Cancer cells have an unnatural appetite for certain amino acidsnonessential amino acids that healthy cells produce themselves, usually in amounts sufficient for ordinary metabolism. If cancer cells are denied these amino acids, they are weakened. They grow and proliferate more slowly. It is possible, moreover, that they could be more vulnerable to conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The potential for diet therapies against cancer is being explored by a team of Cancer Research UK scientists. Working with endogenous tumor mouse models, these scientists found that removing the amino acids serine and glycine from the diet slowed the development of lymphoma and intestinal cancer.

Another finding from the study is especially encouraging. Serine and glycine deprivation appears to leave tumors more susceptible to chemicals in cells called reactive oxygen species, the very chemicals that become more abundant in cells when chemotherapy and radiotherapy are administered.

Additional details appeared April 19 in the journal Nature, in an article entitled Modulating the Therapeutic Response of Tumours to Dietary Serine and Glycine Starvation. The article noted that previous studies showed that restricting dietary serine and glycine can reduce tumor growth in xenograft and allograft models. By working with genetically engineered mouse models of intestinal cancer (driven by Apc inactivation) or lymphoma (driven by Myc activation), the Cancer Research UK scientists hoped to extend diet therapy research to more clinically relevant autochthonous tumors.

Transferring mice from normal chow diet to experimental diets 6080 days after birth showed that [a serine- and glycine-free] diet significantly extended survival in these models carrying pre-malignant lesions, wrote the articles authors. The increased survival following dietary restriction of serine and glycine in these models was further improved by antagonizing the anti-oxidant response.

The article also observed that serine and glycine deprivation may not be effective in all cancers.

Disruption of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (using biguanides) led to a complex response that could improve or impede the anti-tumour effect of serine and glycine starvation, the article noted. Notably, Kras-driven mouse models of pancreatic and intestinal cancers were less responsive to depletion of serine and glycine, reflecting an ability of activated Kras to increase the expression of enzymes that are part of the serine synthesis pathway and thus promote de novo serine synthesis.

Essentially, the diet was less effective in tumors with an activated Kras gene, such as most pancreatic cancer, because the faulty gene boosted the ability of the cancer cells to make their own serine and glycine. Being aware of such effects could help clinicians select which tumors could be best targeted by diet therapy.

"Our findings suggest that restricting specific amino acids through a controlled diet plan could be an additional part of treatment for some cancer patients in future, helping to make other treatments more effective, said Oliver Maddocks, Ph.D., the lead author of the Nature paper and a Cancer Research UK scientist at the University of Glasgow.

A Cancer Research UK spokesperson added that clinical trials could show whether a specialized diet that lacks serine and glycine would be safe and help slow tumor growth in people. Additional research could also work out which patients would be most likely to benefit, depending on the characteristics of their cancer.

"This kind of restricted diet would be a short-term measure and must be carefully controlled and monitored by doctors for safety, cautioned Prof. Karen Vousden, Cancer Research UK's chief scientist and study co-author. Our diet is complex, and proteinthe main source of all amino acidsis vital for our health and well-being. This means that patients cannot safely cut out these specific amino acids simply by following some form of home-made diet."

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Diet Therapy Could Slow Cancer by Cutting Certain Amino Acids - Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (press release)

For anyone who grew up during the 90s or 2000s, the day where you walked into your science class and saw a cart with a big tube television strapped down by a polyester belt was a glorious day. It meant that for one day, your textbooks could stay put in that way-too-heavy backpack because it was time to watch Bill Nye the Science Guy. We cant deny the joy that he brought us, making learning science fun and because of that, most of us have a tendency to get pretty nostalgic over ol Bill.

Even after we graduated, Bills work in the science community continued through his work on various projects (such as assisting in the development of a sundial that was sent into space with the Mars-destined Curiosity rover) and publishing a book on science and Creationism but last summer, he caught the publics attention when he announced his return to television in the Netflix original series Bill Nye Saves the World, which premieres tomorrow.

If theres anything better than the fact that once again, well be able to watch Bill Nye make science fun again, its that hes been more vocal about climate change, recently. After all, hes a science guy and there is no way to ignore the facts. Last month, he appeared on a short segment on Big Think, where a viewer who went vegan after watching Cowspiracy and Before the Flood asked for his opinion on eating a plant-based diet to help the planet.

Although Bill admitted that animal agriculture has an adverse effect on the planet and that his diet is becoming increasingly vegetarian, he also spoke of recent advances to breed cattle that emit less methane not exactly the simplest solution to fighting climate change.

However, when asked about plant-based diets in his recent Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA), Bill told readers that plant-based diets are the future. Not only that, hes excited about vegan food, which, for so long, has had a reputation for being a bland, tasteless substitute for the real thing.

Bill went on to say I look forward to food preparations that are not derivative bits, as we say in comedy writing. Instead of coconut bacon, for example, I hope there is just delicious stand-alone coconut preparations. Cooking is a competitive business. I look forward to the emergence of new plant-based dishes.

While we may disagree with Bill on coconut bacon(its delicious), were glad that it looks like Bill Nye, the man that taught a generation to love science, is on board with not only the plant-based future of foodbut eating more plant-based foods to save the planet!

Changing your diet can be difficult, but if youre ready to start adding more plant-based foods to your diet, check out theFood Monster App(available for bothiPhone and Android). The Food Monster App featuresover 8,000 vegan recipes ( over new 10 recipes are added daily) along with special diet categories such as whole foods, gluten-free, soy-free, and more. Lead image source: Bill Nye the Science Guy/Facebook

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Bill Nye the Science Guy Thinks Plant-Based Diets Are the Future! - One Green Planet

The Daily Meal is announcing the inductees into its Hall of Fame for 2017. The Hall of Fame honors key figures, both living and dead, from the world of food. We are introducing the honorees, one per weekday, beginning today. Our first inductee this year is Clarence Birdseye.

By perfecting the process of flash-freezing food safely, Clarence Birdseye (18861956) transformed the food industry and made more nutritious food more easily available to more people than ever before.

Birdseye was born in Brooklyn but brought up as an outdoorsman, learning taxidermy while a teenager. He attended but did not graduate from Amherst College, instead taking a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in New Mexico and Arizona as an assistant naturalist. (Among his tasks was killing off coyotes.) From 1912 to 1915, while on government assignment in Labrador, he began research on the fast-freezing of food, a process suggested by his observation of the ice fishing of local Inuits.

Birdseye returned to the U.S. in 1917 and continued his experiments in 1922 at the Clothel Refrigerating Co., with a seven-dollar investment in an electric fan, brine, and ice then founded his own company, Birdseye Seafoods Inc. This venture went bankrupt in 1924, but by then Birdseye had improved his processes, finding that fish froze best between two refrigerated surfaces under pressure. He established the General Seafood Corporation in 1925 in Gloucester, Massachussetts, and two years later expanded into freezing other foods, including produce and meats, and debuted his patented Quick Freeze Machine. Two years after that, he sold both his company and patents to Goldman Sachs and the Postum Co. for $22 million. After Postum became General Foods Corp., it launched the highly successful Birds Eye Frozen Food Co., shipping its products all over America in refrigerated boxcars.Last year, Americans spent about $53 billion on frozen food, and there is scarcely a home freezer in the land that doesnt contain at least a few products descended, in one way or another, from Birdseyes frozen fish.

Frozen food became immensely popular in America, as it preserved the color, texture, and nutritional value of a wide range of foods better than canning (which requires that foods be heated, thus neutralizing some of the vitamins and minerals they contain). Last year, Americans spent about $53 billion on frozen food, and there is scarcely a home freezer in the land that doesnt contain at least a few products descended, in one way or another, from Birdseyes frozen fish.

During his lifetime, Birdseye also raised foxes for their pelts, pioneered frozen food grocery display cases, and obtained more than 200 patents for products including light bulbs, harpoons, and paper made from sugarcane pulp. He died of a heart attack in New York City in 1956 but not before, as the National Inventors Hall of Fame puts it, he improved the nation's diet and created a new industry based on his innovative food preservation processes.

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The Daily Meal Hall of Fame: Clarence Birdseye - The Daily Meal

Ormond Beach Observer

County encourages private beach owners to remove hurricane debris that could prevent sea turtle nesting Ormond Beach Observer It's estimated that only about one in 1,000 to 10,000 hatchlings will make it safely to sexual maturity, which is at about 25 to 30 years of age. Jennifer Winters, Volusia County's sea ... Human food is not a nutritious diet for them. Do not disturb ...

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County encourages private beach owners to remove hurricane debris that could prevent sea turtle nesting - Ormond Beach Observer

A south Bucks care home has been rated as requiring improvement after an unannounced inspection visit by a care watchdog in January in response to information of concern it had received about the service, including reports of understaffing.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found the service at Woodland Manor Care Home, in Chalfont St Peter, was not always safe, with peoples medicines not managed and administered safely, and there were concerns about the care home being understaffed, which meant people did not always get the required assistance they needed.

Residents said that while staff at the 64-room care home were responsive to their call bells being answered, there was a delay in their care being met, with one commenting: Staff are rushed off their feet they come to turn off my call bell but are not able to provide the assistance I need at that time.

Evidence of this was seen when one person, who was on a pureed diet, was left to eat unsupervised which inspectors said could suggest they could be at risk of choking.

They saw another resident calling out for help for around 10 minutes but staff were not available to assist and did not hear them.

However individual staff members were praised by both residents and their relatives, who described staff as compassionate, patient, kind, enthusiastic, genuinely caring, so amazing, professional, genuine and always helpful.

They also said the home had a happy and welcoming atmosphere.

Inspectors further found that people were involved in making decisions about their care, however the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were not followed for people who lacked mental capacity.

The report also highlighted that the service was not always well led, with peoples records not suitably maintained and there was no registered manager in place to oversee things.

However an interim manager was in post and had started to bring about positive changes to the service, inspectors said.

The full report can be viewed at http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-2397990471.

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Care home 'requires improvement' after residents' care delayed due to understaffing issues - Bucks Free Press

The study sheds light only on an association, as the researchers were unable to determine an actual cause-and-effect relationship between sipping artificially sweetened drinks and an increased risk for stroke and dementia. Therefore, some experts caution that the findings should be interpreted carefully.

No connection was found between those health risks and other sugary beverages, such as sugar-sweetened sodas, fruit juice and fruit drinks.

"We have little data on the health effects of diet drinks and this is problematic because diet drinks are popular amongst the general population," said Matthew Pase, a senior research fellow in the department of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine and lead author of the new study.

"More research is needed to study the health effects of diet drinks so that consumers can make informed choices concerning their health," he said.

In the older-than-45 group, the researchers measured for stroke and in the older-than-60 group, they measured for dementia.

"The sample sizes are different because we studied people of different ages," Pase said. "Dementia is rare in people under the age of 60 and so we focused only on those aged over 60 years for dementia. Similarly, stroke is rare in people aged under 45 and so we focused on people older than age 45 for stroke."

The researchers analyzed how many sugary beverages and artificially sweetened soft drinks each person in the two different age groups drank, at different time points, between 1991 and 2001. Then, they compared that with how many people suffered stroke or dementia over the next 10 years.

Compared to never drinking artificially sweetened soft drinks, those who drank one a day were almost three times as likely to have an ischemic stroke, caused by blocked blood vessels, the researchers found.

They also found that those who drank one a day were nearly three times as likely to be diagnosed with dementia.

Those who drank one to six artificially sweetened beverages a week were 2.6 times as likely to experience an ischemic stroke but were no more likely to develop dementia, Pase said.

"So, it was not surprising to see that diet soda intake was associated with stroke and dementia. I was surprised that sugary beverage intake was not associated with either the risks of stroke or dementia because sugary beverages are known to be unhealthy," Pase said.

In response, Lauren Kane, a spokeswoman for the American Beverage Association, issued a statement from the group that said low-calorie sweeteners found in beverages have been proven safe by worldwide government safety authorities.

"The FDA, World Health Organization, European Food Safety Authority and others have extensively reviewed low-calorie sweeteners and have all reached the same conclusion -- they are safe for consumption," the statement said.

"While we respect the mission of these organizations to help prevent conditions like stroke and dementia, the authors of this study acknowledge that their conclusions do not -- and cannot -- prove cause and effect. And according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), many risk factors can increase an individual's likelihood of developing stroke and dementia including age, hypertension, diabetes and genetics. NIH does not mention zero calorie sweeteners as a risk factor," the statement said. "America's beverage companies support and encourage balanced lifestyles by providing people with a range of beverage choices with and without calories and sugar so they can choose the beverage that is right for them."

"This article provides further evidence though on artificially sweetened beverages and their possible effects on vascular health, including stroke and dementia," said Dr. Ralph Sacco, professor and chair of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, about the new study.

"We believe the pathways of which artificially sweetened beverages would affect the brain are probably through vascular mechanisms," Sacco said.

"When the authors controlled for hypertension and diabetes and obesity the effects diminish, which implies that some of the effects of artificially sweetened beverages could still be going through a vascular pathway," he said about the new study. "Many strokes are caused by hardening of arteries; and the risk of dementia is also increased by the hardening of arteries in large and small vessels. So, I believe the mechanisms may be through vascular disease, though we can't prove it."

Heather Snyder, senior director of medical and scientific operations at the Alzheimer's Association, called the new study "a piece of a larger puzzle" when it comes to better understanding how your diet and behaviors impact your brain.

"It's actually really more of your overall diet and overall lifestyle that is linked to cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk, and we do know that heart disease and diabetes are linked to an increased risk of dementia," said Snyder, who was not involved in the new study.

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Diet sodas may be tied to stroke, dementia risk - CNN

Eve Glazier, M.D., and Elizabeth Ko, M.D 5:47 p.m. ET April 20, 2017

Elizabeth Ko, MD, left, and Eve Glazier, MD(Photo: Reed Hutchinson, Credit Photo: Reed Hutchinson/UC)

Dear Doctor:

Do I really need to take a multivitamin? My sisters are convinced that you can't get all the nutrients that you need without one, but it seems to me that as long you're eating right, you're covered.

Dear Reader: Multivitamins are the most widely used supplements in the United States. It is estimated that between one-third and one-half of all Americans take a multivitamin each day. As a result, your question is one that comes up often in our practices.

And while we can't offer specific advice, we can share and explain the information we give to our patients.

The short answer is that for most patients, we believe that if you're eating a balanced diet, one that includes whole grains, a variety of vegetables and fruits, adequate lean protein and dairy products, there is no need for a multivitamin.

However, when a patient's diet isn't ideal, then a multivitamin can offer insurance for the deficient vitamins and/or minerals.

Of course, there are exceptions. Pregnant women and women who are trying to become pregnant need at least 400 micrograms of folate per day, a B vitamin that helps to prevent neural tube defects. For these women, a prenatal vitamin or a daily folic acid supplement is recommended. Nursing women have unique nutritional needs that may call for supplementation.

Some elderly adults whose appetites have diminished and who therefore don't eat a balanced diet may benefit from adding a multivitamin. Someone on a restricted diet, such as a vegan, typically needs a B12 supplement.

A strict vegetarian may require additional zinc, iron or calcium. And for individuals with chronic conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, B12 deficiency or malabsorption, or a history of gastric bypass surgery, then supplemental vitamins and minerals are necessary to maintaining good health.

So what are vitamins, exactly?

They're nutrients that we need in small quantities to maintain various metabolic functions that, when taken in total, add up to good health. Vitamins help the body to produce energy, ward off cell damage, facilitate in the absorption and utilization of minerals, and play varying roles in the regulation of cell and tissue growth.

Vitamins must be taken in food because the body either doesn't produce them in adequate quantities, or doesn't produce them at all.

Vitamin D is a bit of an outlier. It's an essential nutrient that does not naturally appear in food in adequate quantities, but is produced when our skin is exposed to the ultraviolet B rays in sunlight. It is also available in fortified foods like milk, fish and mushrooms.

Take an honest look at your diet. If you find some nutritional holes, our advice is to adjust and improve your eating habits. If you do decide to make a multivitamin part of your daily regimen, keep in mind that it cannot take the place of a balanced and healthy diet.

Not only do fruits, vegetables, whole grains and leafy greens contain vitamins, they also provide fiber, which is important to good health. Whole foods also contain trace nutrients and other useful compounds that no pill or supplement can re-create.

Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health. Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu.

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Ask the Doctors: Multivitamins can't replace healthy diet - Elmira Star-Gazette

ITSno state secret, regularly downing a full-fat Coke is not the healthiest of life choices.

Armed with the info, chances are you will save a Coca Colafor treat day and opt for the diet stuff day-to-day.

Butwhen it comes to potential health complicationsboth full-sugar and diet versions of most fizzy drinkscome with a helping of risks, according to the science.

And thats why health experts and dietitians recommend drinking plenty of water to quench your thirst, reserving a can of pop for the odd day when you deserve a little something naughty.

Countless studies have examined the health pros and cons of sugary and diet versions.

Researchers digging into the full-sugar varieties have found links with decreased brain function and memory, increased risk of diabetes and heart attack.

While their colleagues focusing on the diet alternatives have, perhaps more surprisingly, found similar concerns.

Diet fizzy drinks, which are artificially sweetened, have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke, even excessive weight gain.

But if this isnt enough to make you put down the pop for good, here is a run down of Coca Cola versus Diet Coke, according to the scientific findings.

In a standard 330ml can of regular full-fatCoke, there are 35g of sugar, which is around seven teaspoons.

To put that into perspective, that is the recommended daily intake of sugar for an adult in just one can.

That sugar is taken into our body as calories and, if it is not burnt off, gets converted into fat and sits snugly on our waistlines.

That alone should be enough to cause concern.

Obesity greatly increases your risk of potentially life-threatening conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some types of caner and stroke, according to the NHS.

But it is not just an expanding tummy you need to look out for.

A 2002 study published in the journal Neuroscience found that high levels of refined sugar, such as those found in Coke, actually deprived the brain of a chemical necessary for learning and memory.

Rats who were kept on a diet packed with sugary drinks showed a decreased ability in theirhippocampus part of the brain that controls memory and learning after several months.

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Another study, conducted in 2012, found just one can of fizzy drink increased the risk of heart attack by 20 per cent compared to those who drank no soda.

The study, published in the journal Circulation, looked at the drinks intake of more than 42,000 men and discovered there were almost 4,000 cases of heart disease over a 22-year period in men who drank more soda.

The researchers attributed this to an adverse change in fat in the body and inflammation caused by the drink, both of which can damage the heart.

Still need convincing?

In 2015 an infographic, based on research by health writer Wade Meredith, was released explaining how Coke contains so much sugar your body should vomit but the phosphoric acid cuts the flavour and helps keep it down.

Within 40 minutes of gulping the drink your blood sugar has spiked, your pupils have dilated, your blood pressure rises and your body produces more of the happy chemical dopamine, which is the same way heroin works on your system.

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Youd be forgiven for reaching for a cold can of Diet Coke thinking it is a healthier option, the clue is the name or so you thought.

But all may not be as it seems.

Diet Coke, like many other diet drinks, contains high levels of artificial sweeteners, which are not immune fromcontroversy.

Diet Coke, specifically, contains aspartame.

Earlier this year a study claimed there was noevidence artificially-sweetened beverages such as Diet Coke are better for staying trim or slimming than sugar-filled versions.

They said diet drinks do not cut the risk of developing obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

Experts warn they may even cause weight gain, by stimulating peoples sweet tooth and causing them to eat more.

Sugar

Sugar is a natural ingredient that is cultivated from sugar cane.

They are carbohydrates that provide energy for the body and its most common form is glucose.

Some are also found naturally in foods like fruit, vegetables and milk.

The body does not distinguish between the different types of sugar and breaks them down in exactly the same way.

But just because it is naturally occurring doesnt mean it is without health risks.

Too much sugar can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Aspartme

Aspartme is an artificial sweetener used instead of sugar to make food taste sweeter.

It is low in calories and up to 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Aspartame is used all over the world as a sugar substitute in thousands of foods and drinks, including cereals, sugar-free chewing gum, low-calorie soft drinks and table-top sweeteners, according to the NHS.

But it has been subject to more scare stories than any other sweetener.

There have been reports it is linked to an increased chance of brain tumours, cancer, premature birth, liver damage and allergies.

However theEuropean Food Safety Authority conducted a comprehensive review into the evidence in 2013 and concluded it was safe for human consumption.

Another theory is sweeteners alter gut bugs, making it harder for the body to use sugar.

Artificial sweeteners have also been linked to increased levels of hunger by trickingthe brain into thinking it is getting a sugary, high-calorie treat.

Speaking of weight gain, there is even a theory that those who drink diet drinks eat more during the day because they think they are entitled to more calories.

It has also been linked to an increased risk of diabetes thats without the excess sugar in normal coke.

Experts warned that just a couple of glasses of sugary or diet pop such as Diet Coke a day more than doubles their risk of the disease.

One theory is sweetened beverages can affect how the body uses insulin.

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Even more worrying is the effect it is thought to have on those trying for a baby.

Diet drinks may reduce a womans chance of getting pregnant during IVF and it is all to do with the artificial sweeteners in the beverages.

Those who supped low-calorie pop or put sweeteners in coffee produced poorer eggs and embryos, a Brazilian study found.

The study concluded: Patients should be advised about the adverse effect of sugar and mainly artificial sweeteners on the success of assisted reproduction.

And that isnt all!

A study from the University of Miami linked diet drinks to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke results that have been similar in studies on full fat soft drinks suggesting that diet drinks are in fact no better for us.

More than 2,000 people were asked to keep a diary of what they ate and drank for the study, which found those who drank diet soda were 48 per cent more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

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Based on the evidence above, it is fair to say that neither option is a good option.

The popular drinks have both been linked to increased risks of obesity which can lead to type two diabetes, some cancers, heart attack and stroke.

Separately they have also been linked to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke without obesity being factored in.

So, if you want to be health conscious next time youre feeling parched your best option is a glass of water.

As tempting as a cold can of coke might be, it just doesnt seem worth it for your health.

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What's better for you, sugar-laden Coca Cola or Diet Coke? We review the science and find they're both AS bad as ... - The Sun

PEOPLE.com

Vanessa Hudgens Dishes on How She Lost 20 Lbs.: 'You Can Eat Bacon' PEOPLE.com As for her #1 diet tip? You don't really need to count calories as much as you think you do, she says. Think about eating things that are going to fuel you, give you sustainable energy. And don't be afraid of fats. You can eat bacon; you can eat ... and more »

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Vanessa Hudgens Dishes on How She Lost 20 Lbs.: 'You Can Eat Bacon' - PEOPLE.com