Category Archives: Diet And Food

A growing body of literature ties the gut microbiome to symptoms of depression in a seemingly circular relationship where each affects the other. However, many of the studies on this relationship merely link certain bacterial populations or diets to major depressive disorderleaving open critical questions about the underlying mechanisms of how the gut microbes might influence depression.

Research published last month (May 3) in Cell Metabolism takes an important step toward filling such gaps, demonstrating in multiple animal species that there is likely a causative relationship between depression severity and serum levels of the nonessential amino acid proline, which the study finds depend on both diet and the activity of proline-metabolizing bacteria in the gut.

To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time that a team actually demonstrates a causal relationship between proline intake and depressive behavior, Kings College London metabolism researcher Sandrine Claus, who didnt work on the study and is also chief scientific officer of the microbiome therapeutics company YSOPIA Bioscience, tells The Scientist over email. I am unaware of a proline-mediated gut-brain axis. This is therefore a completely novel mechanism of action.

Previous research had found that proline, among other dietary compounds, seems to play a role in major depressive disorder, but we found increased levels not only [in] major depression but also in subjects with moderate depression, study coauthor Jos Manuel Fernndez-Real, a researcher at the Girona Biomedical Research Institute and Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital, both located in Spain, explains. Indeed, the severity of the symptoms correlated with the subjects circulating proline.

Fernndez-Real and his colleagues uncovered this when they compared peoples responses on an 80-item food intake questionnaire with scores on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a common clinical survey for diagnosing and measuring the severity of a persons depression. Out of all the dietary nutrients in the questionnaire, Fernndez-Real says, the one most associated with depressive traits was precisely proline. Blood tests in the same participants solidified the correlation between proline and depressive traits.

However, some discrepancies emerged within the data that demanded a closer look. Not all subjects with increased proline in the diet had increased proline in the plasma, hinting that some yet-undiscovered factor was involved, Fernndez-Real explains. In search of that explanation, he and the other researchers determined the microbiome compositions of the human participants.

The paper notes that most previous studies attempting to do the same failed to achieve bacterial species-level resolution and have reached inconclusive and conflicting findings. But Fernndez-Real and colleagues employed a multi-omics approach that allowed them to link microbial function to the specific biological pathways associated with depression, granting their study a level of resolution that Fernndez-Real says was lacking from what he describes as underpowered previous studies.

In the study participants, plasma proline levels were associated with the presence and activity of specific gut bacteriapeople with high proline consumption and higher plasma proline levels had different microbiome compositions than those who consumed the same amount of proline but had less circulating in their blood. Furthermore, the team found that the microbial communities of the former were associated with more severe depression.

To determine whether theres a direct link between proline and depression, the researchers revisited and modified mouse and Drosophila melanogaster models that theyd previously used to study how the microbiome influenced cognitive abilities.

The researchers fed 10 mice a standard diet and another 10 a proline-supplemented diet, then subjected them to stressors typically used to trigger depression-like behaviors. After six weeks, the experimental group had significantly higher proline levels circulating in their plasma and exhibited more signs of depressive behaviors, such as a disinterest in sugar water and decreased mobility during a tail suspension test.

To see how the microbiome factored in, the researchers took fecal samples from 20 human volunteers (nine of whom had high proline levels and all of whom demonstrated a direct correlation between their PHQ-9 score and circulating plasma proline) and put them into antibiotic-treated mice, effectively transferring the human microbiomes into the animals. When the mice were subjected to another test meant to induce depressive behaviors, the researchers found that the mices behavior correlated with the PHQ-9 scoresand therefore circulating proline levelsof their donors as well as the mix of microbes now residing in their guts.

The data demonstrated that a particular microbiota metabolizes proline and is critical to develop more or less depressive symptoms, says Fernndez-Real.

The researchers also conducted RNA sequencing of the animals prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with cognition. That revealed that genes related to depressive behaviors had been upregulated following fecal transplantationand that expression of the proline transporter gene Slc6a20 in the brain correlated with the mices behavior and their microbe donors PHQ-9 scores.

The microbiota from subjects with the highest depression scores induced emotional traits in the mice, says Fernndez-Real. Interestingly, the prefrontal cortex of transplanted mice showed increased expression of genes . . . that we also found in the intestine of subjects with increased proline intake.

From there, the researchers moved on to Drosophila experiments, subjecting both wild type control flies and those with downregulated CG43066the Drosophilaversion of sl6a20to stressors to see if the transporters affect whether the animals exhibit depressive behaviors. They then ran the same tests on Drosophila colonized with the bacteria found to increase or decrease proline metabolism in the prior experiments. Downregulating the proline transporter gene or colonizing the Drosophila with specific bacteria, especially certain Lactobacillus species, seemed to protect the flies from depressive behavior, the study found.

The researchers werent able to conduct similar experiments in people, which they concede limits the conclusions that can be drawn from their work. Going forward, Fernndez-Real says it will be important to test, for example, whether diets with different proline contents influence depressive traits and depressive symptomology.

Chrysi Sergaki, a microbiome researcher at the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the UK who did not work on the study, tells The Scientistover email that using these [animal] models is a start. They can help us understand the impact of the microbiome on brain function, but that doesnt necessarily mean that it will work the same way in humans. Still, she says that because similar experiments cant be performed on humans, the animal models used in the new study can grant researchers a deeper understanding of how the microbiome can influence the functions of the organism they live in, adding that that knowledge can be valuable in the way we think about the microbiome when we move to humans.

Claus expresses similar sentiments. Modeling depressive behaviors in animals is . . . very challenging, she writes. I actually thought that the drosophila model was interesting despite the fact that we cannot directly translate behavioral observations from drosophila to humans. These are useful to study mechanisms of action though.

Still, Claus adds that a lack of data on circulating proline levels in the mouse model, combined with repeated reanalysis of the same cohort of people, make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the mechanism of microbial proline metabolism and its link to depression.

The authors keep reanalyzing the same cohort, insisting that they always find a consistent microbial signature with PHQ-9 and proline, Claus writes. But this is not surprising since proline is correlated to PHQ-9 score in this cohort, and PHQ-9 score is correlated with a microbial signature.

Sergaki applauds the study authors for describing the limitations of their work, adding that microbiome studies are notoriously difficult to reproduce and therefore validate. I think all microbiome scientists look at these studies with a critical eye, she tells The Scientist. The authors mention certain limitations of their study which are quite important. The biggest question is always this: correlation or causation? Due to the complexity of the system, this is very difficult to answer.

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Study Links Depression with High Levels of an Amino Acid - The Scientist

The best compliment Nick Boyle mightve gotten this offseason is that he doesnt look like Nick Boyle anymore. Or at least not like the Nick Boyle of recent memory.

Said offensive coordinator Greg Roman: He looks like a completely new guy this year. Its unbelievable what hes done, the hard work hes put in.

And first-year tight ends coach George Godsey: You can obviously tell, looking at him, hes physically different.

And coach John Harbaugh: He does look like a new guy.

The further Ravens tight end Nick Boyle gets from the misery of the past two seasons, the better. Injuries have limited him to just five games since he underwent what he called the worst surgery of my life, a 2020 knee operation that repaired his meniscus, PCL, MCL and fracture damage. (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun)

The further the Ravens tight end gets from the misery of the past two seasons, the better. Injuries have limited Boyle, 29, to just five games since he underwent what he called the worst surgery of my life, a 2020 knee operation that repaired his meniscus, PCL, MCL and fracture damage. A clean-up procedure last summer delayed Boyles comeback, and he remained hobbled after returning to action last season.

At the Ravens organized team activities, however, his limp is barely noticeable. Any concerns about the November 2020 injury that derailed his career are mostly gone, too. Boyle said Wednesday that he feels really, really good right now, and hes played like it in Owings Mills.

Theres days where I dont feel as good, and theres days where I feel like a million bucks, he said after Wednesdays voluntary practice. And thats still kind of working through it at this point. But its not like anywhere near last year. I feel so much better and Im just ready to go. Really excited to be out there and participating.

Thats the worst thing youre in there [the facility], just watching out the window like a little kid. Sitting out there, Im like, Man, I just want to go out there. And to be able to go back out there and feel good while being out there is a blessing.

The Ravens hope is that a lighter Boyle could be a better Boyle, a more available Boyle. When he emerged as the versatile hammer in the Ravens record-breaking rushing attack four years ago, he weighed about 280 pounds. Boyle had to be strong enough to scrap with edge rushers on play-action drop-backs and nimble enough to take on linebackers and safeties in space.

With mandatory minicamp less than a week away, Boyle estimated that he weighs about 262 pounds but I feel good, and Im way stronger than I was. He wanted less stress on his left knee, so he changed his diet. He committed to eating four prepared meals a day, with no room for snacking.

My wife would cook stuff and I wouldnt eat it, he said. She would hate that. Shed be like, Im just cooking for our kids now, and theyre like 2 [years old and] 1 [year old]. So it was really, I want to say, satisfying to see that work kind of pay off and to continue it to get back on the field the way I want to.

Theres days where I dont feel as good, and theres days where I feel like a million bucks, Ravens tight end Nick Boyle, right, said after Wednesdays voluntary practice. And thats still kind of working through it at this point. But its not like anywhere near last year. I feel so much better and Im just ready to go. Really excited to be out there and participating." (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun)

Little about Boyles offseason was conventional. Eager for a change of scenery, he reached out to his agent and ended up relocating with his family to Arizona, not far from friend and fellow tight end Mark Andrews home. For two months, Boyle worked to rehabilitate every day, fueled by the uncertainty of whether hed ever look like the player who, in 2019, had commanded a three-year, $18 million contract extension.

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He even ended up working out with former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, who was also working out in Arizona. Boyle didnt approach Harrison at first It was kind of like, He was a Pittsburgh Steeler. No one really likes him but after a couple of days together, they started talking and training together.

That dudes super strong, Boyle said of Harrison, one of the NFLs elite defenders during his playing career. I feel like an eighth-grader next to him half the time when Im out there.

Boyle returned to Baltimore better prepared for the rigors of the season ahead. He recalled how demoralizing last season was; his wife compared his emotional journey to a roller coasters, the highs of one day undercut by the lows of another. Boyle wanted to play, even as his banged-up body (and then the coronavirus) told him he wasnt quite ready. After playing 32 offensive snaps in his 2022 debut, a Week 10 win over the Chicago Bears, Boyle was limited to 63 snaps over the next four games.

Ravens tight end Nick Boyle returned to Baltimore better prepared for the rigors of the season ahead. He recalled how demoralizing last season was; his wife compared his emotional journey to a roller coasters, the highs of one day undercut by the lows of another. (Kevin Richardson / Baltimore Sun)

Last year, he just wasnt the same guy, Harbaugh said. I mean, that injury was a bad injury. Certainly, we all hoped hed come back last year and be ready to go, but he just couldnt do it. And then he did have a setback or two in there along the way. Now its just all clicked. And he looks like Nick, but I would say he looks a little faster and a little quicker than he did before.

Even with the Ravens investment in tight ends and fullbacks this offseason general manager Eric DeCosta re-signed Pro Bowl selection Patrick Ricard and drafted Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in the fourth round there should be a spot for a healthy Boyle on the teams 53-man roster this summer. Hes the best in-line blocker among the Ravens tight ends, a skill that allows Andrews to line up in the slot, where the All-Pro is most dangerous.

Boyle said Wednesday that hes on a good path. He also knows he still has to get to the end of it.

He feels good, Godsey said. And were monitoring that as we go. Mentally, hes there for the young guys, but physically, he feels good. Its early, like I said. [When] we put the pads on, well see how that situation goes when we get there.

Continued here:
Ravens TE Nick Boyle changed his diet and worked out with a former Steelers star. Now he's 'a completely new guy.' - Baltimore Sun

Jeffrey Boakye is right to think that the stories we tell our children are the moulds that cast their future values (Why are books on the English school curriculum still in the grip of straight, white men?, 7 June). Recent research from the End Sexism in Schools Campaign has also established that children in the UK are still living off a worryingly limited diet of white, male authors and white, male protagonists.

Our research confirms that the novels Boakye mentions are in the top five most taught in years 7 to 9. But boys need to be taught to listen to and respect female voices as authoritative, and to be empathic to the viewpoints of women and girls. This is essential in tackling one of the root causes of male violence against women and girls. And girls need to be taught that our expectations of them are not tied to life-denying gender stereotypes.

Parents challenge your schools to change. Teachers you have the agency to make these changes. It is our duty as their parents, educators and carers to teach children more books by women, and more books with female protagonists and if this means leaving out some of the so-called classics, so be it!Debbie Brazil and Rachel FennEnd Sexism in Schools Campaign

Jeffrey Boakye stresses the need for a broader choice of literature in the school curriculum in our diverse culture. I have to say that when I taught, we did study a broad range. And even if colonial shackles are present, an enlightened teacher will debate these with pupils without necessarily damning the book.

Yes, some books were regular old chestnuts on the literature syllabus, but they have much more relevance to today than Boakye allows. Of Mice and Men illuminates what it is to have a learning disability; Animal Farm tackles gang culture; and An Inspector Calls criticises a white, class-ridden society.

Most teachers of literature do study, with their A-level and GCSE pupils, books such as Toni Morrisons Beloved, Mildred Taylors Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Khaled Hosseinis A Thousand Splendid Suns and Arundhati Roys The God of Small Things, which portray the lives of African Americans, Afghans and Indians, yet are not chosen just because of that. They inspire because of the art of fiction involved, which makes any book expand beyond itself to become universal, teaching children from diverse cultures about themselves and worlds both familiar and unfamiliar.

Skin colour or the sexual identity of the author should not matter. It is the work that should stand on its own to challenge and inspire.Patricia McCarthyEditor, Agenda

The answer to Jeffrey Boakyes question what should be on the [English] curriculum? is simpler than is often thought. Nothing should be specified by exam boards or governments. Whole classes, year groups or national cohorts need not study the same few texts.

English literature could be taught by allowing teachers and students to decide together, exploring relevant and important themes, including those Boakye identifies. The techniques of reading, analysing and understanding can be taught with examples, but all students need not answer the same questions on the same books, in class or in exams. The current system is more convenient for teachers and markers, but its also deeply repetitive. Let the kids choose their own texts: itll be less boring and we might just learn something.Gavin BaileyKeele, Staffordshire

Have an opinion on anything youve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication.

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Children need more than this limited literary diet of white, male authors - The Guardian

When you look at a bowl of your favorite pasta, do you see a pile of unhealthy carbs? Or an opportunity to eat a dish full of healthy protein-rich, fiber-filled antioxidant-packed whole grains? Now your bowl of pasta can also be a health food! If you eat sorghum pasta.

Unlike regular refined wheat pasta, or even whole wheat pasta, which are both high in carbs and can cause a spike in blood sugar, spaghetti made from sorghum is one of the healthiest and most fiber-filled pasta you can eat. But what does it taste like? I set out to find out.

Sorghum is one of the most prevalent crops in the world, but unlike elsewhere in the world, in America it is mostly used to feed livestock and farm animals used as work animals since it's a reliable and steady form of fuel. Sorghum has not been considered human food, until now. But that is fast changing, since the nutritional profile of sorghum makes it one of the most healthy superfood options you can put on your plate, or into your body.

An ancient grainthat originated in Africasorghum is now grown in many countries, including the US.It isnaturally gluten free and Non-GMO and is known as an environmental superstar since it grows using fewer natural resources such as water.

Adding to sorghum's growing status as a her food sorghum is also efficient at pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere and replacing it into the soil, something that is being studied with a Bezos Earth Fundgrant at Salk Institute'sHarnessing Plant Initiative, to see if a hearty form of the plant could be bred to help reverse CO2 emissions and slow down climate change.

Read More: If you are someone who shops and eats with the climate in mind, these are the Best and Worst Whole Grains for the Environment.

Sorghum is packed with health benefits: High in protein, fiber and antioxidants. Just to start, it has 10 grams of protein in a half a cup of sorghum, along with 6 grams of fiber and a host of healthy nutrients such as: Potassium, Niacin, Thiamin, Vitamin B6, and Magnesium, and Maganese. Sorghum's benefits reads like a multivitamin of whole foods.

Whole grains like sorghum are a dieter's friend. As with other whole grains that are minimally processed, sorghum supports a healthy digestive system, by helping slow down absorption of calories, whichkeeps you feeling full longer than refined simple carbs that spike blood sugar, releasing insulinthat messages to the cells that, unless they can useall that surging glucose, the body willstore it, as fat, to be used later.

Read More:5 Reasons to Add Sorghum to Your Diet, Starting with Protein

Because it is gluten-free, sorghum is now used in more than350 productsinthe US market, including pasta, syrup and an alcohol that helps fill out the nutritional value of other foods.

When you look for pasta and read labels, if choosing the noodles with the most protein is a priority, you may also want to try edamame pasta,red lentil pasta, or chickpeapasta which have 43 grams, 22 grams and 21 grams of protein per serving, respectively. For a complete list of healthy high-protein pasta options, check out Healthy Pastas With the Most Protein.

When I tried sorghum pasta, I expected it to taste and act like other gluten-free noodles I had tasted, which were nothing special and always lacked that perfect pasta "bite" when cooked. And while these sorghum noodles are indeed gluten-free (since they are not made from wheat flour but from sorghum flour) they actually tasted more like chewy, al dente whole wheat pasta,with a mild nutty flavor, which liked.

The Sorghum Spaghetti from Gundry MD promises to be one of the healthiest organic sorghum superfoods on the planet, but it tastes as good as your favorite pasta, only a little tougher. Dr. Steven Gundry is known as the doctor who helps solve "leaky gut syndrome" by helping people change their diets and avoid lectins. He has written several best-selling books on the topic, includingThe Plant Paradox,The Longevity Paradox, andThe Energy Paradox.

My sorghum experiment started when I added olive oil, minced fresh garlic cloves, pepper corn, pine nuts and salt into a sauce pan and heated it up as a way of creating a "pure" taste test and not smothering the sorghum noddles with red sauce. I wasn't following any specific recipe, just winging it and adding more garlic than a person should, which is always my go-to.

In a separate pot, I boiled the water and added the Sorghum Spaghetti from Dr. Gundry, whose write up promises that sorghum is not only gluten-free and better for you but will also help with digestion. Since it is lectin-free, anyone with an allergic reaction or sensitive to lectin foods will appreciate this pasta option.

After the oil mixture began to slightly burn and the pasta was al dente, I combined the noodles into the sauce and mixed them around. Because they were still sticking together, the pasta started to smoke and slightly crisp up, like a nest of potatoes, but this one of spaghetti. I added shaved dairy-free parmesan (but if you are not trying to be plant-based regular would do) and the dish began to take on a life of its own.

Once cooked through, the noodles were slightly crisp and brown on the outside, and the whole dish was more of a hardened hash brown like (but you could call it pasta-browned) meal than I had anticipated. In other words I may have burned the noodles but instead of getting soggy they became crisp, which I love.

I sat down with a glass of rose and "cut" the pasta into small fork-fulls and it was absolutely delicious. Perhaps because I didn't need the noodles to taste exactly like the ordinary while pasta variety, I actually preferred the sorghum pasta to my usual fare.

Despite all the health benefits of sorghum, what most people don't realize (and the nutrition labels won't tell you) is that many of the beneficial ingredients in the sorghum pass right through you and are not absorbed by the body. That's because the way the protein, specifically, is encased in the shaft is virtually impossible for the body to break down.You might as well be eating it still wrapped in its cardboard box.

According to a food scientist at Purdue, Sorghum offers unique properties that make it healthier than wheat pasta, such as the fact that it's full of antioxidants, fiber, protein and trace minerals your body needs. Yet it also has such a solid fiber wall surrounding the protein that most of these nutrients pass through the body unabsorbed only an estimated 46 percent of the sorghum protein you eat gets absorbed, the Purdue report says. (The Purdue work led to the development ofa type of sorghum variety that is 87 percent digestible in laboratory tests.)

But if low or steady blood sugar is a goal, then avoiding the spikes that follow a heaping bowl of regular refined wheat pasta can make sorghum the perfect choice for your spaghetti, since the very fact that sorghum is hard for humans to digest means you can eat more of it and your body holds onto fewer calories that you're consuming.

According to one source, the glycemic index of white pasta is between 42 and 45, while whole grain barley has a GI score of 25. Whole wheat pasta has a GI score of about 37.

The GI index of sorghum is in the medium low range but the actual number depends on the product, since sorghum itselfis in the medium to low range.

In a study of the glycemic index or load of sorghum products versus those made with other flour sources, including pasta, the GI of sorghum-based foodswas "significantly lower than that of their respective control (wheat/rice-based) foods. All sorghum-based foods showed significantly lower than their respective control (wheat/rice-based) foods."

When it comes to pasta, everyone gets to make the choice whether they want to indulge in their favorite regular wheat version, or try to lower their GI impact with whole wheat, or go even further and increase their fiber and protein intake with pasta made from sorghum flour. The taste and texture will be similar, if you cook it just to your liking.

Read more from the original source:
"I Tried Sorghum Pasta and Here's What It Tasted Like" - The Beet

image:Scientists find a new link between fructose and diabetes aggravated by dietary fat view more

Credit: Cell Metabolism

(LOS ANGELES) June 9, 2022 - Those who are habitually inclined to consume burgers, fries and soda may think twice about their dietary choices following scientists latest findings about high-fat, high-fructose diets.

As reported in their recent publication in Cell Metabolism, a collaborative team, led by Xiling Shen, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), discovered that a high-fat diet can increase fructose metabolism in the small intestine, leading to release of a fructose-specific metabolite called glycerate into circulation. Circulating glycerate can subsequently cause damage of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, increasing the risk of glucose tolerance disorders, such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Although T2DM is typically found in older people, it has been occurring more and more in younger people. In the past two decades alone, T2DM has doubled in prevalence. Equally concerning are the health risks associated with T2DM, including heart disease and stroke.

In T2DM, there are insufficient levels of insulin, a hormone that regulates movement of glucose into peripheral cells; this usually occurs due to insulin resistance, a condition in which peripheral tissues do not respond normally to insulin and take in less glucose. To compensate for this, the pancreas overworks to secrete additional insulin, with eventual loss of this ability. The result is an unhealthy accumulation of glucose in the blood.

Much research has been conducted about the influence of high fructose and fat diets on the development of TD2M. Past research has shown that fructose produces deleterious effects in the liver. However, additional research has shown that these effects are normally avoided by fructose metabolism in the small intestine; the liver only joins in the metabolic process when fructose levels are excessive.

These paradoxical observations prompted Dr. Shens group to explore fructose metabolism in the small intestine to determine its role in the development of T2DM. Experiments with mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD), along with matched quantities of sugar, resulted in higher fructose metabolism in the small intestine. Higher amounts of the fructose metabolic intermediate, glycerate, were produced in the small intestine and released into the systemic blood circulation. These observations suggest that a HFD can elevate fructose metabolism in the small intestine and increase production of circulating glycerate.

Further support for glycerates role in diabetes was obtained when the scientists examined information from patients with a rare disease called D-glycerate aciduria; these patients exhibit abnormally high levels of circulating glycerate. The teams analysis revealed that this abnormality posed a significant and independent risk factor for diabetes among these patients. Additional experiments were conducted to test the effects of circulating glycerate and fructose given to normal and HFD mice. The results indicated that the observed glucose impairments in the glycerate-injected mice were due to a decrease in circulating insulin, rather than insulin resistance. Histologic data confirmed reduced numbers and elevated deaths of the insulin-producing beta cells in pancreatic islet regions in glycerate-injected mice, resulting in decreased levels of insulin.

Collectively, the scientists findings suggest that a prolonged exposure to high levels of glycerate due to excessive consumption of western diets rich in dietary fructose and fat poses the risk of damage to the pancreatic islet cells and development of diabetes.

Elucidating the processes for metabolizing the foods that we eat is a crucial component in optimizing our nutritional health, said Ali Khademhosseini, Ph.D., TIBIs Director and CEO. Understanding these processes also allows us to develop more targeted and personalized treatments for increasingly prevalent diseases like diabetes.

Authors are: Yanru Wu, Chi Wut Wong, Eric N. Chiles, Allyson L. Mellinger, Hosung Bae, Sunhee Jung, Ted Peterson, Jamie Wang, Marcos Negrete, Qiang Huang, Lihua Wang, Cholsoon Jang, David C. Muddiman, Xiaoyang Su, Ian Williamson, and Xiling Shen.

This work was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (R35GM122465, R01DK119795, T32DK007568-30S1, R01GM087964, and R01AA029124), Department of Defense (DOD grant W81XWH1910676), National Research Foundation of Korea (2021R1A6A3A-14039681 and 2021R1A6A3A-14039132), an AASLD Foundation Pinnacle Research Award in Liver Disease, and an Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation Award.

PRESS CONTACT

Stewart Han, shan@terasaki.org, +1 818-836-4393

Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation

###

The Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (terasaki.org) is a non-profit research organization that invents and fosters practical solutions that restore or enhance the health of individuals. Research at the Terasaki Institute leverages scientific advancements that enable an understanding of what makes each person unique, from the macroscale of human tissues down to the microscale of genes, to create technological solutions for some of the most pressing medical problems of our time. We use innovative technology platforms to study human disease on the level of individual patients by incorporating advanced computational and tissue-engineering methods. Findings yielded by these studies are translated by our research teams into tailored diagnostic and therapeutic approaches encompassing personalized materials, cells and implants with unique potential and broad applicability to a variety of diseases, disorders and injuries.

The Institute is made possible through an endowment from the late Dr. Paul I Terasaki, a pioneer in the field of organ transplant technology.

Experimental study

Not applicable

Glycerate From Intestinal Fructose Metabolism Induces Islet Cell Damage and Glucose Intolerance

9-Jun-2022

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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Western diets rich in fructose and fat cause diabetes via glycerate-mediated loss of pancreatic islet cells - EurekAlert

Moving pictures animate in the eyes of the many young children who grew up watching television. Many of whom captivated by the fairytales depicted in the animation styles of many media companies such as Pixar Animated Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, Or the remarkable Walt Disney Studio Animation.

They watch the heroes in their glory, portrayed with muscular, thin abled bodies as they defeat the usually obese hideous villains. All, of course with the support of their love interest, the conventionally attractive damsel in distress.

Even dating back to the beginning of the 1920s many of easily influenced children witnessed as villains in countless animated movies and shows were portrayed as obese and glutinous while the hero, usually a male, was portrayed as thin and able bodied. While not all animated films fall into this category, it does not bury the influence it had on society as we know it today as it enforces the idea that good shall be portrayed as thin while bad shall be portrayed as fat or obese. The way society understands concepts is the foundation of existing media that portrays diverse groups of people. This has led to the idea that fatness is an inherently bad feature, causing there to be unfair assumptions on ones character such as the claims that overweight people are glutinous or lazy.

Some examples of overweight or obese characters who are depicted as villainous include: Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland), Ursula (The Little Mermaid), and Governor Ratcliffe (Pocahontas). The negative traits these characters are associated with, include but are not limited to: greed, gluttony, selfishness, wrath, loudness, entitlement, and cruelty. Children are fed and taught these types of negative associations and stereotypes by the media they consume that hold the bad representations.

Opposite of that, Media representation of what society deems attractive can also affect and influence the youth. With the appearance not only of female heroines on the screens of many children animated movies portraying images of small waists and a thin figure but also with the appearance of Women that are airbrushed on the cover of magazines to hide flaws. This aids in encouraging the vulnerable youth to be unsatisfied with their life, flaws, body and shape. This often leads to low self-esteem issues which can later form into an eating disorder due to the media creating unhealthy or even unrealistic image of beauty.

Horrifically, it has been witnessed through varies trends the encouragement of various eating disorders in the media. Many hashtags have been recorded to be in various social media such as the infamous #thinspo or #thinspiration which is a hashtag that depicted many pictures of thin actors, models, celebrities, or influencers with captions that glorify eating disorders. Those posts are shared with the cruel intent of inspiring people to get thinner with unhealthy means that easily lead to obsession causing various eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.

Thinspiration blogs has sadly been dating back from as far as 2001 with yahoo deleting over a hundred websites that violated their policies as they were deemed pro-anorexia.

In the warped online world held by digital media, pro-anorexia is seen only as a lifestyle instead of a mental health condition, which in-turn, calls for the need of a diet consistent with the means of their lifestyle.

Commercials from the 90s found that there has been diets encouraging women to swallow tapeworm pills which not only can create blockage of bile ducts, but can also grow unsafe physical symptoms that are associated with eating disorders and it also encourages behaviors such as over-exercising, restrictive eating, and purging.

Studies have found that 35% of dieting becomes obsessive and 20% to 25% of those diets turn into eating disorders. And with the bad representation of plus sized people in the media, the pro-anorexia community, and the overall link between digital media and eating disorders; Its easy to get mixed up into the obsessive cycle of unhealthy diets, excessive workouts, and an overall toxic mindset.

As the writer of this article, I encourage you to diet safely and to treat your body with love. Please seek help and advice from these following hotline if suffering with mental issues in the United Arab Emirates: (8004673)

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Unraveling the connection between digital media and eating disorders. - Teen Ink

When trying to lose weight quickly, half the battle is watching the foods and drinks you put into your body. There are ways to do so, but it seems as if toxic diet culture has shown how to do so unhealthily. Believe it or not, you can manage your diet and lose weight without the negative effects of rapid weight loss.

Whether you're in a rush to shed some pounds, or looking for easy, quick ways to lose weight, these eating habits will help you get to your goals safely. We spoke with medical expert board members The Nutrition Twins, Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, and Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT, authors of The Nutrition Twins' Veggie Cure, to give you the rundown on what you should do and why it works. Then, check out the 4 Best Drinks for Rapid Weight Loss, Say Dietitians.

Don't skip out on the most important meal of the day for rapid weight loss!

According to the Nutrition Twins, consuming a solid amount of protein in the morning helps to keep blood sugar and energy levels stable.

"Protein slows digestion and prevents peaks and crashes that lead to feelings of hunger and sugar cravings, even when you've consumed enough calories," says The Nutrition Twins. "Most people have carb-heavy breakfasts that result in energy crashes a few hours later, and as a result, they end up eating extra calories to get more energy."

They further state that getting adequate protein at breakfast can promote weight loss, helping to prevent overeating later on as well as energy lulls that prevent exercising.

"Plus, focusing on protein typically means that high-calorie, carb-heavy breakfasts are avoided, making weight loss even more significant," says The Nutrition Twins.

However, they warn to be sure to include a small portion of a wholesome carbohydrate with that protein to fuel the brain and muscles. This will also prevent cravings.

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Fiber plays an important role in sustainable weight loss. It comes packed in wholesome foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes, which help to fill you up with few calories and that stabilize your blood sugar.

"When you fill up on high-fiber foods, you'll automatically crowd out the more calorie-dense fare, which will help trigger weight loss," says The Nutrition Twins. "Plus, fiber promotes fullness and research has shown that it may reduce the calories you eat through the day which is key when you're looking to shed fat at a consistent pace."

RELATED: 43 Best High-Fiber Foods For a Healthy Diet

Late-night snacking has been shown to cause slower fat burning, weight gain, and trouble sleeping.

"People typically drop several pounds quickly by cutting these calories that are consumed right before the body (and metabolism) slows down to sleep," says The Nutrition Twins.

However, if you don't think you could go to bed without something in your stomach, The Nutrition Twins suggest consuming something small and light, such as a drink that has anti-inflammatory, and weight loss benefits.

For example, a 5-minute Turmeric Golden Milk is soothing and low-calorie that may help you fall asleep with a happy stomach, but also be just what you need to quickly shed excess pounds.

"Research shows chronic inflammation is linked to weight gain and this chai-like beverage contains three of the most potent spices for fighting it: ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon," say The Nutrition Twins.

Cinnamon also helps to fight nighttime cravings by regulating and stabilizing blood sugar. This prevents dips that lead to mood swings. It also stops emotional choices that typically cause you to reach for sugar for a quick energy boost.

"Eating salad (or vegetable soup) before a meal has been shown to reduce caloric intake at that meal," says The Nutrition Twins. "It takes the edge off hunger, and fills you up with fewer calories, yet with volume from water and fiber."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The Nutrition Twins suggest that when you're looking to lose weight quickly in a sustainable way, one of the best ways to do so is to add more nutrient-packed, wholesome, low-calorie food into your diet. Typically, before a meal. This will get you to eat a lot less of the heavy fare foods at the meal.

They suggest trying a colorful "detox" salad or this vegetable lentil soup, which consists of a whopping 13 grams of protein and 7 grams of fiber to keep you feeling satisfied.

Magnesium has the power to relax your body, which in return helps to lower cortisol: a steroid that can treat inflammation. When cortisol levels are high, it makes weight loss challenging and has been linked to belly fat.

"Cortisol levels rise and stay high with a stressful lifestyle, so relaxing the body with regular consumption of magnesium throughout the day is helpful to prevent cortisol from continuing to thwart weight loss efforts," says The Nutrition Twins.

The Twins suggest trying these daily magnesium routines at meals to help:

Kayla Garritano

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5 Best Eating Habits for Rapid Weight Loss at Any Age, Say Dietitians Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

A plant-based diet might help improve health by managing weight and preventing illness, and doctors should take note, according toa commentary published May 26 in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

Doctors with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit organization of health experts advocating for vegan diets, wrote in the commentary thatmedical experts should be more aware of the evidence-based benefits of diets rich in plant foods like greens, beans, fruits, and nuts.

Plant-based diets may be especially helpful forsix common health concerns, research suggests, ranging from cancer and cognitive decline to weight management and stable blood sugar.

Eating a mostly vegan diet could help you maintain a healthy weight, according to the commentary. The authorscite a 2013 study of more than 70,000 people which found vegans tended to weigh nearly 10 pounds less, on average, than their omnivorous peers.

Diets rich in plants may make it easier to maintain a lower weight because plant foods tend to be lower in calories than processed foods or animal products.Switching to a plant-based diet can help people lose weight , too a 2022 study found vegan diet led to weight loss in 12 weeks, compared to either a Mediterranean diet or participants' typical eating habits.

Vegan diets may also help with weight loss by feeding the gut microbiome, beneficial bacteria in your digestive system, with plenty of fiber, according to a 2019 study. Fiber may also help you feel full for longer after eating, according to dietitians.

Fiber is an important nutrient for long-term health and disease prevention, according to the commentary, and plant-based diets have been linked to lower risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and prostate cancer.

Adding more vegetables, fruits, and grains may also prevent cancer by increasing your intake of antioxidants, micronutrients that help reduce inflammation and stress on the cells.

Plant based diets are also linked to significantly lower risk of diabetes, according to the commentary, and fiber likely plays a role.

Fiber slows the digestion and absorption of glucose as your body breaks down carbohydrates for energy, which helps prevent dips and spikes in blood sugar, dietitians previously told Insider.

As a result, plant foods may also help people who have diabetes manage their blood sugar too, research suggests.

The vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients in plant foods could also stave off cognitive decline, evidence suggests. A 2020 study found that combined with other healthy lifestyle factors, eating more vegetables, grains, and legumes was linked to significantly lower risk of Alzheimer's disease.

As a result, plant-based diets should be recommended to fight Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, according to the commentary.

A wealth of evidence suggests eating plants is great for your heart by adding beneficial foods and reducing foods like meat linked to heart disease.

Studies show vegetarians and vegans have significantly lower risk of heart attacks and similar issues than omnivores.

Plant foods tend to be low in cholesterol and saturated fat, both of which have been linked to risks for heart health.

More research is needed, but the health benefits of eating plants may be protective against the pandemic, according to the commentary. Healthy plant-based diets were linked to significantly lower risk of severe coronavirus infection, one 2021 study found.

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6 health reasons to try a plant-based diet, according to doctors - Insider

New research finds lifestyle changes combined with weight loss drugs enabled people with obesity and overweight to maintain a weight loss of nearly 11 percent for up to five years.

Weight loss greater than 10 percent offers significant health benefits, according to researchers.

If weight loss can be sustained, metabolic abnormalities can be reversed with meaningful benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many other diseases where obesity is the root cause, lead study author Michael A. Weintraub, MD, lead author and fellow in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Healthline.

Weintraub and the team presented their findings on June 12 at ENDO 2022, the Endocrine Societys annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Our real-world study, said Weintraub. Demonstrates that anti-obesity medications along with lifestyle changes can achieve significant weight loss of 10 percent body weight and that loss is maintained over the long-term.

The study analyzed data from 428 patients at an academic weight management center.

This research can help guide medical practitioners toward designing personalized, accessible treatment regimens to aid patients in long-term weight loss, he said.

All patients received counseling on following a low-glycemic diet and exercise by the obesity medicine specialist during their office visits and were offered additional counseling with a registered dietitian.

Medical intervention included FDA-approved and off-label weight-loss medications that included metformin, phentermine, and topiramate.

By their final visit, patients were using an average of two medications for weight management.

Followed for about 5 years, participants maintained an average weight loss of 10.7 percent.

In our study, we were surprised at the magnitude of weight loss achieved and maintained, said Weintraub. By adding anti-obesity medications, patients lost and maintained on average 10 percent of their body weight, which in this cohort was 23 pounds.

He added that a third of patients could maintain 15 percent or more long-term weight loss.

If weight loss can be sustained, metabolic abnormalities can be reversed with meaningful benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and many other diseases where obesity is the root cause, Weintraub said.

Brian Quebbemann, MD, FACS, bariatric surgeon, and founder of The N.E.W. Program in Orange County, California, said for many people with overweight or obesity, a 10 percent weight loss would not mean they end up with moderate weight.

Yes, a weight loss of 10 percent provides some health benefits, said Quebbemann.

He compared it to a person with a blood pressure of 200 over 140 who is better off if theyre given medications that lower their blood pressure to 180 over 120. At that level, they still would be considered to have high blood pressure.

Yes, they are better off, but they are still a long way from achieving a healthy blood pressure, said Quebbemann.

Suchitra Rao, MD, bariatric physician at OConnor Hospital in San Jose, California, said that when used appropriately, weight loss drugs can help people reach their weight loss goals in a safe manner.

However obesity being a chronic, complex, and relapsing disease, she noted. It may be necessary to continue them long term for maintenance of weight loss and prevent weight regain.

Rao added that beneficial lifestyle interventions to promote and maintain weight loss include behavioral modifications for adapting our lifestyle to eat a healthy diet, learning to stay active regardless of age, stress management, and getting adequate sleep.

According to Minisha Sood, MD, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, while all medications have potential side effects, the real issue is whether the benefits of a medication outweigh its risks.

In the case of obesity, oftentimes the benefits do outweigh the risks, she said. Metformin, topiramate, and phentermine have been used for many years with success in a safe manner.

Sood pointed out that these medications have manageable side effects and can be easily discontinued if someone experiences intolerable adverse effects.

However, when the medication is discontinued, weight can increase.

Jonathan Purtell, a registered dietitian at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, said relying solely on lifestyle changes to lose weight does not work for many people.

The two most common would be hypothyroidism and PCOS, which would require not only lifestyle changes but prescribed medication as well, he said.

Asked if weight loss drugs are the best option for people seemingly unable to lose weight by diet and exercise alone, he said they could be a useful tool.

New research finds a combination of weight-loss drugs and lifestyle changes can result in significant long-term weight loss.

Experts say that once the medications are stopped, weight may return.

They also encourage people trying to lose weight to thoroughly assess their lifestyle to make healthy changes that encourage weight loss.

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To Lose Weight and Keep it Off, Study Finds Lifestyle Changes and Medications Can Be Crucial - Healthline

WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Chair of the Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, led a Subcommittee hearing on cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The hearing focused on the Government Accountability Offices (GAO) most recent annual report detailing duplication, overlap, and fragmentation and ways for Congress and federal agencies to address these issues.

To watch Senator Hassans questioning, click here.

In her opening remarks, Senator Hassan stated, Congress and executive agencies actions to address the nearly 1,300 recommendations made in these annual reports have not only saved taxpayer dollars, but also have improved agency performance and resource management, and led to better delivery of services to the American people. I remain firmly committed to ensuring that Congress does its part to eliminate duplication, overlap, and fragmentation to achieve cost savings for taxpayers and improve program outcomes.

During the hearing, Senator Hassan questioned the head of the GAO, Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, on the GAOs most recent recommendations.

Senator Hassan asked Dodaro about the recommendation for the Department of Energy to run a pilot program to examine alternative ways to dispose of nuclear waste. Dodaro discussed the Energy Departments work to try to dispose of the waste both safely and efficiently, and urged Congress to help this project move forward.

In addition, the report detailed 200 federal programs across 21 agencies that are all related to combating diet-related chronic health conditions. Senator Hassan raised the need to consolidate duplicative programs, and Dodaro discussed the importance of Senator Hassans bipartisan bill to require agencies to identify duplicative or unnecessary programs and work with Congress to eliminate them.

Senator Hassan also addressed the IRS tax return backlog that is hurting Granite State families and small businesses. In particular, the backlog has been fueled by the fact that IRS requires amended tax returns to be filed on paper. In the 2019 duplication report, GAO recommended that Congress authorize IRS to add a scannable barcode to forms filled out on a computer, but submitted on paper. This would allow IRS to process returns more quickly and reduce data input errors, which could save millions of dollars every year. My legislation with Ranking Member Paul would give IRS this authority, and I will continue to urge my colleagues to consider taking up this commonsense reform, said Senator Hassan.

The hearing is part of Senator Hassans ongoing efforts to save taxpayer dollars and cut waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. The2020 government funding bill that was passed into lawincluded Senator HassansOversight.gov Authorization Act, which permanently established an online hub of information about Inspectors General and their work. The funding bill also included theStopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, which Senator Hassan cosponsored, to curb federal improper payments to the deceased and save taxpayer dollars. Furthermore, in 2019, President Trump signed into lawbipartisan legislationintroduced by Senators Hassan and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to close a loophole in the Medicaid rebate program that results in big pharmaceutical companies overcharging taxpayers. The bipartisan legislation will save taxpayers approximately $3.1 billion over the next 10 years.

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Senator Hassan Leads Hearing on Cutting Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in the Federal Government - Maggie Hassan