Unlike humans, grizzly bears experience no immediate adverse effects from eating a diet rich in saturated fats, according to results of a new study. Researchers fed two groups of captive bears different diets, one high in “healthy” fats like oats and salmon and the other full of saturated fats like beef and cheese. The bears […]
Tag: diet
Lower mercury levels in polar bears could be a sign of climate-related diet shift 
A drop in mercury levels was discovered among southern Beaufort Sea polar bears, something the researchers say may suggest a changing diet and a shift in foraging habits. Scientists collected hair samples from Beaufort polar bears over a seven-year period, and measured the mercury concentration in these samples. Results showed a 13% drop in mercury […]
Cow’s milk helps children grow taller, compared to non-cow milk
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 […]
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 […]
A hormone in your liver might be to blame for your sweet tooth
A certain hormone secreted by the liver after consumption of sweet foods may be regulating our candy cravings, according to new research. Scientists first discovered the role of the hormone FGF21 in sweets consumption in rodents; their results later held up among primates, and now, humans. In this study, researchers collected self-reported dietary intake and […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
