FitnessMantra Weekend: Fruits, Vegetables and Whole Grains Are Best During Allergy Season
20
May
Welcome to “FitnessMantra Weekend”, your once-a-week health news update. As always you can also stay updated with the latest in fitness news by subscribing separately to the Fitness Mantra del.icio.us feed.
It’s spring time and that means along with the promise of the inevitable good times of summer, the season also brings with it the problems associated with a high pollen count: allergies.
If you are among the millions whose respiratory system is easily susceptible to seasonal allergies, then there’s some good news for you: Med diet ‘cuts lung disease risk’ from BBC news states that a mediteraanean diet - one high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish - is your best best against lung disorders, diseases and allergies, especially if you are male.
French researchers tracked almost 43,000 men for 12 years. The Thorax study suggests the diet - with much fruit, vegetables, grains and fish - is rich in anti-oxidants, which cut the risk of tissue inflammation.
The researchers, from the French research institute Inserm, found that a Mediterranean diet was associated with a 50% lower risk of developing Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) than the Western diet - even after taking factors such as smoking and age into account.
So, pile those plant products onto your plate: they are your best guard against the pollutants of the season. And have a great summer!
More health and fitness stories of this week:
- Experts warn of detox diet dangers - Chew On This: Experts say there’s little evidence that extreme regimens such as the Master Cleanse or Fruit Flush do anything more than lead to unpleasant, unhealthy side effects.
- Boiling leads to loss of anticancer compounds from vegetables: Among all cooking methods, boiling is the worst to cook vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussel sprouts because it causes the biggest loss of anticancer compounds in these vegetables, according to a new study.
- ‘Functional foods’ prompt warning: Foods that claim to improve health and well-being should be the subject of tougher checks, say Dutch scientists.
- Ban on Trans Fat Stirs Up Questions: Trans fats: 2 grams per serving. “Is that a lot?”
- Applebee’s dumps trans fat from the menu: Restaurant-chain operator Applebee’s International Inc. said Thursday that it is no longer using trans fat frying oil at its more than 1,800 domestic restaurants.
- Staying Active Is a Challenge for All Ages: Surfing the Internet is often cited as a cause of sedentary living. But what if the Web could be transformed into a tool to help boost physical activity?
- Family Challenge Week Two: Add Activity: Take one balloon. Blow it up. Toss to a family member and voila! You’ve got a game of balloon ball going indoors or out.
- Even limited exercise helps overweight women-study: Just 10 minutes of exercise a day can help even the most inactive overweight women, U.S. researchers reported on Tuesday.
- Insulin Levels May Dictate Success With a Diet: The key question was, “Why do some people have success with low-fat diets and others don’t?”
- College students: Hip, fly … and fat: They are young, hip, fly … and fat. College students are not the icons of youthful energy and sex appeal, but instead could be the poster-kids for America’s ever-expanding waistline.
- Get slim on the office treadmill: Obesity experts have developed a vertical workstation which helps employees take exercise and shed weight as they work.
- Med diet ‘cuts lung disease risk’: Eating a Mediterranean diet halves the risk of serious lung disease like emphysema and bronchitis, a study says.
- Omega-3, Vitamin D Levels Cut Risk of Eye Disease: Eating plenty of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids — such as tuna and salmon — may reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration, a new study says.
- Calcium And Vitamin D Slow Weight Gain: Calcium/vitamin D supplements slow postmenopausal weight gain in women who aren’t getting enough calcium.
- Diet Rich in Cereal Fibers May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: A diet rich in fiber from cereals and in magnesium may help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, German researchers report.
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Have a great weekend!
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1. Craig | May 24th, 2007 at 9:55 am
Prashanth:
Good entry on the Mediterranean diet finding-a lot of folks jump to the conclusion that since a diet rich in antioxidants is linked to good health, that taking antioxidant supplements is healthy. Lots of recent studies show that’s not the case. As you say, load up on healthy foods. The rest is details.
For that matter, I don’t think there’s anything magic about the Mediterranean diet as such. Any eating plan that’s rich in vegetables and fruits, healthy (olive oil, etc.) fats, little meat, and small amounts of wine is going to be healthy, whether it’s eaten in Patmos or Peoria.