Sunlight found to bring big benefits for psoriasis sufferers
Some of you will have noticed that there has been some focus, of late, on the beneficial properties of vitamin D within the body. For example, recently on this blog I have written pieces exploring the potential for sunlight/vitamin D to help moderate body weight and enhance muscle strength, fitness, balance and reaction time. And [...]
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More evidence links vitamin D with body weight
Back in March I wrote a blog which explored the concept that low levels of vitamin D may predispose the body the fatty accumulation. Part of the evidence for this comes from a couple of studies [1,2] cited in the blog which found this association in female teenagers and women aged 16-22 respectively. More recently, [...]
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B-vitamin supplementation reduces risk of macular degeneration
Back in April 2008 one of my blogs focused on the nutrients which might help prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration (the most common cause of visual loss in the elderly). The blog highlights the potential of omega-3 fats and zinc to be or particular value here. However, more recently, evidence has emerged which [...]
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Could sitting in the sun make you fitter?
For a while now I have been interested in the role that vitamin D plays in health. My interest was recently heightened when I discovered earlier this year that my own vitamin D levels were very deficient. As I revealed here, I since commenced on a programme of supplementation (3000 IU per day). I’ve also [...]
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Evidence supports the incorporation of nuts in the diet
I spent last week in Portugal, and while I was there my girlfriend and I had a lot of food given to us by local farmers. We were lucky enough to be given quite a stash of fresh produce including citrus fruit, onions, broad beans, fresh peas, lettuce and cabbages. We were also given a [...]
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Coconut oil supplementation found to have benefits for health
The poor reputation that saturated fat has led many to avoid consuming not just animal foods such as red meat and cheese, but certain plant foods that are rich in this brand of fat, notably coconut. However, the fact that there is no evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease (see here), not that fat [...]
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Another study attests to the value of low-carb eating in diabetes
While diabetics are often advised to eat a diet rich in carbohydrate, common sense dictates that this is not likely to be the best dietary approach for managing their condition (seeing as diabetes is primarily a problem with carbohydrate regulation, specifically a tendency to raised blood sugar levels). In type 2 diabetes, the underlying issue [...]
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Low vitamin D levels linked with raised risk of metabolic syndrome
Vitamin D used to be a nutrient that was believed to be important for bone health and little else. But in recent years, it has grown to be associated with an increasing number of conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis, improved mood and enhanced immunity. New research suggests that another condition that might be [...]
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Study suggests the burgeoning rates of obesity are due to people eating more, not exercising less
When an individual is aiming to lose weight, the popular wisdom dictates they need to eat less and/or exercise more. Of these two main options, my general belief is that dietary change gets generally more rapid and significant results than exercise in this respect. The evidence suggests that exercise (say walking, running or swimming) is [...]
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Higher fat, rather than high-carb, diet appears to have benefits for nursing mothers and their babies
Partly because I have never and am never going to breastfeed, I am wary about advocating it. I do genuinely believe that women who want to benefit should be given every available support and encouragement. On the other hand, if a woman chooses not to breastfeed or cannot breastfeed for some reason, then as a [...]
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