‘Reduce Your Risk of Diverticulitis’- - http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com, 01/10/08
Laurel has also reported about the effect of eating nuts and small seeds on diverticulitis. She breaks down the original article in the New York Times (which the International Herald Tribune is its global version). The article has summarised the original report and added pictures of nuts and popcorn on the end, making it easier to read for viewers.
Here, I would discuss 2 articles that were written under the same section of the International Herald Tribune.
‘Eating nuts may lower risk of developing diverticulosis’ -Anahad O’Connor, International Herald Tribune, 11/09/08
Until now, doctors have advised diverticuosis patients to keep away from nuts and foods with small seeds, since they may cause severe intestinal complications.
However a study recently published in the American Medical Association has found that eating these foods not only increases the risk of complications, but may even reduce the risk of developing the disease.
…with me?
‘Diverticulosis causes intense pain in the abdomen and leads to the rupture of small pouches in the colon, called diverticuli.’
The study found that those who ate the most nuts, twice a week or more, had a 20% lower risk of developing diverticulitis than those who ate the least. Those who ate popcorn at least twice a week had a 28% lower risk. ‘The authors say the benefits may come from nutrients and fibre in nuts and light popcorn’.
The fact that they mention that the patients eat popcorn reflects the American culture, which I thought was interesting. I don’t think popcorn makes a large part of out eating culture here in the UK, and had this study took place in UK, they may not had made the finding.
‘Vitamin B12 and Brain Size’- Nicholas Bakalar, International Herald Tribune, 11/09/08
The American newspaper also took attention to the British study that I wrote about in the earlier post.
‘Now a British study suggests that low levels of the vitamin in older people may cause the brain to shrink’. After reading this phrase I felt a surprise, a realization of the fear that the brain shrinks as you get older. In the laurel on health food blog, I took the information casually, but the wording in the International Herald Tribune newspaper made it much more frightening.
What the blog explained as ‘brain disorder’, the newspaper calls ‘mental impairment’, and the wording is much more difficult in the newspaper than the blog. The newspaper also talked much more in detail of how the study was carried out.
These articles were placed at the bottom left hand corner of the newspaper in the health and science section, sectioned off two larger articles that included pictures. Since the articles I discussed took a small area of the newspaper at the bottom and did not include any pictures, the other two articles above it dominated the health and science section of the paper. In terms of the whole page, an even larger article with a larger picture at the top of the newspaper dominates the page even more and makes the articles unlikely to be read. The headings of the articles I discussed have a heading with a smaller font than other articles on the page, making it also less likely to be read. However, the front cover of the newspaper runs a secondary lead for another article in the Health and Science section, which will lead some readers to the page.
‘Research Roundup’- http://www.laurelonhealthfood.com, 20/08/08
Some recent research summary:
Defending the body:
A study from the University of South Florida in Tampa found that food plays an important role in defending the body from illnesses. Researchers concluded that reducing food intake by 30% made the immune system less effective at fighting off germs.
Pine nut oil:
A study from the University if Liverpool found that pine nut oil extract can
-reduce appetite
-increase satiety
-reduce calorie intake
Researchers gave a free fatty acid (FFA) form of pine nut oil extract to 45 overweight women, 30 minutes before they eat lunch. The women ate 7% less calories and less food overall than women who were given an olive oil placebo supplement. Earlier research found that Korean pine nut oil increases a hormone in the gut (cholecystokinin) that makes you feel full.
Green tea:
A Nutrition journal study found that drinking green tea after an intense workout may help you recover faster. Researchers found that drinking 3 cups a day cut down on cell damage by resistance exercise.
The blog simply states the research collected and it can be quite difficult to follow. No pictures are added, making it unappealing to read. It’s one of those reads you just skim through, and probably forget about easily.
However, on the last fact, the blogger includes her own recommendation, making the article easier to bond with the reader.
