healthbriefs
USDA Praises Plant-Based Diets E
very five years, the U.S. Department of Agri- culture routinely announces dietary guidelines
advising Americans about what to eat. Now, for the first time, the agency has broken from tradition to talk about truly good foods, rather than just scientifi- cally discuss nutrients. More, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, released this year, embraces the value of plant-based diets. In the new edition, the guidelines’ healthy
eating patterns may or may not include moderate amounts of meat. At the same time, the guidelines explain clearly that meat is not essential, and that near-vegetarian and vegetarian diets are adequate and have even resulted in better health. A pertinent excerpt follows. “In prospective studies of adults, compared to
non-vegetarian eating patterns, vegetarian-style eating patterns have been as- sociated with improved health outcomes—lower levels of obesity, a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and lower total mortality. Several clinical trials have documented that vegetarian eating patterns lower blood pressure. On average, vegetarians consume a lower proportion of calories from fat (particularly saturated fatty acids); fewer overall calories; and more fiber, potassium and vitamin C than do non-vegetarians. Vegetarians generally have a lower body mass index. “These characteristics and other lifestyle factors associated with a vegetar-
ian diet may contribute to the positive health outcomes that have been identified among vegetarians.”
Source:
Grist.org
Watermelon Takes a Slice Out of High Blood Pressure S
ummer-sweet watermelon is known to be high in fiber and nutrients and
low in calories. Now, evidence from a pilot study led by food scientists at Florida State University suggests that eating watermelon might also help dispel pre-hypertension, a precursor to cardiovascular disease. “Even better, it may prevent the
progression from pre-hypertension to hypertension in the first place,” says lead researcher Arturo Figueroa, an as- sistant professor at the university. A Uni- versity of Illinois study estimates that as many as 60 percent of U.S. adults have elevated tension levels. Why might this large-size fruit pose
DON’T TAKE A SEAT A
multi-ethnic study of 4,757 U.S. adults in a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that those who took the most daily breaks from sitting had, on average, a smaller waist circumference, fewer blood fats and reduced markers for insulin resistance than those who took the fewest breaks. The researchers also noted increased levels of C-reactive protein in the bodies of sed- entary subjects, which is linked to inflammation and many chronic diseases, even in people who regularly exercise. To get moving: Stand up to take phone calls
and during meetings; walk to visit a colleague, rather than phoning or emailing; use a bath- room on a different floor; centralize trash and recycling bins and office equipment to encour-
age short trips during the work day; take the stairs; and park at the far end of the lot.
Source: European Society of Cardiology
such a benefit? “Watermelon is the rich- est edible natural source of L-citrulline, which is closely related to L-arginine, the amino acid required for the forma- tion of [the body’s own natural] nitric oxide, essential to the regulation of vascular tone and healthy blood pres- sure,” says Figueroa. Once in the body, the L-citrulline naturally converts into L-arginine. The scientists caution that con-
suming L-arginine as a dietary supple- ment isn’t a good option, because it can cause nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort; watermelon, on the other hand, provides a safe delivery system. It also has been shown to help reduce serum glucose levels. All of this makes watermelon a “functional food,” because it offers health- promoting or disease-preventing properties beyond its delicious taste.
10 Knoxville
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