A pack of walnuts a day keeps the fertility doctors away

Approximately 70 million couples experience infertility worldwide, with 30 to 50 percent of these cases attributable to the male partner. An increasing western style diet have been shown in some studies to affect sperm quality. Dr. Wendie Robbins and her colleagues at the University of California, decided to investigate whether increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are critical for sperm maturation would increase sperm quality in men consuming a Western-style diet.

117 healthy men between the ages of 21 and 35 were selected. They were split into two groups: one (58 men) who would avoid eating tree nuts and another (59 men) who would eat 75 grams of walnuts per day.  The men's semen quality was analyzed before and after the experiment. The findings showed that after 12 weeks, the men consuming walnuts had significantly increased levels of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and experienced improvement in sperm vitality, motility, and morphology. Those eating walnuts also had fewer chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm following the walnut dietary intervention. The other group, on the other hand, experienced no changes.

Even though, this study have shown that eating walnuts can positively affect a young men sperm, it does not show whether the benefits would apply to men with fertility problems


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Children's diet linked to higher IQ

A new research from the University of Adelaide showed that eating habits of children in early age can affect their IQ. The study involved more than 7,000 children and compared a range of dietary patterns, including traditional and contemporary home-prepared food, ready-prepared baby foods, breastfeeding, and junk foods. The results showed that children who were breastfed at 6 months and had a healthy diet regularly including foods such as legumes, cheese, fruit and vegetables at 15 and 24 months, had an IQ up to two points higher by the age of 8. On the other hand, children fed with junk food such as biscuits, chocolate, sweets, soft drinks and chips in the first two years of life had IQs up to two points lower by age.

The findings highlight the role of nutrients in the development of brain tissues in the first 2 years of life. 

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High salt diet increases osteoporosis risk

It is well known that a high salt diet may lead to high blood pressure which is a major risk factor for stroke, heart diseases and kidney diseases. Recently, medical researchers at the University of Alberta discovered an important link between sodium and calcium. These two minerals appear to be regulated by the same molecule in the body. When sodium intake becomes too high, the body will get rid of  the sodium via the urine, taking calcium with it, which depletes calcium stores in the body. This finding is very significant since the consumption of high sodium food is nowadays very high. In fact, it is estimated that Canadians one year of age and older eat an average of about 3400 mg/day of sodium. This number is more than twice the recommended  Adequate Intake (AI) of 1500 mg/day for individuals from 9 to 70 years.

High levels of calcium in the urine lead to the development of kidney stones, and deficient levels of calcium in the body lead to thin bones and osteoporosis. This fact, reinforce that people should watch their daily sodium intake.

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Food Sources of Sodium:

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The World's healthiest meal

A team of researchers inspired by 222 food-related health claims recently approved by the European Commission have come up with one meal that incorporates them all. It's an airline meal concept that includes:
-Starter: fresh and smoked salmon terrine that have the claim to be good for the arteries, heart, and the brain. Plus a high fiber multigrain roll which covers 17 health claims in one bun
-Salad: mixed leaf side salad with an extra virgin olive oil dressing that is aimed at maintaining normal cholesterol levels.
-Main dish: chicken casserole with lentils and vegetables that covers claims related to iron absorption and minerals. Moreover, the panthotenic acid found in lentils can help reduce tiredness and improve mental performance.
-Dessert: live yogurt blancmange pudding featuring walnuts and a sugar-free caramel flavoured sauce that helps maintain the health of your teeth and gut as well as a healthy blood glucose level.
-Drink: customed cranberry, raspberry and elderflower flavoured sports drink that is rich in nutrients such as biotin, calcium, zinc, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, selenium and magnesium. Not to forget also spring water.

This menu promises to be appetizing and tasty and the dishes could work just as well at home too.

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Tropicana Juice Not So "Natural" After All

Orange juice maker Tropicana markets its brand as being fresh and have labels such as "great-tasting 100 per cent orange juice". However, a series of lawsuits nationwide state that the juice shouldn't be labeled "natural" since it is so heavily processed and has added chemically engineered "flavored packs" to keep it fresh.

The orange juice lawsuits are just the latest disputes over "all natural" claims. Part of the problem, lawyers agree, is that consumers are looking for healthier products, and companies have responded by creating and branding their products as "all natural" even though it might not be the case.

Tropicana lawsuits want the company to modify their marketing and stop using words such as " fresh", " natural" and pure". In that way, consumers would be more aware of what they are buying.

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