Category Archives: Diet And Food

What diet do you follow?

I do not believe in the term 'diet'. I prefer a nutritious and healthy meal that [becomes] a way of life.

What is your daily food plan?

My breakfast is fruits and black coffee. I usually have a bowl of papaya, dragon fruit or an apple. Mid-morning, I eat oat chillas (crepe) for carbs. I love my Indian home-cooked food. My favourite vegetables are pumpkin, cauliflower and bhindi (okra) and for protein, I add some lentils. I usually repeat my lunch for dinner. Midday, I snack on seeds, nuts, cucumber or a fruit and have my second and last cup of black coffee.

What is the best part about the diet you follow?

It is nutritional and easy to maintain and I stick to it, no matter where I am.

How has it helped you in terms of weight loss and fitness?

I try and be vegetarian when I am at home. If I am at a restaurant or travelling, then I am a pescatarian. Ever since I switched to vegetarian food, I have felt lighter, happier, less moody and more energised. I have never really been to a dietician or followed any plan as I have never had to make any drastic changes. But over the years, I have met many people and taken inspiration from them to plan my mealswhether it was including salmon in my diet for omega-3, or the benefits of several seeds and plant-based protein. I think everything is easily available online today and it also helps that a lot of organic and healthy food restaurants have come up.

The one thing that has worked for me is reducing my salt and oil intake and giving up refined sugar completely. I took a food intolerance test once when I realised I was intolerant to gluten and lactose, and giving up those have helped cut down the bloating. It is important to understand your own body. What works for me does not necessarily work for you. Everything in moderation and balanced is a healthy and sustainable way of living.

What about cheat days?

I could live on sushi and south Indian food. These are two cuisines that make me super happy! I can never resist a chocolate dessert. I do not dedicate a day of the week to cheat, but if I am on holiday or celebrating an occasion or festival, then I allow myself to enjoy the food. All I do is portion control and make sure I go back to my routine the next day. Having said that, I feel a cheat meal is important once in a while to shock your body and change things up.

Was there a time when you starved yourself?

I have never starved. My only vice in life is getting hangry (angry when hungry). So I have to eat when I feel hungry. I could not possibly put myself through that.

Was there any diet you followed which did not work?

I have never tried a diet. It is a fad, and in my opinion, anything that cannot become a lifestyle is not worth it, nor is it healthy to sustain. No quick fixes, in my opinion.

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My only vice is getting 'hangry' - THE WEEK

Colonial Williamsburg, taking away of free access for one day, each year, to active duty military personnel and dependent family members is egregiously shortsighted. Yes, CW does provide free access to active duty (and military veterans) and dependent family members during Memorial and Veterans Day weekends. But that doesnt happen without a six-figure grant from Home Depot (Thank you, Home Depot!). Like last weeks writer, I understand many or most active duty visitors are either young, single or married service members with young children. They use their free day, other than the Memorial and Veterans Day weekends because they are, more likely than not, on duty, deployed or in the area for training during times other than the two designated weekends. CWs new CEO recently stated that: As our society grows more fractious and forgetful of its past, (CWs) mission to inform, educate and inspire only becomes more relevant and, I would argue, necessary. It seems to me that one free day, each year, just might provide a greater and immutable awareness of our historical relevance, that informs, educates and inspires and, I would argue, necessary.

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Last Word on teachers pay, March 7 - Daily Press

There are many ways to lose a lot of weight fast.

That said, many diet plans leave you feeling hungry or unsatisfied. These are major reasons why you might find it hard to stick to a diet.

However, not all diets have this effect. Low carb diets are effective for weight loss and may be easier to stick to than other diets.

Heres a 3-step weight loss plan that employs a low carb diet and aims to:

The most important part is to cut back on sugars and starches, or carbohydrates.

When you do that, your hunger levels go down, and you generally end up eating significantly fewer calories (1).

Instead of burning carbs for energy, your body now starts burning stored fat for energy.

Another benefit of cutting carbs is that it lowers insulin levels, causing the kidneys to shed excess sodium and water. This reduces bloating and unnecessary water weight (2, 3).

According to some dietitians, its not uncommon to lose up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) sometimes more in the first week of eating this way. This weight loss includes both body fat and water weight.

One study in healthy women with obesity reported that a very low carb diet was more effective than a low fat diet for short-term weight loss (4).

Research suggests that a low carb diet can reduce appetite, which may lead you to eat fewer calories without thinking about it or feeling hungry (5).

Put simply, reducing carbs can lead to quick, easy weight loss.

Each one of your meals should include a protein source, fat source, and low carb vegetables.

As a general rule, try eating two to three meals per day. If you find yourself hungry in the afternoon, add a fourth meal.

Constructing your meals in this way should bring your carb intake down to around 2050 grams per day.

To see how you can assemble your meals, check out this low carb meal plan and list of 101 healthy low carb recipes.

Eating plenty of protein is an essential part of this plan.

Evidence suggests that eating lots of protein may boost calorie expenditure by 80100 calories per day (6, 7, 8).

High protein diets can also reduce cravings and obsessive thoughts about food by 60%, reduce the desire to snack late at night by half, and make you feel full. In one study, people on a higher protein diet ate 441 fewer calories per day (9, 10).

When it comes to losing weight, protein is a crucial nutrient to think about.

Dont be afraid to load your plate with low carb vegetables. They are packed with nutrients and you can eat very large amounts without going over 2050 net carbs per day.

A diet based mostly on lean protein sources and vegetables contains all the fiber, vitamins, and minerals you need to be healthy.

See a full list of low carb vegetables here.

Dont be afraid of eating fats. Trying to do low carb and low fat at the same time can make sticking to the diet very difficult.

You don't need> to exercise to lose weight on this plan, but it will have extra benefits.

By lifting weights, you will burn lots of calories and prevent your metabolism from slowing down, which is a common side effect of losing weight (11, 12).

Studies on low carb diets show that you can gain a bit of muscle while losing significant amounts of body fat (13).

Try going to the gym three to four times a week to lift weights. If you're new to the gym, ask a trainer for some advice.

If lifting weights is not an option for you, doing some cardio workouts like walking, jogging, running, cycling, or swimming will suffice. Both cardio and weightlifting can help with weight loss.

If you need to, you can take one day off per week where you eat more carbs. Many people choose to do this on Saturday.

Its important to stick to healthy carb sources like oats, rice, quinoa, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and fruit. If you must have a cheat meal and eat something unhealthy, do it on this day.

Limit this to one higher carb day per week. If you arent reducing carbs enough, you might not experience weight loss.

You might gain some water weight during your refeed day, and you will generally lose it again in the next 12 days.

Its not necessary to count calories as long as you keep your carb intake very low and stick to protein, fat, and low carb vegetables.

However, if you want to count them, you can use a free online calculator like this one.

Enter your sex, weight, height, and activity levels. The calculator will tell you how many calories to eat per day to maintain your weight, lose weight, or lose weight fast.

You can also download free, easy-to-use calorie counters from websites and app stores. Here is a list of 5 calorie counters to try.

Here are 10 more tips to lose weight faster:

For more tips on weight loss, read about 30 natural tips for losing weight here.

You may lose 510 pounds (2.34.5 kg) of weight sometimes more in the first week of the diet plan, and then lose weight consistently after that.

If you're new to dieting, weight loss may happen more quickly. The more weight you have to lose, the faster you will lose it.

For the first few days, you might feel a bit strange. Your body is used to running off carbs, and it can take time for it to get used to burning fat instead.

Some people experience the keto flu, or "low carb flu." Its usually over within a few days.

After the first few days, most people report feeling very good, with even more energy than before.

Aside from weight loss, the low carb diet can improve your health in many ways:

By reducing carbs and lowering insulin levels, youll likely experience reduced appetite and hunger. This removes the main reasons its often difficult to maintain a weight loss plan.

On this plan, you can likely eat healthy food until youre full and still lose a significant amount of fat. The initial drop in water weight can lead to a drop in the scales within a few days. Fat loss takes longer.

Studies comparing low carb and low fat diets suggest that a low carb diet might even make you lose up to two to three times as much weight as a typical low fat, calorie-restricted diet (38, 39, 40).

If you have type 2 diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider before making changes, as this plan can reduce your need for medication.

If you want to try a low carb diet, check out these 7 healthy low carb meals that you can make in 10 minutes or less.

Read this article:
How to Lose Weight Fast: 3 Simple Steps, Based on Science - Healthline

Khloe Kardashian is the host of the famous showRevenge Body, which follows people as they transform their bodies through various exercises and diets. Kardashian herself also seems to know full well what it means to maintain ones body through fitness.

Like many celebrities, Kardashian works out often to keep herself fit. In fact, she also has some intensive routines that might be out of the ordinary for most people, such as doing thousands of jump rope reps. Read on below to learn more about how Kardashian works out to keep in shape and what her diet is like.

When Kardashian and her family first rose to fame in the 2000s, she received a lot of negative comments about her body. Kardashian was bigger than her petite sisters, which did not sit well with some people.

Kardashian once shared that an unnamed family member even told her to lose weight because she was really hurting the brand.

For a few years, Kardashian tried yo-yo dieting and even became a spokesperson for QuickTrim. It was difficult for Kardashian as she has admitted that she was prone to stress-eating, which got worse after her father passed away in 2003.

However, in the early 2010s, Kardashian began to commit to exercising and eating well. This led her to lose a significant amount of weight.

Kardashian is very dedicated to working out. She has shared that she usually hits the gym six days a week.

Kardashians workouts include doing cardio routines, toning her butt and legs, and working out her core. She also does total body workouts by jump roping.

As Kardashian shared recently on her Instagram account, her personal trainer often has her do 500 jump rope swings followed by a set of a workout. She does this a total of 12 times, which equals to 6,000 jump rope reps for one workout session.

An important part of staying fit includes eating well. For Kardashian, this means following a special diet that works for her body.

Instead of eating three meals a day, Kardashian usually opts for eating six or seven small meals instead. She starts her day with a protein shake during breakfast. For lunch, Kardashian enjoys chicken or a salad.

Then, in the evening, she typically eats a dish that consists of fish. Throughout the day, she also snacks on healthy food like fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

The portion is the key here as well, and Kardashian does not simply pile up food on to her plate as she pleases. She usually has a specific amount of food that she eats per meal to maintain her size. For example, she often eats 4 oz. of chicken breast for lunch and snacks on exactly 12 pieces of almonds.

Of course, cheats are allowed in her diet occasionally. According to celebrity nutritionist, Dr. Philip Goglia, Kardashian usually does seven days on [her diet] and then have one meal off. Her cheat meals include anything that she might be craving at the moment, such as pizza and pasta.

The Kardashian family has been the subject of many plastic surgery rumors throughout the years, and Khloe Kardashian is no exception. Many critics believe that Kardashians immense weight loss has been the product of surgery, not just diet and exercise alone.

However, her trainer, Luke Milton, debunked this last year, saying: Shes extremely committed to her fitness endeavors, shes extremely disciplined with her nutrition and she is a real athlete in the gym.

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Khloe Kardashian's Workout Includes Thousands of Jump Rope Reps - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

TAMPA, Fla. You've probably been focusing on the basics to keep from getting sick washing your hands and disinfecting your home and work areas.

But staying healthy isn't just about cleanliness and hygiene. What you put in your body is just as important because eating right can help maintain your immune system.

"There's no one specific diet that is an immune booster," Dr. Crystal Jacovino said. She's an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at USF Health.

That's because the immune systemis exactly that a network of cells, tissues, proteins and organs working together with a common mission. Jacovino says maintaining the immune system is more of a lifestyle.

"It is a marathon, not a sprint. We are preparing our bodies, preparing our immune systems the whole year long. It doesn't do any good to all the sudden eat your vegetables during cold and flu season," Jacovino said.

"We want to train ourselves for the whole year by making healthy choices."

So, what should we be eating?

"I recommend lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins. I also recommend avoidance of certain foods, such as fried or fatty foods, red meats, sodas, juices, things like that," Jacovino said.

Here are five things to think about adding to your diet right now:

And of course drink lots of water to stay hydrated!

See original here:
Concerned about getting sick? Here's what you should eat to boost your immunity - WTSP.com

Clenergy is situated down the road from the natural hair salon where I get my treatments done. Shortly before it was set to open, I saw a contractor putting up a sign that read anti-ageing eatery. I made a here we go with the gimmicks face, got into my Uber and forgot about it until curiosity got the better of me.

When I eventually get to Clenergy to meet with the owner, Abdulla Miya, it is a Sunday morning and the space is packed with a lazy Sunday brunch crowd.

The Clenergy aesthetic blends industrial and Scadanavian design concepts in a way that works for the high ceilings, white walls and polished concrete floors that house the black chairs and tables.

To give me an idea of what the food tastes like, Miya asked the head chef, Andre Brown, to prepare the tapas version of six dishes from the menu. Their 200g steak with vegetables and a bite size beef burger are the first two to come out of the kitchen.

Before I get to ask him, Miya explains how Clenergy is a restaurant that is governed by the desire to serve their consumers food that they believe is basically guilt free by making sure it has no refined sugar, no wheat and very few carbs.

Clenergy is his first attempt at being a restaurateur. Before this he spent 25 years in advertising working at Ogilvy & Mather before taking up the position of managing director for advertising agency Net#work BBDO.

Outside of advertising, Clenergy is not Miyas first rodeo with selling consumers the opportunity to look their best. From 2013 until very recently, Miya was the chief executive officer for Celltone Skin Care: a product that promises who uses them soft hands and smoother skin that will have them looking younger.

The anti-ageing tagline comes from Miyas belief that sugar is an enemy against a long and healthy life.

Developing a menu seemed pretty straightforward once the no sugar, no wheat, and low carb principle was in place. Miya explains that it is for this reason that he and his wife were able to finalise the menu without the input of a nutritionist.

The eatarys final menu is made up of dishes that most people are familiar with. People have a perception that healthy eating means eating bland and alternative food, says Miya while placing a piece of steak on his plate. Were about making healthy eating a mainstream habit by offering our customers the foods they already know and love.

The menu includes porridge, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, steaks, pizzas, salads, pasta, fish, coffee, tea, and a whole range of desserts. The twist is that this restaurateurs have made mindful ingredient choices that see them making their own bread, buns, pasta (using butternut) and sauces, to ensure that they are not using anything that has sugar hidden in it.

The only sugar on Clenergys menu is the fructose in the fruit and the xylitol in their desserts. If patrons want some sugar with their teas and coffees, Clenergy offers them sweetener sachets from Freesweet: the sugar replacement company that was endorsed by Diabetes SA in 2019.

The result of their ingredient choice makes for a buffet that is underwhelming in some instances.

With regards to affordability, prices on the menu range from R25 (for a toasted cheese and tomato sarmie) to R210 (for a grilled kingklip that comes with a side of air fried sweet potato chips or spinach and butternut). The dessert menu ranges from R10 for a chocolate chip cookie (that I can hide in my closed fist) to R68 for a chocolate brownie cheesecake slice.

Clenergy ticks all the dining boxes because theres very little that you cant get. There are indoor and al fresco dining options, a coffee bar, a dessert corner, as well as a Dischem-like shelf of health. And apart from refining a delivery service that will operate in the vicinity of Greenside, Clenergy currently offers meal plans that their website says can either cater to increasing performance, result in weight loss, or better the health of people with chronic illnesses like diabetes, arthritis and high blood pressure.

Theres a point during the interview where I feel overwhelmed by the food on the table and the information that Miya is serving. On the surface, Clenergys fight against refined sugar seems to be in line with talks to increase sugar tax because products with sugar are fueling the high rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases like diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

We want people to associate healthy food with flavour, indulgence and decadence: thats why our food is designed to taste unhealthy, he says while I chew two mouthfuls of their cauliflower steak. The creamy spinach and sauteed butternut cubes that taste like Sundays at home almost convince me that Clenergy does not feed into the deprivation, restrictive eating and food policing ideas.

But then their branding and messaging seems to be promoting Clenergy using diet culture tactics. Their online menu has proverbs that dance to the diet culture song and remind me why blindly subscribing to their version of healthy eating is not for me. Eat yourself pretty Now you can have your cake and eat it. . . A moment on the lips does not have to make it down to the hips, they read.

According to her website, anti-diet dietician and intuitive eating counsellor, Christy Harrison says diet culture is a set of beliefs that worships thinness and equates it to health and moral virtue. Harrison also warns against a form of diet culture that is classified by talks of clean eating, detoxes, cleanses, the overuse of elimination diets, carb restriction, gluten phobia, and ancestral diets.

When I bring this up with Miya, he says, We want to empower people to live a healthy lifestyle without compromising on one of lifes greatest pleasures: food.

At its core, theres nothing wrong with Clenergy. The food is ethically sourced, palatable and familiar, the portions are generous and items on the menu are reasonably priced. The only sore point is how they sell the message. That being said, convictions against diet culture arent enough to invalidate its hype and the fact that more people, young and old alike, resonate with this conventional and long standing idea of wellness.

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Clenergy restaurant says you are what you eat - Mail and Guardian

We have trillions of bacteria living on or in us and over 80% of these live in our gut. Over thousands of years of co-evolution, we have developed a way of working together with our bacteria, which play a hugely important role in our bodies. They help us synthesise vitamins and digest fibre. A growing body of evidence also suggests that they play a vital role in our health and wellbeing, too.

Imbalances in our gut bacteria can cause us to develop chronic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. These imbalances can occur when you take antibiotics, which can wipe out the healthy bacteria in your gut. It can also happen if you have a poor diet.

Imbalances in gut bacteria can even have an impact on our mental health. And, more neurotransmitters (the chemical signals that send messages between neurons, nerves, and cells) are produced in the gut than in the brain. Maintaining the balance and diversity of these organisms in the gut is vital for our wellbeing.

One of the best ways of correcting and maintaining good gut bacteria balance is to consume probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial to our gut health. They occur naturally in some fermented foods, including yoghurt, sauerkraut and sourdough bread. They can also be taken as a supplement.

Probiotics work by crowding out any potentially bad bacteria, taking up space and using up nutrients they would need to reproduce. They also help digest foods that we cant, such as fibre and resistant starch. They produce lots of beneficial substances along the way, such as short-chain fatty acids that fuel our gut cells, helping to build the gut barrier that prevents disease-causing microorganisms from moving to other parts of the body.

Listen to Medicine made for you, a series from The Conversations Anthill podcast to find out more about the gut and your diet.

Probiotics can also produce special antibiotic-like substances that kill harmful bacteria, called bacteriocins. Probiotics help to prime our immune system so our cells are ready to tackle bacterial and viral invaders.

But to get to the gut, probiotics need to go on a journey through our digestive system, which is filled with acid and bile so they need to be hardy. They have to survive the journey not only inside us but also during the manufacture of food products or supplements, and in sufficient enough numbers to make a difference to our guts. Probiotics should contain one billion to 10 billion viable organisms. And, once theyve reached the gut, they have to be able to stick to the cells and start breaking down fibre and producing vitamins.

When it comes to choosing the right probiotic, there are a number of things to consider. First, they have to be safe. Any organism used in probiotic supplements should have passed tests that show they are safe to consume from the European Food Safety Authority, or, in the US, be generally recognised as safe organisms meaning they wont cause harm when used as intended.

Second, strain is important, as different bacterial strains perform different functions. Species in the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium categories are the most common, but they dont all do the same thing. Lactobacillus plantarum have potential cholesterol lowering properties, whereas Lactobacillus reuteri are able to inhibit the growth of germs such as E coli.

These lactic acid bacteria can generally withstand the low pHs and high temperatures often involved in food processing, but not in all cases. Some strains of Lactobacillus paracaesi and Lactobacillus fermentum cannot survive processing.

In order to withstand the harsh conditions of processing and acid in the human gut, bacteria can be freeze dried (lyophilised), or they may be wrapped in a resistant coating (encapsulated). Alginate made from seaweed is frequently used as a coating because its low-cost, non-toxic and biodegradable, and can withstand the journey to the gut.

There are a large number of different probiotic supplements and strains available. Since probiotics need to be delivered to the gut to work, they are most commonly and effectively taken orally, usually in a tablet or capsule. These usually dont need to be refrigerated as the bacteria will return to their active state in the gut. However, these should be kept away from moisture to maintain viability.

Probiotics found in food products, especially liquid or semi-solid ones such as milk or yoghurt, usually need refrigeration to keep them safe. Their effectiveness can also depend on what other bacteria are in the product, oxygen content and temperature.

So should you be adding probiotics to your diet? If youre healthy and follow a balanced diet already, the foods you eat should provide your gut with all the fuel required to maintain a good balance. While additional probiotics can be useful in some situations such as after finishing a course of antibiotics they shouldnt replace a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and fermented foods.

A persons eating habits are a major factor in maintaining gut balance. The foods we eat can influence both the microbial populations and what these bacteria and microbes do, even from the early stages of life. Maintaining the balance and diversity of organisms in the gut is key for good, overall health.

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The science behind probiotics and choosing one that works - The Conversation UK

To examine genetic associations with food preferences, researchers from the Riken Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) and Osaka University in Japan studied the genetic data and food preferences of more than 160,000 people in Japan.

The research, published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, found genetic links for 13 dietary habits including consumption of alcohol, other beverages and foods, and also complex human diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

"We know that what we eat defines what we are, but we found that what we are also defines what we eat," said Yukinori Okada, Senior Visiting Scientist at Riken IMS and professor at Osaka University, in a press release.

This involves grouping thousands of people together depending on whether they have a disease and looking at DNA markers called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs, which can be used to predict the presence of that disease. If researchers find a SNP that is repeatedly associated with the disease group, they can assume that people with that genetic variation might be at risk for the disease.

Rather than looking at diseases, the Riken team examined dietary habits to find out if there were any markers that made people "at risk" for typically eating certain foods.

The researchers used data of more than 160,000 Japanese people from the BioBank Japan Project, launched in 2003 with a goal to provide evidence for the implementation of personalized medicine. The project collects DNA and clinical information, including items related to participants' lifestyles such as dietary habits, which were recorded through interviews and questionnaires.

They found nine genetic locations that were associated with consuming coffee, tea, alcohol, yogurt, cheese, natto (fermented soy beans), tofu, fish, vegetables and meat.

Variants responsible for the ability to taste bitter flavors were also observed. This association was found among people who liked to eat tofu; while those without the variant consumed less alcohol or none at all.

Those who ate more fish, natto, tofu and vegetables had a genetic variant that made them more sensitive to umami tastes, best described as savory or "meaty" flavors.

The main ingredients of the foods mattered, too -- for example, there were positive genetic correlations between eating yogurt and eating cheese, both milk-based foods.

In order to find whether any of these genetic markers associated with food were also linked with disease, the researchers conducted a phenome study.

The phenome comprises all the possible observable traits of DNA, known as phenotypes. Six of the genetic markers associated with food were also related to at least one disease phenotype, including several types of cancer as well as type 2 diabetes.

Nature vs. nurture: Food edition

Since the research studied only people native to Japan, the same genetic variations associated with food preferences are likely not applicable to populations across the globe. However, similar links have been discovered in different groups.

The study authored by Okada also didn't measure environmental factors. Our environment, demographics, socioeconomic status and culture -- such as whether we eat food from work or home; our age; how much money we make; and what our families eat -- are some of the biggest drivers of our food choices.

"These factors would weigh more than the genetics in some cases," said Dr. Jos Ordovs, director of Nutrition and Genomics at Tufts University in Massachusetts, who was not involved in the study.

"Something that sometimes we have felt is that the nutrition field has been focusing too much on nutrients rather than on foods," Ordovs said.

"Previous studies have been looking at genes that were associating with higher protein intake or higher fat intake or higher carbohydrate intake," Ordovs said. "But this study is more aligned with the fact that people eat foods. They don't just eat proteins, carbohydrates and fats. People tend to eat within a specific pattern."

Further research is needed to explain an exact balance between genetic predisposition and volition when it comes to food choices in different groups of people, but Okada suggests that by "estimating individual differences in dietary habits from genetics, especially the 'risk' of being an alcohol drinker, we can help create a healthier society."

More here:
Prefer tea over coffee? It could be your genes, study finds - CNN

Days before the cast of Bravos Family Karma will become household names, one cast member is already making a pretty personal reveal.

Vishal Parvani recently hit the media circuit and shared that hes dealt with Crohns disease for the past two decades. He told Bravos The Daily Dish he wanted to share that he has the autoimmune disease.

He hoped to show people out there that even if you have an autoimmune disease you can still have a great quality of life.

Like Parvani, Saturday Night Live comedian Pete Davidson went public with his Crohns diagnosis a few years ago.

Parvani told The Daily Dish he wasnt comfortable sharing his diagnosis but went public because he wanted to help others. At first, I was always very reluctant about disclosing what I had, he said.

But since meeting [fiance] Richa, shes been making me more open about it, more comfortable, and getting me to work out, he said. And I feel less stressed if Im able to share some experiences. And if that helps people out, Im actually very excited for that aspect of the show, to be able to help people in that regard.

Davidson went public about Crohns to share what seemed to work for him. He revealed that medical marijuana was one of the only ways he could still perform on SNL.

Like Parvani, Davidson was also diagnosed at a young age. I got Crohns disease when I was 17 or 18, he told theHigh Times, People recounts. And I found that the medicines that the doctors were prescribing me and seeing all these doctors and trying new things weed would be the only thing that would help me eat.

Crohns disease impacts nearly 780,000 Americans, according to Healthline. Like Davidson and Parvani, most people are diagnosed at a young age, between ages 15 and 35. Crohns has a genetic link and people living in a developed, urban setting are at a higher risk.

Symptoms include stomach pain, weight loss, and diarrhea. However, some people with Crohns may experience other symptoms such as joint pain and even skin issues. Stress and diet may make Crohns symptoms worse, but diet and stress do not cause the autoimmune disorder.

A healthy diet is one way to combat symptoms. But medication to suppress the immune systems abnormal inflammatory response can help too. Some patients turn to a combination therapy treatment. For example, combination therapy could include the addition of a biologic to an immunomodulator, according to the Crohns and Colitis Foundation.

Parvani seems to be ready to open his life up to the world, sharing that hes actually a longtime reality television fan. Seeing other people having issues, and theres always someone that, youre like, Oh, s**t, yeah, I would act the same way. Or, I wish I could have the balls to act the way you do,' he told The Daily Dish.

Family Karma premieres on Sunday, March 8 at 9 p.m. / 8 p.m. central on Bravo.

See the article here:
Bravo's 'Family Karma' Cast Member Has One Thing in Common With Pete Davidson From 'SNL' - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Someone is classified as obese when their body mass index (someone's weight-to-height ratio) is more than 30.

And while the body mass index has been criticised by medical experts in recent years as not being an accurate portrayal of someone's total health, an unhealthy weight can, however, take its toll on your health as it increases your risk for chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes type 2.

Unfortunately, losing weight isn't as easy as it sounds. We are inundated by so many fad diets and weight-loss products that it's easy to become confused. We also want to see quick results and tend to reach for anything that offers the promise of quick weight loss.

However, it's not only a healthy weight that is key to optimum health. Your lifestyle as a whole needs a complete overhaul.

Here are some pointers to help you choose the best lifestyle for you:

Unless you have chosen a diet or eating plan that you can follow indefinitely, you are likely to return to your bad old ways when you've reached your goal with the new diet. Before you know it, you will be back at your old weight.

What you really want is to start a diet that isnt really a diet at all, but rather a lifestyle change. Weight loss is very exciting and motivating, but once you get to weight maintenance, the novelty has worn off and it may become a challenge to stick to the changes you made.

Your new weight is only viewed as "permanent" once you have managed to keep it off for an entire year. The National Weight Control Registry is a long-term study which currently observes over 10 000 people who have lost a significant amount of weight and managed to keep it off. This is what they did to maintain their weight:

A "healthy diet" needs to adhere to a number of principles. The most important is that most of your food should be minimally processed (eaten as it is found in nature) and be predominantly plant based.

Here are some more practical suggestions to promote good health:

It's important to be able to maintain your diet, not only from a mental perspective, but also an economic one.

We tend to think that a healthy diet should consist of expensive superfoods. A healthy lifestyle can (and should), however, be cost-effective.

To save on your food budget, try focusing less on grass-fed, organic and "free from" foods (free from gluten/wheat/lactose etc.), and rather include minimally processed whole foods that are seasonal, that can be bought in bulk (and shared). You can also start a vegetable garden.

Small changes in your shopping list can have a significant effect on the weight of your wallet. Take for example swapping your fillet of salmon, for a few pilchards (the omega-3 content is similar). The cost per portion will drop from R40 to R3.50.

A similarly easy swap with very little impact on health outcome is swapping your olive oil (R150/L) for canola oil (R22/L).

Is your diet one that can only be followed if you dedicate all your time to preparing intricate meals? Is socialising difficult because of all your restrictions?

Although you may be able to follow a complicated and restrictive for a short period of time, eventually your need to socialise and be with others will take over and adherence to your diet will wane.

Find a way of eating that doesnt just suit you, but also your family, and allows you the flexibility to eat with others.

If the new diet you have decided to embark on has one or more of the following characteristics, you may be chasing a fad diet which is both unsafe and unsustainable:

If you need help on your journey to a healthier weight and lifestyle, our nutritional experts at Nutrition Solutions are there to help you. Ask them a question here, or visit their website.

Image credit: iStock

Jade Seeliger

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5 ways to choose a diet that is right for you - Health24