Latest news with #nutrition
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The Blood Type Diet Is Popular Again. Here's What the Science Says.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." PEOPLE OFTEN ADOPT different diets for different reasons. They may start eating Mediterranean-style to improve their heart health, or go vegan for ethical reasons. But what about eating according to your blood type? This idea was first introduced in a 1996 book, Eat Right 4 Your Type, by naturopathic physician Peter D'Adamo, which suggested that people could improve their health, live longer, and maintain their ideal weight by eating specific food groups based on their blood type, according to Harvard Medical School. More recently, TikTokers have been talking about the blood type diet and its purported benefits and downsides. But is there any scientific evidence that the diet works? Here's what experts say. What Is the Blood Type Diet? THE BLOOD TYPE diet outlines who should eat what based on their blood type, explains Liz Weinandy, M.P.H., R.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist and instructor of practice in medical dietetics at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This is what the diet suggests, for example: People with type O blood should consume high-protein foods, including meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, but limit legumes and whole grains. People with type A should eat a vegetarian diet, with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoid meat. People with type B or AB blood should eat a balanced diet covering all food groups. The theory is that there's a link between blood type and how well you digest different foods, and that eating based on blood type could improve digestion, help maintain a healthy weight, boost energy, and lower your risk of disease. For example, the book links type O is to the earliest humans, who were hunter-gatherers and ate mostly animal proteins. Type A possibly evolved after humans began farming and ate more fruits and vegetables, while B types may have arisen from nomadic tribes who ate dairy. AB eating recommendations are between the suggestions for types A and B. Does It Work? THERE'S NOT ENOUGH scientific evidence to suggest that it does, as no high-quality studies have been done to verify claims about the blood type diet, explains Randy Gould, D.O., a cardiologist at Manhattan Cardiology and a contributor to LabFinder. A 2013 systematic review found no studies showing benefits of a blood type diet. However, a 2014 study suggested that people who followed a blood type diet had lower BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar—but the improvements weren't actually linked to subjects' blood types. Blood type also wasn't linked to improvements in body weight, body fat, blood lipids, or glycemic control for people who followed a low-fat vegan diet, according to research published in 2021. Any potential benefits of the diet are likely to do with what it encourages people to eat and not eat, rather than their actual blood type. 'All three types of diets for different blood types encourage many fruits and vegetables and also avoidance of ultra-processed foods,' Weinandy says. 'This is healthy for anyone.' It's also important to note that blood type may play a role in other aspects of health, Dr. Gould says. Some studies have shown that people with type O blood have a lower risk for heart disease compared to people with types A, B, and AB. And, people with type A or AB may be at a higher risk for gastric cancer, and types A, B, and AB at a higher risk for pancreatic cancer, according to Northwestern Medicine. Who Should (and Shouldn't) Try the Diet? ONE BARRIER TO trying the diet is that most people actually don't know their blood type, according to the American Red Cross. To find out, you can ask your doctor to test it, or if you donate blood, they can likely tell you. Trying the blood type diet could be beneficial for people who don't normally eat many fruits, vegetables, or whole grains, Dr. Gould says. However, it's 'very prescriptive and lacking in evidence,' Weinandy says. 'Cutting out entire food groups like dairy or even wheat when it likely isn't necessary can cause inadequate nutrient intake.' She doesn't recommend the blood type diet to anyone: 'Like most unproven diets and claims, there may be some truth or good points to it—in this case, eating a lot of whole plant foods—but it's surrounded by negatives like cutting out food groups.' Instead, Weinandy suggests following the Mediterranean diet, which she says is less restrictive, includes a wide range of food groups, and has lots of research to show it improves health. You Might Also Like The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The 2025 Men's Health Ultimate Supplement Guide
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." ELSEWHERE ON THE internet, you're going to see a whole lot of nonsense about supplements. You might hear—either from so-called 'experts' or from supplement companies themselves—that certain pills or powders can help prevent and treat disease. You might read that supplements can dramatically change how you look and feel. You might even witness that certain products have the ability to detox your body from harmful environmental toxins. If all of this sounds too good to be true, that's because it largely is. We know this because for close to four decades, Men's Health has tracked the scientific research and spoken with trusted authorities in the dietary supplement space. We've taken all that scientific research and those conversations with credentialed experts and built the ultimate guide to supplement buying. Shop Now In this definitive Men's Health guide you'll find: How to ensure you're buying a safe and effective supplement, whichever supplement you're looking to buy An in-depth look into muscle-building supplements, including protein powder, creatine, and pre-workout An analysis of gut health supplements, which covers prebiotics and probiotics Recommendations on immunity, disease prevention, and brain health supplements Plus: A reference chart for tons of additional supplements that gives our assessment on which of the claims are backed by science—and which aren't. In short, if you've ever had a question about a supplement, you're almost guaranteed you'll find an answer to it in this guide. Without this information, know that there's one big thing you should watch out for: lack of oversight. Supplement manufacturers can get away with making claims about what's in their products and what they can do for you, health-wise, because they don't have provide evidence to any governing body. In the United States, the FDA can ban ingredients, issue recalls for supplements already on the market, and send warning letters to supplement companies, but the agency largely does not regulate supplements before they go on sale. That leaves you, as a consumer, to figure out if a product is safe and effective. And if that feels overwhelming, we got you. Join the Men's Health Community for Even More Perks MEN'S HEALTH MVP is a community of guys who are passionate about building their physical, mental, and emotional fitness, just as you are. And our MH MVP program is about giving you as many tools as possible to make that possible. This Hypertrophy program is just one of the vast array of features available that'll help you become your best self. Unlock all stories and curated training plans for all fitness goals, as well as cutting-edge reviews and in-depth breakdowns of new workout principles at Get every print issue delivered straight to your mailbox Receive a weekly members-only newsletter with deep insights from MH's fitness experts Access hundreds of streaming video workouts on demand Shop Now You Might Also Like The Best Hair Growth Shampoos for Men to Buy Now 25 Vegetables That Are Surprising Sources of Protein
Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Health
- Al Arabiya
West Virginia scrambles to strip artificial dyes from school meals before classes start
When school starts in West Virginia next month, 240,000 students in districts large and small will notice something missing from their cafeteria trays. Gone will be red Jell-O, fruit cups, yogurt topped with brightly hued sprinkles, and Cool Ranch Doritos–all foods made with synthetic dyes. In their place will be foods that contain colors made only from natural sources–such as vegetables, spices, and seeds–after West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed a sweeping new law in March banning seven artificial dyes from school meals. Other states have enacted similar laws that would strip artificial dyes from school meals, but West Virginia's action is the first to take effect starting Aug. 1. It triggered a four-month sprint that left state and local nutrition directors reeling. 'I think the initial reaction was like, 'Wow, what are we going to do?'' said Tony Crago, director of child nutrition for the West Virginia Department of Education. 'Where do we start?' Across the state, managers of school food programs scoured district grocery lists for dozens of products that contained any trace of petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3. 'When it went into law, it was shocking,' said Diane Miller, who leads child nutrition and food services for Kanawha County Schools in the state's central region. 'We began to realize that these dyes were in much more than just your cereals.' West Virginia's ban on synthetic dyes was cheered by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has successfully pressured food makers to agree to remove artificial colors from their products. The law focuses first on dyes in school foods, followed by a second action that will ban the colors plus two preservatives from all foods sold in the state starting in 2028. The move is aimed at halting potential health effects from the dyes, which have been linked to neurobehavioral problems such as hyperactivity and attention problems in some children. 'It's part of a larger focus on limiting artificial ingredients in food,' Morrisey said in March. 'By eliminating harmful chemicals from our food, we're taking steps toward improving the health of our residents and protecting our children from significant long-term health and learning challenges,' he said. Health advocates have long called for the removal of the dyes, citing mixed evidence of potential harm. The US Food and Drug Administration has said the color additives are safe when used properly in the amounts and products approved by the agency. 'Most children have no problems when consuming the dyes,' the agency adds, 'but some evidence suggests that certain children may be sensitive to them.' More recently, however, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has joined Kennedy in the push to get artificial dyes out of food despite limited proof of health effects. 'When you get rid of petroleum-based dyes, kids are not gonna all suddenly be healthy,' Makary said on a recent podcast. 'We're not going to address the fact that 30 percent of our nation's kids have prediabetes by simply removing petroleum-based food dyes. But these are steps in the right direction.' Nutrition experts agree that removing artificial colors from foods doesn't address the main drivers of America's chronic health problems. Those stem largely from ingredients such as added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat. But dyes are hallmarks of ultraprocessed food, said Jerold Mande, a Harvard University nutrition expert and former federal food policy adviser. 'Targeting them could be a way of letting companies know that the way they're making food is unacceptable,' he said. Some suppliers had already removed artificial dyes from some school foods, swapping them for products colored with beet juice or turmeric, said Hollie Best, food service director for Wood County Schools in Parkersburg, which has 11,000 children in 27 schools. Overall, Best said she removed just five foods from her menus. General Mills said 98 percent of its products for schools were already made without the banned colors. The company will be compliant with West Virginia's law immediately and plans to remove the dyes from school foods nationwide by next summer, said Mollie Wulff, a company spokesperson. In Miller's district with 23,000 students in 67 schools, the new law affects about 10 percent of the foods served, she estimated. She expected some foods to contain artificial colors, like strawberry milk and Pop-Tarts. Others were surprising, such as pickles, salad dressing, and certain snack chips. 'People were like, 'Oh my gosh, no more Doritos?'' Miller said. The popular Cool Ranch flavor contains dyes Red 40, Blue 1, and Yellow 5. The challenge is finding substitutes that will still appeal to children, Miller said. 'Because the last thing we need them to do is to choose not to participate in our school lunch program,' she said, adding that schools provide many students their healthiest meals of the day. Parents of children with sensitivities or allergies to artificial dyes had already raised concerns, according to school food directors. But for others, the presence of synthetic colors in school meals has not been an issue. Chris DeRico, nutrition director of Barbour County Schools with 2,000 students, said few parents seemed worried about dyes. 'They'd be in the minority, I believe,' he said. 'In rural West Virginia, I don't think it's really on radar screens.' In Best's district, dyes were already out of the food dished up during the summer session in July. That didn't make much difference to Lilith Wilson, 9, who said her meal of a meatball sub sandwich, sweet potato fries, and ice cream was 'really good.' Asked whether she likes school lunches in general, the incoming fourth-grader echoed the sentiments of picky kids everywhere: 'Sometimes I don't, sometimes I do. It just depends on what it is.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal food assistance program may slow cognitive decline, study suggests
Older adults who participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, had a slower rate of cognitive decline than people who were eligible for the anti-hunger program but didn't receive benefits, according to a study presented Wednesday. Although many adults begin to mentally slow down in midlife, researchers found that people over 50 who participated in SNAP, which helps people with low incomes afford groceries, had a 10% slower rate of decline in their memory and thinking skills compared with their peers. That's equal to gaining two to three additional years of cognitive health over 10 years, said Linlin Da, lead author of the study, who presented her findings Wednesday at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference in Toronto. By providing a secure source of food, SNAP 'may have some underappreciated benefits for brain health,' said Da, who led the study while she was a doctoral student at the University of Georgia College of Public Health. The National Institutes of Health-funded study comes just weeks after President Donald Trump signed legislation that the Congressional Budget Office estimates will cut funding for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, by $186 billion through 2034. Food banks across the United States are already struggling to meet growing demand amid funding cuts from the Agriculture Department. Food insecurity 'can lead to poor nutrition and chronic disease, and all of that can negatively impact the brain,' Da said. 'So by improving access to nutrient-rich foods, SNAP may support brain health, reduce the stress and promote better health overall.' The new study, which hasn't yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, leaves many questions unanswered. Researchers didn't measure which foods study participants consumed, so they don't know if people receiving SNAP benefits had healthier diets. But doctors know that high-sodium diets can raise blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for dementia, said Dr. Mitchell Elkind, chief science officer for brain health and stroke at the American Heart Association. The study also doesn't explain how food security might benefit the brain, said Elkind, who wasn't involved with the research. It's possible that programs such as SNAP relieve the anxiety that people feel when they can't afford their groceries or when they have to choose between paying for food or medication, giving them more mental bandwidth to focus on other issues. Chronic stress has been linked to a higher risk for dementia. The design of the new study, which followed more than 2,300 older people for 10 years, can't definitively prove that participating in SNAP protects brain health. It's possible that people who participated in SNAP were cognitively healthier before the study began, Da said. Enrolling in SNAP can be time-consuming and complicated, making it more difficult for people with cognitive problems to complete their applications. Yet a growing field of research links nutrition, food security and dementia risk. 'Observational studies from around the world have shown us that food insecurity and poor cognitive health go together,' said Kriti Jain, a health administrator at the National Institute on Aging, part of the NIH, who wasn't involved in the study. 'More recent studies have shown us that food insecurity comes before cognitive health gets worse.' Brain health is shaped by far more than genetics, Da said. Cognitive aging 'can also be shaped by policies, by the environment and by access to different resources,' she said. 'That means we can do something to change it and improve it.' Anti-hunger groups contend that cutting SNAP benefits will leave people hungry and less healthy. Research shows that poverty and food insecurity — a condition in which people lack a consistent source of nutritious food —are common risk factors for malnutrition among older adults. 'SNAP is both a lifeline for older adults and a critical public health tool,' said Crystal FitzSimons, president of the Food Research & Action Center, an advocacy group. 'Participating in SNAP can mean extra years of cognitive health, helping older adults remain independent,' instead of moving into nursing homes. The Republican-led House Agriculture Committee has said the funding reduction 'restores SNAP to its original intent—promoting work, not welfare—while saving taxpayer dollars and investing in American agriculture.' Food as medicine Karen Forbes, 61, first participated in SNAP decades ago when she was a single mother of a young child. She reapplied for the program during the pandemic when her pet sitting customers stopped needing her. Forbes, who lives outside Portland, Oregon, said SNAP has been especially important since she developed long Covid in 2022, which has left her with heavy fatigue, prevents her from working and has caused 'brain fog' that resembles age-related cognitive decline. Forbes said she and her father, who is 82, 'are going through a sort of Alzheimer's thing together.' Although Forbes said she used to talk 'a million miles a minute,' she now often struggles to find the right word. If she tries to speak too quickly, 'everything comes out jumbled and stupid.' After an 18-month wait, Forbes said she recently began receiving disability benefits from Social Security. Because of SNAP, Forbes said, she doesn't have to choose between buying groceries and paying her rent or electric bills. Her favorite part of SNAP is being able to afford fresh fruits and vegetables, she said. Oregon's SNAP program provides 'double benefits' for shopping at farmers markets, so people can buy twice as much fresh produce for the same amount of money. Forbes said she tries to follow a healthy diet in the hope of overcoming her illness. 'When you're chronically ill, every little tiny thing you can do to improve your health makes all the difference in the world,' she said. Food insecurity linked to dementia Jain described food insecurity as 'a severe and growing public health issue in America.' In families with member over age 60, the prevalence of food insecurity has almost doubled in the past two decades. Twenty-three percent of such families faced chronic or recurring food insecurity from 2015 to 2019, according to a survey from the NIH published last year in JAMA Health Forum. Another study published last year found that food insecurity doubled the risk of probable cognitive decline. And a paper published in 2024 in the Journal of Nutrition found that adults with food insecurity and lower-quality diets had significantly steeper declines in cognitive scores during the study, conducted from 2012 to 2020. In that study, however, participating in SNAP wasn't related to the rate of mental decline, suggesting that SNAP alone 'may be insufficient to prevent negative cognitive effects of poor diet and limited access to nutritious foods.' Unprecedented cutbacks The Urban Institute, a nonprofit research organization that focuses on social and economic policy, estimates that funding cuts could lead 22.3 million families to lose some or all of their food benefits. The 20% decrease in funding is 'the largest cut to SNAP in history,' according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan think tank. The measure will also shift much of the program's cost from the federal government to the states beginning in 2028, as well as expand work requirements for participants. Seven in 10 of the 42 million people who participate in SNAP are older adults, people with disabilities and families with children. The new study suggests 'we need more research on the role of healthy diet and nutrition in brain health,' Elkind said. 'In particular, it suggests that there should be more research in the area of food as medicine, meaning the provision of healthy food to people to see what the impact is on cognition, dementia risks and brain health.' This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Health
- Bloomberg
Gaza Famine Risk Grows as UN Warns Time Is Running Out for Help
Famine conditions in Gaza are worsening as time runs out to mount a full-scale humanitarian response, United Nations agencies warned, amid growing international outcry over the crisis. Food consumption and nutrition measures reached their worst levels since the conflict began, the World Food Programme and Unicef said in a report. That means two out of three official famine thresholds have been breached.
