Category Archives: Nutrition

Soft Drinks, Asthma and Adults

This is the third and final post in recognition of World Asthma Day, Tuesday May 2nd. This post looks at research from the University of Adelaide in South Australia. In particular, the researchers examined the relationship between soft drink consumption and asthma as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among a sample of adults in South Australia.

Using a random sample of South Australians phone interviews were conducted with adults ages 16 and older, with a mean of 47 years. In all, nearly 17,000 adults were interviewed.

Respondents were questioned regarding any diagnosis of asthma that was associated with symptoms over the past year, or use of typical asthma medications over the past year. Respondents were similarly queried regarding COPD diagnosis. Soft drink intake was associated by asking about the amount of soft drinks and sports drinks consumed in a typical day.

Results showed that higher levels of soft drink consumption were associated with a higher prevalence of asthma and COPD. Respondents who drank a half liter or more of soft drinks each day had a substantially higher prevalence of asthma (14.7%) compared to those who did not consume soft drinks (11.9%) A similar relationship was seen in COPD where those who drank a half liter or more of soft drinks each day had a prevalence of asthma of 6.0%, compared to only 4.2% in those who did not consume soft drinks.

In the U.S. the CDC estimates 1 in 12 adults has asthma. Women are more likely than men to have asthma. Given these statistics moderating our soft drink intake seems like a simple way to potentially limit one’s risk of asthma.

(Source- Respirology (2012) 17)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Sugary Beverages, Asthma and Children

This is the 2nd post in recognition of World Asthma Day, Tuesday May 2nd. This post highlights research from The Netherlands. Researchers took data from the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort. For the PIAMA project pregnant mothers were recruited from the general population in The Netherlands, for children born in 1996/1997. Parents were asked to complete questionnaires each year until the children were 8, then again at age 11. The children completed a questionnaire themselves at age 11 as well.

 

For this cross-sectional study, 2651 children completed their questionnaires. This included questions regarding consumption of six different beverages including diet drinks, energy drinks, 100% fruit juice, sports drinks, sugar added drinks (including soda), and sweetened milk products. Concurrently, parents completed a questionnaire that included questions about asthma diagnosis and symptoms. 

Results of the study demonstrated that high consumption of 100% fruit juice, sugar added drinks (including soda), and high total sugar containing beverages in general was associated with increased asthma in children. In particular, as the consumption of 100% fruit juice and total sugar containing beverages went up, the risk for asthma increased as well.

The CDC estimates 10% of all children in the U.S. have asthma. The highest rate of asthma is 17% in non-Hispanic black children. Boys are more likely to have asthma than girls. With statistics this alarming, cutting back on sugar containing beverages seems like a simple way to help limit asthma in our children.

(Source- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2015, 69)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health care concerns with your personal physician.

 

Eating Chocolate May Help Prevent Strokes

MHW_15

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt”.
Charles M. Schulz

In this installment in honor of Men’s Health Week, today’s post is about chocolate, specifically chocolate and the risk of stroke in men.

Swedish researchers followed a group of 37,000 men for upwards of ten years. The chocolate consumption was assessed at the start of the study using a food questionnaire. Men were grouped according the amount of chocolate consumed per week, and were then followed for incidence of stroke.

This study found that the consumption of chocolate was associated with a significantly reduced risk of stroke, in fact the men who were in the group of largest consumers of chocolate had a 17% lower risk of stroke than those men in the lowest chocolate consuming group.

This was the first chocolate study to look strictly at men, prior studies had looked at groups of men and women. Interestingly the prior studies of men and women showed a 19% decreased risk of stroke between the highest and lowest group of chocolate consumption, which is very similar to the risk reduction showed in this Swedish study.

The researchers noted that they did not differentiate between dark chocolate and milk chocolate. In Sweden, about 90% of the chocolate consumed is milk chocolate. From prior studies on chocolate it is felt that dark chocolate provides more benefits than milk chocolate. Perhaps if the study participants had eaten more dark chocolate than milk chocolate, the benefit would have been even greater.

So, enjoy your chocolate today. Make it dark chocolate if possible and eat in moderation.

 

(Source- Neurology 2012;79:1223-1229)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.

Mom Was Right- Eat Your Wheaties

MHW_15

“Hope makes a good breakfast. Eat plenty of it”.
Ian Fleming

 

In today’s installment in honor of Men’s Health Week I will review a study from Harvard University which examined the relationship between eating breakfast and risk of coronary heart disease, in a group of male health professionals.

Researchers look at data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study (HPFS). which is an ongoing study of over 51,000 male health professionals from the U.S. The HPFS began enrolling subjects in 1986, and included men ages 40-75 at that time. After exclusions, nearly 27,000 men were enrolled in the sample. Dieting assessments were made by having the subjects fill out a dieting questionnaire. coronary heart disease (CHD)  was defined as non-fatal MI (heart attack) or fatal CHD, and was assessed by questionnaires as well as review of medical records and autopsy reports.

The results of the study showed that in age-adjusted models men who skipped breakfast had a 33% higher risk of coronary heart disease, compared to those who ate their breakfast.

Also, men who ate breakfast late at night (defined as eating that occurs after going to bed) had a 55% higher risk of coronary heart diseases, compared to men who are not late night snackers.

It should be noted that this study was comprised almost exclusively of Caucasian males, and as such, the results may or may not be applicable to women or other ethnic groups. It would be interesting to see if these same results could be replicated in women or other ethnic groups.

So, for those of us who were told that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day”  or to “eat your Wheaties”, it appears that once again, mom was right.

(Source- Circulation 2013;128:337-343)

This blog is a review of medical and scientific literature, and should only be used for informational purposes. It does not constitute medical or health advice, nor does it create a physician-patient relationship with anyone. Discuss any health concerns with your personal physician.