Category Archives: Diet And Food

Researchers at the University of Sydney have discovered the basic science of how sweet taste perception is fine-tuned in response to different diets. While it has long been known that food can taste different based on previous experience, until now we didn't know the molecular pathways that controlled this effect.

Professor Greg Neely at the Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences with Professor Qiaoping Wang (formerly at the Charles Perkins Centre and now based at Sun Yat-Sen University, China) used fruit flies to study sweet taste. They learned that taste is highly subjective based on previous experience.

Professor Neely said they learned four important things:

1. The food animals eat can change how they perceive future food.

2. This response uses the same machinery that the brain uses to learn.

3.Pathways that can extend lifespan were also involved in enhancing taste perception, and diets in fruit flies that promote long life were also found to enhance taste perception.

4. Lifespan, learning and sensory perception are linked in ways we are just starting to understand.

"We found that the fruit fly 'tongue' - taste sensors on its proboscis and front feet - can learn things using the same molecular pathways that the fly brain uses to learn things. Central to this is the neurotransmitter dopamine.

"It turns out these are also the same chemical pathways that humans use to learn and remember all sorts of things," Professor Neely said. "This really highlights how learning is a whole-body phenomenon; and was a complete surprise to us."

Professor Wang, who led the study, said: "We were surprised to find that a protein-restricted diet that makes an animal live much longer also turns up the intensity of sucrose perception for that animal, and that is dependent on the same learning and longevity pathways.

"The response was also really specific. For example, when we fed flies food that had no sweetness, the animals' sweet taste perception was enhanced, but only for glucose, not for fructose. We have no idea why they specifically focus just on one kind of sugar when they perceive them both as sweet."

"We also found that eating high amounts of sugar suppressed sweet taste perception, making sugar seem less sweet," Professor Neely said. "This finding, which occurs through a different mechanism, matched nicely with recent results from our colleague Monica Dus at the University of Michigan, who is the world expert in this area."

Taste study

The researchers found if they changed the diet of the fruit fly (increasing sugar, removing taste of sugar, increasing protein, changing sugar for complex carbohydrate), this drastically altered how well the fruit fly could taste subsequent sugar after a few days. Flies normally live about 80 days in optimal circumstances.

"We found that when flies ate unsweetened food, this made sugary food taste much more intense," Professor Wang said.

"Then we looked at all the proteins that changed in the fruit fly 'tongue' in response to diet, and we investigated what was happening," Professor Neely said.

They found the sensation of taste is controlled by dopamine (the "reward" neuromodulator). The researchers then mapped the pathway and found the same pathways that are well established as controlling learning and memory or promoting long life also enhance taste sensation.

"While this work was conducted in fruit flies, the molecules involved are conserved through to humans. We know humans also experience changes in taste perception in response to diet, so it's possible the whole process is conserved; we will have to see," Professor Wang said.

The research published inCell Reports, is a follow up study to Professor's Neely's work testing the effects of artificial sweeteners in humans. That research found artificial sweeteners activate a neuronal starvation pathway, and end up promoting increased food intake, especially when combined with a low-carb diet.

"Our first studies were focused on how different food additives impact the brain, and from this we found taste changed in response to diet, so here we followed up that observation and describe how that works," Professor Neely said. "Turns out the fly 'tongue' itself is remembering what has come before, which is kind of neat."

Read the rest here:
The science of how diet can change the way sugar tastes - Jill Lopez

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common medical condition affecting women. In this,women start to produce more than normal amounts of male hormones. This causes a hormonalimbalance in the body leading to irregular periods anddifficulty inconceiving. It also increasesthe growth of hair on the body and face and contributes to health problems like heart disease anddiabetes.

Heres how it affects the body

Too much testosterone in the body can affect your menstrual cycle by preventing ovulation.It also disrupts sugar levels in the body. The body starts producing a higher-than-normal amount of insulin. When there is excess insulin in the body, it also increases the testosterone levels in the body causing absent or irregular periods, reduced fertility, alopecia or less hair on the head, hirsutism or excess hair on face and body, changes in the skin like dark skin patches or acne.

When a woman is suffering from PCOS, her body image takes a hit and her self-esteem goesdown. It is very common for women to experience anxiety and depression from the physicalchanges their body is going through. And now that you have to stay at home because ofthe lockdown, this feeling can get extreme. So, it is more important than ever to control thesesymptoms. A few tweaks in your lifestyle can help in improving the signs and symptoms.There are two major fields to work on exercise and nutrition. Here are some exercises you can try during quarantine:

Cardio:These are moderate exercises and can help women with PCOS. Doing cardio for about 30 minutes a day can help with symptoms of anxiety, depression, weight management, and improve the frequency of ovulation and menstrual cycles.

Strength training:Bodyweight exercises that you can do from the comfort of your home like push-ups andsquats can help in improving the function of insulin.

Interval training:This involves swapping between small durations of high-intensity workout and low-intensity recovery. Not only will you be able to get relief from the symptoms of PCOS, but you will also be boosting cardiovascular fitness. It improves insulin resistance and reduces excess testosterone.

Core strength:Core training is important when your weight is resulting in poor posture and lower back pain. Make sure that you switch the muscles supporting the spine so you dont hurt yourself while exercising.The most important thing is to choose something that you enjoy and consult a doctor tomake sure that it is the right one for you.

Diet

Some dietary restrictions can help in relieving symptoms of PCOS:

Do not eat red meat as it increases the risk of infertility. This means no steaks, hamburgers or pork, too.

Avoid eating hydrogenated and saturated fats like in dairy-based products. Also, baked goods contain a lot of these fats.

Eat a lot of green vegetables like broccoli and lettuce. You can also have red fruits that are rich in antioxidants and nutrients like berries. Make sure to include plant proteins like lentils, legumes, and dried beans in your daily diet.

You need to follow a diabetic diet as you are insulin resistant. This means that your diet should have foods that are low in carbs and rich in fibre. This includes wheat, whole grains, poha, wheat pasta, and brownrice.

Avoid any refined carbohydrate products like white bread, biscuits, and pastries. Also, stay away from sugary beverages like energy drinks and sodas.

Women with PCOS experience water retention. So, it is important that you eat frequent, small meals and have enough water.

Here is what you should eat

Cereals: Bran flakes, barley, brown bread, multi-grain bread, whole wheat porridge, muesli, oatmeal, oats, quinoa, whole wheat.

Dairy products: Skimmed milk, tofu, yogurt, paneer, and soy milk.

Fruits: Apples, berries, pears, peaches, plums, oranges, papaya, and watermelons.

Nuts: Almonds, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Pulses: Beans, chana dal, green moong, whole pulses, and yellow moong.

Dealing with PCOS can be difficult. However, if you follow your doctors advice, eat healthy food and work out regularly, it becomes slightly manageable.

(The author is consultant OB-GYN,Apollo Cradle, Brookefield, Bengaluru)

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Do the balancing act - Deccan Herald

THE nation is boozing its way through lockdown, with sales of alcohol up by a third.

It is no surprise that after a long day of work, home-schooling children and housework, many of us want to relax with a glass of wine and easy-to-cook dinner.

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The good news is that even beans on toast can have its flavours enhanced when paired with the right wine.

Here, online wine expert Helena Nicklin picks the perfect plonk to sip with your simple suppers with all bottles under a tenner.

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THIS refreshing white wine has bags of ripe, juicy flavour.

Pinot Gris is the best grape for this and will offer the most fruit on the palate.

My choice to quaff is this stunner from New Zealand.

It will balance the mild spice nicely, but is punchy enough to avoid being completely overpowered by the taste of curry sauce.

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CHICKEN just loves the Chardonnay grape, even more so when the meat has been fried.

You need bold, tropical notes and a splash of crisp citrus to pep up your fried foul and make the batter sing.

This great-value and delightfully balanced Australian Chardonnay is full bodied and crisp.

It matches perfectly with a bucket of wings.

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JUICY, soft and red, a classic bottle of Merlot originating from a country with lots of sun is the perfect match for baked beans.

This one has aromas of blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.

Its luscious, velvety tones are exactly what you need to offset the texture of crunchy toast and the slightly sweet flavour of your classic tinned topping.

Beanz meanz Merlot.

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CAN'T be bothered to cook and ended up grabbing a bowl of cereal on the sofa instead? Weve all done it.

With mild-flavoured, non-sugary cereals such as cornflakes or Rice Krispies, its best to glug something white, dry and weighty, preferably with earthy flavours.

This powerful French white with Grenache blanc and Marsanne grapes is ideal.

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ARGENTINIAN Malbec is a perfect partner for robust, beefy dishes.

It is smooth, silky and sophisticated, but it is also bold and ballsy with ripe blueberry fruit and milk- chocolate notes thanks to its high-altitude vineyard plots.

This bargain bottle of red will give real boom to your bolognese.

It is exactly what you want when you have made the effort to cook.

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SWEET desserts ideally need to be paired with sweet wines, or whatever is in your glass will end up tasting unpleasantly metallic.

This Australian dessert wine is great value and could be a pud in itself with its golden colour and gloriously honeyed apricot notes.

Its intense, syrupy flavours go perfectly with any classic fruit and custard combos. Cheers.

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HOT spice can be tricky to match with wine but the Italians have come up with the answer here.

This Sicilian red is made in a special style called appassimento, which uses partly dried grapes.

This gives it more body and tang with some oaky notes to prevent it tasting too dry, but also provides ripe cherry sweetness.

A perfect foil for chewy dough, creamy cheese and sizzling pepperoni toppings.

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RAISE a glass of fizz as you dip a chip into your yolk. Bubbles are a great match for fried foods but avoid prosecco, itll be too sweet.

This cava is an affordable Spanish option made just like champagne but with different, local grapes.

Its cool, crisp, slightly sharper bubbles will cut through any grease to freshen everything up on your palate, and its savoury, toasty notes will stand up well to salty, eggy flavours.

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A COMFORTING dish like this needs an equally comforting white wine.

The southern Italian Fiano white grape is easy-drinking, inexpensive and full of character. The orange, passionfruit and lemon notes in this bottle match well with salty cheese like cheddar, and will bring some refreshing zing to help counteract starchy carbs.

Exactly what you need with your jacket spud.

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk

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Whether youre tucking into pizza or egg & chips we reveal perfect wine pairings for your isolation diet - The Sun

People living in the Miami Valley have mixed opinions on Gov. Mike DeWines plan to reopen the state.

In his press conference on Monday afternoon, DeWine announced that starting on May 1 health care and dentists would begin opening up, manufacturing and construction will open on May 4 and retail and services will open on May 12.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said no business will be required to reopen. Employees and customers will all be required to wear masks.

Bellbrook resident Harold Phelps is scheduled to go back to work on May 1, but he is nervous about catching the coronavirus. Phelps works for a dental lab delivering supplies to various dentist offices in the area. He doesnt think the state should reopen now.

I think it is still too soon, Phelps said.

Phelps said he would love to eat at a restaurant, but wont go right after they reopen because he doesnt want to be around a crowd of people.

Everyone is anxious to get back to normal, but it wont be normal yet, Phelps said.

Complete coronavirus coverage

Chasady Combs, who lives in Jefferson Twp., is ready for Ohio to reopen.

I think he should be cautious about reopening, because we dont want another outbreak, Combs said. But some peoples livelihoods depend on it. If you dont start reopening some things, a lot of people are going to be in a really bad situation.

Combs is one of those people.

She was laid off from her job at Panera Bread because of the coronavirus and has had to get another job as a car hop at another restaurant.

With no unemployment and no stimulus, were struggling, Combs said.

Combs and her 15-year-old son waited in line for the mass food distribution in Greene County at Wright States Nutter Center for three hours last week to be turned away.

I cried all the way home, Combs said. Its hard enough to ask for a hand out and then for that to happen.

RELATED:Heres what DeWines plan to reopen Ohio says, what businesses must do

Combs husband is considered essential and has continued to work his construction job.

If stuff dont start opening up, people wont be out and we wont be able to make money, Combs said, and tips is how I make most of my money.

Combs said that her family struggles every day to try to figure out how to put food on the table.

Bills are still coming in, she said. When this is all over, were still going to get our bills.

Her teenage son has had three open heart surgeries and is now on a restricted diet. Combs said she worries about the virus because of her son.

Its hard to get him what he needs and stay in his diet restrictions, Combs said. Im ready to bang my head against the wall.

MORE:Are kids learning right now? And what will school look like in August?

Leslie Scott of Kettering doesnt think the state should open back up.

I dont think were ready, Scott said. Until we start to see a steady decline in deaths, I dont think we should reopen. I just dont think its smart.

Scott said she feels that Gov. Dewine is catering to pressure from the president and from protesters.

I understand the frustration of the people who are out there protesting. It is frustrating to see how many people have lost their jobs and it is frustrating to just sit at home, she said. I dont think they fully understand or believe that its real. They just arent being informed, Im not saying that the people out there are uneducated, just that theyre not fully informed on the issue.

Scott is a manager at the Dayton Mall and said she is afraid to go back to work her business is one that would be allowed to open on May 12. She has fibromyalga and because of that has chronic exhaustion.

Since Scott manages a store, if stores were to reopen she would have to report back to work.

If I got sick it would devastate my body, Scott said.

Scott has been able to work from home since stores have been closed. She plans to wear a mask and be diligent about social distancing in her store when possible.

Just from me going out to the grocery store, it seems like a lot of people dont care. I see kids in shopping carts, with both parents, and no one is wearing protective gear, Scott said. I know it is rough right now, but if we stay strong now well be able to get out of this soon. If there is a second wave, this is going to affect our older family members and our children.

MORE:More women than men losing jobs in Ohio. Heres why.

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Heres what area people are saying about Ohio reopening - Dayton Daily News

For the first time in 70 years, 100-year-old professor Thomas Freeman cannot go to work at Texas Southern University.

A global pandemic has done what nothing else could: Forced him to stay at home.

Freeman was the ever-present elder of the TSU debate team until COVID-19 closed the university in Houstons Third Ward as well as most college campuses across the country.

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Over the years, some of Freemans students have earned great renown for their oratorical skills. Early in his career, while teaching a religion class at Morehouse College in Atlanta in the late 1940s, one of his students was a young man named Martin Luther King, Jr. Upon arriving at TSU, Freeman helped a bright, young woman harness the power of her voice. That student was Barbara Jordan, who would become the first Black woman from the South elected to Congress. When preparing for his role as a forensics professor in The Great Debaters film, two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington traveled to Houston to consult with Freeman.

Now, the coach emeritus of the debate team he founded in 1949 waits at home bored and wanting to be with the students, according to Gloria Batiste-Roberts, DPH, Freemans former student and successor as director and debate coach at what is now called the T.F. Freeman Center for Forensic Excellence.

At a prolonged time of COVID-19 uncertainty, illness and death, Freeman shares his life experience on overcoming adversity, achieving longevity and devoting time to meaningful endeavors.

Thomas Franklin Freeman, Ph.D., who was born in 1919, turns 101 in June.

Q | Has involvement with students for many decades contributed to your longevity?

A | Im not so sure that it has contributed to the longevity. I am reasonably sure that it has contributed to my continuous activity. Because I have this to do, I have a reason for existence. Whether that has contributed to longevity, I dont know, but it definitely is a factor. Senility would have set in had I not continued my activity. Continuous activity means muscles are in use and continue development.

Q | How have the students benefited from your longevity?

A | The older you grow, the greater your chances of making valuable contributions to those who are coming along who could not even imagine what you have experienced. Sharing with them helps them lift themselves out of some situations through which you have already gone.

Q | Most people will succumb, ultimately, to heart disease, accidents or cancer. How have you avoided those to become a centenarian?

A | I dont think I have avoided those three things. I think I have avoided the consequences of those three things. The human body is subject to attacks and somehow is not destroyed. I have prevailed by the grace and mercy of God.

Q | You dont drink alcohol or smoke, do you?

A | I am not a smoking man. Im not a drinking man. I am not a carousing man.

Q | Do you think that accounts, even in part, for your long life?

A | I dont know. Im from a family of longevity. My dad lived to be 95. My mother, 87. I have one sister left and she is 82. There were 15 of us and only two left.

Q | What advice do you have for people who want to live a long time?

A | A lot of things that are happening are not under our control. What we need to do as a society is to return to moral values as a basis for good lives. As families, we have to rebuild the moral structure so one has a guide to determine behavior. That starts in the home. Train up a child in the way that they should go.

Q | Do you do any particular exercises?

A | My wife tries to get me to walk and I say, Ill walk when Im going somewhere. Somebody gave me a stationary bike, but I dont use it.

Q | Do you have a special diet?

A | Whatever my wife serves, I eat. She happens to be a good cook and wants to do it. I have a well-balanced meal every time I sit at the table.

Q | Your wife, Mrs. Clarice Freeman, is in her 90s?

A | Yes, 99. [She turns 100 in August.]

Q | How long have you been married?

A | It will be 67 years in 2020. [They wed in 1953.] Three children; four grandchildren.

Q | How has working as a professor and as a minister enhanced your contribution to both education and faith?

A | Its like the left hand and the right hand. Without one, you couldnt do as much. One balances the other. Ive been pastoring for 69 years and Ive been at TSU for 70 years.

Q | From the perspective of what we now call brain health, how do you keep your mind sharp?

A | The activity that is transpiring now is a part of that. I interact with people. Without interaction, there would be stagnation. If I sat here all day long and looked at the chair, we would get nowhere. With a person sitting in the chair, there is an interaction.

Q | How does it feel to be a centenarian?

A | I can hardly believe that I am 100 years old. [Laughs heartily.]

This conversation is a compilation of two interviews, one from 2019 and another from earlier this year, between Freeman and TMC Pulse Assistant Editor Cindy George. The responses have been edited for clarity and length.

Original post:
Soul Survivor: Wisdom from a TSU professor who went to work for 70 yearsuntil COVID-19 - TMC News - Texas Medical Center News

WHILE most of us are concerned about keeping ourselves and family members protected from COVID-19 (and rightfully so), there are other dangers lurking around that can have serious health consequences. The break in routine, combined with regular snacking and a lack of physical activity can actually exacerbate an already existing problem in T&T childhood obesity and chronic lifestyle diseases among our nations youth.

Prior to the pandemic, statistics revealed that In Trinidad alone obesity rates rose from three to 11 per cent in the past ten years and that children were becoming more prone to diabetes, elevated blood pressure and elevated cholesterol at a younger age, said diabetes educator and dietician James Harper.

In addition to that, studies done in the past have shown that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among children was mostly as a result of their habits or lifestyle choices which include a lack of exercise, unhealthy diets and a sedentary lifestyle, said family practitioner Dr Visham Bhimull.

The temporary closure of fast food restaurants doesnt necessarily mean that everyone is suddenly eating healthier, rather, the natural tendency for any human being whether adult or child is to eat more than they should when they are at home, said Bhimull.

Eating food is not just a matter of taking in nutrition, its also considered a social activity. So if kids are eating unhealthy foods especially now that they are home it will obviously affect them in the long run and put them at risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol, said Bhimull.

Protect your immune system

During these times, it is especially important that our immune system is functioning at its best said Bhimull who suggested that households include in their daily diet fruits, vegetables and legumes which support the immune system. As part of our Trinidadian culture, we consume meat daily but its recommended that meat should actually be included in our diet two to three times a week.

These unprecedented times give parents the opportunity to involve their children while preparing meals, so that they could teach them what is healthy as opposed to what is not, said Bhimull.

Good eats

Instilling healthy eating habits in children must begin with the parents, emphasised Harper who has spent years helping diabetics make wise decisions regarding their diet.

Kids follow by example. Its the responsibility of the parents to provide healthy options for their children. Children are visual eaters, if they see the parent eating something they will want to try it too,said Harper. Parents need to make healthy food fun - for instance children like pizza, so you can make a whole wheat pizza and grate the cheese over vegetables.

Or you can make ice popsicles using fresh fruit juice and incorporate vegetable purees in macaroni pie or with mac and cheese. There are many websites that help parents to be innovative when it comes to picky eaters.

So instead of making chocolate chip cookies, make oatmeal cookies and instead of ice cream, freeze some bananas and mix them with yoghurt as an ice cream substitute. This is also a time to instill in children that unhealthy snacks are to be enjoyed once in a while and not every day.

Exercise routine

In addition to helping a child adopt a healthier diet, exercise is crucial. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to weight gain and chronic disease.

You have to look at the logistics of ones home, a person who lives in a house with an open space may have more resources to allow their kids to move around and get in some physical activity as opposed to someone living in an apartment in Maloney.

But even if you dont have the facility or yard, something that is recommended is listening to music and dancing, there are also games children can play that can keep them physically active like hopscotch and other games that their parents may be more familiar with,said Bhimull.

Having lots of unstructured time can lead to unhealthy habits like overeating and sedentary behaviour, so its especially important that parents work with their children to install a routine, said the physician.

If your daily schedule is disorganised, you can feel a loss of control and spiral into anxiety and depression. The same applies to children, said Bhimull. Its recommended that a childs routine include a set time for getting up and going to sleep, as well as time for school work, chores and recreational activities.

By preparing meals with the help of their children, taking responsibility at home and having a routine which involves exercise, parents can use this opportunity to exchange poor lifestyle choices with good ones. This in turn can help reduce the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases among our youths.

One wonders when this is over if homemade meals may become more en vogue than buying fast food. I think that would be one of the positives to come out of this pandemic. But one would hope that it would spark a change regarding our habits and that we would choose healthy habits as opposed to unhealthy ones, said Bhimull.

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The impact of unhealthy eating - Trinidad & Tobago Express Newspapers

Harare, 27 April 2020 Zimbabwe remains in the grip of severe food insecurity, with millions of people already requiring humanitarian assistance due to prolonged drought, climate-related shocks, economic deterioration and the situation set to worsen as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads, according to the new Global Food Crisis Report Forecast (GFCRF).

Thejoint report, released by the European Union, FAO, OCHA, UNICEF, USAID and WFP anticipates a worsening food insecurity situation in 2020 with an estimated 4.3 million rural Zimbabweans, including children, are in need of urgent action. On top of environmental factors, this is mainly due to the current economic crisis including hyperinflation, shortage of currency, fuel and prolonged power shortages; widespread poverty; high levels of HIV/AIDS; and low agricultural output as drivers of the crisis.

Millions of Zimbabweans are already struggling to put food on the table, having faced prolonged drought and economic hardship for some time. It is imperative that we unite, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe and provide urgent food assistance safely to prevent an already vulnerable population from slipping deeper into this hunger crisis, said WFP Country Director and Representative Eddie Rowe.

More than half of the children experiencing malnutrition are living in countries affected by the food crisis. The GFCRF estimates that 75 million children worldwide are stunted and 17 million are wasted.

Zimbabwe is also one of 10 countries where fewer than 20% of children between 6-23 months received a minimally adequate diet further compromising their lifelong quality of life, according to the new report. In addition,Zimbabwes Multi Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2019, revealed about 1 in 4 children, under 5 were stunted and at risk of impaired physical and cognitive growth.

Food crises have a major impact on the quality, frequency and diversity of childrens diets and this is compounded by the inability for families across the country to provide adequate childcare during these increasingly challenging times, said UNICEF Representative, Laylee Moshiri. During this COVID-19 pandemic we must act decisively to continue essential nutrition and health services for all children.

FAO Representative Jocelyn Brown Hall said, Measures to curb the further spread of COVID-19 have the potential to impact negatively on the food system in Zimbabwe, such as through restricted access to markets by both farmers and consumers, and a glut of perishable nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables. Deliberate measures are needed to prevent and mitigate against these.

Globally the report states that in 2019, 135 million people across 55 countries and territories experienced acute food insecurity. These same countries food systems are highly vulnerable to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which will result in compromised health due to hunger which can increase the risks of exposure to the virus. The World Food Programmes Executive Director, David Beasley, who interacted with communities throughout Zimbabwe during an August 2019 visit, told the UN Security Council last week that the world was on the verge of a hunger pandemic caused by the Coronavirus. If we dont act now, we could be facing multiple famines of biblical proportions within a few short months, Beasley said.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all countries across the globe, including the OECD countries and other high-income countries. This is making it increasingly difficult to prioritise the needs of populations typically affected by food crises. This has put an increased challenge on the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, towards the eradication of hunger and malnutrition.

More here:
Zimbabwe Rated As One Of The World's Top Global Food Crises In New United Nations Report - ZimEye - Zimbabwe News

Good evening, here are the coronavirus updates you need to know tonight.

Top headlines:

Coronavirus explainers: Updates and essential resources Coronavirus in maps and charts The rules in each province

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Students wearing face masks leave a school in Beijing on Monday as senior high school students in the Chinese capital returned to campus following the coronavirus outbreak.

Tingshu Wang/Reuters

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases surpassed three million worldwide. The United States accounts for nearly a third of those cases as some states begin to ease restrictive measures.

48,221 cases have been reported, more than double the number from 16 days ago. There have also been 18,094 recoveries and 2,701 deaths. Health officials have administered 752,967 tests.

In Ottawa: About 30,000 businesses applied for the wage subsidy program after applications opened early this morning, the PMO said. The program covers 75 per cent of wages, retroactive from March 15 to June 6, with money to begin flowing by May 7.

At least 3,033,953 cases confirmed around the world; with 891,716 recoveries and 210,424 deaths reported.

CN suspended its financial guidance and will continue temporary layoffs.

The company posted a first-quarter profit of $1.01-billion, up 31 per cent from the year-earlier quarter. Revenue of $3.5-billion was flat compared to the same period in 2019.

Year to date, CNs revenue ton miles have fallen by 4.4 per cent and carloads are down by 9 per cent, in line with the North American industrys slump. CN posted declines across a range of freight, including forest products, chemicals and coal. Grain shipments and crude oil shipment rose.

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Question: How do I work toward a positive dietary goal while in lockdown?

Answer: Having greater control over their food environment (e.g., no restaurant eating, social receptions or other distractions) can help build a new diet routine. Here are four suggestions for working toward a healthy eating goal:

The Globes health columnist Andr Picard answered reader questions on social distancing and many additional topics.

Illustration by Chelsea O'Byrne

I was born with the adage food is love in my DNA. There are a long line of balabustas, the Yiddish expression of good homemakers, who made tasty meals and delectable baked goods for every day and every occasion in my family.

Now, in this global pandemic, the symbolism has never been more powerful. My work with vulnerable seniors has been curtailed for the immediate future. For now, I am the CEO of our family kitchen. I have always been senior management in this department but with this new world disorder, I have received an unspoken promotion.

Every day now, my agenda is clear. It seems important to make an inviting dinner every night. This is the centrepiece of our day.

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Read: Getting creative in the kitchen makes my life seem normal

Have you witnessed or performed acts of kindness in your neighbourhood? Share your stories, photos and videos and they might be included in The Globe and Mail. Email audience@globeandmail.com

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Have questions about the coronavirus? Email audience@globeandmail.com.

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Coronavirus Update: Federal wage subsidy program for businesses sees wave of 30,000 applications - The Globe and Mail

FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- Teeth Grinding & Clenching

During the day, be mindful if you are grinding or clenching your teeth. If you notice your teeth are touching during the day, it could be an indication of clenching and grinding.

If you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw or joint, it could be an indication of teeth grinding or clenching at night.

Stress reduction and relaxation strategies can be effective in preventing teeth grinding or clenching.

If the problem persists, patients should call their dental clinic as continued grinding and clenching can cause negative oral health concerns temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), tooth pain or tooth fracture.

Contact your dental clinic about teeth grinding and clenching concerns. Patients experiencing severe pain as the result of teeth grinding or clenching qualifies as an emergent need at our dental clinics.

Mouth guards should come from your dentist. Over-the-counter or store-bought mouth guards can make joint pain worse if they are not adjusted by a dentist.

In alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Dental Association and Department of Defense policies, most dental care has been deferred, with the exception of emergencies, cases considered medically necessary, and care for deploying and deployed personnel.

Deferring non-urgent dental care is one way we can decrease the chances of spreading COVID-19, while ensuring the health and readiness of our Airmen, said Col. Donald Sheets, Air Force Dental Policy and Operations chief. We are still recommending continuing dental exams for active duty Airmen preparing to deploy to ensure they are ready to go out the door. Commanders at all levels are empowered to make the necessary assessments and determine if dental care is critical to the unit mission.

Because the Air Force maintains robust annual medical readiness requirements for its members, the active duty population entered deferred dental operations in good dental health. Sheets stresses the importance of dental health upkeep during this pause on routine care.

Our Airmen get seen every year and usually require very little dental care, said Sheets. It is vital that Airmen and their families continue practicing good dental habits and eating a healthy, low sugar diet to maintain their oral health.

While Airmen are aware of proper brushing and flossing techniques, Sheets says Airmen may not be aware of how stress can affect dental health. This is especially important as state governments and the DoD continue implementing social distancing and stay-at-home measures.

In times of stress, people often clench and grind their teeth, or what is also known as parafunction, said Sheets. Patients should be aware if they are experiencing increased stress and take steps ensure that they are not negatively impacting their oral health.

Sheets suggests that those who are overcome with stress reach out to their health care provider and take advantage of telehealth services. Additionally, the dental clinic is also available via phone if a patient needs additional guidance.

Our clinics are staffed and Airmen can call their clinics to speak to someone if they have a dental issue without having to physically come into the clinic, said Sheets. We can speak to Airmen about preventive measures, discuss home care, and give them guidance on safely coming into the clinic if it is absolutely necessary.

For Airmen who require emergency or deployment-related dental care, Sheets explains that significant precautions are taken to ensure the safety of medical personnel and patients.

Any time a patient enters a military treatment facility, there is a screening process to assess risk for exposure to COVID-19, said Sheets. The dental team checks if a patient knows they have COVID-19 or associated symptoms. We also know that a patient can be asymptomatic, so we employ personal protective equipment, and follow CDC and the ADA safety guidelines on providing care during this pandemic.

Air Force Dental Service medics are vital to preparing Airmen readiness so they can perform their mission at home and abroad, said Sheets.

Our primary goal is to keep everyone safe while maintaining mission-essential readiness requirements, said Sheets. Moving forward, we are looking at how to reinstate routine care as the response to COVID-19 allows. It is our job to ensure the oral health of our service members and ensure they are ready to support the mission.

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Airmen urged to maintain healthy dental habits during COVID-19 pandemi - 62nd Airlift Wing

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) A grant has been awarded to Augusta University to look at childhood obesity. What can we do to make our kids lead healthier lives, to help them and their families down that path? Mayor Hardie Davis is a big of this endeavor and in fact; he helped make it happen and it is all going to be done through our friends in the medical community and supporter with that. The Means Report welcomes back Dr. Martha Tingen. Shes the Associate Director of the Georgia Cancer Center, wears many hats. Shes also the Lender Endowed Share Holder in pediatrics there at MCG at AU.

Brad Means: Dr. Tingen, thank you for all you are doing and most importantly, thank you for sparing your time during this unusual time in our lives. I hope youre well.

Dr. Martha Tingen: Im doing great and Im grateful for all the many things that we have. Im thankful our familys well, healthy currently and this is quite a different time than Ive ever known in my lifetime. Were just trying to get resources to people that need them and early diagnosis and treatment. I appreciate you having me on.

Brad Means: Absolutely. You all are leading the way over there. Leading the way in our nation in so many regards. Let me ask you about childhood obesity. I want to talk about the grant in a moment, $120,000. Its quite significant, but lets look at the issue itself. How do you know, how do you define if a child is obese?

Dr. Martha Tingen: Well, the CDC gives out great metrics for that. Basically, its based on body mass index and they qualify people either as overweight or obesity based on what their BMI is and I think whats critical for people to understand about our particular county that well be conducting this with in collaboration with the mayors office, who was the real impetus behind this, and the Augusta Partnership for Children, is across our nation in the best counties there are for obesity, there about the national average is 26%. Georgia is about 30% of us are obese and in Richmond County, 32% obese. Another factor that often contributes greatly to obesity thats real important Brad, is the children that live in poverty. Our national poverty rate is 11%, whereas the state of Georgias 22 and bad news for us, Richmond Countys 35%.

Brad Means: You know, youve called this a public health crisis and that really caught my eye when you refer to this as such because we do hear the word crisis used a lot these days. Can you grow out of childhood obesity or does there always need to be some sort of clinical intervention?

Dr. Martha Tingen: There are very few people that grow out of childhood obesity. We have studies now in the literature that show if mothers gained excess weight during their pregnancy and have a very obese baby, often times those children already have higher levels of inflammation in their body, which predisposes them to other diseases. The other thing is the more you are obese, the longer duration as a newborn and as a child and a toddler and all the way up to five or six years of age it is highly predictive that you will be an obese adult. Obesity is linked to 13 cancers. Thats a lot and the link is pretty strong. It also sets people up for diabetes, which theres all kinds of unfortunate ramifications. Also contributes to hypertension, which is a major challenge among many people. So we are thrilled to be doing this and we believe the younger you can start with a family, we think parents should be role models and have great influence on their children in many ways, in many positive ways, and so we are thrilled to be doing this.

Brad Means: Yeah, I think its just amazing. So you go back to January when times were normal. You have the US Conference of Mayors meeting. You have the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America on hand to award $120,000 by way of a grant. It goes to a small town, a medium-sized town, and a large town. And Augusta, Georgia gets the grant for the medium-sized town and allows you, Dr. Tingen, and your team to set up Augustas Fit Families to carry out some of the missions that youve already mentioned so far. 75 families get to take part. Before things got kind of sideways, were you able to line up your 75 families, or do we have to wait?

Dr. Martha Tingen: We already have a list, well be going to daycare centers, faith-based mothers day out facilities, anybody that accepts children from birth through five years of age. And we will be recruiting their primary care givers, whether thats their mother, their grandfather, their grandmother, their father, whoever that may be, an aunt, or whoever, and we have those sites identified. Weve already been in one of them. And of course right now, were majorly going by what we think are very important CDC requirements, the social distancing, so we have not at yet recruited any of these 75 families. But I know whats going to happen. Im going to work with Mayor Hardie Davis on this and were going to get additional funds because more than 75 families are going to want to be in this.

Brad Means: Its definitely going to happen and we know that we just have to be patient. Whats it going to look like, first of all, when it comes to diet? Are you going to try to get into the households of these families and change the way they eat?

Dr. Martha Tingen: So what were going to do is were going to recruit families. Again, they need to have a child five years of age or under, and they will attend four educational sessions with us. Those educational sessions will really stress the importance of a couple of things related to health literacy of actually consuming foods. So Im sure a lot of your guests today, as well as you, are familiar with the word food insecurity. For my life, for your life, we have the luxury often of going to any fresh market we want, any great restaurant, but a lot of people dont have that. They have to go to the 7/11 and decide which can of green beans theyre going to buy. So were going to talk about, when you look on the back of a can of green beans, is the sodium content 980 milligrams, which is really high, or can you pick a better choice that might only be 200 milligrams of sodium for that day? Sodium, of course, being salt. Were going to do things like that. Were going to stress to children that we really want them, and the families, we want them to prepare foods that are the colors of the rainbow. Thats something children can grasp. And so we have outstanding nutritionists involved with us on this and we also are involving our pediatricians at the Childrens Hospital of Georgia in the Department of Pediatrics because we want families, parents and guardians, to hear from the pediatricians that deal with this on a day by day basis as they see children often having illnesses related to childhood obesity.

Brad Means: Dr. Tingen, let me jump in real quick if I may. I dont want to run out of time with you but I want to ask you two important questions. Diet, certainly at the forefront here, what about exercise? Will you be able to encourage the families, and especially those children, to exercise, if so, how?

Dr. Martha Tingen: So yes, exercise is a physical activity is what we call it and that could be a lot of fun things. I really encourage people to see the video thats been made of this by the US Conference of Mayors because we see parents with children five years of age and younger acting with their children at a park, at a playground, dancing, doing all sorts of physical movement. If anybodys listening today, I want them to remember one take home. You can always out eat your exercise.

Brad Means: Yeah, definitely.

Dr. Martha Tingen: So its a combination of both things so were going to really stress being physically active together and some ways to do that. Another key component of that, Brad, is people have to have safe places to go to do that. Whether its an open field, an open park, perhaps a school after it gets out, that the facility, the school, can be locked but why cant the playground be accessible? So we are going to, everybody thats in this program with us, we will help them do a neighborhood assessment of what resources are available to them in their community where they can safely do physical active things with their young children. And then were providing that information to the mayors office and the commissioners in hoping that they will add infrastructure where infrastructures needed for safe, physically active behaviors of parents and young children.

Brad Means: Last question, very quickly, if we have obese children, how in the world can we get in on this program? How can we sign up?

Dr. Martha Tingen: Well, I will just give you out a couple of numbers. You can always call 721-1132. Thats a fantastic research associate of ours and just mention the word Augusta Fit Families. We have developed a dynamite low-go and those three things say be active. It also says eat healthy, and we have a great apple or a peach on there for the state of Georgia, and it also says drink water. So

Brad Means: Its going to be, I didnt mean to cut you off I apologize. I wanted to tell you two things. First of all, thank you. Second of all, we need to have you back for the entire 30 minutes of The Means Report. Were going to get the mayor next. Hes going to talk about access to some of those community centers and playgrounds that you mentioned, as well as the cities overall role. But this deserves to be probably two Means Reports and your efforts are hugely appreciated, Dr. Tingen. I thank you so much, as always.

Dr. Martha Tingen: Could I make one quick comment?

Brad Means: Certainly.

Dr. Martha Tingen: So I really want to give a huge shout out to Mayor Hardie Davis. We have a wonderful collaborative relationship and he actually made a phone call to me and he said, I really need us to go after this grant. I said, Whens it due? It was due in four weeks. I said, Mayor Hardie, youre on my list I never say no to so well do it, but I really dont like a short timeline like that cause Im so thorough and a little OCD when it comes to writing a grant. And so Brad, we were the only middle-sized city to receive this award across the nation.

Brad Means: Yeah, its incredible, and I congratulate you. Thats quite a turn around, writing grants is not easy and its not brief, usually. Dr. Martha Tingen, thank you for everything. Best of luck. Well talk soon, you stay well.

Dr. Martha Tingen: Great, thank you so much.

Brad Means: Absolutely.

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Grant helps Augusta University change the crisis of childhood obesity - WJBF-TV