Diet and Disease

Smartphones, Ultra-Processed Foods, Diminished Family Bonds and Mental Wellness

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As mental well-being has remained largely static across the world since 2021, so too have the rankings of countries. At the top of the rankings are many Latin American and African countries while much of the core Anglosphere ranks in the bottom quartile. With national wealth indicators such as per capita GDP negatively correlated with average mental well-being scores (see our 2021 report), this year we have made substantial progress in our understanding of why this is so. Two key findings published in Rapid Reports in 2023 show that younger age of first smartphone ownership and ultra-processed food consumption are two major contributors to our mental health challenges. In wealthier countries, the age of first smartphone ownership is much younger and ultra-processed food consumption much higher. Other contributing factors are the relatively diminished family relationships in wealthier countries that are highlighted in our 2022 annual report. The Mental State of the World in 2023 – https://mentalstateoftheworld.report/2023_read/

Another Sunday morning, just reading and connecting the dots.

I’ve downloaded several of these reports and plan to do a deep dive later.

Read these reports and think about it.

Now do something about it.

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis? Eat Less Omega-6 fats and More Omega-3 fats

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To determine whether diet or supplements can play a role in managing prostate cancer, the UCLA-led team conducted a prospective clinical trial, called CAPFISH-3, that included 100 men with low risk or favorable intermediate risk prostate cancer who chose active surveillance. Participants were randomly assigned to either continue their normal diet or follow a low omega-6, high omega-3 diet, supplemented with fish oil, for one year.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, show that a diet low in omega-6 and high in omega-3 fatty acids, combined with fish oil supplements, significantly reduced the growth rate of prostate cancer cells in men with early-stage disease.

University of California – Los Angeles Health Sciences. “A low omega-6, omega-3 rich diet and fish oil may slow prostate cancer growth.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241213211326.htm (accessed December 13, 2024)

Another reminder I should get my PSA level checked.

Prostate Cancer Diagnosis? Eat More Veggies

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In this cohort study of 2062 men with prostate cancer, higher intake of plant foods after prostate cancer diagnosis was associated with lower risk of cancer progression. These findings suggest nutritional assessment and counseling may be recommended to patients with prostate cancer to help establish healthy dietary practices and support well-being and overall health. Plant-Based Diets and Disease Progression in Men With Prostate Cancer – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818122

This reminds me I should get my PSA level checked at my next annual visit.

Last reading was 0.64 back in 2022.

Dietary Approaches to Obesity Treatment

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There is no single diet that can universally fit everyone for weight loss benefit.

Parmar RM, Can AS. Dietary Approaches to Obesity Treatment. [Updated 2023 Mar 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574576/ — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574576/

Words of Wisdom from a former 370 pound human.

What worked for me may not work for you.

Keep searching for what works for you.

Find the differences that make a difference.

Good luck.

Diet and Your Immune System

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Whereas nutrition scientists have conventionally studied the long-term impacts of loosely defined Mediterranean or Western diets, for example, today they have access to tools that allow them to zoom in on the short-term effects — both helpful and harmful — of narrower food groups and specific dietary components, and to probe the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of foods on immunity. Your diet can change your immune system — here’s how – https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03334-0

Nice article summarizing the latest research in diet and the immune system.

Food for Thought (and memories)

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Favorite Meals May Trigger Memories in People with Dementia

Mealtime can provide opportunities to connect with someone experiencing memory loss and tap into deeply rooted memories. “If you’re going to make your father’s favorite meal, think about how you can delve into it as an experience,” Aguirre says. Dr. Kramer notes that several senses associated with cooking and eating dishes, including smell and taste, are closely related to memory. Both the olfactory bulb, the main receiving center for smell, and the insular cortex and frontal operculum (also called the gustatory cortex), responsible for perception of taste, are closely connected to the amygdala, an area involved in emotional learning. The olfactory nerve, which conveys the sense of smell to the brain, is also close to the hippocampus, one of the most important brain structures for memory. And the combined effect of smell and taste—what neuroscientists who study this field call “flavor”—can be especially powerful at conjuring long-held memories charged with emotion, says Joel Salinas, MD, MBA, FAAN, assistant professor of neurology at NYU Langone Health and chief medical officer at Isaac Health, a clinic in New York City for brain health and memory problems.Favorite Meals May Trigger Memories in People with Dementia – https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/food-may-trigger-memories-in-people-with-dementia

Yogurt and CSBMs (Complete Spontaneous Bowel Movements)

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In a randomized controlled trial, the probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis—used in many probiotic products, including Dannon’s Activia yogurts—did nothing to improve bowel health in people with constipation, according to data from a randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial published Wednesday in JAMA Network Open. Popular gut probiotic completely craps out in randomized controlled trial – https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/10/popular-gut-probiotic-completely-craps-out-in-randomized-controlled-trial/

Here’s a lesson in the need to read the original study. I found this statement from the researchers:

The 2 study groups were very similar with respect to baseline characteristics. The participants had a low dietary fiber intake (9 g/d), which is in line with observations by others (11.7 g/d) and well below recommended levels (25.0 g/d).14 This may be a contributing factor to the bowel movement problems experienced by the participants. Eight-Week Supplementation With Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Functional Constipation – https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2824333

IMO the low dietary fiber intake in this shitting study leads me to think the entire study results were…crappy.

BTW yesterday I had two CSBMs. That’s what I get for eating a bowl of black eye peas http://garyskitchen.net/2022/01/16/vegetarian-badass-black-eyed-peas-2022/ and a baked sweet potato in the same day.

Low Magnesium Levels Do What?

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Scientists from the University of South Australia measured blood samples from 172 middle aged adults, finding a strong link between low magnesium levels and high amounts of a genotoxic amino acid called homocysteine. University of South Australia. “Low magnesium levels increase disease risk.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240812123307.htm (accessed August 13, 2024).

Journal Reference:

Varinderpal S. Dhillon, Permal Deo, Michael Fenech. Low magnesium in conjunction with high homocysteine increases DNA damage in healthy middle aged Australians. European Journal of Nutrition, 2024; DOI: 10.1007/s00394-024-03449-0

Whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas, avocados and dark chocolate are magnesium-rich foods.

    Just 2-4 Cups of Fruits and Veggies Does What?

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    Lowers blood pressure, improves kidney health, improves CVD risk factors.

    In a randomized control trial over a five-year period, investigators divided the cohort of 153 patients with hypertension into three groups:

    1. Study participants adding 2-4 cups of base-producing fruits and vegetables in addition to their usual daily food intake
    2. Study participants prescribed NaHCO3 (acid-reducing sodium bicarbonate, which is common baking soda) tablets in two daily doses of 4-5 650 mg tablets
    3. Study participants receiving standard medical care from primary care clinicians

    The results of the study show that both fruits and vegetables and NaHCO3 improved kidney health, but only fruits and vegetables, and not NaHCO3, reduced blood pressure and improved indices of cardiovascular disease risk.

    The trial supports fruits and vegetables as foundational hypertension treatment to reduce chronic kidney disease progression and cardiovascular disease risk.

    Elsevier. “Eating more fruits and vegetables to reduce dietary acid lowers blood pressure and improves kidney and heart health in patients with hypertension.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240806131316.htm (accessed August 11, 2024).

    Journal Reference:

    1. Nimrit Goraya, Nicolaos E. Madias, Jan Simoni, Maninder Kahlon, Nazan Aksan, Donald E. Wesson. Kidney and Cardiovascular Protection Using Dietary Acid Reduction in Primary Hypertension: A Five-Year, Interventional, Randomized, Control Trial. The American Journal of Medicine, 2024; DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2024.06.006

    I had two cups of fruit in my breakfast bowl this morning.

    What did you eat for breakfast?

    The T2D-GENE Trial

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    The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was significantly lower in the lifestyle intervention group than in the control group.

    University of Eastern Finland. “Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by diet and exercise even in individuals with a high genetic risk.” ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240807122749.htm (accessed August 10, 2024).

    Effects of Genetic Risk on Incident Type 2 Diabetes and Glycemia: The T2D-GENE Lifestyle Intervention Trial – The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, dgae422, https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgae422

    Remember, Stay as Thin as You Can as Long as You Can.