Monthly Archives: June 2011

Meal Timing for Weight Loss

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Most people understand that the food choices and calorie balance are both important considerations when planning a weight loss strategy. In fact these are often the only lifestyle changes made in some weight loss diets. Little attention is given to … Continue reading →

Posted in Weight Loss | Comments Off on Meal Timing for Weight Loss

Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Obesity is know to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, obesity is complex and its aetiology is not fully understood. It is known that a positive energy balance in addition to development of the metabolic syndrome (syndrome X) … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, Obesity, Syndrome X | Comments Off on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease

Fruit and Vegetables: Mechanisms of Action

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Consensus amongst both science and the general public is that a diet containing a wide variety of fruit and vegetables is beneficial to the health. Current recommendations are to eat more fruit and vegetables and reduce the intakes of fat … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Blood Pressure, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Immune System, Inflammation | Comments Off on Fruit and Vegetables: Mechanisms of Action

Branched Chain Amino Acids and Exercise

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Leucine, isoleucine and valine are unique amongst the essential amino acids because they possess a branched variable group. Known as the branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) they account for roughly 15 % of the total amino acids in skeletal muscle … Continue reading →

Posted in Branched Chain Amino Acids, Exercise, Protein | Comments Off on Branched Chain Amino Acids and Exercise

Tryptophan, Protein and Stress

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Robert Barrington

During times of stress, brain levels of tryptophan increase suggesting that serotonin is somehow involved in the adaptive process to stabilise mood during times of perceived threat. Prolonged stress however, can lead to depression which is often characterised by reduced … Continue reading →

Posted in L-tryptophan, Protein | Comments Off on Tryptophan, Protein and Stress

Walnuts for Essential Fatty Acids

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Alpha linolenic acid and linoleic acid are fatty acids that are essential to human health. Like all essential nutrients, the essential fats are needed by humans in the correct amounts in the diet because they are unable to be synthesised … Continue reading →

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Walnuts | Comments Off on Walnuts for Essential Fatty Acids

Calcium and Weight Loss

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Obesity is of importance because being over weight increases the chances of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer or diabetes. The exact causes of the growing epidemic in obesity are not fully understood, but clearly exercise and total calorie intake plays a … Continue reading →

Posted in Calcium, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Calcium and Weight Loss

Grape Juice

Posted on June 13, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Research suggests that red wine has important health benefits for those who consume it regularly. Red wine appears to be particularly beneficial to the cardiovascular system, and research has focused on the antioxidant effects of consumption. The protection of lipoproteins … Continue reading →

Posted in Grapes, Polyphenols | Comments Off on Grape Juice

More on Weight Loss and Protein

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Reducing calorific intake, while changing neither the quality of the food or the macronutrient ratios, is still the most commonly offered advice for weight loss. However, research suggests that altering macronutrient ratios can have a substantial impact on the amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Protein, Weight Loss | Comments Off on More on Weight Loss and Protein

Peppered with Bad Science

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Robert Barrington

Piperine (figure 1) is an alkaloid derived from black pepper (Piper spp.) that is added to some weight loss supplements because manufacturers claim it increases the bioavailability of some components of the formula. Research using animal and cell culture models … Continue reading →

Posted in Green Tea, Piperine | Comments Off on Peppered with Bad Science