Health News (Week 20 – 2015)
By Robert Redfern
Last week the Really Healthy Pasta got lots of interest. This week I am answering some of the questions that came from the article.
Many of my readers were particularly asking for clarification on the high amount if protein in both the red lentil and black bean pasta. The confusion comes from opinions for both the need for protein and how much protein is needed.
The population (in general) may be seriously deficient in protein and especially the older population. There is emerg-ing evidence that high quality proteins in amounts ‘greater than the amounts recommended by governments’, have benefits that extend well beyond simply the maintenance of muscle mass, bones and essential metabolism.
I trust the full article below clarifies any questions.
This week David Meyer has also provided another important EYE-SIGHT article, covering Glaucoma. This is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and while diet and nutrition are the main causes, there are other factors to consider.
This weeks articles:
How Much Protein?
This was the main question this week. Since lentils are one of the top 5 nutritious foods available in the world and an important source of fiber (over 50% of the daily needs) I am sure there will be a growing interest.
Really Healthy Pasta can be used primarily as a replacement for grains and cereals but its use as a highly bioavailable protein and a low-cost replacement for protein from meat is also useful.
The population (in general) may be seriously deficient in protein and especially the older population. There is emerg-ing evidence that high quality proteins in ‘amounts greater than the amounts recommended by governments’, have benefits that extend well beyond simply the maintenance of muscle mass, bones and essential metabolism.
They can include body weight and fat mass loss, mainte-nance of lean mass (including avoiding or reducing age-related muscle loss (or malnutrition), and reduced risk of neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma, the second leading cause of blindness worldwide is the sub-ject of a wide range of research and opinion as to both the causes and treatments.
What is Glaucoma?
Many people confuse glaucoma with high pressures in the eye and equate the two. Glaucoma is defined as damage to the nerve cells at the back of the eye and is now viewed as a neurodegenerative condition, rather than an eye condition per se. The optic nerve and the ganglion nerve cells in the retina are considered to be an extension of the brain.
The connection with high pressures in the eye is that as the optic nerve fibers enter the eye, they pass through a fibrous ‘sieve’. High pressures can cause the ‘sieve’ to be pushed out and distorted so it presses on the nerve fibers.
This is just one way they can be damaged and there are several others, including trauma, oxidation, reduced blood flow and genetic factors.
