0 Fast food diet linked to asthma and eczema severity in kids

Fast Food Diet Linked to Asthma and Eczema Severity in Kids, Large Study Finds


Eating three or more weekly servings of fast food is linked to the severity of allergic asthma, eczema, and rhinitis among children in the developed world, indicates a large international study published online in the respiratory journal Thorax.

The findings prompt the authors to suggest that a fast food diet may be contributing to the rise in these conditions, and if proved causal, could have huge implications for public health, given the popularity of these foodstuffs.

The authors base their findings on data from more than 319,000 13-14 year olds from 107 centres in 51 countries, and more than181,000 six to seven year olds from 64 centres in 31 countries.

All the participants were involved in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), which is a collaborative research project involving more than 100 countries and nearly two million children, making it the largest study of its kind.

The teens and the childrens parents were formally quizzed on whether they had symptoms of asthma (wheeze); rhinoconjunctivitis (which produces a runny or blocked nose accompanied by itchy and watery eyes); and eczema; and their weekly diet.

Questions focused particularly on the severity of symptoms over the preceding 12 months -- including frequency and interference with daily life and/or sleep patterns -- and certain types of food already linked to protective or damaging effects on health

These included meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, pulses, cereals, bread and pasta, rice, butter, margarine, nuts, potatoes, milk, eggs, and fast food/burgers. Consumption was categorised as never; occasionally; once or twice a week; and three or more times a week.

After taking account of factors likely to influence the results, the analysis showed that fast food was the only food type to show the same associations across both age groups, prompting the authors to suggest that "such consistency adds some weight to the possible causality of the relationship."

It was associated with current and severe symptoms of all three conditions among the teens -- across all centres in the participating countries, irrespective of gender or levels of affluence.

The pattern among children was less clear-cut, but a fast food diet was still associated with symptoms across all centres -- except for current eczema -- and poorer countries -- except for current and severe asthma.

And this difference might have to do with the fact that children have fewer options about their food choices, suggest the authors.

Three or more weekly servings were linked to a 39% increased risk of severe asthma among teens and a 27% increased risk among children, as well as to the severity of rhinitis and eczema, overall.

On the other hand, fruit seemed to be protective in both age groups across all centres for all three conditions among children -- both current and severe -- and for current and severe wheeze and rhinitis among the teens.

Eating three or more weekly portions was linked to a reduction in symptom severity of between 11% and 14% among teens and children, respectively.

The authors suggest that there are plausible explanations for the findings: fast food contains high levels of saturated and trans fatty acids, which are known to affect immunity, while fruit is rich in antioxidants and other beneficial compounds.

The authors emphasise that their results do not prove cause and effect, but they do warrant further investigation.

"If the associations between fast foods and the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema is causal, then the findings have major public health significance owing to the rising consumption of fast foods globally," they conclude.

0 5 Healthy Foods When breaking the fast

Ramadan fasting for 30 full days would be a challenge. After a day of hunger, of breaking when you want to eat delicious food and mouthwatering. But many of us forget the importance of eating healthy foods and health drink. When you have one day and then break their fast with a meal or just random bad but not nutritious at all then it will make the condition of the body decreases.

When my friend does not eat foods that help maintain body condition can be buddy buddy then even exposed some diseases such as gastritis, lack of vitamins and headache. During fasting is recommended to regularly eat foods below to health buddy awake. Following foods are not hard to come by and can be combined with other foods to break the fast favorite pal. Here are 5 healthy foods during fasting:

1. Brown rice

Have buddy tried to replace white rice with brown rice? Brown rice has a higher fiber lower sugar than white rice. Eating brown rice make fuller longer and blood sugar control. Brown rice is best eaten to break the fast or at dawn.

2. Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables needed to supply vitamins and fiber in the body. Green leafy vegetables are easily digested by the body so that the organs in the body do not work too hard to digest food after a day of not eating anything. Cooked green leafy vegetables are also quite pan or disayur and not to wither because many beneficial content missing.

3. Oat

When Buddy avoid eating rice either brown rice or white rice, then do not eat any carbohydrates for iftar. My friend can make oats mixed with fruit pieces. Oats are easy to digest and high fiber. Good high-fiber food eaten to break the fast.

4. Fruits

There is no harm in eating a slice of melon or one orange when breaking the fast. Vitamins that of the fruit makes the body feel refreshed. In addition, fresh fruits helps the body to adjust before eating heavy meals to break the fast.

5. Nuts

Nuts are known to contain high protein. Eating green vegetables and nuts recommended a vegetable menu for iftar. My friend can make sour vegetable or vegetable spinach existing green vegetables and nuts in it. Protein is needed by the body and the nuts are easily digestible source of protein and not to shock organs when consumed for iftar.

Maintain health during the month of Ramadan can be started from the simplest things, the iftar menu. Buddy can combine 5 food on the menu to the break buddy. Lets take care of health during the month of Ramadan! See also 8 types of fruit are recommended during fasting and dawn

0 Consumption Fast food Trigger Depression

Consumption Fast food Trigger Depression | Recent research by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and University of Granada Spain, indicating a link between consumption of baked goods (cookies, donuts, cup cakes, croissants) and fast food (hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza) the risk of suffering from depression.

As published in journal Public Health Nutrition, study revealed that those who frequently eat fast food, 51 percent more likely to experience depression than those who ate little or none at all.

Next, the researchers also examined relationships between dose and response. In other words this means that "the more you eat fast food, greater risk for developing depression," said Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, principal investigator of the study.

The study showed that individuals who ate fast food and eating most baked goods are more likely to live alone, less active and have poor dietary habits, including eating less fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables and olive oil.

A long-term study

The relationship between consumption of baked goods with depression is also not much different. "Even eating small portions associated with a significantly higher chance of experiencing depression," said researchers from the university Canary Islands.

In his study, researchers involved about 8964 participants who had never been diagnosed with depression or taking antidepressants. Each participant was observed for an average of six months, and 493 were diagnosed with depression or start consuming antidepressants.

The results showed that there were 657 new cases of depression of 12 059 people were analyzed for more than six months. Increased risk of depression by 42 percent was found in participants who consumed fast food.

Sánchez-Villegas concluded that "although more research is needed, the type of food intake must be controlled because it has an impact on health (obesity, cardiovascular disease) and mental."

Depression affects 121 million people around the world. This figure has been one of the major causes of disability worldwide. Furthermore, in countries with low income and middle-depression a major cause of disability.

0 How to Choose Healthy Foods at Fast Food Restaurants

How to Choose Healthy Foods | The food at the fast food restaurant was delicious. But behind it tastes good, a lot of research that says that the food is hazardous to health if consumed in excess. Choosing healthy food at fast-food restaurants are also very important. For that, here we want to make choosing healthy foods at fast food restaurants.

How to Choose Healthy Foods at Fast Food Restaurants

1. Mc Donalds Mc Muffin Egg or Egg and Cheese Biscuit?
Sandwich that has been chosen for breakfast, sandwiches are buying not only for breakfast but also lunch and dinner. The difference in these foods, muffins made ​​with Canadian bread size smaller and thinner slices of meat as well. While the egg and cheese biscuit, made ​​a full English with a thicker bread with the contents of a large egg and cheese.

Options: Egg Muffin
Although smaller, the higher the calorie content. Likewise, the fat that only half of the egg and cheese biscuit.

2. Burger King Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit or French Toast Sticks?
Burger makes you full longer, but has a lot of calories and fat when compared to French toast sticks. This bread is sweet because of added sugar with measure 2 tablespoons.

Options: French toast sticks
Judging from the size of the fat and calories, you are advised to stick with these biscuits. French toast sticks is not the best choice for breakfast, but a nutritionist suggested this over a burger, because it can keep your heart healthy. But remember, this is only a little portion of the menu, so if you feel hungry again, prepare to eat a high-fiber fruits as food continued.

3. Starbucks Apple Bran Muffin or Banana Nut Loaf?
Banana nut loaf has less protein than apple bran muffin, ie: 7 than 6 grams. Its just a little difference, but the apple bran muffin has a higher fiber content.

Options: Apple bran muffin
Existing fiber in the apple bran muffin reached number 7 grams. "Fiber is not only beneficial for heart health but also can prevent colon cancer," says Angela Ginn, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

4. Dunkin Donuts Plain Bagel with Cream or Glazed Donut?
Sugar content contained on the breakfast menu was able provide energy to start the activity. But bagels with large size also can eliminate hunger, and can last until noon.

Options: Glazed donut
On a bagel, the higher the calories, as well as saturated fat, cholesterol, trans fats, and sodium. While a donut has no trans fats with only 220 calories, compared with bagels that contain 470 calories.