Diabetes disproportionally affects the Latin American community, so researchers are eager to see which programs are most effective at improving nutrition and preventing chronic disease. In this study of 20 Spanish-speaking, low-income families, Boston researchers led an interactive nutrition education program (which included a supermarket tour and 3-5 home visits). Upon analyzing grocery receipts before and after the program, the researchers found that total calories and calories per dollar were lower than before the intervention, challenging the argument that healthy foods are too expensive. The researchers conclude that “focusing on food shopping practices is an important area within nutrition education among low-income, Spanish-speaking individuals,” and that “the current healthcare system could benefit from family- and community-based interventions.”
American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2013 Mar;44(3 Suppl 3):S267-73. (Cortes DE et al.)
A study published in the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition helps debunk the myth that the Mediterranean Diet is cost prohibitive for families on tight budgets. The Rhode Island Community Food Bank sponsored a six-week cooking program focused on plant-based cooking with olive oil. Study authors followed the 63 participants for six months to determine whether their grocery shopping and cooking habits changed as a result of the program. At the end of the study participants had decreased their total food expenses, purchases of meat, and consumption of “junk” food. Results also suggest that eating 2 to 3 vegetarian meals per week increases fruit and vegetable consumption and helps with weight control.
Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition. March 2013; 8(1). [Epub 2013 March 14] [Flynn, Reinert & Schiff]
Researchers in the United Kingdom reviewed results from 20 previous studies that compared the effects of seven different diets on 3,073 people with type 2 diabetes. They discovered that the Mediterranean Diet, as well as low-carbohydrate, low-glycemic index, and high-protein diets all helped subjects control blood sugar. The Mediterranean Diet also contributed to weight loss and increased levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol). Overall, researchers concluded that these four diets should be considered in the overall strategy of diabetes management.
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2013 March. [Epub 2013 January 30] [Olubukola et al.]
A landmark clinical trial of nearly 7,500 people reveals that the Mediterranean Diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 30 percent and may also reduce the risk for stroke among high-risk patients. Study participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Med Diet with at least 4 tablespoons of olive oil daily; Med Diet with an ounce of nuts daily; and a control group receiving advice on a low-fat diet. The two Med groups had no trouble following their instructions to enjoy five servings of fruits and vegetables, fish and legumes each three or more times a week, white meat instead of red, and wine (for those who drink), while avoiding commercial cookies and cakes, dairy products, and processed meats. The low-fat group morphed into a “typical Western diet” group. The study’s results were so clear that researchers halted the study earlier than planned because it was deemed unethical to prevent the control group from switching to a Mediterranean Diet.
The New England Journal of Medicine. 2013 February 25. [Estruch, et al.]
Using data from the Adventist Health Study-2 researchers from Loma Linda University in California looked at the relationship between vegetarian dietary patterns and the incidence of cancer in a low risk population. In this prospective study, vegetarian diets appeared to confer protection against cancer. A vegan diet appears to have the overall lowest risk of cancer and female-specific cancers; a lacto-ovo-vegetarian pattern provided greatest protection from gastrointestinal cancers.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2013; 22:286-294. (Tantamago-Bartley et al.)
Brown rice, which contains all of its healthy bran and germ, has more than twice as much fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, and magnesium as refined white rice, as well as more of many other essential nutrients. However, white rice is still more common in many places around the world. Nutrition researchers surveyed 82 adults in Chennai, India to learn about their attitudes and preferences towards different types of rice, and also conducted taste tests. “Cooking quality and appearance of the grains” were the most important factors shoppers considered when choosing rice. While most strongly preferred white rice, 93% of participants were willing to substitute brown rice, if affordable, after the taste tests and learning about the health benefits. The researchers conclude that “education regarding health benefits may help this population switch to brown” rice.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2013 Feb;32(1):50-7. (Sudha V et al.)
Epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between whole grain intake and insulin sensitivity. In an effort to investigate this possible relationship a randomized controlled trial was conducted by a group of European scientists. One hundred and forty six individuals were recruited in two European cities (Kuopio, Finland and Naples, Italy) and randomized into two groups. One group consumed a diet based on refined grains and the second group was given a diet based on whole grains. After a 12-week period where good adherence was achieved, there was no significant difference in insulin sensitivity measures between the two groups.
Clinical Nutrition. 2013. [Epub February 8, 2013] (Giacco et al.)
Spanish scientists conducted a double-blind, randomized, crossover dietary intervention to study the effects of polyphenol-rich extra virgin olive oil in fighting hypertension in young women. For one 2-month period, the women consumed a diet including polyphenol-rich olive oil; after a 4-week washout, they switched to a diet including polyphenol-free olive oil. The polyphenol-rich olive oil decreased blood pressure, improved endothelial function and also reduced CRP, a marker of inflammation. [Extra-virgin olive oil is generally higher in polyphenols than regular olive oil.]
American Journal of Hypertension. 2012 Dec;25(12):1299-304. Moreno-Luna et al.
More than 15,500 Spanish university graduates taking part in the SUN project in Spain are assessed regularly for adherence to the Mediterranean Diet, while researchers follow their health. After 105,980 person-years of followup (about 6+ years for most subjects), this group has a mean age of about 38 years, and 125 of the subjects have died. Researchers determined that for each 2-point increase in the 0-point Med Diet Score, the risk of death dropped by 28%, leading them to conclude that adherence to the traditional Mediterranean Diet was associated with reduced risk of early death.
The Journal of Nutrition. 2012 September; 142(9):1672-8. [Martinez-González et al.]
At the Medical University of Warsaw, researchers participating in an international project investigating early-life factors that may prevent celiac disease in genetically-predisposed people found several factors that may be involved. Although evidence is still limited, the scientists advise avoiding both early (before 4 months) and late (after 7 months) introduction of gluten; it also seems that introducing gluten while the infant is still being breast-fed may be protective.
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2012 August 21. [Epub ahead of print] (Szajewska et al.)
Spanish researchers involved with the PREDIMED Trial wanted to determine whether a 14-item Mediterranean Diet assessment tool could be used as a quicker and less expensive alternative to a 137-item food frequency questionnaire in predicting obesity risk. They found that the 14-items, considered those most typical of a traditional Mediterranean Diet, did indeed correlate to various obesity markers. High consumption of nuts and low consumption of sweetened sodas were most strongly associated with reduced likelihood of obesity.
PloS One. 2012; 7(8):e43134. [Epub 2012 Aug 14] [Martinez-González et al.]
In the elderly, chronic low-grade inflammation can accelerate atherosclerosis. Scientists in Córdoba, Spain carried out a study to determine how dietary fats change the expression of genes involved with this kind of inflammation. In the study, twenty healthy elderly people followed three different diets for three weeks each: a Mediterranean Diet high in monounsaturated fat from virgin olive oil (VOO), a diet rich in saturated fat, and a low-fat, high-carb diet. They found that the diet featuring virgin olive oil reduced postprandial inflammation in cells.
British Journal of Nutrition. 2012 Aug;108(3):500-8. Camargo et al.
