http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/nutrition/ Nutritional Information. Answers to questions about nutrition, obesity, herbal and nutritional supplements, and the role of diet in improving and maintaining your health. en-us Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:05:01 EST Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/nutrition/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109174345.htm Intermittent access to foods rich in fat and sugar induces changes in the brain which are comparable to those observed in drug dependence, according to new research. The findings may explain how abstinence from these foods contributes to relapse eating among dieters as well as related eating disorders. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109174345.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109173614.htm After one year, a low-calorie, low-fat diet appears more beneficial to dieters' mood than a low-carbohydrate plan with the same number of calories, according to a new report. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091109173614.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104123025.htm Most weight-control strategies emphasize energy-restricted diets and increased physical activity -- and most are not effective over the long term. In a study of a "weight-acceptance" intervention, researchers found that there could be long-term beneficial effects on certain eating behaviors using a weight-acceptance intervention approach. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104123025.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104181155.htm Childhood obesity in the United States is reaching epidemic proportions. With more than one fourth of advertising on daytime and prime time television devoted to foods and beverages and continuing questions about the role television plays in obesity, a new study examines how food advertising aimed at children might be a large contributor to the problem. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104181155.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104085230.htm According to a new study, eating a meal quickly, as compared to slowly, curtails the release of hormones in the gut that induce feelings of being full. The decreased release of these hormones, can often lead to overeating. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104085230.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001164100.htm Unstable carotid artery plaques -- those in danger of rupturing and leading to a stroke -- contain more inflammation and significantly less omega-3 fatty acids than asymptomatic plaques, according to new research. This suggests that increasing the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in carotid artery plaques could either prevent strokes or improve the safety of treatment. Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001164100.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026192900.htm Your genetic make up may predispose you to drink more but may not increase your genetic risk for alcoholism. New research pinpoints genetic pathways and genes associated with levels of alcohol consumption but not with alcohol dependence in rats and humans. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026192900.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028134631.htm It has long been suggested that healthy folate levels in expectant mothers goes hand in hand with healthy nervous system development in their children. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091028134631.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026231845.htm Feeding high-fat food to pregnant mice can affect their pups' brain development in ways that may cause them to be more vulnerable to obesity and to engage in addictive-like behaviors in adulthood, a new study has found. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026231845.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026231950.htm Brain pleasure centers became progressively less responsive in rats fed a diet of high-fat, high-calorie food, a new study has found. As the changes occurred, the rats developed compulsive overeating habits -- and became obese. The overeating continued even when it meant the rats had to endure an unpleasant consequence (a mild foot shock) in order to consume the food. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026231950.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091025162457.htm Existing research has shown that rates of binge eating are almost identical between white and African-American adult women. A new study finds that among college age women, rates are higher among Caucasian women. When do rates begin to match up, and why? Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091025162457.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091020162237.htm A diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates, known as the "ketogenic" diet, quickens recovery in paralyzed rats after spinal cord injury, according to new research. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091020162237.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091020192206.htm One of the many reasons to pick a low-calorie and low-fat diet is that host of epidemiological studies have suggested that such a diet may delay the onset or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Now a study tests the effects of several diets for their effects on Alzheimer's disease pathology. Unexpectedly, the researchers found that a high protein diet apparently led to a smaller brain. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091020192206.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091015084549.htm A naturally produced molecule called resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, has been shown to lower insulin levels in mice when injected directly into the brain, even when the animals ate a high-fat diet. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091015084549.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013171229.htm People often eat food to feel better, but researchers have found that eating chocolate or drinking water can blunt pain, reducing a rat's response to a hot stimulus. This natural form of pain relief may help animals in the wild avoid distraction while eating scarce food, but in modern humans with readily available food, the effect may contribute to overeating and obesity. Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013171229.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929203024.htm The consumption of fish has no major role in the prevention of heart failure, according to results from a large prospective population study. The study, which was started in 1990 and involved all men and women over the age of 55 living in a suburb of Rotterdam, found no difference in the risk of developing heart failure between those who did eat fish and those who didn't. Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090929203024.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005181623.htm Individuals who follow the Mediterranean dietary pattern -- rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains and fish -- appear less likely to develop depression, according to a new report. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005181623.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001095603.htm Both household food insecurity and childhood overweight are significant problems in the United States. Paradoxically, being food-insecure may be an underlying contributor to being overweight. A study of almost 8,500 low-income children ages 1 month to 5 years suggests an association between household food insecurity and overweight prevalence in this low-income population. However, sex and age appear to modify both the magnitude and direction of the association. Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001095603.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001081221.htm Children who eat sweets and chocolates every day are more likely to be violent as adults, according to a new study. Researchers found a higher percentage of adults who were violent at age 34 had eaten sweets every day, compared to those who were non-violent. This link persisted after controlling for other factors. Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091001081221.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922160102.htm There is new evidence that depression, obesity and alcohol abuse or dependency are interrelated conditions among young adult women but not men. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922160102.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922095806.htm The Switch program -- "Switch what you Do, View, and Chew" -- has been shown to be capable of promoting children's fruit and vegetable consumption and lowering 'screen time'. Researchers tested the program and report that it offers promise for use in youth obesity prevention. Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922095806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090924231902.htm Teenagers' attitudes to diet and weight are shaped by their social class, according to new research. Policymakers have long insisted on the importance of understanding young people's health and eating habits but this is the first study to show how everyday practices and perceptions of different social classes contribute to variation in the diet, weight and health of teenagers. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090924231902.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921162146.htm Thin friends who eat a lot could put your waistline at risk, according to a new study which examines how other peoples' weight and food choices influence how much we eat. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921162146.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914110533.htm Blame your brain for sabotaging your efforts to get back on track after splurging on an extra scoop of ice cream or that second burger during Friday night's football game. Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090914110533.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915192230.htm Zits, pimples, bumps and blemishes are a young person's worst nightmare. Collectively they are known as acne, a very common skin condition that affects millions of adolescents. Now a Norwegian study has investigated the links between acne, diet and mental health issues in both males and females. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915192230.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915113542.htm A difference in brain activity patterns may explain why some people are able to maintain a significant weight loss while others regain the weight, according to a new study. Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090915113542.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090912124050.htm Wine tastes different to those who are given information on the product before a wine tasting, tests where the test people received information on the wine before and after the tasting have shown. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090912124050.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090910114138.htm US colleges with the biggest student drinking problems have so far failed to turn the tide, according to a new study. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090910114138.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903163552.htm New research has illuminated a previously unknown leptin-serotonin pathway in the brain that simultaneously promotes appetite and bone mass accrual. The research explains how leptin -- well-known appetite-suppressing hormone -- acts in the brain. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903163552.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909064910.htm Researchers in Germany investigated the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake, plasma antioxidant micronutrient status and cognitive performance in healthy subjects aged 45 to 102 years. Their results indicated higher cognitive performance in individuals with high daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909064910.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909122104.htm Researchers urges local, state, and federal governments, businesses, and community leaders to promote family mealtimes as a matter of public policy. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090909122104.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908151334.htm Using an animal model of binge eating, researchers discovered that deactivating the basolateral amygdala, a brain region involved in regulating emotion, specifically blocked consumption of a fatty diet. Surprisingly, it had no effect on the rat wanting to look for the food repeatedly. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908151334.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817143604.htm The polyphenols found in red wine are thought to help prevent Alzheimer's disease, and new research has shown that some of those compounds in fact reach the brain. Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090817143604.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903110800.htm Eat less, exercise more. Now there is new evidence to support adding another "must" to the weight-loss mantra: eat at the right time of day. A study has found that eating at irregular times -- the equivalent of the middle of the night for humans, when the body wants to sleep -- influences weight gain. This is the first causal evidence linking meal timing and increased weight gain. Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903110800.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811143548.htm Rats fed a high-fat diet show a stark reduction in their physical endurance and a decline in their cognitive ability after just nine days, new research shows. Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811143548.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902112115.htm New research from Denmark shows that guinea pigs subjected to vitamin C deficiency have 30 percent less hippocampal neurones and markedly worse memory than guinea-pigs given a normal diet. Like guinea pigs, humans are dependent on getting vitamin C through their diet, this leads to the speculation that vitamin C deficiency in pregnant women may also lead to impaired early brain development. Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902112115.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902195238.htm Thousands of children and adolescents are using anti-obesity drugs that in the UK are only licensed for use by adults. The number of young people receiving prescriptions for these drugs has increased 15-fold since 1999, but most stop using them before they could expect to see any benefit, according to a new study. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090902195238.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901082410.htm Adolescent and young children of obese mothers who underwent weight-loss surgery prior to pregnancy have been found to have a lower prevalence of obesity and significantly improved cardio-metabolic markers when compared to siblings born before the same obese mothers had weight-loss surgery. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901082410.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901150942.htm New peer-reviewed research on military health issues is being presented this week at the Military Health Research Forum, a scientific meeting hosted by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The studies focus on topics including potential treatments for spinal cord injury, nutrition's impact on cognitive performance in pilots and the effectiveness of a family-based reintegration program. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090901150942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090829092042.htm Scientists have identified cells in the stomach that time the release of a hormone that makes animals anticipate food and eat even when they are not hungry. The finding, which has implications for the treatment of obesity, marks a landmark in the decades-long search for the timekeepers of hunger. The work reveals what the stomach "tells" the brain. Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090829092042.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130601.htm A team of scientists from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have pinpointed two groups of neurons in fruit fly brains that have the ability to sense and manipulate the fly's fat stores in much the same way as do neurons in the mammalian brain. The existence of this sort of control over fat deposition and metabolic rates makes the flies a potentially useful model for the study of human obesity, the researchers note. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818130601.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090816220424.htm A newborn's risk for brain and spinal-cord defects rises if the mother has low blood levels of the nutrient choline during pregnancy, researchers have discovered. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090816220424.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185712.htm Regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, and people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese, according to a new study. Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090803185712.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025239.htm Childhood obesity has quadrupled in the last 40 years, which may mean today's children become the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than their parents, a leading obesity expert says. Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810025239.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811161259.htm A new study looks at binge drinking's impact on attention and visual working memory processes in young Spanish university students. Results indicate that binge drinkers expend more attentional effort to complete a given task, and also have problems differentiating between relevant and irrelevant information Fri, 14 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811161259.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811080751.htm Scientists in Germany have discovered a close correlation between over-indebtedness and obesity. According to a new study, over-indebted Germans are more likely to be overweight or obese than the population in general. The authors attribute this to the high cost of a healthy diet, lack of awareness of the availability of cheaper but nonetheless wholesome foods, but most particularly to the psychological and social stress experienced by over-indebted individuals. Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811080751.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810162144.htm It's important for parents to use the right approach when trying to combat childhood obesity. Restrictive feeding practices, or forbidding certain foods, may not always be the best solution. A child's inhibitory control, a behavior similar to self-control, may be more important than parental restrictions. An article and related editorial explore the relationship between a child's low inhibitory control, parental restrictive feeding practices and childhood weight gain. Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090810162144.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811161306.htm Elderly individuals who had a diet that included higher consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereal and fish, and was low in red meat and poultry and who were physically active had an associated lower risk of Alzheimer disease, according to a new study. In a separate study, higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet was associated with slower cognitive decline, but was not associated with a decreased risk of dementia. Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090811161306.htm