Latest news with #ChildrenOfThe90s
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Concern as researchers link 'healthy' snacks to raised risk of a sudden heart attack
Oily fish, nuts and avocados—prized for being sources of 'healthy' fats—may not be as good for us as previously believed, scientists have claimed. The key culprit, according to Australian researchers, is fats in these foods known as omega-3—which studies have previously suggested protect heart health. However new evidence suggests omega-3 is linked to inflammation in the body, increasing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and even a heart attack. The findings come from a major study involving 2,800 participants in the landmark Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), also known as Children of the 90s—one of the most detailed long-term health studies ever carried out. Researchers have followed the health of over 14,000 families in the Avon area since 1991, when the mothers were first recruited during pregnancy. The latest research looked at data collected when the children turned 24. After accounting for lifestyle factors such as smoking, scientists found that diets rich in omega-6 were associated with higher levels of GlycA—a blood biomarker linked to chronic inflammation, cancer and heart problems. Omega-6, found in vegetable and seed oils, has, in recently years, increasingly been associated with poor heart health. However, surprisingly, the researchers also found increased GlycA in those who consumed foods rich in omega-3 fats, which are usually considered 'heart healthy'. Professor Thomas Holland, from the RUSH institute for Healthy Aging, Chicago, who was not involved in the study, told Medical News Today the results were 'unexpected'. He added: 'Omega-3s are found in dark fatty fish, like salmon and sardines, and in plant-based foods like flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. 'Most people think of them as calming to the immune system. Yet in this study, higher omega-3 levels were linked to more inflammation, not less.' Lead author of the study, Professor Daisy Crick, an expert in molecular science from Queensland University, said: 'Our findings suggest that it's not as simple as "omega-3 is anti-inflammatory and omega-6 is pro-inflammatory".' She added that simply upping omega-3 intake may not be enough to cut inflammation or protect against heart disease. 'Improving the balance between the two fats could be a better method for people who want to reduce inflammation in their bodies,' she said. The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, calls for further research to better understand how different fatty acids affect long-term health. Seed oils—such as sunflower, soybean and rapeseed—are high in polyunsaturated fats and have long been promoted as a 'heart healthy' alternative to saturated fats like butter and lard. But Professor Holland warned that rising consumption of seed oils could be fuelling obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and even autoimmune conditions. Around 6.3 million people in the UK are thought to have raised cholesterol, which if left untreated can cause heart attacks and strokes, and seed oils may be contributing to this, Prof Holland suggested. It comes as alarming figures last year revealed that premature deaths from heart attacks and strokes had reached their highest level in more than a decade. MailOnline has previously highlighted how the number of young people, under 40, in England being treated for heart attacks by the NHS is on the rise. Cases of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes among the under-75s has tumbled since the 1960s. This is believed to be due to plummeting smoking rates, advanced surgical techniques and breakthroughs such as stents and statins. But now, rising obesity rates, and its catalogue of associated health problems such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are thought to be one of the major contributing factors.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
School dinners may encourage picky teenagers to eat better, study suggests
Having school dinners could encourage picky teenagers to eat better, a study suggests. When children who were picky eaters got to choose their own food at school at lunchtime they ate a wider variety of food compared with those who had a packed lunch, researchers found. The findings, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, suggest picky eaters at the age of 13 were more likely than non-picky children to avoid meat, fish and fruit in their packed lunches. But there was little evidence of picky eaters avoiding meat, fish and fruit in school dinners. Researchers examined data from more than 5,300 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children – also known as the 'Children of the 90s' study. The University of Bristol-led study analysed data from children when they were pre-schoolers and again at age 13 to understand how picky eating behaviour changes over time. 'Our results suggest that some picky eating behaviours persist while others may be modified in adolescents when they are away from direct familial influence, such as when eating school dinners with their peers,' the study said. It added: 'It is likely that family norms have a stronger influence over packed lunch content than over school dinner choices where the child has more autonomy and may be influenced by their peers.' Dr Caroline Taylor, lead researcher and associate professor in nutrition at the University of Bristol, said: 'Every child is different, and what works for some won't work for others. 'We found that school dinners could be a good option to increase variety in the diets of picky teens, but there are plenty of other things parents can do to encourage a healthy diet. 'Whether that is enjoying family meals together, modelling a balanced diet yourself, or involving them in meal preparation, it all helps. 'We know that most picky children are eating enough, but they're sometimes lacking a good balance of foods. 'It's important to encourage all children to eat enough nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables to help them grow and develop, whether that's at home or at school.'
