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The great contributions given to the Mediterranean Diet by the rules stated in the Bible and the spread of early Christianity in that area – Digital…

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:58 am

United States, 11th Oct 2022, King NewsWire, The Mediterranean Diet is a mainly green diet, based on the consumption of very large portions of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and cereals, having extra virgin olive oil as its only source of fat, and extensively using herbs. Other characteristics are its very little consumption of meat (almost exclusively white meat), fish as its predominant source of protein, and little consumption of milk and fermented dairy products. Moreover, various studies recognize its effectiveness in preventing Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly when combined with a healthy lifestyle, such as moderate daily physical activity, avoiding destructive behaviors (drugs, tobacco, or alcohol consupmtion), and nurturing good social relationships. Moreover, one can see the contributions given to the development of this diet by the spread of Christianity from the dietary rules given by the Bible; if you really want to learn about the Mediterranean diet, you need to delve into this aspect as well.

The Bible starts discussing nutrition as early as Genesis: Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. [] (Gn 1:29). From this first passage, we can already see some of the basic principles of the Mediterranean diet. In the Old Testament there are many references to the diet of the patriarchs: Isaac grew grain (Gn 26:12) and Jacob sent his sons to Egypt during the famine to buy some (Gn 42-44). Olive oil was used both as food and for cooking food. Moreover, as reported in the episode of the widow of Sarepta (1 Kings 17:12), oil was widely used and was the basic ingredient in bread and cakes (Ex 29:2). Also noteworthy are the various dietary requirements specified in Leviticus chapter 11. The exclusion of certain meatssuch as pork, hare, all fish without fins and scales, and many birds (mainly birds of prey)probably led to the dietary basis of the Mediterranean diet, given the enormous similarities between the two. There are also literary notations that claim that vegetarian and vegan diets have biblical origins: as stated in Genesis 1:30, And to [] everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food. And it was so. According to the Bible, in fact, in the beginning man was vegetarian, and began eating meat after the universal flood and will probably return to vegetarianism when the original harmony is rebuilt. Moreover, the hygienic standards stated in the Bible were also ahead of their time, and were very important for the wholesomeness and processing of food in the Mediterranean Diet.

Following these rules, Atlanta Tech Park-based spin-off MAGISNAT (www.magisnat.com) has decided to market its dietary supplements, GARLIVE RECOVERY (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4T82ZLV) and GARLIVE ORAL SPRAY (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4T7YZ9Z), currently available only on Amazon.

Our philosophy is to study the plants that are typically employed in the Mediterranean diet, looking for molecules with beneficial effects from which they formulate their dietary supplements: the first ones are based on polyphenols from olive trees, titrated in hydroxytyrosol, with the following characteristics:

Highly concentrated: one daily dose of GARLIVE Dietary Supplements contains more polyphenols than two cups of extra virgin olive oil; also vitamins are in high dosages; for example, GARLIVE Recovery contains high concentrations of vitamins from the B, C, D groups (one tablet contains more vitamins than 14 oz of fruits);

At MAGISNAT, we are sure that rediscovering the uses of the plants we were gifted by God Is a Way Forward

Disclaimer: None of the reported information can be used to claim the properties of dietary supplements. Dietary supplements do not possess any therapeutic or preventive properties.

Organization: MAGISNAT

Contact Person: Matteo Bertelli MD, PhD

Email: [emailprotected]

Website: https://magisnat.com/

Address 1: Atlanta Tech Park 107 Technology Parkway Suite 801 PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30092

Country: United States

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Anti-inflammatory diet: How to reduce inflammation through eating right – Times Now

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

Inflammation occurs when cells travel to the place of an injury or foreign body like bacteria, but if these cells stay in the body for too long, it may lead to chronic inflammation

New Delhi: If you suffer from the issue of inflammation, according to doctors, before taking any medicine try and follow the natural route.

What is inflammation and how does it affect the body?

Health experts believe that chronic inflammation is a symptom of many underlying health conditions like arthritis or even stress.

How to reduce inflammation naturally

The best way to reduce chronic inflammation is to adopt an anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle that may help you stay healthy and slow down aging. The diet would also help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and autoimmune diseases like joint pain, and cancer.

Doctors believe that an anti-inflammatory diet provides a healthy balance of protein, carbs, and fat at each meal. Make sure you also meet your bodys needs for vitamins, minerals, fiber, and water.

A low-carb diet also reduces inflammation, particularly for people with obesity or metabolic syndrome.

Some of the foods that help reduce inflammation are:

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Anti-inflammatory diet: How to reduce inflammation through eating right - Times Now

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The Diet You Should Eat To Benefit Your Skin Type – Health Digest

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

If you have dry skin, you may find that your skin feels tight, rough, and flaky. To help hydrate and protect your dry skin, be sure to include plenty of fatty fish, avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds in your diet (via Medical News Today). Fatty fish, like salmon and yellowfin tuna, are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to keep your skin hydrated. Avocados and olive oil are also rich in healthy fats that help to nourish and moisturize your skin. Nuts and seeds are another good option for dry skin, as they're packed with vitamins and minerals that can help to keep your skin healthy.

Foods that are high in vitamin A can also help with dry skin. These include foods like sweet potato, carrots, kale, and spinach. Vitamin A helps to protect your skin from damage and can also help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. You should also try to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of water, like watermelon, cucumber, and strawberries. These foods can help to keep your skin hydrated and looking healthy.

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The Diet You Should Eat To Benefit Your Skin Type - Health Digest

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Five myths about a balanced diet you should not believe – The Indian Express

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

There has always been a lot of focus and emphasis on a balanced diet, which is inclusive of proteins, vitamins, minerals, good fats, and carbohydrates in sufficient quantities. Many people believe if they switch to a healthy and balanced diet, they will be healthier, prevent unnecessary weight gain, and be free of diseases.But, no diet is fool-proof and even a balanced meal will not be able to help you meet your desired health and weight goals if you make mistakes along the way.

According to Nicky Sagar, a nutritionist, if one blindly follows a diet, it may not have a positive impact on the body.It is of utmost importance that we know the correct know-how for following a balanced diet, the expert says, busting some myths about a well-balanced diet that one must never believe.

Myth 1: Fruits are sources of sugar

While following a balanced diet in order to shed some kilos, many people ditch fruits. They feel fruits are loaded with sugar, which will lead to weight gain. Fruits contain natural fructose that provides a sweet taste to them and these are natural sugars that are important for the body. Also, fruits contain minerals, vitamins, and fibre, which are extremely beneficial. Consuming various fruits can help in reducing and maintaining weight, says Sagar.

Myth 2: Say no to carbs

Most people avoid carbs, thinking they are associated with weight gain and are unhealthy food. In reality, carbohydrates are extremely important for our body to function properly. They provide energy and make us more productive. Also, they are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables that are naturally sourced and unprocessed are great for the body. Avoid highly-processed foods like pastries, breads, etc. A complete no-carb diet is harmful to ones health, the nutritionist says.

Myth 3: Breakfast should never be skipped

You do not have to stuff yourself with food just because you have woken up. Having lunch is also totally fine for the body. Besides, many people follow intermittent fasting where they skip breakfast. Some studies have also shown skipping breakfast improves blood sugar levels. It is not mandatory to have breakfast every day.

Myth 4: Going for low-fat foods

Foods that are labelled low-fat are often detrimental for health. According to the expert, they are highly processed foods that contain added amounts of salt, sugar and other harmful ingredients.If you are on a balanced diet and you get provoked by such labels, stay away from them. These foods lead to weight gain, alter blood sugar levels and cause other long-term ill effects.

Myth 5: No more calories

A popular myth is that consuming calorie-inducing foods lead to weight gain. But, eating food with no or too few calories can lead to various health issues from fatigue to risking impact on the heart. Also, calories boost energy and keep the stomach fuller. If you choose to have no calories, you will feel hungry and end up eating more food than needed.

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Five myths about a balanced diet you should not believe - The Indian Express

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Eddie Hall reveals his insane new diet as strongman piles on the pounds for return at Worlds Strongest N… – The US Sun

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

STRONGMAN Eddie Hall is bulking up as he heads back into competition.

Brit star Hall, 34, slimmed down from a whopping top weight of 434lbs for his heavyweight boxing fight with Hafthor Bjornson earlier this year.

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He tipped the scales at 310lbs for the exhibition bout which saw Game of Thrones actor Thor come out on top.

Now Hall - who has 3.4m Instagram followers - is ditching his foray into the squared circle and returning to his strongman roots.

Later this fall, the strongman officially returns to the sport at the 2022Giants Live Worlds Strongest Nation competition.

It'll be the UK taking on the USA in the team-led event, with Hall a team caption for the Brits andRobert Oberstfor Team USA.

The event is all set for November in Liverpool, England and the 2017 World's Strongest Man is taking his prep seriously.

Although he's not looking to return to his 400lbs-plus days, Eddie is having to fuel his intense workouts with a new diet.

And that involves a lot of effort - as shown by a viral video he uploaded of his daily food routine.

With wife and usual chef Alexandra out on errands, it was up to the strongman to don the apron and cook his own meals.

He kicks off his day with a hefty breakfast shake, which provides around 700 calories of crucial early morning fuel.

Packed full of protein, the shake includes two hefty scoops of whey protein, peanut butter, one banana, chocolate spread, milk and a hearty helping of ice.

Training for Hall doesn't start until after lunch, which is when he really starts to chow down.

All about the protein again, the man mountain demolishes five chicken-filled wraps before his afternoon workout.

They provide him with around 1,500 calories and 80 grams of protein, with a further two wraps held back for after his training session.

Following an intense couple of hours in the gym, Eddie concludes his food marathon with two humungous burgers.

He packs two massive patties into buns along with sauce, tomatoes, cheese and bacon - before adding a whopping amount of home-cooked potato wedges.

In total, he guzzles 4,600 calories and 385 grams of protein during a typical day.

Eddie is looking forward after his boxing defeat to Thor in March, where he was dropped twice by the giant Icelandic star.

He told Men's Health: "Obviously, losing the fight is hard to take, but I think losing is a big part of life.

"I didn't win World Strongest Man first time around.

"You've got to take those losses, learn, go away, recoup and come back bigger and stronger.

"Sometimes, losses are better than the wins, because they really do shape you, and who likes somebody that wins everything?"

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Eddie Hall reveals his insane new diet as strongman piles on the pounds for return at Worlds Strongest N... - The US Sun

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Unhealthy Dietary Patterns and Risks of Incident Obesity | DMSO – Dove Medical Press

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

Introduction

Obesity is one of the important challenges in public health worldwide. It may cause damage to the function of human organs and systems and ultimately lead to other chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, chronic kidney disease, osteoarthritis, and cancer.18 Over the last decades, the global prevalence of obesity has increased rapidly, approximately 11% of men and 15% of women were obese in the world.9 In 2015, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Chinese adults were 41.3% and 15.7%, respectively.10 Obesity-related NCDs brought a huge economic burden in China, and obesity and overweight accounted for 11.1% of deaths associated with NCDs in 2019.11

The root cause of obesity is that the bodys energy intake is greater than the bodys energy expenditure, resulting in excess energy being stored in the form of fat although lots of risk factors for obesity were explored and identified including genetics, diet, physical exercise, and psychological factors in previous studies.11 Thus, dietary factors still play a key role in the process of developing obesity even though some previous findings were controversial over countries or populations.12,13

The traditional nutritional epidemiology researches generally explore relationships between one or several foods or nutrients and health outcomes. Recently, dietary patterns of the overall diet were occupied to assess the comprehensive effects of food or nutrients on human health, and they showed more effectively and precisely than traditional those.14 However, different dietary patterns varied widely over countries, races, and research methods.15 Previous studies showed that western and junk food dietary patterns increased energy intake and risk of obesity,16 while Mediterranean dietary pattern was considered to reduce triglyceride levels.17 Also, an association between Chinese traditional dietary pattern and obesity was reported in one research.18 However, most of previous studies were cross-sectional studies between dietary patterns and obesity,1820 and it was rare to explore prospective associations between dietary patterns and obesity with community population cohorts in China.

There were huge differences in food culture and diet behaviors over different regions, even in China, due to the geographical features and ethnic diversity.21 Thus, based on a prospective community-based population cohort in Guizhou province, this study aimed to explore associations between dietary patterns and incident obesity in Southwest China.

Data for this study were from the Guizhou Population Health Cohort Study (GPHCS), a prospective community-based cohort in Guizhou province, China.22 The baseline survey was conducted between November 2010 and December 2012, and it was followed up between December 2016 and June 2020. The inclusion criteria for subjects in this study included followings: (1) aged 18 years or above; (2) lived in these communities and had no plan to move; (3) completed the questionnaire and blood sample collection; (4) signed written informed consent before data collection. A total of 9280 participants were recruited at the baseline. Those who had obesity at baseline (n = 644), who lost to follow-up (n = 1045), and who had missing data (n = 1634) or incomplete dietary survey (n = 215) were excluded. Finally, the remaining 5742 participants were eligible for the analysis (Figure 1). This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Guizhou Province Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (No. S2017-02).

Figure 1 Flow chart of participants in this cohort study.

A structured questionnaire was done through a face-to-face interview by local trained health professionals. The baseline and follow-up questionnaire included demographic characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity, educational level, marriage status, and occupation), lifestyle (smoking status, alcohol use, and physical activity), history of chronic diseases, and dietary factors. Current smokers referred to smoking tobacco products including manufactured or locally produced in a month.23 Alcohol drinkers referred to drinking alcohol more than once every month within the last 12 months.22 Physical activity was defined as meeting WHO recommendations on physical activity according to the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ).24

Dietary data including frequencies and quantities of 16 food items (fermented bean curd, bean paste, pickles, oil, legumes, meat, fruits, milk, eggs, fish, potatoes, grains, vegetables, beverages, desserts, and fried food) consumed during the recent 12 months before the study recruitment were collected by a simplified Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Anthropometric measurements including height, body weight, and blood pressure were measured. BMI was calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m2). Obesity was defined as BMI 30kg/m2 based on the WHO BMI classification standard.25

In this study, factor analysis with eigenvalues >1 and varimax rotation was occupied to aggregate 16 food items into factors with food patterns. Four factors that explained most of the variances were determined based on scree plots and their loadings for the initial food items. The factor-loading matrix for the four dietary patterns and their food or food groups is shown in Table S1. Factor 1, named high-salt and high-oil pattern, was characterized by a high factor load of fermented bean curd, bean paste, pickles, and oil. Factor 2, named western pattern, was characterized by a high factor load of legumes, meat, fruits, milk, eggs, fish, and potatoes. Factor 3, named grain-vegetable pattern, was characterized by a high factor load of grains and vegetables. Factor 4, named junk food pattern, was characterized by a high factor load of beverages, desserts, and fried food. A summary score for each pattern was then derived and categorized into quartiles (Quartile 025th, Q1; 26th-50th, Q2; 51st-75th, Q3; 76th-100th, Q4) for further analysis.

The Students t-test and the Chi-square test were used for continuous variables and categorical variables, respectively. Person-years (PYs) of follow-up were calculated from the date of enrolling the cohort until the date of diagnosis of obesity, death, or follow-up, whichever came first. Because physical activity violated the proportional hazards assumption, the multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by physical activity were employed to determine the association between dietary patterns and incident obesity and to estimate hazard risk (HR), adjusted HR (aHR), and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Several variables were adjusted and controlled in the multivariable models: age (1829, 3064, 65 years), sex (male/female), Han Chinese (no/yes), education years (9/<9), current smokers (no/yes), alcohol drinkers (no/yes), diabetes mellitus (no/yes), hypertension (no/yes). Tests for linear trends across increasing quartiles of dietary pattern were performed by assigning median value to each quartile of dietary pattern. The sensitivity analysis was conducted after exclusion of participants with overweight at baseline. All statistical tests were two-sided and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All analyses were performed in R software (Version 4.1.0; R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria).

The baseline characteristics of participants are presented in Table 1. Of all subjects, the average age was 45.06 15.21 years old and more than half were women. Most of them were Han Chinese and had 9 education years or longer. The prevalence of current smoking and alcohol drinking was around one-third, while the proportion of physical activity was more than four-fifths. There were significant differences in education level, physical activity, current smokers, alcohol drinkers, hypertension, and diabetes between men and women (detailed in Table 1).

Table 1 Baseline Characteristics of Participants

As shown in Table 2, four dietary patterns statistically varied over different age groups and physical activity groups. Men (53.6%) had higher grain-vegetable pattern scores than women (46.4%). Han Chinese had more chances to have western pattern and junk food pattern. Participants with less than 9 education years had lower proportions of high-salt and high-oil pattern, western pattern, and junk food pattern. Those subjects with hypertension or diabetes tended to have high-salt and high-oil pattern and junk food pattern. There were also significant differences in high-salt and high-oil patterns and western pattern among participants who were current smokers or alcohol drinkers.

Table 2 Participants Characteristics According to Quartiles of Four Dietary Patterns

During the follow-up of 40,524.15 PYs, 427 new obesity cases were identified and the incidence rate of obesity was 10.54/1000PYs overall. There were significant sex differences in the incidence rate (9.36/1000PYs for men vs 11.64/1000PYs for women, p = 0.004). The incidence rate increased with age and the age-specific incidence rates of obesity are displayed over sex in Figure 2. Similar sex differences were observed among those aged 30 to 64 years old (p = 0.010) or elders (p = 0.031). Also, the highest incidence rate of obesity reached 12.27/1000PYs and 9.8/1000PYs in both women and men aged 30 to 64 years, respectively.

Figure 2 Age-specific Incidence rates of obesity for Chinese adults over sex.

Abbreviation: PYs, person years of follow-up.

Note: **P < 0.01.

In the Cox regression model stratified by physical activity, associations between dietary patterns and incident obesity are presented in Table 3. Participants in the higher quartile of junk food pattern score were more likely to develop obese with the HR (95% CI) of 1.54 (1.162.02) and 1.44 (1.091.89) for the third and fourth quartiles, respectively. After the adjustment for covariates, both aHRs in the Q3 and Q4 group of junk food pattern increased slightly and were still significant. Also, the risk of incident obesity significantly increased with the score of junk food pattern (p for trend = 0.040). In addition, subjects in the Q3 group of western pattern had a significantly higher risk of incident obesity (aHR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.011.75) compared to those in the Q1 group, and there was a marginally raised trend in the risk of incident obesity as western pattern scores (p for trend = 0.087). It was not found that there were any significant associations between high-salt and high oil pattern or grain-vegetable pattern and incident obesity. No significant interactions were observed between dietary pattern and main covariates, either. In the sensitivity analysis, the main results remained robust after exclusion of participants with overweight at baseline (seen in Figure S1).

Table 3 Associations Between Baseline Dietary Patterns and Incident Obesity

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing dramatically worldwide. As a leading risk factor for obesity, unhealthy dietary has been prevalent in China. During the follow-up of 40,524.15 PYs, the incidence rate of obesity was estimated at 10.54/1000PYs in this study population overall with a significant sex difference. Also, the highest incidence rate of obesity reached at 12.27/1000PYs and 9.80/1000PYs in both women and men aged 3064 years, respectively. Those findings indicated that there was a high risk of developing obesity in this study population, especially for women, which called the development and implementation of specific intervention for the prevention and control of obesity.

In the present study, four major dietary patterns were identified and then associations between four dietary patterns and incident obesity were explored among adult residents in Southwest China. The junk food pattern consisted of high consumption of beverages, desserts, and fried food. Likewise, the western pattern was characterized by high consumption of legumes, meat, fruits, milk, eggs, fish, and potatoes. We found that junk food pattern and western pattern were positively associated with the increased risk of developing obesity, while no significant associations between high-oil and high-salt pattern, grain-vegetable pattern and incident obesity were observed in this study. The results were consistent with the South Asian consensus on Nutritional Medical Treatment of Diabesity, which advocated for a hypocaloric diet and reducing intake of carbohydrates and saturated fats.26 Meanwhile, among Iranian women, it was reported that a low-carbohydrate diet was not associated with overweight and obesity.27

In China, the consumption of junk food such as desserts, beverages, and fried food is on the rise since the 1980s.11 In this study, the contribution of junk food dietary pattern to a higher risk of obesity was demonstrated, which was consistent with a Mediterranean prospective cohort design with a median 6-year follow-up.28 Previous studies revealed that during the frying process, excessive fat and calories tended to increase, and trans-fatty acids related to the risk of weight gain29 were also prone to be generated.30 Furthermore, the junk food pattern has a high intake of beverages and sweets, and the positive associations of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to obesity were confirmed by Framingham Heart Study.31 A recent meta-analysis revealed that the consumption of SSBs increased waist circumference in adult populations.32 Also, a cross-sectional study33 indicated that fruit drink intake was significantly linked with a higher risk of obesity among women. In addition, added sweet or sugar foods were positively associated with BMI in the women.34 Excess sugar intake among sweets and desserts was a significant contributor to the development of overweight or obesity.35,36

Over the past decades, the socioeconomic level has changed dramatically in China, especially in the southwest region. The transition from the traditional dietary pattern characterized by a high intake of vegetables, grains, and legumes to the Western model had occurred.37,38 It was observed that western dietary pattern had a higher incident risk of obesity and there was a marginally raised trend in the incident risk of obesity as western pattern levels in this study. Several studies have demonstrated that Chinese who had a western dietary pattern were more likely to suffer from obesity.39,40 Some similar findings were also reported among children and adolescents.12,41,42 One of possible reasons might be that meat and meat products are rich in cholesterol and saturated fatty acids,43,44 which could increase the risk of suffering from obesity to a certain degree.45 However, Daneshzad et al46 demonstrated that there was no significant association between total meat consumption and obesity based on a meta-analysis of observational studies. Therefore, more prospective studies are needed to clarify the association between red meat and total meat, and obesity.

Moreover, given the topographical characteristics of the Guizhou region, a wide range of potato products, boiled, fried, or mashed, were widely consumed in the local area. As a staple food in the western world, potatoes, an energy-dense food, played a significant role in the western diet pattern, and contributed greater amounts of carbohydrates to the diet.47 Foods containing more starches and refined carbohydrates were positively associated with weight gain.48 A meta-analysis confirmed that weight change was positively associated with the consumption of potatoes (boiled or mashed potatoes, potato chips, and French fries).49 Halkjaer et al50 also reported that total potato intake was associated with the increase in waist circumstances in women. However, the evidence for a link between potato intake and the risk of obesity remains controversial.51,52

Based on this 10-year community population-based cohort in Southwest China,53 this study extended the evidence on the association between dietary patterns and incident obesity. Also, this study collected data through FFQ rather than 24h dietary recall to get long-term usual intake more accurately.41,54 However, there were some main limitations in the study. First, the outcome of obesity was only assessed by BMI and did not include those measures of central obesity such as waistline in this study, which may underestimate the incidence of obesity. Second, over several years of follow-up, the daily diet measured on baseline may be time-varying to bias our findings but we did not collect detailed diet information in the follow-up of this study. Third, Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed with the strata by physical activity to meet Proportional Hazards Assumption. In addition, some possible confounding factors such as medications, family history of obesity or genetic variants related to obesity were not collected in this study, which may bias the findings from this study. Our findings in this southwest Chinese population need to be confirmed or clarified by more prospective studies over different populations. For future studies, associations between diets and obesity measured by waistline or body composition should be explored, and genediet interactions on developing obesity should be considered, too.

In summary, there was a high risk of incident obesity among this Chinese community population of Southwest China. Also, four dietary patterns were identified in this community population of Southwest China, and junk food and western pattern increased risks of incident obesity. The findings provided new evidence for obesity prevention and control from the dietary perspective, especially for the Chinese population. Urgent intervention is called to be developed to promote a healthy dietary pattern and prevent the becoming obesity.

The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board (or Ethics Committee) of the center of disease control and prevention of Guizhou Province (No. S2017-02).

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects before the data collection.

This work was supported by the Guizhou Province Science and Technology Support Program (Qiankehe [2018]2819).

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest in this work.

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2. Hansen L, Netterstrm MK, Johansen NB, et al. Metabolically healthy obesity and ischemic heart disease: a 10-year follow-up of the inter99 study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2017;102(6):19341942. doi:10.1210/jc.2016-3346

3. Baena-Dez JM, Byram AO, Grau M, et al. Obesity is an independent risk factor for heart failure: Zona Franca Cohort study. Clin Cardiol. 2010;33(12):760764. doi:10.1002/clc.20837

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8. Saitta C, Pollicino T, Raimondo G. Obesity and liver cancer. Ann Hepatol. 2019;18(6):810815. doi:10.1016/j.aohep.2019.07.004

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10. Ma S, Xi B, Yang L, Sun J, Zhao M, Bovet P. Trends in the prevalence of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity among Chinese adults between 1993 and 2015. Int J Obes. 2021;45(2):427437. doi:10.1038/s41366-020-00698-x

11. Pan XF, Wang L, Pan A. Epidemiology and determinants of obesity in China. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2021;9(6):373392. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00045-0

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Japan YouTuber Diet member’s prolonged overseas absence opens can of legal worms – The Mainichi – The Mainichi

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

TOKYO -- Japanese YouTuber "GaaSyy," who was elected to Japan's House of Councillors on the ticket of the NHK Party, remains overseas and has not attended Diet sessions, with reports earlier this year that he was residing in Dubai. The head of the chamber's Committee on Rules and Administration has requested that he quickly return to Japan and appear in the Diet.

Many people may think that GaaSyy, whose real name is Yoshikazu Higashitani, should step down as a Diet member if he has no record of activities in his elected role. If he continues to remain absent it is possible that the upper house Committee on Discipline could discuss punishment including expelling him as a member of the chamber. But this is no simple matter.

Being voted in carries a great deal of significance for any candidate, not just GaaSyy. This is because it is the will of the people, which has the greatest value in a democracy. Diet members, in principle, have immunity from arrest during Diet sessions, though they can be arrested when caught in the act of a crime or when the house approves of it. This is stipulated in Articles 50 of Japan's Constitution, which states: "Except in cases provided by law, members of both Houses shall be exempt from apprehension while the Diet is in session, and any members apprehended before the opening of the session shall be freed during the term of the session upon demand of the House."

Article 51 of the supreme law further stipulates: "Members of both Houses shall not be held liable outside the House for speeches, debates or votes cast inside the House."

These constitutional stipulations are designed to protect the status of Diet members. It has been common throughout history and across the world -- not to mention in Russia -- for members of parliament to be arrested over words and actions that are unfavorable to the government. To ensure that such a thing never happens, Diet members in Japan are protected to a degree that may seem excessive at first glance.

Regarding the expulsion of Diet members, the second clause of Article 58 of the Constitution states: "Each House shall establish its rules pertaining to meetings, proceedings and internal discipline, and may punish members for disorderly conduct. However, in order to expel a member, a majority of two-thirds or more of those members present must pass a resolution thereon." A majority of two-thirds rather than a simple majority is a high hurdle, but still, there are deep-rooted views that this stipulation should be applied with caution.

The NHK Party says that GaaSyy is not returning to Japan because he will carry out his activities as a Diet member while living overseas. We cannot easily claim that his actions do not constitute political activities. There is a wide scope for determining what kind of activities are political. And if it turns out he is not doing his job satisfactorily, then the public has the option of voting him out in the next election.

Some people may say they cannot understand GaaSyy's approach, but if the principles protecting Diet members were loosened without caution, the move could return to haunt the country. While it is unthinkable for the current government to unfairly arrest lawmakers, we cannot rule out the possibility of a government that could do that surfacing in Japan in the future.

Parliamentary privileges stipulated in the Constitution act as a last line of defense to prevent the government's abuse of power.

(Mainichi political premier editorial division)

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Whats the Difference Between Coke Zero and Diet Coke? – LifeSavvy

Posted: October 12, 2022 at 1:57 am

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Love CocaCola, but prefer to opt for a zero-calorie, sugar-free option? Then youve probably reached for Coke Zero or Diet Coke. Both are great alternatives to the original Coca-Cola, but what is the difference between the two?

If youre a Coca-Cola connoisseur, you may already know the answer to this question. Turns out, the difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke really comes down to one thing: the taste.

The ingredients lists are similar for both products. They contain carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, and aspartame (among other things). But Coke Zero is formulated with the original taste of Coca-Cola in mind, while Diet Coke has a completely different blend of flavors, providing a lighter taste.

Sugar-free shouldnt have to mean having fewer options, Anna Wheeler, Health and Nutrition Manager at Coca-Cola Great Britain, wrote in an article answering this highly-debated question.

Diet Coke has a few ingredients that Coke Zero lacks (potassium citrate and acesulfame potassium), which contribute to its lighter taste. Coke Zero, on the other hand, contains citric acid, which Diet Coke does not, ultimately creating different flavors between the two.

So, while they sound similar and promise to accomplish the same thing: giving you a taste of Coca-Cola without the added sugar and calories, the blend of flavors is completely different. Can you taste the difference?

Are you wondering what the difference between Coke and Pepsi isnow? We got you covered there, too.

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Mapped: The 3 Billion People Who Can’t Afford a Healthy Diet – Elements by Visual Capitalist

Posted: October 4, 2022 at 2:10 am

How is Aluminum Made?

Aluminum is one of our most widely-used metals, found in everything from beer cans to airplane parts.

However, the lightweight metal doesnt occur naturally, and producing it is a complex process.

The above infographics use data from the USGS, Aluminium Leader, and other sources to break down the three stages of aluminum production.

Each year, the world produces around 390 million tonnes of bauxite rock, and 85% of it is used to make aluminum.

Bauxites are rocks composed of aluminum oxides along with other minerals and are the worlds primary source of aluminum. After mining, bauxite is refined into alumina, which is then converted into aluminum.

Therefore, aluminum typically goes from ore to metal in three stages.

Bauxite is typically extracted from the ground in open-pit mines, with just three countriesAustralia, China, and Guineaaccounting for 72% of global mine production.

Australia is by far the largest bauxite producer, and its also home to the Weipa Mine, the biggest bauxite mining operation globally.

Guinea, the third-largest producer, is endowed with more than seven billion tonnes of bauxite reserves, more than any other country. Additionally, Guinea is the top exporter of bauxite globally, with 76% of its bauxite exports going to China.

After bauxite is out of the ground, it is sent to refineries across the globe to make alumina, marking the second stage of the production process.

In the 1890s, Austrian chemist Carl Josef Bayer invented a revolutionary process for extracting alumina from bauxite. Todayover 100 years latersome 90% of alumina refineries still use the Bayer process to refine bauxite.

Here are the four key steps in the Bayer process:

The impurities or red mud left behind in the alumina production process is a major environmental concern. In fact, for every tonne of alumina, refineries produce 1.2 tonnes of red mud, and there are over three billion tonnes of it stored in the world today.

China, the second-largest producer and largest importer of bauxite, supplies more than half of the worlds alumina.

Several major producers of bauxite, including Australia, Brazil, and India, are among the largest alumina producers, although none come close to China.

Alumina has applications in multiple industries, including plastics, cosmetics, and chemical production. But of course, the majority of it is shipped to smelters to make aluminum.

Alumina is converted into aluminum through electrolytic reduction. Besides alumina itself, another mineral called cryolite is key to the process, along with loads of electricity. Heres a simplified overview of how aluminum smelting works:

China dominates global aluminum production and is also the largest consumer. Its neighbor India is the second-largest producer, making only a tenth of Chinas output.

As is the case for alumina production, some of the countries that produce bauxite and alumina also produce aluminum, such as India, Australia, and Russia.

Roughly a quarter of annually produced aluminum is used by the construction industry. Another 23% goes into vehicle frames, wires, wheels, and other parts of the transportation industry. Aluminum foil, cans, and packaging also make up another major end-use with a 17% consumption share.

Aluminums widespread applications have made it one of the most valuable metal markets. In 2021, the global aluminum market was valued at around $245.7 billion, and as consumption grows, its projected to nearly double in size to $498.5 billion by 2030.

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Mapped: The 3 Billion People Who Can't Afford a Healthy Diet - Elements by Visual Capitalist

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Bears are not carnivores, and they crave a healthy diet – Earth.com

Posted: October 4, 2022 at 2:10 am

A new study led by Washington State University and Texas A&M University adds to a growing collection of evidence that bears are not carnivores. The research suggests that bears are omnivores like humans even though they are fed high protein diets like carnivores while in captivity.

Bears are not carnivores in the strictest sense like a cat where they consume a high-protein diet, said study lead author Professor Charles Robbins. In zoos forever, whether its polar bears, brown bears or sloth bears, the recommendation has been to feed them as if they are high-protein carnivores. When you do that, you kill them slowly.

The WSU Bear Center is the only research institution in the United States with a captive population of grizzly bears. Professor Robbins, who founded the center, has studied bear nutrition for decades. In a previous project, he and his graduate students discovered that grizzly bears gain the most weight when they are fed a combination of protein, fats and carbohydrates.

For the latest study, the researchers set out to investigate the food preferences of captive giant pandas and sloth bears by conducting feeding studies. Under human care, sloth bears are dying up to 20 years early, and there is a lack of data on their nutritional requirements. One theory is that the bears are fed too much protein, which is causing cancer and disease.

Consumption of diets with inappropriate macronutrient profiles has been associated with increased energy expenditure, ill health, failed reproduction, and premature death. Consequently, we conducted feeding and preference trials with giant pandas and sloth bears, a termite and ant-feeding specialist, wrote the study authors.

We found that giant pandas are low-protein, high-carbohydrate omnivores, whereas sloth bears are low-protein, high-fat omnivores. The preference for low protein diets apparently occurred early in the evolution of ursids and may have been critical to their world-wide spread.

When presented with unlimited avocados, baked yams, whey and apples, the sloth bears almost exclusively preferred the fat-rich avocados. The exports said that this high-fat, low-carb diet is similar to their wild diet of termites and ants as well as their eggs and larvae.

The researchers also found that giant pandas preferred the carbohydrate-rich bamboo culm found in the woody stalks over the more protein-rich leaves. The results of the study suggest that, when given the chance, bears know what to eat to maximize their health and fitness.

Theres certainly this long-standing idea that humans with PhDs know a lot more than a sloth bear or a brown bear, said Robbins. All of these bears started evolving about 50 million years ago, and in terms of this aspect of their diet, they know more about it than we do. Were one of the first to be willing to ask the bears: What do you want to eat? What makes you feel well?

The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Check us out on EarthSnap, a free app brought to you by Eric Ralls and Earth.com.

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

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