Category Archives: Diet And Food

With the UK on the brink of a deep recession and many households facing increasing financial pressure as a consequence of coronavirus, IGDs Chief Economist James Walton explores the relationship between health and wealth and highlights some key considerations for food businesses.

IGD has created hypotheses describing possible long-term effects of Coronavirus on business, health and sustainability. The six hypotheses connected to health and wellness are, briefly:

(A complete discussion of these can be downloaded here LINK)

A strand that links some of these hypotheses together is economics economic outcomes shape the choices made by shoppers and governments.

Unfortunately, the economy of the UK and other Western nations was not performing strongly before the emergence of Coronavirus, leaving little margin to cope with shock.

Average real household income in the UK was broadly flat between 2010 and 20191, household cash resources are limited2 and some households have spent less on food and drink over time3.

Economic pressure has now been amplified by Coronavirus and consequent lockdown measures; the UK government is predicting an exceptionally deep recession and a rapid increase in unemployment4.

Data from ONS suggests that this is already happening, with economic activity slumping and a deterioration in the labour market, with implications for the income of working age households.

Shoppers themselves seem despondent. IGDs ShopperVista surveys show that confidence in personal financial outcomes fell sharply in March and April 2020 in view of recent events, this view is not unreasonable.

Households that see income reduced will be forced to make new choices across the entire household budget, including food shopping.

Social welfare implications are concerning, since many UK households were food-stressed before Coronavirus, relying on food banks and school meals to supplement their diets.

Charities have reported a steep increase in demand the Trussell Trust distributed 81% more food parcels in March 2020 and 89% more in April 2020, when compared with the same months in 2019.

Looking ahead, it is hard to find cause for optimism. With Coronavirus still present and the challenge of EU exit approaching, a quick return to economic growth and better outcomes for households seems unlikely.

It is quite likely that the economic position of many households will worsen before getting better. This may happen rapidly and on a large scale, impacting shoppers at all income levels.

The association between low income and poor health is well-understood. Dietary choices differ markedly between the poorest and richest households in the UK.

Source: Family Food Survey 2017-18, ONS, February 2020

ONS data shows that UK households in the bottom income decile (ie: the lowest 10%) tend to consume far less fruit and veg than those in the top decile, for example5.

Differing diets are reflected in differing health outcomes. NHS data shows that adults are more likely to be overweight and obese when they report multiple indicators of deprivation.

Source: Health Survey for England 2018, NHS, 2019

If, as anticipated, the consequences of Coronavirus and EU exit cause citizens to become less well-off, then they may be expected to make new choices across all aspect of the household budget, including food.

This may mean that the dietary quality of much of the population may decline in the months and years ahead, rolling-back progress made over recent years.

This creates a daunting challenge for government and for public services, but it means challenges for food businesses also:

Amid the economic and biological gloom, it is hard to find much cheer, but there may be room for optimism in certain aspects of diet and health:

These points offer food businesses the chance to open new fronts in communication with shoppers and, more importantly, a chance to present positive messages in hard times.

Sources

More:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): impacts on health and wealth - IGD

From Men's Health

Ryan Murphy is no stranger to an intense workout. As a gold medal Olympic swimmer, he often endures nine water practices, three weight training sessions, and two dry-land sessions within the course of a typical week. While the Olympics are currently postponed, Murphy ensures his diet complements his training, as Mens Health discovered when he spoke to the magazine about what he eats on a typical training day.

Murphys philosophy to his diet? Keep it simple. I want to be able to refuel from my training, and use my diet to complement [it], he says.

Although Murphy is not a morning person, he wakes up at 5:20 a.m. in order to get himself to practice. Because he doesnt like to make a meal before working out, he usually grabs a banana. After completing his first workout of the day, Murphy makes an egg omelet with salmon, spinach, onions, and mushrooms. He also loves a bowl of yogurt with berries and granola.

At lunch time, the Olympic swimmer eats chicken, salmon, or turkey right before his afternoon practice. A typical lunch for Murphy includes some type of protein, a solid grainsuch as rice or quinoaand a veggie.

I dont want to just have protein, because then Im not able to perform at a high level, Murphy says. But I dont want to just have carbs, because my muscles get broken down a lot through weight sessions."

Murphys biggest meal of the day is usually dinnertime, which is similar to lunch. When he has a sweet tooth, he reaches for his favorite snack: a bowl of yogurt, berries, and granola.

While Murphys diet stays relatively consistent, the athlete adjusts meals depending on how he feels. Murphy eats more carbs when he's tired and additional protein when he's sore.

"I try to keep it relatively simple so that its easy for me to follow, but my diet is a huge part of my performance, he says. Ive invested a lot of time and energy into finding what works for me.

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Olympic Swimmer Ryan Murphy Swears by This Breakfast Every Day - Yahoo Lifestyle

What intersection do you avoid for fear of serious bodily harm? asked The Spokesman-Review in 1999.

The answer from readers, resoundingly, by a 4-to-1 margin, in the admittedly unscientific survey was Mission Avenue and Hamilton Street.

At the heart of their complaints was the difficulty of making left turns, and they urged the city to add left-turn lights, saying their absence encourages the running of red lights, the papers reporter wrote at the time.

After delaying action for more than 20 years, today the city will at last grant those concerned drivers their wish, breaking ground on a five-month project to add dedicated left-turn pockets and signals along the Hamilton Street corridor from Desmet Avenue to North Foothills Drive.

Heres what the project will include:

When the $3.3 million project is completed, the approximately 30,000 cars that travel through the corridor each day will move more freely, easily and safely, said Marlene Feist, director of strategic development for the Public Works Department.

But between now and the end of November, when the work is scheduled to be finished, drivers can expect the opposite: delays and detours.

While one lane heading in each direction will remain open on Hamilton throughout the project, closures of the cross streets will be required, Feist said.

For the next two weeks, Mission, from Hamilton to Columbus, and Desmet, from Cincinnati to Columbus, will be closed, while Hamilton will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the Mission and Desmet intersections.

Crews will aim to complete work at the Mission and Desmet intersections in August. They will then move to Sharp and Illinois, before tackling Indiana and North Foothills.

Meanwhile, two other projects are underway one block to the west, on Cincinnati Avenue, where the city has been building its first greenway and the Spokane Transit Authority recently kicked off work on the coming bus rapid transit City Line.

As part of that work, crews will be paving the intersection of North Foothills and Cincinnati this week, so drivers should expect lane closures there, too.

Feist said those projects, while distinct from the coming Hamilton corridor improvement, are part of a broader effort to improve safety and amenities not only for cars but also for bicyclists, pedestrians, bus riders and others in the area around Gonzaga University.

The greenway a street thats open to cars and, in this case, public transit, but that prioritizes non-motorized modes of transportation is key to maintaining Hamilton as a north-south corridor for traffic, while also improving safety in an area that probably has more pedestrians than anywhere in the city, Feist said.

While the transit infrastructure in the area just north of Gonzaga will be transformed over the next couple of years with the completion of the corridor project, the greenway and the City Line, which will cross Hamilton at Mission beginning in 2022, Feist said there are no existing plans to put the street on the kind of road diet that North Monroe Street recently underwent.

In part, Feist said, that has to do with the very different conditions on the two streets, including Hamiltons greater width and nearly twice as heavy traffic volumes. But she didnt rule out an eventual, more drastic change.

The only time it might be feasible is when the North Spokane Corridor is finished, she said.

When that happens, she noted, some of Hamiltons traffic will likely move to the long-awaited and oft-delayed freeway, perhaps freeing up the street for a more drastic makeover. Soon, though, drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to reap the benefits of the citys less drastic but still significant and long-awaited changes to the area.

Crews got to work last week on what will be a three-year project to expand Idaho Highway 41 from two lanes to four lanes between Post Falls and Rathdrum.

Expansion will better serve the drivers who use this route every day, which in some sections is nearly 20,000 motorists, Ryan Hawkins, resident engineer with the Idaho Transportation Department, said in a news release. The existing highway will essentially become the southbound lanes of the new highway, allowing much of the work to be constructed with minimal impact.

New lanes will be added east of the existing lanes, along with a wide path for bicyclists and pedestrians. Outside of city limits, the lanes will be divided by a grassy median.

An overpass will be built to carry traffic safely over the railroad tracks that cross the highway just north of Hayden Avenue. The other crossing, south of Hayden, will be removed.

Construction of the overpass will be the first step in expanding the highway, with the northbound bridge to be completed in spring 2021 and the southbound bridge to be finished in early 2022.

The project is one of a number in the works to expand the transportation capacity of booming Kootenai County.

The Washington State Department of Transportation will continue work this week on I-90s Medical Lake/S.R. 902 interchange, which is in the midst of a major expansion and where crews are at work on a new roundabout at the tops of the eastbound ramps.

Spokane County will also continue work on a nearby and related Geiger Boulevard project from Hayford Road to Soda Road. Drivers can expect the road to be open this week, though with flaggers possibly present as crews continue work.

The intersection of Rowan Avenue and Market Street will be closed starting today for a $3.5 million sewer-relocation project being completed to make way for the North Spokane Corridor.

Northbound Market Street traffic will be detoured to Haven Street via Diamond Avenue. During this work, Haven Street will serve both southbound and northbound traffic.

Read more here:
Getting There: Hamilton corridor to get long-awaited but disruptive update - The Spokesman-Review

I know a thing or two about diet culturethe idea that thin bodies are healthy and should be idealized while larger bodies should be fixed. Once upon a time, I was completely wrapped up in diet culture, an expert in all the various diets with a strong opinion on which ones were worth trying and which ones were not. To be honest, if Im not paying attention, I can still find parts of my subconscious wandering into a diet culture mentalityweighing the delight Ill find in that piece of chocolate against how many steps Ive taken in the day.

Which isnt surprising to anyone. Im a thirty-seven-year-old woman and mostwell, allof my formative years were shaped by diet culture. For that reason, mostwell, the most recentof my adult years have been shaped by trying to unlearn diet culture so I dont pass that nonsense on to my daughter, who has so many better things to think about than the size of her pants and the calorie count in her chocolate milkwho should grow up knowing her worth has nothing to do with the size or shape of her body.

In my unlearning, I read the messages that are often shared and re-shared on social media: diet culture is the patriarchy; diet culture is just another way men are trying to control womens bodies; if women didnt spend so much time trying to be smaller, think of what we could do with all that brain power.

I nodded and clicked like on each message. But the truth is, I didnt actually know what it meant when I read diet culture is the patriarchy. The loosest link I could find was in the fact that diet culture needs to be dismantled and the patriarchy needs to be dismantled, so, sure, the two could be one and the same.

It wasnt until I saw a post that showed the names and photos of all the most popular fad diet creators: from Paleo to Atkins, Raw Food to Master Cleanse, that I realized what the true link was between diet culture and the patriarchy. All those diets, all those food moderation systems aimed toward making women smaller, keeping them distracted while men built empires, were created by white menas in, the ones in power. As in, the patriarchy.

Story continues

It was a light bulb moment for two reasons. One, because it gave a visual to the words Id only nodded along with. These men have been telling women what and how to eat in order to lose weight. These many men have been telling women they need to use their precious mental bandwidth to decide whats right to eat and whats wrong. And these men have been behind hundreds, maybe even thousands, of conversations Ive had with other women over egg white only omelets and salads with no croutons.

And two, because that post made me realize that, despite believing I was unlearning diet culture by not actively participating in a diet, I maybe wasnt unlearning as much as I thought. I didnt really understand the link between diet culture and the patriarchy in a more than social-media-superficial way.

Scary Mommy spoke with Stephanie Roth, LCSW, CEDS, Intuitive Eating Counselor, to get a deeper understanding of how diet culture and the patriarchy are linked. She pointed us to look at the moment women earned the right to vote, the moment we began to scrape together a little power for ourselves, to see how diet culture exploded. The posters and ads against the suffragette movement showed women in larger bodies in a negative, undeserving way. In essence, As we became more powerful, they tried to shrink us, according to Roth.

One stark example of how diet culture exploded in response to womens empowerment is to look at the 1960s second wave of feminism when women rejected the repressive roles of the 1950s and the rise of Twiggy, a hyper-thin supermodel who rose to fame and became the ideal for beauty and body types.

Naomi Wolf, author of New York Times Bestseller, The Beauty Myth, writes, [W]hen women came en masse into male spheres, that pleasure [of a woman enjoying her natural fullness] had to be overridden by an urgent social expedient that would make womens bodies into the prisons that their homes no longer were.

While women were attempting to fight for womens rights and equal treatment, the patriarchy, the men desperate to hold onto their power, began bombarding women with the message that they should be smaller, they should take up less space, they should strive to meet this impossible (and unhealthy) ideal rather than strive and fight for the things that matter. According to Roth, the message women received was that we were not good enough as we were, and in order to have power we have to look a certain way, we have to act a certain way.

All these decades later, nothing has changed. Men are still creating diets aimed to make women smaller, aimed to keep women talking about whether they can cheat with that piece of cake rather than about how to build that empire, or even how to dismantle a system that constantly wants them to feel uncomfortable in their own skin.

Understanding the link between diet culture and the patriarchy makes it that much easier to reject all the noise of diet culture. Which is important, because, as Roth points out, we cant fight the patriarchy or do much else on an empty stomach; we cant reach our full potential as women if we are constantly thinking about shrinking our bodies and calories.

The undeniable truth to take away: have that piece of chocolate, because its one step closer toward dismantling the patriarchy.

See the original article on ScaryMommy.com

Read the original here:
Diet Culture Is Just The Patriarchy In Action - Yahoo Lifestyle

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition used to be known as adult onset diabetes, but today more children are being diagnosed with the disorder, most probably because of the rising childhood obesity.

With this disorder, the pancreas either resists the effects of insulin or does not produce enough of it to maintain glucose levels, according to Mayo Clinic. There is no cure for Type 2 diabetes, but a person who has the disorder can manage it.

Insulin is a hormone that regulates the sugar inside the body. If blood sugar levels are not controlled, it can damage blood vessels, which can cause various problems to the body.

Luckily, diet can help manage blood sugar levels and enhance diabetic people's insulin efficiency, thereby lowering high blood sugar levels.

According to experts, there is food that best facilitates the process of managing blood sugar in the body, which gives surprising results. One of these food is cocoa powder, made from cocoa beans without the fat or cocoa butter.

It is most known as the main ingredient for making chocolate, but it also contains compounds that help manage diabetes. This compound is known as flavonols, a type of polyphenol that are compounds found in plants.

Studies indicate that cocoa flavanols slow down carbohydrate digestionand absorption in the gut, improve insulin production, reduce inflammation, and allows the uptake of sugar out of the blood into the muscle.

Slowing down the rate of carbohydrate absorption is crucial in starving off high blood sugar levels because carbohydrate has a pronounced effect on blood sugar levels.

Furthermore, a reviewof human studies suggests that eating dark chocolate or cocoa high in flavanols can reduce insulin sensitivity, improve blood sugar management, and reduce inflammation in diabetic people and those who do not have it.

Moreover, some studieshave shown that a higher intake of flavonols can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Read Also: Look! Physics Made this Chocolatey Magic Possible

Avigdor Arad, Ph.D. of Icahn School of Medicine's instructor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and bone disease said that it has to be 100% unsweetened cocoa or cocoa powder. He explains that cocoa powder contains very little sugar and is mostly made up of fiber.

Furthermore, unsweetened cocoa powder is also very low on the glycemic index (GI), a value assigned to foods based on how slowly or quickly they cause increases in blood sugar levels. Foods high in GI causes spikes in blood sugar while those low on the GI keep blood sugar levels stable.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics identified other foods that are low on the GI include apples, Greek yogurt, and peanuts.

Flavanolsare commonly found in tea, red wine, blueberries, apples, pears, cherries, and peanuts. They are particularly abundant in cacao beans, which are used to make chocolates.

For many years cocoa has been studied, and it showed that it could help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, prevent blood clots, and fight cell damage.

Additionally, flavanols facilitate brain cell connections, and survival and protect brain cells from toxins or the adverse effects of inflammation.

Read more: No to Dementia: Drink Red Wine, Eat Dark Chocolates and Other Flavonoid-Rich Foods

See the original post:
Treat Type 2 Diabetes By Adding This Tasty Food to Your Diet - Science Times

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No matter how potent they may be, luxe moisturizers and anti-aging serums can only do so much. Youthful skin begins within, and the lifestyle choices we makeincluding what foods we eat (and dont eat), how much exercise and sleep we commit to, and the extent to which we embrace sunscreenhave tremendous impact on the way that we age. Diet is especially key, says wellness expert, and author of Glow 15 and High Fiber Keto, Naomi Whittel. Its so important to consider food as part of our anti-aging arsenal because food nourishes every cell in our body. When your body is nourished, it can do exactly what it is capable of. It can anti-age itself, it just needs to be activated. Science shows us that food does this. Proper nutrition can support collagen synthesis to fight wrinkles and keep the complexion plump, promote hydration retention for a dewy glow, and encourage elasticity, in addition to promoting overall vitality and mental acuity. Here, five of the best powerhouse anti-aging foods to add to your menu.

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1Artichoke

A spiky artichoke may not be the first snack you think to reach for when seeking a health boost, but these thistle-family wonders offer a host of whole-body benefits. "They're rich in soluble fiber, specifically inulin, a powerful prebiotic that is the absolute favorite food of your gut microbiome," says Whittel. "Eighty percent of our immune system lives in our gut, so eating artichokes can boost your immunity, metabolism and mood. They are also a good source of key nutrients, including 'electrolyte' minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium) and they are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, supporting collagen development and overall anti-aging."

2Avocado

Avocado toast is a health food. "Rich in the antioxidant vitamin E, avocados have been shown to reduce damage from UV rays and make skin more resilient," says Whittel. "This high-fat fruit lowers LDL, raises HDL, and reduces triglycerides. In fact, regular avocado consumption may make you 50 percent less likely to develop metabolic syndrome." Drizzling avocado oil on saladsor swapping it in occasionally in place of olive oilis another smart strategy: "It's revered for improving cardiovascular health, weight management, and blood glucose control, and its overflowing in oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid shown to reduce inflammation and lower your risk of breast cancer," says Whittel.

3Wild Alaskan Salmon

Nicholas Perricone, MD, first published his famous anti-inflammatory diet, which recommended eating salmon twice a day, back in the 1990s. It remains sage advice. "Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation, prevent dry skin, and ward off skin cancer," says Whittel. "It also contains plenty of vitamin E, which may act as a protectant against photoaging, the premature aging of skin caused by UV rays." The benefits of incorporating salmon into your diet will go beyond radiant skin. "With negligible carbs and an abundance of B vitamins, potassium, and selenium, this strong swimmer contains astaxanthin, a compound shown to reduce joint pain and improve muscle recovery, which are both very important in the anti-aging process," says Whittel.

4Broccoli

"Besides being one of the best foods to eat for reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease, this water-rich cruciferous vegetable is loaded with sulforaphane, a potent phytochemical that activates your detox process, cleaning up old cells and helping your body to behave like it did when it was younger," says Whittel. Broccoli also contains significant levels of lutein, a carotenoid that protects the eyes and enhances brain function.

5Berries

The more colorful your fruit bowl, the better. "All berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries) offer plenty of fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants to help regenerate your youth," says Whittel. "Each type of berry features different polyphenols, such as anthocyanins in blueberries, which may improve cardiovascular health, and ellagic acid in raspberries, a phenol that may bind to certain chemicals responsible for cancer." Plus, berries are bountiful with Vitamin C, which has been proven to promote and preserve collagen in skin.

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5 Anti-Aging Foods to Add to Your Diet - Top Anti-Aging Foods for Hair, Skin, Gut Health - TownandCountrymag.com

In a new study led by Imperial College London, scientists have developed a five-minute urine test that measures the health of a persons diet. The technology can be used to identify the best possible diet for an individual based on his or her unique genetic makeup.

According to the researchers, the test produces an individuals urine fingerprint that includes specific details on diet quality.

Study co-author Dr. Joram Posma is a researcher in Imperials Department of Metabolism, Digestion, and Reproduction.

Diet is a key contributor to human health and disease, though it is notoriously difficult to measure accurately because it relies on an individuals ability to recall what and how much they ate, said Dr. Posma.For instance, asking people to track their diets through apps or diaries can often lead to inaccurate reports about what they really eat.

This research reveals this technology can help provide in-depth information on the quality of a persons diet, and whether it is the right type of diet for their individual biological make-up.

Prior to developing the new testing system, the experts analyzed levels of 46 different metabolites in the urine of 1,848 people in the United States. Metabolites are considered to be an objective indicator of diet quality and are produced as different foods are digested by the body, explained the researchers.

The analysis revealed an association between the metabolites in urine and specific types of foods or nutrients in the diet. Some metabolites correlated with alcohol intake, for example, while others were linked to fructose, glucose and vitamin C. The dietary intake of red meats, chicken, and nutrients such as calcium were also related to certain metabolites.

Furthermore, some health conditions can be identified through compounds found in urine. Formate and sodium are linked with obesity and high blood pressure.

Through careful measurement of peoples diets and collection of their urine excreted over two 24-hour periods we were able to establish links between dietary inputs and urinary output of metabolites that may help improve understanding of how our diets affect health, said study co-author Professor Paul Elliott. Healthful diets have a different pattern of metabolites in the urine than those associated with worse health outcomes.

In a second study, the team used their findings to design a five-minute test. The results showed that the mix of metabolites in urine varies from person to person, even when they have the exact same diet.

Our technology can provide crucial insights into how foods are processed by individuals in different ways and can help health professionals such as dieticians provide dietary advice tailored to individual patients, said study co-author Dr. Isabel Garcia-Perez. She noted that the team now plans to use the diet analysis technology on people at risk of cardiovascular disease.

We show here how different people metabolize the same foods in highly individual ways, explained Professor John Mathers of Newcastle University. This has implications for understanding the development of nutrition-related diseases and for more personalized dietary advice to improve public health.

The study is published in the journal Nature Food.

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Continued here:
Urine test will help identify the best diet for each individual Earth.com - Earth.com

The onset of monsoons brings cheer to people. After the heat and dust of the initial dry summer months, you get a respite. But the rainy season also brings with it its own share of maladies. This season has its fair share of illnesses and many diseases rear their heads around this time. Another real problem with the coming of the rainy season is the general feeling of gloom and depression that some people feel. If you feel depressed and lethargic around this time, dont worry. This is just the monsoon blues and you can easily get rid of it. This is also a kind of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) syndrome, which is usually associated with the long and cold winter blues. Also Read - Foods to avoid this monsoon

You get hit by this syndrome when the sun goes into hiding. This is a proven fact. A study at Brigham Young University says that on a rainy day when the sun hardly makes an appearance, people are especially vulnerable to emotional distress. This can happen even to people who are not prone to SAD syndrome. The Journal of Affective Disorders published this study. However, your diet can make a big difference here. Yes, you can easily beat the monsoon blues with the right foods. Let us see what you must include in your diet to give yourself a mood boost during the rainy season. These foods are healthy, it will give you an energy boost and make you happy too. Also Read - Monsoon: Include these healthy foods in your platter

These are loaded with many essential nutrients including antioxidants. Moreover, the burst of flavor you get when you bite into a berry is definitely out of this world. Berries are a good choice if you want to boost your immune system, which is also necessary during monsoons because of the risk of water borne infections. So, load up on cherries, strawberries and blueberries. The colourful fruits will not only lift your mood but also give you a health boost. Also Read - Monsoon diet for Indian women

Whenever you feel that you are slipping into a depressive mood just reach for a handful of nuts. These are healthy and make for wonderful snacks. The best are almonds, cashews and pistachios. Almonds in particular are especially good for booting mood. It reduces stress, gives you an energy boost and also boosts your immune system. Munch on them and feel your mood lifting as you look out at the rain.

Chocolate, especially the dark variety, is good for your mood and heart. But go slow on milk chocolate as it can increase your feeling of lethargy on a rainy day. But dont overdo it and practice moderation.

A cup of hot tea, coffee or milk will give you an instant mood boost. You can add some spices like turmeric, ginger and black pepper to your hot beverage for added flavor and better immunity during monsoons. These beverages will give you a warm and comfortable feeling and make you happy as you battle your monsoon blues.

Published : June 29, 2020 10:11 pm

Read more here:
Add the right foods to your diet to beat the monsoon blues - TheHealthSite

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a well-rounded diet is crucial to prolonging your lifespan.

You could also boost your lifespan by doing regular exercise. Its the miracle cure weve all been waiting for, according to the NHS.

Making some small diet or lifestyle changes could help to increase your life expectancy and avoid an early death.

Drinking green tea is one of the best ways to lower your risk of a premature death, it's been revealed.

READ MORE: How to live longer - including more of this food in your diet may help

"We know there are no guarantees. But genetics account for just 25 percent of a persons longevity. The rest is up to you," said AARP.

"With this collection of some of the most important longevity findings, youll have the road map you need to get to 80, 90, 100 or beyond.

"If coffees not your thing, green tea also has proven longevity cred, likely because it contains powerful antioxidants known as catechins that may help combat diabetes and heart disease.

"In a large study of more than 40,000 Japanese men and women, drinking five or more cups of green tea a day was associated with a 12 percent decrease in mortality among men and a 23 percent decrease among women."

Meanwhile, you could also lower your risk of early death by regularly eating ginger, it's been revealed.

Ginger has been claimed to reduce inflammation in the colon, which has been linked with bowel cancer.

Dried spices provide the highest concentration of antioxidants, whereas freezing them preserves the antioxidants in fresh spices.

Everyone should liberally add a variety of spices to their meals, nutritionists have urged.

Excerpt from:
How to live longer - the best morning tea to prevent an early death and avoid diabetes - Express

Q My elderly cat Tater Tot is losing his appetite for dry cat food, but he loves the tuna I eat. Now that he's eating only tuna, I guess I should ask if that's OK for him.

A It seems you have two concerns: Tater Tot's recent disinterest in dry food and his all-tuna diet.

I'm suspicious that Tater Tot may be experiencing mouth pain that makes crunching dry food uncomfortable, so I suggest he see his veterinarian as soon as possible.

I also am concerned that he is eating only tuna because this diet is nutritionally incomplete and unbalanced.

Tuna is low in vitamin E, so Tater Tot could develop steatitis (stee-ah-TITE'-is), a painful and sometimes fatal inflammation of the body's fat. In addition, tuna's low vitamin K levels can cause internal bleeding.

Cats require large quantities of B vitamins, but tuna provides only tiny amounts. These deficiencies, combined with possible mercury contamination, can cause muscle weakness, loss of coordination, tremors, seizures and other neurologic problems. Tuna is low in calcium, too.

Tuna also contains inadequate linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that promotes healthy skin. Tuna that is beginning to spoil releases histamine, which can cause skin itchiness and redness.

Conversely, tuna is high in magnesium, which may contribute to feline bladder problems. Moreover, cats fed canned tuna have an increased risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

So, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to figure out why Tater Tot refuses his regular dry food. Until then, feed him canned cat food that's nutritionally complete and balanced and save the tuna for yourself.

Q Two wonderful 4-month-old Labrador retriever puppies joined our family recently. I usually put my dogs on a flea preventive this time of year, but these pups seem too young. Is it OK to give them old-fashioned brewer's yeast to prevent fleas?

A Brewer's yeast is safe, but it doesn't repel or kill fleas.

In 1983, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a report titled "Failure of Brewer's Yeast as a Repellent to Fleas on Dogs." Sixty dogs exposed to fleas were given either brewer's yeast or an inactive placebo for seven weeks. The researchers found that the brewer's yeast was no more effective at protecting the dogs from fleas than the inactive placebo.

Fortunately, a number of effective and safe flea/tick preventives are available. They've been used in millions of dogs, and most are approved for use in young puppies.

They fall into three categories: liquids applied to the skin, chewable tablets and certain collars.

Each category has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, if your two pups roughhouse and mouth each other's necks, the flea/tick collars may be a bad choice.

If you live in an area where heartworms are a problem, consider using a liquid applied to the skin that repels not only fleas and ticks but also mosquitoes, which transmit heartworms.

Your veterinarian can recommend a product that will be safe for your pups and effective against fleas and ticks.

Lee Pickett, VMD, practices companion animal medicine in North Carolina. Contact her at

vet@askthevet.pet

ASK THE VET

See the article here:
ASK THE VET: Cat's tuna-only diet is incomplete - Arkansas Online