Newsbites: Sugary Drinks; Diabetes; Coffee; Sense of Smell
Sugary Drinks: Declining, But Not Fast Enough?
Consumption of sodas and other sugar-sweetened beverages continues to decline, though adolescents and young adults still obtain too many calories from such drinks, according to a study in Obesity. National data showed that in 2003–2004, 80% of children and teens and 62% of adults drank sugar-sweetened beverages. By 2013–2014, those rates fell to 61% and 50%, respectively. However, adolescents and young adults still consumed more than the recommended limit in 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. That’s worrying, since sugar-sweetened beverages are a leading source of added sugar in the American diet and their consumption is strongly linked to obesity, noted lead study author Sara Bleich.
Weight-Loss Reverses Diabetes
Remission of type 2 diabetes is possible through intensive weight management alone, according to findings from the Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) reported in The Lancet.
Researchers in the United Kingdom recruited about 300 people, aged 20 to 65, who had been diagnosed with diabetes in the previous 6 years. The people in the study had an average Body Mass Index (BMI) of 35. A BMI of 30 or higher is classified as obese.
Participants were assigned at random to one of two treatments. Half continued their usual care, including medication. The other half stopped taking medications and went on a rigorous weight-loss program, starting with a liquid diet jump-start of only 825 to 853 calories per day. Once the dieters went back on solid food, they were encouraged to increase their physical activity with walking.
The dieters dropped an average of 22 pounds over the 1-year study period, compared with only 2 pounds in the usual care group. A quarter of the intensive dieters lost 33 pounds or more. As a result, 46% got their glucose under control—without having to take medications—compared with on 4% of the usual care group. The study will continue to at least 4 years to see if the dieters can sustain their improvements.
A Big New Look at Coffee and Health
A large “umbrella” review of 218 studies on coffee and health found that people who drink 3 to 4 cups a day are at lower risk of a range of diseases and conditions, says a study in The BMJ. The umbrella review combined the results of 218 meta-analyses, each of which combined findings from multiple studies. These “studies of studies” included 17 with randomized clinical trials, which—compared to observational studies—produce stronger evidence that coffee may directly reduce the risk of certain diseases.
The umbrella review found that coffee drinking is associated with lower risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease or death from any cause. That’s consistent with two large observational studies published in August 2017 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. (See October 2017 issue of HNL.) The latest review identified some potential harms associated with drinking 3 to 4 cups a day, namely small increased risks for low birth weight, premature birth and miscarriage, as well as a slightly higher risk of fracture in women.
Collectively, authors say, research has shown that coffee consumption is “more likely to benefit health than harm.” But to establish coffee as effective for preventing diseases, more clinical trials are needed. But the authors caution that women at risk of fracture, or pregnant or could become pregnant, should probably be excluded from such trials.
Long-Term Couples’ Sense of Smell and Taste Become More Similar Over Time
The longer couples stay together, the more similar their smell and taste preferences become, researchers report in Appetite. Although a number of studies have found that romantic partners become more similar in various ways over time, this is the first study to see if this compatibility effect extends to smell and taste, which help to shape food preferences.
The study included 100 heterosexual couples who had been together from 3 months to 45 years. Separately, the men and women were asked to sniff 38 different odors and rate their impression on a five-point scale. Then, the couples sampled sprays of water spiked with the essence of five tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami (savory).
The researchers discovered that people in the longest relationships were the most likely to like or dislike the same smells and tastes. Curiously, couples whose taste and smell preferences were the most compatible did not necessarily report the greatest satisfaction with their relationships.
The researchers speculate that similar preferences may develop over time as couples share the flavors and aromas of shared meals. Or, compatible couples may match in the first place in part because of similar taste and smell preferences. To sort that out, a study would need to follow couples over time.
The post Newsbites: Sugary Drinks; Diabetes; Coffee; Sense of Smell appeared first on University Health News.
Read Original Article: Newsbites: Sugary Drinks; Diabetes; Coffee; Sense of Smell »
Powered by WPeMatico