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Study shows benefits of wholegrains on heart health

A new study has found that eating four to six servings of wholegrains per day may help to reduce several major risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The study included data from 87 clinical trials and involved more than 6,500 people from across Asia, Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Brazil. It showed that eating a diet rich in wholegrain food is likely to prevent heart disease by reducing body weight, blood pressure and the levels of cholesterol and glucose in the blood. These benefits could be seen in people eating 30 to 40g of wholegrains per day (dry weight), but the greatest benefits were found in people eating 60 to 100g per day. This corresponds to four to six servings of wholegrains daily, for example, a bowl of oatmeal, a sandwich made with wholegrain bread, and a serving of brown rice.

The research was led by Dr Helda Tutunchi from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, who said: “These findings do not necessarily call for major changes to existing guidelines, but they support public health strategies that help people increase their wholegrain intake and move toward the higher end of current targets.” The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.

Healthy food starts with healthy soil

The journey towards a healthy diet begins long before food reaches our plates, with the soil in which our food is grown. New research has highlighted the potential of microbes and aeration for creating healthier, more resilient soil. In a 12-month grassland trial, the natural microbial product Microbz increased grass growth by 15% compared with untreated pasture.

When Microbz was combined with soil aeration, grass growth increased by 26%, while water infiltration improved by 86% compared with pre-aeration levels. The combination also helped pasture to withstand the effects of the summer drought.

Healthy soils contain complex microbial communities that play an important role in plant growth and nutrient cycling. Supporting these living ecosystems could therefore form part of creating more resilient and sustainable food systems for the future.

Food preservatives linked to heart health risks

Eating higher amounts of some common food preservatives could be linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, new research suggests.

Researchers analysed the diets of more than 112,000 adults in France, tracking their intake of preservatives and their health for an average of seven to eight years. Those consuming the highest amounts of non-antioxidant preservatives had a 29% higher risk of developing high blood pressure and a 16% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with those consuming the lowest amounts. Higher consumption of antioxidant preservatives was associated with a 22% increased risk of high blood pressure.

Eight individual preservatives were linked with an increased risk of hypertension, including potassium sorbate, sodium nitrite and citric acid.

The researchers stressed that the observational study cannot prove that preservatives directly caused the increased risks. However, they said the findings support existing recommendations to favour minimally processed foods and avoid unnecessary additives.

Wild Oats celebrates 45 years

Staff, suppliers and customers recently joined together to celebrate Bristol independent health store Wild Oats’ 45th anniversary. Based on Lower Redland Road, the store was founded by Mike and the late Loes Abrahams in 1981 and has been serving generations of Bristol customers ever since. The anniversary celebrations, which were held on 11 September, saw local independent bakeries, Everest Bread and The Great Cake Company, join the team outside the store with freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes. Among the guests was long-standing customer Jay, who has shopped at Wild Oats for more than 40 years and presented the team with a planted tree as an anniversary gift.

Director and Store Manager Alicia Stephens said: “This is a huge achievement, and it's all down to the loyalty of customers like Jay who have been with us since the very beginning. Seeing Mike back in the shop, surrounded by the community we've built together, was a really special moment for all of us.”

Photography by Jon Craig (@JonCraig_Photos)

Take on the Strong Woman Challenge!

More than a third of women aged 40 to 70 are unaware that perimenopause and menopause can lead to a more rapid loss of muscle mass, according to a new survey.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) questioned 2,000 UK women and found that 34% did not know about the link between menopause and muscle loss.

When asked about the health benefits of strength training during perimenopause and menopause, 41% associated it with protecting bone health, while 34% highlighted maintaining a healthy weight and 29% improving mental wellbeing and confidence. Just 26% identified improving cardiovascular health as a benefit.

BHF Senior Cardiac Nurse Ruth Goss said: “Staying strong has so many important benefits, including helping lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke.” The findings come as the charity launches its 31-day Strong Woman Challenge for Menopause Awareness Month in October.

The six ambassadors helping to launch the challenge include former Olympic Gold medallist turned women’s fitness coach Sally Gunnell, journalist, author and podcaster Lorraine Candy; Traitors star Amanda Collier; actor, author and coach Andi Osho; author and personal trainer Lavina Mehta MBE and NHS GP, personal trainer and content creator Dr Lynette Ewart.

Participants receive a new strength-building exercise to complete each day, including access to video tutorials and the Strong Woman Facebook group. Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced programmes are available.

To find out more, visit www.bhf.org.uk/strongwoman

Dietary changes could reduce biological age in just four weeks

A new study from the University of Illinois, Chicago, suggests that time-restricted eating could offer a safe and potentially effective way to improve blood sugar control in adults with Type 1 diabetes.

The study involved 32 adults with Type 1 diabetes who were also classified as obese. They were randomly placed into one of three groups for six months. One group followed a time-restricted eating schedule, consuming food only between noon and 8 pm without counting calories. Another group reduced calorie intake by 25%, while the control group made no changes.

After six months, the time-restricted eating group showed better blood sugar results than the calorie-reduction group. HbA1c, a blood test that reflects average blood sugar over the previous several months, fell by about 0.5% on average in the time-restricted group.

The researchers also found no increase in the risk of dangerously high or low blood sugar levels among participants following the restricted eating schedule. The approach likewise did not raise the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, which occurs when the body does not have enough insulin and can become life-threatening.

Lead researcher, kinesiology and nutrition professor Krista Varady, said: “This is the first step to showing time-restricted eating could be a safe, potentially effective method for people with Type 1 diabetes to manage their blood sugar levels.”