than previously thought

Gastric bypass surgery improves relative muscle strength and physical performance in people with obesity, according to a new study.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2RxItTD

Following heart health guidelines also reduces diabetes risk

You've probably heard that things like staying active, eating healthy and keeping your blood pressure in check can help your heart, and a new study finds that following a set of seven lifestyle factors can also drastically reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2st1DLr

Personality type could shape attitudes toward body weight of others, researchers say

Researchers found that personality traits have significant bearing on a person's attitudes toward obesity, their implicit theories of weight and their willingness to engage in derisive fat talk or weight discrimination.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2TVBQXZ

Physical activity reduces mortality in patients with diabetes

Patients with type 2 diabetes should be prescribed physical activity to control blood sugar and improve heart health, researchers recommend in a newly published paper.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2HdXjJX

Effects of linoleic acid on inflammatory response depend on genes

The effects of linoleic acid on the human body are largely dependent on genes, a new study shows. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid. People carrying different variants of the FADS1 gene had a different inflammatory response and different changes in their fasting glucose levels when supplementing their diet by linoleic acid rich sunflower oil. This was the first time these associations were studied in humans.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2svetIS

Health effects of metabolic 'magic bullet' protein

Researchers have developed a new system that lets them study in more detail than ever exactly how, where and when the metabolic protein AMPK carries out its molecular and therapeutic functions.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Fz9cI4

Epigenetic change causes fruit fly babies to inherit diet-induced heart disease

Scientists have identified an epigenetic marker and two genes that caused heart failure in the children and grandchildren of fruit flies with high-fat-diet-induced heart dysfunction. Reversing the epigenetic modification or over-expressing the two genes protected subsequent generations from the negative heart effects of their parents' diet.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2MdRv1U

When the body's in overdrive, this liver hormone puts the brakes on metabolism

Researchers have identified a hormone produced by the liver that tells the body to downshift its metabolism when it's expending a lot of energy.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2SVFxMY

Vitamin D supplements are of no benefit to the over 70s

There is little benefit for those over 70 taking higher dose vitamin D supplements to improve their bone strength and reduce the risk of falls, new research has revealed.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2Fr3A3m

VAT fat may cause pathogenic obesity

VAT, Visceral Adipose Tissue, a kind of fat that accumulates around the abdominal organs, has an important immune function. The body may choose to turn excess fat into FAT not SAT, subcutaneous fat when a fetus is not well nourished and is likely to face disease.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2VSFljI

Cardiovascular diseases and nutrition in Europe: A lot of premature deaths preventable

Of the 4.3 million cardiovascular deaths in Europe in 2016, 2.1 million were the result of poor nutrition. The 28 EU member states account for around 900,000, Russia for 600,000 and the Ukraine for 250,000 of these deaths. Every second to third premature cardiovascular death could be prevented by better nutrition.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2CcUVxw

High intake of dietary fiber and whole grains associated with reduced risk of non-communicable diseases

Observational studies and clinical trials conducted over nearly 40 years reveal the health benefits of eating at least 25g to 29g or more of dietary fiber a day, according to a series of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2skUg8B

Maternal stress leads to overweight in children

Researchers were able to identify mother's perceived stress during the first year of the child's life as a risk factor for developing overweight in infancy. Researchers found this to have long-lasting effects on girls' weight development in particular.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2QAUrGr

Lack of standard dosage for blood thinners can lead to bleeding during bariatric surgery

Researchers have found a way to reduce bleeding in patients following bariatric surgery.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2VEf6x7

Excessive body fat around the middle linked to smaller brain size, study finds

Carrying extra body fat, especially around the middle, may be linked to brain shrinkage, according to new research. For the study, researchers determined obesity by measuring body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio in study participants and found those with higher ratios of both measures had the lowest brain volume.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2THajJI

Following Nepal's devastating 2015 earthquake, crisis in childhood malnutrition averted

Despite widespread destruction, including severe agricultural-related losses caused by the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, child nutrition remained stable in the hardest hit areas, a new study finds.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2M2nAdg

Happy Together, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Product Due to Presence of Undeclared Sildenafil and Tadalafil

Happy Together, Inc. voluntarily recalls all lots within expiry of the Rhino 5k capsules due to contamination with sildenafil, tadalafil.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2VA7ewR

Substances in Coffee May Protect Against Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies, a New Animal Study Suggests

Mouse study suggests the coffee components eicosanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide (EHT) and caffeine protect against Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2RfSnc5

Maternal programming during pregnancy induces long-term postpartum obesity

In a new study using a mouse model, researchers suggest that long-term postpartum weight gain may be due not so much to retained fat as to reprogramming of maternal energy metabolism.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2TAlO5q

Intermittent fasting could improve obese women's health

Research shows that obese women lost more weight and improved their health by fasting intermittently while following a strictly controlled diet.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2H1ijDU

Ketogenic supplements delay tonic-clonic seizures without dietary restrictions

Researchers have discovered supplementing a normal, carbohydrate-rich diet with specific ketogenic agents may significantly delay tonic-clonic seizures caused by exposure to high levels of oxygen.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2H1PbMM

Technique boosts omega 3 fatty acid levels in brain 100 fold

Researchers report that adding a lysophospholipid form of EPA (LPC-EPA) to the diet can increase levels of EPA in the brain 100-fold in mice.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2ADWeW6

High-fat diets appear bad for blood pressure in younger males and females

There's more evidence that a high-fat diet is bad for both younger males and females, but exactly how it's harmful may differ between the sexes, scientists report.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2FgVoml

Exposure to sugary breakfast cereal advertising directly influences children's diets

Laboratory studies have shown that kids will request and prefer brands they have seen recently advertised on TV. A new naturalistic study bridges the gap between lab studies and a real world setting, demonstrating that kids who were exposed to TV ads for high-sugar cereals aired during the programs they watched were more likely to subsequently eat the brands of cereals they had seen advertised.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2C4lfK5

HEAL Initiative Funding Opportunities for Behavioral Research

In this blog post, NCCIH’s Dr. Dave Clark describes several HEAL ((Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM) funding opportunities.

from Nutrition.gov News Feeds http://bit.ly/2QtHxKD

Balanced diet, exercise may not prevent gestational diabetes

A new study is the latest evidence that the 'first-line' strategy for preventing gestational diabetes mellitus isn't working. Over the past five years, more than 5,000 pregnant women took part in clinical trials focused on limiting weight gain in order to prevent gestational diabetes. The moms-to-be improved their diet quality, ate less, and increased their physical activity. They also developed gestational diabetes at about the same rates as the women who didn't change their diet or activity levels.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2sceAsK

Fruit flies help to shed light on the evolution of metabolism

Researchers have discovered that the ability to use sugar as food varies strongly between closely related fruit fly species. They have also identified the genetic basis of this variation. In the future, it will be interesting to explore whether human populations with different dietary histories may respond differently to modern diets rich in sugars.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2C07fRx

No compelling evidence for health benefits of non-sugar sweeteners

There is no compelling evidence to indicate important health benefits of non-sugar sweeteners, and potential harms cannot be ruled out, suggests a new review.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2QmmWaP

Metabolic syndrome patients need more vitamin C to break cycle of antioxidant depletion

A higher intake of vitamin C is crucial for metabolic syndrome patients trying to halt a potentially deadly cycle of antioxidant disruption and health-related problems, a researcher says.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2BSMQxM

To head off late-life depression, check your hearing

A new study of elderly Hispanics found that hearing loss increased the risk of depression symptoms.

from Diet and Weight Loss News -- ScienceDaily http://bit.ly/2s4NBPK