The Scary Truth About the Future of Bananas

Much like bee-pollinated foods, the future of one of the world's favorite fruits is very much in doubt:



We think it's time for a banana science revolution!

Omega 3 Fats from Fish Might Help You Live Longer

Eating oily fish full of healthy omega-3 fats can help you live longer, according to new research from the Harvard School of Public Health. A study there showed that older people with the highest blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids from salmon, herring, tuna, mackerel, and trout lived over 2 years longer than people with lower levels.

The study did not look at fish oil, krill oil, or other omega 3 supplements -- only at normal dietary intake of the healthy fats via seafood. Researchers say higher blood levels of omega-3's reduced overall risk of dying from any cause by up to 27%, and by 35% of dying from cardiovascular/heart disease.

Interestingly, the Harvard study was one of the first to rely on actual blood testing instead of self-reporting of dietary habits. The participants, who averaged around 75 years of age, provide blood samples and allowed the researchers to perform physical exams during the course of the study.

We say: This is very good news... we love smoked kippers, crackers, and beer!

Learn some mo': Omega-3s Prolong Life: Harvard Study

The Healthiest Meal Ever (According to Some Scientists)

A group of British food researchers have chosen what they believe to be the healthiest meal ever. It's based around several proven "superfoods" and the researchers say it's delicious as well as good-for-you!

The Leatherhead Food Research organization looked at over 4000 health-boosting claims used by food manufacturers and their marketing teams. Of those only 222 were considered to be based on real scientific evidence. Omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish and seafood) and whole grains were two well-known foods that made the cut.

The "healthiest" meal according to the Leatherhead geeks starts off with fresh and smoked salmon terrine and includes a mixed leaf salad with extra virgin olive oil dressing. The health main meal is chicken casserole with lentils and mixed vegetables. Desert is a "live yogurt" blancmange that includes fresh walnuts and a no-sugar caramel sauce topping.

A Glucomannan and berry-based shake was touted as the ideal meal replacement for dieters. Hot chocolate was also recommended because of the health-boosting properties of cacao. For some reason the scientists also included a special sports drink packed with micro-nutrients like selenium and magnesium.

According to top researcher Dr Paul Berryman:

"We have also shown that healthy foods do not have to be dull... We carry out thousands of consumer taste tests a year and one thing is clear. No matter how healthy, if foods do not taste good they will not sell."

We say: We're not so sure about the conclusions of these food geeks. The real healthiest meal ever would almost definitely be a paleo diet meal based around natural proteins and low-glycemic vegetables!

Learn some mo': Healthiest meal ever: After editing thousands of claims, scientists serve up a superdish

Drinking LOTS of Coffee Might Help You Live Longer

Here's more good news for coffee-lovers: drinking large amounts of the popular beverage on a regular basis might help you live a lot longer, according to a new study from the National Cancer Institute. Researchers found that coffee drinkers have a much lower overall risk of death than non-drinkers. In fact, people who drink 3 or more cups of coffee per day have a 10% lower risk of dying!

People who drink 4 to 5 cups of coffee a day have the lowest overall risk of death. Once you hit 6 cups per day though, the risk of death actually starts to increase. That's most likely because consuming such a large amount of caffeine every day can greatly increase blood pressure problems and even lead to heart attack.

The bottom line is that drinking good amounts of coffee -- but not too much -- appears to lower your risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, infections, respiratory disease, and even injuries and accidents. This study did not show a strong link between coffee intake and reduced cancer risk (although there is some evidence that coffee intake protects against some forms of cancer).

One surprising finding is that decaf coffee appears to offer as much health protection as normal java. So the caffeine content probably isn't the main factor. Of course, another recent study showed that normal caffeinated coffee can significantly reduce the risk of depression so you might want to drink some to cover all of your bases!

Learn some mo': Coffee lovers less likely to die, study finds

Eat Lots of Sugar and You'll Be Stupider

Eating a lot of sugar can literally make you dumber by negatively affecting your brain, according to new research from UCLA. A study there found that rats who were fed large amounts of high-fructose corn syrup (one of the most common sweeteners in modern packaged foods) suffered a significant decline in mental power. Mice fed large amounts of healthy omega-3 fats -- including flaxseed oil and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) -- experienced a boost in thinking ability.

Researchers used a complicated mouse maze to measure learning ability, memory, and intelligence. The sugar-addled mice had a hard time getting through the maze after 6 weeks on their "junk food" diet. Also, the high-sugar diets caused the mice's brains to develop resistance to insulin, one of the most important hormones for controlling blood sugar levels and regulating brain function.

According to UCLA professor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla:

"The DHA-deprived animals were slower, and their brains showed a decline in synaptic activity... Their brain cells had trouble signaling each other, disrupting the rats' ability to think clearly and recall the route they'd learned six weeks earlier... Because insulin can penetrate the blood-brain barrier, the hormone may signal neurons to trigger reactions that disrupt learning and cause memory loss... Insulin is important in the body for controlling blood sugar, but it may play a different role in the brain, where insulin appears to disturb memory and learning."

We say: It's definitely no surprise that eating lots of sugar -- especially the evil HFCS -- hurts the brain as well as the body. It would definitely explain why American kids seem to be getting dumber and dumber by the week. Obviously if you want to be smarter, or at least think more clearly, you should avoid refined sugars and eat some more healthy omega 3 fats (fish and krill oil supplements are great options!).

Learn some mo': UCLA study shows high-fructose diet sabotages learning, memory

Drop 10 Diet: Are Superfoods the Key to Fast, Easy Weight Loss?

A simple diet based around everyday "superfoods" may be one of the best ways to shed extra bodyfat and lose weight fast, according to the author of the hot new Drop 10 Diet. Lucy Danziger says she got tired of following traditional calorie-counting weight loss plans and wanted a simpler diet based around good-tasting, ultra-healthy foods that "pay her back" as she puts it.

She came up with an interesting new diet plan that's pretty much totally based around common superfoods you can find in the typical grocery store. According to Danziger, eating mainly superfoods like almonds, salmon, and blueberries makes you feel great and keeps you full so losing pounds quickly is much easier than on a traditional diet plan. She states:

"We're going to give you so many choices of what you can eat, you're not thinking about starvation. ... You're thinking about feeding the engine.... [Superfoods] have to do more than supply you with calories."

Diets based around healthy, unprocessed, nutrient-rich foods are certainly nothing new. In fact the word "superfood" has been around for over a decade now. Most experts agree that a superfood is any natural food that provides a big health boost because of its vitamin, mineral, enzyme, friendly bacteria, or good fats content. Broccoli, spinach, green tea, organic berries, dark chocolate, eggs, and low-fat yogurt are common, well-known examples.

Fans of superfood diets often say that they are among the easiest methods for losing weight quickly as well as keeping the weight off over the long-term. Of course the "catch" is that you have to cut out nearly all the other foods, especially things containing refined sugars, white flours, preservatives, and bad fats (such as trans fats). That's not always easy to do, which is why a good percentage of people can't stick to superfood-based diets.

The trick to getting maximum healthy weight loss success from the Drop 10 Diet (or any other similar diet) is to learn to enjoy it. Eating large amounts of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, omega 3-rich fish, and other superfoods gives you a ton of energy and will probably make you feel great. More energy equals more exercise in many cases. More exercise equals more and better-quality sleep. Better sleep usually means even more energy, better "good hormone" production, and easier fat loss.

So if you can tap into that positive feedback loop, a superfoods diet might work for you. According to another popular diet book author, Dr. Steven Pratt:

"The better you feel, the more you do it. Your body will send an e-mail to your brain within minutes thanking it, saying, 'I'm going to do better. I'm not going to get sick anymore.' "

Learn some mo': Eat more 'superfoods' to lose weight

Have a question or comment about the Drop 10 Diet or superfood weight loss programs? Leave it below!

Dark Chocolate Almost as Good for You as Exercise

Eating small amounts of dark chocolate high in cocoa can boost your health in ways similar to exercise, according to new research. Scientists from Wayne State University found that a powerful compound found in chocolate -- called epicatechin -- appears to stimulate muscle tissue mitochondria in the same way as vigorous exercise.

According to head researcher Dr Moh Malek:

"Mitochondria produce energy which is used by the cells in the body. More mitochondria mean more energy is produced and more work can be performed... Aerobic exercise, such as running or cycling, is known to increase the number of mitochondria in muscle cells. Our study has found that epicatechin seems to bring about the same response - particularly in the heart and skeletal muscles."

In the study, middle-aged mice appeared to get the biggest benefit from the chocolate/cocoa supplementation. According to doctor Malek epicatechin supplementation combined with regular vigorous exercise may be a powerful combination for preventing/slowing muscle ageing. Experts say that more research is needed in order to confirm that chocolate provides similar benefits in humans.

We say: This is great! Now we have another excuse to buy pounds and pounds of dark chocolate at Trader Joe's! :D

Learn some mo': Chocolate 'as good for you as exercise'

Spices Boost Metabolism, Protect You After Fatty Meals

Natural antioxidant-rich spices can reduce the negative effects of high-fat meals and boost the metabolism, according to a new study from Penn State. Researchers found that adding spices like turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, rosemary, oregano, garlic powder, and paprika to your meals can significantly improve post-meal insulin and triglyceride levels.

According to researcher Sheila West:

""Normally, when you eat a high-fat meal, you end up with high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood... If this happens too frequently, or if triglyceride levels are raised too much, your risk of heart disease is increased. We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added... Antioxidants like spices may be important in reducing oxidative stress and thus reducing the risk of chronic disease."

Experts say that this is further evidence that dietary antioxidants can moderate oxidative stress in humans and possibly prevent some diseases like heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Apparently the amount of spices used in the study provided the same amount of antioxidants as 5 ounces of red wine or one and a half ounces of dark chocolate (high cacao content).

We say: We love every spice listed in this report. Plus we drink LOTS of red wine and consume lots of dark chocolate. Of course, we also eat tons of red meat and fried fish so things probably even out... :)

Learn some mo': Antioxidant spices reduce negative effects of high-fat meal

Best Diet for Long Life? Try Mediterranean!

For years health experts have argued over which diet is really the best diet for living a longer health. A new long-term study from the Netherlands may have shown us the answer. According to researchers there, the Mediterranean Diet is the best for fighting off the effects of aging and living a long life. In fact, when combined with other healthy lifestyle habits, eating this ancient diet can add up to 15 years to your lifespan!

The study showed that men and women who exercise at least 30 minutes per day, avoid becoming obese, don't smoke, and who eat a Mediterranean style diet live significantly longer than those who don't do any of those things. Experts have long suspected that the Mediterranean diet protects people from disease and greatly improves health over the long term (especially heart health!).

So the bottom line is that if you eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, fish, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil -- and drink a little red wine with meals -- you could live a lot longer. More importantly, this nutrient-rich diet will improve your overall quality of life dramatically, make you feel great, and allow you to enjoy all those extra years!

Learn some mo': Lifestyle has large impact on premature mortality

Chili Pepper: The Best Fat Burning/Appetite Suppressant Food?

Eating red hot chili pepper -- cayenne in particular -- may help you burn more calories and suppress your appetite, according to a new study. That's a good combination if you're trying to lose weight and the research supports the long-time theory that red chili pepper is one of the best "fat burning" foods.

Experts say that it appears the cayenne pepper stimulates nerves in the head and neck in a way that increases energy expenditure (calorie and fat burning) and decreases appetite (less hunger, food cravings, etc.). The "catch" is that the spicy pepper appears to affect people who don't eat much of it more than those who do.

The leader author of the study said:

"We found that consuming red pepper can help manage appetite and burn more calories after a meal, especially for individuals who do not consume the spice regularly. This finding should be considered a piece of the puzzle because the idea that one small change will reverse the obesity epidemic is simply not true. However, if a number of small changes are added together, they may be meaningful in terms of weight management."

In the study, eating the chili pepper increased core body temperature, which led to the increased calorie burn. Also many participants, mainly those who only rarely ate spicy foods, reported a significant decrease in appetite and cravings for sweet, fatty, and salty foods.

We say: We LOVE cayenne pepper and spicy food in general. Any excuse to eat even more of it is OK with us! :)

Learn some mo': Eating Red Pepper Curbs Appetite, Burns Calories

Whey Protein Fights Liver Fat & Helps Obese People

Whey protein supplements may improve your blood lipid (fats) profile and even reduce your liver fat levels by up to 20%, according to new research from Switzerland. A study showed that just 4 weeks of regular whey supplementation significantly lowered key markers of "fatty liver disease" in obese subjects. It appears to do that by reducing the total amount of fat inside of liver cells, a big benefit to overweight people and those with heart disease!

According to head researcher Murielle Bortolotti:

"This preliminary, uncontrolled study therefore suggests that a high-protein diet may, in the long term, reduce the risk of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis [fatty liver disease] and of cardiovascular disease in obese patients."

Experts say that fatty liver disease is a major problem in obese patients and is considered the major liver-associated component of metabolic syndrome. It's believed to be closely associated with several other obesity-relate problems, including insulin resistance, lowered glucose tolerance, and dyslipidemia or abnormally high levels of blood lipids.

So there you have it: more evidence that whey protein powder is one of the BEST diet supplements in the world. And it's not just for bodybuilders and fitness nuts... overweight people can benefit from whey too!

Learn some mo': Whey protein holds fat fighting potential, suggests study

Resistant Starch Foods: Good Carbs for Healthy Weight Loss

It looks like it may be possible to eat lots of carbohydrates and still lose weight. According to some diet experts "resistant starch foods" fill you up and boost energy while helping you eat fewer overall calories and burn fat faster. They can apparently also lower stress levels, decrease bad cholesterol counts and even help to increase lean muscle mass.

So obviously, millions of carb-lovers around the world are jumping up and down in utter happiness!

The buzz about these "healthy carbs" has skyrocketed lately since they received praise from both the World Health Organization and the Food and Agricultural Organization. They're also getting lots of attention from researchers at several universities, especially in the United States.

Here's the catch: resistant starch foods are not junk foods. Sorry. In fact, for the most part, they are good carb foods that health and weight loss experts have touted for years because of their ability to decrease hunger, limit food cravings, and keep you feeling full for longer periods of time. Some of the most well-known food include: whole grain breads and cereals, whole potatoes, beans, oats, barley, brown rice, granola, an bananas.

Learn some mo': Resistant Starch Foods: Will They Make You Thin?

Eating Veggies Makes You More Beautiful

Eating more vegetables may make you more beautiful, according to new research from Britain. In fact, eating especially carotene-rich foods like tomatoes and carrots actually makes your skin look healthier and "sexier" than tanning, at least according to the geeks who did the study.

According to Dr. Ian Stephen:

"Eating five more portions [of fruit and veg] ups your carotenoid levels giving your skin golden tones."

The antioxidants and carotenoids found in vegetables also help to fight toxins that can damage the skin and make it look less healthy. That skin health boost plus the changes in skin pigmentation and overall skin tone can make a significant improvement in your appearance.

According to Dr Stephen: "In humans, the more red and yellow tones found in the skin, the more attractive the people were found to be."

So there you have it: yet another reason to cut down on your junk food intake and eat your fruits and veggies!

Learn some mo': Eating greens 'best way to look good', research shows

Superfood Quinoa Boosting Poor South American Countries' Economies

Quinoa is probably the world's healthiest grain and definitely one of the healthiest foods... and it's exploding in popularity. During one of the worst global recessions in history, demand for quinoa has helped to increase exports in two very poor countries: Peru and Bolivia. Since the wholesale price of the Andean grain has jumped sevenfold since 2000, these two down-trodden South American nations have definitely benefited economically.

The indigenous Bolivian indians who grow quinoa are among the poorest peoples in the Western Hemisphere. But the discovery or, really, re-discovery of quinoa's amazing nutritional properties has made it a popular health food item in the United States, Japan, and several European countries. As exports increase native Bolivians are seeing an improvement in their economic conditions.

Two of us have spent time in Peru, the other major "Quinoa connection" in the world. When we were there it was still considered "comida de pobres"... or poor people food. Although it was beginning to catch on among the upper classes as a health and weight loss food. It really is a very delicious, high-protein grain that's also rich in fiber and "good" carbohydrates.

Although there are already signs of over-farming, many experts believe that Quinoa production could be one of the keys for lifting very poor Latin Americans out of poverty. It could be, if handled properly and carefully grown organically, the next major crop for these countries.

Learn some mo': Quinoa's popularity boon to Bolivians

Drink Beetroot Juice to Exercise Longer

Want to exercise longer and feel better doing it? Then drink some of the dark purple juice that comes from beetroots! Experts say that the stuff is a natural performance booster that increases physical endurance when taken in large amounts. One top long-distance runner credits beetroot juice with giving him the equivalent benefits of a year's worth of training.

Studies done at Exeter University found that cyclists who drank about half a quart of beet juice a few hours before training were able to ride 20% longer than those who drank a placebo. That's a hell of an endurance boost!

Experts believe that the dark juice causes muscles to use less oxygen than usual, allowing them to conserve energy. It appears that the large amount of nitrates found in beetroot juice is responsible for the athletic boost. Although they're not sure exactly how it works yet, some scientists believe that the nitrates increase the levels of nitric oxide in the body, which is a proven exercise enhancer.

If you don't like the taste of beetroot juice, you may be able to get similar results by eating large amounts of other nitrate-rich foods like spinach and green lettuce. Or you could just take a good nitric oxide supplement, which have become more and more popular among exercisers and bodybuilders.

Learn some mo': To exercise longer, try beetroot juice