Gluten-free products touted as a healthier alternative to everyday staples could actually be making you fat, experts have warned.
A gluten-free lifestyle has become one of the most popular diet trends of recent years, finding favour with celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kim Kardashian.
It is important for those with coeliac disease - where digested gluten damages the lining of your gut - to maintain a gluten-free diet for health reasons.
Foods they should avoid usually include wheat, barley and rye such as breads, pastas and crackers.
However, for healthy people a gluten-free diet might not be the best option, according to a study, which has found alternative products often contain higher levels of fats than the foods they aim to replace.
Researchers found gluten-free products have a "significantly higher energy content and a different nutritional composition" to those containing gluten.
Many gluten-rich items such as breads, pastas, pizzas and flours also contained up to three times more protein than their gluten-free substitutes.
The imbalances highlighted in the study could impact children's growth and increase the risk of childhood obesity, experts said, as children are more likely to eat products such as cereals and biscuits.
"As more and more people are following a gluten-free diet to effectively manage coeliac disease, it is imperative that foods marketed as substitutes are reformulated to ensure that they truly do have similar nutritional values," said lead researcher Dr Joaquim Calvo Lerma.
"This is especially important for children, as a well-balanced diet is essential to healthy growth and development."
The team assessed about 1,300 products and found:
:: Gluten-free breads had significantly higher content of lipids and saturated fatty acids
:: Gluten-free pasta had significantly lower content of sugar and protein
:: Gluten-free biscuits had significantly lower content of protein and significantly higher content of lipids
Researchers also called for better labelling "where nutritional values of gluten-free products do vary significantly from their gluten-containing counterparts".
Sarah Sleet, chief executive of Coeliac UK, said the findings tied in with the charity's own research showing higher levels of fat in gluten-free fresh breads and lower protein levels in gluten-free products.
She urged manufacturers to continue "striving for more nutritious products".
She added: "On a positive note, sugar is frequently cited as a concern but this research is also in line with UK data on sugar content, showing gluten free foods don't contain any more sugar than conventional equivalent products which will be reassuring for people who need to live gluten free."
Thursday, May 11, 2017
Robert Mugabe 'not asleep at public meetings but just resting his eyes'
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is just resting his eyes when he appears to fall asleep at public meetings, his spokesman has claimed.
The 93-year-old has been pictured with his eyes closed at a number of recent appearances, including at the World Economic Forum in Durban last week.
Pictures of Mugabe appearing to nod off at the forum went viral, with opponents saying they showed he was unfit for office.
Image:President Mugabe appears to sleep while Colonel Gaddafi speaks at a 2010 summit
But the president's spokesman said the leader was merely resting his eyes from bright lights.
George Charamba said: "I feel like a failure when there is this reading that the president is sleeping in conferences - no.
"At 93, there is something that happens to the eyes and the president cannot suffer bright lights.
Image:Asleep or resting? Mr Mugabe pictured with former Gabon president Omar Bongo
"If you look at his poise, he looks down, avoids direct lighting"
Mr Charamba compared the president to Nelson Mandela, whose eyes were sensitive to flash photography after years of working in a limestone quarry while imprisoned on Robben Island.
He said: "You were not allowed to even use flashes whenever (Mandela) was in the room."
Image:Mr Mugabe closes his eyes during an Africa Union meeting in July 2005
On Monday, Mr Mugabe travelled to Singapore for specialist eye treatment, his second medical trip in two months.
The president's foreign trips are often criticised in Zimbabwe, where healthcare has collapsed due to financial instability.
Mr Charamba said a "very black" Zimbabwean doctor supervises Mr Mugabe's medical care at home and the leader only flies abroad for specialist treatment.
Image:Nodding off? Mr Mugabe at a summit in 2009
Despite concerns over his health, Africa's oldest leader says he intends to run again in elections next year.
In February, his wife Grace said he would run "as a corpse" if he died before the vote.
The 93-year-old has been pictured with his eyes closed at a number of recent appearances, including at the World Economic Forum in Durban last week.
Pictures of Mugabe appearing to nod off at the forum went viral, with opponents saying they showed he was unfit for office.
Image:President Mugabe appears to sleep while Colonel Gaddafi speaks at a 2010 summitBut the president's spokesman said the leader was merely resting his eyes from bright lights.
George Charamba said: "I feel like a failure when there is this reading that the president is sleeping in conferences - no.
"At 93, there is something that happens to the eyes and the president cannot suffer bright lights.
Image:Asleep or resting? Mr Mugabe pictured with former Gabon president Omar Bongo"If you look at his poise, he looks down, avoids direct lighting"
Mr Charamba compared the president to Nelson Mandela, whose eyes were sensitive to flash photography after years of working in a limestone quarry while imprisoned on Robben Island.
He said: "You were not allowed to even use flashes whenever (Mandela) was in the room."
Image:Mr Mugabe closes his eyes during an Africa Union meeting in July 2005On Monday, Mr Mugabe travelled to Singapore for specialist eye treatment, his second medical trip in two months.
The president's foreign trips are often criticised in Zimbabwe, where healthcare has collapsed due to financial instability.
Mr Charamba said a "very black" Zimbabwean doctor supervises Mr Mugabe's medical care at home and the leader only flies abroad for specialist treatment.
Image:Nodding off? Mr Mugabe at a summit in 2009Despite concerns over his health, Africa's oldest leader says he intends to run again in elections next year.
In February, his wife Grace said he would run "as a corpse" if he died before the vote.
North Korea seeks extraditions of Kim Jong Un assassination plotters
North Korea says it will seek the extradition of anyone involved in an alleged plot to assassinate Kim Jong Un.
The country's vice foreign minister, Han Song Ryol, met with foreign diplomats to discuss its claim that South Korea and the CIA were behind such a plot.
Pyongyang claims a North Korean man surnamed Kim was coerced into attempting to poison the leader with a "biochemical substance".
Reading from a prepared statement, Mr Han said: "These terrorists plotted and planned in detail for the use of biochemical substances including radioactive and poisonous substances as the means of assassination.
"These biochemical substances were to be provided with the assistance of the CIA... while the South Korean Intelligence Service was to provide necessary support and funding for this attempt at assassination on our supreme leader."
The state-run KCNA news agency has described the CIA and the South Korean Intelligence Service as "man-killing groups" and "dens of evil".
Their report said Mr Han had "declared the principled stand of the North Korean government to find out all of the terrorist maniacs and mercilessly wipe them out".
Although he vowed to "punish the organisers, conspirators and followers of this terrible state-sponsored terrorism" through extradition requests, the country is yet to name any foreign suspects.
North Korea first made allegations about the assassination plot last week, and said the heinous crime had been "recently uncovered and smashed".
According to state media reports, the coerced North Korean is a resident of Pyongyang who had previously been working in Russia's timber industry.
It is alleged that he was bribed, brainwashed and cajoled by foreign agents while he was living in the Far Eastern town of Khabarovsk.
The country's vice foreign minister, Han Song Ryol, met with foreign diplomats to discuss its claim that South Korea and the CIA were behind such a plot.
Pyongyang claims a North Korean man surnamed Kim was coerced into attempting to poison the leader with a "biochemical substance".
Reading from a prepared statement, Mr Han said: "These terrorists plotted and planned in detail for the use of biochemical substances including radioactive and poisonous substances as the means of assassination.
"These biochemical substances were to be provided with the assistance of the CIA... while the South Korean Intelligence Service was to provide necessary support and funding for this attempt at assassination on our supreme leader."
The state-run KCNA news agency has described the CIA and the South Korean Intelligence Service as "man-killing groups" and "dens of evil".
Their report said Mr Han had "declared the principled stand of the North Korean government to find out all of the terrorist maniacs and mercilessly wipe them out".
Although he vowed to "punish the organisers, conspirators and followers of this terrible state-sponsored terrorism" through extradition requests, the country is yet to name any foreign suspects.
North Korea first made allegations about the assassination plot last week, and said the heinous crime had been "recently uncovered and smashed".
According to state media reports, the coerced North Korean is a resident of Pyongyang who had previously been working in Russia's timber industry.
It is alleged that he was bribed, brainwashed and cajoled by foreign agents while he was living in the Far Eastern town of Khabarovsk.
What was the motivation for leaking Labour's manifesto?
Labour's gathering to approve their draft manifesto was already set to be contentious. It will be even more heated now the document they are discussing has been leaked to two newspapers.
Jeremy Corbyn has pulled out of a poster launch. His press team denies suggestions his office leaked the draft policies as "outrageous", but no one denies that only a small number of people within the Labour Party had access to this document.
Intriguingly, it was handed to the left-wing Mirror and the right-wing Telegraph. It's as if someone wanted to see how both sides would react. The timing is everything.
Under what is called Clause V, Labour's national executive committee and shadow cabinet meet with officers of the backbench party and the heads of the national policy forum to thrash out which policies from the draft make it through - but now, everyone has seen the draft.
There are many rumours circulating as to who leaked and why, but it seems there are two key possible motivations for making it public now.
Jeremy Corbyn has pulled out of a poster launch. His press team denies suggestions his office leaked the draft policies as "outrageous", but no one denies that only a small number of people within the Labour Party had access to this document.
Intriguingly, it was handed to the left-wing Mirror and the right-wing Telegraph. It's as if someone wanted to see how both sides would react. The timing is everything.
Under what is called Clause V, Labour's national executive committee and shadow cabinet meet with officers of the backbench party and the heads of the national policy forum to thrash out which policies from the draft make it through - but now, everyone has seen the draft.
There are many rumours circulating as to who leaked and why, but it seems there are two key possible motivations for making it public now.
Russia investigation issues subpoena for Flynn
A subpoena has been issued demanding documents from Donald Trump's former national security adviser relating to Russia's alleged interference in the US election.
Michael Flynn was subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation into links between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign team.
The committee's chairman Richard Burr and vice chairman Mark Warner said they had first asked for the documents on 28 April but Flynn's lawyer had not produced them.
Senator Warner told Reuters that some documents had been received from people but, as other people were not complying, the "next steps" were going to be taken.
Flynn was fired by President Trump in February after less than a month in the job.
The White House said he had misled top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, regarding his links with Russia's ambassador in Washington.
On Monday, former acting US Attorney General Sally Yates told a hearing that she had warned the White House about Flynn's possible vulnerability to blackmail from the Russians and that he could be compromised.
Both Russia and Mr Trump's administration deny any collusion aimed at influencing November's election result.
The retired Army lieutenant general is also being investigated by other congressional committees and by the Pentagon's inspector general regarding his contacts and earnings from organisations linked to the Russian and Turkish governments.
Michael Flynn was subpoenaed by the Senate Intelligence Committee as part of its investigation into links between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign team.
The committee's chairman Richard Burr and vice chairman Mark Warner said they had first asked for the documents on 28 April but Flynn's lawyer had not produced them.
Senator Warner told Reuters that some documents had been received from people but, as other people were not complying, the "next steps" were going to be taken.
Flynn was fired by President Trump in February after less than a month in the job.
The White House said he had misled top officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, regarding his links with Russia's ambassador in Washington.
On Monday, former acting US Attorney General Sally Yates told a hearing that she had warned the White House about Flynn's possible vulnerability to blackmail from the Russians and that he could be compromised.
Both Russia and Mr Trump's administration deny any collusion aimed at influencing November's election result.
The retired Army lieutenant general is also being investigated by other congressional committees and by the Pentagon's inspector general regarding his contacts and earnings from organisations linked to the Russian and Turkish governments.
Snapchat shares tumble as results miss Wall Street targets
Shares in the owner of Snapchat have fallen by a quarter after its first set of results since floating on the stock market missed Wall Street expectations.
Snap reported a loss of $2.21bn for the first quarter, mainly due to stock-based compensation linked to the $24bn float in March.
But it was lower than expected revenues and slowing growth in user numbers that gave investors the jitters.
The shares were down by 25% in after-hours trading in the company - which is facing stiff competition from larger rival Facebook.
Snap said its number of daily active users had risen to 166 million, up 5% from 158 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, but lower than some analysts had expected.
Year-on-year growth in users was 36%, slowing from 48% in the fourth quarter and 63% in the third quarter.
Revenues were up nearly four-fold compared to the same period last year at $149.6m but lower than the $158m expected on average by analysts.
Measured per user, revenues were three times higher than in the same quarter last year but 14% lower compared to the previous three months.
The disappearing messaging app, popular with teenagers, attracted huge interest when it went public in New York earlier this year - sending its shares 44% higher in its first day of trading.
But Facebook - which once offered $3bn to buy the business - has upped the ante by offering features similar to Snapchat on its platforms including Instagram and WhatsApp.
Snap reported a loss of $2.21bn for the first quarter, mainly due to stock-based compensation linked to the $24bn float in March.
But it was lower than expected revenues and slowing growth in user numbers that gave investors the jitters.
The shares were down by 25% in after-hours trading in the company - which is facing stiff competition from larger rival Facebook.
Snap said its number of daily active users had risen to 166 million, up 5% from 158 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, but lower than some analysts had expected.
Year-on-year growth in users was 36%, slowing from 48% in the fourth quarter and 63% in the third quarter.
Revenues were up nearly four-fold compared to the same period last year at $149.6m but lower than the $158m expected on average by analysts.
Measured per user, revenues were three times higher than in the same quarter last year but 14% lower compared to the previous three months.
The disappearing messaging app, popular with teenagers, attracted huge interest when it went public in New York earlier this year - sending its shares 44% higher in its first day of trading.
But Facebook - which once offered $3bn to buy the business - has upped the ante by offering features similar to Snapchat on its platforms including Instagram and WhatsApp.
BT cuts 4,000 jobs as annual profits fall 19% to £2.4bn
BT is to cut 4,000 jobs following a "challenging" year that has seen its chief executive stripped of his annual bonus amid a 19% fall in profits to £2.4bn.
The telecoms firm said managerial and back-office posts would be lost worldwide as it looked for efficiencies across its operations. It did not say how many roles would be affected in the UK.
The FTSE 100 company, which had warned of a hit to profitability in January, also confirmed an earlier report by Sky News that its headwinds in the year to 31 March meant Gavin Patterson had lost awards that would result in him taking home £4m less than in the previous financial year.
The group's outgoing finance director, Tony Chanmugam, was also stripped of bonuses.
The moves - described as "difficult decisions" by the firm's remuneration committee - follow BT's accounting scandal in Italy which helped wipe billions from the company's stock market value earlier this year.
BT shares, 16% down in the year to date, were 3.4% lower in late morning trading on Thursday.
Its problems also included the telecoms regulator imposing a record £42m fineon the company for "serious failings" at its Openreach division, leaving BT also facing a £300m compensation bill.
BT had, only weeks previously, agreed to a legal separation of its infrastructure arm after pressure from industry rivals including Sky, the owner of Sky News, on competition grounds.
In addition to the group's results for the last financial year, the company also announced that Openreach was launching a consultation with BT's competitors on how best to enhance broadband connectivity across Britain.
Ideas include "building the investment case for a large-scale 'full fibre' network and bringing faster broadband speeds to 'not-spots' which can only order less than 10 Mbps services today", BT said.
Commenting on the bonus decisions, the chair of its remuneration committee Tony Ball said: "The past year has been challenging.
"Although good progress has been made in a number of areas, unfortunately our performance has been significantly affected by the accounting irregularities in our Italian business, the issues that arose in Openreach around deemed consent and the significant challenges we faced in the UK public sector and international corporate markets.
"The committee has made a number of difficult decisions this year in light of these circumstances and exercised its discretion accordingly."
BT said both Mr Patterson and Mr Chanmugam had indicated they would not have accepted a bonus should one have been approved.
The telecoms firm said managerial and back-office posts would be lost worldwide as it looked for efficiencies across its operations. It did not say how many roles would be affected in the UK.
The FTSE 100 company, which had warned of a hit to profitability in January, also confirmed an earlier report by Sky News that its headwinds in the year to 31 March meant Gavin Patterson had lost awards that would result in him taking home £4m less than in the previous financial year.
The group's outgoing finance director, Tony Chanmugam, was also stripped of bonuses.
The moves - described as "difficult decisions" by the firm's remuneration committee - follow BT's accounting scandal in Italy which helped wipe billions from the company's stock market value earlier this year.
BT shares, 16% down in the year to date, were 3.4% lower in late morning trading on Thursday.
Its problems also included the telecoms regulator imposing a record £42m fineon the company for "serious failings" at its Openreach division, leaving BT also facing a £300m compensation bill.
BT had, only weeks previously, agreed to a legal separation of its infrastructure arm after pressure from industry rivals including Sky, the owner of Sky News, on competition grounds.
In addition to the group's results for the last financial year, the company also announced that Openreach was launching a consultation with BT's competitors on how best to enhance broadband connectivity across Britain.
Ideas include "building the investment case for a large-scale 'full fibre' network and bringing faster broadband speeds to 'not-spots' which can only order less than 10 Mbps services today", BT said.
Commenting on the bonus decisions, the chair of its remuneration committee Tony Ball said: "The past year has been challenging.
"Although good progress has been made in a number of areas, unfortunately our performance has been significantly affected by the accounting irregularities in our Italian business, the issues that arose in Openreach around deemed consent and the significant challenges we faced in the UK public sector and international corporate markets.
"The committee has made a number of difficult decisions this year in light of these circumstances and exercised its discretion accordingly."
BT said both Mr Patterson and Mr Chanmugam had indicated they would not have accepted a bonus should one have been approved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)