Category Archives: Diet And Food

A mechanical soft diet is meant for people with chewing and swallowing difficulties such as dysphagia.

People on this diet eat foods that have been broken down into smaller pieces or are softer, because these foods are easier and safer to eat.

If youve been prescribed a mechanical soft diet or know someone who has, you may be curious about what it entails and whether its healthy and safe.

This article tells you all you need to know about a mechanical soft diet, who its for, its benefits, and some safety considerations.

A mechanical soft diet is a texture-modified diet that restricts foods that are difficult to chew or swallow. Its considered Level 2 of the National Dysphagia Diet in the United States (1, 2).

Foods can be pureed, finely chopped, blended, or ground to make them smaller, softer, and easier to chew. It differs from a pureed diet, which includes foods that require no chewing (3).

The goal of the diet is to make foods safer and help a person meet their nutritional needs. It is not intended as a weight loss diet. Most foods are allowed on the diet as long as they can be safely consumed (3).

You can prepare foods at home or buy premade meals that are suitable for a mechanical soft diet.

As of 2015, the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) offers guidelines that provide in-depth recommendations and levels based on various medical conditions and risk of choking. These levels are (4):

A mechanical soft diet would be considered level 5 (minced and moist), according to the IDDSI guidelines. However, some variations of the diet exist. You can discuss the specifics with a healthcare professional if they have prescribed this type of diet for you (2, 4).

A mechanical soft diet is a type of texture-modified diet for people who have difficulty chewing and swallowing. Foods may be pureed, ground, finely chopped, or blended to make eating safer.

A medical professional, such as a registered dietitian, may prescribe a mechanical soft diet for you if you (5, 6):

Depending on your situation, a healthcare professional may prescribe a mechanical soft diet temporarily, for a few days or weeks. In other cases, such as for those with dysphagia, they may prescribe it long-term.

Unless a healthcare professional recommends it, most people do not need to follow a mechanical soft diet.

A healthcare professional may prescribe a mechanical soft diet if you have difficulty chewing or swallowing food safely due to dysphagia, recovering from surgery, general weakness, or an oral health issue (e.g., poorly fitting dentures, missing teeth).

As long as a food makes chewing and swallowing safer and easier, it can be included in the diet. Examples of permitted foods include:

Foods should not be difficult to chew or easily get stuck in the teeth, such as caramel. For meat products, use moist-heat cooking methods like stewing, slow-cooking, or boiling to increase tenderness.

Further, foods that require cutting or chopping should be cut into pieces no larger than 1/2 inch (1.5 cm) (7).

While most people can tolerate the foods mentioned above, some people may need to avoid certain foods according to the advice of a healthcare professional.

Foods included in the mechanical soft diet must be soft and small and require minimal chewing.

Some foods are considered unsafe and unsuitable for a mechanical soft diet. These may include:

If youre unsure whether a food is safe to eat, speak with a healthcare professional who specializes in mechanical soft diets, such as a registered dietitian.

If youre on a mechanical soft diet, you should avoid any foods that are hard, large, or difficult to chew or cannot be mechanically altered to become softer or smaller.

Most of the benefits of a mechanical soft diet come from the ability to safely consume food.

People who have certain conditions or are unable to easily chew and swallow may not be able to meet their nutritional needs due to their troubles chewing and swallowing, a lack of energy, or other reasons (8).

Thus, a mechanical soft diet can help a person eat healthy foods without the risk of choking. Its also helpful for people who are very weak or lack energy, as chewing and swallowing may be exhausting to them (7, 8).

Further, it can create a sense of comfort, safety, and autonomy for those who are at risk of choking. These are important factors in preventing malnutrition, which is highly prevalent in people requiring texture-modified diets (7, 8, 9, 10).

Finally, a mechanical soft diet can help a person restore their health as they heal from illness or surgery and act as a segue between a liquid and solid food diet (7, 8).

Mechanical soft diets make eating safer and easier for those who have difficulty chewing and swallowing.

If you have been prescribed a mechanical soft diet, here are some helpful tips to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Having the right kitchen tools can help speed up food preparation. Some tools you may want to use are:

Depending on your circumstances, you may wish to use smaller appliances (such as a mini blender or immersion blender) to prepare single-serving dishes.

Alternatively, you can prepare large batches to eat throughout the week.

When preparing foods, ensure that youre practicing food safety.

This includes washing your hands, avoiding cross contamination, cooking foods to their proper temperatures, and storing foods in the refrigerator or freezer.

Additionally, ensure all equipment is properly cleaned and sanitized before and after use.

If you know you will be eating out at a restaurant or at an event, its important to plan ahead.

When eating at a restaurant, you can ask the manager or chef to prepare foods for your needs. In many cases, they will happily puree or finely chop food items to ensure they are safe for you. You may also want to request additional sauce or gravy to help moisten food.

If youre going to an event, ask the host ahead of time which foods will be available and if you can use their blender, food processor, or other equipment as needed. If those tools wont be available to you, ask if you may bring your own.

Otherwise, you may want to bring your own meals and heat them in a microwave if you need to.

If youre going to be on a mechanical soft diet for longer than a few days, you may want to speak with a healthcare professional who specializes in this diet to ensure youre meeting your nutritional needs (6).

Most hospitals and healthcare centers will have a registered dietitian or speech language pathologist who can answer your questions and help guide you.

In some cases, they may also recommend supplements to ensure youre getting the right nutrients.

Here are some other helpful tips (6):

By planning ahead, you can ensure that youre eating the right foods that are safe for you.

If you have difficulty chewing or swallowing, you may be prescribed a mechanical soft diet. It includes foods that are soft and small and require minimal chewing.

This diet helps make eating safer for those who may otherwise struggle to chew or swallow foods, such as those who have dysphagia or oral health issues (e.g., poorly fitting dentures, missing teeth) or are recovering from surgery. Its not meant as a weight loss diet.

Most foods are allowed on the diet as long as they can be mechanically altered (pureed, blended, or finely chopped) or are already soft enough to consume with minimal chewing.

See the original post here:
Mechanical Soft Diet: Pros, Cons, and Who It's For - Healthline

You took care of yourself while pregnant eating healthy foods and taking your prenatal vitamins. But after giving birth, its just as important to maintain those good habits.

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Research shows that breastfeeding can help reduce your risk of developing certain medical conditions like heart disease and diabetes later in life. If you choose to breastfeed, there are certain foods you can eat that will benefit you and your baby helping with maintaining energy and increasing milk supply.

Certified nurse midwife Sue Hudson, CNM, shares the foods you should be eating while breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients to your baby. In fact, your breast milk changes over time to include the nutrients that your baby needs, says Hudson.

Its pretty remarkable, she says. An individuals breast milk is designed for the gestational age of whatever that infant is.

Making sure youre eating a well-balanced diet is key. Its important to note that if youre breastfeeding, you need to consume extra calories as well. Most diets include between 1,600 to 2,000 calories, but those who are breastfeeding should aim to eat an extra 350 to 500 calories a day.

Thats going to provide what the baby would need and also continue to provide for your nutritional needs, says Hudson.

Also, its vital to make sure you stay hydrated too.

Remember your baby is drinking you dry, says Hudson. Its easy to become constipated if youre breastfeeding especially if you have a newborn.

Youre probably already stressing out about having a newborn at home, so dont let what youre eating add to your stress, says Hudson.

As long as a person is eating a very diverse diet, theyre going to do just fine, she says. Here are some great options she recommends adding to your diet:

Ingredients like oatmeal, brown rice and whole-grain pasta are important to keep in rotation because they are naturally high in fiber, minerals and vitamins, as well as carbohydrates, protein and healthy unsaturated fats.

Eating whole grains can help keep you full longer, help your digestive system function well and help avoid those hangry sort of days.

Whole grains will keep your blood sugar levels in more of a steady state, says Hudson.

Fish like salmon and sardines are a great source of protein, as well as vitamins and omega-3s, which can decrease inflammation. Salmon also contains natural vitamin D.

Consuming those foods will help with the babys nervous system development, says Hudson.

For people who are not vegetarians, eating beef can provide you with essential B vitamins and most importantly, zinc. Zinc will help you maintain your energy.

Instead of grain-fed beef, look for grass-fed beef, which has less fat and calories, and has more omega-3s. And it doesnt contain any added hormones or antibiotics.

Another great option for non-vegan individuals who are breastfeeding, eggs offer protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D and folate.

The most important nutrient in eggs is choline, which is necessary for nervous system development and for building cell structure, says Hudson.

For vegans, options like lentils, dried fruits, leafy greens and enriched cereal can be a great substitution for the health benefits of eggs.

Load up on ingredients like kale, collard greens, spinach and cabbage. They are full of vitamins A, C, E and K, fiber and calcium. Consider these options when youre making a salad and sandwiches.

Dont overlook the power of black beans, garbanzo beans and lentils. They contain vitamin K, antioxidants and calcium, making them great additions to soups and stews.

A study has shown that legumes play an important role in preventing and managing a variety of health conditions.

Go Greek here, says Hudson. While there are many great yogurt options full of calcium, Greek yogurt, which isnt as processed as most kinds, also contains a higher amount of protein.

Vitamin A, which helps with vision, can be found in sweet potatoes. It also helps organs like your heart, lungs and kidneys form and maintain themselves.

It helps our cells communicate better, says Hudson.

Eating just one medium sweet potato (with the skin on) a day meets the daily recommendation of vitamin A. Sweet potatoes are also an excellent source of potassium.

Snack on almonds and walnuts or incorporate chia seeds and hemp seeds into your smoothies to up your calcium intake. Most nuts are high in protein, low in saturated fats and contain no cholesterol.

Sesame seeds, which are high in calcium and copper, supports immune function and red blood cell development. Dont consume them whole, as they will pass through the digestive tract without you receiving its benefits. Husked and crushed options are ideal. Look for tahini, a savory paste made from sesame seeds, which can be used in hummus and other dishes.

These small fruits have a big impact. Full of fiber, vitamins, flavonoids and potassium, eating apricots helps strengthen blood vessels, reduces inflammation and supports healthy blood pressure. Opt for fresh apricots over canned varieties. Dried apricots are also a great option.

Most foods are safe to eat, says Hudson, especially if theyre part of a well-rounded diet. But here are a few foods she says to limit your intake of or avoid altogether:

It is recommended that those who are breastfeeding continue taking their prenatal vitamins for a year after giving birth.

Is that completely necessary? says Hudson. If someone is doing exactly what they need to do with their diet, then probably not. But for some who choose to breastfeed, they cant always get what they need, so taking prenatal vitamins is a pretty good alternative.

Taking care of yourself only benefits your baby. Ask for help, whether thats your partner, family members or friends, when it comes to grocery shopping and making meals.

Women put themselves second, at best, says Hudson. Parenting is a team sport.

More here:
Foods to Eat While Breastfeeding - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Vegetarian and vegan options are standard on restaurant menus these days. But that wasnt the case decades ago.

One book sits at the center of generational change in food and eating: Frances Moore Lapp's "Diet for a Small Planet." First published in 1971, the book argues that a plant-centered approach promotes healthy people and a healthier planet.

Since then, Diet for a Small Planet has sold 3.5 million copies and gone through 10th and 20th-anniversary editions. For the new 50th anniversary version, Moore Lapps daughter, Anna Lapp, brought the original recipes into the 21st century.

For Moore Lapp, the recipes are central to the book.

The book is an invitation to enjoy, to experiment, to be healthier, to really excite people about this way of eating, Moore Lapp says, and not thinking of it as giving up, but as embracing.

The book includes tasty, filling recipes like Frankies Feijoada, which Lapp only slightly tweaked. Some updated recipes now include butter instead of margarine or omit 70s ingredients like soy grits.

A lot of the refresh of the recipes was really looking at all that we've learned about nutrition and plant-centered eating, and bringing in a lot more fresh ingredients, Lapp says.

The notion that people cant get enough protein from eating plant-based diets is a myth one Lapp says her mother has battled for 50 years. Now, Lapp feels like more people understand that plant foods can provide ample protein.

Michael Pollan, the author of The Omnivore's Dilemma, calls "Diet for a Small Planet one of the most visionary books of the last 50 years. Many of these ideas went from counterculture in 1971 to mainstream in 2021.

In the original edition of the book, Moore Lapp argued that the food choices individuals and nations make from how public money is invested to what celebrated chefs cook have ramifications for individuals and the planet, her daughter says.

As time goes on, Lapp says more people understand Pollans famous quote: Eat food, mostly plants, not too much.

What we eat is a political act, she says, and these choices we make about our food as individuals and societies have such global implications."

The realization that shes not powerless woke Moore Lapp up, she says.

I believe that every human being needs to feel that we have power, that we're not powerless, and that our acts have meaning and that we're connected to others in that meaning, she says. What better way to experience that than through food?

Moore Lapp says she was shocked when she first learned about the incredible waste built into the grain-fed, meat-centric diet.

Livestock takes up 80% of the planets agricultural land but only accounts for 18% of the calories people consume. And in the Amazon rainforest, 80% of deforestation is due to livestock.

This grain-fed, meat-centric diet was driven by this very simple mechanism of what I call a one rule marketplace that only returns wealth to the wealthy, Moore Lapp says. And so it drove this system that made no sense in terms of our health or people being able to eat or maintaining the agricultural richness.

The decisions people make every day can help awaken others and start a conversation around these important issues, she says.

Americans can afford meat in a way many poor people around the world cant. But with consumers in the U.S. eating more meat per capita than any other country in the world, this unhealthy diet is killing us, Moore Lapp says.

Indigenous diets, however, have focused on plants for generations. Moore Lapp encourages all Americans to value these traditions. And the combination of legumes and grains can be found throughout the world, she says.

Moore Lapp hopes that as Americans continue to amass wealth, the idea of meat consumption as a status simply will end. Its a necessary shift to decrease the up to 37% of greenhouse gas emissions that come from the food system, she says.

I read this wonderful estimate in a peer-reviewed journal saying that as we turn to a plant-centered diet, it would be the equivalent of taking all the cars and trucks and even planes and boats out of the way in terms of saving greenhouse gas emissions, she says. That's the kind of impact it could have.

For people starting to shift to a plant-based diet, Lapp recommends trying Anthonys Leek, Shiitake, and Miso Butter "Casserole and Soy-Pickled Peppers. Her favorite recipe in the book, this pasta dish combines an unexpected array of flavors. And Moore Lapp says to try the Walnut Cheddar Loaf, which she fondly remembers cooking with her daughter for Thanksgiving when Lapp lived in Brooklyn.

Emiko Tamagawaproduced and edited this interview for broadcast withTodd Mundt.Allison Haganadapted it for the web.

Frankies Feijoada

6 servings

This recipe was one of the favorites from the first edition, with updates from a Brazilian friend for the 20th anniversary edition.

Heat the oil in a large pot and saut the onion, garlic, scallions, green pepper, and tomato until the onion is translucent. Add the beans, stock, bay leaf, vinegar, celery, sweet potato, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Mash some of the beans in the pot to thicken the mixture and continue cooking for 5 more minutes. Remove the bay leaf and top with chopped cilantro and orange slices. Enjoy with rice and greens.

Anthonys Leek, Shiitake, and Miso Butter "Casserole and Soy-Pickled Peppers

4 to 6 servings

This is a comfort food mash-up of Honk Kong noodles and leek chowder that plays to the strength of the angel hair-like pasta, fideo. The final result is a savory umami bomb. The Soy-Picked Serrano Peppers (recipe follows) provide a good counterpoint. If youre serving it with the peppers, start those pickling before you begin making the pasta dish. Anthony Myint

Clean the leek thoroughly and reserve the tough greens for stock or other use. Cut the tender interior lengthwise into quarters, then slice finely crosswise and place in a microwave-safe bowl. But the butter into small pieces, toss it with the leeks and a generous pinch of salt, microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until the butter is melted and the leeks are completely relaced. Add more time as needed. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Remove the shiitake stems. (You can reserve them for stock as well). Slice the shiitake caps into thin strips. Heat a large pan large enough to eventually toss all the pasta on medium-high heat, spoon 4 or more tablespoons of the butter from the melted leeks into the pan, and salt generously. Saut the shiitakes until golden brown, about 6 minutes, tossing occasionally.

In a small pan, melt a bit more butter, about a tablespoon, and add the shallots, frying them until golden brown and crispy, 2 to 4 minutes. Set aside.

Wash, drain, and cut the spinach into - inch-wide strips.

Add the leeks, butter, and miso to the large pan with the shiitakes and break up any miso clumps. Add the half-and-half and chopped spinach and simmer until spinach has just softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Meanwhile, boil the pasta until just cooked, approximately 2 minutes. Drain, reserving about a half cup of the pasta water, add the pasta to the large pan, and toss and fold to incorporate. The result should be a slippery and savory pasta. Add salt to take and another generous splash of half-and-half or reserved pasta water right before serving to ensure slipperiness. Garnish with cilantro and the crispy shallots and serve with soy-pickled peppers.

Soy-Pickled Serrano Peppers

Halve the peppers lengthwise, remove the stem and seeds, and thinly slice them crosswise. In a small bowl, combine them with the soy sauce. These soy-picked peppers are a great complement to the mild leek pasta. Theyre also delicious atop tacos and sandwiches.

Walnut Cheddar Loaf

1 loaf, about 6 servings

This vegetarian version of meat loaf is especially nice served with whole walnuts sprinkled on top.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Heat the oil in a pan and saut the onion until translucent. Mix the onion with the remaining ingredients in a bowl and put the picture in an oiled 9 x 5 inch loaf pan, smoothing the top. Bake for 30 minutes, or until edges are browned. Allow to cool and cut into slices.

Link:
Celebrating 50 years of 'Diet for a Small Planet' with Frances Moore Lapp and daughter Anna Lapp - Here And Now

For most Williams students, the first week of the semester was fresh and exciting, with new classes, new rooms, and new freedoms after a year-plus of COVID restrictions. For me, it was hell on earth. Every night for a week, I woke up in unimaginable pain: burning in my chest, cramping in my abdomen, and intense nausea. I barely slept, and I was terrified to eat. The cause of my condition wasnt COVID or the flu it was the dining hall.

I have celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hypersensitivity to even the smallest amounts of gluten. When I eat wheat, barley, or rye, my body produces antibodies that attack my small intestine, destroying the finger-like protrusions called microvilli that absorb nutrients. There is no cure, and, left untreated, the condition can lead to multiple sclerosis (MS), osteoporosis, infertility, malnutrition, and even certain types of cancer. To manage celiac disease, I have to maintain a strict gluten-free diet. There is no room for error; cross-contamination is a chief concern. Food that is technically gluten-free can be just as dangerous to celiacs if prepared using equipment that has trace amounts of gluten on it, or if the person preparing the food has touched gluten at any point in the process.

Williams students with dietary restrictions are encouraged to adhere to a Designated Meal Plan. These meals are specially made to meet each students needs and can be picked up in takeout containers at many dining locations. Students work with a nutritionist to coordinate where and when they receive these meals. I have been on and off the Designated Meal Plan in the past for various reasons, but this year I elected to receive all of my designated meals at Whitmans Dining Hall after I was informed it was the safest option.

When I started having severe celiac reactions, I was told that the designated meals were safe. Unfortunately, this was not the case. When something goes wrong with designated meals, students with severe dietary concerns have nowhere to turn. Although there are gluten-free options at Lee Snack Bar and 82 Grill, neither establishment can ensure a lack of cross-contamination with gluten-containing items. Driscoll and Mission Dining Halls do not have dedicated areas in their kitchens where gluten-free foods are prepared. Eco Cafe and Goodrich are similarly unable to provide safe options. Even the buffet line at Whitmans is dangerous; the shared serving utensils create opportunities for cross-contamination at the dedicated gluten-free and vegan station. Long lines and gates at the entrances and exits make it difficult to request changes to meals if something is wrong or missing. The only way celiacs can eat at Williams is by praying their food is made correctly and safely every time, which has not been my experience in the past.

Students with dietary restrictions are just like everyone else. They want the flexibility to order their own meals; they want a variety of safe, palatable options; they want a backup plan in case their designated meal is a failure. Think of how many times youve ordered a pizza from 82 Grill or a sandwich from Lee when the dining hall menus looked questionable. Students with celiac disease never have that choice about what or where they eat; the College simply does not provide us with that kind of support. The dedicated gluten-free kitchen space at Whitmans doesnt even have its own oven.

In many cases, students on special diets cant choose their own designated menus. Before I got sick, my meals consisted of a portion of whatever was at the gluten-free and vegan station at Whitmans that day. I am not vegan, and I have no desire to be. While my friends ate French toast, ravioli, and chicken wings, I ate baked avocado with hummus and lentil stew. I requested the ability to customize my own menu, but I was informed that, due to the high volume of students with special diets served at Whitmans, that would not be possible. Unfortunately, celiacs cant eat safely at any dining location except Whitmans, so I believed I had no choice but to stomach vegan food for the year. After I was consistently sick for a week, an exception was made, but the fact remains: Celiac students are people with unique food needs and desires, and they should not have to adhere to an even more restrictive diet because the College cannot accommodate them.

To be clear, none of this is the fault of the dining staff. Every member of Dining Services I have met with to discuss my situation has been kind, concerned, and willing to do anything in their power to get me safe, appetizing meals. Unfortunately, the lack of supportive infrastructure for special diets means that their power is limited. With many projects that would expand access for diet-restricted students either pushed back or put on hold including the aforementioned gluten-free oven, as well as the formal separation of gluten-free and vegan stations and a dedicated free-from station at Whitmans containing allergen-free options its difficult to see the situation improving for at least several years. The College needs to put more resources into creating safe, flexible, and palatable options for students with dietary needs, so that the Dining staff can better support the students they want to serve.

Happily, I am no longer getting sick from dining hall food, and my meals are more consistent and of a higher quality than in the past. Im grateful to all of the Dining staff who have tried their best to help me and other celiacs, but its time for the College to prioritize its most vulnerable students and work to provide them with expanded, equitable dining options. We do not deserve the stress, disappointment, and physiological harm that we so often experience. We just want to eat.

Isabel Williams 24 is from Mill Valley, Calif.

Read the original here:
The struggles of following a special diet at the College - The Williams record

The ongoing problem with salt is thoroughly discussed in an excellent book published last year, Salt Wars, The Battle Over the Biggest Killer in the American Diet, by Michael F. Jacobson, the former executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.

Without waiting for a regulatory hammer, Dr. Jacobson told me, some companies have made a real effort to lower the amount of sodium in their products. There are lots of tricks companies can use.

For example, in its canned tomato soup, Campbells replaced a quarter of regular salt with potassium chloride, lowering sodium from 760 to 480 milligrams per cup, with no adverse effect on consumer acceptance. Nabisco cut the sodium in Wheat Thins, my favorite snack cracker, from 370 to 180 milligrams an ounce, and General Mills reduced the sodium in Wheaties, the cereal my sons grew up on, from 370 to 185 milligrams an ounce. For those fond of crunchy chips, check out the Kale & Spinach Tortilla Chips from the CVS store brand Abound, which have only 75 milligrams of sodium an ounce (about 11 chips).

Companies have found that gradually lowering the sodium content of their products and making no fanfare about it, like not claiming theyre low sodium, actually fosters consumer acceptance. Most people dont even notice the change. But you may not have to wait for companies to do the work. For example, you can reduce the salt in many canned foods, like beans, by rinsing them in a colander. Or try my trick of diluting the salt in canned soups by first filling the bowl or pot with fresh spinach and other quick-cooking or precooked veggies before adding the soup and heating it in the microwave or saucepan.

If you hope to enhance your health by cutting down on sodium, one trick is to avoid going cold turkey. I and many others have found that its relatively easy to reduce ones preference for high salt by gradually using and consuming less of it. As your taste buds adjust, high-salt foods you once enjoyed will probably taste unpleasantly salty and thus easy to resist.

In cooking, rather than adding salt when preparing a recipe, try salting the finished product, which is likely to please your palate with considerably less salt. Seasoning foods with citrus juices, hot-pepper flakes or other pungent herbs and spices can go a long way to make up for reduced salt. You might also eat less bread; as a category, bread and other bakery products contribute more to Americans sodium intake than any other foodstuffs.

But an even greater contribution most likely comes from restaurant-prepared foods, which Dr. Jacobson calls a salt-laden minefield. Ive noticed that the day after I dine in a restaurant, I weigh about two pounds more, not because I ate two extra pounds of food but because the excess salt in what I did eat retains that much water in my body.

In lieu of government regulations to limit sodium, consumers might consider writing to producers of their favorite commercial products and asking that they consider lowering the amount of salt used.

Link:
How Cutting Out a Little Salt Can Have Benefits for Health and Blood Pressure - The New York Times

THIS weed will get you high on nutrition and health  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: Have you ever observed certain scenes in Asian movies or anime and wondered what that green, leaf-like food is? Well, you certainly cannot ignore it because it is a part of almost every East Asian dish. Be it Onigiri in Japan, Gimbap in Korea, or kelp salad in China, edible seaweed is one of the most popular foods in Asian countries and is widely used in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisines. There are a variety of edible seaweeds and some common varieties include wakame, nori, umibudo, hijiki, kombu, kelp, and ogonori. This food is packed with nutrition and is a rich source of fibre, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and more. With the growing intrigue in Asian cultures as a consequence of globalization, media, and entertainment, the use of seaweed is slowly gaining prominence in other parts of the world. Thisinterest might be driven by trends in the current scenario, but is it worth analyzing the benefits of this ingredientand working towards retaining its prominence so it does not die out with the trend?

Here are some health benefits offered by seaweed:

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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THIS weed will get you high on nutrition and health - Times Now

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) In early October, it was announced that a tiger at the Great Plains Zoo (GPZ) in Sioux Falls had tested positive for COVID-19. Prior to this, zoo officials had also that some of the cats were exhibiting symptoms of respiratory illness. At that time, two other tigers as well as a pair of Snow Leopards were also exhibiting signs of the disease.

Just one day later, it was announced that one of those leopards, Baya, had died.

Today, GPZ veterinarian Louden Wright gave an update on the situation, telling KELOLAND News that as of now they are in the midst of a presumed COVID-19 outbreak in their large cat facility.

We havent confirmed the COVID status of most of the cats yet, said Wright. Weve got tests that are out and pending on them, but theyre all showing similar clinical signs and we do have one confirmed positive.

Wright also gave an update on the conditions of the affected cats. The two female tigers who were kind of the first two to show signs seem to be recovering pretty well. Theyre both looking pretty darn good, he said. The two remaining leopards and our other male tiger are still showing clinical signs, but none of them seem to be severely affected at this point.

Beyond the large cat facility, Wright said the zoo has not had any other animals showing signs of infection.

GPZ President and CEO Becky DeWitz praised the response by the zoos veterinary staff. As soon as we did have the indication that their health was being affected by some type of respiratory disease, Louden and his team did implement measures immediately.

DeWitz said that some of these measures include broad-spectrum antibiotics and steroids, as well as oxygen.

Wright elaborated on some of these measures. There is a vaccine that is just starting to roll out, he said. Were working on getting some of that, but its still in the early stages of its rollout, so its not widely available yet.

Beyond that, he went on to outline some of the direct treatments. A lot of our treatment medically goes into supportive care the goal of [antibiotics] is if you know you have a cat that already has compromised lung function, you want to prevent them from getting a secondary infection a bacterial infection on top of that viral one.

Wright also lists anti-nausea medication to keep them eating and drinking as important tools and steroids to keep the inflammation of the cats lungs down.

Wright said that all the zookeepers who work with the big cats are vaccinated, and that appropriate PPE, including masks, gloves and booties are all worn while in the facility. Since the outbreak has begun, the masks have been stepped up to N-95 masks rather than basic surgical masks.

Testing for big cats is not as simple as it is for humans, for obvious reasons. Wright says that the zoo is using PCR tests, which are sent to the National Veterinary Service Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. He says the main mode of testing is actually done via fecal testing, AKA testing cat poop, which allows for the samples to be taken without fully anesthetizing the animal.

DeWitz spoke next to the impact behind the loss of Baya the Snow Leopard. She points out that due to conservation work over the course of years, these leopards have been moved from the IUCN red list to a status of threatened, which is an improvement. Nonetheless, they are an endangered species, so speaking to the species itself, its hard.

DeWitz says they have felt a large measure of support from the community since the death of Baya. Weve received an outpouring of support helping us through this difficult time. We even had some young children stop on Saturday and write some cards that they drew and just lend their support to the animal care team specifically. That matters so much, and we have those cards on display for all of our staff to see.

Read more from the original source:
Keeping cats safe at the Great Plains Zoo - KELOLAND.com

Nuts are an integral part of a healthy diet. Almonds, cashews and walnuts are loaded with healthy fats, proteins and essential vitamins.

Talking about Brazilian nuts, which is the lesser talked about, it's densely rich in selenium, which is required for the proper functioning of the immune and reproductive system. Selenium helps in preventing any damage that can be caused to cells and tissues. But too much Brazilian nuts can provide your body with an excess of selenium, which can be dangerous for your health.

As per the National Institute of Health, too much selenium in the body can lead to side effects like nausea, diarrhoea, skin rashes, mood fluctuations, hair loss, brittle nails, discolouration of teeth and problems with the nervous system.

In some extreme cases, it can also lead to heart attacks, heart failure, tremors and difficulty in breathing.

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Too much of this superfood can backfire on your health - Times of India

Its that time of year when people are making plans for the holidays, and much has changed since last November when health officials urged everyone to limit social activities as COVID-19 cases spread like wildfire.

So is it safe to gather at grandmas again for your Thanksgiving feast?

California saw its worst outbreaks of the pandemic after Turkey Day in 2020. The vaccines that arrived too late to save last holiday season were supposed to give everyone something to celebrate this time around. But then came the super-contagious delta variant, breakthrough infections and another awful summer of COVID-19.

For now, public health officials and medical experts are holding off on official holiday guidance, anxiously eyeing case rates for signs that the viruss current retreat might reverse like it did last fall. They say people should assess their own risk tolerance and follow health guidance to celebrate as safely as possible.

I think the stage were at in the pandemic is that hunkering down forever is not a viable strategy, said Dr. Bob Wachter, chair of the medical department at UC San Francisco.

And there is one essential ingredient to make every Thanksgiving get-together safer, he said. If youre fully vaccinated, you already did most of what you need do to keep yourself safe.

The California Department of Public Health had nothing to say about the upcoming holidays other than that everyone eligible should get vaccinated against COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually offered holiday guidance on its website last weekend, indicating the safest way to celebrate remains virtually or outside, but then curiously removed the advice, saying it was an accidental post and would be updated later.

Last year, Bay Area health officials urged people to limit gatherings to no more than three households and no more than two hours and to celebrate outdoors.

The safest gathering is one that is a small, stable group that meets outdoors for a short duration and uses face coverings, distance and other safety measures, they advised in November. Any activity outside of your household increases chances of exposure to the virus.

Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody had Thanksgiving dinner with her mother in her backyard, seated 10 feet away wrapped in blankets. Cody hasnt made her personal Thanksgiving plans this year yet, but echoing Wachter, doesnt see the counties telling people how to celebrate.

Its kind of an individual choice about your risk tolerance, Cody said. Were sort of moving away from mandates and telling people exactly what they have to do and how they have to do it. Were almost two years into this, right and just reminding you that youve got these five layers: vaccination, testing, masking, ventilation and distancing. You can kind of toggle them back and forth, depending on your risk tolerance and the situation.

Airlines, whose business has been rocked by repeated waves of COVID-19 since early 2020, are already anticipating more robust holiday travel than a year ago. United Airlines announced Oct. 7 thatholiday travel flight searches on the airlines website and mobile app are up 16% compared to 2019, and the airline plans to offer more than 3,500 daily domestic flights in December, representing 91% of its domestic capacity compared to 2019.

Were seeing a lot of pent-up demand, said Ankit Gupta, Uniteds vice president of network planning and scheduling, in a statement. We know families and friends are eager to reunite this holiday season, which is why were thrilled to add new flights that will help them connect and celebrate together.

How safe is flying? Despite occasional reports of sick people aboard aircraft spreading the virus to others, Wachter said theyre generally safe, though he advises a high-quality mask and keeping it on when others are eating.

Its hard to find an example in 2021 of someone who had a good mask and kept it on the entire flight and got infected from the flight itself, Wachter said. It doesnt seem that air travel is a dominant mode of transmission, in part because everyone is masked for the bulk of the flight, and airlines have as good an indoor ventilation system as any place you go into. Im now going on trips that six months or so ago I would have said no to, for work or pleasure.

For the first of the upcoming popular celebrations Halloween state and local health officials have not recommended avoiding trick-or-treating or handing out candies to crowds of visiting school-aged ghosts and goblins. Wachter saw no need for concern, given that much of the activity is outdoors and the virus isnt believed to spread from surfaces such as candy wrappers.

We know the spread from touching things is almost unheard of, Wachter said. If you want to be super safe, put the candy aside for a couple hours before you open it. But I think most of us stopped cleaning our groceries and mail about a year ago.

Wachter said he plans to celebrate the other holidays with local family, but saw little need for others to avoid traveling to celebrate with extended family. Despite the more contagious delta variant, he said, vaccines, COVID-19 tests, surgical or N95 face masks and other measures can minimize the threat.

We have the tools to create a safe set of encounters with loved ones that we didnt have a year ago, Wachter said. You can create a microenvironment that makes things sufficiently safe that its not a reckless thing to do. Two years into this, the benefits of family gatherings are high, and the risks are risks you have to be comfortable with for the next few years.

Staff writer Julia Prodis Sulek contributed to this report.

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COVID and the holidays: Is it finally safe to gather for Thanksgiving? - San Bernardino County Sun

As COVID-19 casesand hospitalizations continue to risein children due to the delta variant, one questions looms as we get closer to a holiday that is a fall favorite amongst kids: Is it safe to go trick-or-treating this year?

According to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention, the answer is yes. The agencyhas given a green light for children nationwide to trick-or-treat this Halloween, USA Today reported.

Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, told CBS News last month,"I wouldn't necessarily go to a crowded Halloween party, but I think we should be able to let our kids go trick-or-treating in small groups."

The government's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, also saidthatit is safe for children to partake in thepopular activity during an interview Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."He cited the low risk of spreading the virus outside and the ability for parents to get vaccinated. Fauci suggestedkids and teens are who ages 12 and older should get the vaccine for an "extra degree of protection."

"It's a good time to reflect on why it's important to get vaccinated," hesaid. "Go out there and enjoy Halloween as well as the other holidays that will be coming up."

In Greater Columbus, most communities arehosting designated trick-or-treating nights Oct. 28. This is the recommended date from the Mid-Ohio Regional PlanningCommission, which works tocreate aunified trick-or-treat date for the region.When Halloween falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, trick-or-treat is held the Thursday prior.

More: Here's when Greater Columbus cities are planning trick-or-treating

More: Top candy for trick-or-treaters in Ohio is Blow Pops, according to survey

Experts say it's still best to take precautionary measures for Halloweengiven that most trick-or-treaters are under 11 years old and some are likely to still be unvaccinated.

According to Columbus Public Health,here are some ways that treat-or-treaters and those giving out candycan stay safe while still having fun:

Trick-or-treaters

Treat givers

mwalker@dispatch.com

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Follow these Halloween tips to keep kids safe while trick-or-treating - The Columbus Dispatch