Effect of β-glucan from oats and barley on weight loss and adiposity

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Rebecca Mathews and her collaborators review key studies on the effect of β-glucan on weight loss, BMI and obesity.

Obesity is a growing public health concern, but studies suggest that soluble fibre from certain cereal whole grains can help weight management. Specifically, the cell wall carbohydrate β-glucan found in oats and barley may impact body weight, body mass index (BMI), and adipose tissue. Rebecca Mathews and her collaborators in the US conducted a thorough review of key studies demonstrating […]

Common beans: A sustainable and inexpensive super food to fight against CVD

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Legumes, such as common beans, are well known for their health benefits, including their ability to lower blood cholesterol and lipid levels. However, prior to consumption, beans need to be cooked or processed. These techniques often cause changes in the bean matrix, which can potentially influence their positive physiological effects. Dr Cristina Fernández-Fraguas, Assistant Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and […]

Novel mouse models shed light on role of omega-6/omega-3 imbalance in chronic disease

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Dr Kang's research suggests that a diet high in omega-3 and low in omega-6 helps prevent many chronic diseases.

The link between two classes of essential fatty acids – omega-3 and omega-6 – and health has, until now, been unclear. This is partly because it has been difficult for researchers to define exactly what each does in the body. To address this problem, Dr Jing X. Kang of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, USA, developed novel strains […]