Almonds Provide Fewer Calories Than Thought: Study

Both roasted and unroasted almonds provide fewer calories than previously estimated – and the amount of calories is largely dependent on the form of the dry fruit consumed, according to a new study. The study conducted by scientists from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows that compared to the number of calories listed on nutrition labels, participants actually absorbed 25 per cent fewer calories from whole unroasted almonds and 19 per cent fewer calories from whole roasted almonds. David Baer and his team from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS)…

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Study finds UK sugar tax could save thousands from obesity, diabetes

File photograph of soft drinks bottles displayed on a shelf in a shop in London  (Copyright Reuters 2016) LONDON –  A planned levy on sugary drinks due to be introduced in Britain in April 2018 could significantly reduce the number of people who become obese and develop diabetes and tooth decay, scientists said on Thursday. In a study on the levy’s health impacts, researchers found the positive effect would be greatest if the drinks industry responds by reformulating products to cut sugar content, rather than keep the same formulations but…

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Angelina Jolie Boosted Breast Cancer Genetic Testing: Study

Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie’s public disclosure in 2013 regarding her surgery for breast cancer led to a spike in genetic tests for a gene known to increase the deadly disease, a study has found. Jolie lost her mother to ovarian and breast cancer and grandmother and aunt to breast cancer. In an op-ed piece in The New York Times — a major US daily — Jolie announced that she had undergone surgery in order to reduce her chances of getting the disease. “My doctors estimated that I had an 87…

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Bacterium in undercooked chicken causes paralysis: Study

Bacterium in undercooked chicken causes paralysis: Study US researchers have identified a bacterium, commonly found in undercooked chicken, that may cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). GBS is an autoimmune disorder and is the world’s leading cause of acute neuromuscular paralysis in humans. The research showed that if chicken isn’t cooked to the proper minimum internal temperature, bacteria — Campylobacter jejuni — which still exist in the food can trigger GBS. “The study showed that it takes a certain genetic makeup combined with a Campylobacter (bacteria) strain to cause this disease,” said…

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Pokemon Go’s Health Benefits are Moderate, Short-Lived: Study

Claimed to boost physical activity levels and promote public health, augmented reality game Pokemon Go’s health benefits are just moderate as well as short-lived, researchers say. Pokemon Go is a smartphone-based game that projects graphics onto the real world and has been downloaded over 500 million times since its launch in July 2016 in many countries. The findings showed that the game improves physical activity such as walking only moderately, and the effect is lost in a matter of six weeks. The first week of installation saw that the daily…

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Bacteria Trapped In Skin Pore Causes Acne: Study

Scientists have discovered that bacteria on the skin trapped in clogged pore, surrounded by oil and no air, release fatty acids that trigger inflammation known as acne, a finding that may lead to new treatments for the condition. The skin is the body’s first line of defence against invading germs. It is also constantly awash in bacteria of all kinds, and usually puts up no fight. “It’s a big puzzle as to why we tolerate all these bacteria on our skin,” said lead researcher Richard Gallo, from the University of…

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