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COVID-19 was the first pandemic of the internet age. Beginning at a time of great societal division in the United States (and globally), pandemic responses were further beleaguered by the viral proliferation of information, disinformation, and propaganda-collectively, an “infodemic.” Polarized, blinkered views of the crisis precluded a balanced consideration of objectives, opportunities, and ineluctable trade-offs between the risks of actions and corresponding inactions. The results were lapses in both directions, greatly amplifying the pandemic toll. Persistence of this costly fractiousness is now spawning monocular critiques of the pandemic response, with neglect of essential nuance. There is a better pandemic that might have been, and the chance for far better responses to the next- but only if the follies of this history are lessons learned and applied. Failing that, the risk looms that having been amply forewarned of our liabilities, we will fail to be forearmed.

Byline: Mark Bittman, David L. Katz Does any old apple a day keep the doctor away? Or does it have to be organic? The answer is, honestly, 'That's impossible to [...]

Purpose To examine the associations between dietary intake as assessed by a rapid, image-based digital tool and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health.Design Retrospective analysis of adults with blood biomarkers performed by Boston Heart Diagnostics (BHD) between December 2020 and March 2022.Setting Outpatient centers serviced by BHD.Subjects 546 adults, excluding those taking relevant medications and/or supplements known to affect blood test results.Measures Laboratory assays of blood specimens were performed by Boston Heart Diagnostics. Nutrient intake and diet quality data were obtained using Diet Quality Photo Navigation (DQPN®; US Patent #11,328,810 B2) technique via Diet ID™ tool.Analysis Pearson correlation coefficients (for continuous variables) and Spearman coefficients (for ordinal variables) were used to evaluate associations between nutrient intake data and laboratory data for the full study sample. Two-sided P-values < .05 were considered statistically significant.Results Both continuous and ordinal measures of diet quality correlated significantly with HDL-C and triglycerides (n = 485; P< .0 01); with hs-CRP (n = 441; P< .001); with HgbA1c (n = 345; P< .01); with fasting insulin (n = 372; P< .001); and with HOMA-IR (n = 319; P < .001).Conclusion Findings affirm that rapid, digital diet quality and composition assessment by pattern recognition rather than recall tracks significantly with key biomarkers of cardiometabolic health.

Byline: David L. Katz, M.D. MERCY VIRTUAL has been called a hospital without patients, and the description is both true and false. There are neither beds nor patients in the [...]

Background: Improving diets has considerable potential to improve health, but progress in this area has been limited, and advice to increase fruit and vegetable intake has largely gone unheeded. Objectives: Our objective was to test the performance characteristics of the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI), a tool designed to help improve dietary patterns one well-informed choice at a time. Design: The ONQI was developed by a multidisciplinary group of nutrition and public health scientists independent of food industry interests and is the basis for the NuVal Nutritional Guidance System. Dietary guidelines, existing nutritional scoring systems, and other pertinent scientific literature were reviewed. An algorithm incorporating >30 entries that represent both micro- and macronutrient properties of foods, as well as weighting coefficients representing epidemiologic associations between nutrients and health outcomes, was developed and subjected to consumer research and testing of performance characteristics. Results: ONQI and expert panel rankings correlated highly (R = 0.92, P < 0.001). In consumer testing, [approximately equal to]80% of >800 study participants indicated that the ONQI would influence their purchase intent. ONQI scoring distinguished the more-healthful DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet (mean score: 46) from the typical American diet according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006 (mean score: 26.5; P < 0.01). In linear regression analysis of the NHANES 2003-2006 populations (n = 15,900), the NuVal system was significantly associated with the Healthy Eating Index 2005 (P < 0.0001). Recently generated data from ongoing studies indicate favorable effects on purchase patterns and significant correlation with health outcomes in large cohorts of men and women followed for decades. Conclusion: NuVal offers universally applicable nutrition guidance that is independent of food industry interests and is supported by consumer research and scientific evaluation of its performance characteristics. Am J Clin Nutr 2010;91(suppl):1102S-8S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2010.28450E.

OBJECTIVE--To determine the effects of daily walnut consumption on endothelial function, cardiovascular biomarkers, and anthropometric measures in type 2 diabetic individuals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--This study was a randomized, controlled, [...]

Background: Studies suggest cardioprotective benefits of dark chocolate containing cocoa. Objective: This study examines the acute effects of solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa intake on endothelial function and blood pressure in overweight adults. Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind crossover trial of 45 healthy adults [mean age: 53 y; mean body mass index (in kg/[m.sup.2]): 30]. In phase 1, subjects were randomly assigned to consume a solid dark chocolate bar (containing 22 g cocoa powder) or a cocoa-free placebo bar (containing 0 g cocoa powder). In phase 2, subjects were randomly assigned to consume sugar-free cocoa (containing 22 g cocoa powder), sugared cocoa (containing 22 g cocoa powder), or a placebo (containing 0 g cocoa powder). Results: Solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa ingestion improved endothelial function (measured as flow-mediated dilatation) compared with placebo (dark chocolate: 4.3 [+ or -] 3.4% compared with -1.8 [+ or -] 3.3%; P < 0.001; sugar-free and sugared cocoa: 5.7 [+ or -] 2.6% and 2.0 [+ or -] 1.8% compared with -1.5 [+ or -] 2.8%; P < 0.001). Blood pressure decreased after the ingestion of dark chocolate and sugar-free cocoa compared with placebo (dark chocolate: systolic, -3.2 [+ or -] 5.8 mm Hg compared with 2.7 [+ or -] 6.6 mm Hg; P < 0.001 ; and diastolic, -1.4 [+ or -] 3.9 mm Hg compared with 2.7 [+ or -] 6.4 mm Hg; P = 0.01; sugar-free cocoa: systolic, -2.1 [+ or -] 7.0 mm Hg compared with 3.2 [+ or -] 5.6 mm Hg; P < 0.001; and diastolic: -1.2 [+ or -] 8.7 mm Hg compared with 2.8 [+ or -] 5.6 mm Hg; P = 0.014). Endothelial function improved significantly more with sugar-free than with regular cocoa (5.7 [+ or -] 2.6% compared with 2.0 [+ or -] 1.8%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: The acute ingestion of both solid dark chocolate and liquid cocoa improved endothelial function and lowered blood pressure in overweight adults. Sugar content may attenuate these effects, and sugar-free preparations may augment them.

OBJECTIVE--We evaluated the role of a single measurement of Hb[A.sub.1c] in a diabetes case finding in hospitalized patients with random hyperglycemia at admission. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--From 20 March to [...]

Research has been conducted on raloxifene. The authors have investigated the raloxifene effect on endothelial funtion in healthy postmenopausal women, and the results demonstrate that raloxifene enhances endothelial-mediated dilathion in brachial arteries.

Byline: John P. Hayslett, David L. Katz, Joann M. Knudson Keywords: Hyponatremia; pre-eclampsia Abstract: Objective: The objective of this report is to describe a defect in water metabolism, characterized by hyponatremia, in patients with pre-eclampsia-induced nephrotic syndrome Study Design: This was an observational study of 3 women. Results: Hyponatremia was observed in 3 women with pre-eclampsia characterized by various extrarenal manifestations, as well as by nephrotic syndrome with normal or nearly normal renal function. Restriction in water intake partially corrected hyponatremia before delivery in each case, and no complications were observed in the neonates. The mechanism of impaired excretion of water in these patients is proposed to involve persistent and inappropriate production of vasopressin through stimulation of the nonosmotic mechanism for vasopressin secretion in response to a reduction in effective plasma volume. Conclusions: These results indicate for the first time that women with pre-eclampsia are, at least when nephrotic, at risk for development of dilutional hyponatremia, which can cause neurologic complications that simulate those of eclampsia. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;179:1312-6.) Author Affiliation: New Haven, Connecticut Article History: Received 8 December 1997; Accepted 30 April 1998 Article Note: (footnote) [star] From the Departments of Internal Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, School of Medicine., [star][star] Reprints not available from the authors., a 0002-9378/98 $5.00 + 0 6/1/91434

Healthcare Professionals for Healthcare Reform is a group of physicians and others interested in health care reform who, recognizing the urgent need for change, convened to propose a universal health care plan that builds on the strengths of the U.S. health care system and improves on its coverage, efficiency, and capacity for patient choice. The group proposes a tiered plan, the core of which (Tier 1) would be lifetime, basic, publicly funded coverage for the entire population on the basis of the best evidence about which therapies are considered life saving, life-sustaining, or preventive. Optional coverage (Tier 2) would be funded by private insurance and cover all therapies considered to help with quality of life and functional impairment. Items considered to be luxury or cosmetic (Tier 3) would generally not be covered, as is the case under the current system. The entire system would be overseen by a quasi-governmental, largely independent organization known as 'The Board,' which would resemble the Federal Reserve and interact with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services agencies to oversee implementation and coverage. By building on the current health care system while introducing other features and efficiencies, the Expanding Medical and Behavioral Resources with Access to Care for Everyone (EMBRACE) plan for universal health insurance coverage offers several advantages over alternative plans that have been proposed.

What you do with your arms, feet and fork can slash your risk for chronic disease by up to 80 percent, reports Dr. David L. Katz in his latest book. [...]

Objectives: Cognitive difficulties or impairment may be an early step in the development of dementia. Several modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) may also increase the risk of dementia. The objective of our study was to compare adults with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) cognitive disability measure, with adults who reported CVD.Methods: We examined data on 3 key outcomes among 302 008 adult respondents aged ≥45 in the 2017 BRFSS: respondents with SCI only, respondents with CVD only, and respondents with both conditions. We compared measures of disability, quality of life, access to health care, and a composite measure of the following 7 risk factors: current smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. We also estimated population-attributable risk (PAR).Results: Among respondents, 7.9% reported SCI only, 11.1% reported CVD only, and 3.2% reported both conditions, with differences by age and sex. Adults with SCI only were more likely than adults with CVD only to report other disability, worse access to health care, and poorer quality of life, even though adults with CVD were older. Compared with adults with neither condition, adults with any of the 3 outcomes were more likely to report having each of the 7 risk factors; we found a linear association with an increasing number of risk factors. Five or 6 risk factors contributed to PARs for each of the 3 key outcomes. PARs for SCI only were highest for ever smoking (17.2%) and sedentary lifestyle (12.8%), whereas for CVD only, PARs were highest for hypertension (35.5%) and high cholesterol (22.9%).Conclusion: Despite differences between adults with SCI and adults with CVD in several demographic and health-related measures, the overall similarity in PARs for SCI and CVD suggests potential benefits from using effective CVD interventions to address SCI.

The relative contributions of meat and plants to the native human diet, and human adaptation to these dietary constituents, are a matter of debate among paleoanthropologists. Indisputable, however, is the imprint of both on the anatomy and physiology of Homo sapiens: our species is constitutionally omnivorous. That means we have choices to make. At present, we are making mostly bad ones, with poor diets of highly processed plant and animal foods alike leading contributors to chronic disease, premature death, and environmental degradation. The evidence is strong, consistent, and compelling that a diet of predominantly, or even exclusively, whole plant foods can promote health, selectively treat and reverse disease, and confer comparable benefit to the planet. Omnivores have dietary choices, but the choices of nearly 8 billion hungry Homo sapienson a small imperiled planet have narrowed. The future of food, for the sake of people and planet alike, is plant centric.

Prevailing definitions of protein quality are predicated on considerations of biochemistry and metabolism rather than the net effects on human health or the environment of specific food sources of protein. In the vernacular, higher “quality” equates to desirability. This implication is compounded by sequential, societal trends in which first dietary fat and then dietary carbohydrate were vilified during recent decades, leaving dietary protein under an implied halo. The popular concept that protein is “good” and that the more the better, coupled with a protein quality definition that favors meat, fosters the impression that eating more meat, as well as eggs and dairy, is desirable and preferable. This message, however, is directly opposed to current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which encourage consumption of more plant foods and less meat, and at odds with the literature on the environmental impacts of foods, from carbon emissions to water utilization, which decisively favor plant protein sources. Thus, the message conveyed by the current definitions of protein quality is at odds with imperatives of public and planetary health alike. We review the relevant literature in this context and make the case that the definition of protein quality is both misleading and antiquated. We propose a modernized definition that incorporates the quality of health and environmental outcomes associated with specific food sources of protein. We demonstrate how such an approach can be adapted into a metric and applied to the food supply.

Purpose: We previously demonstrated that including walnuts in the diets of adults at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) led to improved overall diet quality. This report examines the specific changes in their nutrient intake.Design: This was a randomized, controlled, modified Latin square parallel design trial with 2 treatment arms. Participants were randomized to walnut intake with, or without, dietary advice to regulate caloric intake. Within each treatment arm, they were further randomized to one of 2 sequence permutations (walnut-included/walnut-excluded or walnut-excluded/walnut-included diet), with a 3-month washout between treatment phases.Setting: Community hospital in Lower Naugatuck Valley in Connecticut.Participants: Cohort of 112 participants (31 men and 81 women) at risk for T2DM.Intervention: Participants included 56 g (366 kcal) of walnuts in their daily diets for 6 months.Measures: Nutrient intake was assessed using web-based Automated Self-Administered 24-Hour Dietary Assessment.Analysis: Data were analyzed using generalized linear models.Results: Walnut inclusion led to increased intake of total fat, calcium, magnesium, thiamin, total saturated fatty acids, and monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (379.0 ± 90.3 g vs −136.5 ± 92.7 g, P< .01; 230.7 ± 114.2 mg vs −95.2 ± 117.4 mg, P= .05; 111.0 ± 33.9 mg vs −32.3 ± 34.9 mg, P< .01; 0.28 ± 0.2 mg vs −0.47 ± 0.2 mg, P= .02; 8.6 ± 3.4 g vs −1.1 ± 3.5 g, P=.05; 6.3 ± 3.9 g vs −6.3 ± 4.0 g, P= .03; and 25.4 ± 4.0 vs −6.6 ± 4.2 g, P< .01, respectively). Vitamin C intake decreased (−65.3 ± 55.3 mg vs 98.9 ± 56.8 mg, P= .04). Protein intake increased from baseline with the inclusion of walnuts (20.0 ± 8.8 g, P< .05). Walnut inclusion led to an increase in total calories consumed when caloric intake is not regulated.Conclusion: Including walnuts in the diets of these adults led to increased dietary intake of some nutrients associated with lower risk of developing T2DM and other cardiometabolic risk factors.

The article focuses on several gurus including Lewis Howes, Aubrey Marcus and Josh Axe along with their tips for men to stay healthy. It mentions that whole foods and natural remedies, like essential oils and herbs, can make people healthier and happier. It also mentions that vedic science and Western medicine reduce stress and improve diet.

The power of lifestyle as medicine was perceived thousands of years ago. There is now consistent and compelling science to support the important influence of lifestyle on health. Approximately 80% of chronic disease and premature death could be prevented by not smoking, being physically active, and adhering to a healthful dietary pattern. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, and cancer are all influenced by lifestyle choices. Despite the ample evidence about what behaviors promote health, confusion still prevails among the general population. This is particularly true with regard to diet. Confusing nutrition messages from scientists, the media, the food industry, and other sources have made it all but impossible for any single authority to convey persuasively the fundamentals of healthful eating. The case is made here that a global coalition of diverse experts has the power to do what no individual can: clarify and popularize an understanding of the fundamentals of a health-promoting, sustainable pattern of diet and lifestyle, and rally the general public to their consistent support.

The article presents questions and answers about food including vegetarian diets, low-carbohydrate diet with meat, and gluten intolerance.

Ten tips for a healthy diet are presented. Brian Wansink, a nutrition researcher at Cornell University, says that changing the size of the plates from 12 inches to 10 inches results in 22% less calories. The use of fewer ingredients in preparing meals is also recommended.

Ways of improving the quality one's diet are presented. One way is to take breakfast as studies show that skipping it is related to obesity and overweight. Examples of ten-minute healthy habits for lunch and dinner are also given.

The cases of two women are presented who had an interstitial ectopic pregnancy that was treated using both laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants in the Fallopian tubes instead of the uterus.

When should I stop eating for the day so I don't gain weight? I go to bed at 11:30. --LEIGH WEINER, NEW YORK CITY A The common folk wisdom that […]

AN ASTOUNDING 65 PERCENT OF AMERICAN adults are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No wonder it's a seller's market for fad diets, which come in […]

Purpose. To compare the effects of nut-based snack bars (NBSB) vs. prepackaged 200-kcal portions of typical conventional snack foods, when consumed over a 12-week period by a group of overweight adults.Design. Randomized, single-blind parallel design with two treatment groups.Setting. Clinical trial.Subjects. Thirty-four overweight participants were enrolled.Intervention. Commercially available NBSB or conventional snack foods as part of an ad libitum diet for 12 weeks.Measures. Primary outcome measures: body mass index, body weight, body composition, waist circumference. Secondary outcome measures: blood pressure, lipid profile, nutrients intake, hunger/satiety, quality of life.Analysis. Generalized linear models with time as repeated measure were used to analyze these data.Results. Daily consumption of NBSB for 12 weeks, as compared to daily consumption of conventional snacks, significantly reduced percentage body fat (−1.7% ± 10.8% vs. 6.2% ± 9.3%; p = .04) and visceral fat (−1.3 ± 5.9 vs. 2.7 ± 4.0; p = .03). There were no between-group differences (p > .05) for blood pressure, lipid panel, satiety, or quality of life measures.Conclusion. Our data suggest that daily consumption of NBSB for 12 weeks reduced body fat and had no adverse effects on weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, satiety, or quality of life in this small sample of overweight adults.

Purpose. To compare two intensity levels (standard vs. enhanced) of a nutrition and physical activity intervention vs. a control (usual programs) on nutrition knowledge, body mass index, fitness, academic performance, behavior, and medication use among elementary school students.Design. Quasi-experimental with three arms.Setting. Elementary schools, students’ homes, and a supermarket.Subjects. A total of 1487 third-grade students.Intervention. The standard intervention (SI) provided daily physical activity in classrooms and a program on making healthful foods, using food labels. The enhanced intervention (EI) provided these plus additional components for students and their families.Measures. Body mass index (zBMI), food label literacy, physical fitness, academic performance, behavior, and medication use for asthma or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Analysis. Multivariable generalized linear model and logistic regression to assess change in outcome measures.Results. Both the SI and EI groups gained less weight than the control (p < .001), but zBMI did not differ between groups (p = 1.00). There were no apparent effects on physical fitness or academic performance. Both intervention groups improved significantly but similarly in food label literacy (p = .36). Asthma medication use was reduced significantly in the SI group, and nonsignificantly (p = .10) in the EI group. Use of ADHD medication remained unchanged (p = .34).Conclusion. The standard intervention may improve food label literacy and reduce asthma medication use in elementary school children, but an enhanced version provides no further benefit.

A recipe for seasoned summer squash is presented. Squashes are nutritious vegetables that contain high levels of vitamin A, fiber, calcium, and potassium. The recipe is good for four to six servings.

Tricking the taste buds to prefer lean, nutritious fare over the rich and calorific is no easy feat: Those little suckers are fierce hunters for fat and sugar. So we […]

Q | I started drinking more water about 12 years ago because I heard it was healthy But now I'm up to three liters a day, and I'm always thirsty. […]

10 Easy Food Switches for an Extra 10 Good Years OUT IN WHY 1 Milk Dark chocolate Dark chocolate (look for at least chocolate 60 percent cocoa) is a concentrated [...]

Q | I recently finished the second phase of the South Beach diet and intend to stay on the plan permanently. But since I've stopped eating a lot of carbs […]

AbstractBackground:Comprehensive, residential treatment for severe obesity in adolescents may be an alternative to bariatric surgery and more efficacious than outpatient treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a long-term cognitive-behavioral therapy–based immersion obesity treatment program for adolescents.Methods:Twelve obese adolescents with BMIs above the 95th percentile completed a 14- to 18-week multicomponent intervention.Results:We observed significant improvements in BMI z-score, waist circumference, mile run time, and blood lipids.Conclusion:This study suggests that the tested program may be effective, at least in the short term; a randomized, controlled trial to further assess this model is warranted.

Q | I've heard that dairy products contain so much protein that your body uses the calcium in them to buffer the protein rather than to strengthen bones. Would leafy […]