Can Chrono-Nutrition Help Prevent Diabetes?

This editorial aimed to put forward a question if chrono-nutrition can help prevent diabetes through optimizing circadian rhythms of glucose metabolism. With the advancing mechanization, eating behavior (timing, sequence, and frequency) has changed. People are now more willing to eat fast foods at suboptimal times of the circadian period. Growing evidence suggests that untimely eating and lack of exercise can interfere with optimal physiological rhythms of glucose and insulin metabolism that can lead to diabetes. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a foremost metabolic disorder worldwide occurring largely due to suboptimal eating timing and lifestyle. Consuming less sugars and carbohydrates during evening and overnight may help optimize human chrono-physiology. Chrono-nutrition via optimizing the timing of meals is a growing science that needs to be well practiced to help prevent or possibly reduce risks of T2D in today’s complicated life.

Neuronal mechanisms of ginseng on antiobesity effects: implication of its synergistic benefits with physical exercise

Obesity is a chronic disease of increasing prevalence in most countries, which leads to substantial increase in morbidity, and mortality in association with diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases. Many factors have been attributed to an epidemic of obesity including sedentary lifestyle, high-fat diets (HFD), and consumption of large amount of modern fast foods. Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (PG) has several pharmacological and physiological effects. In particular, PG and saponin fractions from PG show a variety of efficacies such as antifatigue, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and obesity. We have revealed that ginseng and ginsenosides can decrease food intake energy expenditure by stimulating appetite regulatory hormones and can reduce energy intake. Exercise/physical activity is well known as modality for treating the disease of overweight and obesity. It is suggested that natural products and their combinations with exercise may produce a synergistic activity that increases their bioavailability and action on multiple molecular targets, offering advantages over chemical treatments. This review is aimed at evaluating the antiobesity efficacy of ginseng and ginsenosides and delineating the mechanisms by which they function. Finally, we review information regarding interactions between ginseng and physical exercise in protecting against weight gain and obesity.

Factors influencing fast food consumption: a case study of University of Venda Students, Limpopo, South Africa

Eating fast foods more than twice per week is associated with more weight gain and insulin resistance in otherwise healthy young adults. However many consumers see fast foods as symbols of wealth, progress and well-ordered openness of western society. Studies reveal that fast food consumption is the dominant dietary pattern among children and young adults today. However there is little data on the factors influencing fast food consumption in South Africa. Therefore this research paper focuses on factors influencing fast food consumption in South Africa. This is an empirical data which was obtained using exploratory and descriptive research design. Data was collected through unstructured interview of focus groups. The interview involved a direct interaction between the researcher and a group. Participants reported to use fast foods due to the perceived lack of time to prepare one’s own meal. Fast food consumption was found to be more frequent among participants especially during lunch times. The following findings were recorded as factors influencing fast food: Lack of time, change in living conditions, lack of cooking skills & cooking utensils, fun & cravings, socializing and convenience.

Portion Sizes of Ultra-Processed Foods in the United States, 2002 to 2021

Objectives. To assess the US food industry’s response to calls from public health authorities to reduce portion sizes by comparing current with past sizes of selected examples of single-serve ultra-processed packaged and fast foods. Methods. We obtained manufacturers’ information about current portion sizes and compared it with sizes when first introduced and in 2002. Results. Few companies in our sample reduced portion sizes since 2002; all still sold portions of ultra-processed foods in up to 5-times-larger sizes than when first introduced. Conclusions. Policies and practices focused on reducing portion size could help discourage the consumption of excessive amounts of ultra-processed foods. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(12):2223–2226. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306513 )

Cross-sectional Associations between Lifestyle Factors and Obesity among Students in a University at Gyeonggi Province

Objectives: This study examined the associations between lifestyle factors and obesity among university students.Methods: In this cross-sectional correlational study, 671 students completed measures of lifestyle factors (dietary habit, exercise, smoking, and alcohol drinking), health concern, academic stress, and anthropometric indices. Obesity was classified by body mass index (BMI) and abdominal circumference (AC). The data were analyzed with χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression.Results: The frequencies of obesity and abdominal obesity were higher in male students than in female students (17.6% vs. 3.4% by BMI, 18.9% vs. 5.9% by AC). Abdominal obesity in students with diabetic parent was higher (16.8%) than in students without diabetic family history (9.2%). Obesity of BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 associated with breakfast absence of 5-7 times/week (odds ratio, OR: 1.98, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.05-3.71). Abdominal obesity associated with instant foods intake of 5-7 times/week (OR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.14-6.17), fast foods intake of 3-4 times/week (OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.48-5.56), snacks of 3-4 times/wk (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.15-4.00), and consumed alcohol of ≥ 1 glass a day (OR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.19-3.73).Conclusions: Breakfast absence is associated with obesity. Instant foods, fast foods, snacks, and alcohol consumption are the associated factors with abdominal obesity among university students.

HEALTH INSURANCE AWARENESS AMONG THE CUSTOMERS - A STUDY IN UDUMALPET, TIRUPPUR DISTRICT

Health care has become very much concern to each individual and the family too. Health care in the Easter years has been a house hold, where consumption of food itself was thought of as a health care, however, handy medicines were available in the home to take care of simple and manageable illness, for severe sickness people used to go the doctors for treatment, as of now food habit among the people is changing, most prefer to take fast foods, packed foods, etc, which are harmful to the health of the people, this often leads to sickness which are very much costly some sickness needs hospitalization, some with intensive care, etc. Mushroom growth of medical clinics, hospitals and dispensaries is being seen in today's' scenario. Growing demand for modern medical care, brought on by a rapidly, expanding population, rising literacy levels, and technological advancement lead to high expectation from the health services. This has shifted demand in favour of health care

Association of Foods with Hypertension: A Call for Action

Hypertension (HTN) is a very prevalent health issue around the world. Many factors influence HTN and some of those include diabetes, obesity, gender, age, and diet. Impact of diet on hypertension, is understudied in our region, therefore, this study was set to manifest the effect of diet on HTN prevalence. This cross-sectional study was performed among local Islamabad of population, Pakistan in 3 months from November 2019 to January 2020. 138 people were recruited in study via a developed criterion. Data was collected by self-designed proforma. Data analysis was done by applying IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative variables. As data was non-parametric, so we applied non-parametric statistical tests like Mann Whitney test, Kruskal–Wallis test and Spearman correlation analysis were applied to assess, the difference in means of both systolic and diastolic BP between female and male, difference in means of both systolic and diastolic BP among three consumption frequency levels, and association, direction, and strength of between HTN and foods consumption. Present study indicates overall high prevalence of HTN (39.86%) among study population. Means of age, systolic and diastolic BP for study population were 43.42 (with SD of ±8.30) years, 138.01mmHg (with SD of ±19.37), and 89.38mmHg (with SD of ±7.10) respectively. Difference in means of both systolic and diastolic between females and males was not significant (p=0.093 and p=0.078 respectively) although these were higher among males and gender was not associated with HTN significantly (p=0.069). Strength and direction for association between fast food and HTN was strong and positive, for association between snack food and HTN was strong and positive while for association between fresh fruits and raw vegetables was strong and negative with correlation coefficients (+0.690 for diastolic, +0.710 for systolic), (+0.651 for diastolic, +0.661 for systolic), (-0.712 for diastolic, -0.712 for systolic) respectively. In short, present study concludes that HTN was more prevalent among males, fast food, snack foods eaters and fresh fruits and raw vegetables non-eater in contrast to females, fresh fruits and raw vegetables eaters and non-eaters of fast foods and snack foods. Higher consumption of fast foods and snack lead to higher prevalence of HTN and vice versa whereas higher consumption of fresh fruits and raw vegetables bring decline in the incidence of HTN incidence and vice versa. So, we are dependent on awareness among people about the influence of food on HTN and gender specific measures for each gender to reduce HTN incidence.

How Fast Foods Impact Coronary Artery Disease Incidence: A Cross-Sectional Study

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a very ordinary health problem around the globe. CAD is affected by numerous factors like diabetes, obesity, smoking, gender, and diet. However, the association of CAD with diet is understudied in our region that’s why our study was aimed to evaluate the effect of diet on CAD incidence. This cross-sectional study was completed among local population of Rawalpindi, Pakistan in almost 6 months from November 2020 to April 2021. People were taken in our study via set criteria. Data was collected by self-structured proforma. Data analysis was performed by applying IBM SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were applied for quantitative variables. Statistical tests like Chi-square test and Spearman correlation analysis were applied to know the association, direction, and strength of study variables. Our current study displays overall high prevalence CAD (17.48%) among study population. Mean value of age for study participants was 45.42 with SD of ±8.01years. Prevalence of CAD was more common among females, faster food eaters and fresh fruit and raw vegetables non-eaters. Gender, fast food, and fresh fruits and vegetables were associated with CHD significantly with p-values 0.030, 0.0007, and 0.0006 respectively. Strength and direction for fast food and CAD association was very strong and positive while for association between fresh fruits and raw vegetables and CAD was very strong and negative with correlation coefficient +0.812 and -0.831 respectively. In a nutshell, current study indicates high prevalence of CAD especially among females, fast food eaters and fresh fruits and raw vegetables non-eaters. Higher consumption of fast foods leads to higher incidence of CAD and vice versa while higher consumption of fresh fruits and raw vegetables bring down the incidence of CAD incidence and vice versa. So, we need to create awareness among people about the impact of food on CAD and gender specific interventions for each gender to lower down the CAD incidence.