Thursday, December 20, 2012

Farewell to 2012, Fun Fad Diets Courtesy of ABC News

Every year has a new diet or (20) to follow.  Does anyone remember the sad part of the last decade when no one ate bread?  Oh, wait, we're all gluten-free again.

Here is 2012's round up:

hCG diet: inject yourself with this pregnancy hormone and eat 500 Calories a day (roughly the equivalent of a Big and Tasty from McDonalds).

Ketogenic Enteral Nutrition diet: Why eat food when you can just have a feeding tube?  Clinical dietitians take note!

Sensa: Shake a little on your Krispy Kreme and the pounds just fall off...

Baby Food Diet: Eat about 10-14 jars of baby food...

Gluten-Free:  Celebrities, 'nutritionists', and a few famous doctors touted cutting out bread, pasta, and their contemporaries...

Raspberry Ketones: These little beauties promoted by Dr. Oz for their fat burning properties, they also pushed a healthy diet and exercise.  What really worked?

What are some of your favorite fad diets?  Thoughts on what might be big in 2013?

Don't forget your kale juice!

From ABC news: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/slideshow/fad-diets-2012-18010078#.UNM8eT1J69Q.twitter


Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com, resolve to increase your online exposure).  

She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/).  Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/

Monday, December 17, 2012

Shake It Up: The Pepper Post


A typical 1980s supermarket might have had maybe 15 different kinds of spices.  Fast forward to the spice aisle of today where you might find anything from wasabi to harissa.  Pepper just sounds...boring.
A recent article in the Journal of Agricultural Food Chemistry shows that pepper blocks the formation of NEW fat cells.  A compound called pipeline disrupts fat building genes.
No amounts have been verified at this time as to effective levels, but it's just another great reason to put the salt shaker down. 

Read more here: 
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20120504/black-pepper-may-help-fight-fat


Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com, resolve to increase your online exposure).  

She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/).  Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Fatty Liver Sufferers May Find Relief With Soy Protein


Hong Chen, an assistant professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Illinois has been able to demonstrate how soy protein potentially has the ability to decrease fat accumulation and triglycerides in the livers of patients with obesity.  Soy protein is able to partially restore the function of a key pathway in the liver.

The team presented their findings this past April at the annual American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Chen reported, "Almost a third of American adults have fatty liver disease, many of them without symptoms… obesity is a key risk factor for this condition, which can lead to liver failure."

One of the liver’s functions is to metabolize fat.  In those with obesity, the liver ends up with excess fat.  The liver function can be compromised. 

Sources of soy protein are tofu, edamame, yogurt, and soy milk are able to assuage some stress on fatty livers.

For additional information on this story, see the link to Science Daily here.

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Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com).  She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/).  Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/ 

Want to blog for SCAN, increase your blog or website's traffic?  E-mail Gina at glesako@gmail.com.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Is Weight Loss Surgery A Good Option In The Diabetes Fight?


Weight loss in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes is encouraged by the medical profession when the patient is overweight or obese, less fat means less insulin to worry about, right?  In a recent New York Times article investigated previous studies and emerging research on this topic.  In March, a previous article in the paper discussed weight loss surgery as an effective treatment option.  These studies followed subjects for less than two years and were quite small.   

According to the journal Obesity Surgery, 1,000 diabetics were tracked for ten years.  While diabetes in these patients "went away" for a period of time, the disease still came back (even in the patients that didn't regain any weight post surgery).

"The researchers found that three factors were particularly good predictors of who was likely to have a relapse of diabetes."

Those most likely to have a relapse of the condition had poor blood sugar control, had diabetes for a period of time (years were not specified), and were taking insulin.  

“But almost universally, patients lose weight after weight loss surgery, and that in and of itself may have so many health benefits.”


Source:

O'Connor, Anahad. "Weight Loss Surgery May Not Combat Diabetes Long-Term." Well. The New York Times, 11 2012. Web. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. <http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/weight-loss-surgery-may-not-combat-diabetes-long-term/?ref=health>.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Dietitians Weigh In On Thanksgiving


 May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

~Anonymous 

Somewhere in history, Thanksgiving was initially a holiday based on appreciation and a harvest.  Then at some point in time we 'Americanized it' and 'super-sized it', maybe turducken-ed it a little.  Once you throw in family you might want to see once a year (and that might be too often for some of us) and you may begin to wish there was a National Treadmill Day instead of Black Friday.

The following is a brief compilation of dietitians from blogs and other media 'weighing in' on this holiday and the upcoming season.  

“Frugal” Feasting — Help Clients Celebrate Thanksgiving’s Cornucopia of Foods in Modest and Healthful Ways
By Christen C. Cooper, MS, RD
Today’s Dietitian
Vol. 12 No. 10 P. 66
·         “For many people, Thanksgiving brings to mind fond childhood memories. Some recall eating a favorite dish, one whose preparation was so time consuming that it was enjoyed only once per year. Others remember helping loved ones serve a Thanksgiving meal or learning how to make a family recipe. Still others recall the moments of relaxation and celebration after the dishes were washed, the political arguments ended, and attention shifted to parades and football games.”




Keeping Thanksgiving Traditions
Today, families will gather around dining room tables to give thanks, spend time together and eat. Since Thanksgiving involves food — and often lots of it — inviting many cooks into your kitchen can be a fun way to pass down family traditions. Here are few ways to keep everyone involved:
  • Invite children to partake in the preparations. Whether it's helping out with a specific dish or making decorations for the table.
  • If you are cooking a dish that has significance to your family history, tell its story.
  • Go around the table and share favorite Thanksgiving memories.
And while you are celebrating older traditions, start new ones, too. Go for a walk after dinner, watch family movies or try a new healthy recipe.
Produced by ADA's Strategic Communications Team


From The Nutrition Blog Network:


As the holidays approach, be aware of your fast food splurges
From: Eat to Compete | November 17, 2012
·         Summer brings competitions for many athletes; a well-stocked pantry/refrigerator is critical. It is hard to follow my advice of building your "plate" at meals if the right food is not available to do so. Use this list to help you get started at the grocery store. This is not all-inclusive, but is a...



Dream Thanksgiving Menu & the Right Turkey to Serve
From: Food Trainers | November 2011
·         Set ups are so risky. "There’s someone you should meet" makes me want to bolt instantly whether it’s personal or work-related. So when a good friend made an e-introduction telling me about New York Mouth, a site for "indie food" I was skeptical to say the least. My skepticism lasted about 30...


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Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com).  She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/).  Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Fat Fighting Cola?


Fiber has been showing up everywhere.  Dextrin, a dietary fiber commonly found in fiber supplements, has made its way into Pepsi Special which is currently in Japan.

CNN reports:  "...the drink acts by 'suppressing the absorption of fat' and can inhibit the rise in triglycerides after a meal, making it, potentially, the first 'healthy' soda."



A 2006 study in Tokyo showed Dextrin blocked fat absorption in rats...but not in humans.

In addition, "Studies of humans ingesting dextrin suggest short-term risks including stomach pain, gas, and bloating," says Lilian Cheung, editorial director of Nutrition Source, the Harvard School of Public Health's nutrition website. 

The beverage hasn't hit the U.S. supermarkets yet and would face many challenges with the USDA.

To read the full article, click here



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Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com).  She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/).  Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/

Friday, November 9, 2012

Fit Bit: Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act


This article illustrates ACE (American Council on Exercise)’s point of view on the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  It really summarizes both sides of healthy school lunches, the fact that it takes time to develop a taste for healthy food—a learned behavior, and that parents need to step it up on the home front.  It’s author, Dr. Natalie Digate MD, MPH, RD makes an excellent case.

http://www.acefitness.org/blog/2924/ace-s-statement-on-healthier-school-lunches/

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Gina Lesako RD, LD is the SCAN blog coordinator (those interested in writing for SCAN can email her directly at glesako@gmail.com).  She can also be found blogging at http://dietitianseatchocolatetoo.blogspot.com/).  Find her on SCAN: http://www.scandpg.org/dietitians/15720/