That Health Science Writing Blog

Consuming grapes is shown to improve metabolic syndrome components in some studies.         Photo Credit:  Static.pexels.com Grapes and red wine are popularly studied for their potential health benefits, largely from their antioxidant/polyphenol content which may exert protective benefits on the body's cells and functioning. The Mediterranean diet famously includes red wine as part of its food pyramid to be consumed (in moderation) as part of a diet to support health. Metabolic syndrome is a condition that exists when a combination of 3 or more health measures are out of range from a possible 5:  high fasting blood sugar, high blood pressure, high serum triglycerides, low HDL-C cholesterol ("good cholesterol"), and increased abdominal circumference. Metabolic syndrome places individuals meeting diagnostic criteria at a higher risk for adverse conditions such as atherosclerosis (where plaque builds up in arteries, making the...

               Winter is the citrus season! Limes, grapefruits, lemons, and limes are abundant this time of year.                        Photo Credit:  Cookinglight.com                  Citrus fruits are about to be in-season—oranges, clementines, lemons, tangerines, grapefruits—and will be taking center stage in most grocery store produce sections. Citrus fruits are sources of vitamin C/ascorbic acid, an antioxidant that can be obtained through the diet, and of potassium, a mineral that acts as an electrolyte and influences nerve impulses, fluid balance, blood pressure, muscle use, and more in the body. When consuming the whole fruit, citrus are also sources of fiber, a pre-biotic associated with bowel health. Oran...

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTkIYksxwypCIy2ORJARkMlfzy40VjeXF31pqCG6gliEnEEPziNN The fall season is turning cooler and each day moves us closer to winter. Farmer’s markets are closing and the ones staying open later aren’t offering us the fruits we had all summer long. There are still fruits available, however, just take a quick trip to the grocery store and you’ll find several varieties of fresh seasonal fruit, imported fruit, and (farther into the aisles) an assortment of dried fruit. Dried fruit is consumed frequently in homemade oatmeal raisin cookies, in trail mixes, or as a school-time snack. What if dried fruits could be thought of as one of the most convenient ways to boost antioxidant intake during the seasons when fresh fruits aren’t readily available? Thinking of dried fruits as more than just an annual add-in to baked goods or oatmeal could increase several intake factors, namely antioxidants, carbohydrates, fiber, and potassium. ...

Just one drink with friends may not be as harmless/beneficial as once believed.  Photo Credit:  Punchdrink.com            Many people have grown up with the notion that drinking “a glass” of wine with dinner is a neutral if not a healthy habit. After all, red wine consumption in prior decades and even up until now was recommended or prescribed by doctors as a treatment for those with high blood pressure who may be at risk for a heart attack or stroke, in line with recent research that found that a moderate intake (1-2 5 oz. glasses per day) of red wine may be protective. Culturally, alcoholic beverages are commonly consumed in the diet of most nations, enjoyed at celebrations, sporting events, and even just around the dinner table. However, recent research by Topiwala et al. published in the British Medical Journal found results contrary to the popular belief that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol may be ...

Probiotics can be found in fermented food products such as yogurt or as supplement tablets. Photo Credit: WebMD.com              Concerns for healthy living and the desire for ways to reach (or keep) one’s ideal weight are widespread. Recently, advertisements supporting the use of probiotic products for weight reduction are reaching new heights of popularity. People are wondering if they have perhaps been self-sabotaging their diets the majority of their lives by excluding rich sources of friendly bacteria from their daily food routines. The question for scientists studying the effects of this trendy new diet staple:   “Will probiotic products actually help me lose weight?”             A review article by Parks & Bae (2015) attempted to answer this question by compiling recent research and comparing their results. They described probiotic...

Resistant starches come in 5 classes, one of which can be found in unripe (green) bananas. Photo Credit:  Mnn.com        There's been quite a lot of buzz lately over prebiotics, probiotics, gluten-free eating and low-carb diets. Carbohydrates really take a lot of flack for being a contributor to type two diabetes melitus and the obesity epidemic, but what about complex starches that fall under the umbrella of this controversial macronutrient?  What about resistant starches? A resistant starch, as defined by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, is "the starch fraction that escapes digestion in the small intestine of healthy humans." Essentially, what a resistant starch is "resisting" is the enzymatic breakdown and fractionation of strands of bonded glucose that typically occurs in the small intestine through the process of hydrolysis. Resistant starches occur naturally but they can also be produced through the application of coo...