Food

The Ketogenic Diet: The Ke(y) - to Success? A Review of Weight Loss, Lipids, and Cardiovascular Risk

Published on: 6th March, 2024

Background: Obesity remains a global epidemic with over 2.8 million people dying due to complications of being overweight or obese every year. The low-carbohydrate and high-fat ketogenic diet has a rising popularity for its rapid weight loss potential. However, most studies have a maximal 2-year follow-up, and therefore long-term adverse events remain unclear including the risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD).Results: Based on current evidence on PubMed and Google Scholar, there is no strong indication ketogenic diet is advantageous for weight loss, lipid profile, and mortality. When comparing a hypocaloric ketogenic diet with a low-fat diet, there may be faster weight loss until 6 months, however, this then appears equivalent. Ketogenic diets have shown inconsistent Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) changes; perhaps from different saturated fat intake, dietary adherence, and genetics. Case reports have shown a 2-4-fold elevation in LDL in Familial hypercholesterolaemic patients which has mostly reversed upon dietary discontinuation. There is also concern about possible increased ASCVD and mortality: low (< 40%) carbohydrate intake has been associated with increased mortality, high LDL from saturated fats, high animal product consumption can increase trimethylamine N-oxide, and cardioprotective foods are likely minimally ingested.Conclusion: Ketogenic diets have been associated with short-term positive effects including larger weight reductions. However, by 2 years there appears no significant differences for most cardiometabolic risk markers. Therefore, this raises the question, excluding those who have a critical need to lose weight fast, is this diet worth the potentially higher risks of ASCVD and mortality while further long-term studies are awaited?
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Preparation of Healthy Cookies from Germinated Flour Blends of Finger Millet and Pearl Millet Sweetened with Jaggery

Published on: 2nd April, 2024

Millets are physiologically and therapeutically healthy with high nutritious value and are in rising demand in emerging markets like India, China, Africa, and other developing countries including the Western world. Germinated Millets have high digestibility and are used as healthy food for children’s growth and development. Climate change resilience technology, high nutritional value, and the announcement of the year 2023 as “International Millet Year” have made it very popular. Bakery items based on Millet, particularly cookies, are becoming more popular in both urban and rural areas. Jaggery is raw sugar prepared from sugarcane juice and is considered superior to white sugar. It offers numerous nutritional and therapeutic benefits, including anti-carcinogenic with antitoxic actions. Hence, this study aimed to prepare healthy food items with germinated finger and pearl Millets for better nutritional quality that are attracting the attention of health-conscious people on a worldwide scale. Cookies made from blends of germinated wheat flour (GWF), germinated finger millet flour (GFMF), and germinated pearl millet flour (GPMF) were examined for their physicochemical qualities, in vitro digestibility, antioxidant activity, and overall acceptability by consumers. In vitro protein digestibility (62.24-82.34%), starch digestibility (47.48-62.41%), total phenolic content (11.45–49.12 mg GAE/100 g), and antioxidant activities significantly increased as the proportion of GFMF and GPMF flour increased in the cookie samples, whereas total starch, dietary fiber, carbohydrate, and phytic acid decreased. The physical qualities of the cookies were also improved by the addition of GFMF and GPMF flours. Cookies with acceptable sensory properties, including taste, aroma, appearance, mouthfeel, crispiness, and overall acceptability, were produced by blending 60% GWF, 20% GFMF, and 20% GPMF (T2). This study demonstrated that GFMF and GPMF flour blends may be used as functional ingredients to create superior goods.
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A Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Children Living with HIV/AIDS in Ghana: Diagnosis History, Health-seeking Behaviour, and Care Expectations

Published on: 5th April, 2024

Caregivers of Children Living with HIV/AIDS experience severe burdens in Africa amidst unmet needs while seeking care from hospitals. This study aimed to explore the diagnosis history, health-seeking behaviour, and care provided by hospitals and whether the services meet caregivers’ expectations. We used a qualitative approach and conducted individual in-depth interviews among purposively sampled caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS from three hospitals. We achieved data sufficiency after interviewing nine participants. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed manually through Collaizi’s steps. Four themes developed including; history of pregnancy and poor HIV testing, effective care for caregivers and CLWH, attitude of healthcare providers, and unmet expectations of care. Healthcare providers showed positive attitudes towards caregivers and provided services (counselling, dispensing Anti-retrovirals, health monitoring, and coordination of clinical care). Expectations bordered on financial support (for food, education, health care), and treatment for opportunistic infections. Findings indicate gaps in HIV voluntary testing for pregnant women, enrollment in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), and unmet needs. It is imperative to improve coverage of testing for pregnant women and efforts made to meet their needs. Financial support, provision of food security, and assistance for caregivers are essential for care.
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Are Biofungicides a Means of Plant Protection for the Future?

Published on: 15th April, 2024

Biofungicides are prepared based on living micro/organisms or on matters prepared from them. They are based on the antagonism of fungal pathogens and their antagonists. Their effect depends on weather conditions (temperature and moisture) in comparison with chemical fungicides which are effective in all conditions but they let the residues in plants, animals, and men. The future of agriculture will be pure food without chemicals.
Cite this ArticleCrossMarkPublonsHarvard Library HOLLISGrowKudosResearchGateBase SearchOAI PMHAcademic MicrosoftScilitSemantic ScholarUniversite de ParisUW LibrariesSJSU King LibrarySJSU King LibraryNUS LibraryMcGillDET KGL BIBLiOTEKJCU DiscoveryUniversidad De LimaWorldCatVU on WorldCat
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