Hidden deposits of fat deep inside the abdomen and liver can quietly increase your risk of stroke and heart attack, even if you appear to have a healthy weight. Results from a new study showed that both liver fat and the visceral fat packed around internal organs increase risk for hardened and clogged arteries in the neck, researchers reported Oct. 17 in Communications Medicine. People can have this sort of “skinny fat” even if their body mass index (BMI) is in the healthy range, researchers said. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. “You can’t always tell by looking at someone whether they have visceral or liver fat,” senior researcher Dr. Sonia Anand, a vascular medicine specialist with Hamilton Health Sciences in Ontario, Canada, said in a news release. “This kind of fat is metabolically active and dangerous. It’s linked to inflammation and artery damage even in people who aren’t visibly overweight,” Anand said. “That’s why it’s so important to rethink how we assess obesity and cardiovascular risk.”  For the new study, researchers analyzed MRI data from more than 33,000 adults in Canada and the U.K., looking at both their fat deposits and the health of their neck arteries. Arteries in the neck feed blood to the brain, and their narrowing is a key predictor of stroke and heart attack,…  read on >  read on >

Hidden deposits of fat deep inside the abdomen and liver can quietly increase your risk of stroke and heart attack, even if you appear to have a healthy weight. Results from a new study showed that both liver fat and the visceral fat packed around internal organs increase risk for hardened and clogged arteries in the neck, researchers reported Oct. 17 in Communications Medicine. People can have this sort of “skinny fat” even if their body mass index (BMI) is in the healthy range, researchers said. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight. “You can’t always tell by looking at someone whether they have visceral or liver fat,” senior researcher Dr. Sonia Anand, a vascular medicine specialist with Hamilton Health Sciences in Ontario, Canada, said in a news release. “This kind of fat is metabolically active and dangerous. It’s linked to inflammation and artery damage even in people who aren’t visibly overweight,” Anand said. “That’s why it’s so important to rethink how we assess obesity and cardiovascular risk.”  For the new study, researchers analyzed MRI data from more than 33,000 adults in Canada and the U.K., looking at both their fat deposits and the health of their neck arteries. Arteries in the neck feed blood to the brain, and their narrowing is a key predictor of stroke and heart attack,…  read on >  read on >

Kiwis may be more than a healthy snack — they could also help get your digestive system moving.  New evidence-based dietary guidelines from the British Dietetic Association say kiwis, rye bread and certain supplements may help people manage chronic constipation without on medication. These guidelines focus specifically on diet-based constipation treatment rather than pharmaceuticals, according to lead author Eirini Dimidi, a registered dietitian and associate professor at King’s College London. She hopes that “people themselves with constipation can access now evidence-based information, feel empowered to take control of the symptoms and improve a condition that has a tremendous impact on quality of life.” Chronic constipation affects roughly 16% of adults worldwide. In the U.S. alone, constipation leads to about 2.5 million doctor visits each year, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week, lasting for more than three months. Common symptoms include hard or lumpy stools, bloating, abdominal discomfort and nausea. “If you’re chronically constipated, you may not be able to even participate in physical activity, because you feel bloated, you’re in pain, you’re achy, it may affect your mood,” Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told NBC News. Researchers analyzed numerous clinical trials to determine which foods and supplements offer the best benefits. The recommendations…  read on >  read on >

Kiwis may be more than a healthy snack — they could also help get your digestive system moving.  New evidence-based dietary guidelines from the British Dietetic Association say kiwis, rye bread and certain supplements may help people manage chronic constipation without on medication. These guidelines focus specifically on diet-based constipation treatment rather than pharmaceuticals, according to lead author Eirini Dimidi, a registered dietitian and associate professor at King’s College London. She hopes that “people themselves with constipation can access now evidence-based information, feel empowered to take control of the symptoms and improve a condition that has a tremendous impact on quality of life.” Chronic constipation affects roughly 16% of adults worldwide. In the U.S. alone, constipation leads to about 2.5 million doctor visits each year, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Constipation is defined as having fewer than three bowel movements per week, lasting for more than three months. Common symptoms include hard or lumpy stools, bloating, abdominal discomfort and nausea. “If you’re chronically constipated, you may not be able to even participate in physical activity, because you feel bloated, you’re in pain, you’re achy, it may affect your mood,” Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told NBC News. Researchers analyzed numerous clinical trials to determine which foods and supplements offer the best benefits. The recommendations…  read on >  read on >