Impacts of genetics on snacking patterns

Researcher Elie Chamoun investigated whether genetic variants in taste receptors related to sweet preference, fat taste sensitivity and aversion to bitter green leafy vegetables influence the snacks chosen by children. He found that nearly 80 per cent of children in the study carried at least one of these potential at-risk genotypes that could predispose them to poor snacking habits.

Chidren are eating a lot more snacks now than they used to, looking at how genetics can be related to snacking behaviour, it  is important to understanding increased obesity among children, the study looked at connections between the genes of the three at-risk taste receptors and linked them to snacking patterns among children.

The study entailed tracking the day-to-day diets of children and found that one-third of the children's diets were made up of snacks, children with a sweet tooth, who have the gene related to sweet taste preference, ate snacks with significantly more calories from sugar. The children with the genetic variant related to fat taste sensitivity were found to consume snacks with higher energy density.

People with this genetic variant may have low oral sensitivity to fat and therefore consume more fatty foods without sensing it. Higher-energy density snacks, such as cookies with lots of sugar and fat, have a higher number of calories for their weight. The children with the genetic variant related to avoiding bitter vegetables also consumed snacks with high energy density.
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Effects of soda on fertility

Consumption of beverages has been linked to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, early menstruation, poor semen quality and infertility. A new study led by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers has found that the intake of one or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day is associated with a decreased chance of getting pregnant.

There are links between intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and low fertility, which were consistent after controlling for many other factors, including obesity, caffeine intake, alcohol, smoking, and overall diet quality. Couples planning a pregnancy might consider limiting their consumption of these beverages, especially because they are also related to other adverse health effects.

Risk factors for infertility including diet, could help couples conceive more quickly and reduce the psychological stress The researchers surveyed 3,828 women aged 21 to 45 living in the United States or Canada and 1,045 of their male partners.

Participants completed a comprehensive baseline survey on medical history, lifestyle factors, and diet, including their intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. Female participants then completed a follow-up questionnaire every two months for up to 12 months or until pregnancy occurred.

Both female and male intake of sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with 20 percent reduced fecundability, the average monthly probability of conception. Females who consumed at least one soda per day had 25 percent lower fecundability; male consumption was associated with 33 percent lower fecundability. Intake of energy drinks was related to larger reductions in fertility, although the results were based on small numbers of consumers.
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Good sleep for weight loss

Having a good night's sleep helps people to lose weight most effectively, dieters who had regular sleep patterns found it easier to shed pounds from their waistline.

The most effective dieters sleep between seven hours thirty minutes and eight hours a night. It also allows 90 minutes for the most restorative non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep which is best achieved before midnight.

Throughout the night, human pass through four stages of sleep several times. The majority of  dreaming during the fourth stage, called the 'rapid-eye movement' (REM) phase.

 Research found that about one in three don’t get enough sleep in general. Missing out on dreaming that occurs during REM-sleep can have particularly dire consequences on mental and physical health.

Poor sleepers (those sleeping for less than seven hours a night) were found to have the most chaotic eating patterns. They were also more prone to diet lapses and were more likely to exceed their weekly limits for alcohol consumption.
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Facts about male menopause

Levels of our sex hormones decline with age. For some men, the symptoms
attributed to low testosterone. Male menopause are sign of unhealthy aging Low testosterone indicates that you are not living healthy.

The normal range of testosterone can be from 10.4 to 41.6 nmol/l (nanomoles per litre of blood). A man can be healthy and sexually active while having a
relatively low testosterone level.

Men can boost testosterone level by living healthy lifestyle, engaging in
regular exercise, maintaining healthy weight, eating healthy diet and cutting down on alcohol.

The more you sleep, the more testosterone your body produces. Research shows that severe sleep deprivation can cause testosterone levels to drop by 70 per cent.

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Amino acids that starve cancer

Researchers at the cancer research UK discovered that remoing serine and glycine from the diet of mice reduced the growth of lymphoma and intestinal cancer.

Dr Oliver M, of University of Glasgow said the discovery dictate removing of the two proteins through a controlled diet plan will be part of treatment for some cancer patients.

Professor Karen Vousden, Cancer Research UK's chief scientist said the protein restriction should be for a short period of time and must be controlled by doctors for safety of cancer patients.

Amino acids are very important for making proteins, healthy cells can make serine and glycine. Cancer cells depend on these amino acids from the food we eat.

Science communication manager at cancer research UK, Dr Emma Smith said cutting off the nutrients necessary for cancer growth and division to prevent tumors is interesting.

How salty diet triggers hunger

Natalia Rakova of Charite and MDC and her colleagues carried out research on how salty diet triggers hunger, two groups of male volunteers were sealed into a mock spaceship for two simulated flights to Mars.

The two groups in Mars had the same diet initially and later three different levels of salt in their food, the first group was examined for 105 days and the second group over 205 days.

They complained that they are hungry and have appetite for food more than before.

Excess consumption of salt led to a higher salt content in urine, experiment in mice shows that mice on salty diet were eating more, salty diet did not increase their thirst.

This result change the scientists thought about how body achieves water homoeostasis.

Diets can cause or prevent cancer

Breast cancer is the development of uncontrollable cancer cells in the breast. Age, lifestyle, diet, genetics and gender are factors that contribute to risk of developing breast cancer

Regular consumption of plant bases diet can reduce risk of developing cancer. Eight to ten servings of fruits and vegetables is recommended per day.

Foods rich in variety of fruits, vegetables, fibre, spices, good fat and nuts can reduce risk of having breast cancer.

Scientists have explored the contribution of different foods on the risk of developing breast cancer, it has become general advice to reduce consumption of these foods: red meat, sugar, fat, alcohol and processed foods.

Too much protein can reduce your lifespan

Latest research states that high protein diet at 50 years could reduce your lifespan, changes in metabolism dictates changes in diet.

According to Steve Simpson, a professor of life sciences at the University of Sydney,  the standard balanced diet suggested by National Health Service is five different fruits and vegetables a day, carbohydrates and few portions of protein.

The different classes of food are useful for proper development, but we must change them as we grow.

Eating diet high in protein from age 50 reduces lifespan, the Okinawa islanders of Japan eat less of animal protein and more of plant based diet, they have more of people who lived beyond 100 years.

Benefits of basal insulin

Insulin is a hormone that is responsible for regulation and storage of glucose and fat in the body, diabetes prevents the body from producing and proper use of insulin.

Diabetics patients depend on insulin injection to increase the level of insulin in their body, different types of insulin are available for managing diabetes.

Basal insulin keeps glucose levels under control when you are sleeping or fasting, it feeds your cells with constant stream of glucose to burn for energy all the time.

It manages blood sugar easily because it has no peak time, this can leads to variation in meal and injection time.

Compared to other types of insulin, it causes less weight gain and it requires one to two injections in a day; this depends on your body size, hormone levels, and diet.

Antidepressants and prostrate cancer

Prostate cancer is the growth of cancer in the prostate, it may grow slowly or very fast and it can spread to other parts of the body particularly the bones and lymph.

These factors increase the risk of prostate cancer:
• Family history of the disease
• Old age
• Diet high in processed meat and milk

Prostate cancer is common among men and it's the third leading cause of cancer death.

Antidepressants are drugs used for the treatment of major depressive disorder and other conditions.

Scientists believe antidepressants could prevent spreading of cancer to the bone based on latest research.