Monthly Archives: April 2013

Resting Metabolic Rate in Obesity

he resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the energy required when at rest. In other words, it is the energy required by the body for normal metabolic function, with no skeletal muscle work output. The RMR contributes the largest proportion of … Continue reading

Posted in Energy Expenditure, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), Thermic Effect of Food (TEF), Weight Loss | Tagged , | Comments Off on Resting Metabolic Rate in Obesity

Thermic Effect Of Food Blunted in Obesity

vidence suggests that obesity is by a metabolic dysfunction of the insulin receptor that induces physiological abnormalities in lipid and glucose metabolism. These changes results in an inability of the body to correctly utilise food for work output in skeletal … Continue reading

Posted in Energy Expenditure, Insulin Resistance, Obesity, Thermic Effect of Food (TEF) | Tagged , | Comments Off on Thermic Effect Of Food Blunted in Obesity

Farmed Versus Wild Fish: Omega 3 to 6 Ratio Differences

The long-chain fatty acids eicosapentanoic acid (EPA, C20:5 (n-3)) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA, C22:6 (n-3)) have been shown to be beneficial to human health. The benefits of EPA and DHA derive from their physiological role in the synthesis of cell … Continue reading

Posted in Alpha Linolenic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Docosanoids, Eicosanoids, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Fish, Fish Oils | Tagged | Comments Off on Farmed Versus Wild Fish: Omega 3 to 6 Ratio Differences

Low Cholesterol Levels Increase Mortality

Proponents of the cholesterol theory of cardiovascular disease claim that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat cause elevations in plasma cholesterol. This they claim is the cause of atherosclerosis which increases risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this line of reasoning is … Continue reading

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Lipoprotein(a), Mortality | Tagged | Comments Off on Low Cholesterol Levels Increase Mortality

Low Carbohydrate Diets: No Energy Restriction Required

The general consensus amongst mainstream medicine is that weight loss is only possible through forced energy restriction. The proponents of such diets also sometimes suggest the use of forced physical activity to further increase the energy deficit. However, even in … Continue reading

Posted in Adiponectin, C-Reactive Protein, Carbohydrate, HDL, Inflammation, Ketogenic Diets, Mediterranean Diet, Metabolic Syndrome, Protein, Triglycerides / Triacylglycerols, Weight Loss | Tagged , | Comments Off on Low Carbohydrate Diets: No Energy Restriction Required

Aspartame: The Selective Assassin

Aspartame is a man made chemical that is used extensively in the food industry as an artificial sweetener. When ingested, humans perceive the aspartame molecule to be around 200 times sweeter than table sugar (sucrose). Aspartame is useful as an … Continue reading

Posted in Aspartame, Aspartate, Brain, Phenylalanine | Tagged | Comments Off on Aspartame: The Selective Assassin

Brewer’s Yeast: Forgotten Knowledge

Refined carbohydrates are associated with the development of insulin resistance which is a primary cause of metabolic syndrome. Development of the metabolic syndrome exposes an individual to a raft of diseases including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Refined carbohydrates … Continue reading

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Chromium, Diabetes, Insulin Resistance, Metabolic Syndrome, Micronutrients | Comments Off on Brewer’s Yeast: Forgotten Knowledge

Breakfast Cereal: Garbage in, Garbage Out

The quality of the diet can have a significant impact on subsequent health outcomes. Low quality diets are increasingly being linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease,  cancer and obesity. Traditionally, researchers have investigated the aetiology of disease by … Continue reading

Posted in Breakfast, Carbohydrate, Cardiovascular Disease, Fibre, Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic load, Sugar, Whole Grains | Comments Off on Breakfast Cereal: Garbage in, Garbage Out

Sterols as Drugs: Reviving the Zombie Cholesterol Theory

Sterols are plant lipids that have similar structures to the animal lipid cholesterol. Examples of sterols common to the human diet include β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol present in foods such as cereals, nuts and legumes. Because of their similar structure, … Continue reading

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Carotenoids, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Sterols and Stanols, Vitamin E | Comments Off on Sterols as Drugs: Reviving the Zombie Cholesterol Theory

Low Quality Diets Cause Disease: More Evidence

Evidence from the nutritional sciences suggests that many diseases are caused by low quality diet. Research has traditionally focused on individual micro- and macronutrients and their effects on health outcomes, but increasingly studies are considering the whole diet in relation … Continue reading

Posted in Acid / Base Balance, Bone Health, High Quality Diet, Osteoporosis | Comments Off on Low Quality Diets Cause Disease: More Evidence