Rates of overweight and obesity continue to rise year by year, now effecting over 60% of Australian adults. With this rise in weight, so too do rates of related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory dysfunction, infertility, depression and cancer also rise. Diet, physical activity and lifestyle changes are considered the fundamentals to weights loss, … [Read more...] about Bariatric surgery: risks and benefits explained
Are raw food claims overcooked?
Eating only raw foods has emerged as a popular dietary trend. Proclaiming an emotive health message, it is enough to make you think twice before next adding heat to your food. But fear not – on the scales of health, there is little to tip the balance in either direction.Raw food advocates claim cooking food destroys the natural enzymes and nutrients that would otherwise give … [Read more...] about Are raw food claims overcooked?
Obesity can reshape our sense of taste
As surprising as it may sound, for some people the problem of weight gain may lie right on the tip of their tongue.There are many things that can influence a person’s desire for food. When given a choice between foods, the desire to choose one food over another is closely linked to taste and other sensory signals such as smell and the feel of the food in the mouth.A … [Read more...] about Obesity can reshape our sense of taste
The pros and cons of “going Paleo”
The Paleolithic (Paleo) diet has surged into prominence as one of today's popular dietary trends. Based on the premise that we need to eat a diet that’s as close as possible to that of our hunter gatherer ancestors, it is heavy on lean animal foods like meat and fish, along with eggs, fruit, vegetables and nuts, but bans dairy, legumes, grains, processed oils and sugar.The … [Read more...] about The pros and cons of “going Paleo”
How do the different dietary approaches for type 2 diabetes compare?
Diabetes is a major public health problem. Each day, 280 Australians will be diagnosed with diabetes with the total number of people in this country with either diabetes or a condition of pre-diabetes standing now at a staggering 3.2 million. Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of diabetes and is leading the world-wide explosion in this disease.There is much we … [Read more...] about How do the different dietary approaches for type 2 diabetes compare?
How much does it cost to eat healthy?
The abundance of cheap unhealthy food has meant that there is a perception that there is a higher cost to eat healthy. But does it really cost more to eat healthy? A systematic review of direct cost comparisons between healthy and unhealthy diets has indeed found that a healthy diet does cost more, but the difference is smaller than you might think.A healthy diet, loaded … [Read more...] about How much does it cost to eat healthy?