Category Archives: Diet And Food

Plenty of attention has been paid to the ketogenic diet in recent yearsits supporters have touted its potential health benefits when it comes to weight loss, cardiovascular health and even brain health. A new study explores this idea further when it comes to the brain, and has delved into whether a low-carb diet could potentially reverse, or at least slow down, aging in the brain.

The study, led by Stony Brook University professor Lilianne Mujica-Parodi, suggests that early signs of aging in the brain can be prevented by a low-carb diet, or whats commonly referred to as the ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet aims to release ketones into the bloodstream for the body to use stored fat as its main source of energy, rather than blood sugar or glucose from carbohydrates. Once the body starts breaking down ketone moleculesa process called ketosisit begins to run on the energy provided by fat, rather than glucose.

The ketogenic diet needs to be pretty substantial with fats and proteins in order to be sustainable. It typically includes things like grass-fed meats, eggs, cheese, butter, oils and avocados, and almost entirely avoids common carbs like bread, wheat or rice.

In the latest study, Mujica-Parodi and her team wanted to examine whether the effects of a low-carb diet could be seen in the brains of people who may be showing some early signs of aging, but who were presymptomatic.

First, the researchers found that aging in the brain, seen in the form of destabilized communication between brain regions, typically starts to set in when a person is in their late 40s, particularly around age 47. This tends to be associated with weaker cognition.

They identified brain network stability as a biomarker for aging, and found that having type 2 diabetes increased this destabilization of brain networks. They then tested how the brains network stability would respond to diet changes.

One group of participants was placed on a standard diet, which metabolizes glucose as its primary fuel. The second group was given a low-carb diet, meaning they were only eating things like meat or fish with saladand no sugar, grains or starchy vegetables. In the low carb diet, the main fuel source was ketones.

The researchers found that the people who were metabolizing ketones on the low-carb diet saw increased brain activity and stabilized networks in brain regions.

The bad news is that we see the first signs of brain aging much earlier than was previously thought, Mujica-Parodi said in a news release.

However, the good news is that we may be able to prevent or reverse these effects with diet, she continued, by exchanging glucose for ketones as fuel for neurons.

Part of the power behind ketones, Mujica-Parodi argues, is that the brain eventually loses its ability to use glucose as fuel, something known as hypometabolism.

Therefore, if we can increase the amount of energy available to the brain by using a different fuel, the hope is that we can restore the brain to more youthful functioning, she said.

The medical consensus on the ketogenic diet is varied. Some experts note that it can be restrictive and possibly even dangerous for people with certain conditions, while other research has shown it may hold protective benefits when it comes to the brain and overall health.

In the Alzheimers research world, ketones are actually being explored for their potential as a therapeutic pathway for the disease. One recent study conducted by a researcher at the National Institute on Aging found that increasing the number of ketones in the body may help fight Alzheimers.

Diet, overall, has been examined in various studies to better understand how its linked to improved brain function and mental health. Some experts say that a healthy diet and exercise are some of the most effective interventions for preventing, or slowing down, the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Mujica-Parodi says her next steps are to examine brain fuel further, and to extend the research to older populations.

Go here to read the rest:
Could a Low-Carb Diet Reverse Aging in the Brain? - Being Patient

The specialists of the European medical Institute of obesity compared diet of the presidents of Russia and USA Vladimir Putin and Donald trump, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez. It is reported by the El Models.

According to the publication, the 67-year-old Russian President uses lean meats, fatty fish and low-fat varieties, fruit, vegetables, cereals and eggs, and he tries not to eat the products of deep processing and drinking alcohol. If necessary selects the wine or beer. For Breakfast, Putin prefers eggs, in scrambled eggs or raw quail, fruit and dried fruit, buckwheat porridge with the addition of millet and honey. For dinner he has milk or dairy products. In addition, to maintain good physical shape head of the Russian state to help sports, including swimming, martial arts, skiing and hockey.

The American President suffers from a mild form of obesity. At 73, he still loves fast food. His food is burgers, sandwiches with eggs and cheese, bacon and sauces, the Buffalo wings with fries, pizza, etc. However, trump does not drink alcohol, he prefers Coca-Cola light with caffeine and chocolate shakes. He is not as active lifestyle as the Russian counterpart.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel prefers German food. In her diet sausages with gravy and mashed potatoes, cheese fondue and beer. For dinner she eats vegetables.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chose a balanced Mediterranean diet: greens, salads, meat and grilled fish. In addition, the Prime Minister firmly eat Breakfast, drink lots of water, from alcoholic beverages drinking sparkling or red wine.He also leads an active lifestyle, three times a week, runs or rides a Bicycle.

See the rest here:
European experts told about the diet of Putin, trump and Merkel - The Saxon

Sat, Mar 07, 2020 - 5:50 AM

STROKE and heart disease (cardiovascular disease) remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality all over the world. The best way to prevent cardiovascular disease is to make the right choices for your health; prevention is better than cure. Smoking cessation and good control of your blood pressure are two measures that can be implemented if you want to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. Importantly, your food choices can make a major impact on your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Benefits of a healthy lifestyle

Lifestyle behaviour can determine your risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies, including the US Health Professionals study, the Nurses' Health Study, and the Swedish Primary Prevention Lifestyle Study (September 2014, Journal of the American College of Cardiology) showed that adherence to good lifestyle measures such as not smoking, maintenance of normal body mass index, daily exercise, healthy diet and avoidance of excessive alcohol can reduce cardiovascular disease by up to 80 per cent or more when compared to those who did not achieve any of these five healthy behaviours.

Impact of diet

The trend of decreasing whole grain, vegetable and fruit consumption and marked increase in meat and egg consumption in China over a 10-year period (2003 to 2013) has been associated with about a 27 per cent increase in stroke and more than 200 per cent increase in death from heart artery disease.

The current trend of many guidelines emphasises a reduced intake of animal fat and an increased intake of fruits and vegetables. Among the diets recommended, the Mediterranean diet has the strongest evidence for stroke risk reduction. The Mediterranean diet is low in sugar, high in fat (with 40 per cent of the calories from "good" fats such as olive and canola oil), high in plant-based foods (such as whole grains, vegetables and legumes), and favours fruits as desserts.

In a comparison of the impact of dietary patterns on risk of heart artery disease, the Seven Countries Study reported that the risk of heart artery disease for a Mediterranean diet was about 7 per cent of that in Finland and about 40 per cent of that in Japan.

Even if you consider yourself healthy and have not had heart disease or stroke, you can benefit from a healthy diet. Data from the Spanish Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet (PREDIMED) study showed a reduction of stroke by 47 per cent in five years when compared to a low-fat diet.

Benefit is seen also in those with a past history of heart attack or stroke. Interestingly, in the prevention of stroke and heart artery events for those with a past history of heart attack (secondary prevention), when comparing the results of the Lyon Diet Heart Study (using the Mediterranean diet) with the landmark Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (using the cholesterol-lowering medication called simvastatin), those on a Mediterranean diet for four years had about a 70 per cent reduction in heart events and stroke as compared to about a 40 per cent reduction in recurrent heart events after six years of simvastatin.

Eggs and health

The question that is often asked is whether it is good to eat eggs. The view that regular egg intake is harmless is based on data from two USA studies which reported that there was no downside from egg consumption except for diabetics, for whom an egg a day doubled the risk of heart disease. However, this should be interpreted in the context that more than 90 per cent of US participants in the study had a poor healthy diet score and hence, it is difficult to assess the incremental effect of eggs alone as the baseline diet was unhealthy. In a population such as in Greece, where the predominant diet is the Mediterranean diet, it was reported that an egg a day increased the risk of heart artery disease fivefold among persons with diabetes.

Red meat and the gut

The latest US dietary guidelines published in 2016 emphasises the importance of reducing saturated fat intake. Compared to white meat (chicken, fish), red meat (beef) has more saturated fat, and has about four times as much carnitine. The yolk of a 65g egg contains about 237mg of cholesterol and 250mg of carnitine.

In humans, when gut bacteria digest foods containing carnitine (red meat and egg yolks) or choline (egg yolk), a metabolite called trimethylamine (TMA) is produced and this metabolite is then further processed in the liver to become trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO). While the consumption of red meat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and premature death, recent studies on TMAO have shown that beyond the detrimental effects of saturated fat, there are other mechanisms which increase the risk of stroke and heart disease.

An article in the Journal of The American Association of Medicine published in June 2019 reported that studies have shown that people with higher blood levels of TMAO have more than twice the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular problems, as compared to those with low levels of TMAO.

What kind of bacteria you have in your gut is dependent on your diet. If more red meat is consumed, the gut will adjust to produce more "meat-eating" bacteria. For long term vegans who start eating red meat, the bacteria may initially not be able to produce TMA in the gut, and hence TMAO levels will not be high. If the vegans keep on consuming red meat, more "meat-eating" bacteria will be produced and more TMA will be produced and TMAO levels will increase.

Consumption of alcohol

While mild to moderate consumption of alcohol appears to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, heavy consumption increases the risk, especially for stroke, and in particular bleeding in the brain. Heavy drinking is also associated with sudden cardiac death, failure of the heart pump function, stroke, and disease of the lower limb arteries but a lower risk of heart attack. In particular the increase in stroke risk is likely to be due to the increase in blood pressure and the development of an abnormal heart rhythm, atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an important cause of stroke.

Keeping the doctor away

Those at risk of cardiovascular disease should consider a mainly plant-based diet with plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes, more polyunsaturated oils (olive and canola), and consumption of fish and poultry rather than red meat or processed meat. Avoidance of deep-fried food and food with trans fats, reducing intake of sugar and potatoes, and eating fewer egg yolks will contribute to a more healthy diet. Hence, if you want to keep the doctor away, start making the right choices for food today.

This series is produced on alternate Saturdays in collaboration with Singapore Heart, Stroke & Cancer Centre

Originally posted here:
The right diet can prevent strokes and heart attacks - The Business Times

There is a significant correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease (CKD); up to 40% of patients with diabetes develop CKD as a direct result of diabetic complications. Patients with CKD have a need for a disease-specific diet, making management of diabetes challenging. Patients with CKD also face increased risk of complications associated with malnutrition, necessitating dietary needs and nutritional requirements tailored to individual patients.

Researchers led by Nourhan Khaled Hassan, MD, recently conducted a systematic review to examine nutritional requirements for patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic renal failure. The researchers screened 85 articles; of those, 22 were analyzed and included as per the study criteria. The data search included PubMed using medical subject headings terms, and a literature review through the Cochrane library and the British Medical Journal. Results were reported online in Current Diabetes Reviews [doi:10.2174/15733998166662000211120402].

The review highlighted nutrients and minerals needed to be maintained within a specified range defined by a patients needs and conditions. Dietary restrictions to prevent disease progression were also necessary. Patients receiving hemodialysis required vigorous monitoring of blood glucose levels as well as strict management of dietary intake. Risk-to-benefit ratios were utilized to determine optimal protein intake in patients on hemodialysis.

Dietary requirements should be individualized based on the patients disease severity and progression. Assessment of the patients previous and current diet, as well as matching it with their dietary requirements and preferences is crucial, the researchers said.

Excerpt from:
Nutritional and Dietary Requirements in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and CKD - DocWire News

Veterinarian Dr. Danielle Bernal told Fox News there are foods that you can feed your dog when its asking for snacks at the dinner table. (iStock)

Sure, you see your pupsas family, but that doesnt mean they get to eat like it.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Veterinarian Dr. Danielle Bernal told Fox News there are certain foods you can safely feed your dog when you're eating at thetable (though she recommends training dogs away from begging), but warns that you have to be careful about other types of foods, as somemay contain hidden ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

There are certain foods that are acceptable to feed your dog if he is begging at the kitchen table, but many can contain artificial sweeteners or hidden ingredients like onions, garlic, or residue from specific nuts that can be toxic to dogs which is why it is always best to feed Fido dog food over anything else! the vet said.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Bernal puts chocolate at the top of the list of foods to avoid. Chocolate contains theobromine, which, like caffeine, is toxic to dogs.

Fatty foods, like bacon, are also no-nos, as they can cause gastrointestinal upsets and pancreatitis.

Plus, dogs have unique nutritional needs one small piece of bacon for them is the equivalent caloric value of 13 pieces of bacon for humans, said Bernal, who is also a Whimzees multi-functional dental dog treats partner.

Among the others unsafe for your pooch are uncooked eggs or fish; garlic and onions, which can cause fainting and an elevated heart rate; and cooked bones, which are more likely to splinter and cause oral injury or potential internal perforation or obstruction.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

You have to be careful with what you feed your dog as many scraps may contain hidden ingredients that are toxic. (iStock)

Foods to focus on for your pup, if youre feeding them table scraps, are fruits, vegetables and cooked meat.

Carrots and apples are great options, Carrots can protect against cataracts and heart disease, while sweet apples support a healthy digestive system.

Lean, cooked meats like chicken, turkey and beef also top the list as far as safe-for-Fido foods, as they add protein to your pups diet, much like cooked eggs, which are also a good table-scrap snack.

Another fine option in moderation is cooked fish like salmon and fresh tuna, as fish boasts amino acids, Omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Just make sure the fish is deboned, and limit itto once or twice a week, maximum.

Bernal also recommends mixing food scraps in with regular dog food, directly inthe kibble bowl, to train dogs away from begging at the table.

DOG LEAPS OFF 2,000-FOOT CLIFF WITH OWNER, PARACHUTES TO EARTH

In addition to avoiding certain types of table scraps,Bernal says pet owners should limit the amount of "human food" given to their furry friends.

My recommendation is to make sure pet parents limit themselves when feeding their dog table scraps, as feeding too many scraps can disrupt their nutritional needs and calorie limits. Stick to feeding table scraps as 10-15 percentof your pups overall diet, and view it as giving them a special treat not supplementing a full meal."

View post:
Feeding your dog from the table: What you can and can't do, according to veterinarian - Fox News

Diverse people showing speech bubble symbols

RBC I In April you will be asked to vote to continue one of the most successful disease-fighting programs this country has ever experienced. Please VOTE YES on Exhibit A. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in soil, it is truly organic. The Rangely water treatment plant has updated equipment (installed in the recent remodeling project) to safely add the small amount of fluoride to our water supply necessary to battle the number one most prevalent childhood disease ages 6-19 years old. The Town of Rangelys water plant currently houses a 30-year supply of fluoride. Therefore, taxpayers will experience no further cost/expense to have this safe mineral added to our water, allowing our most precious commodity, our children, to have a fighting chance to combat dental disease.As far as the other unsubstantiated claims, fear tactics, and other misleading information out in the cyber world, include words like, may, possibly, perhaps, maybe, or it is believed to to state their opinions as facts. The only scientifically evidenced-based studies that show adverse effects of fluoride are when the mineral is at harmful levels well above the regulated .7ppm. Any element, nutrient, or other naturally occurring substance will cause health issues when ingested at toxic levels. Even inhaling pure oxygen is deadly.The American Dental Association says water fluoridation is a benefit here are few of their facts: From 2000 to 2004, 125 communities in 36 states of the U.S. voted to adopt fluoridation. In the right amounts, fluoride helps prevent dental decay. It is similar to adding vitamins to foods. Using fluoride in water to protect teeth reduces the need for costly dental procedures. Over 100 national and international health and other organizations recognize the benefits of added fluoride.I encourage you to go to any of the legitimate organizations listed below to seek out accurate, evidence-based information on the benefits of water fluoridation.AAFP=American Academy of Family Physicians (https://www.aafp.org/home.html)AAP= American Academy of Periodontology (https://www.perio.org/)AADR=American Association for Dental Research (https://www.iadr.org/AADR)ADA=American Dental Association (https://www.ada.org/)ADHA=American Dental Hygiene Association (https://www.adha.org/)CDC=Center for Disease Control (https://www.cdc.gov/)NAM=National Academy of Medicine (https://nam.edu/)WHO=World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/)U.S. Surgeon General (https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/index.html)American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org/)American Dietetic Association (https://www.diet.com/g/american-dietetic-association)American Academy of Pedodontics (https://www.aapd.org/)US Public Health Services (https://usphs.gov/)American Public Health Association (https://www.apha.org/)American Medical Association (https://www.ama-assn.org/)American Academy of Pediatrics (https://www.aap.org/)Below are just a few quick links to professional and governmental websites that have accurate information (NOTE: Wikipedia is not regulated or supervised for accuracy, so not one of my references.)https://www.cdc.gov/grand-rounds/pp/2013/20131217-water-fluoridation.htmlhttps://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdphe/community-water-fluoridationhttps://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation

Be an educated voter and support our childrens health.

By JOYCE KEY | RDH, BA-edRangely

The rest is here:
OPINION: Fluoridated water IS about healthy children and teeth! - Rio Blanco Herald Times

Back in post-war Finland in the 1950s, it was hard to imagine a healthier lifestyle than that of the countrys thousands of forestry workers. They spent all day outdoors in the fresh air, indulging in the kind of arduous physical labour many of us would balk at these days.

It should have been a recipe for good health and a long life. Yet, something was killing them well before their time.

It wasnt until a landmark study in 1953 by an American researcher called Dr Ancel Keys that the mystery was solved.

Keys compared the diets of men from seven different countries to try to work out why rates of heart disease appeared to be so much higher in some than others.

He found Japanese fishermen who lived mainly on vegetables, rice and fish were easily outliving the foresters of Finland, who consumed enormous amounts of saturated fat even routinely spreading butter on their cheese.

It was the study that finally unlocked the role of cholesterol in the rising heart disease epidemic and marked a turning point in the way medicine approached the problem.

In the decades since, high cholesterol has emerged as public enemy number one when it comes to heart disease.

GPs routinely test for it, food manufacturers market low-fat products designed to help us control it and drug firms produce billions of pills every year to treat it. But what exactly is cholesterol and why is it even in our bodies in the first place?

A vital role in keeping the body healthy

Ironically, for all its harmful effects, cholesterol does play an essential role in how our bodies work. There is naturally occurring cholesterol in every cell we have and it is particularly important in keeping the brain, nerves and skin in good condition.

For example, it forms part of the outer layer of every cell in the body. It also helps to make vitamin D vital for strong bones and teeth and its used to make bile, which helps us digest the fats we eat.

In fact, most of the cholesterol we have is produced by the body itself.

Problems emerge when additional cholesterol from our diet leads to dangerously high levels circulating in our blood. This can cause a build-up of hard deposits called plaques inside blood vessels.

When these deposits become unstable, they can cause a blockage which shuts off the blood supply to the heart or brain, starving them of oxygen and causing a heart attack or stroke.

The trouble is that high cholesterol causes no symptoms, so many people have no idea they are affected.

Public Health England says six out of 10 adults in England have high cholesterol.

It has carried out surveys which suggest just 46% of men aged 40-60 have had their cholesterol checked in the last year.

Around a third either couldnt remember having a check, or definitely hadnt had one despite knowing its a risk factor for heart disease.

One easy way to find out is to request an NHS Health Check, which is available to everyone aged 40-74 and includes checks on cholesterol as well as blood pressure and diabetes risk.

Good v bad cholesterol

For years, it was thought that overall cholesterol levels were the key to working out someones heart disease risk, but doctors now realise the importance of distinguishing between good and bad cholesterol.

Good cholesterol is high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. It is made up of particles that travel round the bloodstream and transport bad cholesterol known as low-density lipoprotein, or LDL back to the liver where it can be broken down and removed from the body safely.

LDL particles have a job to do as well. Their role is to deliver the cholesterol thats needed to cells all round the body. But if LDL levels get too high, our arteries start to clog up. NHS guidance states our total level should be 5 or lower, our HDL reading at least one and LDL a maximum of three.

I dont think the public fully understands the difference between types of cholesterol and the amounts they should have to stay healthy, says Jules Payne, chief executive officer of the charity Heart UK.

Tiny alterations can make a big difference

An estimated eight million people in the UK routinely take drugs called statins to lower their cholesterol. They are very safe, effective and have been credited with saving thousands of lives since they first emerged in the 1990s.

But some people could reduce the chances of needing to take the drugs in the first place by making a variety of small changes to their diet and lifestyle.

Barbara Kobson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, says: If people control their lifestyle and habits, they can have a positive impact on cholesterol levels.

The key step is to reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet. Dairy products such as butter, cheese, cream and full-fat milk are a major source of saturated fat, as is fatty meat and baked products such as pies, cakes and biscuits.

Eggs are not a problem, says Kobson, because although they do contain cholesterol, the amounts involved are too small to have a damaging effect, and they are a good source of protein and minerals.

Simply cutting down saturated fat-dense foods could potentially nudge cholesterol levels back below the danger level in some people, says Jules Payne.

Most people are aware of the importance of cholesterol, but its putting lifestyle changes into practice that counts, she says. Everybody is busy these days so its important to make those changes manageable ones. We are talking about small adjustments that can easily be introduced into the daily routine.

For example, try replacing butter with heart-healthy spreads, like Flora Proactiv or Benecol. And rather than snack on biscuits or cake, switch to a handful of nuts, such as walnuts.

But one of the most important things you can do is to know your cholesterol numbers.

Dont delay make changes today

Putting off lifestyle changes until later in life is unlikely to have any benefit, according to new research. Instead, men and women in their 30s and 40s should be thinking about switching to healthier habits to protect their hearts when they get older.

The study, by scientists at the German Research Centre for Environment Health, tracked 400,000 people one of the biggest-ever investigations of its kind.

The results, published in The Lancet, revealed that those with the longest exposure to high cholesterol (in other words, the ones who did nothing about it early on) had the highest risk of heart attacks later on.

This could be due to the longer exposure to harmful fats in the blood, said lead researcher Dr Barbara Thorand.

Her team calculated that if those under 45 cut their bad cholesterol levels by leading healthier lifestyles, theyd slash the risk of heart problems by well over half.

It means the risk reduction is much larger if cholesterol levels come down at a younger age, she added.

The one group where lifestyle changes alone are unlikely to be enough is patients with an inherited form of high cholesterol, called familial hypercholesterolemia.

It affects an estimated one in 500 people in the UK and is often known as a silent killer as sufferers can die young.

High doses of statins are normally required to lower blood fat levels in this group.

See the original post here:
Six out of ten adults in England have high cholesterol but there are no symptoms - Mirror Online

Dancing on IceSunday, Virgin One/UTV, 6pmPhillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby host the grand final of the skating challenge. Three celebrities and their professional partners remain, and each pair is challenged to perform a special showcase routine choreographed by Christopher Dean and Jayne Torvill. After that one pair will be eliminated, with the other going on to the final round by performing their own take on Torvill and Deans signature piece, Ravels Bolero. Then the entire cast of this years show will return to the ice for one last performance.

Dragons DenSunday, BBC2, 9pmHard to believe its 15 years since this BBC version of Japanese seriesMoney Tigersfirst saw the light of day. Once more entrepreneurs will pitch their money-making ideas to a panel of self-made millionaires prepared to invest their companys money in the scheme if they think it could work. Some of the aspiring tycoons will fall at the first hurdle; others stand a good chance of seeing their dreams turned into a reality if the Dragons like what they see. As ever, Evan Davis presents the show, while series regulars such as Peter Jones pass judgment.

Crufts 2020 Best in ShowSunday, Channel 4, 7pm

So this is it: the culmination of the annual dog-lovers event, when the finest of all pooches is chosen. Clare Balding guides us through proceedings as coverage of the worlds largest dog show concludes at the NEC in Birmingham. Balding is joined by celebrity guests as well as reporter Radzi Chinyanganya and commentators Jim Rosenthal, Graham Partridge, Frank Kane and Jessica Holm. Plus DJ Roman Kemp reveals how his chihuahua helped his mental health, and singer Russell Watson explains his love of dogs to Clare.

Race Across the WorldSunday, BBC2, 8pmAs series two begins, cameras follow contestants as they embark on an epic and adrenaline-fuelled adventure, trekking into the unknown without gadgets or many of the things we take for granted. The journey will see these five pairs racing from the top to bottom of Latin America. They will trek from from Mexico City to the most southernly city in the world, Ushuaia in Argentina. With no smartphones, internet access and credit cards, the only cash they carry will be equivalent of a one-way airfare. Episode one sees the teams set off from Mexico City, the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. Throughout the race they must pass through seven checkpoints to reach their final destination, beginning with Copan Ruinas in Honduras.

The Boys in GreenMonday, RT One, 9.35pmFans are getting decidedly jittery as Ireland prepare to face Slovakia on March 26th in a last-gasp playoff to qualify for Euro 2020. What better way to calm the nerves than with a big, honeyed spoonful of football nostalgia? This two-part sports doc series sets the controls on the time machine straight for Irelands golden era of football, when the Boys in Green made their first foray onto the global arena, spurring fans to join up with Jacks Army and follow the squad to Italy, the US and other far-flung places. Between 1986 and 1995, the revitalised Republic of Ireland team gave the country an almighty lift, and (probably) helped to bring the Celtic Tiger into being. All the big moments from that historic period are here, including Packie Bonners famous penalty save against Romania in Italia 1990, Ray Houghton scoring the winning goal against Italy in the 1994 World Cup . . . I could go on, but I suspect this series will tell the story a lot better than I can. Our guides on this trip through time include Tony Cascarino, John Aldridge, Mick McCarthy, Ronnie Whelan, David OLeary, Jason McAteer, Kevin Sheedy and Stephen Staunton

Herstory: Irelands Epic WomenMonday, RT One, 8.30pm

Wicklow-born dancer, teacher, choreographer for the Abbey Theatre and founder of the Royal Ballet, Ninette de Valois (1898-2001) is the subject of this final episode in the documentary series. The importance of de Valoiss role in creating not only a world-class national company and school but a unique national style of dance and audience for ballet cannot be overstated. Contributors include Anne Maher, artistic director of Ballet Ireland; Anna Meadmore of the Royal Ballet School; and Dr Victoria OBrien, dance historian.

Miriams Big Fat AdventureMonday/Tuesday, BBC2, 9pmMiriam Margolyes loves her life but hates her body. Shes been fat (a word she doesnt shy away from using) for as long as she can remember, but at 78, she feels the time to do anything about it is running out. However, shes far from alone as, despite societal pressure to be thin and the slew of information about healthy diets, Britain is more overweight than ever. So Margolyes sets out to learn more about the impact of obesity. She begins by meeting Gemma, who has checked into a weight-loss bootcamp where shes subjected to a calorie-restricted diet and five hours of exercise a day. However, blogger Bethany takes a different approach as she argues that body positivity is better than yo-yo diets and being miserable about your size.

Random Acts as GaeilgeTuesday, TG4, 8pm

From downward-facing madras to pop-up Gaeltachts, from Luas women to loose translations, Random Acts as Gaeilge takesa whistle stop tour of the Irish language along with the views of some well-known faces, including Stephen Fry and Ronan OGara. Theres a generational collide when Snapchat star James Kavanagh boards the Luas at Ranelagh and meets none other than Doireann N Bhriain, broadcaster, linguist, and Voice of the Luas, with insightful, educational, and hilarious results. Belfast-based Caoimhe N Chathail snaps regularly as Gaeilge, and through her snaps the show explores Belfast and meet other people who are using their Gaeilge daily. Na Cnocadir, founded in 2003, is a hiking and hillwalking group that uses Irish as the main means of communication among members. And acclaimed Dublin alt-rock group Delorentos go behind the scenes as they record a track, as Gaeilge, for this years Seachtain na Gaeilge Ceol.

Mrs FletcherTuesday, Sky Comedy, 10.15pm

So, your only son has gone off to college, leaving you all alone in a big, empty house. What do you do? Make like Tom Cruise in Risky Business and dance around in your jocks and socks to the music of Bob Seger? How about look up the number of the local embroidery club in the hopes of filling all those empty days ahead? Kathryn Hahn stars as the titular empty-nester faced with the dilemma of what to do with her newfound freedom. (We suspect it wont involve needlework.) Meanwhile, her son, a popular jock in high school, is out of his comfort zone and lost at sea in the complexities of social media. This HBO series promises to explore themes of gender, sexuality, parenthood, online etiquette and, inevitably, internet porn.

Dirty MoneyFrom Tuesday, NetflixAlex Gibney, the acclaimed film-maker behind the Oscar-nominated Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, is the brains behind this series. Each episode of the first run focused on an example of alleged corporate corruption and featured interviews with key players and experts; among the subjects covered were the Volkswagen emissions scandal and Donald Trump. For the second series a handful of topics have been announced, including in-depth looks at Jared Kushners real estate empire, the Wells Fargo banking scandal, and Malaysias 1MDB corruption case.

The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to CancerTuesday, Channel 4, 8pmSandi Toksvig has announced shes stepping down as a presenter. But before she goes shes joining Noel Fielding for a series of special charity editions of the culinary challenge, with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The first set of contestants are documentary maker Louis Theroux, comedians Jenny Eclair and Russell Howard, and athlete Ovie Soko, who are challenged to make a giant biscuit, a classic bake, and a choux sculpture depicting their perfect day. Will Jenny seize the chance to make an eclair?

Five Guys a WeekTuesday, Channel 4, 9.15pmNever let it be said that C4 doesnt want to help the people find love its already brought the world Naked Attraction, First Dates and Flirty Dancing. The idea behind Five Guys a Week is that a singleton gets the chance to trial five live-in boyfriends over the course of five days. That may sound like a more sensible way to get to know someone than performing a dance routine with them or seeing their exposed body parts, but the twist is that all of them will be moving in at the same time. In the first episode focuses on marketing consultant Amy (34). Among the guys she will trial are country singer-songwriter Scott, debonair stuntman Michael, international fraud investigator Christian, and local government consultant Glenn, who fears hes less exciting than the competition.

Joanna Lumleys Hidden Caribbean: Havana to HaitiTuesday, UTV, 9pm

Joanna Lumleys previous travelogues have sent her to the Silk Road, India, Japan and Greece. For her latest adventure, the AbFab star is heading for two of the Caribbeans most enigmatic and isolated countries. The journey begins in a Havana boxing gym, where Lumley meets one of the countrys rising female fighters. She also learns more about the countrys history as she visits the town of Hershey, which was built on the success of the sugar industry, as well as the tomb of Che Guevara and Fidel Castros hometown, Santiago de Cuba, as it prepares for the 60th anniversary of the Great Revolution. But Cuba is looking to the future as well, as Lumley discovers how Ernest Hemingways favourite beach is being turned into a five-star luxury complex.

Big Life FixWednesday, RT One, 9.35pm

How do you help a young rower to overcome a disability to compete in rowing contests? Its not rocket science . . . er, actually, it is. In the second programme in the new series of Big Life Fix, rocket scientist David McKeown takes on the challenge of developing a device that will allow Eoghan Barry (17) from Skiberreen, who was born without one of his hands, to use an oar safely. Throughout the series, scientists, engineers, programmers, designers and tech-heads are tasked with inventing something that will make a difference to the lives of those with disabilities. Designer Trevor Vaugh and electronics engineer Chiara Cavarra, for instance, must race against time to preserve Roisin Foleys voice before motor neurone disease takes it away. The pair will have to find a way to allow the 31-year-old mother of three to continue to communicate with her family and friends, hopefully using her own voice.

Child of Our Time: Turning 20Wednesday, BBC2, 9pmIn 1999, Child of Our Time began filming a group of babies, from the moment of birth, to explore what would shape their lives in the new millennium. More than 20 years on, three of the subjects reflect on growing up during a time of amazing social change. Cameras explore their childhood as inhabitants of the first generation of 21st-century Britain. Eve, Jamie and Rhianna discuss their feelings on starting school, finding friends, and their tempestuous teenage years. They also reflect on how rebellion, family tension and bereavement played a part in making them the adults they are today. Plus, other children from the TV experiment share their reflections and experiences on some issues that touched their generation.

The UndateablesWednesday, Channel 4, 9pmThe series following extraordinary singletons as they search for romance returns. Nicholas (26), who has Aspergers, longs to find a partner to share his life. Meanwhile, Shantae (22), who has Downs syndrome, goes to the Pentecostal church every Sunday with her family and dreams of meeting a religious family man. Cameras also follow Robbie Williams superfan Sam (28), who has a global learning delay. Hes a successful horse rider, competes regularly and has won scores of rosettes. Can he find Ms Right?

Seal le DithThursday, TG4, 7.30pm

The Rev Trevor Sargent is Dith Ss guest this week. The former leader of the Green Party (2001-2007), author (Trevors Kitchen Garden, 2012), and TD for Dublin North from 1992-2011, in 2018 Sargent (59) was ordained a priest in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory.

How to Beat AgeingThursday, Channel 4, 8pmKate Quilton and Dr Javid Abdelmoneim explore small changes that could bring huge health benefits. With the assistance of volunteers and scientists, this new series reveals the latest scientific evidence when it comes to bringing down your biological age; managing stress; beating pain; and sticking to a healthy diet. In this offering, eight volunteers take part in an experiment to see if making simple lifestyle changes can knock years off their biological ages in a mere five weeks. Plus, a look at technological innovations in home gym applications; whether training in extreme environments holds the key to staying young in body and in mind, and how doing a good deed can benefit the mind and the body.

BreedersThursday, Sky One, 10pm

Martin Freeman is one of the lucky actors who has escaped the Hobbits Curse, whereby anyone who plays one of JRR Tolkeins diminutive characters cant get arrested afterwards. It helped Freeman that he moved on to a superb role in the Netflix series Fargo, and now in this new 10-part seriesabout the trials and travails of modern parenthood. Breeders addresses the big parental paradox: is it possible to love your children to death while also wanting to kill them? Parents Paul and Ally (Freeman and Daisy Haggard) struggle to bring up their two children without strangling them or worse not sending them to the right school. In the opening episode, Paul is up against something even more challenging than stealing a dragons treasure without waking him up: getting the kids to go the f**k to sleep.

Shipman: 5 Mistakes That Caught a KillerThursday, Channel 5, 10pmTwenty years ago, English GP Harold Shipman (1946-2004) was convicted of murdering 15 of his patients by injecting them with diamorphine. However, he is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of more than 200 people. This documentary reveals the string of mistakes that led to Shipmans arrest. One of them was establishing a pattern and drawing attention to himself. Often, his victims were found fully dressed and sitting up unusual for elderly patients who he claimed had been unwell in the weeks beforehand, while his lack of computer skills also led to his downfall.

EliteFrom Friday, Netflix

For newcomers, this Spanish drama centres on three working-class teens attending Las Encinas, an exclusive school where the elite send their children. The first two series went down a treat worldwide thanks to their heady mix of murder, intrigue and adolescent angst. Elite has reportedly been streamed by more than 20 million viewer; will the third series prove to be as popular as the coolest student in school?

Lost GirlsFrom Friday, Netflix

Director Liz Garbus is best known for making such documentaries as Love, Marilyn and Bobby Fischer Against the World, and she now moves into the world of narrative drama with this 95-minute true-crime story. Amy Ryan stars as Mari Gilbert, whose 24-year-old daughter Shannan goes missing. Mari embarks on a dark journey, during which shes forced to face some uncomfortable truths about Shannan. With police bias seemingly preventing the case being investigated thoroughly, the distraught mother must delve in herself, uncovering unsolved murders involving sex workers, young lives she is not willing to let the world forget. Gabriel Byrne and Dean Winters costar.

How Healthy Is Your Gut?Friday, Channel 4, 8pmIn this one-off documentary, Sabrina Grant explores just why the gut is so important to our overall wellbeing and how it affects everything from our moods and energy, to sleep and health. With the aid of six volunteers, all with a typical abdomen complaint, Grant puts some of the most popular regimes to the test and sees whether they actually work. Cameras follow the subjects as they attempt everything, including the radical bone broth diet, colonic hydrotherapy and a 10-night intense detox programme.

Contributing: PA

Original post:
TV guide: 23 of the best shows to watch this week - The Irish Times

By: Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs and Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response

Fresh leafy greens are among the most widely consumed vegetables and an important part of an overall healthy diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is committed to working with the produce industry and government partners to help keep leafy greens safe for Americans.

While millions of servings of leafy greens are consumed safely every day, this produce commodity has been too often implicated in outbreaks of foodborne illness. These include recurring outbreaks of E. coli 0157:H7 infections tied to consumption of romaine lettuce, which is very popular in this country.

We believe one foodborne illness outbreak is one too many. The FDA is committed to doing more.

Today we are releasing the 2020 Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan, which spells out the actions the FDA plans to take this year in the areas of prevention, response and addressing knowledge gaps. STEC stands for Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, which can cause potentially life-threatening illnesses. The most common STEC, E. coli O157:H7, is most often associated with outbreaks.

Food safety is a shared responsibility that involves food producers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers and regulators. Weve previously called on the leafy green industry to do more, and meeting our own responsibility involves collaboration with state partners on education, training and inspections. This plan is designed to help foster a more urgent, collaborative and action-oriented approach.

In the area of prevention, we will be taking further steps to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule that established science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce. Areas covered by these standards include biological soil amendments; animal intrusion; hygiene; and equipment, tools and buildings. The major compliance dates for very small businesses arrived in January, and 2020 marks the second year of conducting routine Produce Safety Rule inspections for other covered farms, other than for sprouts operations, which had earlier compliance dates.

Our prevention-focused plans in the leafy greens sector include providing education and technical assistance to industry and other stakeholders, with greater emphasis on the potential impact of adjacent land uses and continued emphasis on the importance of agricultural water quality. We also hope to issue proposed revisions to FSMAs agricultural water requirements, for covered produce other than sprouts, in 2020. We extended the compliance dates for those provisions to address feedback about practical challenges in implementing the requirements.

In the area of response, we will soon be publishing an investigation report on three outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infections tied to romaine lettuce and leafy greens between November and December 2019. Each was tied to the Salinas Valley in California. We will also be conducting follow-up surveillance of fields in that region during this falls growing/harvest season.

While we must act to help prevent and respond to STEC outbreaks with current knowledge, gaps remain in our understanding of how environmental pathogens, including STEC, can contaminate produce. Most leafy greens are grown outdoors, where they are exposed to soil, animals, and water, all of which can be a source of contamination. Developing new science to learn how pathogens survive and move through the environment can help us protect these foods that are mostly eaten without cooking or processing to eliminate microbial hazards. The FDA is already working with experts in state government, cooperative extension and academia to better understand the ecology of pathogens in the Yuma, Arizona, growing region. Discussions have been initiated to conduct the same research in other leafy greens growing regions.

The New Era of Smarter Food Safety initiative aims to foster rapid traceback of contaminated foods to their source and enhance the analysis of data streams to inform prevention efforts.

As public health officials, we are concerned by these recurring outbreaks and we believe all involved with the production and sale of fresh leafy greens can do better. As people who have children of our own, we are heartbroken about the families whose lives have been forever changed by these illnesses.

We have an unwavering commitment to protecting the health of the American public. The 2020 Leafy Greens STEC Action Plan demonstrates how we will honor that commitment. We are laser-focused on improving our prevention, response and research efforts with a multi-faceted approach to help keep leafy greens safe for generations to come.

In January, Deputy Commissioner Yiannas visited the Yuma growing region in Arizona to see the food safety procedures in place on growing fields and in harvesting operations. See the photos on Flickr.

View post:
FDA Outlines 2020 Action Plan to Advance the Safety of Leafy Greens - FDA.gov

You're rushing out the door in the morning maybe you grab a granola bar, a cup of coffee or skip breakfast altogether. If that sounds like you, you're not alone. About 25 percent of adults regularly skip breakfast, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

A big breakfast diet might help you lose more weight on the same amount of calories.

Credit: BartekSzewczyk/iStock/GettyImages

Whatever your reason for missing out on your morning meal lack of appetite, lack of time or perhaps you're a fan of intermittent fasting and plan to eat later in the day you may want to rethink your breakfast game plan, especially if you're trying to lose or even manage your weight.

When we eat significantly affects the thermogenic effect of food aka the increase in metabolism after eating according to a February 2020 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

This effect, also called diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT), along with your basal metabolic rate (the number of calories your body needs at rest) and your level of physical activity determines how many calories you burn.

In this small clinical trial, researchers broke the subjects into two groups:

The researchers found that the big-breakfast group had a 2.5 times higher DIT compared to the big-dinner group. They also found that the big-dinner group had an increased appetite, specifically for sweets.

Did you know that keeping a food diary is one of the most effective ways to manage your weight? Download the MyPlate app to easily track calories, stay focused and achieve your goals!

This recent study adds to the growing body of research in support of eating a big breakfast and smaller dinner, especially when it comes to managing your weight.

A March 2013 clinical trial published in Obesity looked at how calories are distributed throughout the day and the affect this has on weight over the course of 12 weeks. Researchers in the study fed two groups of women a weight-loss diet of 1,400 calories, but one group of women received 700 calories for breakfast, 500 for lunch, and 200 for dinner, while the other received the reverse. After 12 weeks, the group that consumed more calories earlier in the day lost 2.5 times more weight 19 pounds versus the 8-pound average weight loss by the group who consumed calories later in the day.

Another small pilot study published August 2018 in Physiology & Behavior concluded that eating earlier in the day, according to our circadian rhythm, is beneficial for weight loss. This eight-week study had two groups, consuming two different conditions of calorie distribution throughout the day 50 percent at breakfast, 30 percent at lunch and 20 percent at dinner versus 20 percent at breakfast, 30 percent at lunch and 50 percent at dinner. The amount of weight loss was significantly greater for the group that consumed more calories earlier in the day, and they were also found to have better sleeping patterns.

Eating a heartier breakfast may mean you crave less sweets later on.

Credit: VeselovaElena/iStock/GettyImages

Now that you're convinced breakfast is a must and that you might want to eat a bigger breakfast and smaller dinner, here's a three-day meal plan to help get you started.

The studies mentioned above provided 50 to 70 percent of calories at breakfast and 10 to 20 percent of calories at dinner. This can be a big jump for most people, though, considering we currently eat our largest meals at dinner, then lunch, followed by breakfast, according to the USDA.

To make the change more manageable, this meal plan includes 40 percent of calories at breakfast, 40 percent at lunch and 20 percent at dinner. This plan will help you begin reversing the current trend, and perhaps the way you eat, by consuming a larger breakfast and smaller dinner.

Here is the original post:
Eating a Bigger Breakfast Could Mean More Weight Loss Here's a 3-Day Meal Plan to Get Started - LIVESTRONG.COM