Obesity is an ongoing problem in Western countries, especially in the United States. In most cases, parents of children in poor families try to save money by buying cheap but unhealthy foods to make sure they don’t go hungry. However, eating processed foods often results to obesity because these food have little or no nutritional value and … Continue reading US facing obesity problem as poor parents feed their children cheap, unhealthy foods
Cut down on processed food intake with these simple steps
Processed foods refer to foods that have been altered from their original state through preparation or preservation. Not all processed foods are bad, as some only undergo minimal processing and retain most of their nutrients. However, heavily processed foods can contribute very little in terms of nutrition; if anything, they’re actually full of harmful chemicals. Unfortunately, … Continue reading Cut down on processed food intake with these simple steps
Common food additive in ultra-processed foods no longer considered safe by the European Food Safety Authority
Titanium dioxide, an additive found in over 3,000 ultra-processed foods, can cause DNA damage and mutations, reported a recent study by a panel formed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Published in May in the EFSA Journal, the review assessed hundreds of studies on the infamous food additive. The panel couldn’t determine a safe level of exposure to titanium dioxide, which led them to … Continue reading Common food additive in ultra-processed foods no longer considered safe by the European Food Safety Authority
Can diet soda kill you? Studies show that some people can’t digest aspartame
Diet soda, despite the name, is not better for you than regular soda. In fact, it can even be deadly for certain people. Diet soda contains aspartame, an artificial sweetener that’s 200 times sweeter than table sugar. While both table sugar (or sucrose) and aspartame have the same amount of calories, manufacturers need only a small amount of the … Continue reading Can diet soda kill you? Studies show that some people can’t digest aspartame
Gut bacteria can help fight the harmful effects of processed foods like cereals and pasta, scientists find
Research shows how a certain bacterium found in the human gut can break down a chemical commonly found in processed foods, such as ultra-pasteurized milk, pasta, chocolate and breakfast cereals. Published in Cell Host & Microbe, the findings generate invaluable insight into how gut microbes break down processed foods and lower the risk of health conditions often associated with those foods, such as … Continue reading Gut bacteria can help fight the harmful effects of processed foods like cereals and pasta, scientists find
Propionic acid (PPA) in processed foods may be associated with autism spectrum disorder
A recent study has shed light on another possible cause of autism: processed foods. In their report, researchers from the University of Central Florida explored the possible role of the gut microbiome in developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a lifelong neurological and developmental disorder that begins in childhood. Published in Scientific Reports, their study revealed that exposing neural stem cells to high … Continue reading Propionic acid (PPA) in processed foods may be associated with autism spectrum disorder
Study: Trans fats linked to poor brain health and greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s
Trans fatty acids are the worst type of fats. Sometimes called “FrankenFats,” they’ve been linked to numerous diseases, ranging from cancer to heart disease to diabetes. They’re known to drive up cholesterol levels, contribute to insulin resistance and promote weight gain, among many other things. Recent studies also show that trans fats can harm your brain. In one study, which appeared in the … Continue reading Study: Trans fats linked to poor brain health and greater risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s
Americans are still consuming too many carbs and fats, warn researchers
Despite some dietary improvements over the years, Americans are still eating too many low-quality carbohydrates and fats, according to a recent study published in the journal JAMA Network. An international team of researchers examined adult dietary habits and found that Americans are cutting back on low-quality carbohydrates. However, intake remains high at over 40 percent, while the consumption of … Continue reading Americans are still consuming too many carbs and fats, warn researchers
“Vegetarian” fast food options are still full of fat, calories and sodium, caution health experts
A fast-food restaurant’s vegetarian offerings may not be as healthy as you might think. This is according to nutritionist Christina Crowder who noted that while some fast-food items may indeed feature “healthy” ingredients such as fresh vegetables, these are often smothered with salty sauces and served with sugary drinks. In addition, these are often accompanied by other salt and … Continue reading “Vegetarian” fast food options are still full of fat, calories and sodium, caution health experts
Presence of fast food restaurants in cities linked to more HEART ATTACKS, warn scientists
It’s no secret that fast foods are bad for human health, posing both short- and long-term consequences. But cutting back on fast foods might be easier said than done if there is an abundance of fast food restaurants. In fact, scientists find that a higher number of fast food joints do not just promote poor food … Continue reading Presence of fast food restaurants in cities linked to more HEART ATTACKS, warn scientists
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 