Scientists Find Eating a High-Carb Breakfast Promotes Long-term Weight Loss

Written by Sandra Emmi


There may be truth in the old adage, “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.”

A recent study conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University found that women who eat substantial breakfasts that include carbohydrates lose more weight, and keep it off longer, than those who follow high-protein, low-carb diets.

The research, which was headed up by Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz of the Hospital de Clinicas in Venezuela, showed that women who consumed about half their calories at a breakfast of protein and carbohydrates experienced less food cravings throughout the day, and were satisfied with smaller portions of food at lunch and dinner.

The results of this research were not what you might expect, given all of the research over the past few years demonizing carbohydrates and blaming them for the increase in cases of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

Although those on high-protein diets lost slightly more weight than those who ate a big breakfast initially, by eight months the high-protein group had gained most of the weight they lost back. Yet the high-carb breakfast group not only kept off the weight they lost, they actually continued to lose weight. The surprising result: Women who ate high carbohydrate breakfasts lost over 20 percent of their total body weight, while those on the strict low-carbohydrate diets lost only 5 percent of their total body weight despite the fact that the low-carb group consumed fewer calories each day.

All participants in the study were obese and did not exercise, so activity levels had no affect on their individual outcomes.

Get Enough (but not too much) Vitamin B Folate

Folate is a B vitamin that can be found naturally in beans such as baked beans, Great Northern beans and black-eyed peas, as well as in greens such as spinach, broccoli and asparagus. In addition, folate can also be found in fortified-enriched foods such as pastas, breads and breakfast cereals.

The following article details a Harvard School of Public Health study that found that getting enough folate is good for your health, but getting too much folate could possibly be bad for your health. The article outlines the study findings, talks about cancer risks, heart disease, and advanced and multiple tumors, as well as details the correct amounts of folate for optimum health.

The article notes that low levels of folate can weaken your chromosomes and mutate your tumor-suppressing genes. It also notes that getting a high dose of folate does not lower your risk of cancer, and could raise your risk of tumors.

When good vitamins turn bad

Natural Viagra? Tribulus Terrestris

Having libido problems? Want to increase your sex drive and boost your testosterone levels? Forget Viagra and turn to the natural tropical plant, tribulus terrestris! Tribulus terrestris is a medicinal plant valued as a great sexual enhancer known to increase libido, raise testosterone levels (when stacked with DHEA and adrostenedione), raise sperm count and can even be used to treat infertility in both sexes. Found as a supplement in liquid, tincture, powder, capsule and tablet forms, tribulus terrestris can also increase athletic performance and is often used by athletes.

Tribulus terrestris has been used for thousands of years not only for sexual performance and athletic performance, but also for treatment of everything from liver, heart and kidney disease to depression and water retention. Tribulus terrestris is reported to also act as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, all while increases the production of a naturally occurring hormone in the body - luteinizing hormone (LH).

Creatine and Athletic Performance

Athletes have been using creatine since the 1990s to increase body mass, build muscles, decrease body fat, and improve endurance. It is estimated that nearly 25 percent to 50 percent of professional athletes turn to creatine for improved athletic performance, and many like to use it during workouts for fast, quick, bursts of energy. This is good news, hopefully keeping many athletes away from anabolic steroids.

Creatine is a nonessential amino acid that is manufactured in the liver and kidneys, and delivered by the bloodstream to the muscles. Creatine is also available in high protein foods, though diet alone cannot supply the enough creatine for increasing stamina and muscle mass. Some think that taking creatine with carbohydrates will increase its absorption rate.

While creatine is a great supplement for athletes, it is also known to help with medical conditions such as: neuromuscular disorders, congestive heart failure, muscular dystrophy, secondary heart attack and more.

ADHD and Amino Acid Chocolate Chip Cookies

A new study is taking the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with food to a whole new level. Researchers have loaded chocolate chip cookies with amino acids and B vitamins to see if these cookies can help school-aged children with the disorder. The cookies are said to have as much amino acids as 19 eggs or 35 ounces of beef. Over 200 fifth- and third-grade students are being interviewed for eligibility to participate in the study.

The following article talks to researchers from the University of North Texas, where the study will be held starting in January. The article discusses why they are choosing to use amino acid/vitamin B cookies, and the issues with current pharmaceutical drugs used to treat ADHD. The article also speaks with a doctor who has been treating ADHD for over 30 years, and who has never heard of using amino acids to treat the disorder.


UNT to test ADHD treatment with amino acids, B-vitamins

A Natural Antiseptic: Tea Tree Oil

You may have seen tea tree oil in your local health food store or local pharmacy. While it is in liquid form and has the word tea in in, don’t be fooled; this oil is in no way related to drinking tea and can be fatal if swallowed. Tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic related to eucalyptus and native to Australia.

Tea tree oil is used directly on the skin to destroy bacteria and fungal infections, as well as to offer anti-inflammatory and pain relief to muscles. It can be used to treat acne, yeast infection, athlete’s foot and even boils. It is also known to help with pain relief for arthritis sufferers and can be used in a vaporizer or bath to treat respiratory infections.

Known for its distinctive smell and natural warming effect, just apply the oil topically with a cotton ball and rub gently into skin. Test for sensitivities first; some people are irritated by the natural oil and can develop a skin rash.

Tea Tree Oil

Nanotechnology and Turmeric for Cancer?

The health benefits of turmeric have long been praised in Asian medicine; the tasty seasoning has been used for everything from arthritis to heartburn. Now researchers at John Hopkins are taking a close look at tumeric and creating a new form of the spice to be used as a powerful cancer fighting medicine: nano-curcumin.

The following article explains how the active chemical compound in tumeric that provides the yellow color, curcumin, is being transformed by nanotechnology into a water-soluble form that can be injected into the bloodstream for easy absorption and hopefully, cancer treatment. The article speaks with researchers from John Hopkins about preliminary tests that have been held with mice and curcumin showing reduced inflammation, decreased tumor growth, and Alzheimer’s benefits. Researchers are hoping that nano curcumin could be the newest prevention course and treatment for diseases such as cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer’s, multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancer.

According to the article, nano-curcumin will soon be tested on humans and could be on the market within five years if proven successful.


Spice In Indian Food May Help Fight Cancer

Natural, Whole Food Fiber

Getting enough fiber is an extremely important, but oftentimes overlooked, diet essential. Lately there have been a lot of companies adding fiber to their cereal, yogurt, orange juice and other food products in the hopes and helping Americans to obtain the necessary amounts. Fiber has many health benefits, from regulating blood sugar and filling you up, to protecting against diabetes and digestive issues. The question that is being asked is: does added fiber give the same protection and health benefits that true, natural, whole food fiber offers?

The following article takes a look at ‘added fiber’ versus ‘whole food fiber’, and speaks with a myriad of dieticians and nutritionists to determine whether processed, refined fiber can offer the same health benefits as unprocessed fiber. This article also makes suggestions for getting enough fiber in your daily diet, lists fiber-rich foods, and explains how you can add healthy, unprocessed fiber to foods without buying foods with added fiber, to get maximum health benefits.


Looking for a good source of fiber? Go straight to produce

Is Erectile Dysfunction Linked to Heart Attack?

Could doctors and cardiologists be putting their patients at risk simply because they are personally uncomfortable talking about ‘erections’ to their patients? Are they truly uncomfortable, or are they simply unaware that that erectile dysfunction and heart attack are linked? According to this enlightening article, both issues may be happening and may be clinically negligent. Is erectile dysfunction an early indicator of heart disease?

In this article Dr. Geoffrey Hackett of Good Hope Hospital in Birmingham, England, claims that erectile dysfunction is a precursor to heart attack. In fact, he says that erectile dysfunction doubles the risk of heart attack and that many men develop the issue nearly two to three years before the onset of heart attack, but doctors are not making the link.

The article explains how erectile dysfunction is a serious health issue that is also a symptom of vascular disease. The article offers a word of warning to doctors who are not making the link between the disease and heart disease.

ED Early Warning for Heart Attack?

Turmeric and Type 2 Diabetes

Turmeric is currently being touted as the new super spice of the year. The popular ingredient found in curry is being studied by scientists and researchers worldwide due to the chemical compound curcumin, which is a powerful antioxidant found in the common Asian cooking spice. The seasoning has long been used as a natural medicine and supplement. While many are studying curcumin for various cancers, some scientists are focusing on the curcumin for Type 2 diabetes.

The following article outlines a study held by the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center that was recently published in Endocrinology. The researchers fed obese mice high amounts of turmeric and found that the mice had a decrease in body weight, a decrease in liver and fat tissue inflammation, and improved blood sugar levels.

This article speaks with researchers about the study, and their thoughts on curcumin being used as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes due to the study outcome. The study was presented at the Endocrine Society annual meeting in San Francisco.


Study Shows Turmeric May Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Can Veganism Cure Diabetes?

Could you eat a vegan diet if it would cure your Type 2 diabetes? Veganism is a healthy diet that involves not only forgoing meat (cow, chicken, fish, turkey and any other living creatures) but it also involves not eating animal products, such as sour cream, cheese, milk, and other animal products such as eggs. While many people still can’t imagine having a diet that does not involve animals, more and more research is pointing the healthy validity of a vegan diet. This time it is being said to help those who suffer with Type 2 diabetes.

The following article gives an overview of a randomized clinical study that proved a vegan diet could improve sensitivity to insulin by improving glycemic and lipid control. This is great news for those with Type 2 diabetes, especially if they feel they could switch to a vegan diet. Of course, this diet wouldn’t work for everyone, but for some it could possibly reverse their diabetes.

Vegan is a Diabetes Cure?