Epidemic of obesity in the world can be prevented by limiting the use of sugar

Reducing consumption of sugar has a small but significant effect on body weight adults, according to a study published in the latest issue of British Medical Journal. An effect that could be achieved if the human race time limit sugar intake, it would be enough to stop the global epidemic of obesity - the expert concludes.

Although the benefits from the use of this technique is relatively small (on average, while reducing the consumption of sugar a person will lose 800 grams per year), the results once again allow scientists say that the share of sugar should account for no more than 10% of total energy consumed in the diet.

Excessive amount of sugar in the human diet is associated not only with obesity - it can also lead to the emergence of a higher risk of chronic diseases. In numerous studies recently conducted the relationship between excessive consumption of sugary soft drinks, which always contains a fraction of a horse sugar and the risk of obesity.

As part of the scientific research on the subject, the research team from the University of Otago in New Zealand analysed the results of 71 studies (30 randomised controlled trials and 41 retrospective studies), which traced the relationship between sugar intake and the level of body weight in adults.

As a result, it was found that the decline in consumption of sugar allows other things being equal gradually reduce body weight. In this case, a person can lose weight by 0.8 kg (in the trials that took over 8 months), while even a slight excess of the allowed rate led to the fact that the person gained 0.75 kg of fat mass in the same period of time.

These effects are associated with the features of human metabolism. Our body needs a certain amount of energy or calories, but when we get energy from the sugar, the body is able to delay it as fat reserves. The highest rates of obesity, the study showed not the people that are extracted from sugar confectionery products, and those that have paid too much attention to the sweet soft drinks. According to the findings of researchers is already developing adult obesity by about 40% of this is exactly the kind of product.

Sugar the Bitter Truth Robert Lustig Video

Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, explores the damage caused by sugary foods. He argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin.

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Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Obesity Increases Risk of Cognitive Decline

People over the age of 60 with high levels of visceral fat (fat tummies) have a greater risk of brain decline, compared to those of normal weight.

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I first wrote about the big belly and visceral fat back in 2008. I was concerned about this because my mother does have visceral fat. This study and previous research focused on abdominal obesity -- fat around the middle.

A previous study shows that excess abdominal fat (big belly) places otherwise healthy, middle-aged people at risk for dementia later in life.

This is something to consider.

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Older adults with high body mass index, or BMI, and big bellies are more likely to have lower cognitive function than those with a lower BMI.

The study, published in the journal Age and Aging, included 250 people older than 59 who underwent a variety of weight measurement, scans and cognitive performance tests. People between 60 and 70 with the highest BMIs were linked to the lowest cognitive function.

The Korean study showed a particular association between visceral fat, or fat around the torso, and poor mental performance.

"Aging is characterized by lean body mass loss and adipose tissue increase without weight gain, which may not be captured by BMI, and traditional adiposity measures like BMI are less useful in elderly persons," said Dr. Dae Hyun Yoon, associate professor of psychiatry at Seoul National University Hospital.

Study results changed in adults older than 70, and the high BMI and large weight circumferences were not associated with cognitive decline.

"A higher BMI is related to lower dementia risk in the oldest old. It is possible that persons with low BMI lost their weight because of premorbid dementia," Yoon said. "It is also possible that a low BMI is the consequence of hyperinsulinemia (high insulin levels), which precedes weight loss and is related to higher dementia risk."

Dr. Ken Fujioka, director of the Center for Weight Management at Scripps Clinic in San Diego, said the results make sense and are on par with what he sees clinically.

"As patients gain central obesity - that is the key - they increase their level of inflammatory agents and atherosclerotic agents that will wreck havoc on the brain," Fujioka said.

While it is unclear whether the participants in the study went on to develop dementia or Alzheimer's disease, past research has shown that excess fat might play a role in a person's cognitive decline.

"The prevention of obesity, particularly central obesity, might be important for the prevention of cognitive decline or dementia," Yoon said. "In participants aged 70 years and older, high BMI, waist circumference, and visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue area, were not associated with poor cognitive performance."

Source Research: The relationship between visceral adiposity and cognitive performance in older adults

More Insight and Advice from the Alzheimer's Reading Room

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• What is Dementia?
• What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia
• Communicating in  Alzheimer's World
• How the Loss of Memory Works in Alzheimer’s Disease, and How Understanding This Could Help You
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• Does the Combination of Aricept and Namenda Help Slow the Rate of Decline in Alzheimer's Patients
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Original content Bob DeMarco, the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Foods To Fight Inflammation

At the basis of each disease – be it obesity, be it atherosclerosis – lies inflammation. It is neccessary to fight these diseases when they threaten your health. Here do help such products as onion, thyme and chamomile.

1. Onion
Tears we shed while cutting onion do kill viruses and microbes.

Explanation
While cutting onion do mix up substances of different onion cells. Appears gas containing sulphur. This gas irritates eyes and mixes with tear.s. Appears sulphuric acid which irritates conjunctiva and we feel itchiness. Tears are produced more actively. Thus, our body washes eyes and kills microbes with he help of sulphuric acid.

2. Thyme
Thyme has powerful anti-inflammatory effects.

Explanation
Antiseptic properties of thyme help to soothe the inflammation. Consumption of thyme helps to fight cough and inflammatory diseases of upper respiratory tract.

3. Chamomile
In case of inflammatory reactions of infectious origin in gastro-intestinal tract may be used chamomile tea.

Explanation
Bisabolol and chamazulene are substances of chamomile essential oils that have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. They do prevent inflammations because do not let microbes get to mucous membranes to damage the body. Deactivated microbes are released outwards.

Daily dose against inflammations
Onion – 100g (1 onion) of fresh onion
Thyme tea – 3–5 teaspoons of powdered thyme herb per one grass of boiling water
Chamomile tea – 1-2 cups daily