How a glass of red wine could PREVENT you from putting on weight

I don't know if this is right or not but forgive me while I laugh!

If you want to avoid gaining weight, it may be time to ditch the skipping rope and grab  a corkscrew instead.  For U.S. experts have found a compound in red wine that can help control obesity.

The substance, piceatannol, delays the generation of young fat cells and prevents them from growing into mature ones. It is also thought to protect the body from heart and neurodegenerative diseases, as well  as cancer.

The compound blocks insulin’s ability to activate genes that carry out further stages of fat cell formation.  The agent found in wine is also thought to protect the body from heart and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer.

The groundbreaking research was carried out at Purdue University, Indiana, USA.  Lead researcher Dr Kee-Hong Kim said: 'In the presence of piceatannol you can see delay or complete inhibition of young fat cells.

'Piceatannol alters the timing of gene expressions, gene functions and insulin action during adipogenesis - the process in which young fat cells become mature fat cells.'

Dr Kim, assistant professor of food science at the university, added: 'We are now testing our idea using animal model obesity to see if it has the same benefical functions.  'We need to work on improving the stability and solubility of piceatannol to create a biological effect.'

The compound is similar in structure to resveratrol - a supplement sold in the UK last year to combat disease - and is also found in grapes, blueberries and passion fruit.

The research was published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

SOURCE





Eating nuts can help stave off obesity, says study

Vegetarians are the big nut eaters  so this is probably a study of vegetarians  -- most of whom are probably middle class.  So they should have the usual middle class health advantages.  And vegetarians certainly are often slim  -- due to their difficulty in getting enough nutrition

Dieters often dismiss them because of their high fat content, but research suggests that snacking on nuts can help keep you slim.  A study found that those who consumed varieties such as almonds, cashews and pistachios demonstrated a lower body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-consumers.

They were also at lower risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Experts are now recommending a daily intake of 1.5 ounces, or three tablespoons of nuts as part of a healthy diet.

Lead researcher Carol O'Neil, from Louisiana State University, said: 'One of the more interesting findings was the fact that tree nut consumers had lower body weight, as well as lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference compared to non-consumers.

'The mean weight, BMI, and waist circumference were 4.19 pounds, 0.9kg/m2 and 0.83 inches lower in consumers than non-consumers, respectively.'

In the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers compared risk factors for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome of nut consumers versus those who did not consume nuts.

They used data from 13,292 men and women participating in the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).  Nut consumers were defined as those who ate more than one quarter of an ounce a day.

Tree nut - almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts - consumption specifically, was associated with higher levels of good cholesterol and lower risk of chronic diseases including heart disease.

In addition, it was also linked to a lower prevalence of four risk factors for metabolic syndrome: abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and low good cholesterol levels.

Dr O'Neil adds: 'Tree nuts should be an integral part of a healthy diet and encouraged by health professionals—especially registered dietitians.'

Maureen Ternus, executive director of the International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation (INC NREF), also congratulated the recent data.

She said: 'In light of these new data and the fact that the FDA has issued a qualified health claim for nuts and heart disease with a recommended intake of 1.5 ounces of nuts per day, we need to educate people about the importance of including tree nuts in the diet.'

SOURCE