Ive recently stumbled upon a few articles touting a return to the diets of the 1950s, which were influenced by war-time rationing. They say people ate healthier. What are the pros and cons of following a typical diet from that era?

Sincerely,

Rick

Dear Rick,

These days there are several ways to eat healthy and sometimes this can be confusing for people. Recently, there has been an interest in returning to a 1950s style of eating, but did people really eat healthier back then?

While it is true that foods were rationed, whether or not this led to healthier eating is unclear. Careful planning was in place so that everyone was allowed enough to eat, with men having a 3,000 calorie per day allotment, which is more than is recommended today. While rations were meant to be used by the named recipient, a bartering system developed so that people were sure to obtain the commodities they felt they needed. Even though sugar was restricted, corn syrup was substituted in recipes. It is more likely the difference in lifestyle that contributed to a healthier diet than rationing of goods.

There are several differences in American life today as compared to the 1950s. For starters, the median American household income was $5,000. That means that half the population made more than $5,000 a year and half made less.

In 2019, the median household income was $63,000. For every dollar spent on food in 1955, 25 cents went to restaurants; now it is more than half. Much of this includes high-calorie foods like pizza, burgers and fries, which brings us to another big difference: portion sizes. Compare portion sizes of foods from the 1950s to today:

Interestingly, there are some areas of diets that are actually healthier today than back then. Vegetables were often overcooked, decreasing their nutritive value. Today people are careful to prepare vegetables al dente in order to preserve nutrition. The public has also been educated to choose lean proteins, even if sometimes they prefer not to. Seldom is animal fat used as a seasoning. When I was growing up, people kept a tin of bacon grease on the stove to season vegetables and fry meats. There is no such tin in my kitchen today.

People could definitely benefit from getting back to the basics. Enjoy a home-cooked meal for dinner with fruits and vegetables filling half the plate. Eat dinner as a family; it is one of the most important activities you will share with your children. Dine out as a treat instead of a convenience. And as always, keep it simple and be healthy!

-

Leanne McCrate, RDN, LD, CNSC,

aka Dear Dietitian, is an award-winning

dietitian based in Missouri.

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Diets of the 1950s pros and cons | News, Sports, Jobs - Marshalltown Times Republican

An animal expert has warned pet owners could bekilling their dogs and cats byfeeding thema vegan diet.

TV and radio dog guru, Anna Webb, has issued the stark warning after some pet food brands released vegan ranges claiming that it is nutritious to feed dogs and cats in this way, and helps to reduce their 'carbon pawprint'.

Anna has studied natural nutrition and therapies with the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT).

She said:You would never give a rabbit a steak, and its the same thing.

Dogs and cats are carnivores and by feeding them diets which dont contain meat, instead of being ethical you are actually being very unethical, and putting your pets at risk of health issues overtime.

All of these products are very processed, and just like humans are being discouraged to eat processed foods, the same logic applies so are our pets.

Obesity related conditions like heart disease and diabetes in dogs is at record levels and that is because most complete pet food is 30 to 70 per cent grains, which dogs cannot metabolise.

"These foods are bulked out with ingredients like rice, barley and beet pulp, which are all sugars. Not only bad for their teeth, these grain heavy foods pile on the pounds, evident with one in two dogs now considered obese or overweight in the UK ."

Anna advocates feeding dogs and cats a biologically appropriate raw food diet, and practices what she preaches with her own pet dogs, Mr Binks and Prudence, and her cat, Gremlin.

The animal guru,who is a vegetarian herself, added: You should feed a natural diet to dogs and cats, ideally organic meat.

"Vegans think that they are giving a vegan diet to their pets because they love animals, but the irony is they are being unethical, even cruel to their own canine best friends.

I cannot bear the thought of the unethical treatment of animals, and Im not a fan of industrial farming. I choose to be a vegetarian, but I wouldnt impose my diet choices onto my dogs as I understand that were different species.

Dogs have to eat meat, and we dont. Humans consume 75 per cent of the meat produced globally, so if every human became a vegetarian or a vegan we just might make a difference and save the planet.

Meat is actually bad for humans, because it causes high cholesterol, but dogs - because they are carnivores - cannot get high cholesterol.

Anna advises that, if vegans feed plant-based diets to their dogs and cats for long periods of time, the pets will lack key fatty acids and amino acids only found in meat and be prone to disease.

She continued:Cats in particular will die being a vegan because they are obligate carnivores and they need taurine in their diet, which they can only get from meat.

You would think they were fine for a year, maybe longer but eventually they will begin to fall apart.

Excerpt from:
Anna Webb: Dogs and cat owners who feed their pets a vegan diet could be killing them - Glasgow Times

Plenty of attention has been paid to the ketogenic diet in recent yearsits supporters have touted its potential health benefits when it comes to weight loss, cardiovascular health and even brain health. A new study explores this idea further when it comes to the brain, and has delved into whether a low-carb diet could potentially reverse, or at least slow down, aging in the brain.

The study, led by Stony Brook University professor Lilianne Mujica-Parodi, suggests that early signs of aging in the brain can be prevented by a low-carb diet, or whats commonly referred to as the ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet aims to release ketones into the bloodstream for the body to use stored fat as its main source of energy, rather than blood sugar or glucose from carbohydrates. Once the body starts breaking down ketone moleculesa process called ketosisit begins to run on the energy provided by fat, rather than glucose.

The ketogenic diet needs to be pretty substantial with fats and proteins in order to be sustainable. It typically includes things like grass-fed meats, eggs, cheese, butter, oils and avocados, and almost entirely avoids common carbs like bread, wheat or rice.

In the latest study, Mujica-Parodi and her team wanted to examine whether the effects of a low-carb diet could be seen in the brains of people who may be showing some early signs of aging, but who were presymptomatic.

First, the researchers found that aging in the brain, seen in the form of destabilized communication between brain regions, typically starts to set in when a person is in their late 40s, particularly around age 47. This tends to be associated with weaker cognition.

They identified brain network stability as a biomarker for aging, and found that having type 2 diabetes increased this destabilization of brain networks. They then tested how the brains network stability would respond to diet changes.

One group of participants was placed on a standard diet, which metabolizes glucose as its primary fuel. The second group was given a low-carb diet, meaning they were only eating things like meat or fish with saladand no sugar, grains or starchy vegetables. In the low carb diet, the main fuel source was ketones.

The researchers found that the people who were metabolizing ketones on the low-carb diet saw increased brain activity and stabilized networks in brain regions.

The bad news is that we see the first signs of brain aging much earlier than was previously thought, Mujica-Parodi said in a news release.

However, the good news is that we may be able to prevent or reverse these effects with diet, she continued, by exchanging glucose for ketones as fuel for neurons.

Part of the power behind ketones, Mujica-Parodi argues, is that the brain eventually loses its ability to use glucose as fuel, something known as hypometabolism.

Therefore, if we can increase the amount of energy available to the brain by using a different fuel, the hope is that we can restore the brain to more youthful functioning, she said.

The medical consensus on the ketogenic diet is varied. Some experts note that it can be restrictive and possibly even dangerous for people with certain conditions, while other research has shown it may hold protective benefits when it comes to the brain and overall health.

In the Alzheimers research world, ketones are actually being explored for their potential as a therapeutic pathway for the disease. One recent study conducted by a researcher at the National Institute on Aging found that increasing the number of ketones in the body may help fight Alzheimers.

Diet, overall, has been examined in various studies to better understand how its linked to improved brain function and mental health. Some experts say that a healthy diet and exercise are some of the most effective interventions for preventing, or slowing down, the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Mujica-Parodi says her next steps are to examine brain fuel further, and to extend the research to older populations.

Go here to read the rest:
Could a Low-Carb Diet Reverse Aging in the Brain? - Being Patient

The specialists of the European medical Institute of obesity compared diet of the presidents of Russia and USA Vladimir Putin and Donald trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez. It is reported by the El Models.

According to the publication, the 67-year-old Russian President uses lean meats, fatty fish and low-fat varieties, fruit, vegetables, cereals and eggs, and he tries not to eat the products of deep processing and drinking alcohol. If necessary selects the wine or beer. For Breakfast, Putin prefers eggs, in scrambled eggs or raw quail, fruit and dried fruit, buckwheat porridge with the addition of millet and honey. For dinner he has milk or dairy products. In addition, to maintain good physical shape head of the Russian state to help sports, including swimming, martial arts, skiing and hockey.

The American President suffers from a mild form of obesity. At 73, he still loves fast food. His food is burgers, sandwiches with eggs and cheese, bacon and sauces, the Buffalo wings with fries, pizza, etc. However, trump does not drink alcohol, he prefers Coca-Cola light with caffeine and chocolate shakes. He is not as active lifestyle as the Russian counterpart.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel prefers German food. In her diet sausages with gravy and mashed potatoes, cheese fondue and beer. For dinner she eats vegetables.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chose a balanced Mediterranean diet: greens, salads, meat and grilled fish. In addition, the Prime Minister firmly eat Breakfast, drink lots of water, from alcoholic beverages drinking sparkling or red wine.He also leads an active lifestyle, three times a week, runs or rides a Bicycle.

See the rest here:
European experts told about the diet of Putin, trump and Merkel - The Saxon

There is a significant correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD); up to 40% of patients with diabetes develop CKD as a direct result of diabetic complications. Patients with CKD have a need for a disease-specific diet, making management of diabetes challenging. Patients with CKD also face increased risk of complications associated with malnutrition, necessitating dietary needs and nutritional requirements tailored to individual patients.

Researchers led by Nourhan Khaled Hassan, MD, recently conducted a systematic review to examine nutritional requirements for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic renal failure. The researchers screened 85 articles; of those, 22 were analyzed and included as per the study criteria. The data search included PubMed using medical subject headings terms, and a literature review through the Cochrane library and the British Medical Journal. Results were reported online in Current Diabetes Reviews [doi:10.2174/15733998166662000211120402].

The review highlighted nutrients and minerals needed to be maintained within a specified range defined by a patients needs and conditions. Dietary restrictions to prevent disease progression were also necessary. Patients receiving hemodialysis required vigorous monitoring of blood glucose levels as well as strict management of dietary intake. Risk-to-benefit ratios were utilized to determine optimal protein intake in patients on hemodialysis.

Dietary requirements should be individualized based on the patients disease severity and progression. Assessment of the patients previous and current diet, as well as matching it with their dietary requirements and preferences is crucial, the researchers said.

Excerpt from:
Nutritional and Dietary Requirements in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and CKD - DocWire News

Sat, Mar 07, 2020 - 5:50 AM

STROKE and heart disease (cardiovascular disease) remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. The best way to prevent cardiovascular disease is to make the right choices for your health; prevention is better than cure. Smoking cessation and good control of your blood pressure are two measures that can be implemented if you want to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Importantly, your food choices can make a major impact on your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Benefits of a healthy lifestyle

Lifestyle behaviour can determine your risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies, including the US Health Professionals study, the Nurses' Health Study, and the Swedish Primary Prevention Lifestyle Study (September 2014, Journal of the American College of Cardiology) showed that adherence to good lifestyle measures such as not smoking, maintenance of normal body mass index, daily exercise, healthy diet and avoidance of excessive alcohol can reduce cardiovascular disease by up to 80 per cent or more when compared to those who did not achieve any of these five healthy behaviours.

Impact of diet

The trend of decreasing whole grain, vegetable and fruit consumption and marked increase in meat and egg consumption in China over a 10-year period (2003 to 2013) has been associated with about a 27 per cent increase in stroke and more than 200 per cent increase in death from heart artery disease.

The current trend of many guidelines emphasises a reduced intake of animal fat and an increased intake of fruits and vegetables. Among the diets recommended, the Mediterranean diet has the strongest evidence for stroke risk reduction. The Mediterranean diet is low in sugar, high in fat (with 40 per cent of the calories from "good" fats such as olive and canola oil), high in plant-based foods (such as whole grains, vegetables and legumes), and favours fruits as desserts.

In a comparison of the impact of dietary patterns on risk of heart artery disease, the Seven Countries Study reported that the risk of heart artery disease for a Mediterranean diet was about 7 per cent of that in Finland and about 40 per cent of that in Japan.

Even if you consider yourself healthy and have not had heart disease or stroke, you can benefit from a healthy diet. Data from the Spanish Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) study showed a reduction of stroke by 47 per cent in five years when compared to a low-fat diet.

Benefit is seen also in those with a past history of heart attack or stroke. Interestingly, in the prevention of stroke and heart artery events for those with a past history of heart attack (secondary prevention), when comparing the results of the Lyon Diet Heart Study (using the Mediterranean diet) with the landmark Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (using the cholesterol-lowering medication called simvastatin), those on a Mediterranean diet for four years had about a 70 per cent reduction in heart events and stroke as compared to about a 40 per cent reduction in recurrent heart events after six years of simvastatin.

Eggs and health

The question that is often asked is whether it is good to eat eggs. The view that regular egg intake is harmless is based on data from two USA studies which reported that there was no downside from egg consumption except for diabetics, for whom an egg a day doubled the risk of heart disease. However, this should be interpreted in the context that more than 90 per cent of US participants in the study had a poor healthy diet score and hence, it is difficult to assess the incremental effect of eggs alone as the baseline diet was unhealthy. In a population such as in Greece, where the predominant diet is the Mediterranean diet, it was reported that an egg a day increased the risk of heart artery disease fivefold among persons with diabetes.

Red meat and the gut

The latest US dietary guidelines published in 2016 emphasises the importance of reducing saturated fat intake. Compared to white meat (chicken, fish), red meat (beef) has more saturated fat, and has about four times as much carnitine. The yolk of a 65g egg contains about 237mg of cholesterol and 250mg of carnitine.

In humans, when gut bacteria digest foods containing carnitine (red meat and egg yolks) or choline (egg yolk), a metabolite called trimethylamine (TMA) is produced and this metabolite is then further processed in the liver to become trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO). While the consumption of red meat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and premature death, recent studies on TMAO have shown that beyond the detrimental effects of saturated fat, there are other mechanisms which increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.

An article in the Journal of The American Association of Medicine published in June 2019 reported that studies have shown that people with higher blood levels of TMAO have more than twice the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular problems, as compared to those with low levels of TMAO.

What kind of bacteria you have in your gut is dependent on your diet. If more red meat is consumed, the gut will adjust to produce more "meat-eating" bacteria. For long term vegans who start eating red meat, the bacteria may initially not be able to produce TMA in the gut, and hence TMAO levels will not be high. If the vegans keep on consuming red meat, more "meat-eating" bacteria will be produced and more TMA will be produced and TMAO levels will increase.

Consumption of alcohol

While mild to moderate consumption of alcohol appears to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, heavy consumption increases the risk, especially for stroke, and in particular bleeding in the brain. Heavy drinking is also associated with sudden cardiac death, failure of the heart pump function, stroke, and disease of the lower limb arteries but a lower risk of heart attack. In particular the increase in stroke risk is likely to be due to the increase in blood pressure and the development of an abnormal heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an important cause of stroke.

Keeping the doctor away

Those at risk of cardiovascular disease should consider a mainly plant-based diet with plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes, more polyunsaturated oils (olive and canola), and consumption of fish and poultry rather than red meat or processed meat. Avoidance of deep-fried food and food with trans fats, reducing intake of sugar and potatoes, and eating fewer egg yolks will contribute to a more healthy diet. Hence, if you want to keep the doctor away, start making the right choices for food today.

This series is produced on alternate Saturdays in collaboration with Singapore Heart, Stroke & Cancer Centre

Originally posted here:
The right diet can prevent strokes and heart attacks - The Business Times