Scientists are pushing to restore human health in Western countries by changing our diet to restore the microbial species lost over the evolution of Western diet.

By Lisa Rapaport (Reuters Health) – Americans throw out more than one third of the food produced in the U.S. each year – enough to fill 320,000 jumbo jets – with most of it going straight into landfills. “Becoming more observant of food that finds itself in the landfill rather than in a stomach can help shift our buying habits,” Brown added by email. “This can come in the form of ordering less food when dining out, freezing bananas before they over ripen, or even making a meal plan for the week to help cut costs and waste.” Waste can occur anywhere in the U.S. food chain, from farms, processors, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants and home kitchens, Brown and co-author Chris Vogliano note in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Researchers examined data from nearly two dozen trials and found that participants who ate about three quarters of a cup of legumes every day lost about three quarters of a pound more than those who didn’t eat legumes, regardless of whether the diets were geared to weight loss. Lead author Dr. Russell de Souza told Reuters Health that legumes – or pulses, as they are known in many parts of the world – are an important sustainable protein source, plus they’re high in fiber. “Legumes also have a low ‘glycemic index,’ which means the carbohydrates in them do not raise blood sugars as rapidly as things like white bread or white flour,” said de Souza, a researcher with the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

Researchers from global public health organization NSF International, Harvard Medical School, the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi and the…

Robert De Niro opened up an old debate for new scrutiny when he decided to yank Andrew Wakefield’s documentary, “Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe,” from the ultra-prestigious film festival held in Tribeca. According to the New York Times, DeNiro does “not believe [the film] contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for.” He…

“Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Fairest of Them All?” asks the queen to make sure that she is the most beautiful. The fairy tale “Snow White” is a clear example how a woman’s mood and self-esteem is dependent on her look, which can go to the extreme and can be the cause of rivalry, hatred of others (usually, more beautiful women) and low…

Title: Weight-Loss Surgery Gets People Moving, Study Shows
Category: Health News
Created: 4/5/2016 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/6/2016 12:00:00 AM

By Sharon Bernstein SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – A California bill aimed at reducing eating disorders among models cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday, following efforts in several countries to fight extreme thinness in an industry that pressures models to lose weight. The measure would require the state to develop health standards for models and regard them as employees of the brands they represent. “The goal of the bill is not only to protect the health of the workers themselves, but also to help young people who emulate models,” said the bill’s author, state Assemblyman Marc Levine, a Democrat who represents the Marin County suburbs of San Francisco.