By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) – If all the birds, bugs, bees and other creatures that pollinate our food crops were to disappear from the planet, humans could face a sharp increase in malnutrition, disease and death in many parts of the world, scientists estimate. Researchers analyzed supplies of 224 types of food in 156 countries, quantified the vitamins and nutrients in foods dependent on animal pollinators, and then calculated what nutritional deficits people could face if pollinators ceased to exist. Globally, dietary changes forced by the extinction of pollinators might increase deaths from non-communicable diseases and malnutrition-related problems by about 1.4 million, or a 2.7 percent gain in mortality, the researchers estimate.

By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) – Want to lose body fat? At least initially, a diet low in fat may be better than one that limits carbohydrates, a U.S. study suggests. To test the effects of cutting fat or carbs head-to-head, researchers put 19 obese adults in the hospital twice, each time reducing their calorie intake by about 30 percent and putting them all on identical exercise routines.

More PUFAs and a higher ratio of PUFA: Saturated fatty acids are included in the self-reported diets of leaner childrenThe results of a recent study show that children who report eating more…