Category Archives: Diet And Food

Pre-workout refers to dietary supplements that people can take before a workout to help maximize their training. Available as premixed drinks, powders, pills, and snack bars, manufacturers formulate these products to boost energy levels and focus. While pre-workout supplements can provide some benefits, they may also cause side effects, such as nausea and heart abnormalities.

To help improve athletic performance, people may consider taking pre-workout supplements. Pre-workout ingredients and their quantities may vary, but they often contain a mixture of ingredients that some evidence suggests may boost energy and focus. Common ingredients might include:

While most of these ingredients are unlikely to cause harm if people follow the correct dosage guidance, individuals may experience some side effects. However, most are likely to be relatively mild and only cause short-term discomfort. People can also take some precautions to try and reduce any potential side effects.

This article explores the possible risks and benefits of pre-workout. It also discusses what to consider when purchasing these supplements.

Evidence suggests that for healthy people, consuming pre-workout is generally safe and does not appear to lead to any medical issues. However, some individuals may still experience side effects.

A 2019 study into people who regularly consume pre-workout found that 54% of participants reported side effects, including nausea, skin reactions, and heart abnormalities. However, the research adds that these side effects are likely more common in those who consume more than the recommended serving size.

Caffeine is a popular ingredient in many pre-workouts. The substance prevents adenosine from binding with certain brain receptors, leading to greater nerve activity and making a person feel more alert and energetic. However, consuming caffeine in the late afternoon or evening may lead to sleep problems for some individuals, particularly those who metabolize caffeine slowly.

Too much caffeine may also cause people to experience anxiety, a faster heart rate, and headaches. As a result, it is not advisable for those sensitive to caffeine to consume pre-workout containing this ingredient.

Pre-workout supplements can also contain several ingredients that may cause gastrointestinal distress. Caffeine may cause stomach upset by increasing the release of stomach acid, which may result in acid reflux. Although less common than caffeine, some pre-workout may contain sodium bicarbonate, which can cause bloating, nausea, and abdominal pain. However, evidence suggests that this is not particularly common.

Some pre-workouts contain niacin, also known as vitamin B3. Consuming it can lead to small blood vessel dilation, which may cause flushing of the skin, normally on a persons face, chest, or arms.

Beta-alanine is an amino acid that may cause paraesthesia, a tingling sensation that people commonly feel in the face, neck, and back of the hands. However, this neurological effect is unlikely to be harmful and normally stops 6090 minutes after consumption.

Creatine may cause water retention and bloating. This occurs because creatine carries water into the muscles, and sometimes the body cannot absorb all the extra water. However, studies suggest this only occurs over the first few days of consuming creatine and is unlikely to continue long term.

A 2018 study focusing on the effects of multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements (MIPS) on recreationally active females noticed that MIPS did not significantly raise heart rate and systolic blood pressure but did raise diastolic blood pressure in participants.

Diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure in a persons arteries between heartbeats. Although findings suggest consuming MIPs is generally safe, those with conditions that may lead to higher diastolic blood pressure may wish to be cautious when consuming such products.

Pre-workouts are often a blend of many different ingredients that researchers have investigated for their potential athletic performance benefits.

Creatine is one such popular and heavily-researched supplement for athletic performance. The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) states the substance is the most effective nutritional supplement for increasing performance in high-intensity exercise and gaining lean body mass. ISSN research suggests creatine may also enhance recovery after a workout, reduce muscle damage, and potentially help rehabilitation after injury.

Many people may attribute some benefits of pre-workout supplements to caffeine. It can help improve focus and alertness, and it works quickly, peaking in the bloodstream within 60 minutes. A 2018 review looking at the athletic benefits of caffeine consumption concluded that it may significantly benefit muscle strength and power. The research also stated that caffeines most noticeable athletic effect is improving upper body strength.

Other common ingredients in MIPs may also have potential benefits. Another ISSN study found beta-alanine supplementation had links with endurance and strength benefits in doses of 46 grams per day.

While several common ingredients on their own may provide some athletic benefit, recent research focuses on the effects of combined ingredients within pre-workout supplements. A 2018 paper concluded that although further research is necessary, consuming MIPs can improve athletic performance and increase strength and endurance.

Some pre-workouts may list ingredients as a proprietary blend and not state the exact amounts. People interested in taking pre-workouts may wish to find products that list exact amounts, as well as ones that feature verification from a trusted source, to avoid consuming an unhealthy amount of a certain ingredient.

Some ingredients in pre-workout supplements may also interact with certain medications. Before taking them, seek advice from a medical professional to fully understand how their pre-workout may affect their medication.

Many pre-workouts also contain caffeine, which some people may have difficulting tolerating. Everyone metabolizes caffeine at a different rate, and some may be more sensitive to its effects. Those who are more caffeine sensitive, even in lower doses, may experience symptoms such as nausea, anxiety and jitteriness, and insomnia.

Additionally, people with health conditions, such as diabetes, insomnia, anxiety, or heart conditions, may wish to consider how the ingredients of pre-workouts may affect them and seek medical advice before taking these products.

People can reduce the potential side effects of pre-workouts by following the recommended dosage on the product label or packaging.

Research into consumer habits around pre-workout supplements found that 14% of people reported consuming two or more doses, while 18% of individuals consumed them more than once a day. To reduce some side effects, people can either lower the dose or split the dose into several smaller amounts.

If a person is experiencing digestive issues when starting a pre-workout, they may wish to find a product that does not include potential triggers, such as caffeine and sodium bicarbonate. They could also try lowering the dosage.

To avoid potential sleep problems, a person can take pre-workouts, including caffeine earlier in the day, to ensure the stimulant has worn off before going to bed.

If an individual wants to avoid pre-workouts altogether, they can find common ingredients, including creatine and beta-alanine, in foods such as red meat, fish, and poultry. A person may also improve their workout without pre-workout supplements by focusing on their diet before and after exercising. Health experts suggest:

While it is unnecessary to consume pre-workout supplements to improve athletic performance, some evidence suggests they may provide some benefits, including increased strength, endurance, and focus. However, some people may be sensitive to certain ingredients in pre-workout and experience some side effects, including nausea, headaches, and jitters.

To try and reduce potential side effects, individuals should take no more than the recommended dosage and consider a lower dosage. It may also be advisable to avoid certain ingredients.

People with pre-existing medical conditions, those who take medications, or those experiencing side effects from pre-workout should seek advice from a medical professional to find the right supplement for them.

Read more from the original source:
Potential pre-workout side effects and how to reduce them - Medical News Today

Plant-based food is more popular than ever, and vegan meat, milk, and cheese have come a long way from bland burgers and powdered soy. Thanks to these new, delicious products, and increased awareness of the flexitarian diets environmental and health benefits, the vegan market is booming, with plant-based meat alone predicted to reach $8.3 billion by 2025.

Despite the increasing popularity of vegan diets, the growth of the meat-free market overwhelmingly owed to meat-eaters, meat reducers, and flexitarians trying new things and cutting back on animal products. Veganism, vegetarianism, and flexitarianism mean different things to different people, but a desire to eat more plants unites all threeand drives vegan innovation.

Heres everything you need to know about adopting a flexitarian diet and eating more vegan food, including the many benefits.

There are plenty of myths out there about plant-based food, but in reality, eating meat-free can be healthy, delicious, and suitable for adults and children alike. (Dont worry, youre sure to get enough protein too.)

If youre not used to cooking and eating without meat, try starting with using plant-based meat, dairy, and eggs in your favorite recipes. Eating more fresh produce, such as fruit and vegetables, adds variety and valuable vitamins and minerals.

In short, its possible to cut back on animal products without giving up the dishes and flavors you like, all while getting plenty of macro and micro-nutrients.

Cutting-edge vegan meat and dairy products might be the biggest thing since Sosmix hit the market in year one, but plant-based whole foods are still the best value for money, the most nutrient-dense, and (mostly) more sustainable than shop-bought items.

Whole foods can also be more filling, and come with a myriad of health benefitsincluding longevity. If you grew up on bland vegetables, dont worry, there are a huge number of recipes that spice, season, and marinade ingredients for maximum flavor, from curries and chillis to soups and buddha bowls.

There are a wide variety of different labels for different variations of a meat-free diet. Veganism typically means excluding all animal products and avoiding animal exploitation in all its forms (as much as this is practically possible). Vegetarianism, also known as ovo-lacto vegetarianism, eschews meat but not byproducts such as eggs and dairy.

Flexitarians, or reducetarians, eat animal products alongside plant-based foods but may prioritize meat-free and vegetable-based dishes. However, these dietary choices mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Dont worry too much about labels; the most important thing is to make choices that work for you, and adjusting ones lifestyle or diet doesnt have to be an all-or-nothing decision. Thanks, flexitarianism.

Eating meat-free meals isnt a new phenomenon, and vegetarian diets have existed for thousands of years. While the word vegetarian was first popularized in the late 1800s by the UKs Vegetarian Society, the history of vegetarianism dates back to the 5th Century BCE in India.

Many plant-based staplessuch as tofuare present around the world, including in China, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand, while various African cuisines include a variety of vegetarian ingredients and dishes. Its important to note that low-meat meals are not a modern invention, and certainly not a Western one.

The low FODMAP diet is a three-step, temporarily restrictive program that aims to pinpoint the specific sugars causing intestinal distress and worsening IBS symptoms, which can vary from person to person. The full process involves cutting out foods, slowly reintroducing, and avoiding or limiting the items your body has difficulty processing. Its entirely possible to adopt a low FODMAP diet while eating plant-based.

Common low-FODMAP vegan staples include gluten-free carbohydrates such as rice flour, potatoes, and buckwheat, with bananas, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, and firm tofu. Even Quorn products are a nutritious, FODMAP-friendly option.

For decades, studies have indicated that eating more plant-based foods (particularly whole foods such as fruit and vegetables) can aid longevity. Data also suggests that non-vegan diets that emphasize plants and healthy fats but avoid processed or red meats can support longer lives, too.

Blue Zone and Mediterranean diets, in particular, contain plenty of carbohydrates and plant foods and are linked to longevity. In Okinawa, the population contains more than three times the average number of centenarians (people over 100 years of age) than comparable U.S. populations.

Blue Zone cuisine is the original flexitarian diet, combing very small quantities of animal products with plenty of plants to maximize health benefits.

Detox diets arent real. As the British Dietetic Association says, they are marketing myths rather than nutritional reality, when the human body is perfectly capable of processing toxins itself. Eating a balanced diet and keeping active are the best ways to pursue health.

Eating more plant-based vegan foods can offer some of the same health improvements that detox regimes lay claim to, such as increased energy, a better quality of sleep, and even reduced risk of certain diseases.

More here:
Why a Flexitarian Diet Is the Only One That Matters - LIVEKINDLY

Mark Mahoney| Guest columnist

In past years I have provided information on general awareness including the role of a healthy diet in helping to reduce the likelihood of breast cancer.

As we focus on Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October the following is a reiteration of some recommendations for serious consideration to support this initiative.

Breast cancer: 'Most difficult test of her life': Casey DeSantis, Florida First Lady, battling breast cancer

Mammograms: Annual mammograms, coordinated care save lives. I know | Opinion

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Each year in the United States, more than 250,000 women get breast cancer and 42,000 women die from the disease. Some additional facts include the following:

Healthy lifestyle choices are linked to a lower risk of different types of cancer and other health conditions, such as heart disease. A healthy lifestyle includes maintaining a healthy weight and eating a healthy diet.

Studies on maintaining a healthy weight and lowering the risk of a first-time breast cancer suggest that overweight women have an increased risk of breast cancer after menopause (when most breast cancers occur) compared to women at a healthy weight.

Overweight women are thought to be at higher risk for breast cancer because the extra fat cells make estrogen, which can cause extra breast cell growth. This extra growth increases the risk of breast cancer. Other studies such as the Women's Health Initiative Trial suggested that a diet very low in fat may reduce the risk of breast cancer.

More research is needed in this important area for women who are interested in eating well to reduce their risk of ever getting breast cancer.

Although no food or diet can prevent you from getting breast cancer some foods can make your body the healthiest it can be, boost your immune system, and help keep your risk for breast cancer as low as possible.

Some general recommendations proposed by Registered Dietitians (RDs) include:

You'll find that processed foods generally don't fit in this type of diet as well as fresh foods do.

More: Get the facts to fight back during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Being active, eating a balanced diet and making healthy lifestyle choices can be physically and mentally rewarding at any point in life. And it can also produce positive benefits in helping prevent and/or reduce breast cancer.

Thanks to the Breast Cancer Awareness organization as well as the Susan G. Komen organization for much of the content provided in this column.

Check out the Center for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) websitecdc.gov/cancer/breast/

An explanation on the role of healthy lifestyle choices can be accessed atkomen.org/breast-cancer/risk-factor/lifestyle/

A discussion of steps to reduce the risk for breast cancer with a focus on prevention is available through the Mayo Clinic atmayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle

Mark A. Mahoney, Ph.D. has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist for over 35 years and completed graduate studies in Nutrition & Public Health at Columbia University. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.

Never miss a story: Subscribe to the Tallahassee Democrat using the link at the top of the page.

See more here:
A look at the role of diet as a tool to prevent, reduce breast cancer risk | Mahoney - Tallahassee Democrat

Starting on Tuesday, drivers on the southern portion of the George Washington Parkway will likely see road crews, lane closures and likely increased backups.

Starting Tuesday, drivers on the southern portion of the George Washington Parkway will likely see road crews, lane closures and likely increased backups.

Its part of the National Parks Services plan to restripe that part of the road and include a road diet to change one of the southbound lanes into a turning lane.

The project will focus on the George Washington Parkway from Alexandria, Virginia, all the way to its terminus near George Washingtons Mt. Vernon estate.

Were actually going to start restriping the parkway on the Mount Vernon side moving northbound. Well restripe, in kind, all the northbound lanes all the way to Alexandria. And then later this fall will begin restriping the southbound lanes, said Park Ranger Aaron LaRocca. Some of the restriping of the southbound lanes will also include reducing a lane southbound to create a traffic calming device known as a road diet.

Drivers will see this diet from Stratford Lane and Tulane Drive, or where the parkway does not have an existing median.

The service said a traffic study they conducted concluded the dieted road could handle the same traffic volume as the two-lane configuration.

Then at Bellevue and Belle Haven intersections with the parkway, well be putting some bollards in the roadway so that motorists have really clear defined movements that they can make through those intersections, LaRocca added.

Expect to see lane closures during weekdays. The National Park Service said crews will work on the northbound lanes starting at 9 a.m. and finish by 6:30 p.m. When they move to the southbound lanes, they will start earlier, at 5 a.m., and finish at 2 p.m. before the afternoon rush.

The changes are intended to make the parkway safer for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists while maintaining its historic feel. In April, the park service announced the changes after concluding a yearslong safety study.

We undertook a study called the South Parkway Safety Study, where we went to the public kind of a two different occasions. Very early on in the study, we laid out a map of the parkway out onto the table and said, You use this road, what is your experiences? What are your suggestions for the park service to further evaluate about ways to improve safety? We took all of those different recommendations. We filtered them for what would be appropriate for national park in the southern section of the parkway, said LaRocca.

The project will likely finish by the end of the year.

Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

2021 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

The rest is here:
GW Parkway will get restriping and road diet - WTOP

By now, if you're interested in living a long, healthy life, you probably have some sense of how different foods affect your body. You may have even noticed, for instance, which breakfast foods leave you feeling groggy all day versus the ones that give you the energy boost you need in the morning.

Scientists continue to explore how what we eat affects not just our bodies but our minds, too. This is why the MIND diet is of particular interestit combines elements of the Mediterranean diet with those of the DASH diet to create a food plan designed to boost your cognitive health. New research finds that this diet can help older adults fight dementia, even when they have physical markers linked to Alzheimer's disease.

RELATED:The Best Foods for Your Brain After 50, Say Dietitians

The study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, looked at data from 569 deceased people. Researchers at Rush University Medical Center compared their performance on cognitive tests taken late in their lives to information about their diet as well as to their post-death autopsy reports. The researchers found that people who kept to the MIND diet performed better on the cognitive tests, even when their brains showed the physical signsplaques and tanglesthat are typically characteristic of Alzheimer's disease.

This suggests that the MIND diet could play a role in helping older adults keep their minds sharp, even as their bodies work against them.

"This study suggests our food choices can build resilience against cognitive decline as we age, even when the physical signs of Alzheimer's disease are present in the brain," Maggie Moon, MS, RD, best-selling author of The MIND Diet, told Eat This, Not That! in an interview. "That's especially important because drugs don't work, at least not right now. Even when they clear some of the plaques from the brain, they haven't been able to reduce or slow cognitive decline."

The name MIND diet is not just a statement of the diet's intended benefitsit's also an acronym. It stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. Researchers propose that the closer people stick to this diet, the lower their risk of Alzheimer's disease will be. Recommended foods on this diet include "leafy greens, a variety of vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, beans, berries, poultry, fish, and wine in moderation," says Moon.

"There are also a set of recommendations for foods to limit in your diet," says Julie Andrews, MS, RDN, CD, FAND, author of The Brain Health Cookbook: MIND Diet Recipes to Prevent Disease and Enhance Cognitive Power. "Those foods include fried foods, processed and red meat, whole-fat dairy, and sweets and pastries. These foods can still be included in your dietsay, if cheese is your favorite food, but it's recommended to limit them and focus more on the MIND diet superfoods."

The researchers behind this study also point to previous studies that suggest the foods in the MIND diet are rich in antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, and are associated with protecting people's cognitive health.

For more on how to make food choices that will keep you sharp, be sure to check out these 10 Best Foods to Boost Brainpower. Then, don't forget to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the rest here:
New Study Claims The MIND Diet Can Help Prevent This Common Aging Problem | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

The Galveston Diets intermittent fasting, anti-inflammatory approach may help menopausal people lose weight more effectively than just reducing calorie intake, according to evidence on its methods. However, no specific research into this diet exists and no one diet can work for everyone.

Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an OBGYN physician, created the Galveston Diet to help people with menopause lose weight. The basis of the Galveston Diet is an anti-inflammatory approach to nutrition and intermittent fasting.

According to the official website, the Galveston Diet is an evidence-based program that actually works. Haver claims that not only do women lose weight and gain muscle mass on the Galveston Diet, they also sleep better, have fewer hot flashes, and avoid brain fog.

This article explores the Galveston Diet, how it works, and what to eat and avoid. In addition, it discusses the research behind some of the diets approaches and the potential downsides of trying it.

Though numerous Galveston Diet recipe books are available by many authors, the official Galveston Diet program designed by Haver offers clients an online program via a subscription service.

The programs focus on three main areas to help balance hormones and lose weight during menopause:

Before a person begins the diet, Haver recommends that they educate themselves about these concepts, as well as prepare to change their mindset and attitude toward eating.

In addition, she encourages people to begin emptying their pantries of foods that the diet does not permit.

The Galveston Diet focuses on eating natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich foods and avoiding foods that contain added sugar and processed carbohydrates.

Foods to enjoy on the diet include:

The diet also suggests avoiding the following foods:

The Galveston Diet applies a different strategy to weight loss than counting calories, a focus of many weight loss diets.

While specific studies on the Galveston Diet itself do not exist, researchers have done a substantial amount of research into some of the eating plans core concepts. These include intermittent fasting and the importance of foods that promote feelings of satiety, or fullness.

For example, a 2017 review indicates that the body compensates for a calorie deficit after dieting, reaching a set point where people do not lose any more weight or regain the weight they lost. The authors suggest that it is more beneficial to understand the influence of foods on fullness and energy compensation.

The review reflects the Galveston Diets approach, which emphasizes foods effects on shifting hormones and inflammation and how they contribute to weight gain in menopause.

Another key characteristic of the Galveston Diet is intermittent fasting, which research suggests can have benefits for weight loss.

A 2020 systematic review of 27 trials on intermittent fasting for weight loss found that participants lost 0.8%-13% of their baseline body weight regardless of overall caloric intake.

In addition, studies of 2-12 weeks duration showed a decrease in body mass index of 4.3%, and hunger symptoms remained stable or decreased.

Additionally, another 2013 study on 115 women with excess weight showed that over a 3-month period, intermittent fasting and carbohydrate restriction caused more body fat loss than a reduced-calorie diet.

One 2019 study used the same 16-hour fasting period as the Galveston Diet as a weight loss intervention for adults with obesity in the abdominal area. Their waist size decreased by over 5 centimeters after 3 months.

Considering the studies above, there seems to be convincing evidence that the Galveston Diets approach may be effective for weight loss.

Along with reducing body weight, the Galveston Diet may have other health benefits, due to its anti-inflammatory approach and intermittent fasting methods.

According to a 2020 review, intermittent fasting reduces inflammation in the body that arises from adipose tissue (fat stores).

The same study also indicates that intermittent fasting may work to prevent insulin resistance and diabetes.

A 2021 review suggests the beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of intermittent fasting may also help prevent chronic conditions such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

Intermittent fasting may also counteract the damaging effects of oxidative stress, which generates free radicals that cause disease and aging.

A 2019 review concluded that intermittent fasting might help prevent high blood pressure and conditions such as cancer as well as prolong lifespan.

The extra support and activity elements of some Galveston Diet program subscriptions may mean that people trying the diet feel more motivated to stick with it. Plus, they may lead individuals to engage in more physical activity than they usually do. Both of these things may benefit weight loss and general health.

The main potential downside of the Galveston Diet is that people may find it challenging to follow and fit into their lifestyle in several ways.

People attempting to lose weight on a budget may find the official diet websites subscription programs too expensive. Some of the foods that the program recommends, such as grass-fed beef, may also cost too much. Plus, individuals may find it hard to obtain certain foods, depending on where they live.

People who do subscribe to the official programs may find fasting for 16 hours difficult, especially at first.

Having a time-restricted eating window of 8 hours means that if someone has their evening meal at 7 p.m., they cannot eat until 11 a.m. the following day. This would mean skipping breakfast or eating breakfast much later than usual, which some may find challenging.

However, there is flexibility in when the 16-hour fasting window occurs, so a person could eat their evening meal at 5 p.m. and breakfast at 9 a.m., which may work better for some. Someone could also eat their breakfast and lunch at the usual time and skip their evening meal if they prefer.

Restricting certain foods and alcohol may also make it more challenging for someone to socialize and dine out. For this reason, a person trying the diet may wish to plan ahead and give social events some prior consideration.

Some evidence supports the idea that intermittent fasting and an anti-inflammatory diet are effective for weight loss. Using this approach may mean that the Galveston Diet is more effective than traditional calorie-reducing diets for some menopausal women.

However, the Galveston Diet itself has not been the subject of sufficient specific research.

The diet may also be beneficial for preventing chronic conditions, such as insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

A potential downside is that individuals may find the diet difficult to maintain due to restricted foods and window of time that eating is allowed.

Read the original here:
Galveston Diet: What is it and does it work? - Medical News Today

"We just thank you for this teaching that has given us freedom, and kept our weight off after all this time, God," says one of the women praying on her knees in the opening of newHBO Maxdocuseries "The Way Down."

The series follows Gwen Shamblin Lara's rise as an evangelical preacher through archival footage, depositionsand interviews with former members of Remnant Fellowship Church, which she founded. The documentary's full title "The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin" makes it clear thatthis is not the typical expos of an evangelical church. Here, diet culture prevails.

But before delving into that peculiar aspect of the church, one other detail makes this story particularly fascinating right now.Shamblin Lara died unexpectedly in Mayat age 66 in a plane crashshortly after takeoff.

Thatgrim turn of events had an unforeseen effect on "The Way Down," which opens with footage of the search and rescue team sent out after Shamblin Lara's private jet crashed into Percy Priest Lake in Tennessee, killing her and five other church members aboard. And although director Marina Zenovich never was able to interview her subject for the series directly, many of those who were afraid to speak out about their experiences with Remnant Fellowship while Shamblin Lara was alive have now come forward. This sparked the need for two more episodes of the series, which will follow in 2022.

For now, HBO Max has released the first three episodes, whichgo into detail aboutthe ways that Remnant Fellowship controlled former members, including allegations of child abuse and, in one case, accusations of the killing of one child by his parents. There'sbehavior that the series characterizes as cultlike, such asmega worship services with a charismatic leader, whom people both love and fear. But throughout the series, one of the oddest themes is of Shamblin Lara's obsession with the weight of her followers.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Shamblin Lara, who's recognizable for her gravity-defying teased hair,earned a Mastersin food and nutrition and was a registered dietitianwho worked with the Tennessee Department of Health for five years. She put a twist on the usual weight loss approaches by developing her Christian diet program called theWeigh Down Workshop, which proposes that devotees can lose weight through belief in God. While some would see this as a more spiritual departure from diets that usually focus on physical and behaviorial approaches, thepatriarchal aspects of evangelical teachings begin to reveal themselves.

The basic principles of Weigh Down are supposedly portion control (hardly a revolutionary diet strategy), and dedicating the rest of the time to prayer instead of thinking about food. Throughout the series, we see former members describing their experiences with Weigh Down that go beyond merely prayer: one is told to fast even after losing over 100 pounds. Another remembers asking her husband for permissionto order Starbucks, and being told she could havethat or dinner. Another fasted for 40 days.

In one archival video, Shamblin Lara sits in a white dress withhuge gold hoops in her ears.

"God revealed to me that this is the true deliverance," she coos, "and that the key to permanent weight control is a matter of the heart."

More footage shows women proudly holding up pants that no longer fit them, similar to before and after ads for services like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers.

Then Shamblin Lara's teachings go further: the congregation at Remnant is told that a thin body means you are "right with God." This meant that the overweight among the congregation were doing something wrong, that the people putting weight back on after losing it were clearly not in God's good graces (and presumably this means they're on "the way down" in the afterlife). To Shamblin Lara, the faster you lost weight, the holier you were. As one former member put it, if you weren't skinny, you weren't saved. "It was all about salvation. Nothing to do with Jesus Christ, it was about being thin."

This intersection of faith and diet culture is a twisted version of the world of juice cleanses and intermittent fasting in mainstream culture. Replace the negative language Remnant uses to describe plus-sized people with words like "lazy" , "weak-willed", or "unintelligent". Replace the "fear of God" as the motivator of the Weigh Down Workshops with "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels." The stigma surrounding plus-sized people is the same, repackaged in a way that the believers of Remnant understand.

Fatphobia plagues the way that we as a society operate. It's a normalized structure that if you don't look a certain way, you can't find clothes that fit, or be comfortable on an airplane, or access proper medical care. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, 28.8 million Americans will struggle with an eating disorder in their lifetime.

Throughout the series it's shown how Shamblin Lara used the language of manipulation present in many alleged cults to control believers. She tailored her teachings to an audience of the faithful by having them believe that the message she spread was one communicated to her by a higher power. She told her congregants that people in Weigh Down who were not a part of Remnant were gaining weight back from not being a part of the true religion she preached.

"The overarching theme of everything she ever taught in there was about being under God's authority, which was her." one former member says, "Everything fell around that. And then everything else was about the weight and what you looked like. . . . she was the voice from God."

"She beckoned to people," Reverend Rafael Martinez, a cult interventionist, says in the series."She began to believe that the Weigh Down Workshop message was the answer to all the world's evils . . .Christian perfectionism could only be achieved by following her message." That version of perfection may have looked different from how mainstream society would view it in everything but its clothing size.

Groups that exhibit what is interpreted as cultlike behavioerare made entertaining in documentaries like "The Way Down" because their beliefs and actions areoutside of the reality of the average viewer. And in many ways, the series hits all the right points of a good expos:Anonymous talking heads in dark rooms. Footage of people crying in prayer. Laughter in how ridiculous it all is, now that the former members are out. Sadness when you realize that Remnant is still in operation, run by Shamblin Lara's daughter Michelle, with no sign of changing. But the thread of the Weigh Down Workshops and the way this belief of theirs reflects our own societal pressures ultimately humanizes Remnant.

Diet culture and fatphobia are so pervasive that they can even infiltrate the places we would least expect it. Members of Remnant aren't special for the way they interpret diet culture. In fact, they're just like us. It turns an unforgiving look at the viewer who would believe they're above cultlike fanaticism: if we're able to ingest certain beliefs about other people in our day to day, what's stopping us from taking that further? What would we believe next?

The first tree episodes of "The Way Down" are available now to stream on HBO Max, with two more releasing in 2022.

Continued here:
In HBO Max's "The Way Down," one evangelical church preaches dieting as the way to salvation - Salon

Statistics show Americans are losing the battle with weight, with obesity becoming the second leading cause of preventable death. For many women, diets don't seem to work. If you're a woman who's had trouble losing weight, you may have been following the wrong plan.

Not Your Husband's Diet

Men and women have different hormonal panels. That could be a reason why women might have a harder time shedding extra pounds compared to their male counterparts. Gynecologist and best-selling women's health author Dr. Sara Gottfried learned this lesson first hand.

"I was trying the ketogenic diet with my husband," she told CBN News, "He lost 20 pounds. I gained weight. And I hear that from so many of my patients and my followers and I think it's important to realize the missing piece is hormones."

Dr. Gottfried says the root of the problem lies in the fact that most diets are designed by men, for men. In fact, only twenty percent of the studies on metabolism use female participants.

"We know that most research is done on men. It's assumed to apply to women," she said, "And yet women are not men with breasts. We've got very different hormonal exposures, we've got very different hormonal balance, and so the way we eat really needs to be different."

Dr. Gottfried's research on women and weight loss led her to develop a hormone balancing diet that she tried on herself. She finally ended up dropping the stubborn twenty pounds that she had wanted to shed for years.

"This was what was missing for me when I was trying to lose that twenty pounds," she explained, "No amount of exercise or dieting is going to work if your hormones are out of balance."

What Can I Eat?

After Dr. Gottfried's patients began losing weight on the hormone-balancing diet, she decided to share it with a broader audience of women, in her book, Women, Food and Hormones: A Four-Week Plan to Achieve Hormonal Balance, Lose Weight, and Feel Like Yourself Again.

The book contains 50 recipes such as Fettuccine Alfredo and taco salad that are slightly modified from the traditional recipes but still qualify as comfort foods.

"I'm a big fan of swaps, making sure you get the foods you love the most," she said.

She says her turmeric braised chicken is especially popular with the whole family.

"That's one of my favorites, for the kids and adults, especially husbands," she said. "That's almost like fried chicken."

She says the purpose of the diet is to balance a woman's hormones which makes her feel great and leads to overall good health. She says the goal of any diet should be to feel your best. She says this diet achieves that, but as a wonderful side-effect, leads to weight loss.

Phase One: Detox

The hormone-balancing diet is called The Gottfried Protocol. It's broken down into three main parts. The first section is detoxification, which Dr. Gottfried says is missing from most diets, particularly the ketogenic diet.

"Detoxification includes eating cruciferous vegetables, the cabbage, the broccoli, the radishes the cauliflower," she explained.

Among other things, the detox phase primes the liver to work efficiently to process fats and other foods and beverages.

Keto, with a Female Touch

After the detox phase, The Gottfried Protocol involves eating mostly healthy fats. The wide variety of recipes help people who can get stumped trying to figure out what that means.

"For breakfast, I've got an egg avocado bake," she said."So that's an example of really healthy fat."

While the plan is similar to the keto diet, The Gottfried Protocol includes more carbohydrates because a diet that is too low in carbs can cause hormonal disturbances in women that can make them feel terrible and stay overweight.

"It can trigger a stress response which raises cortisol which can block belly fat from being lost," she said, "Number two, it can cause problems with serotonin, [which] makes it harder to sleep. And number three, it can raise your reverse T3, which can block thyroid function."

The diet calls for a moderate amount of protein, such as poultry and fish.

While the diet allows only a small amount of sugar, there are certain recipes on that plan that are similar to our guilty pleasures.

"So one of my favorites is this dark chocolate pudding. I absolutely love it," she said, "I also have a dark chocolate coffee cake that I think is delicious. And there are certain breads as long as they're baked a certain way that really allow you to get that pleasure without ruining your metabolic health."

Fasting is Key

Unfortunately, eating carbohydrates can raise the hormone insulin, which can cause weight retention. So to keep insulin and other weight-related hormones such as leptin and ghrelin balanced, The Gottfried Protocol calls for a 14-hour overnight fast every night.

"You're doing most of it while you're sleeping," she explained, "I advise that you don't eat for three hours before you go to bed. So for instance you might finish eating at 8:00 PM and then eat again the next day at 10:00 AM."

She said among other things, fasting like this re-sets a woman's insulin levels and guards against insulin resistance, which can lead to diabetes and even some memory and thinking problems.

While some women worry that fasting will cause them to feel too hungry, Dr. Gottfried explains that when a woman's hormones are balanced, she typically loses the desire to eat all the time.

More:
'Women are Not Men with Breasts': Why They Need a Hormone-Balancing Diet - CBN News

To maintain a healthy heart and prevent any ailments, it is extremely essential to prevent piling up toxins in the artery. An Ayurvedic physician explains how you can do it.

Written by Longjam Dineshwori | Updated : October 5, 2021 2:50 PM IST

The heart is one of the most important organs of the body without which one's body cannot survive. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, with heart attack and stroke responsible for most of these deaths (85%).

Dr. Smita Naram, Co-Founder of Ayushakti, also highlighted that heart attacks have taken a serious toll in the past two decades and heart disease has become the leading cause of mortality across the globe. As around 52% of cardiovascular deaths take place before the age of 70, it is very important to maintain a healthy heart, she stated.

A heart attack is caused by the deposition of fatty and calcified plaque in the coronary arteries, which hinder the flow of the blood to the heart.

"Heart ailments don't occur overnight, they are built up over the years, depending on lifestyle, food pattern, exercise and much more. Some contributing factors that can cause a heart attack are high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, family history, unhealthy lifestyles like eating habits, and smoking/drinking," explained Dr. Naram, a well-accomplished Ayurvedic physician, pharmaceutical herbalist and nutritionist.

To maintain a healthy heart and prevent any ailments, it is extremely essential to prevent piling up toxins in the artery which can be done by taking antioxidants such as turmeric (haldi) daily, said the Ayurvedic practitioner.

"Curcumin in turmeric helps in improving these endothelial functions. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is an extraordinarily strong antioxidant. Thus, improves the flexibility and capacity of arteries, if taken daily for years and years," Dr. Naram elaborated.

According to Dr. Naram, one should follow a heart healthy diet by including: lots of vegetables such as ridge gourd (Turia), bottle gourd (dudhi), ivy gourd (tendli), snake gourd (padwal), pumpkin, leafy vegetables, etc and proteins such as green gram (mung), lentils, tofu, millet, rice, barley, etc as these foods help dissolve toxins and blockages from the arteries at a fast pace.

Your diet should be a combination of 60 percent vegetables, 30 percent proteins, and 10 percent carbohydrates, she stated.

Dr. Naram recommended excluding sour foods (like tomatoes); all sour fruits (oranges, pineapples, lemons, grapefruits, any kinds of vinegar, etc.); heavy to digest foods such as maida and red meat (as they are hard to digest and increase cholesterol in the body; wheat, fermented or fermentation increasing foods such as yogurt, alcohol, cheese (especially old and hard ones).

Dr. Naram often shares health tips, kitchen remedies, herbal remedies, marma, and detox plans for long-lasting results in any health problems.

She suggested a simple home remedy recipe that one can incorporate in their daily routine to maintain a healthy heart.

"Mix 1/2 tsp ginger juice and tsp garlic juice with warm water and consuming it twice a day," she said.

In addition to following a healthy diet, one should include a daily walk for 30-45 minutes which would improve the heart functions and also help reduce cholesterol and weight, she suggested.

Following these simple tips will surely lead to a healthy heart and lifestyle, the Ayuveda expert added.

Follow us on

Visit link:
Ayurvedic Diet Tips To Prevent Health Ailments - TheHealthSite

With all the buzz in recent years about the dangers of full-sugar soda, it can seem easy to assume that diet soft drinks are "healthier" than their sugary counterparts. However, in addition to being linked with higher rates of substance dependency than even cocaine addiction,some scientists are speaking out to spotlight the health problems diet soda can cause to your overall wellness and even your longevity.

USA Todayrecently reported that the media and consumer research company, 24/7 Tempo, performed an in-depth meta-analysis of studies on the health effects of diet soft drinks. Keep reading to learn the medical problems that diet soda may actually lead toand, don't miss Customers Are Noticing This Widespread Issue With Chick-fil-A's Food.

The report cites a 2012 study that followed more than 2,500 participants for a decade. Individuals who consumed diet soda saw a 43% greater chance of heart attack or other cardiovascular illness than did participants who drank regular cola (though from this report, it's not entirely clear how much or how frequently they drank either).

The report also suggests that diet soda consumption is linked to high blood pressure, possibly due to the sodium content which is a major ingredient for flavoring many diet drinks. High blood pressure happens to be a factor that can significantly increase stroke risk, which a 2017 study suggests also increases with diet beverage consumption.

Get the Eat This, Not That! newsletterfor wellness news delivered daily.

Totally counterintuitive, yesbut, despite their zero-calorie content, our source suggests that diet soft drinks may actually cause obesity.

Some behavioral health research has demonstrated that artificially sweetened drinks can lead to over-consuming other foods and beverages, since fake sweetener can leave the brain unsatiated thus, craving more treats.

Research has shown that diet pop may also lead to an increase in body mass index ("BMI"), and abdominal obesity.Plus, in one study, daily "diet" drinkers saw a nearly 70% higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Meanwhile, another study concluded that diabetics who drink more than four diet sodas per week were twice as likely to suffer blindness or other vision problems that can be related to diabetes.

RELATED:This One Diet Can Reverse Type 2 Diabetes, New Study Suggests

24/7 Tempo's report mentions one 2017 study that found the chance of dementia can increase three-fold among individuals over age 60 who drink one diet soda each day.

(Interested in preventing dementia? ReadThis Decreases Your Risk of Dementia Considerably, Study Finds.)

The report also says that because diet beverages contain phosphorous, they can lower the body's capacity to absorb calcium and lead to bones that are more brittle.

In particular, one study found that women who drank three or more sodas a day had lower bone mineral density in their hips. (However, we should note, it seems this study analyzed the effects of all soda on bone density, not only diet soda.)

RELATED:Popular Foods for Stronger Bones After 50, Say Dietitians

One study mentioned in the report found that mice who drank diet soda saw a disruption in the balance of the gut microbiome, while another found that the Aspartame used in many diet drinks causes dysfunction that can lead to fatty liver disease.

Several unhealthy diet habits have been shown to increase the likelihood of cancer in some individuals.

Specifically, this report says a 2016 study called out the sweetener Sucralose (which is also the main ingredient in some sugar substitute products) because it had been shown to cause leukemia and other blood cancers in male mice.

For more food and wellness news, check out:

Here is the original post:
Turns Out, Diet Soda Is Even Worse for You Than We Thought | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That