Cheese and the brain
Posted inNutrition

Does full fat cheese and cream protect from dementia?

8 minute read - Fact checked There has been a lot of research and discussion throughout the years as to which foods and dietary patterns may protect, or increase the risk of dementia, which has divided opinions of scientists and nutritionist alike, as well as causing a lot of public confusion. Now, a 25 year prospective study of twenty seven thousand participants published in the Neurology journal (1), appears to suggest that a higher intake of high-fat cheese & high-fat cream may be associated to…......
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Banana infographic
Posted inNutrition

Banana reduces polyphenol absorption in fruit smoothies

8 min read - fact checked Smoothies are often seen as an easy, delicious way to pack in nutrients and functional compounds known as polyphenols, especially those from fruits and vegetables. But a growing body of research shows that what you mix together in a smoothie may influence how many of those beneficial functional compounds your body actually absorbs, which can then influence the extent of their beneficial effects on human health. A recent study in humans [1] published in Food & Function Royal Society…......
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Enhanced games
Posted inNutrition

Enhanced games for elite swimmers: An ethical perspective

The Enhanced Games is a proposed international competition that allows athletes to use performance-enhancing substances without World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) restrictions. Promoters frame it as a celebration of scientific progress, with performance achieved under medical supervision rather than secrecy. Substantial prize money and signing offers have been reported, making it an attractive option for some athletes approaching the end of their careers
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Zinc lozenges
Posted inCoronavirus Gibraltar Health Nutrition

Can Zinc lozenges prevent colds?

5 min read – fact checked ✔ Brief critical evaluation of the efficacy of Zinc lozenges in preventing and reducing the duration of colds The common cold is caused predominantly by rhinoviruses, and to a lesser extent certain Coronaviruses, representing a significant burden to public health and individual productivity worldwide. As a readily available over-the-counter remedy, zinc lozenges have garnered attention for their potential to alleviate cold symptoms and shorten their duration. However, the evidence surrounding their efficacy remains nuanced and occasionally contradictory. This blog…......
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New year and the diet craze
Posted inDiets Nutrition

New year and the diet craze

Fact-checked - 8 min read It's January, so the diet-culture and the anti-diet movement are ferociously competing for attention, which prompts thousands of people across Gibraltar to begin a new ‘healthier’ diet. After indulging on food and drink over the festive season (and mostly throughout the year), many people seek help to get ‘back on track’ and consider many types of extreme dietary strategies such as 'veganuary', carnivore, liquid meal replacements that often involves cutting out entire food groups and contain artificial sweeteners, heavily restricting…......
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Optimising hydration
Posted inNutrition

Optimising hydration

5 min read - fact checked ✔ Why hydrate?Water is essential for life, the major component of body fluids and plays a critical role in many other biological processes, including helping to regulate body temperature through sweating. Fluid balance in the body is carefully controlled by varying the concentration of fluids in the blood and urine, resulting in the release of a variety of hormones which trigger either satiation or thirst. Body loses of water occur in urine and faeces as well as smaller amounts…......
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Folic acid fortification
Posted inNutrition

Folic acid fortification, friend or foe?

3 minute read - fact checked ✓ I wanted to share my thoughts regarding the UK Government’s recent announcement to fortify flour with folic acid (1), also known as vitamin B9, discussing arguments for and against the measure. But first, I would like to lay down a disclaimer, by saying that the contents you will read below, although fact-checked and accurate, is not intended as medical or nutritional advice, and so therefore you should still follow the recommended advice of the UK Government or your…......
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Nutritonal genomics
Posted inGenomics Nutrition

Future insights on nutritional genomics

Approx reading time 8 mins - Fact checked ✔️ Diagram showing the relationship between nutrition and gene expression The pathogenesis of chronic disease appears to be a complex, multi-factorial and individual interplay between genetics, environmental, lifestyle and dietary interactions (1), influencing epigenetic gene expression (2).  Darwin proposed that natural selection depended on variation, genetic heritability and the adaptation premise, with the ability to adapt dependent on evolutionary fitness and reproductive success, with the view to pass on genetic information to successive generations (3), while evolutionary biology identified three major…......
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