Science Weekly - 2nd July 2021

This week's collection of scientific papers from the fitness, exercise and nutrition science world revolves mostly around nutrition, mental health and lifestyle conditions. There's an exciting paper on chocolate, a promising development on battling migraines and also some evidence on breathing practice positively affecting blood pressure.

Highlights:

• Potato and rice protein shakes may be a viable vegan alternative to whey protein shakes, research suggests
• Starting the day off with chocolate could have unexpected benefits
• A promising new pathway to treating type 2 diabetes
• Eating disorder behaviors alter reward response in brain
• The Southern diet - fried foods and sugary drinks - may raise risk of sudden cardiac death
• Consuming a diet with more fish fats, less vegetable oils can reduce migraine headaches, study finds
• 5-minute breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs

Potato and rice protein shakes may be a viable vegan alternative to whey protein shakes, research suggests

A new study found that plant-based protein shakes may be potential viable alternatives to milk-based whey protein shakes, particularly in people with need of careful monitoring of glucose levels.

Source: University of Westminster

Starting the day off with chocolate could have unexpected benefits

Researchers find time of day eating milk chocolate can impact regulation of body weight
A new study of postmenopausal women has found that eating a concentrated amount of chocolate during a narrow window of time in the morning may help the body burn fat and decrease blood sugar levels.

Source: Brigham and Women's Hospital

A promising new pathway to treating type 2 diabetes

Researchers believe the liver may hold the key to new, preventative Type 2 diabetes treatments.

Source: University of Arizona

Eating disorder behaviors alter reward response in brain

A new study found that eating disorder behaviors alter the brain's reward response process and food intake control circuitry, which can reinforce the behaviors.

Source: NIH/National Institute of Mental Health

The Southern diet - fried foods and sugary drinks - may raise risk of sudden cardiac death

Participants in a large-scale study who more commonly consumed a Southern-style diet - high in added fats, fried foods, processed meats and sugary drinks - had a higher risk of sudden cardiac death than people who had lower adherence to a Southern-style diet.

Source: American Heart Association

Consuming a diet with more fish fats, less vegetable oils can reduce migraine headaches, study finds

Frequency, intensity of monthly migraines declined among those on higher fish oil diet
A diet higher in fatty fish helped frequent migraine sufferers reduce their monthly number of headaches and intensity of pain compared to participants on a diet higher in vegetable-based fats and oils, according to a new study.

Source: NIH/National Institute on Aging

5-minute breathing workout lowers blood pressure as much as exercise, drugs

'Strength training for breathing muscles' holds promise for host of health benefits
A new study shows that a breathing exercise known as Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training can reduce blood pressure in weeks, with benefits on par with daily exercise or medication.

Source: University of Colorado at Boulder