Category Archives: Diet And Food

Today, nearly all of us are in enforced home confinement due to an invisible foe, the coronavirus. So, how do we amuse ourselves? Some pick up books theyve always wanted to read. Others get household chores done. But how about some of us losing weight? If typical busy schedules have interfered with your efforts in the past, could the current context support a concentrated effort on fasting to shed pounds? And what are the best ways to fast?

Fasting diets have generated considerable buzz among diet gurus in the media, not only as an approach to weight loss but also as a way to improve overall health. But do facts back it up?

Researchers say that animals and humans share some comment elements in the evolutionary process. One of these is that neither animals nor humans have always had the good fortune of enjoying three meals a day. Over long eras when our ancestors needed to scrounge for food, humans developed physiology capable of enduring periods without food. So the question arises, is it possible that the occasional fast might be good for us?

That seems to be true for animals. Studies show that fasting produces health benefits in laboratory animals. For instance, restrictive diet experiments involving rats and mice have delayed the progression of chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and neurological disorders.

Research suggests humans derive benefits too. For example, many studies look at the health impact of fasting by large numbers of people during Ramadan. Results show a reduction in inflammation biomarkers, and this in turn can help prevent a wide range of illness, including neurodegenerative conditions. Other benefits include reduced coronary artery disease and a lower risk of diabetes. Several studies have demonstrated that fasting can decrease blood sugar levels, improve blood sugar control, and reduce insulin resistance, facilitating efforts by those with diabetes to keep levels steady and prevent spikes and crashes.

If you decide to fast during home confinement, how should you do it? Some diets involve a complete fast, allowing only water for a period of time. But many people prefer intermittent fasting. This involves eating at only certain times of the day and fasting the rest of the day. Still other fasts involve drastically reducing food intake for two or three days of the week. Remember, fasting is about calorie restriction, and this is only advantageous if there is no overeating when breaking the fast.

Dr. Sai Krupa Das of the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging says, In terms of weight loss and improvement on body composition, intermittent fasting can work, but there is not sufficient evidence to say it is superior to overall calorie restriction. In fact, the two methods appear to be pretty comparable.

A report in the journal Aging Research Reviews looked at various forms of calorie restriction. Researchers concluded that all forms of calorie restriction in overweight human subjects have shown improvement in multiple health indicators.

But Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, Dean of Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, has sound advice. He says, Avoiding refined starches, grains, avoiding added sugars and other hyper-processed foods, and eating plenty of minimally processed foods such as nuts, seeds, beans, fruits, vegetables, fish, yogurt, healthy fats, and plant oils activates many natural weight controlling pathways.

The bottom line is to eat and diet in a way that works for you. Many complicated factors, including inherited genetics and socioeconomic context, make it difficult for some of us to maintain a healthy weight. But for too many of us, the problem is not genetic or societal. It is a lack of individual will and poor lifestyle choices that result in overconsumption of too many calories. This, combined with not enough exercise and confinement at home, is a recipe for trouble.

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones can be reached at info@docgiff.com.

Read more from the original source:
Health: Is home confinement a good time to try fasting? - Red Deer Advocate

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Aingeru Zorita

What are some activities you can do, no sweat, thanks to muscle memory? I can dribble a soccer ball, weave a lanyard into a staircase pattern, and summon lyrics to any Top 40 song post-1995.

Alison Bries recall includes jumping from the high corner ropes of a wrestling ring, her body in a horizontal plane, and landing crosswise on the body of another human as they fall in perfect coordination to the ground (a crossbody). She can also hurl herselfagain horizontallyonto someones back and hold on while that person spins (a crucifix). Not only that; she knows how to hold her frame upside down, legs straight up toward the heavens, while supporting herself by grasping the torso of the human below her (a 12 oclock suplex). This is how I find her on a Sunday in February, in a wrestling ring with pink ropes, her body upturned on pro wrestler Chavo Guerrero Juniors and pointing to the sky.

It really does come back pretty quickly, says Alison, stretching afterward, as if she is referencing a golf swing or how to French-braid. By season four of GLOW, we have the muscle memory. The thing to relearn is the fearlessness and commitment. You cant do any of the moves halfway.

Aingeru Zorita

The Netflix series about the 80s TV show Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is entering its fourth and final season, and it has changed a lot for the 37-year-old. It marked the first project for which she was number one on the call sheet, and the first (and, she imagines, only) time shell be in a show requiring dramatic acting, broad comedy chops, and major physicality. Since GLOW debuted in 2017, Alison has been vocal about how it seismically changed her. It helped with my relationship to my body times a million, she says. Before, I always felt at odds with it; I wanted it to be something it wasnt. But I didnt have the tools to do that in a healthy way.

Now, after four seasons, Alison has a confidence that stems in part from seeing her body as useful rather than merely aesthetic. Even Alisons stuntwoman has noticed the shift in her as she learns to trust herself more: Alisons training on GLOW has made her more comfortable doing her own small stunts in other projects, says Helena Barrett. Shes gotten through four years of a highly physical role with zero injuries, echoes her trainer, Jason Walsh, CEO of Rise Nation. Shes doing the jumps, the flips, the lands. Thats typically not what actors do.

"I like to lead the charge against people thinking that strength training makes women bulky."

Alison says she used to approach fitness all wrong. Everything was cardio, cardio, cardio. Nine years ago she started working with Walsh, mostly out of a sense of obligation. I thought, Im in my late 20s, I should probably start doing some strength training. What she did with Walsh changed when she started preparing for GLOW.

It took the motivation out of being skinny for Hollywood standards and made it about being strong for lifting other women, literally. There was a real goal. Because of that, Walsh has Alison focus on primitive movementswarming up by crawling or rolling, then pushing and pulling a heavy sled, performing trap bar deadlifts, and doing squats, presses, or lunges with a FitFighter (a handheld steel hose).

I mention that after she entered the GLOW ring, it looked to me as if her body shrank as she got stronger. Im glad you said that, actually, because being small was a side effect of being super fit and muscular, Alison replies without missing a beat. I like to lead the charge against people thinking that strength training makes women bulky. Jason uses my body as an example at the gym, because I can lift more than a lot of people. You can pack a lot of muscle into a lean little body.

Aingeru Zorita

Given the ways her physical self has changed over the past four years, I ask Alison if she still grapples with body dysmorphia, something Id read affected her, growing up in L.A. Oh, definitely. Still do! she says, matter-of-factly. In the past, she felt it had a hold on her. I go back to red carpet photos where I thought I looked so horrible, and there are some where I now think, God, I looked beautiful. And Ill remember: An hour before that I was in tears; I thought I was so disgusting. I think its something Ill probably be working through my whole life. And depression too.

Mental illness runs in Alisons family; her maternal grandmother had schizophrenia and went through periods of homelessness. The rest of my family then dealt with the trickle-down effects of trauma, she says. And that meant depression more than anything. The issue traces a line on both sides of Alisons genealogy and occasionally comes out of nowhere and really blindsides me. While some of her loved ones have benefited from anti-depressants, Alison says being active is her way of combating the condition. When Ive been in a really serious depression, Ill drag myself to a yoga classeven if I dont want to be around peopletears streaming down my face. But, Get in class, get out of your head, get blood flowing. It ends up helping eventually.

Aingeru Zorita

Working out six days a week (three days with Walsh, three days of activities like hikes and riding her Peloton) is one way Alison maintains her mental wellness. She also credits open communication as something that helps. Im so lucky Im married to a really wonderful, open person, she says of her husband, actor Dave Franco. We have great lines of communication, and I can talk often about my feelings. Dave gave her perspective when she was in the depths of self-loathing about her body. Its been funny talking to him about it. He said, Before I knew you, Im not sure I believed body dysmorphia was a real thing. Its so interesting to me what you seeand what Im seeing when Im looking at youand the frank discussions we have about it.

A streamlined diet is another thing that keeps Alisons mental state balanced. I used to feel more out of control with it, she says, describing how intense sugar cravings would lead to unhealthy choices and spin her into sadness about her body. Being more diligent has been helpful for me mentally.

You wouldnt believe how diligent. As Alison gets closer to shooting a season of GLOW, she ups her lean protein intake, removes sugar, and doesnt eat carbohydrates after 4 p.m. For breakfast, she has oatmeal with protein powder, then she works out and has a post-sweat chocolate and sea salt Aprs vegan protein shake. A few hours later shell make a tuna salad with spinach and whatever she has on handolives, avocado, cucumber. For dinner, she whips up ground-turkey stir-fries; one from a Gwyneth Paltrow cookbook calls for eggplant, and another she makes with onion, ginger, garlic, and low-sodium tamari sauce. When shes not prepping or shooting, she tends to eat vegan or vegetarian.

Aingeru Zorita

Nutrition is just part of the logistics shes navigating as she preps for the Netflix series and shoots Happiest Seasona rom-com led by Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis about a gay couple who go home for the holidays and have to pretend to be straight. Shes been flying back and forth between Pittsburgh and L.A. and exercising in apartments and trailers. I have workouts for any type of situation, she says. Her routines from Walsh are heavy on calisthenics done at a slow tempo, like pushups and Bulgarian split squats. She also uses the PulseTread app for intervals on the treadmill. For recovery, she is loyal to foam rollers, her Theragun, and Epsom salt baths after ingesting a few drops of CBD oil.

A car is idling outside, ready to take Alison to a flight back to Pittsburgh for Happiest Season. (Shell also appear in this springs Promising Young Woman, a chilling #MeToo revenge thriller.) In a week, shell be back in the ring, rehearsing with all the women of GLOW. Its exciting! she says. My chance to rebond with all the girls. Does it feel as if youre on a team more than a cast, I ask, knowing that Alison was a full-fledged theater nerd and unlikely to have soccer in her muscle memory. One hundred percent, she says, beaming. And I feel like the captain. I want to motivate everyone. Shes going to miss her character, Ruthmullet perm and allwhen she has to say goodbye, but shes taking wrestling, and all its lessons, with her. Its part of me forever.

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Photographed by Aingeru Zorita Fashion director Kristen Saladino Hair Mark Townsend for Dove Hair Makeup: Molly R. Stern using Armani Beauty Manicure: Emi Kudo at Opus Beauty using Chanel Le Vernis.

This article appears in the May 2020 issue of Womens Health, available April 21. Subscribe now.

Continued here:
Alison Brie Can Lift Another HumanAnd Not Just On TV - Women's Health

Find more exclusive sleep-related content in Happiful magazine's special sleep-themed May 2020 issue. Order your printed copy to be delivered straight to your door, or subscribe for our free digital edition.

Every night in the UK, 22% of people have trouble falling asleep. Nightmare, right?

When we struggle to sleep, the impact trickles out into the rest of our lives. It can affect our performance at work, our diet, and our relationships with others. The underhand shot is that our diet and lifestyle can also be the reason were not dropping off at night, and we can quickly find ourselves in a never-ending downward spiral.

So how can we break free? With help from a counsellor and a nutritionist, we play out some of the most common sleep problem scenarios, and look at how to address them.

The sceneYou feel fatigued and lethargic, even the small things in your daily routine feel like monstrous, energy-sucking quests. And when things feel that difficult, its easy to let them fall by the wayside. You struggle to concentrate when youre at work, and your to-do list builds up to an overwhelming level. Recalling things that happened even yesterday becomes hard, and you start to notice that youre forgetting more than you normally would. Youre irritable with your colleagues, friends, and family youre at the end of your tether. When you do finally get round to doing the things that you enjoy, you cant engage as you would do normally. You feel anxious and hopeless.

The next actThis scene is all too familiar to counsellor and psychologist Dr Vikki Powell, and to the 16 million adults in the UK who report sleep problems. On Vikkis advice, for many the first step to addressing these problems is to go back to basics. The most effective step is to start a regular routine around sleep, she explains. This involves not only having a regular bedtime and wake time that you maintain throughout the week (including weekends), but also having a regular wind-down routine too.

As Vikki sees it, this routine should involve time away from screens and tech, and you should try not to arouse the brain too much, or do any strenuous physical activity. But rather than listing the things you cant do, look at this time as an opportunity to indulge in some relaxing activities you genuinely enjoy. You could rediscover a love of reading, journaling, or crafting. Or now could be the time to practise light yoga, meditation, or another mindfulness activity sex is also on the cards. Make this time sacred and special, dedicated to winding down, and something that you can look forward to at the end of the day.

The sceneYouve had a bad day. In fact, its been a bad week scratch that, maybe even a bad month. It feels like a million different thoughts are rushing around your head, knocking into, and interlocking with, each other. The moment your head hits the pillow, you start inadvertently working your way through everything that has been worrying you throughout the day like a showreel of your lowest moments. It comes to the point where you begin to dread this time of night, and so stay up later and later, filling your evening with distractions. You wake up physically and mentally exhausted its a vicious cycle.

You take deep, slow breaths and gently let your mind ponder on the things that brought you joy that day

The next act...The reassuring thing is, youre not alone. Periods of poor sleep are very normal and will affect most of us at some point.

This is often related to a trigger event such as illness, stress, change of environment, and extra demands or responsibilities, Vikki explains. When the trigger event or period subsides, so should the insomnia. Worrying about not sleeping, and adopting unhelpful strategies for coping with poor sleep, become the problem and this perpetuates insomnia.

Its easier said than done, but the first step is to take a look at the potential triggers.

You may not be able to do anything about them instantly for example, if you are going through a stressful life change and it may be the case that counselling, or further professional support, is needed, but being able to recognise your triggers will be the first step to controlling them. Vikki also recommends keeping a worry journal, or to-do list, to throw down the things in your head before you go to sleep, meaning you can move them out of your head and on to the paper, leaving room for more positive, relaxing thoughts to send you off to sleep.

The sceneYou wake up in the morning with a headache, feeling exhausted. You force yourself into the kitchen to make the first of many coffees that day. You didnt get much sleep last night, and you feel ravenous, and crave sugary foods. Throughout the day you snack between meals, and have another coffee in the afternoon. To wind down after work, you have a couple of glasses of wine. You feel tired, but when you go to bed you find youre restless, and you wake up several times in the night.

The next actThe relationship between food and sleep is often neglected. But, according to nutritional therapist Sonal Shah, its one that we must start paying more attention to. There is a strong link between lack of sleep and more hunger, Sonal explains. The hunger hormone ghrelin is stimulated, which means you feel like you want to eat more the following day and often the foods craved are simple carbohydrates, or junk food, that provides quick energy to the body and mind.

So a good nights sleep can help us manage our hunger cycle, but how can what were eating help with getting the sleep in the first place? The first tip any nutritionist will give you is youve already guessed it cutting the caffeine. Weve all been told it before, but to really drive the point home, Sonal highlights how caffeine stays in the body for between six and 10 hours meaning you should cut yourself off from 2pm. Alcohol and sugary snacks can also lead to disturbed sleep. Of course, theres nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and then, but these tips are worth keeping in mind while youre working towards healthier routines.

Youve had a long day. Its been a busy one, but you feel proud of yourself for getting through the essentials on your to-do list. The sun has set outside, and everything has started to get quieter. You walk into your dimly lit bedroom, change into fresh pyjamas, and spend half an hour on a hobby youve been looking forward to all day. You slowly sip on a mug of warm herbal tea. Your eyes are starting to feel droopy, so you slip in between the sheets and turn off the light.

Your head sinks into the pillow followed by your neck, your shoulders, your spine, your hips, your knees, and finally your heels. You take deep, slow breaths and gently let your mind ponder on the things that brought you joy that day. Without stress or urgency, you slowly drift off into a deep, calm, rejuvenating sleep.

A good nights sleep wont come easily to all of us, but its not a pipe dream. With deliberate steps, we can find our balance, and bid tossing and turning goodnight. Now, thats what dreams are really made of.

For more exclusive sleep-related content, including co-sleeping and insight into your dreams, pick up the May issue of Happiful in our shop now, or in supermarkets from Thursday 16 April, or subscribe to read for free online.

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Illustration | Rosan Magar

Read more:
Sleep Scenarios and How to Put Them to Rest - Happiful Magazine

Shout out to Trader Joes

There has been much deserved praise for the women and men across the nation who have been treating patients with COVID-19, and deservedly so. Their sacrifice and dedication is humbling to witness.

While we rightfully honor their painstaking work and that of so many others, I would like to give a shoutout to the staff at Trader Joes in Pacific Grove. These women and men have been ahead of the curve when it comes to following guidelines for customer safety and keeping social distancing. They have cheerfully greeted customers and have shown amazing politeness during this extraordinary moment, and done so while keeping the shelves stocked and the store equipment disinfected. Trader Joes staff deserves recognition for doing their jobs so well under unique and difficult circumstances.

I know there are far more important issues in our lives right now but its good to know there are people doing their every day, yet vital jobs with care and kindness. Glad they got Easter off to relax and get ready for what is to come. I hope they all stay healthy and safe.

Michael Bond, Pacific Grove

Celebrate Earth Day by changing your diet

With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, we are already reducing our carbon footprint during the pandemic by curtailing travel. But we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. Yes, that.

A recent article in the respected journal Nature argues that animal agriculture is a major driver of climate change, of air and water pollution, and of depletion of soil and freshwater resources. Oxford Universitys prestigious Food Climate Research Network reports that solving the global warming catastrophe requires a massive shift to plant-based eating.

In an environmentally sustainable world, we must replace meat and dairy products with vegetables, fruits, and grains, just as we replace fossil fuels with wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources.

We can begin with a 1-minute NY Times food test athttps://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/04/30/climate/your-diet-quiz-global-warming.html. Then, lets celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day at our supermarket.

Martin Clayman, Monterey

Wildlife during shelter in place

Since the PG golf course has been closed to play it has turned into a dog park and while jogging by I keep seeing deer bolting from the golf course and cemetery into the streets being chased by dogs. I dont know what is more cruel, seeing the wildlife scared to death or seeing the dogs run themselves ragged to complete exhaustion. Unbelievable.

Steven Gray, Pacific Grove

Looking forward to morning read

On reading the letter from George Jaksha, I was reminded of the other morning when I reached for my paper, (which the delivery boy so nicely tucks into my door) how sad and distressed I would be if the Herald didnt come to my door each morning. Coffee without the newspaper to read? It would absolutely ruin my day. In these times it is something, and one of the few things, to look forward to. Thank you, Herald and your delivery person!

Jane Upp,Carmel Valley

Disappointed in story selection

It was very disturbing to open the Herald on Easter Sunday morning -the day Christs resurrection is celebrated and see a long and colorfully illustrated report on how we all could and might die.

Not your best front page, Herald!

Jo-Ann M. Hatch, Carmel Valley,

Unhappy about flight school noise

If you buy a house next to an airport, you expect a certain about of noise. When I was flying out of Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, the realtors would show homes in the surrounding neighborhoods on Sunday when we mostly were not flying. However, while accepting a certain amount of noise we also expect those flying out of the airport to be good neighbors and abide by the established rules. The most annoying chronic offender is the flight school located at Monterey Regional Airport. The flight school is supposed to limit touch and goes to four in a two-hour period. This limitation is routinely ignored, often by a large number of flights. Furthermore, the complaints routinely generated are never acted upon by the Airport. All in all, not very neighborly behavior. Also, I am waiting for someone to explain why flight lessons are an essential service since there has been little reduction of them since the shelter-in-place order was promulgated. Anyone who has flown in a Cessna knows that there is not 6 feet separating the pilot and copilot.

Gary Kreeger, Del Rey Oaks

I take our household recycles out to Marinas Recycling Center about every two to three weeks. I take glass, plastics, cardboard, aluminum, and paper.

My last visit truly upset me. In the paper bin, I saw the entire set of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S, Lewis just thrown in like garbage. This travesty was beyond my reach and there wasnt anyone available to help. There were other books as well.

It is beyond my comprehension how anyone could dispose of books in this fashion without any regard for the libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs, daycare centers and senior citizen centers that could benefit from their donation. Not to mention the number of students at the middle and high school level. Ive even seen a number of textbooks in the bin. Why not give those back to the institutions which befit the most?

This was not my first encounter with finding books in the recycling bin. How tough is it to take these books to where they would do the most good.

I dont get it.

Toni Reed, Seaside

View post:
Letters to the Editor: April 15, 2020 - Monterey Herald

In a new Instagram post, Cristina Cuomo says her husband of 19 years, Chris Cuomo, has "successfully turned the corner away from his severe symptoms and the potential danger of pneumonia" with coronavirus.

Cristina, who has a long career in journalism and media, has been keeping friends, family, and fans updated on his improving condition via her lifestyle and wellness platform The Purist, where she details Chris's daily diet, exercise regimen, and even his temperature. In her latest Instagram update, she went on to say that her husband, "still feels consistently light-headed, week, fever on, fever off." So, she's continued working with Dr. Linda Lancaster, an energy medicine physician who Cristina says helped cure her "aggressive" Lyme disease last summer, on a diet strong in herbs and vitamins. "It takes a lot of energy to break down raw foods, especially when youre sick," she wrote on Instagram. Chris has been eating a "stress-free diet," according to the post, so as not to tax his liver or consume his energy.

The first photo in Cristina's post featured Chris looking healthy and happy with their son, Mario Jr., 14, named after Chris's late father, the former governor of New York. Swipe, and you'll also see a photo of Chris standing in his pajamas and face mask on the stairs to their basement in Long Island, where he's quarantining. You can see a tray with food, a tissue box, and a tub of Lysol wipes.

Tons of well wishes poured into the comments section, like this note from Chris's CNN co-worker, Lisa Ling: "You are amazing CGC. Chris is so lucky to have you." Another friend wrote, "Hes got the best home nurse ever.... sending well wishes ."

Despite his ups and downs with coronavirus, Chris has still been making appearances on CNN, where he hosts Cuomo Prime Time. As recently as last evening, he told Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, "I'm scared by this. And it frustrates me because I can't get out of this basement."

Chris added something new about the emotional toll the virus takes on people as well: "People are afraid to talk about it, and I'm not," he told Dr. Gupta. "This virus creates psychological illness. It is in my head. It is causing people depression, and it's creating brain fog, and it's creating edginess in people. The experts I'm talking to are saying yes, yes, we've seen that. But how do you treat it and what does it mean down the road? We don't know."

We're hoping for Chris's full recovery and discharge from the basement soon. In the meantime we know he's in the best of care thanks to his wife Cristina and their kids!

Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts. And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice.

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Cristina Cuomo Says Husband Chris Cuomo Has "Turned the Corner" With Coronavirus - Prevention.com

As many people are working from home during the COVID-19 lockdown without a proper desk, they could be sitting in the wrong posture for hours which can lead to pain in the neck and lower back. Health experts have suggested that simple tips like not taking their laptop to bed, taking adequate breaks and having a healthy diet can help you avoid these problems.

People should be extra careful not to fall sick during this period as the work from home mode and closure of gyms have disrupted physical activity schedules of many, the experts said.

We should keep in mind that this lockdown period is for our safety from a disease, and doesnt allow us to be careless and invite other diseases like cervical pain, backache, arthritis etc., Monu Singh, Senior Consultant in Orthopaedics at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Gurugram, told IANS.

As people are not going out daily for office now, it has definitely broken their physical activity schedule including walking, gymming and to balance that schedule they should take out at least one hour everyday for routine exercise and other physical activities which can be done at home like yoga and other free hand exercises, he said.

The doctor suggested that while working from home people should use a table and chair, keep their back straight and posture right.

They should keep taking adequate breaks to avoid sitting for too long in front of a laptop or any screen for that matter, he said, adding that diet is extremely important in these times of restricted activity.

Avoid snacking, dont keep munching unhealthy food, add more fruits and fibres to your daily meal with plenty of fluids and keep your calcium intake right, Singh said.

Subhash Jangid, Director and Unit Head, Bone & Joint Institute, Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram has advised people to do neck stretching exercises and keep the neck and back muscles strong in this period of lockdown.

People with cervical issues should avoid any heavy weights, Jangid said.

For people with back problems, you can walk in your home. Make a schedule, fix a time and walk at a length for half-hour to stay active. In case you do not have ample space for a walk, take out your yoga mat or a bedsheet, you can do pilates or soft yoga poses to improve your core strength and stability, he said.

Some such exercises are chair stand, single leg raise, heel raise, front plank on table.

People can also do a plank and a childs pose to gain strength for the back.

The doctor added that dancing is a great way of staying active and keeping the family bond strong.

Alternatively, one can do skipping, Zumba, yoga or pilates or floor exercises.

Stand or walk around while talking over the phone, rather than sitting down, the doctor said.

According to Viju Thomas (PT), Head Of Department, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Department, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute in New Delhi, people who are working from home need to be more careful.

Do Surya Namaskar every morning and walk in your room. If one is already on therapy then be in contact with your physiotherapist and keep taking advice to follow, said Thomas.

Excerpt from:
Working from home? Follow these tips to avoid neck, lower back pain - The Statesman

Former bachelor Peter Weber has been quarantining with Kelley Flanagan (from his season) and Dustin Kendrick (from Hannah Browns Bachelorette season) in Chicago. He recently posted on Instagram that hes heading back to work (piloting planes), but he plans on returning to Chicago to be with Flanagan and Kendrick when hes not working.

We had been in the house for a while and we had that nice day in Chicago. Thats the day that everything kind of came out, Kendricktold Us Weekly of quarantining with Weber and Flanagan. They wanted to stay inside and I feel bad, because I forced them out. Peter hadnt been in Chicago in years and I wanted to show him the River Walk and the Lakeview Path. I thought it was gonna be good for us to get out of the house and go for a walk.

In a recent Instagram Q&A the former bachelor did, one fan asked: Why r u not listening to the doctors and r hanging out with people and flying [sic]?

Air service is considered an essential service so I still have to work. Im quarantined with [Kelley Flanagan] and [Dustin Kendrick] in Chi-town when Im not working! he replied.

Another fan asked Weber what hes most looking forward to once the lockdown is lifted.

To never taking anything in my life for granted ever again, he replied.

One fan asked Weber for some advice for pilots in training getting their IFR/Commercial/Multi.

Take as few breaks as possible and try and knock out your training as quickly as possible. I found this helped me retain my knowledge and skillset better and kept me from ever getting rusty while I was learning, he responded.

Weber continued: I love the passion that you have for aviation. Im getting a lot of questions about my path and keep an eye out for a program that Im working on right now detailing to those that are interested on how to achieve youre [sic] dream. I want to help and encourage in any way I can. its the best job in the world. All the best and Im stoked for the journey you have ahead of you!

Weber also answered what his least favorite thing about being a pilot is.

Its really tough to maintain a healthy diet, he wrote.

Another fan asked if he plans on watching Listen to Your Heart (The Bachelors latest show).

Of course, gonna live vicariously through all those beautiful people who can actually sing, he responded.

The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Read more: The Bachelor: Peter Weber on Why He and Hannah Ann Sluss Didnt WorkThe Two of Us Just Didnt Challenge Each Other Enough

More here:
'The Bachelor': Peter Weber Responds to a Fan Who Asks Why He's 'Not Listening to the Doctors' and 'Hanging out With People' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Like many religions, Buddhism has dietary restrictions and food traditions.

Buddhists those who practice Buddhism follow the teachings of the Buddha or awakened one and adhere to specific diet laws.

Whether youre new to Buddhism or want to practice only certain aspects of the religion, you may wonder what those dietary customs entail.

This article explains everything you need to know about the Buddhist diet.

Siddhartha Gautama, or the Buddha, founded Buddhism in the 5th to 4th century B.C. in the eastern part of India. Today, its practiced worldwide (1).

Several forms of Buddhism exist globally, including Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana. Each type has slightly different interpretations of Buddhas teaching, particularly when it comes to dietary practices.

Five ethical teachings govern how Buddhists live.

One of the teachings prohibits taking the life of any person or animal. Many Buddhists interpret this to mean that you should not consume animals, as doing so would require killing.

Buddhists with this interpretation usually follow a lacto-vegetarian diet. This means they consume dairy products but exclude eggs, poultry, fish, and meat from their diet.

On the other hand, other Buddhists consume meat and other animal products, as long as the animals arent slaughtered specifically for them.

Nonetheless, most dishes considered Buddhist are vegetarian, despite not all traditions requiring lay followers of Buddhism to follow this diet (2).

Another ethical teaching of Buddhism prohibits intoxication from alcohol given that it clouds the mind and can lead you to break other religious rules.

Still, lay followers of the religion often disregard this teaching, as some traditional ceremonies incorporate alcohol.

Aside from alcohol, some Buddhists avoid consuming strong-smelling plants, specifically garlic, onion, chives, leeks, and shallots, as these vegetables are thought to increase sexual desire when eaten cooked and anger when eaten raw (3).

Fasting refers to abstaining from all or certain types of foods or drinks.

The practice specifically intermittent fasting is becoming increasingly popular for weight loss, but its also often done for religious purposes.

Buddhists are expected to abstain from food from noon until the dawn of the following day as a way to practice self-control (4, 5).

However, as with the exclusion of meat and alcohol, not all Buddhists or lay followers of the religion fast.

Like other religions, Buddhism has specific dietary practices that followers may or may not practice. Some Buddhists may fast or refrain from consuming animals, alcohol, and certain vegetables.

Every diet, including the Buddhist diet, has pros and cons to consider.

A Buddhist diet follows a primarily plant-based approach.

A plant-based diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, and beans, but it may also include some animal products.

This diet provides important compounds, such as antioxidants, phytochemicals, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, which have been associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer (6, 7, 8, 9).

Aside from these health benefits, following a plant-based or vegetarian diet may also benefit your waistline.

One study demonstrated that Buddhists who followed a vegetarian diet for 1134 years had less body fat than those who followed the diet for 510 years ⁠ and even less body fat than those who followed it for 34 years (3).

Vegetarian diets that restrict the intake of meat can be deficient in certain nutrients if they arent planned appropriately even if they permit eggs and dairy.

Studies have found that Buddhist lacto-vegetarians had calorie intakes similar to those of non-vegetarian Catholics. However, they had higher intakes of folate, fiber, and vitamin A and consumed less protein and iron (3, 10).

Consequently, they had lower levels of iron and vitamin B12. Low levels of these nutrients can cause anemia, a condition characterized by a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells (3, 10, 11).

Aside from iron and vitamin B12, other nutrients that vegetarians may be lacking include vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and zinc (12).

Still, its possible to consume a nutritionally adequate vegetarian diet by planning properly and taking supplements to fill any nutritional gaps.

Fasting is an important practice in Buddhism. Buddhists generally fast from noon to dawn of the following day.

Depending on your preferences and schedule, you may find fasting for approximately 18 hours every day to either be a pro or con of the Buddhist diet.

Consuming your entire daily calorie intake before noon can not only be physically difficult but also interfere with your social and professional life.

On the other hand, you may find fasting convenient and helpful for weight loss, if thats a goal of yours.

In a 4-day study in 11 overweight adults, those fasting for 18 hours had better blood sugar control and increased expression of genes involved in autophagy a process that replaces damaged cells with healthy ones compared with those fasting for 12 hours (13, 14).

While these results are promising, longer studies are necessary to make definitive conclusions about whether the practice is superior to a standard reduced-calorie diet for weight loss and other health benefits (15, 16, 17, 18).

Given that the Buddhist diet consists primarily of plants, it may lack certain vitamins and minerals, particularly iron and vitamin B12. Fasting, while an important component of Buddhism, may not be for everyone.

While not all Buddhists are vegetarians, many choose to follow a vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian diet.

Here are examples of foods to eat and avoid on a lacto-vegetarian diet:

While its not a requirement of practicing Buddhism, many follow a vegetarian or lacto-vegetarian diet that also excludes alcohol and pungent vegetables and spices.

Below is a 1-day sample menu of a lacto-vegetarian Buddhist diet:

A sandwich made with:

As well as a side of:

A burrito made with:

If you choose to fast, you would consume these meals and snacks before noon.

A lacto-vegetarian Buddhist diet should contain a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and dairy.

Buddhists are encouraged to follow specific dietary guidelines. These differ depending on the form of Buddhism and individual preferences.

Many Buddhists follow a lacto-vegetarian diet, avoid alcohol and certain vegetables, and practice fasting from noon to sunrise the following day.

That said, the diet is flexible, no matter if youre a lay follower of Buddhism or wish to practice only certain aspects of the religion.

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Buddhist Diet: How It Works and What to Eat - Healthline

Liam Hemsworth is opening up about a "painful" experience from 2019 -- and no, it's not about his divorce from Miley Cyrus.

In an interview with Men's Health for their May cover story, the Australian actor, 30, recalled being hospitalized for a kidney stone back in February of last year. According to Hemsworth, having to get surgery made him "completely rethink" his vegan diet, which he had followed for "almost four years."

"February of last year I was feeling lethargic. Then I got a kidney stone," he told the magazine. "It was one of the most painful weeks of my life. I was doing press for 'Isn't It Romantic.'" (At the time, Cyrus filled in for her then-husband at the premiere of the romantic comedy.)

"I had to go to the hospital and get surgery. It's all good now, thankfully," Hemsworth continued. "But once you get one kidney stone, you have a 50 percent chance of getting another one if you continue eating the way you were eating. Well, my particular kidney stone was a calcium oxalate kidney stone. It forms from having too much oxalate in your diet."

"The Hunger Games" star pointed out that oxalates "are really high in a lot of vegetables," including spinach and almonds, two ingredients he would put in his morning protein shake.

"Every morning, I was having five handfuls of spinach and then almond milk, almond butter, and also some vegan protein in a smoothie," he explained. "And that was what I considered super healthy. So I had to completely rethink what I was putting in my body."

When asked why he decided to go vegan in the first place, Hemsworth said, "Health for sure. I go from one extreme to the other. My mom always makes fun of me. She's like, 'If you could just find a happy medium in between all these things you do, then you'd probably be better off.'"

The Riker Brothers/Men's Health

"The Last Song" actor said he felt "great" in the first two years he followed the diet. (Cyrus also is famously vegan).

"My body was strong, my cardio was high. What I say to everyone is 'Look, you can read whatever you want to read. But you have to experience it for yourself. You have to figure out what works best for your body,'" Hemsworth added. "And if something works well for a period, great, keep doing it. If something changes and you're not feeling great, you've got to reassess it and then figure it out."

Hemsworth and Cyrus split in 2019 after over 10 years together. They fell in love on the set of the 2009 Nicholas Sparks movie, "The Last Song," and got engaged in 2012. After a few years of speculation that the twosome had gone their separate ways, they officially reunited in 2016. In December 2018, the couple wed in a secret ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. Seven months later, Hemsworth and Cyrus revealed they had broken up for good, with the former filing for divorce in late August.

Though Hemsworth told Men's Health he wouldn't discuss his highly-publicized divorce, he opened up about how he deals with living in the limelight.

"For a long period of time, it was very stressful, and it really got to me," he recalled. "Yeah, look, there are times when you want to lash out and say something ... because from my point of view, the majority of the time things that are written about me are completely false."

"There are times when you want to speak up and there are other times when it's not worth it, because you're just going to draw more attention to it, and then it's better to just not think about it and let it all wash away," he continued. "These days I dont want to invest any more time in worrying about that sort of stuff. I remind myself of what to appreciate now and to enjoy every moment as much as possible, whether that be working or with my family or whatever Im doing. Just trying to find a positive in it all and enjoy life as much as possible."

Read more from Hemsworth's Men's Health cover story here.

View Photos Splash Liam Hemsworth Spotted Locking Lips with New Girlfriend in Australia

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Liam Hemsworth Says Following This Diet Led to His Hospitalization - TooFab

Whats the most important organ in your body? Without your heart, your blood wouldnt flow, and your cells would die. Without your lungs, no oxygen would get to your blood. And without your kidneys, you couldnt get rid of nitrogenous waste. OK, so theyre all crucial to your survival.

But when it comes to taking care of yourself, theres one organ that often gets overlooked: your brain. Whats truly ironic is, its your brain thats doing the overlooking. Just think about it for a moment: Your brain tells your heart how fast and how powerfully to beat. Your brain tells your lungs how often and how deeply to breathe. Your brain tells your kidneys OK, you get the picture.

And your brain also allows you to read, write, and speak, to form memories, and to experience moods. In short, your brain is the engine of your very identity.

The upcoming Food Revolution Summit, a free online summit featuring 25 of the worlds most trusted food and nutrition experts (including Dr. Greger and Dr. Barnard) will discuss the brain in relation to lifestyle and diet. Running from April 25-May 3, the summit will present the most up-to-date research and information about food, nutrition, disease prevention, immune health, and environmental stewardship.

Download the FREE handbook and find out more

When something goes wrong in the brain, it can be pretty terrifying. Take Alzheimers disease, for example.

Alzheimers is one of the most feared diseases on the planet for many sad reasons. Worldwide, nearly 44 million people suffer from it. And in the U.S., 1 in 3 seniors dies with some form of dementia.

Not only is the incidence of Alzheimers rising rapidly, but the human costs of the disease can far exceed those for diseases that affect the body but leave the mind intact.

From the disease sufferers themselves, who experience losing their memories and identities slowly and painfully, to the family members who watch their strong and wise elders reduced to husks of themselves, and who often have to step into overwhelming responsibility as caretakers, Alzheimers exacts a tragic toll.

While Alzheimers may be the most visible brain disease, medical science has now identified over 1,000 other neurological diseases, not even counting the disorders that may produce neurological symptoms like brain fog and headaches.

Medical science has now identified more than 1,000 neurological diseases(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)

It would be hard to find anyone who doesnt agree that a healthy brain is required for a good life, especially as we age. Despite this fact, most people today are eating foods and engaging in lifestyle behaviors that dramatically increase their risk of Alzheimers, dementia, depression, and many other brain problems.

Whats worse is the groundwork for these issues is often laid decades before the onset of symptoms. Meaning you could be at risk right now and not even know it.

Thats all pretty bleak. But heres some very good news: Your brain is resilient! And if problems havent progressed too far, it can recover and heal when you give it the right support.

Since you cant change the past, its what you do right now that matters most.

Easier said than done, though, right? A 2015 AARP study found nine out of 10 people believe brain health is important, but most werent aware of how to improve it.

So, do you want to know what you can do for your brain health, right now?

Then check out our top seven brain health resources designed to give you the science-backed knowledge you need to protect your brain and help prevent diseases like Alzheimers, dementia, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's from ever getting a foothold.

Even if youve eaten poorly and abused your body and mind in the past, heres what you need to know, and to do, right now to reverse the damage and protect your brain for the rest of your life.

Research suggests curcumin (the primary active compound in turmeric) has brain protective qualities(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)

Its becoming increasingly well known that we can prevent most heart attacks, strokes, and type 2 diabetes through diet and lifestyle. And that we can prevent many cancers. Its not as widely known, though, that we can prevent many diseases of the brain.

Weve rounded up our best brain health resources for you (including a bonus special report) to show you how to optimize your brain health for the long haul.

You may have heard about antioxidants, but do you know how they can protect your brain?

Find out what the key antioxidants are, their benefits for brain (and all around) health, and the most antioxidant-rich foods, herbs, and spices here.

Discover the immense amount of research surrounding curcumin (the primary active compound in turmeric) and its brain protective qualities.

Plus, youll find out what eight other herbs, vitamins, or natural compounds are being studied for Alzheimers disease and prevention in this brief but informative article.

Food Revolution Summit speaker, Dr. Neal Barnard, tells you why diet and lifestyle changes are essential for brain health.

And he shares the evidence for the specific foods that will increase your risk of Alzheimers and which ones can fight against it (and why).

Food and mood go hand in hand. If youve ever struggled with anxiety, depression, or even just experienced a 'bad mood', this summit will empower you.

Discover the nutrients and specific foods to eat in order to boost your mood and the ones that are worst for your mental and emotional health.

A diet rich in healthy whole foods is good for general health(Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)

An excerpt from The Alzheimers Solution: A Breakthrough Program to Prevent and Reverse the Symptoms of Cognitive Decline at Every Age by Food Revolution Summit speakers and leading edge neurologists, Dean and Ayesha Sherzai, MD.

Find out all about the Sherzais Alzheimers research, including their strategies for preventing and reversing the disease through crucial lifestyle changes.

In this TEDx Talk by neuroscientist, Sara Lazar, youll find out the scientifically proven brain health benefits of yoga and meditation.

Plus, the results of two different studies Dr. Lazar conducted around meditation and the amazing changes witnessed in the brain as subjects continued their practice over time.

In this special report, previously only available during our Food Revolution Summit, youll discover eight different superfoods (including two popular beverages!) that have been scientifically proven to prevent and even reverse brain diseases like Alzheimers and dementia.

It also features a handy checklist to help you remember which foods are best for your brain, so you can put them all to work for you.

In the Food Revolution Summit, we dive into all of these topics. You can hear the worlds top experts on food and health, as they share the latest breaking insights on how you can use food to prevent chronic illness, helping your body stay healthy and be more vibrant and resilient in the face of whatever challenges come your way. These are crazy times were living in, and none of us can control what goes on in the world around us.

But we do get some say in the choices we make. And those play a fundamental role in shaping our destiny.

You can find out more about the free summit, and sign up for your place, here

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7 Diet And Lifestyle Resources To Help Protect Your Brain Health - Plant Based News