Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health | Diet vs Disease

What’s the Best Diet for Metabolic Syndrome? We Review the Options

Kimberly Yawitz (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 10:43:00 +0000

[Last updated 24th July, 2019] Metabolic syndrome is a medical condition that’s fast becoming a worldwide epidemic. It currently affects an estimated 25% of the world population. In the United States alone, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased by more than 35% in the past 30 years (1, 2). If left untreated, metabolic syndrome can cause serious to life-threatening medical problems. Fortunately, changes in diet can help prevent and treat it in many cases. This article takes a look at the best diet for metabolic syndrome. What is Metabolic Syndrome? Most commonly, metabolic syndrome is characterized by having at least three of the following conditions (3): It’s important to treat these conditions so they don’t cause significant health problems down the road. In addition to upping your risk of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome doubles your[Discover More...]

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Home Remedies for UTIs: What Actually Works?

Joe Leech, Dietitian (MSc Nutrition & Dietetics) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 08:41:06 +0000

[Last updated 10th September, 2018] Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are quite common, especially among women. If you’re dealing with the discomfort and pain of a UTI, you’re likely looking for a quick fix. This article looks at some of the most commonly prescribed home remedies for UTIs, and provides recommendations for improving your urinary health. What Is a UTI? A UTI is an overgrowth of micro-organisms or bacteria in any part of the urinary system including the kidneys, ureter, bladder or urethra. Infections most commonly occur in the bladder or urethra. Half of all women worldwide will have a UTI at some point in their life. While men can get UTIs as well, women are at a much greater risk due to their anatomy. Some will suffer from recurrent UTIs. This involves two or more infections in a six-month period[Discover More...]

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Science Confirms: Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation Are Legit

Kimberly Yawitz (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 13:53:18 +0000

[Last updated 13th August, 2018] The ancient practice of meditation – particularly mindfulness meditation – has recently surged in popularity. In fact, in the US about 8% of adults and 1.6% of children have tried it already. This is because the health benefits of mindfulness meditation are incredibly impressive… and supported by scientific studies. This article explores the health conditions and diseases it may help with. What is Mindfulness Meditation? Meditation is the ancient practice of connecting the body and mind to become more self-aware and present (1). There is a range of different meditation styles, but the most popular are: Most techniques emerged from a religious or spiritual context, but most now practice outside of these traditional settings. Mindfulness is a specific approach that can be used alone or with other meditation techniques. It’s most commonly defined as “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.”[Discover More...]

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What Is Fish Oil Good For? An Unbiased Look At 8 Popular Claims

Joe Leech, Dietitian (MSc Nutrition & Dietetics) — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 22:16:34 +0000

[Last updated 9th November, 2017] $1.2 billion. That’s what the fish oil industry is worth each year in the US alone. But what is fish oil good for when it comes to chronic disease, skin conditions and weight loss? Are the reported health benefits true… or have they been oversold to us like most other “healthy” foods and supplements? This article looks at 8 of the most popular claims to uncover the truth. What does fish oil do? Fish oil supplements are made from fats (oils) of fatty fish species like salmon, sardines and mackerel. The fats in these fish are mostly omega-3 fats, which play a vital role in brain function, cell growth and inflammation. These fats cannot be made by our bodies, so it’s essential we get them from food. Fish oil pills and liquids are a concentrated source[Discover More...]

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6 Risky Foods To Avoid With Gout (No. 5 Was Unexpected)

Joe Leech, Dietitian (MSc Nutrition & Dietetics) — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 09:15:55 +0000

[Last Updated, 7th March 2023] A gout attack is not pleasant. The pain is so bad that sufferers are often hospitalised for days, if not weeks. More importantly, gout is typically indicative of other more serious health issues behind the scenes… Like a window into the state of an individual’s metabolic health. Unfortunately the occurrence, or recurrence of gout is only getting worse. Rates are on the rise from China to the UK, and it is now the most common inflammatory arthritis in the US (1, 2). Information online about gout treatment can be particularly confusing, and even contradictory at times. This is because we don’t yet completely understand the mechanism behind gout… But we do have a lot of big clues. The following is a list of the top 6 foods to avoid with gout, explaining what we know[Discover More...]

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What Causes High Cholesterol and Heart Disease? Experts Pretend They Know, But They Don’t

Joe Leech, Dietitian (MSc Nutrition & Dietetics) — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 19:00:17 +0000

[Last updated 29th September, 2017] “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” – Socrates, Greek philosopher.I have a confession to make. When I first wrote this article it had a completely different title and angle. It attempted to explain why cholesterol is not related to heart disease risk, somewhat supportive of the Cholesterol Myth mindset. I found this to be true of myself, regularly eating so-called high cholesterol foods with little change to my blood readings. That is, as a healthy young adult. The original article was to be titled: What Causes High Cholesterol? The Outdated Question That Will Kill You. However, after spending days – if not weeks – going over the research, I was forced to admit the current evidence is far from conclusive. To make absolute statements about cholesterol and disease seemed irresponsible as a[Discover More...]

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