Category Archives: Diet And Food

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Jupiter, computer artwork.There are many, many reasons 2020 went off the rails. But some would argue the planets played a pretty significant role. Starting with Jupiter: For the past year, the planet of abundance was in hard-working Capricorn, a supremely uncomfortable placement. Thats why were thrilled to learn that Jupiter will spend the next year in optimistic Aquarius a placement that astrologers are saying bodes very well for 2021.Jupiter resides in Aquarius from December 19 to May 13, dips into Pisces, then goes retrograde and moves back into the sign of the water bearer on July 28, where it will stay until December 28. Since Jupiter spends around a year in each sign, we havent felt this Aquarian energy from the healing planet in 12 years. And this year, we need it. Leaving the industrious and oppressive energy of Capricorn to welcome the individualistic, freedom-seeking energy of Aquarius has never felt so liberating, says Narayana Montfar, senior astrologer forAstrology.com.She explains that while Jupiter was in Capricorn, it wanted us to focus on achieving our goals and accumulating wealth which for many meant just making ends meet during a global pandemic. But in the progressive sign of the water bearer, its a different story. In Aquarius, the influence of Jupiter is more focused on the openness and expansion of the mind, the search for freedom, and the real value of individuality, Montfar says. Social activism, cooperation, and technology receive more attention, as we are encouraged to think outside the box and see the world from an us instead of a me perspective. In other words, Jupiter in Aquarius brings us some intense activist energy. Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com, agrees. She says Jupiter in Aquarius is futuristic, revolutionary, and concerned with fairness and justice. Jupiters expansive and freewheeling nature will work well in the sign that is associated with humanitarian interests, independence, freedom and innovation, she notes. This will be a time of enlightenment on many levels, an increase of knowledge and understanding especially in technology, medicine, the internet, global communications, and human freedoms with a bent toward solving ethical issues that involve us all. Think of it this way: 2020 got us fired up about many causes, from social justice to the climate crisis; 2021 will inspire us to take the actions needed to better our world. Well want to donate, protest, and learn more about the world around us. The planet of luck in activist Aquarius is exactly the energy we need to make things happen and move forward with change.The placement will affect us on a very intimate level as well. Well change our personal beliefs, which may revise the way we feel about our families and personal relationships, says astrologer Lisa Stardust. Yes, well be more compassionate and understanding but we will also be less affectionate. Aquarius isnt a touchy feely sign. Stardust says that loving people from a distance will be easy (good news, given that social distancing will still be enforced during the slow COVID vaccine rollout), but showing our affections on an interpersonal level will be difficult. Theres no need to force yourself to be cuddly, but knowing that this is a factor this year means its especially important to keep up communication with your loved ones in 2021, even if you stick to texts and Zooms. Saturn is currently in Aquarius too, and together the two planets are gearing up to form something called the Great Conjunction. This is a rare, powerful occurrence. The two planets last aligned in 2000, and the conjunction last happened in an air sign in 1980, Montfar explains. But during the placement, Saturn and Jupiter will both be closer to the Earth than theyve been since 1623. This conjunction will shift humanity from the materialistic and industrious energy of the Earth element (Capricorn) into the mental and humanistic approach of the air element (Aquarius), she says. So what do we need to do to take advantage of what astrologers are saying should be a very positive energetic shift at the end of 2020? Stay open, be flexible, listen to your intuition, and lean into your natural well of empathy, which may be feeling a little closer to the surface these days. Together, we have a chance to really turn things around next year.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Saturn Is In Aquarius For The First Time In YearsWhat Venus In Sagittarius Means For Your Love LifeYour December Horoscope Is Here

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5 essentials to have in your diet this holiday season - Yahoo Lifestyle UK

Whatever else weve learned from the race to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine, its clear that consumers depend on federal authorities to make sure the medicines we take are safe and effective.

So why do those same authorities all but shrug off the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements those over-the-counter herbal and holistic remedies intended to address potentially serious ailments?

These products are sold without any requirement for upfront evidence of effectiveness and without a need for regulatory approval prior to being offered to consumers.

While many if not most supplements are benign and pose no apparent health threat to the public, the largely free rein given to the $35-billion industry creates an unwelcome opportunity for unscrupulous businesspeople to indulge their worst tendencies.

Case in point: Checks worth a total of nearly $775,000 are currently being mailed to more than 13,000 consumers nationwide as part of a settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and a Colorado supplements company called AS Research.

The settlement involves a supplement called Synovia, intended to relieve arthritis and joint pain.

The FTC found that AS Research made misleading health claims and used phony testimonials, including one in which a user said he gave away his walker after using Synovia.

The complaint says theres no truth to AS Researchs claims that Synovia is clinically proven to significantly reduce arthritis pain and restore damaged cartilage.

It also says AS Research tried to get customers to upgrade to an enhanced version of Synovia for an extra $9.95 beyond the standard cost of nearly $70, including shipping, for a one-month supply.

In fact, the complaint says, Defendants ship the same product to all consumers, whether or not they pay an additional $9.95 per bottle.

An FTC spokesman told me about 10% of the Synovia settlement cash is going to California residents.

No one at AS Research responded to my requests for comment. The settlement says the owners of the company neither admit nor deny any of the allegations against them.

The practices described by the FTC are obviously skeevy. But weve seen a number of similar instances in recent years, and especially since the outset of the pandemic.

In one such case, I wrote in April about the FTC cracking down on a Los Angeles businessman named Marc Ching, whose company, Whole Leaf Organics, sold a supplement called Thrive that purportedly treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19.

The company represented that the benefits of Thrive are clinically or scientifically proven, the FTCs complaint says. In fact, there is no competent and reliable scientific evidence that Thrive or any of its ingredients treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19.

A Los Angeles Times investigation subsequently found that Ching allegedly engaged in troubling practices involving pet-related businesses and an animal-rescue charity.

The questionable supplements sold by both AS Research and Whole Leaf Organics could have been stopped in their tracks if the Food and Drug Administration required supplement makers to meet safety and efficacy requirements similar to those for makers of prescription drugs.

Pharmaceuticals have to undergo multiple tests and trials before theyre approved for use by consumers. The process typically takes years, although the urgency of finding a COVID vaccine accelerated things in a big way.

Supplements, on the other hand, are largely unregulated prior to hitting store shelves.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe and lawful, well-manufactured and properly labeled, and the FDA is authorized to take action when it identifies a violation, said Courtney Rhodes, a spokeswoman for the agency.

In other words, the FDA will weigh in only after a problem arises. The FTC, for its part, focuses on potentially deceptive marketing practices, which, again, typically come to light only after a product goes on sale.

Currently, the FDA has no systematic way of knowing what dietary supplement products are on the market, when new products are introduced or what they contain, Rhodes acknowledged.

The FDA has proposed strengthening its oversight of supplements, but Congress has shown no interest in giving it that power.

Thats clearly not good enough, as recent crackdowns demonstrate.

Daniel Fabricant, chief executive of the Natural Products Assn., a trade group representing the supplements industry, told me theres no need for supplements to be overseen as rigorously as prescription drugs.

They look like drugs, but theyre not drugs, he said. Thats like saying we should put orange juice through clinical trials to make sure it contains vitamin C.

Yeah, no.

Federal law says companies cant claim a supplement will cure an illness but they can say a supplement may be good for addressing certain conditions. For example, you cant say melatonin will cure insomnia but you can say it may help you get to sleep.

The problem is that, in the eyes of at least some consumers, this may be a distinction without a difference.

Walk through the supplements aisle of any big drugstore and its hard not to come away with the impression that the various bottles of pills have medicinal value.

At the very least, the FDA should require that supplement companies demonstrate upfront that their products can do what they say perhaps not as meticulously as testing for prescription drugs, but at least enough to satisfy modest safety concerns.

Cracking down after a health-related product reaches store shelves seems wholly inadequate.

Particularly at a time like this.

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Dietary supplements are largely unregulated. That's just dumb - Los Angeles Times

'Plant-based barbeque' might sound like an oxymoron, butserial entrepreneur, professional barbeque master, and American Royal winner Brian Rodgerswas weighing in around 300 pounds and eating meaty barbeque all day long. Then, he was diagnosed with six life-threatening diseases, turned to a plant-based diet,and transformed his health. Instead of ditching barbeque, he gave it a plant-forward makeover and used BBQ to help others live a healthier life.

In this episode of Awesome Vegans, Brian joins me to share his story of how he lost 140 pounds and created Fools Gold, a line of plant-based barbeque sauces and rubs for tofu, tempeh, sweet potatoes, and more. Brian was determined that if he had to give up meat, he would never have to give up the barbeque. Read on to see how Brian changed his life and adapted his passion to serve his health, and improve the health of others.

Here is a short excerpt from our longer interview, which you can watch below.

Brian Rodgers: I was 300 pounds about a year ago and, for everybody watching this, Im not 300 pounds. Now Im 160 pounds. Yay! So how it started for me: Im from Kansas City born and raised, home of barbeque! Ive been doing professional barbeque for over thirty years and won the American Royal actually, the largest barbeque contest in the world in 1999. So, Ive got a love for the barbeque chops!

I moved to Colorado, about two years ago, and I was still doing barbeque. However, I went to my doctor and I was diagnosed as being morbidly obese. I was 300 pounds. And I also got diagnosed with six life-threatening diseases. I was diagnosed with liver disease, with Despedida, I had severe hypertension. I even had a buffalo hump. I dont know if youve ever seen a buffalo how they have that little extra piece of fat behind their head. Well, humans can get that, too. I did not know that until I went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with buffalo hump, as well.

BR: Yes, yes it is.

BR: Its an actual diagnosis. Its related to several different diseases which- Im not a doctor, I dont even enjoy science or medicine. You have some amazing doctors on your show, Im sure they could tell you exactly what it is. But yeah, so its a fatty build-up behind your neck. I basically decided I was going to have to do something to change or I had to get gastric bypass surgery. Those were my two choices.

So, I went to the gastric bypass surgeon to see what that was all about. And he said, Were going to dissect your body. Were going to do all these different things to you. You could die, and then he dropped the bomb on me. He said, Now Brian, we talked a little bit before we started here and I know how much you love barbeque, and thats what you eat and youre a big foodie.

Im also a classically trained chef as well. He said, So I just want you to know that your taste buds are going to probably change. In fact, you probably wont like barbecue anymore. And that was it for me! That was it for me! That was the trigger!

BR: That was the trigger! He said I could die, you know and that was a lot, but giving up barbeque? I was not ready to do that. So, I started the next day, I went cold tofurky. I havent eaten a piece of meat since. I dont do dairy, I dont really do oil too much. I just stopped eating salt for the most part. And I went on a mission to see if I could still eat [plant-based] barbeque and here I am. I lost 120 pounds and I reversed all six diseases within six months of that first appointment. And now Ive gone on to lose another 20 so Ive lost 140 pounds since Ive started. Im maintaining it and Im still eating [plant-based] barbeque.

EA: Oh, I love this! I want to step back. First of all, shout out to the human body. We can abuse it for decades and sometimes knowingly we dive into the bag of chips and we know were being bad, and we try to retreat. Sometimes unknowingly, meat and dairy are served to us as healthy foods and so we dont even know that were doing something bad for the body literally since were weaned from our mothers. We are talking about decades of abuse. Listen to that! In six months, your body bounces back. Im incredulous and in awe of what the human body can do.

So, when you start to shift the Titanic and you say, Okay, no more meat because I dont want to go under the knife, and I dont want to die either. Im just going to do food as medicine. You decide that the easiest way to do this, the lowest hanging fruitis to change what I eat. Did you have any trip-ups, pitfalls, anything that kind of set you back a little bit? Or was it smooth sailing the whole way?

BR: Oh, every day is still [a challenge]. I got to tell you it was a lot easier to lose the weight and reverse the disease than it was to get it. I worked really hard at putting that 300 pounds on. And Ive been fighting childhood obesity since I was eight years old.Thats what Im all about. Thats what my foundation is. Fools Gold barbeque, thats what we do. All the things we do is about fighting the incredible disease of childhood obesity.

Ive been [personally] fighting it since I was eight years old and nothings ever worked. So, do I have trip-ups? Every single day. Every day its still a challenge. But Ive met so many incredible people that I didnt even realize this whole world of plant-based and veganism existed until I stepped into it. But yeah, challenges every single day. Every single day I want to do something that I know is not right for my body and its not an easy journey, particularly when you lose as much weight as I did. Its a mental challenge, too.

So, I mean I still look in the mirror sometimes and still see my old 300-pound self. Its a crazy thing, your brain takes a little bit to catch up with you. And my doctor is always telling me, Brian thats going to go away. Brian thats going to go away. But its really weird when your wife says, Brian youre 160 pounds and you walk past a store or in a mirror and you see a 300-pound man. I mean, I dont know if youve seen my before and after pictures, but its pretty dramatic.

So, yeah, its a battle. Its a battle every day but its a great battle. It is such an amazing battle that Ive dropped everything else. Ive had a lot of successes in my life. I sold a company to one of the big credit bureaus and made a lot of money. Now Ive dropped everything else and Im on a mission. Im on a mission to kind of be the lead generation aspect of plant-based and plant-based barbeque!

Not everyone can go cold Tofurky, like Brian, but Brian shows us that just because you give up meat and dairy, doesnt mean you have to give up taste! And I can vouch for this! Barbeque tofu, tempeh, and sweet potatoes are the bomb! You can find recipes here.

For the full interview, click here.

Elysabeth Alfano is a plant-based business consultant and helps people transition to a plant-based diet. Follow her @ElysabethAlfano on all platforms and at ElysabethAlfano.com

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This Expert Grill Master Lost 140 Pounds on a Plant-Based Diet - The Beet

This Morning: Type 2 diabetes can be 'devastating' says expert

A healthy diet is important for a healthy life, as stated by the old saying, You are what you eat. This is even more important in todays world where diabetes and obesity are a worldwide pandemic. According to the International Diabetes Federation 8th Diabetes Atlas, about 425 million people worldwide have diabetes and, if the current trends continue, 629 million of people aged 2079 will have diabetes by 2045. With these shocking statistics finding ways to help with better treatment is imperative. Studies and health experts agree that a low carb diet helps to lower blood sugar for better treatment and management.

Normally, when a person eats carbohydrates they are broken down into small units of glucose, which end up as blood sugar.

In healthy people, blood sugar levels remain within a narrow range throughout the day.

In type 2 diabetes however, this system doesnt work the way it is supposed to.

The actual amount that you need to eat will depend on your age, activity levels and the goals you are trying to achieve.

READ MORE:Diabetes symptoms type 2: Experiencing polydipsia when drinking is a warning sign

In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, low carb and ketogenic diets and how they affect type 2 diabetes was investigated.

The study noted: According to an alternative view, dietary components have a main role in producing hormonal responses that cause obesity, and certain types of carbohydrate can alter the homeostatic mechanism that limits weight loss.

The carbohydrate-insulin model (CIM) of obesity hypothesizes that a high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet causes postprandial hyperinsulinemia that promotes fat deposition and decreases circulating metabolic fuels (glucose and lipids), thereby increasing hunger and slowing the whole-body metabolic rate.

Insulin is the most potent anabolic hormone that promotes glucose uptake into tissues, suppresses release of fatty acid from adipose tissue, inhibits production of ketones from liver and stimulates fat and glycogen deposition.

Dietary carbohydrates are the main driving force for insulin secretion and are heterogeneous in their glycaemic index (GI) (an index of how fast blood glucose rises after their ingestion), and glycaemic load (GL) (derived from carbohydrate amount and glycaemic index).

As carbohydrates are the main source of glucose, reducing their intake may lead to a decrease in insulin requirements, an improvement in insulin sensitivity and a reduction of post-prandial glycaemia.

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In another study published in The Association of UK Dieticians, low carbohydrate diets for the management of type 2 diabetes in adults was analysed.

The study noted: The role and the amounts of carbohydrate in foods as part of the diet of people with type 2 diabetes is often misunderstood and has been questioned in recent years.

Low carbohydrate diets have been regarded as an effective option for people with type 2 diabetes since the publication of the Diabetes UK Guidelines in 2011 (Dyson 2011a) with the recently updated Diabetes UK guidelines reiterating this recommendation (Diabetes UK 2018).

Low-carbohydrate diets (i.e., defined as diets containing between 50g and 130g carbohydrate) can be effective in managing weight, improving glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes in the short term i.e., less than 12 months (Diabetes UK 2018).

This is probably due to the accompanying reduction in energy (calorie) intake and subsequent weight loss (Diabetes UK 2018).

When considering a low carbohydrate diet as an option, people with diabetes who are on certain drugs including insulin should be made aware of possible side effects such as the risk of hypoglycaemia or in rare cases ketoacidosis; it is important that individuals on such treatments should be supported by doctors and dietitians to manage such risks which may involve adjusting medication.

Doctor David Cavan said: I have witnessed a big outcome in many of my patients since I started recommending carbohydrate restriction a few years ago.

"The effect of changing the diet in this way is far mar dramatic than any medication, including insulin.

"And some people, who had been on insulin for many years to treat their type 2 diabetes, have even been able to come out altogether.

Top tips for following the low-carb rule include:

Reduce or eliminate the amount of sugar and high-carb foods which include breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, white potatoes, rice, crackers, biscuits, sweets, and fizzy drinks.

Try to load up every meal with non-starchy and salad vegetables such as kale, lettuce, broccoli, mushrooms, or peppers.

Eat good fats, including oily fish, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, and animal fats. Also include nuts and cheese in moderation.

Try carbohydrate alternatives such as quinoa or cauliflower as a substitute or rice and zucchinis for an alternative for pasta.

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Type 2 diabetes treatment: Low carb diet has proven to be effective at lowering your risk - Express

Credit: Karl Reinhard / Scott Schrage.

A native American who lived in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas between 1,000 and 1,400 years ago had one of the worst cases of constipation in the annals of medicine. Due to an infection, the mans colon swelled to six times its normal size, which made it impossible to digest normal food properly.

Ultimately, the man died of this horrific disease, known as megacolon. Centuries later, his remains, mummified by the arid conditions, were found in a rock shelter close to the junction between the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers in South Texas.

But this story also has a positive side to it. Upon analyzing the mummy, scientists have found that during the last two to three months of his life, the man ate a diet of grasshoppers whose legs had been removed. Since his condition must have made it almost impossible to walk and procure food for himself, its likely that the man was fed by somebody else, perhaps family or other members of his community. Its one of the earliest bits of evidence of hospice care.

They were taking off the legs, said Karl Reinhard, professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of NebraskaLincoln. So they were giving him mostly the fluid-rich body the squishable part of the grasshopper. In addition to being high in protein, it was pretty high in moisture. So it would have been easier for him to eat in the early stages of his megacolonexperience.

The Skiles mummy from Texas, named after Guy Skiles, the person who first discovered it in 1937, had been stored in various private and public museums. More recently, in 2003, Reinhard and colleagues published a study in which they reported that the mummy contained 1,2 kilograms (2.6 pounds) of feces in its huge colon, along with a large quantity of unprocessed food. This led the researchers to conclude that the unfortunate man was infected with the parasite-borne Chagas disease and suffered from severe malnourishment due to the fact that his body was unable to process food.

In their new study, Reinhards team revisited the Skiles mummy, this time using scanning electron microscopy, which offered new clues about the mans diet during his twilight days.

The researchers examined phytoliths, tiny plant tissue structures that remain intact even after the rest of the plant decays and which are so robust they normally survive the rough, bumpy ride through the human intestinal tract. But in the case of this mummy, the researchers were astonished by the phytoliths found inside it.

The phytoliths were split open, crushed. And that means there was incredible pressure that was exerted on a microscopic level in this guys intestinal system, which highlights even more the pathology that was exhibited here, Reinhard said. I think this is unique in the annals of pathology this level of intestinal blockage and the pressure thats associated withit.

This most recent analysis of the Skiles mummy will appear in a forthcoming chapter of The Handbook of Mummy Studies, which also includes best practices for preparing and analyzing the contents of mummified intestines.

In the same handbook, Reinhard also described two other mummies who also received special care during their last days. One of the mummies belongs to a 5 to 6-year-old child who was buried between 500 and 1,000 years ago in Arizonas Ventana Cave by the Hohokam people. The third mummy, of an even younger child, was buried roughly 750 years ago in southern Utah.

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Scientists find a fatal case of constipation in 1,000-year-old mummy with grasshopper diet - ZME Science

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you James Allen.

The mind the invisible, transcendent world of thought, feeling, attitude, belief and imagination is unlimited in potential. To be utilized effectively and not be a waste when the need arises to cope with lifes challenges and adversity with matters of health, business, family, government, etc., it requires a daily diet of some paramount ingredients, i.e., positivity, hope, optimism, faith, confidence. Just as filling your car with gas allows it to drive and saturating your heart with love spreads kindness, thronging your mind with good vibes produces a healthier impact on your quality of life despite the circumstances.

The minds a terrible thing to waste, so dont. Instead, fill it with superlative thoughts to strongly (and safely) forge toward a non-pandemic tomorrow.

Dianne ScottDover

The Opinion page is populated with letters from you, our readers. The Delaware State News was founded on and still is dedicated to the basic principle of civilly and respectfully sharing ideas to create a better community for us all. To submit a letter to the editor, visit the Submit a Letter page.

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Letter to the Editor: Feed your mind a daily diet of positivity and good vibes - Delaware State News - Delaware State News

Thinking about starting the 16:8 diet, but want to find out more before you do? Well, you've come to the right place. This intermittent fasting diet has grown in popularity over the last few years and it's no wonder why. Changing the hours you eat can be a simple way to change your mindset about food, and it has great results.

Here's our expert advice on why the 16:8 diet may work for you...

"The 16:8 diet is an intermittent fasting diet," says dietitian,Dr Carrie Ruxton from The Health & Food Supplements Information Service. "16:8 intermittent fasting involves limiting consumption of foods and energy (calorie)-containing beverages to a set window of eight hours per day and abstaining from food for the remaining 16 hours. This cycle can be repeated as often as you like from just once or twice per week to every day, depending on personal preference.

"Restricting food intake to eight hours a day helps to cut calories," says Dr Ruxton. "It may also help weight loss if the diet is healthy and the person does not make up for fasting by eating large amounts of foods during the eating period of eight hours. As well as cutting calorie intake, the diet may reduce resting energy expenditure and contribute to weight loss.

Don't worry about starving, you won't on this diet.

Start by picking a time frame for fasting, say 8pm until midday the following day or 5pm until 9am until the following day," says Dr Ruxton. "So, youd eat during the hours of 12 noon until 8pm or from 9am until 5pm. You could eat anything you like although any benefits that might be gained from the diet would not be so great if you choose a high proportion of less healthy foods.Its important to stick to nutritious whole foods during the eating period.Drink calorie-free beverages, like water and unsweetened teas, during the fast period to curb appetite and maintain hydration.

READ MORE:

While other diets often set strict rules and regulations on what can be eaten, 16:8 intermittent fasting is easy to follow and requires minimal effort," says Dr Ruxton.

It is really simple to follow. "It is generally considered less restrictive and more flexible than some other diet plans and is easier for some people to fit into their lifestyle, which can contribute to weight loss, adds Dr Ruxton.

Restricting food intake to just eight hours per day can cause some people to eat more than usual during eating periods in an attempt to make up for hours spent fasting," says Dr Ruxton. "This may lead to weight gain, digestive problems and the development of unhealthy eating habits. The 16:8 diet may also cause short-term negative side effects at the start such as hunger, weakness and fatigue though these often subside once a routine is established."

And that's not the only thing to look out for. Restricting food intake could also reduce intake of vitamins and minerals," says Dr Ruxton. "In fact, any change of food/diet regime can prejudice vitamin and mineral intake.

"This depends on your calorie intake during the eight hours you eat," says Dr Ruxton. "Research on this diet is limited, but has shown similar weight loss on an intermittent fasting diet and a low-calorie diet although intermittent fasting may be more effective for retention of lean tissue (e.g., muscle).

Yes, this one is definitely worth trying. "The 16:8 diet can be a safe and easy way to improve your health when managed with a healthy nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle," says Dr Ruxton.

"However, it shouldnt be viewed as a substitute for balanced, healthy diet rich in whole foods. Though 16:8 intermittent fasting is generally considered safe for most healthy adults, its important to talk to your doctor before giving it a try. This is especially the case if you have any underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, low blood pressure, a history of disordered eating or if you take any medication. Plus, intermittent fasting is also not recommended for women who are trying to conceive or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Here's the great news. "You dont have to sign up to anything," says Dr Ruxton. "There are plenty of 16:8 plans online. The cost of the diet is your choice as you choose what to put in your shopping basket. You may spend less eating during eight hours each day.

Good luck if you try the 16:8 diet - we hope it works for you.

See the rest here:
The 16:8 diet: what is it and could it work for you? - woman&home

Many people are making changes to their diets to eat healthier or in a more environmentally friendly manner. They might choose to eat less meat, less sugar or even adopt an entirely vegan diet. A growing number, however, are choosing a plant-based diet that focuses on foods that come from plants, but may still include animal products, such as meat or cheese.

American biochemist Thomas Colin Campbell coined the term plant-based in the 1980s to better explain his research on diet and nutrition. The term surged in popularity in 2016 when Campbells book The China Study was reprinted and alternative meat products such as Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger were launched.

Since then, plant-based foods have taken the world by storm. They are everywhere: fast-food chains, restaurant menus, grocery stores, social media, food blogs and on your plate. The global plant-based food market is predicted to reach a market valuation of US$38.4 billion by 2025. In the United States alone, the number of plant-based products available increased 29 per cent between 2017 and 2019.

As a research assistant at the Centre for Culinary Innovation, I work with industry to develop new food products. Although the work of the centre is not limited to plant-based foods, our team focuses on researching, understanding, experimenting and creating new ones.

The rapid growth of plant-based food is due to several factors. The most common reasons people in Europe, the U.S. and Canada give for eating plant-based food are the health benefits, curiosity to try new food, environmental concerns and animal welfare.

If you are thinking about switching to a plant-based diet, here are six things you should know about plant-based food.

According to the Plant Based Foods Association, a plant-based product consists of ingredients derived from plants, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds or legumes.

The final product directly replaces an animal product. By this definition, a cheese made from plant sources can be called plant-based, but flour or bread cannot. If the final product only partially replaces an animal product, then it should be labelled as a blend.

The terms vegan and plant-based have long been used interchangeably. But following a plant-based diet does not necessarily mean that you are vegan or vegetarian. It means that you are consciously choosing to eat more from plants, but you may still be eating meat, fish, eggs or other animal products.

In fact, plant-based food manufacturers are not targeting vegans and vegetarians since they are only a small percentage of the population. Their main targets are meat eaters and flexitarians people who eat mostly plant-based diets, but still eat meat.

Usually, a diet containing a higher proportion of plant-based food is automatically associated with being healthy. However, it might not always be the case.

A plant-based diet is healthy when it is mainly composed of whole foods such as vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts. In fact, such a diet has been shown to decrease the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

Nutritionists remain concerned about heavily processed meat substitutes that contain high levels of saturated fats and sodium. These ingredients preservatives, flavouring and fillers enhance the taste, shelf life and texture.

Although they are considered natural, they are not necessary for a healthy diet. They may be environmentally friendly, but they may not be healthy, especially in large amounts.

Plant-based food is not going away anytime soon. In fact, what we are seeing now is a global increase of plant-based products.

What started with soy milk in the 1990s, and continued with almond milk in the 2000s and burgers in 2010s, has expanded to different types of plant-based products: pork, chicken, yogurt, ice cream, seafood, fish, eggs, cheese, sausage, jerky and more.

While Gen X and baby boomers may be more resistant to change their diets, millennials and Gen Z who are more likely to consider the food source, animal welfare issues and environmental impacts when making their purchasing decisions are embracing plant-based food and will continue to do so.

Millennials did not invent this type of eating, but they are re-inventing it and spurring a broader change in attitudes and consumption of plant-based food. Gen Z is growing up with plant-based eating as a norm.

What goes unnoticed by many consumers is how these products are made. Replacing animal food products is not an easy task, quite the opposite, it is a very complex one.

It takes years to research and develop plant-based food products. And it has only been possible because of the ingredients available, such as plant proteins, oils, flavourings and binders. The better they are, the better the final product will be. Not only in the sense of texture, appearance, flavour and mouthfeel, but also health.

The next wave of plant-based products will likely be healthier as better ingredients and processes (like 3D printing) will be available. If we look at Beyond Burger, for example, the new formulation is healthier than the previous one.

One of the main reasons consumers switch to a plant-based diet is because of sustainability and environmental concerns. Indeed, eating plant-based reduces the impacts of climate change, saves water and minimizes agricultural land use.

But be aware that many plant-based brands are a part of a larger operation. A specific brand may be sustainable and environment friendly, but the company that owns it may not be.

It is important that food companies be transparent. Consumers have the right to know where the products they buy come from and how they are made so they can make informed decisions and hold companies and brands accountable.

Excerpt from:
Diet resolutions: 6 things to know about eating less meat and more plant-based foods - The Conversation CA

Two new studies in mice and humans suggest that some individuals may produce insufficient quantities of vitamin A from the beta carotene in their diets. To compensate, they may need to eat more foods containing vitamin A to maintain good cardiovascular health.

Beta carotene is a pigment in all fruits and vegetables, and carrots and sweet potatoes are particularly rich sources.

Various findings indicate that people with high blood levels of beta carotene tend to have lower serum concentrations of the bad cholesterol that causes atherosclerosis narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart.

As a result, they have a lower risk of ischemic heart disease, which is the most common cause of death worldwide.

The molecular mechanisms that link beta carotene to lower blood cholesterol levels are poorly understood, however.

Now, two new studies have discovered that the body needs an active version of a certain enzyme to reap the full benefits of beta carotene for cardiovascular health.

The enzyme in question converts beta carotene into vitamin A, which reduces the amount of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol produced in the liver.

However, up to 50% of people make a less active form of the enzyme, according to Jaume Amengual, an assistant professor of personalized nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who was involved in both studies.

Having a less active form of this enzyme makes the body less efficient at producing vitamin A from the beta carotene in fruits and vegetables.

To reap the full benefits to cardiovascular health, Amengual says, a person may need to get more vitamin A directly from animal sources, such as dairy, milk, oily fish, or cheese, for example.

In the first study, the scientists began by measuring the impact of the enzyme, called beta carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1), on cholesterol levels in mice. Their findings have been published in The Journal of Nutrition.

The team compared the effects of a beta carotene-rich diet in one group of regular mice and another group of mice without the gene for making BCO1.

After 10 days on the diet, the mice without the enzyme had more beta carotene in their blood and higher cholesterol levels than the normal mice.

Next, the researchers analyzed DNA and blood samples from 475 healthy young adults aged 1825. The participants also filled out questionnaires about their diets.

After factoring in the amount of beta carotene and vitamin A in the participants diets, the researchers discovered that those with a particular variant of the BCO1 gene had significantly lower cholesterol levels.

This genetic variant produces a more active form of the enzyme that converts more beta carotene into vitamin A.

The authors estimate that people who have one or more copies of this BCO1 gene variant could have a 9% reduction in LDL cholesterol, compared with those who do not. Although speculative, this decrease may be clinically meaningful if maintained through adulthood, they write.

The researchers acknowledge that one limitation of their study is that it relied on the accuracy of participants responses to the diet questionnaire.

It is also worth noting that this study was not intended to test the efficacy of any particular dietary intervention.

To explore whether the BCO1 enzyme could have a direct effect on the risk of atherosclerosis, the team conducted another study.

In the human study, we saw that cholesterol was higher in people who do not produce much vitamin A, explains Amengual, adding, To know if that observation has an effect in the long run, we would have to wait 70 years to see if they develop [cardiovascular disease].

Instead, the scientists fed beta carotene to two types of mice made genetically prone to develop atherosclerosis. The first type had a working version of the gene for making the BCO1 enzyme, and the other did not.

Overall, the mice with the enzyme that converts beta carotene into vitamin A had reduced plasma cholesterol levels and developed less severe atherosclerosis than the mice without the enzyme.

The researchers traced this effect to the animals livers. We observed that in mice with high levels of vitamin A, the secretion of lipids [cholesterol] into the bloodstream slows down, says Amengual.

The second study has been published in the Journal of Lipid Research.

See the article here:
What happens when the body cannot process beta carotene? - Medical News Today

SALT LAKE CITY Pursuing weight loss can be frustrating, lead to weight cycling, and it doesn't necessarily promote more healthful behaviors in the long run.

Some research published in the journal Obesity also indicates that, in some cases, it can actually lower people's metabolisms. Essentially, that means some people can't eat as much as they may want or are hungry for. As a dietitian, I do not recommend weight loss to my clients.

The way we think about our bodies and food has an impact on how we take care of ourselves. I used to mistakenly think that if I ate the "right foods" and exercised the "right amount," then my body would look similar to the bodies of celebrities and people in magazines. Even with a nutrition degree and access to a variety of foods, I never felt like I could eat all the "right foods" and exercise as much as I thought I should. That left me feeling like I failed and wasn't good enough.

I've talked to many clients and others about this and found it's a pretty universal thought. Some might not desire to look like celebrities, but they may want to be smaller than their current selves and believe that pursuit would make them happier, healthier and more worthy of self-acceptance and acceptance from others.

When it comes to giving or receiving compliments for weight loss, our desire to be accepted and receive positive feedback can make it easier to participate in habits that may not benefit us as much as we think. Or, it may keep some people stuck in habits that they know can be harmful.

One way to help ourselves and others feel better in our bodies as they are is to stop complimenting weight loss and avoid talking about weight altogether. Here's why.

Who doesn't want to get complimented? It feels good and encourages continuing the habits that got a person to that compliment. Because it may feel good and validating to receive compliments, they might encourage habits that don't promote health/well-being, as explained on the National Eating Disorder Association's website.

Here's an example: You notice that your friend is looking thinner so you tell them so, and that they look good. If your friend has felt insecure about their body, or even still feels insecure, this positive reinforcement may be interpreted as acceptance for being smaller rather than a simple compliment.

We all want to be accepted, so if someone interprets compliments about their body as acceptance, they may continue to do what they did to get there even if was through habits that weren't enjoyable, or even harmful. There can be a lot of unintended consequences from a simple statement because our relationships with our bodies are complicated and deep.

Some may think the faster the weight loss, the better. But a couple of studies that came out from following past participants of "The Biggest Loser," [including one study published Obesity](ne published in Obesity,), show that their metabolisms actually slowed down after lots of exercise and extreme dieting. Unless you're someone who could eat whatever you wanted without it affecting your weight or health, that's not ideal.

There are lots of medical conditions that can affect weight, and even medications or life changes. The Mayo Clinic says eating disorders, heart failure, diabetes, Crohn's disease or other inflammatory bowel diseases, and depression can contribute to weight loss. Some can also cause weight gain.

Consider this conversation: "Oh, you look great. What diet are you on?"

"I'm doing chemotherapy and it's zapped my appetite."

Avoid putting someone who is already dealing with a medical condition in an uncomfortable position by not commenting on weight loss.

Think about your own experiences or the experiences of people close to you. Have you ever worked to change your weight? If so, how hard was it? What happened when you eased back into eating the way you did before a diet or lifestyle change? Parts of losing weight or working to keep it off can be extremely difficult, and even miserable for some people.

Our bodies are designed to protect themselves, as research published by the American Journal of Psychology shows, that's why we get hungry and preoccupied with food when we're not eating enough. Constantly working against that biological, necessary drive can make things even harder.

As mentioned above, trying to lose weight and keep it off is difficult and doesn't work the same for most people. When we focus on weight, we're often missing the very important actions of adapting our habits to make us feel better physically and emotionally. These habits will look different for everyone and may not cause weight changes but, as the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine points out, you can still improve overall well-being and health if that's something you want to pursue.

One hurdle to practicing beneficial habits is weight stigma. Weight stigma is more defined in an article for Scientific American by Lindo Bacon who also wrote "Health at Every Size" which goes on to say, "Fat isn't the problem. Dieting is the problem." The concept of losing weight to achieve health and wellness doesn't look at the full picture, and it definitely doesn't take the harmful outcomes from weight stigma into account either. Some collateral damage from weight stigma include discrimination, fear of fat and the habits that result from fearing fat, medical misdiagnoses, bullying (including people being harassed to get "healthier"), and a sedentary lifestyle.

Therefore, when you compliment someone for weight loss you may be reinforcing the idea that smaller is better even healthier than bigger, and that isn't always true.

How do you lose weight? You can do lots of things and boil it all down to weight loss, but is it the weight loss or the habits that change your well-being and/or health that can also result in a change in your weight?

It's the habits.

And you can still see benefits from changing habits even if your weight doesn't change. When you focus on a number on the scale, you might be missing the habits and can feel like a failure because you're not paying attention to those habits you may have changed. Feeling like a failure doesn't set you up for continuing with habits that make your body feel better or improve your overall well-being.

Imagine this: You're exercising for hours each day, you're hungry most of the time, and you've lost weight. You're not supplying your body with the energy and nutrients you need, and it's hard. But you get lots of compliments on how your body looks. Is it really better to continue those miserable habits that don't promote your health if you keep getting little hits of positivity from others?

My suggestion is to just stop complimenting others for weight loss. Many people might be trying to be nice by giving compliments, but it's important to consider the downstream effects of comments on weight before paying a "compliment."

And with that, consider not mentioning any weight changes at all. Weight talk doesn't always motivate people to take care of themselves in the best way. The first step toward true body acceptance is to just become more aware of the way we talk about food, dieting and weight, and start to change the things we say to others and to ourselves.

If you struggle with your body image, or have an eating disorder, check out these resources from the National Eating Disorders Association.

Editor's Note: Anything in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition; Any opinions, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of KSL. KSL does not endorse nor is it responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, information, or statement made in this article. KSL expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.

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7 reasons to stop complimenting others on weight loss - KSL.com