Monthly Archives: June 2014

Hydrogenated Fat And Breast Milk

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Hydrogenation is the process by which hydrogen is reacted with unsaturated fats to convert them to saturated fats. This is advantageous to the food industry as it creates solid oils that can be used in food preparation which are cheaper … Continue reading →

Posted in Breastfeeding, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Trans Fatty Acids | Comments Off on Hydrogenated Fat And Breast Milk

Do Polyphenols Lower the Glycaemic Index of Foods?

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The glycaemic index is a measure of the rate at which plasma glucose levels increase following ingestion of carbohydrate foods. Foods are tested in comparison to a reference standard and given a value on a relative scale. The reference standard … Continue reading →

Posted in Carbohydrate, Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic load, Pulses / Legumes | Comments Off on Do Polyphenols Lower the Glycaemic Index of Foods?

Carnitine Deficiency, Fatty Liver and Weight Loss

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Many people are aware of the damage that long-term ethanol (alcohol) consumption can have on the liver. The reason that ethanol can damage liver tissue is because the metabolism of ethanol can cause the deposition of lipids, mainly triglycerides, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Carnitine, Fructose, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease | Comments Off on Carnitine Deficiency, Fatty Liver and Weight Loss

Protein: Its Role as a Brain Food

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Amino acids are nitrogenous compounds required by the body to form proteins. Many people are aware that protein is an important structural component of the body. Protein makes a good construction material because it can be twisted and bonded to … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, Branched Chain Amino Acids, L-phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, Protein, Serotonin | Comments Off on Protein: Its Role as a Brain Food

The Obesity Paradox (Addendum)

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The obesity paradox describes the apparent contradiction that despite a large energy intake and massive fat reserves, the obesity disease is perceived by the hypothalamus as one of starvation. This explains the total failure of calorie restriction and exercise to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cardiovascular Disease, Insulin Resistance, Leptin Resistance, Mortality, Obesity, Traditional Diets, Weight Loss, Western Diet | Comments Off on The Obesity Paradox (Addendum)

The Trouble With The Glycaemic Index

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The glycaemic index (GI) is a measure of the rate of increase in plasma glucose following consumption of a carbohydrate food. Generally a reference food which is either white bread or glucose power is given a value of 100, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Carbohydrate, Fructose, Ghrelin, Glycaemic Index, Glycaemic load, Insulin, Leptin | Comments Off on The Trouble With The Glycaemic Index

Leptin and Insulin Resistance: The Perfect Storm for Weight Gain

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The increase in Western-style food consumption in recent decades mirrors increases in obesity and insulin resistance seen in the populations of developed nations. The ‘eat-too-much, do-too-little’ theory of weight gain suggests that excessive calorie intake combined with a limited amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Adipose Tissue, Brain, Energy Expenditure, Insulin, Insulin Resistance, Leptin, Weight Loss, Western Diet | Comments Off on Leptin and Insulin Resistance: The Perfect Storm for Weight Gain

Drink Up! Caffeine and Alcohol are Healthy Foods

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Robert Barrington

There is a perception amongst healthcare professionals that alcohol and caffeine should be limited as part of a healthy diet. This advice is based on the possible detrimental effects of both drinks. Caffeine is associated with the release of adrenaline, … Continue reading →

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Go Nuts, Don’t Get Fat

Posted on June 12, 2014 by Robert Barrington

According to mainstream dogma, weight gain is a result of an excessive energy intake combined with low levels of physical activity. This dogmatic consensus is so ingrained in medical thinking, nutritional research and even amongst the layman, that proposing an … Continue reading →

Posted in Adipose Tissue, Almonds, Nuts, Peanut, Walnuts, Weight Loss | Comments Off on Go Nuts, Don’t Get Fat

More On Food Addiction

Posted on June 11, 2014 by Robert Barrington

The ability of food to act in a drug-like manner has been observed in the nutritional literature. This suggests that foods can be addictive and may lead to drug-like addiction. Generally high quality foods as found in traditional diets do … Continue reading →

Posted in Brain, Foods As Drugs | Comments Off on More On Food Addiction