Category Archives: Diet And Food

Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a large predatory fish that many people around the world consume.

Its characteristic feature is a sword-like bill, which is where its name comes from. Its also one of the fastest known fish in the ocean.

Swordfish has a distinctive nutritional profile and provides many health-promoting effects. However, consuming it too frequently or in large amounts may lead to mercury toxicity (1).

This article reviews the health effects of eating swordfish, including its benefits and downsides, and how much is safe to eat.

Swordfish is rich in multiple essential nutrients.

Essential nutrients are ones your body cannot produce, so you need to get them from food.

A 3-ounce (85-gram) serving of cooked swordfish provides (2):

Swordfish is exceptionally high in selenium. This essential trace mineral is important for human health due to its role in thyroid and bone metabolism, immunity, heart health, and male fertility, among other functions (3, 4).

Its also a great source of vitamin D, a key vitamin for bone health that has also proven beneficial for immunity, heart health, and asthma (5, 6).

Additionally, swordfish is a fatty fish with high amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

EPA and DHA are also essential and known to protect against heart and inflammatory diseases and help improve brain health (7, 8).

A 3-ounce (85-gram) serving provides 764 mg of EPA and DHA combined. The 20152020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend consuming an average of 250 mg per day. Thus, swordfish is a very rich source (2, 9).

Swordfish is rich in essential nutrients necessary for health, including selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.

Swordfish may provide multiple health benefits, mostly due to its high omega-3, selenium, and vitamin D contents.

High blood pressure and cholesterol levels are both risk factors for heart disease.

Omega-3 fatty acids found in swordfish may positively influence blood pressure and cholesterol levels, especially in people with a preexisting heart condition. They dont appear to interfere with prescription drugs (10, 11, 12).

Research shows that EPA and DHA may lower your blood pressure by decreasing your heart rate and improving blood vessel function and elasticity (11, 13).

They may also lower your blood triglycerides by approximately 2030% and help prevent blood clots from forming and clogging your arteries (11).

However, they may increase LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, a risk factor for heart disease (11).

Additionally, the vitamin D in swordfish may lower your blood pressure and risk of heart attack. In fact, one study found that people with vitamin D deficiency had a 60% higher risk of heart disease (14, 15, 16, 17, 18).

Evidence suggests that taking vitamin D supplements may lower systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) by 26 mm Hg. It may do this by interacting with multiple systems in your body, including your kidneys and endocrine system (19).

Swordfish may help protect against cancer thanks to its omega-3, vitamin D, and selenium contents.

Inflammation is a predisposing factor for cancer, and omega-3s and vitamin D have anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that both nutrients may help protect against colorectal cancer (14, 20).

Both nutrients may prevent cancerous cells from reproducing and induce their death. Additionally, vitamin D may help stop the growth of new blood vessels that feed those cells (14, 20).

Omega-3s also help prevent cancer from spreading, a process called metastasis. Animal and human research also show that they may reduce colorectal tumor size. However, studies in humans show inconsistent results (20, 21, 22).

As for selenium, it acts as a powerful antioxidant that fights the cancerous effects of excess free radicals in the body. It may have a protective effect against liver, prostate, breast, and lung cancers (23, 24, 25).

Taking selenium supplements may also help people undergoing radiotherapy improve their quality of life and reduce the therapys side effects (26).

While this research shows promising results, its important to note that it evaluates the effects of particular nutrients, not the effects of eating swordfish itself. Thus, scientists need to do more research on the effects of swordfish specifically.

The vitamin D and selenium in swordfish may improve bone health.

Vitamin Ds primary role in your body is to stimulate calcium absorption in the gut. It also plays an essential role in bone formation, and its deficiency is linked to bone loss and increased risk of falls and fractures (14, 27, 28, 29).

While selenium is less well known than vitamin D, it also plays a role in promoting bone health by influencing bone metabolism. This process is mediated by bone cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

In a process called bone remodeling, osteoblasts synthesize bone tissue, and osteoclasts break it down to release minerals into your bloodstream. Selenium helps maintain a balance by inactivating osteoclasts to prevent brittle bones (30).

Studies have found that low selenium blood levels were associated with an increased risk of low bone mineral density and bone disease (30).

The omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and selenium found in swordfish may improve heart and bone health and help reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Including swordfish in your diet may provide multiple benefits. However, this fish also comes with an important drawback it has a high mercury content.

Mercury is a reactive heavy metal that comes mostly from waste and coal burning. The mercury waste from these processes ends up in lakes and oceans from rainwater (31).

Small aquatic organisms absorb it, and then larger predators absorb it by eating them. In this way, the mercury moves up the food chain from prey to predator. Larger, longer-living predators, such as swordfish, tend to contain higher quantities (31, 32).

As a neurotoxin, mercury has a toxic effect on the brain. People with a high intake of predatory fish over five servings per week are particularly at risk. Mercury intake may even diminish the beneficial effects that omega-3s have on heart health (33, 34).

Its especially dangerous for babies central nervous system development. Research shows that mercury can cross the placenta or be passed to babies via breast milk (1, 31, 35).

Thus, pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid eating swordfish (36).

Swordfish contain high amounts of mercury, a heavy metal with toxic effects on the brain, and its especially dangerous for babies brains.

Swordfish is a meaty fish with a slightly sweet flavor and firm texture. You can prepare it with or without marinade. People often make oil-based marinades for it containing fresh herbs.

Its usually cut into 1-inch (2.5-cm) fillets and grilled or cooked in the same way as a rare beef steak. Though people often discard the skin due to its rubbery texture, you may want to keep it on during cooking and then discard it afterward to help make the fish juicier.

Other common cooking methods include boiling and stewing. The firm texture of swordfish prevents it from flaking or breaking apart.

While people dont usually deep-fry swordfish, this is another possible preparation method.

However, its a rather unhealthy one, as deep-fried foods lead to the formation of trans fatty acids (TFA), which may increase risk factors for heart disease (37, 38).

When buying swordfish, make sure the fillets dont show any discoloration, darkening, or drying around the edges. They should also smell fresh, not fishy or rancid (39).

You can safely refrigerate raw swordfish for 2 days before cooking it, or you can store it frozen for up to 3 months. Once cooked, it may keep for up to 4 days in the fridge or 6 months in the freezer (40).

Swordfish is a meaty fish that people usually cook and serve in a similar style to beef steak. Aside from grilling it, you can also boil, stew, or fry it.

Swordfish is a popular fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, selenium, and vitamin D, which confer numerous health benefits.

Research has found these nutrients are associated with improved heart and bone health and a lower risk of cancer.

However, its high in mercury, a toxic trace metal with detrimental effects on brain health, especially on babies developing brains. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid eating swordfish.

You may enjoy an occasional serving of swordfish by grilling, stewing, or boiling it.

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Swordfish: Nutrition, Benefits, and Calories - Healthline

There's a reason why Mediterranean diet plans are consistently ranked the healthiest for people wishing to not only lose weight, but revolutionize their health entirely. At the Good Housekeeping Institute, our registered dietitian crowned the Mediterranean diet this year's best as the diet's staples lean proteins, seafood, crunchy vegetables, and plenty of healthy fats lead to immense cardiovascular benefits and fights inflammation. Plus, it promotes sustainable weight loss for people who aren't willing to sacrifice entire food groups (ahem, keto)! So imagine our delight when a new study, published this month in BMJ's Heart, claimed that a few small tweaks to the diet may accelerate its effects on heart health.

Researchers behind the study call it the "green" Mediterranean diet, a refined version of the diet plan that supercharges your daily meals by asking you to reach for more fiber and less red meat. What is the diet, exactly? The updated version requires people to cut red meat almost entirely out of their diet for best results, making more room for fiber and healthy fats sourced from lean protein. To make up for any deficiency, dieters are asked to consume what's known as Wolffia globosa, or a byproduct of duckweed, an aquatic plant. Plus, you'll need to incorporate 28g of walnuts per day into your snacking, and consume at least 3 cups of green tea (if not more).

Scientists arrived at this conclusion after splitting nearly 300 men and women into three groups, asking them to follow different diets over the course of 18 months. The first group simply received advice for upping their fitness and eating a healthier diet; the second group, however, was instructed to follow a regular Mediterranean diet and were placed on a calorie-based plan, as well as the same fitness advice. But the third group followed the "green" Mediterranean diet, eating the same amount of calories as the other Med group, albeit with the duckweed protein shake served at dinnertime, green tea throughout the day, added walnuts, and advice to avoid red meat entirely.

Those on the green version of the diet saw the best, most substantial changes to their health six months later; they had the biggest drop in cholesterol and blood pressure. Plus, this group lost roughly 14 pounds in just six months.

Here's the catch, though all of the groups saw beneficial results, explains Brierley Horton, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and nutritionist who has reviewed Mediterranean diet plans for years. All groups lost weight, including those on the regular Mediterranean diet (around 12 pounds!), and waist sizes slimmed down amid all participants. The same trend was true for cholesterol levels. "Yes, the 'green' Med diet group had better results but the Mediterranean diet still provided improvement for the other group in the study," she explains.

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Below, Horton walks us through what you need to know about the study's updated guidelines for Mediterranean diets, plus how you can incorporate a Med-diet-friendly protein shake into your routine.

If you haven't heard of it, you're not alone. Horton says research published in 2017 put this edible plant-protein, also known as Asian watermeal, on the map for most. A MentalFloss report claims duckweed, which has a flavor profile similar to watercress, is the smallest fruit in the world, but Horton explains that it manages to pack in a lot of protein nonetheless. Researchers have previously found that the protein counts in duckweed can be equal to "40% of [its] dry weight" in some conditions. "It's water-based, which is probably the reason why duckweed also manages to be a significant source of omega-3 fatty acids," Horton adds.

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But you've probably never seen a duckweed supplement in the health aisle or even at a

specialty store, as this protein is often mixed in with other sources to make "plant-based" supplements on the market today. The study indicates that dieters were given a specific frozen product made by Mankai, but Horton says it's unclear if the study's sponsors had any input on including this particular brand.

Don't fret if you can't find pure duckweed supplement: Horton says you can still pack in extra protein and omega 3s into your routine with a protein shake made with hemp, chia, or flax seeds. "Without getting into a nitty-gritty comparison to duckweed, all three of those seeds have high sources of omega 3s in them, and they're great sources of protein, and they're widely available to all of us right now."

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While more research needs to be done in order to understand why this version of the Mediterranean diet prompts better results, it's clear that cutting out any amount of fatty, processed red meats will lead to better health. "People who tend to dip into vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, they're just healthier overall, right? They have better markers for cardiometabolic risk, and less chronic inflammation," Horton explains. "Since the green Mediterranean diet is supplementing meat with plant-based protein in duckweed and other staples, it's not surprising that health is improving and then you also consider walnuts, which also have high amounts of omega 3s just like duckweed. Individually, these staples are good, and now they work together."

Remember: the "green" Mediterranean diet requires you to cut down on red meat for best results, to snack on a few handfuls of walnuts each day, to make a protein shake (either with duckweed protein or a similar substitute), and to drink 3 or 4 cups of green tea as well (which is healthier than soda or coffee). Cutting down or eliminating red meat looks different for everyone, Horton says: if you can slowly reduce the frequency that you're eating red meat, that's a good start.

You'll also be able to enjoy these staples:

If giving meat up entirely is a challenge for you, you can take a few steps to enjoy it without derailing your diet. First, select a cut of meat that is physically lean: "Go for a filet rather than a large ribeye," Horton advises. Second, make sure you're choosing fresh meat rather than processed products: "Avoid things like processed pork or deli meats," she adds. Lastly, if you have a hankering for bacon or a processed meat, Horton says try incorporating a smaller amount into an otherwise healthy dish. "It's about using it as a garnish or in the same style as a condiment, right? Put a dash of bacon or ham into what you're cooking, to add the flavor and enjoy it, without actually eating an entire plate of it on its own."

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What Is the Green Mediterranean Diet? How to Tweak the Program for Better Results - GoodHousekeeping.com

Its the most wonderful time of the year unless youre on a diet and have set impossible standards for eating during the holidays.

Theres nothing wrong with taking an everything in moderation approach at the dinner table, but other rules we establish for ourselves around the holidays can actually hinder rather than help our overall health. Think Ill work out extra hard so I can earn my holiday meal, or I want to eat clean this holiday, so Ill skip the pie.

Anyway, if youre stressing about holiday weight gain, youre probably doing so needlessly. Research shows that holiday weight gain does happen, but generally only to a minor degree. One study on college-aged adults found that holiday eating only contributed to between half a pound and two pounds of weight gain. You may not even gain anything at all. In any case, there should be no moral value assigned to weight loss or weight gain: Demonizing food at the holidays (or any other time) can have a negative effect on your mental health.

What are some of the most common rigid diet rules that people establish for themselves at the holidays even though theyre more harmful than healthy? Below, dietitians and other experts share what food concepts to throw out the window this holiday season.

Skipping a meal or snack before a holiday party to save room.

This one has restrictive diet written all over it. You could play the waiting game, but who wants to listen to their stomach grumble all day and get hangry at their relatives for not eating at an earlier hour? Plus, waiting until dinner to eat something may end up backfiring, said Cara Harbstreet, a registered dietitian at Street Smart Nutrition in Kansas City, Missouri, and the author of Healthy Eating for Life: An Intuitive Eating Workbook.

Your body still needs to be nourished and energized throughout the day, and skipping meals or snacks can leave you overly hungry or disconnected from hunger and fullness cues when it comes time to actually dig in, Harbstreet told HuffPost. Although many people use this approach, remember youre allowed to eat according to your hunger regardless of what holidays gatherings are taking place.

Working out hard to earn a holiday meal or treats.

The suggestion that we have to earn or burn our food is entirely rooted in diet culture, said Kathleen Meehan, a registered dietitian in Houston. Your big plate of food isnt an award for good behavior at the gym its just a plate of food.

This rule is often perpetuated in how we talk about movement or exercise, and sometimes its even used as a form of motivation for fitness classes, she said. This does a lot of harm and it can unintentionally play a part in normalizing eating disorder behaviors. (With disordered eating, a person is often preoccupied with excessive exercising as a way to burn off calories.)

Telling yourself your diet starts in the new year, as a way to give yourself permission to eat holiday foods now.

When youre fixated on your diet, you may fall prey to now-or-never thinking: Ill load up on all my faves now green bean casserole and a double serving of stuffing and start my diet first thing tomorrow.

But sometimes, thoughts like this cause people to abandon their natural hunger and fullness cues, said Andrea Wachter, a psychotherapist and author of Getting Over Overeating for Teens.

Why cant we eat our favorite foods all year long? she said. When we eat the foods that we like, love, and need in amounts that are respectful to our bodies, we have no use for this type of all-or-nothing thinking.

Wachter said to imagine telling a kid that starting in January, theyll be restricted to limited, low-calorie foods. That kid would probably load up and binge on cookies and other sweets.

The reality is, kids need a variety of nutritious, delicious foods along with some yummy treats and so do adults, she said. Try setting a New Years resolution to feed yourself in a non-restrictive and respectful manner and, if needed, seek support for the unresolved issues that lead to dieting in the first place.

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Restricting yourself from drinks with calories.

Many diets have rules against drinking caloric or sugary beverages, and instead encourage us to stick to water, diet drinks, coffee or tea. That may be a sustainable goal during other seasons, but it can exclude you from many of the social activities and fun of the holidays, Harbstreet said.

If you want to enjoy a comes-around-once-a-year nostalgic recipe, spiced mocktail, or festive favorite, go right ahead, she said. Remember that zero-calorie beverages arent inherently better or more satisfying than the drink youre really craving.

This isnt just about alcohol, she added, although thats certainly an option if you wish to indulge responsibly.

Making healthy swaps for dishes you love, so you can enjoy them guilt-free.

Give yourself permission to eat what you like this holiday season. (Some of these dishes are only on offer once a year, so why deprive yourself of that deliciousness?)

I often encourage clients to consider what healthy really means to them, Meehan said. How can we expand the binary healthy vs. unhealthy and add in some room for nuance? If swapping out ingredients for the healthy version means less satisfaction, pleasure, connection to memories or your culture... is that really going to be healthy for you?

Thinking of food as something to burn off.

Again, dieting often trains us to think of eating and exercise as an exchange system: calories in, calories out. If we know we cant work off the sweets at the table, we might pass and say, Ah, Id love to, but theres no way I could work that off with the amount of exercise Ive been doing lately.

We internalize that into a belief that we must make up for or compensate for what we eat through physical activity, Harbstreet said.

Instead of refusing a serving of food, tap into your appetite and enjoy what you love with zero guilt. If youre full and cant take a slice of cheesecake, recognize that. But if its calling your name and you have room, by all means, have some.

Theres no need to adopt an earn-and-burn mindset around food and eating, Harbstreet said. Just enjoy it if you want to, or pass if you dont.

How to actually enjoy the holiday foods youre eating

If your goal is to eat smart this season and into the new year you may want to give intuitive eating a shot. Its the idea that no dieting is the very best diet of all.

Instead of falling into the trap of tiresome food rules, intuitive eaters listen to their bodies and give themselves permission to eat what they want. They rely on their internal hunger and fullness cues to tell them when, what and how much to eat.

Given how ineffective diets can be 95% of people who lose weight on a diet regain it within five years many dietitians and nutritionists are starting to sing the praises of intuitive eating.

I think as the holidays approach, its wise to consider exploring the non-diet approach, which allows for a peaceful relationship with food by allowing permission to eat pleasurable, satisfying foods year-round, Meehan said.

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6 Stupid Holiday Food 'Rules' That Are Really Diets In Disguise - HuffPost

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Supplements contain substances that provide the body with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. They can come in capsule, gel tablet, powder, extract, and sometimes liquid forms. They are used and consumed to make up for a certain deficiencies in the body of a specific nutrient or vitamin or to prevent the occurrence of potential health problems. Sometimes, they even contain fiber, enzymes, amino acids, or plants that are needed for a health condition of the person who takes them. They are very easy to find in drugstores or grocery stores and you dont need a prescription from a doctor to buy a dietary supplement or vitamin.

Supplements can be a very good solution for people who cant eat certain categories of food. Although they should not be used as a substitute for healthy foods, most people find it very challenging to get all the required nutrients needed for maintaining a healthy lifestyle from their diet alone. Thats why they turn to vitamins and dietary supplements. The health experts at NatuRoids.health explain that some plant-based supplements can provide natural steroid-like effects for athletes trying to increase their stamina and gain muscle mass. Other dietary supplements can provide you with calcium and vitamin D that enhance bone growth and prevent age-related bone damage. Even heart diseases can be avoided or treated with some help from omega-3 fatty acids found in some over-the-counter dietary supplements.

When taking supplements, a person has to remain cautious and consult experts to avoid unnecessary complications. Its important to talk to your doctor when taking a certain supplement and this is to ensure that you are not going to develop any extreme side effects from its presence in your body. For instance, some supplements cannot be taken before surgery, or they can interact with the anesthesia meds given before surgery, which can alter your response to pain and create risk during the procedure. Other supplements may even cause or increase internal bleeding, which is a big problem, and therefore, you will need to be fully aware of the dietary addition you are adding and check with a medical professional before you do.

Supplements can be a great addition to your diet, but you need to be cautious if you are dealing with any medical condition. Always talk to your doctor before introducing any new substance into your diet and make sure you choose the right supplement before buying one. Its also important to read about the side effects of any supplement youre considering and make sure none of them are likely to affect your health negatively.

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The power of supplements: how they work and what they do - Eye On Annapolis

We are on a constant search for ways to lose weight on both sides of the equation, meaning we are always looking for ways to decrease calorie intake (and still be able to eat Christmas cookies) and we are always searching for ways to burn more calories.

We really like the idea of burning more calories without working for it. Really, isnt that the magic pill people are looking for?

The thermic effect of food is one of those exercise-free mechanisms to burn more calories. The thermic effect refers to an increase of metabolic rate after eating food. It costs energy to eat and digest food. Our basal metabolic rate is when we are sitting around doing nothing. As soon as we start doing something, tapping a finger, or even digesting a cookie we are burning calories. Well skip the benefits of chewing every bite an extra 20 times as we dont want to become a country of round-headed, muscle-faced, pit bull-looking over-chewers. Instead, well focus on the heat produced by digesting and storing food.

Chilies, not celery

Some foods are easier to process than others. Studies show that 20% to 35% of protein calories consumed is used up during the digestive process. Whereas fats and carbohydrates range from 5% to 15% of energy consumed. The joke that celery burns more calories than you eat because of the work needed to digest it has not been verified. A study did show that adding chilies to a diet increases the thermic effect, which technically means that eating hot peppers helps you lose weight.

The mechanism of the thermic effect of food are not fully understood. It is hypothesized that vegans who eat a low-fat diet have increased the thermic effect of the food they eat. This might be due to depleting fats within liver and muscle cells. This lack of fat is believed to increase mitochondrial energy (remember the powerhouse of the cell?) and an increase in metabolism after eating.

A recent four-month study of 244 overweight to obese people measured these effects. One half of the participants were put on a low-fat vegan diet and the other half just kept eating their normal diet. Obviously, this was a major change for many of the participants. The weight lost wasnt just due to a change of thermic effect many people were now eating a diet much higher in fiber, lower in fat, and lower in energy density.

The study group was put on a diet of 75% carbohydrates, 15% protein, and 10% fat. The group receive classes and cooking demos as well as printed materials on what foods to eat and what meals to make. The researchers didnt provide any meals and trusted the participants to make their own food, not break the rules and accurately report what they ate. This degree of freedom was a real weakness in the study, but at the same time, replicates real life. After all, if this article stimulates anyone to change their diet, rest assured I wont be looking over their shoulder to tsk tsk when they break the rules.

Less booze, same exercise

Both groups were asked to limit alcohol and make no change to their exercise habits. Then, over the next four months a bunch of tests were taken.

The newly vegan group lost an average of about 14 pounds each. The control group lost about 1 pound each. This implies just knowing someone is looking over your shoulder at what you eat isnt a real motivator to change a diet. Cholesterol and LDL levels decreased significantly. So did insulin resistance. This is important for diabetics and those with pre-diabetes.

Forty-four subjects underwent imaging to examine liver fat levels. Pate lovers know that fatty livers taste better, but they definitely arent healthier. The study group has their liver fat levels drop by just over one-third. The decrease in liver fat level is believed to increase the thermic effect of food. It was also directly related to decreased insulin resistance. This study was one of the first to show that direct relationship.

Although hard to prove, the study did show that switching to a vegan diet for only four months had a significant effect on insulin resistance and weight loss.

Just maybe, this New Years resolution should include becoming vegan. It isnt easy. Some start with a day a week, then two, and keep moving up as they learn what meals they like. Others quit cold turkey (literally and figuratively) now that were past Thanksgiving it should be easier.

Dr. Salvatore Iaquinta is a head and neck surgeon at Kaiser Permanente San Rafael and the author of The Year They Tried To Kill Me. He takes you on the Highway to Health every fourth Monday.

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Looking to lose weight? This might be the answer - Marin Independent Journal

Even when Dr. Crayton was president of the academy, in 2015 and 2016, she felt out of step with its other leaders. I have heard that behind my back they called me an angry Black woman, because I raised questions, she said. Her nominations of Black dietitians for leadership roles, she added, were frequently snubbed.

Told of her comments, the academy responded, We were not aware of this until now, and we are very saddened to hear that Evelyn was subjected to these inexcusable statements. They do not reflect the academys core values and we are moving swiftly to investigate this matter.

The professions exclusivity goes beyond race. Kai Iguchi, 28, a dietitian working at Rogers Behavioral Health in Oconomowoc, Wis., didnt feel comfortable coming out as nonbinary to graduate-school classmates. When the program itself as a culture is very cisgender, thin, white and female, they said, it is hard to be different and succeed.

Mx. Iguchi said what they learned at school did little to address the unique problems that transgender and nonbinary clients face being misgendered by their dietitians and family members, or feeling discomfort with overtly feminine imagery on health materials. Adult transgender people are also at high risk of developing eating disorders, according to a 2019 study by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Even some dietitians who teach the standard curriculum find it wanting. I have reached my limit with my textbook, said Maya Feller, an adjunct professor in nutrition at New York University, adding that it doesnt take into account social factors that often explain why people of color are disproportionally affected by health issues.

She said she was also unhappy with educational resources like MyPlate, which recommends meals like salmon, brown rice and broccoli, but not the curried chana and doubles served by her mother, who grew up in Trinidad. (After her interview for this article, Ms. Feller was hired as a consultant to help make MyPlate more inclusive.)

If I saw that plate and then looked at my doubles, I would be like, Well, my food is no good.

Ms. Feller, 43, tries instead to promote an ongoing and consistent education around cultural humility not telling patients what they cant eat, but considering the foods they have access to, and embracing, not stigmatizing, their cultural preferences.

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Is American Dietetics a White-Bread World? These Dietitians Think So - The New York Times

Weight loss: Here is how you can make a tofu protein shake for an ideal diet to shed pounds  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: Almost everyone is trying to shed the weight off that they gained over the long lockdown period. Apart from dishes and exercises that promote weight loss, one can also include shakes in their diet. They are easy to make and can contribute to the process of weight loss. This recipe of tofu protein shake is extremely healthy and also, vegan friendly.

The main ingredients of this recipe include tofu, oats and almond milk. Each ingredient offers its own health benefits. Tofu is a rich source of protein, calcium and iron. It also contains a compound called isoflavones. The health benefits this compound can offer include cardiovascular health and improvement of cognitive function.Oats present in this shake recipe will help you get the required fibre. The almond milk present is low in calorie, sugar and high in vitamin E and calcium. This will offer improved bone health and a reduced risk of developing diseases such as osteoporosis.

The recipe, as a whole, is low in calories but rich in protein. This could emerge as a benefit for people working on weight management plans that are focused on muscle gain. You can include this shake as a part of your workout routine.

Get the Latest health news, healthy diet, weight loss, Yoga, and fitness tips, more updates on Times Now

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Weight loss: Here is how you can make a tofu protein shake for an ideal diet to shed pounds - Times Now

Here in Louisiana, people mostly live off of the land. From deer hunting, duck hunting, and fishing to rabbit gravies, fresh chicken eggs and the normal garden veggies, tables and bellies are always filled with the plentiful goods that come easy with hunting and farming. But one family in Vermilion is relying on certain parts of the animals that are sometimes disregarded after processing the meat.Every year during deer hunting season, Leslie Vincent asks hunters to save organs including liver, kidneys and hearts in an effort to restock her freezer to make her daughter Olivias food for her feeding tube. Usually, the turnout is great.The diet, based off of the Wahls Protocol Diet, was suggested by another mother from San Antonio who had a child that was very sick with the same disease Olivia has; a rare and progressive genetic terminal dystrophy, so rare that there are only 25 cases in the US and nearly 100 cases worldwide.Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD) was a diagnosis that scared Leslie. After much research, Leslie knew that what her daughter Olivia would have to go through would be nothing shy of a hard life. Refusing to give up, Leslie reached out to other families and found out that the special diet would be the best option for her daughter.The diet focuses on all natural, organic, grass fed animals and wild caught fish. I make my own bone broth for her with grass fed cattle bone marrow, Leslie said, The diet requires a lot of time and effort to prepare since its all pureed, but its worth every second.The need for the organs are part of the protein in the special diet and Olivia gets organs through a feeding tube 3 times a week. Wild caught Salmon, organic chicken, turkey or wild game are examples of the proteins she needs.Born with no problems, Olivias troubles didnt begin until the age of 18 months as she began to fall a lot. After bringing her to several doctors that included neurologists and geneticists. For two years, there were tests after tests with no answers. Olivia continued to regress. They told me I may have to settle for cerebral palsy as a diagnosis, but after doing research, I knew that was not what Olivia had as she began to develop, Olivia was able to walk and talk, Leslie said.After begging her geneticist at Oschner to send Olivia elsewhere so they could do more extensive testing, he said they may never find out what Olivias diagnosis is, but the dedicated mother refused to give up. After a couple of years, Olivia had the diagnosis of INAD.Leslie would not rest until she found every bit of information she could get her hands on to better Olivias chances; even knowing that she would lose her daughter at a very early age. At four years old, Olivia could only walk with a walker and wearing a helmet because of the falls, Leslie said, At five years old, she stopped talking and could only crawl and to hear her call me mama is what I miss the most, I wish she could call me mama.There is no cure for the disease since it is so rare, but since her daughter could no longer sit without assistance, having seizures, and choking on foods and liquids, it was decided to put a feeding tube in to give her the proper nutrition. This was when we started Olivia on the Wahls Protocol Diet. Leslie said. Since starting the diet, Olivias family and nurses noticed slight progress with the diet. Olivia was more alert and her seizures went away.Though the disease has progressed a lot since then, Olivias seizures began to reappear. She cant move any of her limbs or control her head, however, she does still smile and has a silly personality. We are currently dealing with the seizures again and the seizure medications are making her lethargic, Leslie said, Im just so scared that she loses her beautiful smile and silly personality. We both enjoy snuggles and even though its becoming a little hard since Olivia is now 12 years old and nearly the size of me, I wont stop picking her up and rocking her.Leslies persistence in finding anything that will work for her daughter has led her to many places. But surely, being from Louisiana has benefited the family in many ways. Every year, Leslie reaches out to those farmers and to the hunters for the leftovers in order to stock her freezer for Olivia. There was another little girl who lived in Lyons Point that passed away a year ago in October at the age of 17. The mother of the little girl followed the same diet and we all got close to the family. I cant tell you how hard it was to attend the funeral and see that child in the casket, Leslie said, It hit so close to home and reminded me of what my future will be like in the next 4-5 years.Leslie says she will do anything to help her daughter. Being a teacher at Mount Carmel, Olivia gets 60 hours of nursing per week, other than those times, Leslie is taking care of her daughter around the clock with help from her 16 year old son Ethan and other family members. We have so much support. Olivia has taught us so much about the world and she teaches me how to be her Mama. I thank God everyday that he has chosen me to be her Mama. To experience the love of a special needs child is indescribable. Its heaven onEarth and Olivia is like one of my limbs that I cannot live without. Everything I have to do for her is worth it.Everything is worth it. Leslies mother, Bonita Hopkins, helps her once a month to cook and prepare Olivias food, which only lasts 3-4 weeks. An example of one batch of food for Olivia includes: 3 cups of leafy green vegetables, 1 cup of sulfur vegetables, 1 cup of color vegetables, 1 cup of bone broth, 10 ounces of protein, 1/2 of an avocado, a clove of garlic, strawberries, blueberries, shiitake mushrooms, crimini mushrooms and water.Knowing that Olivia will not be here forever, she is still thankful for the time she has with her. I know that Olivia will become sicker and I will have to be up with her several times a night, she said, I know that she will get pneumonia and possible hospitalizations and I know that Ill only be able to work 2-3 more years, but its okay, everything we are going through has taught me to slow down and enjoy life with my son, who will soon be a VC student and Olivia, who changed me in so many ways.Olivia speaks from her eyes and could turn the coldest of hearts. This diet is just a small way we could help her thrive. Being from Louisiana, with the heritage of living off of the land and the hearts of the giving, Leslie is happy that people have no problem helping. Its humbling and it will never be forgotten.

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Relying on the heart: Vermilion Parish Mother collects from hunters to help daughter - The Kaplan Herald

The closest I came was in Hawaii, all the way back in February. I was eating out with a big group of people Id just met, at a sushi restaurant on Oahus North Shore, sunburnt, drunk on sake, trading jokes that are better left out of print. A couple courses in, the waiter brought out a bamboo board with a lava rock grill, a plate with cooking fat, and a tray of marbled Hokkaido Wagyu steak. I audibly cursed.

Last November, I quit meat. Like everyone else, I havent caught up with too many people this year. But when I do, and that fresh fact eventually comes to light, they generally reply: Really? Why?

Ive found its easier to offer up a single, digestible reason indigestion, heart health, rain forests than tell the truth, which is that it was a long, incremental, incredibly dull process. One night I had snap peas and carrots with noodles instead of steak. I felt great on my run the next morning. A month later I watched a documentary about athletes and plant-based protein. A couple weeks after that I didnt order bacon on my Sunday morning egg sandwich. During a trip to a science museum in San Francisco, I learned about the link between cheeseburgers and deforestation. In the concluding chapter of one of my favorite non-fiction books I read last year, the author explained why hed moved on from meat. I read his words three times.

Eventually, there was a day that I had my last piece of meat. Thats how I know its been a year. But there was nothing ceremonial about it at the time. It became the last meal after the fact, after I decided that Id seen enough, that I could live without it, because apparently Id been trending in that direction for a long time.

Wagyu beef skewers, like the ones I passed up in Hawaii

Stefan Cristian Cioata/Getty Images

And then came Hawaii, where the waiter showed me how to spread the lard around the lava to get it ready for the beef. No one on the trip knew about my fledgling dietary decision. Even if they had, no one would have judged me for partaking. Still my mouth watering, my spirit shaky I held off. Instead, somewhat comically, I cooked a steak for a friend who was too far down the table to reach the station.

There are days that I miss it. I think about it a bit more around holidays, when its sizzling on the grill, or sitting there in the middle of the table, just the same as it always has. I ooh and aah with my roommate when we watch Parts Unknown, and Bourdain is in Uruguay or Oman and someone hands him a dripping, glistening piece of meat on a stick or over a bed of rice. (Ill ask myself, as if checking some sort of mental manual, whether it would be disrespectful to turn down a local delicacy if I were in the same situation.)

And I wonder, too, where Id be without the pandemic, which saved me a summer of having to smell hot dogs at Yankee Stadium. I like to sit in the left field bleachers, Section 237, where a couple dozen men start chanting CHI-CKEN BU-CKET! over and over again in the fifth inning. They proudly pick up their hollow tubs which not long before before housed 10 chicken tenders and a pound of fries then present them to a raucous crowd.

Its a testament to the growing diversity of plant-based personalities these days, I suppose, that I can write nostalgically about carnivorous days. Im not here to levy guilt, or link out to photos of animals kept in desolate conditions. I dont want to tell Americans to eat less meat. In fact, I dont need to. Recent surveys suggest that an overwhelming majority (90%) of Americans are eager to eat more fruits and vegetables, while a sizable figure (over 50%) are open to subbing out red meat for plant-based alternatives.

There are positives to this lifestyle choice enough that I have no plans to abandon it here at the start of year two but there are pitfalls, too, which I wish Id known more about before I started. However you come to your decision to divorce meat, either from months of diligent reading or after one bad bout with a burrito, you should know what to expect from the world youre entering into. So here are my takeaways from 12 months without beef, pork, poultry or fowl (I identified as a pescatarian, so I was still eating some seafood).

Maeda Rei/EyeEm

Giving up meat 30 years ago wasnt a bad idea. But it was bad timing. If your goal was to eat fewer animals, there were plenty of plants to choose from, but that was pretty much it. For years, our concept of diet was somewhat binary, hingeing on omnivores versus vegetarians, and a lack of creativity or optionality reflected this status quo. Thanks to the last half-decades revolution in plant-based products, though propelled by imitation meat giants based in Silicon Valley or the tech hubs of Europe going meatless doesnt have to mean only eating food grown in the ground or on trees. It also includes food grown in labs.

By 2027, the global plant-based food market will be worth $72.4 billion. Brands like Beyond Burger and Impossible Foods, which pioneered soy protein simulation meat, are now easily recognized and increasingly popular at grocery stores and fast-food joints across the country and world. A year ago, Id never had a plant-based burger in my life. This summer, I wrote an entire guide to grilling them. In fairness, not every vegetarian is interested in this new wave. But I certainly am: for me, the definitive arrival of alternative meats has lowered the intimidation barrier to a life without meat. Its eased the blow of removing all those familiar, beloved tastes from my life, as in their stead Ive come to truly enjoy and even crave certain plant-based foods.

An additional note on timing: the best is probably yet to come. In Tel Aviv, a company called SuperMeat recently became the worlds first to serve so-called cultured meat to a commercial public. They make a chicken sandwich sourcing the powers of cellular agriculture, harvesting meat without harming any animals. Its possible that 10 years from now we could all be accustomed to eating such cultured meat, which begs an interesting question. If you quit meat in 2020, why are you doing so? Would the promise of cruelty-free meat bring you back in 2030? Upon some internal reflection, I was interested to learn my answer is yes. That indicates to me that the treatment of animals and the preservation of the planet have become my biggest reasons for doing this.

Ive lost almost 20 pounds since I quit meat. Thats not necessarily weight I was trying to lose, but Ive also taken up long-distance running again, a sport which favors a lighter frame, so I dont mind. The running has definitely contributed to the weight loss. And yet its all interconnected, considering Ive run faster times (Im convinced of this) because I quit meat. The fitness aspect was a huge initial draw for me to a plant-based diet, and I can say, quite roundly, it has delivered. I was familiar with research at the outset. In theory, switching to a plant-based diet can trim your waistline, boost athletic performance, sharpen your day-to-day focus, increase your libido and improve your sleep. Those who eat a lot of red meat are at an increased risk of death from heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Vegetarians, by contrast, take in less calories and less fat.

I talked to one vegetarian at the start of this, who told me the most common question he gets is Where do you get your protein? Americans, especially American men, are extremely anxious about this concept, as if guzzling protein shakes is the silver bullet to fitness, instead of getting your heart rate up on a consistent basis. The reality is, I was getting way too much protein before I gave up meat, and I still take in more than enough. Most Americans consume double the amount that they need each day. A different question we might start asking ourselves is Where do you get your energy? I remember heading straight for the couch not the gym after eating particularly meaty dishes. Fatty, high-sodium foods close up the arterial pathways, making it difficult for blood vessels to oxygenate the body.

Thats not to say you cant get ripped on a diet of chicken and steak. Millions of people have. But it really just depends on your fitness goals. Ive moved away from bang-bang, short-run strength training in recent years in favor of running and functional, full-body fitness workouts. That brand of exercise requires more energy, better blood flow and an emptier stomach. Im in a great place these days. I recently ran my fastest mile in 10 years (4:43). Its important to remember, also, that a shift in focus from protein to energy could also have implications on longevity. Countless studies of metabolic health have linked a reduced protein-high carbohydrate diet to more years lived on the planet. This is true of every community with a disproportionate amount of centenarians (Blue Zones) throughout the world.

Im a big alternative meats guy, yes, but Ive also taken the plant part of the plant-based diet seriously this year. I have tried and tried cooking more foods this year, namely vegetables, than the previous five years combined. Its worth taking a break from meat just to remind yourself that as a food group, it can be a bit of a ball-hog. Meat is always looking for ways to dominate a meal. Theres a reason many men report feeling like a meal is incomplete or insufficiently filling without meat. But foods like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and chickpeas can be a worthy main course if given a chance. During peak quarantine, my speciality became a tray of oven-roasted carrots dressed in honey, garlic and gorgonzola.

Photo by Ollie Millington/Getty Images

This is one of the pitfalls I mentioned earlier: there is a sense when you give up meat, that you have a ton of healthy credit in the bank. After all, youre constantly denying yourself a food group that is connected to bad heart health and a slew of other ailments. This must mean youve earned the right to fill up on anything flavorful that youre still allowed to eat, like pizza, potato chips and ice cream. When the main goal is to avoid meat, excessive consumption of butter, cheese and sugar feels reasonable, if even a little expected. But a full plant-based diet is only effective when meat is replaced with whole food alternatives; in fact, if a so-called junk food plant-based diet becomes your endgame, studies indicate that you would have been better off just sticking with meat.

To avoid rookie vegetarianism, prioritize real, whole foods. Think starchy vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats. Eschew processed foods with preservatives or thickeners. Earlier in the year, Id go to bed patting a stomach full of French fries and beer, thinking to myself Well done, still safe.Theres nothing wrong with consuming French fries and beer in moderation, at least but doing so to make up for a meatless lifestyle can be a slippery slope if youre not careful. The key for me has been keeping such simple pleasures sporadic and special. During the rest of the week, my diet trends boring. I like edamame, brown rice, pesto pasta. Peanut butter on an apple really gets me going.

In line with this philosophy, I should add, eating alternative meats every single night probably isnt a good idea. The reason theyre so tasty owes to the super-sized sodium levels. Look no further than their biggest partnerships (Burger King, Qdoba, Subway, KFC). Meatless meats dont carry the cancer risks of red meat, but theyre laden with empty caloriesand can pack four times as much salt as standard ground beef. Theyre also high in saturated fat. Youll get some nutritional value from the blends (black bean burgers have zinc and iron), but at the end of the day it should be considered a reminder of the old a comfort food, not an everyday choice. It carries the plant-based diet tag (really, a plant-based burger might as well be the movements mascot), but it has little to do with a more natural, whole-food plant-based diet.

Be prepared for the Spanish Inquisition: Why? How long have you been doing this? Is this who you are now? So what do you do if, like, youre at someone elses house for a BBQ? Doesnt plant-based meat have estrogen that makes men grow boobs? Do you think Im a monster for eating this burger right now? What kind of meat do you miss the most? Is it really that bad for the environment? Can you even build muscle anymore? Should I try it? Do you have to be an amazing cook? Does that actually taste like meat?

Just try to keep your cool. I truly do not mind fielding questions about a life without meat. Though occasionally misguided or misinformed, these questions are generally a sign of a populace in dietary flux, as millions of Americans have come to reconsider the impact their food choices have on their afternoon, their heart and the planet. Curiosity is a necessary, inevitable first step. In the last 12 months, two people I am quite close with also gave up meat. Others who I have lived with this year have made a conscious decision to eat less meat, as unofficial observers of the nations growing flexitarian movement.

Ive appreciated the solidarity, and I can only imagine what it was like for vegetarians decades ago, who had no Beyond or Impossible Burgers to tide their cravings. Ultimately, though, this is a personal choice, a decision made alone, one made again and again, every night, as I open the fridge and decide whats for dinner.

Whats my biggest takeaway after these 12 months? Its been a long year. Ive felt stomped-over, cramped, lost, confused and forgotten in 2020. But this decision, the reasons I did it and my resolve to stick with it even in the face of marbled Wagyu have all filled me with pride.

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I Went a Year Without Meat. Here's What I Learned. - InsideHook

LAKELAND Lakeland's South Florida Avenue is looking a little slimmer these days in Dixieland.

After the road was narrowed from five lanes to three under the "road diet,"it's new size is getting mixed reviews.

Construction of the South Florida Avenue's $950,000 redesign was completed in early September, several weeks ahead of Florida Department of Transportation'sproposed one-year study period from October 2020 to 2021.

Three months later, residents and local business owners have gotten a chance to test drive theroadway. Jason Hagerman, a Dixieland resident, said he was originally staunchly against project but says his opinion and concerns have changed over time.

"I've been pleasantly surprised that travel time hasn't gone up nearly as much as I thought it would," he said. "Butjust as many of us predicted, it's very difficult during rush hour to get into and out of Dixieland."

Hagerman noted that driving northbound along the main arterial road, there are nointersections that offer a designated left turn signal. He said drivers often must wait for oncoming vehicles to voluntarily stop to make a left. Residents have said this can lead to a backup in the turning lane.

Lakeland's Traffic Department has worked in conjunction with the FDOT since August to implement a re-timing of all traffic signals in the corridor in an attempt to allow for easier travel. Other modifications have been proposed, but are still under consideration.

FDOT officials predictedreducing the number of lanes on the one-mile stretch from Lime Street south to Ariana Street would cause a 17- to 50-seconddelay.

Travel data collected via bluetooth by the city show drivers heading into the downtown area may experience less of an impact than those heading south.

Prior to the road diet,it took the averageperson 2 minutes, 30 seconds during theweekday rush hour 4:45 to 5:45 p.m. to drive South Florida Avenue from Ariana Street north to Lime Street. Now, the city's preliminary data showthe same one-mile stretch takes about 2:58to 3:08a difference of 28 to 38 seconds.

Drivers heading south out of the downtown area have a slightly different experience. Driving along South Florida Avenue from Lime Street to Ariana took roughly2 minutes,15 seconds before the diet. That has increased to 3:29 to 3:56 minutes. That's up to an additional minute and 41seconds, or approximately 75% longer travel time.

Tonya Rogers, president of the Dixieland Historic Neighborhood Association, said the slower speed of traffic has made it easier for her to get out of her neighborhood she usually uses Highland Drive and onto South Florida. Rogersfinds her fellow drivers are willing to allow her to cut in, rather than encountering two lanes of travel flying by.

"I was for the project, and I'm still for the project, I think it's been great," she said. "I do feel safer. Before, the lanes were so narrow, it was kind oflike close your eyes and hope you make it through."

Walkability

Two of the benchmarks for the road diet's success set by the FDOT and the cityare whether the road modifications will improve pedestrian walkability and reduce the number of crashes.

Its been roughly three months since construction wrapped up, and Dixieland isntexactlybooming. Small businesses along the one-mile stretch affected by the new lane constraints said the project hasnt brought them any new customers.

I have notnoticedany more foot traffic or people walking around in this part of Dixieland, no, said Christine Boring, owner of Bungalow Boutique and Gifts.

While business owners agree theroaddiet didnt hurt their stores, they also dont think it helped.

Karen Dasher, owner of Dixieland Relics, said business has beenso busy its bizarresince she reopened around May.WhileDasherisnt sure what to attribute the increased interest to, shes positive it wasn't the new lane constriction. Isolation during the beginning stages of COVID-19 driving people out of their homes, even if just to shop, is a stronger possibility, she said.

Gabriela Benavides, store manager at Coliseum of Comics Lakeland,agrees.

"Its just the same. People who are trying to come to the store have been coming in because they know were here, shesaid.

Benavides said the lack of parking in Dixieland probably contributes to the much lower foot traffic in comparison to downtown.Boringnoted that there is parking alongthe avenue, its just often behind businesses and difficult to find for consumers passing through especially since many cars fly through the Dixieland stretch at top speed.

Despite a lack of increased foot traffic so far,business owners wouldnt mind seeing the road diet become a permanent solution. Even if customers arent taking advantage yet, sidewalksseemsaferand business owners like Dasher now feel comfortable telling customers to use them when walking in between storefronts.

Walking on the sidewalk was scary out there. And its not scary anymore, Boring said. Theyve made a bad situation better.

Rogers, a Dixieland resident, said she previously wouldn't use the sidewalks.

"I walked it before they did the road diet and it was so dangerous I turned around and came home," she said. "I'm excited to see if the change goes through, I think they will see more pedestrian traffic."

Boring and Rogers said they hopethings will get even better oncebeautificationof the sidewalk commences.

The FDOT's original design included placingconcrete sidewalk planters along South Florida Avenue. These are no longer likely to be installed, according to city officials, because of the costs of the planters, installation and maintenance.

Instead, the Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency plans to work with FDOT andadjacent property owners to determine other low-cost beautification measures that can be implemented during the one-year test period.

If the road diet is deemed successful and made permanent, the FDOT and the city will begin work on improvements to Dixieland's sidewalks and intersections, according to city spokesman Kevin Cook,including measures to address issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act that couldn't be addressed with the substandard design that existed prior to current construction.

Degree of Danger

Even if sidewalk safety has improved, other danger persists. Dasher said while the increased traffic along South Florida is not enough to really fuss about, she has noticed an uptick in minor accidents.

Dasher said shes seen three accidents in a short period of time. Theyre all the same: Someone jets out from a storefront into oncoming traffic. Dasher said the road diet has seemedto increase accidents and near misses of that nature.

Were constantly hearing a lot of people squealing tires to keep from having the cars hit each other, Dasher said.

Motorcyclist Alex Peacock, a Dixieland resident of more than adecade, said he feels the redesign while offering wider travel lanes, leaves him less available space to move away from oncoming vehicles by placing concrete bumpers between the vehicle and bike lane.

"I feel like I'm in more danger," Peacock said. "It almost takes away possible escape routes for me."

Traditionally, Peacock said bike lanes and the road shoulders often serve as a last resort for motorcyclists looking to get away from an oncoming vehicle.

"I'm absolutely feeling the pinch," he said.

Peacock said he's also seen a number of unaware drivers bottom out their carson the temporary concrete curb cuts when trying to get over a lane or turn at the last minute.

There were31 accidents reported to the Lakeland Police Department in the affected portion of South Florida Avenue, between Lime and Ariana streets between Aug. 1 andOct. 31. By comparison, the same stretch of road had 14 accidents in 2019 and 17 in 2018, according to reports provided to The Ledger by Lakeland police spokeswoman Robin Tillett.

"A preliminary review of recent crash data has revealed that the number of rear-endcrashes has increased to date.Unfortunately, this type of reaction is typical when modifications are made to roadway networks," the city said in a written statement upon review of the data.

This year's accidents have resulted in eight injuries,double the four reported in 2018 and one in 2019. However, the police department's roadwayreport does not provide specific details on the severity of each injury.

Lakeland officials responded that rear-end crashes "tend to be less severe" in nature.

"We expect that the rear-end crashes on S. Florida Avenue should reduce as motorists gain a better understanding of the operations," the city's statement said.

There are approximately 10 months left in the official study of the South Florida Avenue road diet before a decision is made on whether the changes become permanent part of Dixieland. The number of overall crashes, vehiclespeeds and travel times, traffic displacement and any related economic development of the corridor, in part thanks to pedestrian traffic, will be considered.

City staff said residents and businesses will have a chance to voice their opinions before a determination is made.

Sara-Megan Walsh can be reached at swalsh@theledger.com or 863-802-7545. Maya Lora can be reached at mlora@gannett.com or 863-802-7558.

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Love it or hate it: Accidents up, travel delayed in early stages of Dixieland road diet - The Ledger