Category Archives: Diet And Food

Obesity has long been a public health problem in the United States that providers have struggled to address, but medical experts say the latest research suggests doctors need to adopt a new "multipronged strategy" to help patients lose weight, Laura Landro reports for the Wall Street Journal.

Obesity is a chronic condition. Here's one expert's take on how to treat it like one.

The U.S. obesity rate has risen steadily over the past two decades, with the latest data showing 42.4% of adults ages 20 and older were obese in 2018, and 9.2% were severely obese. According to Landro, providers have long struggled with helping patients lose weight, often relying on diet and exerciseand treating poor results "as a failure on the part of patients."

But some medical experts say the Covid-19 epidemic's impact on patients with chronic conditions has put a spotlight back on obesityand a new wave of research that shows it takes a combination of strategies to combat the condition.

Recent studies have given medical experts more insight into how obesity affects the body and one's ability to lose weight, Landro reports.

Rekha Kumar, an endocrinologist at the Weill Cornell Medicine Comprehensive Weight Control Center, said, "Nobody is denying that there is behavioral component to obesity, but it is shortsighted and dangerous to fully blame an individual's behavior when there is so much evidence that the human body does not function normally in the condition of obesity."

That's why many medical experts are calling for providers to shift away from focusing strictly on behaviors like diet and exercise, and adopting a multipronged approach. Landro outlines three developments gaining attention "that hold promise."

1. Relying on obesity-medicine specialists

Most doctors have not received specialized training on obesity, which has proven to be a "longstanding obstacle to a more-comprehensive treatment" of the condition, Landro writes.

Doctors who lack specialized training on the topic might focus too much on diet and exercise, rather than other factors like genetics, psychological and environmental factors, or the body's natural response to a decrease in calories.

Obesity-medicine specialists on the other hand are trained to consider how biological, psychological, environmental, and genetic factors play a part in a patients' ability to lose weight.

Doctors with specialized training also know how to prescribe other strategies, like medication or weight-loss surgeries. Caroline Andrew, an obesity specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York who often treats patients waiting for a joint replacement procedure, relies on a variety of services to help her patients lose weight, including weight-loss drugs or referring patients to a dietician or behavioral health counselor.

2. Educating general practitioners

The American Board of Obesity Medicine has certified more than 4,000 obesity specialists in the United States and Canada, but that is still not enough obesity specialists to treat all patients, Landro reports.

That's why Louis Aronne, director of Weill Cornell's weight-control center, says "the average doctor" needs to be better trained to speak with and treat patients who have obesity. Weill Cornell's training program includes sensitivity training for doctors who treat obese patients and how to approach conversations around diet and exercise.

For instance, instead of mandating a specific food regimen, doctors, Landro writes, should consider patients' food preferences as well as diets they've tried in the past and devise a weight-loss program that meets their unique needs. It also teaches "office staff to be careful with language, such as 'a patient who has obesity' instead of 'obese patient' to avoid labeling patients by their disease," Landro writes.

Sadaf Mustafa, an internal-medicine doctor at MedStar Health and assistant professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine who became certified in obesity medicine two years ago, said the training helped her understand how medications for other common conditions, like depression and diabetes, can cause weight gain in patients.

"The impact of changing from one medication group to another can give them a huge benefit," she said. "That was a big eye-opener for me."

3. Incorporating medications and surgery into care

While weight-loss drugs and surgeries can be highly effective for some patients, doctors often only prescribe them as a last resort, Landro writes.

But the resistance to these methods is changing, especially now that research shows some surgeries are effective on a larger range of patients than doctors previously projectedand the latest procedures and medications have proven to be safer than older options, Landro reports.

According to Landro, some of the barriers that once prevented physicians from relying on medications and surgeries are being removed as more insurers are broadening their coverage requirements for weight-loss.

Gayle Novak said a combination of the weight-loss drug Qsymia and a specialized diet plan helped her lose weight that was causing health issues, like high blood pressure. Novak said the doctor "really took the time to know me, know my history, know my medical issues and understand what does and doesn't work for me" (Landro, Wall Street Journal, 6/8).

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The 3 new ways doctors are trying to fight obesity - The Daily Briefing

Vertical vegtable farms will be located in 10 sites throughout Jersey City to help provide residents access to healthy fresh food.

Vertical vegtable farms will be located in 10 sites throughout Jersey City to help provide residents access to healthy fresh food.

The public will get access to free fresh vegetables grown in Jersey City through the nations first municipal vertical farming program, according to an announcement by Mayor Steven Fulop.

Some 19,000 pounds of fresh vegetables will be grown in 10 sites throughout the city through a partnership with AeroFarms, the world leader in vertical farming, and the World Economic Forum (WEF), which selected Jersey City as its partner in the Healthy Cities and Communities 2030 Initiatives.

As we work through our municipal budget that has been decimated due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we are making choices on what programs to keep, Fulop said. It is clear that the virus has had a disproportionate impact on people with pre-existing heart conditions, high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes which is directly linked to a persons diet, and as a result, we feel it is more important than ever to focus on food access and education.

Jersey City has had 6,481 COVID-19 cases and more than 479 COVID-19 fatalities as of June 8, and according to the city, a disproportionate number of those impact economically challenged areas of the city.

We know diet is a key predictor of life expectancy, and the Coronavirus has made clear the huge inequities on food access and food education that exists in different communities, said the citys Director of Health and Human Services (HHS) Stacey Flanagan.

Grown around the city

The Vertical Farming Program will consist of 10 vertical farms throughout Jersey City, in senior centers, schools, public housing complexes, and municipal buildings. The 10 sites will grow 19,000 pounds of vegetables annually using water mist and minimal electricity.

The Jersey City HHS will run the program with a health-monitoring component to track participants progress under a greener diet in the areas of blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. Crops will be integrated with other Healthy Food Access initiatives including senior meal programs.

The program is free, but residents must participate in the healthy eating workshops and agree to quarterly health screenings.

The program is part of the broader initiative from the World Economic Forum (WEF) toward partnerships with cities. Earlier this year the WEF selected four cities (Moscow, Mumbai, Austin, Jersey City) to launch the Healthy City 2030 initiative, which will target measurable changes to the health of each community.

The Healthy Cities and Communities initiative is a flagship effort of the World Economic Forum. In collaboration with both private-public sector stakeholders, the initiative aims to catalyze new ecosystems that will enable socially vibrant and health and well-being centric cities and communities, said Mayuri Ghosh, Head of the HEFs Healthy Cities and Communities initiative. Establishing a secure supply of nutritious food via locally sourced vertically farmed greens in collaboration with AeroFarms has been a key accomplishment of the Forums partnership with Jersey City. The shared insights will be incorporated into efforts underway in other global cities.

AeroFarms CEO David Rosenberg said he is excited to work with Jersey City, noting that structural food problems have come to lights because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The world needs more distributed, localized food production systems, said Rosenberg. We also need new ways to get healthy food to our most disadvantaged members of society. I am honored to work with Mayor Fulop and the people of Jersey City to find better solutions.

This partnership will allow us to provide thousands of pounds of locally-grown, nutritious foods that will help close the hunger gap and have an immeasurable impact on the overall health of our community, Fulop said.

Tackling food deserts

The vertical farming program is the latest initiative Jersey City has launched around food access.

According to a 2018 city report, much of Jersey City could be described as a food desert.

The USDA defines a food desert as a low-income census tract where either a substantial number or share of residents has low access to a supermarket or large grocery store.

This means at least 500 people or 33 percent of the population live more than a mile from a supermarket or large grocery store.

According to the city, these deserts have led to an increased rate of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and other diet-related illnesses in the more marginalized communities of Jersey City. Neighborhoods without healthy options such as Ward A and Ward F also have high concentrations of fast-food restaurants.

To address this the city has also offered more than 5,000 food market tours to educate seniors on healthy eating, and the grant program on the Healthy Corner Store initiative.

That initiative is a citywide effort to increase healthier food options in neighborhoods that lack access, including the Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette areas.

The initiative provides corner store owners with training assistance, marketing materials, consumer education resources, and equipment so that they can offer healthier food options.

For updates on this and other stories checkwww.hudsonreporter.comand follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Marilyn Baer can be reached atMarilynb@hudsonreporter.com.

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Growing up - The Hudson Reporter

The World Food Programme has warned that the COVID-19 pandemic could cause one of the worst food crises since World War II. It predicts a doubling of the number of people going hungry more than half of them in sub-Saharan Africa. While wealthier people stay inside and practise physical distancing, the economically marginalised populations risk going out in search of food. They take decisions between livelihoods and life in the most extreme cases. Such food inequities show the need for system-level action.

So far, the global food system has proven to be resilient to the COVID-19 pandemic. Food is still being produced, processed and distributed. Unfortunately, the systems underlying injustices and inequities continue too. Around 1.58 billion people globally cant afford healthy diets.

These inequities are especially stark on the African continent. Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the African food system was ailing. Food is perennially in short supply. In 2018, more than 250 million people in sub-Saharan Africa experienced severe food insecurity, incomes for farmers are lower than anywhere globally in real terms, and more than 30% of children are stunted partly due to poverty and poor diets.

Read more: Malnutrition and epidemics are intertwined. That makes fixing food systems crucial

Africas food system is no stranger to crises. Droughts, El Nio events, pests and diseases, terrorism, migration, and political upheaval have all taken a toll. Crises like these shock the system, causing crop and food losses, pushing people into poverty and putting more people at risk of severe food insecurity and malnutrition.

Read more: How changes in weather patterns could lead to more insect invasions

Each crisis tends to be met with a response to mitigate the harm, but the system always seems to return to its earlier undesirable state.

The shock set off by COVID-19 is likely to be different. Thats because it is causing simultaneous and synchronised system failures that will erode economic opportunities now and potentially for years to come. For example, tourism will be hit by limitations on travel and gatherings.

What we see happening as a result of actions to contain COVID-19 is more like a global natural disaster.

Its also an opportunity for a different kind of recovery. With less inertia resulting in a return to the previous state, alternative scenarios become plausible. In this respect its similar to the oil crisis of the 1970s, which changed societies fundamentally.

Going back to business as usual investments in agriculture and food systems could reproduce those systems inequities. Instead, recovery efforts should be geared towards creating a better future.

Researchers have already done the background work to inform this process.

We believe it is possible to redesign food systems to deliver healthy foods, allow farming families to make a good living, and support thriving societies while generating sustainable ecosystem services. The COVID-19 recovery is a time to put decades of data about this to work.

Here we outline three ways to improve agriculture in line with the sustainable development goals: to make systems resilient, sustainable and fair. The examples have all been developed and tested by researchers at universities and research centres.

The World Health Organization has identified a double burden of malnutrition: poor nutrition along with overweight or obesity. This is a growing problem worldwide.

There are various ways agriculture can help tackle the problem. Among them are better integration of crops and livestock, climate smart agriculture, conservation agriculture, and using woody perennials in fields and landscapes to ecologically increase productivity of more diverse food items.

The underlying ideas are focusing on more integrated farming systems that use species diversity as a source of resilience and diversified diets while reducing the use of harmful chemicals.

Artificially stabilised starch food markets distort prices and consumer incentives. When governments subsidise inputs for certain crops, their production becomes relatively cheaper and so do consumer prices. So, especially poorer consumers are more likely to choose these starchy food items that do not provide sufficiently balanced nutrients.

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture supporting diverse diets needs to be encouraged instead. Smart subsidies could steer food production into a state that supports healthy food choices and increases biodiversity in landscapes.

People living in rural regions should not have to depend on agriculture alone. Complementary opportunities should be part of rural development and human wellbeing. The most vulnerable rural people are the least likely to progress through agriculture because their farms are small.

There should be a greater variety of ways to meet everyones aspirations and needs. Activities such as processing harvests and adding value to products will also improve the functioning of food systems so these activities should be supported and encouraged. Young people who are turning away from agriculture could play a pivotal role in developing complementary businesses in rural spaces.

Human modification of the natural environment is linked to health problems ranging from stress to infectious disease. With direct effects on diets, pollution, climate change, and disaster risk reduction, agriculture is central in achieving the majority of the sustainable development goals.

The various linkages between the health of natural resources, agriculture or agroforestry, humans and the environment have to be recognised and purposefully managed to optimise impacts and avoid unintended consequences.

These building blocks provide starting points for a new political discourse about agriculture. It should be guided by the overall goal of a resilient, sustainable and fair food system. Resulting strategies must consider the variety of biophysical, social and economic conditions across African countries.

We believe it is now time to focus on the opportunity this crisis has brought and build back better. While medics and humanitarian aid agencies prepare for the worst, scientists too must choose their contributions.

COVID-19 emergency funds could change the trajectory of agriculture. Its time to build scientists into the planning for the future and initiate the development of a comprehensive strategy for Africas future food solutions.

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COVID-19 recovery is a chance to improve the African food system - The Conversation Africa

Brightseed Danone North America, the worlds largest B Corp and a leader in plant-based food and beverage, has partnered with Brightseed,a biosciences and AI company, to unlock health benefits from plants at an unprecedented speed, using artificial intelligence which they say is set to usher in a new era of discovery and precision nutrition.Brightseeds work combines AI + biomedical processes to fully unlock the benefits of plants for human health. Leveraging its unique AI-powered approach, Brightseed will profile key plant sources for Danone North America to work on revealing previously unknown health and nutrition benefits.

Brightseed is indexing the worlds edible plants and their phytonutrients, i.e., the small molecules produced by plants that can positively impact the optimal functioning of the human body. Less than one percent of existing phytonutrients have been identified or studied, despite their prevalence in diets and traditional usage worldwide.

Brightseed is identifying potential new molecular connections between certain compounds present in Danones raw soy and newfound health benefits previously unlinked to soy.

At Brightseed we believe that were at the tipping point of significantly activating food for health and wellness. We analyze plants at the molecular level in order to understand the specific roles that nutrients play in the proper functioning of our bodies, said Sofia Elizondo, co-founder and COO of Brightseed. Were thrilled to be working with Danone North America as they are equally committed to bringing health through food. Danone North America also believes in the important role that high quality, nutrient-rich diets play in supporting human health, while delivering across brands and products that consumers trust and love.

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Danone North America Partners With Biomedical Artificial Intelligence company to "Unlock Health Benefits from Plants at an Unprecedented...

Students at greenhouse at Journey Elementary, a project led by the Casper Community Greenhouse Project. (Brendan LaChance, Oil City)

CASPER, Wyo. The Casper Community Greenhouse Project are working to transform a 5.83 acre piece of land near Rocky Mountain Oncology into a large community greenhouse, market and event space they are calling Grow Casper.

Casper Community Greenhouse Project Director LeAnn Miller told the Casper City Council on Tuesday, June 9 that Grow Casper includes plans for:

Everything on this property will be an edible landscape, Miller said adding that the space would be used to host festivals and events in an urban environment.

Article continues below...

Miller said that the Casper Community Greenhouse Project has support from a number of partners such as the Wyoming Medical Center, who have provided access to the land. The Casper Community Greenhouse Project has a five year lease for the land with the option of renewal, she explained.

She added that work on the space has already begun. The cornfield has been tilled and some raised beds are in place and already growing things.

She added that greenhouses and other aspects of the project are also underway. Grow Casper is located at Venture Way and Second Street.

Miller added that this is not the first project the Casper Community Greenhouse Project has spearheaded. Theyve built greenhouses at Evansville and Journey Elementary Schools in Casper to support educating children on where food comes from.

Miller said that a survey of 1,000 children found that 41% of kids under the age of 8 didnt know:

The new Grow Casper community greenhouse and garden space would help educate people generally about how to grow food and the importance of a healthy diet.

Miller said that a healthy diet full of locally grown foods can help prevent diseases like diabetes, stroke and heart disease.

Eating good food and local food is much more nutritious, she said. Food can be our medicine.

Miller asked the Casper City Council to become partners on the project by providing about $36,000 to provide water and sewage to the property. She said that there is some water infrastructure in place, but that further development would improve the situation.

Since the Casper Community Greenhouse Project does not own the land, some on the council expressed concern that their lease might not be renewed at the end of the five year term.

Vice Mayor Khrystyn Lutz recommended the council hold off on committing any funding until the council could get some assurances from the WMC and Natrona County that Grow Casper could keep their lease to the land beyond their current five year lease.

She also asked that the council receive further information from City Manager Carter Napier as to whether the city has the optional one-cent sales tax funding necessary to support the project prior to committing funding.

Councilman Bob Hopkins added that he would to have further information on the project provided by the citys Planning Division regarding the Casper Community Greenhouse Projects plans and designs for the space.

Council decided not to give direction as to whether they would commit the funding until they receive such further information on the project.

Councilman Ken Bates(Ward II, Term expires 1/5/21):

Councilman Steve Cathey(Ward III, Term Expires 1/5/21):

Councilman Bob Hopkins(Ward I, Term expires 1/5/21):

Councilman Mike Huber(Ward I, Term expires 1/5/21):

Councilman Ray Pacheco(Ward III, Term expires 1/3/23):

Council members can also be reached by mail at:200 N. David Street, 82601

If you would like to contact members in your specific ward, but dont know which ward you are in, amap is available at the City of Caspers website.

Related Stories from Oil City News:

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City asked to partner for Grow Casper, large community garden and event space project - Oil City News

Lots of people experience bloating, and it can be unpleasant, uncomfortable, and inconvenient.

However, people who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) experience symptoms on another level and one influencer is on a mission to help them.

27-year-old Lottie Drynan, who is based in Kent, UK, runs the Instagram accounts The Tummy Diaries and You've Gut This.

She spoke to Insider about how IBS affects her life and what she wants the world to know about the condition.

IBS is the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder, according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.

It's a chronic condition which affects 10-20% of the global population, but is most prevalent among women in their 20s, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states.

Drynan says it was worst for her in her early 20s, when IBS affected her life "quite heavily."

Lottie Drynan's IBS was worst in her early 20s. Lottie Drynan

"I suffered from extreme and uncomfortable bloating, anxiety, fatigue, and nausea for a long time until I started understanding my triggers," she told Insider.

"I regularly left work or events early due to needing to be reunited with my hot water bottle or toilet and it made me really miserable.

"I felt constantly confused and frustrated and had no idea what it was that was causing my discomfort.

"I remember looking at my friends who seemed to be able to eat anything or wear anything without worrying about how their tummy would react, and feeling quite jealous."

When you have IBS, a flare-up can cause your stomach to look drastically different within the space of a few hours, as Drynan has experienced many times.

Other symptoms of IBS include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, according to NICE.

Because IBS symptoms can also be signs of other gastrointestinal issues, it can take a long time for a person to be diagnosed. For Drynan, the process took eight years.

"My symptoms at the beginning were fairly severe so I was passed to a number of specialists for different tests and scopes to rule out any more serious conditions," she said.

She didn't receive much support or information, though, which was ultimately what led her to do her own research.

"When I did finally receive the diagnosis I was given very little help on the next steps or how to manage my illness, therefore decided to start taking more responsibility of my own health," she said.

"I committed to learning through books, podcasts, and anything I could get my hands on from experts in the field."

She then wanted to share what she'd learned to help others.

Drynan says it's a huge misconception that IBS flare-ups are all down to diet.

"This is definitely something I thought for many years," she said.

"It's very easy to see someone on Instagram who has cut out a food group due to IBS and think, 'Oh, I need to do the same then,' but actually we're all very different.

"For some, cutting out a food group may work, but for others we need to be looking at our lifestyle with a more 360 degree, holistic approach; looking at the combined areas of diet, stress, movement, and sleep."

Drynan finds it infuriating when she sees people with IBS being criticized for eating carbs or enjoying a drink.

"It's all about understanding what our body responds well to, and doesn't respond well to, and then making the choices we feel are right for us," she said.

There's no one-size-fits-all solution, she added.

Drynan has been on her own journey to understand what causes her IBS to flare up, and now knows it's mainly stress, although cutting out gluten and fructose has helped her too.

She learned this by trying the low FODMAP plan, which is an elimination diet designed to help people find out what foods may be causing problems for them.

You cut out foods which contain high levels of FODMAPs (which stands for fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols, all types of carbohydrates) for four to six weeks, then gradually reintroduce them one at a time to see which triggers gastrointestinal issues. This led to Drynan discovering her fructose and glucose sensitivities.

Having reached this level of understanding means her IBS is "fairly manageable" at this point in her life.

"I now know stress to be by far my biggest trigger and I find if I'm having a hard time mentally, this is where I suffer with flare-ups," she said.

yup, bloated but still fabulous #littlemisssunshine I found this old photo from our holiday in Dominican Republic where Ross proposed two years ago. It was a two week holiday and even after eating, drinking and having a bloody amazing time I was only bloated for the last day or two, probably when the home time and back to normality blues hit. I spent a good few years thinking bloating and my IBS symptoms were all down to food and was cutting things out sometimes unnecessarily and was constantly scared to eat in case it triggered my tummy. But as much as diet does play an important part in the happiness of our gut, so does stress, sleep, movement and a whole bunch of other important stuff. Discovering this has had the biggest positive impact on my IBS and has made me more mindful of everything accriss my lifestyle. It doesnt mean I always get it right or follow it down to a T but it does mean I have a much better understanding of the cause when I am bloated. And for me, stress is by far my biggest trigger. This is what made me want to create My Tummy Diary - to try and help others who are struggling look at their gut health with a more 360 holistic lifestyle approach. Im so so excited for it to launch tomorrow morning and if youre struggling with an unhappy tum I really hope it helps you understand your body, and mind better

A post shared by lottie drynan (@thetummydiaries) on May 30, 2020 at 1:29am PDTMay 30, 2020 at 1:29am PDT

Maintaining her mental health plays a huge role in Drynan managing her IBS, so the coronavirus lockdown has been challenging.

"During lockdown my flare-ups have been a lot more regular and I've had to work especially hard to look after my mental health to in turn look after my gut," she said.

"I know that if I keep stress levels low, get a good night's sleep, exercise, and eat food that makes my gut happy then I am usually symptom-free."

On The Tummy Diaries, Drynan breaks down the IBS taboo, showing her bloated stomach and talking about her anxiety.

The reason she started it was that no one else was talking about the issues she was facing.

"I started by mainly just sharing low FODMAP recipes whilst I was in the early stages of following the diet, but as I grew more comfortable with being online I started sharing the more personal sides of IBS, such as the bloating and anxiety," Drynan said.

"I remember being so nervous about posting my first ever swollen tummy picture I'd spent so long feeling ashamed even in front of family and friends and now I was going to share it with strangers?

"But I couldn't believe the reaction I got. So many women and men reached out saying that they never knew others struggled with the same, and how nice it was to know they weren't alone."

Drynan's 44,300 followers regularly thank her for being so open, honest, and real.

"I also get a lot of messages from people saying before my account they didn't realize that factors such as stress, sleep, and movement could impact their gut as well as just diet, so it makes me very happy to be able to educate and help others through my own learnings," she said.

As well as her Instagram accounts, Drynan has recently published "You've Gut This: My Tummy Diary": a journal to help people better understand their bodies, minds, and how their lifestyles could be affecting their gut health.

Through the book and her Instagram accounts, Drynan wants people to feel empowered to work towards feeling better.

Drynan with her new gut health journal. Lottie Drynan

"I talk a lot about the gut-brain connection and am passionate about opening up the conversation and sharing ways we can better understand our bodies," she said.

"I love spreading positivity and one of my favourite things to share is my bloat-friends' outfit finds clothes that make make us feel confident and comfortable even during a flare-up.

"Thousands of women are already using #mybloatedwardrobe and it's amazing to see such a positive community come together."

Whether you have IBS, other gastrointestinal issues, or just want to keep yourself healthy, looking after your gut is important.

"I am a big advocate of putting the effort in to understanding our body and what makes our gut happy," Drynan said.

"I believe that we should all be looking after our gut health, but for those of us who struggle with IBS or other gut conditions, we should be making it a priority."

Although those with IBS may never be able to control their symptoms, Drynan believes you can help reduce them if you understand them better.

And when you do have those inevitable flare-ups, you shouldn't feel ashamed.

"IBS is an illness and has been part of the gut health and poo taboo for so long and I want to help break down that stigma," she said.

"Having IBS can feel very isolating but if we keep talking and keep sharing we can help others feel less alone and empower more people to work towards feeling better."

Read more:

Influencers are posting before-and-after photos to show how bloated women's bodies can get during their periods

Meet Hayley Madigan, the body positive fitness influencer showing that even the fittest, strongest bodies have cellulite too

A deaf fitness influencer says dark rooms, loud music, and Instagram Lives are 'major barriers' to gym class accessibility

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Influencer Lottie Drynan's photos show the reality of IBS bloat - Insider - INSIDER

When the Toronto Zoo was forced to close its doors in early March, it faced a stunning fiscal predicament: it was looking at a revenue shortfall of between $400,000 and $500,000 per week in lost entry fees, retail and parking. To make up for the deficit, the zoo temporarily laid off 118 of its 273 employeesabout 58 per cent of its staffand immediately set to work figuring out how to care for5,000 animals with a drastically reduced staff and budget.

The first and most urgent order of business was food for the animals. In normal times, feeding costs around $1 million per year, an amount thats usually funded by parking revenues. The zoos nutritionist, Jaap Wensvoort, who worked at royally owned zoos in Dubai before coming to Toronto, is responsible for designing the animals diets. He and his team prepare and distribute around 1,500 kilograms of food every day: many animals, including the endangered Vancouver Island marmots and lowland gorillas, need large amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, while carnivorous creatures like lions and tiger rely on big-ticket items like bones and whole rabbits, and polar bears eat bones, blubber and sustainably harvested seals.

In mid-April, the Toronto Zoo Wildlife Conservancy, which raises money for zoo operations, started soliciting donations from the public in an initiative called Zoo Food For Life. The campaign was a massive success, with some 10,000 donors contributing more than $600,000, covering roughly six months worth of food for the animals. In addition to the monetary donations, major food companies like Loblaws have been making weekly donations, based on a grocery list provided by Wensvoort. We make about 430 different diets every day, and some animals have specific needs and sensitivities, he says. Thanks to these donations, we havent had to make any major changes.

The other huge challenge facing the zoo during Covid times: how to care for the animals while dealing with a drastically reduced staff and safe physical distancing requirements. And staff dont just have to keep six feet from each otherin some cases, zookeepers also have to keep a safe distance from the animals, since some species can contract Covid. Leading the charge in the zoos safety overhaul is Joanne Eaton, manager of safety and security. Historically, her role was filled by someone with experience in security and policing, but Eaton comes from a public health background: shes a registered nurse who worked during the 2003 SARS outbreak. In the age of Covid, its turned out to be a blessing to have a safety and security manager with on-the-ground medical experience.

The enhanced safety measures required to prevent an outbreak of Covid-19 are unlike anything the zoo had implemented before. Its usual protocols helped protect animals from catching zoonotic diseases from humansfor example, a staff member with a sore throat and stuffy nose will always refrain from working with great apes, who can catch the common cold, and vets normally wear masks while performing procedures. The pandemic, however, required new focus on preventing person-to-person transmission. About 70 staff, in departments like finance, IT and HR, are able to work from home. Everyone elsezookeepers, veterinarians, maintenance staff, security and some researchersare divided into two segregated teams of about 100 each, which strictly avoid mixing. Every person is screened for Covid-19 symptoms before theyre allowed to enter the property. Chairs in break and meeting rooms are spaced at least six feet apart. And all staff have been trained in the use of personal protective equipment, donning surgical masks whenever close interaction is required. It took a few weeks for them to get the hang of it: Eaton occasionally had to stop and correct employees who put their masks on upside down. Once, when she noticed employees werent observing physical distancing as strictly as she wanted them to, Eaton circulated a YouTube video of Grover the muppet explaining the concept of near and far.

Sometimes, physical distancing is just not feasible. Recently, an alpaca named Reggie had to get his teeth filed down, since theyd been growing abnormally and obstructing his chewing. Alpacas live in tight herds and become stressed when separated from their groupan anxious alpaca will whine, put its ears back, flare its nostrils and root itself in place like an obstinate mule. So staff brought along an older emotional support buddy, named Botan, to keep Reggie company on the walk from the alpaca enclosure to the onsite animal hospital. The keepers did their best to stay six feet apart the whole time, walking the alpacas between them and lengthening their leads. The walk still took about twice as long as planned because the nervous animals kept getting spooked by birds on the way. In all, the process took three hours and required two zookeepers, a veterinarian and two vet techs, who often had to be less than an alpacas length apartlet alone six feetto safely sedate the animal and perform the procedure.

For other routine medical work, like blood tests and weigh-ins, two zookeepers usually have to be present for the procedures to be performed safely: when a jaguar gets blood drawn, for example, one person watches the animals head and keeps him distracted while another draws the blood.

Despite the chaos of the pandemic, the zoos endangered species breeding programs continue to operate, with the goal of preserving genetic diversity and increasing populations of threatened species. In early May, the zoo announced the successful hatching of a Madagascar spider tortoise, a critically endangered speciesits wriggly, adorable and smaller than your palm. A week later, an endangered Masai giraffe gave birth to a healthy calf at the zoo, following a 15-month pregnancy. The calf was the result of a co-operative breeding program, which works like a dating service for endangered species, where accredited zoos match genetically suitable animals. Thanks to artificial insemination, the animals dont even have to be in the same room for the breeding to take place, but this time, the calfs father travelled from Greenville Zoo in South Carolina to Toronto to do his part.

In the zoos reproductive science labs, research coordinator Paula Mackie says theyve had to let go of graduate students and research assistants to maintain a safe work environment. Her work includes a frozen zoo, where genetic samples of threatened species are stored in liquid nitrogen. The samplesincluding sperm, embryos, blood products and other types of cellsmake up a so-called genome resource bank that can be used for artificial insemination and future reproductive research (like scanning for chromosome abnormalities). It works like a genetic time capsule, preserving biodiversity for endangered species. Were a piece of the conservation puzzle. We sometimes think of ourselves like an insurance policy, she says.

In early May, I visited the zoo with Toronto Lifes director of photography, Daniel Neuhaus. It had an eerie stillnessempty and quiet, with only a gentle hum of activity from zookeepers and maintenance staff going about their daily routines. When we entered the main building, a security guard immediately screened us for symptoms from behind a plexiglass pane. Masks on, we made our way through the silent, tranquil African Rainforest Pavilion, which houses gorillas, pygmy hippos and crocodiles, among many other animals. We met a red panda named Ila, whod been exhibiting nesting behaviours that suggested pregnancy, and she was scheduled for an early ultrasound. Her keepers were all smiles at the prospect of a pregnancy, and cooed reassuringly to the fuzzy-eared, teddy-faced creature as she licked the ultrasound gel off her belly. The ultrasound was inconclusive, but if she is pregnant, it will be a major win for the zoo. As a result of habitat loss, poaching and a fragmented population, there are fewer than 10,000 red pandas in the wild.

We spent the rest of the day driving around the zoos deserted roadways, chatting with zookeepers and photographing animals. In the afternoon, a Siberian tigress named Mazyria approached us curiously and looked me straight in the eye through her glass enclosure. Shes a new cat, who just arrived in January. Nigel Parr, her keeper, said shes been a lot more interactive with him since the guests stopped coming. Looking into Mazyrias enormous yellow eyes, I thought about how this creature and I are both stuck in the middle of a pandemic, each feeling the loss of human connection in our own ways.

With a reduced staff and no visitors, the animals were missing human interaction. They practically posed for the camera

The staff, reduced from 273 to 118, have new protocols in place to protect and take care of the zoos 5,000 animals

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"It costs $1 million a year to feed the animals": How the Toronto Zoo is functioning without revenue - Toronto Life

While Tom Brady may have stolen the NFL spotlight by joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that move didnt happen in a vacuum. That move meant Jameis Winston was surplus to requirements; the quarterback has since signed with the New Orleans Saints. That isnt the only change hes made during the offseason, though.

Jameis Winston may have lost his job to Tom Brady, but there doesnt appear to be any hard feelings. In fact, Winston is emulating the veteran in one specific way, hoping that change helps save his career.

RELATED: Could Jameis Winston Pursue Baseball Career After 5 NFL Seasons?

Starting quarterback is one of those positions, like goaltender, where theres only room for one top dog at a time. Jameis Winston experienced that reality this offseason, losing his job to Tom Brady.

Coming into the 2019 campaign, things were supposed to be different for Winston and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bruce Arians has a reputation as a quarterback guru who loves to push the envelope in the passing game; Byron Leftwich, his offensive coordinator, knows what its like to be a promising young quarterback trying to live up to the hype. Together, they seemed like the perfect pair to help Winston take his game to the next level.

In reality, though, that didnt exactly happen. Winston did pass for 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns, but he alsothrew 30 interceptionsand fumbled 12 times. While there were some mitigating factors, like injuries and the lack of a ground game, Arians apparently had enough. When free agency opened, the Buccanneers went out and landed Tom Brady.

With Brady in Tampa, Jameis Winston needed to find a new job. Unable to find work as a starter, however, he signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. In a best-case scenario, hell be this seasons Teddy Bridgewater; if not, hell be hoping that a year with Sean Payton and Drew Brees look good on his resume.

RELATED: Tom Bradys Secret Skill Surprisingly Involves Beer

After losing his job to Tom Brady, it would be understandable if Jameis Winston didnt want to hear the veteran quarterbacks name for a while. Intentionally or not, however, the New Orleans Saints backup is following in his replacements footsteps.

In a recent Bleacher Report feature about his plan to return to NFL stardom, Winston revealed that he had changed his diet. He went vegan, losing 17 pounds and counting, Tyler Dunne wrote. The story also explained how a doctor suggested that a healthier diet would help Winston better recover from offseason surgery; while the quarterback was initially skeptical, he was soon sold on the results.

Tom Brady, of course, follows a famously strict diet. While he has been known to eat lean meat on occasion, he does avoid dairy; in 2019, USA Today referred to the quarterback as the most prominent athlete to embrace veganism.

In fact, Dunne himself even called Winstons new diet downright TB12-esque. Come football season, the New Orleans Saints backup will be hoping that hes able to perform a bit more like Brady, too.

While eating healthier cant hurt, its unreasonable to expect that avoiding meat and dairy will turn Jameis Winston into a world-beater. At the same time, though, his decisions this offseason have suggested a potential change in mindset.

Over the years, Winston has been pegged as immature and irresponsible. In a 2015 Jacksonville.com story, for example, Winston family adviser David Cornwellcalled Jameis immature and a knucklehead, saying he wasnt ready for the off-field responsibilities of being an NFL player. Colin Cowherd voiced a similar opinion in March 2020, using Baker Mayfield and Winston to highlight the importance of maturity under center.

Between accepting a non-starting job in a good situation and changing his diet, though, Jameis Winston seems to be making the steps necessary to save his NFL career. Even if he never turns into a Tom Brady-level winner, it seems like a step in the right direction.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference

Original post:
Jameis Winston is Taking After Tom Brady in an Attempt to Save His NFL Career - Sportscasting

Before you rush to the store or add the supplementsto your online checkout cart to combat COVID-19, it's important to know if you are vitamin D deficient.

Although vitamin D is called a vitamin, it's actually more of ahormone. When ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike your skin, the rays trigger vitamin D synthesis. You canbuild up your vitamin D levels through certain foods and supplements.

Genetics and age can play a big role in how muchvitamin D you have:

If you are worried that you are at risk of vitamin D deficiency, ask your physician to check your blood work.

It'sbeen known for years that vitaminD is essential formaintaining healthy bones and teeth. Without it, bones can become thin, brittleor misshapen.

Vitamin D also plays an important role in helping immune systems function. Low levels can lead to autoimmunity when the immune system attackshealthy cells and increase the chance of infection.

The immune system is like an army that prevents invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, from taking over the homeland your body.It is composed of the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Let's say a virus is present in a patient's lungs, specifically in the air sacs (alveoli), which can lead toacute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

The first line ofdefenseis the innate immune system:Itcomes into play immediately or within hours of antigen detection.Antigens areproteins on the surfaces ofbacteria, fungi and viruses that the body doesnt recognize as its own.

Natural killer cells and macrophages, along with other immune cells, recognize, engulf and destroy pathogens.The main purpose of these cells is to prevent the spread and movement of harmful substancesthroughout the body. They are akin to soldiers shooting indiscriminately all over the enemy's camp.

Although the exact role of vitamin D in the immune system is not fully understood, studies have shown it may influence both innate and adaptive immune systems.

When the innate immune system is activated, its cells turn certain genes on to become more efficient at killing pathogens. Vitamin D binds to these cells and enhances this transformation, helping the innate immune system kill viruses.

If the pathogen manages to dodge the innate immune system, adaptiveimmunity kicks in.

The second line of defense is the adaptive immune system: Itrelies on B cellsandT cellsto carry out its tasks. These cells produce billions of antibodies.Antibodiesrecognize antigens and bind to them. They are like high-ranking officers thatconduct specific missions targeting only certain enemies. Antibodies makefuture responses against a specific antigen more efficient.

The problem with infections such as COVID-19, is that most of us are believed to be naive to the infection. So we don't have memory B cells ready, which means that adaptive immunity, even though it might be super powerful, can't recognize the pathogen, says Vadim Backman, professor of biomedical engineering at Northwestern University.

Cells of the adaptive immune system produce cytokines. These small proteins attract more immune cells and trigger inflammation. Sometimes, cytokines become too abundant and create a cytokine storm when immune cells spread beyond infected body parts and attack healthy tissue.

The way our immune system responds to the virusmay be a big part of this puzzle, Backman says. What does seem to be critical is acute respiratory distress syndrome. ARDS is caused by an overreaction of the immune system called a cytokine storm, which seems to be induced by the adaptive immune system, Backman says.

Backman saysVitamin D binds to the cells of the adaptive immune system and turnssome genes on while switching others off. This causes cells to produce fewercytokines, reducing inflammation and the possibility of cytokine storm.

When activated immune cells surge into the lungs as a result of a cytokine storm, the lungs can become inflamed. Fluid from the smallest blood vessels leaks into the tiny air sacs, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The fluid prevents the lungs from filling with enough oxygen, so less reaches the bloodstream, causing organs to fail.

Many COVID-19-infected patients develop ARDS. Researchers in China examined risk factors for 191 coronavirus patients who died while being treated in two hospitals in Wuhan. The study showed50 of the 54 patients who died had developed ARDS; only nine of the 137 survivors developed ARDS.

A study in 2015showed that patients with ARDS and those at risk of developing it had vitamin D deficiency. Researchers demonstrated that vitamin D canreduce damage to capillaries that connect the alveoli to larger blood vessels that may prevent ARDS. In another study, Vitamin D was shown to have a protective effect on the lungs.

Another mystery of COVID-19 is why fewer children are seriously affected.

"Mortality and complications keep going up and up and up as age increases,"Backman says. Young children don't have mature adaptive immunity. They primarily rely on the antibodies that they have from their mother.

"There are always exceptions, but most children don't tend to overactivate their adaptive immune system. They don't develop cytokine storms because they just don't have the mechanisms, Backman says.

The research is in the early stages. According to a preprint studyBackman co-wrote, countries with low average vitamin D blood levels in the population had higher numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. A study from the U.K. looked at the nearly 450 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and did not finda link between vitamin D concentrations and risk of COVID-19 infection.

In apaperpublished in theBritish Medical Journal,21 experts from the U.K., Ireland and the USA concludes that although vitamin D is essential for good health and may bolster the immune system, itcanbe dangerous in high doses.

Worldwide, about 1 billion people have inadequate levels of vitamin D in their blood, andinsufficiency affectsalmost 50% of the population. Most commonly, low levels of vitamin D are caused by insufficient exposure to sunlight.

In Louisiana, African Americans account for more than 50% of COVID-19 deaths despite representing only 32% of the population.

African Americans are at greater risk for vitamin D deficiency because they havehigher presence of melanin.Melanin reduces the bodys ability to produce vitamin D.PeoplefromSouth Asian backgroundsalso may not get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the summer.

Studies also have shown that African American adults have higher rates of hypertension, which isassociated with more severe cases of COVID-19.

"Vitamin D may simply correlate with some factor x, which for all we know has not been identified yet," Backman says."And that's factor x which causes or prevents complications."

Vitamin D deficiency can be caused by obesity.A body mass index greater than 30 is associated with lower vitamin D levels.The skin's ability to make vitamin D decreaseswith age.People who are homebound or rarely outside may have low levels of vitamin D as a result ofnot being able to getsun exposure.

If your levels are within normal ranges,here are some foods that will help with maintaining daily recommended value.

How much vitamin D you need depends on many factors, including age, race, latitude, season, sun exposure, clothing and more. The U.K.'s National Health Service recommends consuming 400 international units (10 micrograms) of vitamin D daily for adults.

"Let's say I knew that I'm vitamin D deficient," Backman says."It's something that is important for health. There are no benefits of vitamin D deficiency.So it's really guilt-free, risk-free to expose yourself to the sun for 20 minutes, get supplementation, get your levels within the normal level."

According to the NHS, people shouldn't take more than 4000 IUs (100 mcg)of vitamin Da day as it could be harmful.Children under 10 shouldn't have more than 2000 IUs(50 mcg) a day.

Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can causetoo much calcium to build up in the body potentially weakening bones and damaging kidneys and heart.

Nutritionists say sticking to a healthy diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods can boost the immune system.

"Ahealthy diet means eating food that is as close to its natural form is possible," says TamaraWard,a specialist in oncology nutrition at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center."I don't say just eat real food. Because to a lot of folks, a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese is real because you can touch it, but it is highly processed. That little packet of flavoring isn't real food."

Other nutrients along with vitamin D aidtheimmune system. Consuming foods high in vitamin C, such as grapefruits and oranges, may increase white blood cell productionkey to fighting infection.

Adding carrots, spinach or kale to yourdiet mightbe a good idea. They containbeta-carotene that converts into vitamin A an anti-inflammation vitamin that enhances immune function.

Vitamin B-6 is essential in the formation of healthy red blood cells and is present in chicken, turkey and bananas. Garlic contains compounds that stimulatecertain immune cellsand helpregulate the immune system. Vitamin E and zinc are beneficial for fighting off diseases.

Ward recommends foods containing probiotics, such as yogurt:

"Once your gut is functioning really well, then that helps your gut to absorb all of the other nutrients that are in these foods, like zinc, vitamin B-6, vitamin D, the beta carotene," she says.

Continued here:
Can vitamin D help with symptoms of COVID-19? Possibly, it's key to helping your immune system function - USA TODAY

Sugar is quite addicting, but reducing it from your diet can improve your health.

Eating more fresh foods, cooking at home, drinking more water and exercise all top the list when it comes to being healthy. But you can do all of that and still not be in optimum health, especially if you engage in certain habits. One of the hardest bad habits to kick? Eating too much sugar.

Cutting down your sugar intake is a simple way to improve your diet and health overall -- but it's certainly not easy. Consumingtoo much sugar, especially added sugar, is linked to health risks likeheart disease,fatty liver disease,high blood pressure and chronic inflammation. Whether you love desserts or think that you're consuming more sugar than you realize, and want to cut back, doing so is a smart move for your health.

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Health authorities like the US Office of Disease Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend that you should get no more than 10% of your daily calories from added sugar each day. Another way to look at that amount is to limit your sugar intake to no more than 6 teaspoons, or 25 grams total. You'll want to keep track of how much sugar you actually add to your food and drinks, but also what's in prepackaged food or food from restaurants.

That said, if you have a sweet tooth or have never tracked your sugar intake before, it can be hard to cut back. Sugar is a highly addictive food and is lurking around in many processed foods, condiments, drinks and even foods you may think are pretty healthy, like granola bars or cereal.

If you're looking for helpful tips to help you curb your sugar intake, below, a health coach and nutrition consultant share their tried-and-true tips that they utilize themselves and with their clients.

Read more:Sugar vs. artificial sweeteners: Which one you should choose?

Quitting sugar cold turkey can seem like the best option, but it may not work in the long run.

If you're ready to quit sugar, a tempting strategy is to resolve to give it up cold turkey. While that may seem like the best approach, according to Jayne Williams, a certified nutritional consultant and clinical nutrition graduate student, it's not likely to last.

"I am never a fan of going 'cold turkey' when it comes to changing routined habits and making lasting change. Sugar is one of the biggest habits we want to dial down, but slowly. The key is to wean yourself over a few days so your body no longer craves it," Williams says. Since sugar can be a quite addicting food, removing it quickly and all at once can feel extreme. The idea is slowly reduce it, and then eventually you won't miss it as much.

"When we focus on 'removing' something from our diet we tend to want it even more. Rather than create a mindset where we are feeding the forbidden, I like to draw from the positive and build a mindset around abundance by adding in all the amazing food that provides optimal support," Williams says.

If you have trouble drinking water, add fruit to it to improve the flavor.

Staying well hydrated is important for your health, and also for keeping sugar cravings at bay. According to Jim Curtis, certified health coach and Head of Brand at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, sometimes dehydration can mimic hunger. "Being dehydrated usually tricks us into thinking we're hungry. More water means you'll be more hydrated and will have less room for snacks, especially those sugary ones that call our names at 2 p.m.," Curtis says.

If you don't love plain water, you can add flavor by infusing it with lemon, strawberries, orange slices (or a combo of all three) to make a flavorful "spa" water. Plus the fruit will give it a sweet flavor, which will help if you typically drink sweetened beverages.

Sugar is hiding in all sorts of processed foods.

If you've never paid attention to food labels, now is the time. You'll be surprised that most foods, even those that you wouldn't expect -- like salad dressing, sauces and soups -- all contain added sugar. It's important to read labels on everything you eat and cook with. If one of the first few ingredients is sugar, that's a clue that the food contains more sugar than it should.

This also includes "healthy" foods like protein bars, granola bars and cereals -- these products are often loaded with sugar. Don't let marketing messages that come off as "healthy" or "natural" keep you from checking the label before you buy or eat it.

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Exercise makes you feel better overall and boosts endorphins, making you feel happier. If you tend to crave sugar when you are stressed, anxious, or sad it's important to find other ways to cope with emotions other than food. Exercise can help distract you from cravings and helps take your mind away from whatever is making you feel uneasy or sad.

You don't have to exercise for very long -- even 15-20 minutes of something that gets your heart rate up can help increase blood flow and oxygen, giving you feel-good benefits that help boost your energy and mood.

Emotional eating is common, according to Curtis, because many people adopt poor eating habits when other areas of their lives (like work, love, or spirituality) are not satisfying enough to fill their needs.

"Sugar is often the perfect comfort food because it hits our taste buds and the pleasure centers in our brain immediately, but the effect is short-lived, making us reach for more and more to keep feeling that satisfaction," Curtis explains.

Curtis suggests finding ways, even if they are small, to do more things that make you feel good. That can be giving yourself time to relax more, connect with friends or loved ones, pick up a hobby or pursue a passion project.

"It's simple, really -- do more of what makes you feel good and there will be far less room for things that don't make you feel good, from sugar-laden foods and beverages to toxic relationships. Mending relationships, leading with kindness or removing toxic people in your life will help you create a space in which you're surrounded by people who care and look after you," Curtis says.

Fruit is a naturally sweet food that can help satisfy your sugar cravings.

Thankfully, there are plenty of foods that taste sweet naturally and provide you with a ton of nutrition compared to food with added, processed sugar. When you are cutting back on sugar, don't be afraid to add in more naturally sweet foods like fruit or sweet potatoes. That way you won't feel as deprived since you still have sweeter foods in your diet.

You may still miss your candy, dessert or other sweet treats, but over time you'll find that you enjoy the naturally sweet foods more. When I gave up all added sugar on the Whole30 program, I remember over the course of the 30 days fruit and other naturally sweet foods tasted like candy. But I wouldn't have said the same thing if I was still eating sugar or candy. Your taste buds can change over time depending on what you eat regularly.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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Sugar is terrible for you: How to eat less of it - CNET