New research shows that drinking a cup of cow’s milk every day helps children grow taller. According to the study, for each daily cup of cow’s milk they drank, children were 0.2 centimetres taller than average for their age. Conversely, for every cup of non-cow’s milk, kids were 0.4 centimetres shorter than average. The study […]
Tag: nutrition
Gluten-free products not sufficient substitutes for their gluten counterparts
New research calls for a re-invention of gluten-free products with healthier raw materials to ensure sufficient nutrition for people with wheat-free diets. With more people diagnosed with celiac disease now than ever before, and more people still adopting a gluten-free diet as a lifestyle choice, it’s important to know the pros and cons of wheat-free […]
Typical “Western” diet associated with higher risk of gout 
A diet that consists of salty and sugary foods and red meat is linked to a higher risk of gout, according to a new study. Researchers looked at the population most commonly affected by gout —men aged 40 to 75—over a 26-year period, and assigned scores based on the participants’ self-reported diet. A higher intake […]
Call to use more fiber in fiber research studies
Eating more fiber may help restore diversity in our gut microbes, according to researchers at the University of Alberta. In a commentary the researchers advocate for strategically increasing dietary fiber intake to close the “fiber gap” most Westerners have in their diet. They pointed to evidence showing a more diverse microbial population benefits not only […]
Celebrate the International Year of the Pulse every day and who know’s what you’ll lose
Eating just one serving of beans, peas, chickpeas, or lentils a day could help contribute to a modest weight loss, according to a meta-analysis of clinical trials. Researchers founding eating 130 grams (or ¾ of a cup) of the food group known as pulses each day led to just over half a pound of […]
Meat - The great evolutionary kickstarter
It was the addition of meat into the human diet, along with tool use, that could have contributed to our ancient ancestors’ improved speech and the ability to regulate body temperature, researchers suggest. In the past the cooking of food was thought to drive the changes in tooth size and facial features of our ancestors. […]
Breast-feeding after one year and Vitamin D
Breastfeeding children after their first birthday does not provide adequate levels of vitamin D, even if the child is also eating solid foods, according to researchers. They recommend these children should take a vitamin D supplement to prevent health problems, such as rickets. Currently the Canadian Paediatric Society recommends children take vitamin D supplements […]
Something’s fishy about childhood obesity
Eating fish more than three times a week during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood obesity, according to the results of a new study. Women who ate fish more than three times per week were more likely to give birth to children with higher BMI values at ages two, four, and six. […]
Eating two homemade meals a day cuts diabetes risk
Eating two homemade meals per day lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes according to recent research from the American Heart Association. Researchers found that individuals who ate a homemade lunch and dinner everyday had a 13 per cent lower risk when compared to individuals who ate fewer than six homemade meals each week. […]
Trans fats, not saturated fats, are the real danger
Saturated fats are not associated with cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes, while trans fats are, according to a meta-analysis of studies. Researchers reviewed 39 studies from around the world, where nutrients, typically refined carbohydrates, were replaced with saturated fat. The researchers found no association between saturated fats and health outcomes, […]
Current dietary protein recommendations are too low
Recommendations for protein intake in healthy populations may be incorrect, according to researchers who point to a meta-analysis reviewing the latest findings. Current recommendations may not be sufficient to promote optimal muscle health, especially in aging populations prone to muscle loss. Consuming moderate amounts of high-quality protein at each meal, rather than a larger quantity once […]
Reminder for mushroom hunters
Distinguishing poisonous mushrooms from edible varieties can be tricky as they can look so similar that even experts are challenged. A case reported in this week’s CMAJ reminds that “patients should be counselled that poisonous and edible mushrooms can be very similar in appearance and that wild mushrooms of uncertain identity should not be eaten. […]
Why are the Dutch so tall?
The Dutch are currently the tallest people on earth, but 200 years ago they were among the shortest. A new study tries to explain how the Dutch population has grown 20 cm in average height in less than two centuries. Researchers observed in the Netherlands that taller men and average height women had more children […]
Is there any benefit to vitamin waters and energy drinks?
While vitamin waters and energy drinks sold in Canadian supermarkets are promoted as being healthy because they provide additional nutrients (vitamins B6, B12, C and niacin) to buyers, new research shows that young Canadian adults are already consuming enough of these supplements. The study’s authors also found that product labels on the drinks also promoted […]
Got milk? No? Check your vitamin D
Children who drink rice, almond, soy or goat’s milk have lower levels of vitamin D in their blood than those who drink cow’s milk, according to a new study. Canadian regulations stipulate that every 100 millilitres of cow’s milk must be fortified with 40 International Units of vitamin D, non-cow’s milk is not subject to […]
22 new strategies for improving child/maternal health in the developing world
Federally-funded Grand Challenges Canada announced seed funding Sept. 22 for 22 projects submitted by innovators worldwide and designed to improve child and maternal health in the developing world. Examples include: A snack produced from rice bran waste in the Philippines to combat child iron deficiency; A technique for safely storing vaccines at room temperature by […]
