What Good Foods Can Do For You (Study)

This may seem rudimentary to the point of absurdity, but good food does good things to the body.
 
A study led by Lund University professor (of food-related nutrition) Inger Björck has addressed the health effects of a diet made up of multiple foods that are thought to reduce inflammation. The study details are as follows;

Forty-four healthy, overweight people between the ages of 50 and 75 took part in the diet study. Over a four week period they ate foods which are supposed to reduce low-grade inflammation in the body, a condition which in turn leads to metabolic syndrome and thus obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The test diet was rich in antioxidants, low-GI foods (ie, slow-release carbohydrates), omega fatty acids, whole grains, probiotics and dietary fibre. Foods eaten include fatty fish, barley, blueberries , almonds, soy protein, cinnamon, and vinegar and a particular type of whole bread. LDL cholesterol, blood lipids and blood pressure were  reduced by 33 percent, 14 percent, and 8 percent respectively. A risk marker for blood clots was decreased by 26 percent; and a marker of inflammation was also greatly reduced, while memory and cognitive functions were improved. 

Results of the study make sense as they are healthy, mostly unprocessed foods which have been shown to have health benefits individually. It would however be rash to assume that this group of foods is the best way to eat - any diet change is usually a large improvement in the average diet habits. Other diets could be equally (or at least competitive) as effective as the pattern they chose - as long as calorie consumption was restricted. A control group would be justified for this study to give a little more credibility. It would be interesting to to see what kind of weight loss participants experienced.

View the original article here

For more on dietary studies and research you may like:
The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted And the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, And Long-term Health

Applications and Case Studies in Clinical Nutrition Softbound


Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition, and Health, Revised and Expanded Edition (California Studies in Food and Culture)