The one-fifth of people consuming the most carbohydrates were 28% MORE likely to die during a 7.4 year follow-up compared to the one-fifth consuming the least according to the PURE study which followed 135,335 people, 35-70 years-old from 18 countries from 5 continents for a median follow-up of 7.4 years.

Read the entire article | Email this article

The one-fifth of people consuming the most protein were 12% LESS likely to die during a 7.4 year follow-up compared to the one-fifth consuming the least according to the PURE study which followed 135,335 people, 35-70 years-old from 18 countries from 5 continents for a median follow-up of 7.4 years.

Read the entire article | Email this article

Replacing 5% of calories from refined carbohydrates with plant-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 14% lower risk of coronary heart disease according to a study by researchers at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Monounsaturated fat from animal sources did not have the same effect.

Replacing 5% of calories from refined carbohydrates with animal-based monounsaturated fat was associated with a 11% greater risk of coronary heart disease (as opposed to a 14% lower risk when replacing with plant-based monounsaturated fat).

Read the entire article | Email this article

The one-fourth of people with the highest percent intake of carbohydrates (63% of calories) were 89% more likely to have mild cognitive impairment or dementia compare to the one-fourth of people with the lowest percent carbohydrate intake (41% of calories) according to a study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

“A dietary pattern with relatively high caloric intake from carbohydrates and low caloric intake from fat and proteins may increase the risk of [mild cognitive impairment] or dementia in elderly persons,” the authors of the study concluded.

Read the entire article | Email this article

Men and women in the top one-fifth for consuming the most fat were 15% less likely to die over the next 26-32 years compared to the one-fifth of men and women consuming the most carbohydrates according to a study from researchers at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Read the entire article | Email this article

Men and women in the top one-fifth for consuming the most fat were 15% less likely to die over the next 26-32 years compared to the one-fifth of men and women consuming the most carbohydrates according to a study from researchers at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Read the entire article | Email this article

Here is an interview I did a number of years ago with Jean-Pierre Flatt, Ph.D. about the role of carbohydrates and their conversion to body fat.

Here is why I found it so interesting.

My impression is that most people, including most doctors and most obesity researchers, believe that carbohydrates are easily converted into fat and that is why they make you fat. This is not true.

I believe this is probably the biggest myth in obesity research. Read the entire article | Email this article

Protein intake, especially animal protein, as well as carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables are associated with a smaller increase in a person's waist measurement over 5 years, whereas carbohydrates from refined grains, potatotes and foods with simple sugars are associated with a larger increase in waist according to a study from Denmark. Read the entire article | Email this article

How long have you heard that protein and carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram of food, and fat provides 9 calories per gram? Probably forever. But these numbers are bogus according to a recent paper by Dr. Geoffrey Livesey. Read the entire article | Email this article

From 1971 to 2000, carbohydrate intake in the U.S. increased by an average of 68 grams per day in men and 62 grams per day in women. Fat intake increased in women by 6.5 grams per day, but decreased by 5.3 grams per day in men. Read the entire article | Email this article

Overweight people do not convert more carbohydrates to fat than lean people even when overfeed with carbohydrates according to a new study from Switzerland. Read the entire article | Email this article

The one-fifth of people eating the most reduced-fat dairy products, fruit, and fiber weighed less than the one-fith eating the least according to a new study from researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Read the entire article | Email this article

Are carbohydrates easily converted to fat? "No," according to researcher Jean-Pierre Flatt, Ph.D. "The body is very efficient at balancing the amount of carbohydrates that are burned with the amount that is eaten." Read the entire article | Email this article