Category Archives: Diet And Food

With the new year far behind and thoughts of a trip to the beach on spring break soon approaching, you may have already tried your hand at changing your diet this year and maybe even failed spectacularly at it. The truth is, many of the popular diets currently being discussed on television shows and social media are truly restrictive: Keto dieters and those who attempted Whole30 can definitely tell you how hard it is to completely eradicate food groups from your daily routine. But losing weight isn't always about cutting things out; in fact, it might be about adding more foods into your line up, says Stefani Sassos, MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian in the Good Housekeeping Institute.

The best diets may not be as trendy as the worst diets on this list, but Sassos says they set you up for maintaining healthy weight loss over a longer period of time (possibly, for good!). Her top pick is more about adapting your lifestyle rather than following a regimen for a few months, but it could lead to even more weight loss than you'd experience on another program. Regardless of which diet you choose to try this year, you'll need to practice the following advice in order to truly reap all the benefits that sustained weight loss can offer:

Sassos' top pick is one we've been hearing more about in the last few years: the Mediterranean diet. You won't be counting calories or stressing over a slip up on this diet because it's based on the atmosphere of life in nations like Greece, Spain, Italy, and the south of France. Instead, you'll be eating as many vegetables, fruits, pulses and legumes (including everything from beans to lentils), and many sources of whole grains (farro is your friend!). While you'll enjoy lean proteins such as salmon nearly every day, you can indulge in better-for-you sources of saturated fats (cheese and some cured meats included).

"It's an approach to cooking that emphasizes vegetables, naturally leading to a ton of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in your diet," Sassos says, adding that the diet has been linked to weight loss and a reduction in disease risk, plus a boost in longevity overall. Many curious health experts first began exploring the benefits of the Mediterranean diet in the early 2010s, shortly after a team at the University of Barcelona demonstrated how effectively the diet transformed cardiovascular health for at-risk individuals. There are many pieces of evidence that point to the diet's effectiveness in preventing disease, but most recently, newly published results of a study in the journal Gut demonstrate how the Mediterranean diet may also vastly improve our digestive health.

"At its core, the diet is all about getting back to the basics and really enjoying whole foods," Sassos says. "Its role in fighting inflammation across the body and brain is just an added bonus."

"It's old school, and the saying is true: If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Sassos says of the Volumetrics diet, another favorite of health experts in years past. Developed by health experts at Pennsylvania State University, this diet stresses thinking of new, fun ways to eat more fruits and vegetables, and upping how much water you consume without thinking about it. Since it's based on the volume of your meals, people often feel like they're eating quite a lot, which is good for dieters who can't fight hunger pangs. "I am a type of person where I like to maximize my calories, and I don't want to feel starving," Sassos says, adding that the Volumetrics' approach also ups your fiber to maximize satiety. "Why would I have one tiny cookie when I could have this giant greek yogurt sundae? I like more, and feeling full."

Sassos says the evidence presented by Barbara Rollins, PhD, the author behind The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet, is more than solid. It'll help you eat more veggies naturally by targeting foods that keep you full and happy (without leaving you wishing you could have a piece of cheese at midnight).

Notice that we aren't using the v-word here. "I often recommend going plant-based as much as possible versus going completely vegan, because adopting a vegan lifestyle can be very difficult for people who are simply hoping to lose weight and not address other health issues," Sassos says. "You shouldn't feel guilty if you can't fully go vegan or if you've failed in trying to do so in the past. Rather, you should empower yourself to adopt your meals to be as plant-forward as possible."

Being a flexitarian isn't like following other diets with strict regimens: It's about setting a schedule that fits your own needs and lifestyle, and there's not a set meal plan you need to adhere to. Flexitarian meal plans are best when focused on targeting certain meals to be as devoid of dairy and meat as possible, but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy these items throughout the week. "You can still have things like chicken, but flexitarian diets are at least 50% plants or more," Sassos says. "At my house, we do totally plant-based (true to vegan style) meals between two and three days a week, where I substitute dairy and meat for plant-based alternatives or omit altogether."

An important caveat, though: Being vegan or flexitarian doesn't mean you have carte blanche to eat "fake" vegan alternatives (like Impossible Burgers) all the time. "Vegan meals and snacks can also be unhealthy, too: Things like Oreos and chips may be considered vegan, but that doesn't mean they're healthy."

Danielle Occhiogrosso Daly

Just as the Mediterranean diet has enjoyed the spotlight as one of the healthiest diets in the last few years, the keto diet is equally publicized for promising results on a controversial meal plan. For most health professionals, understanding a diet's effectiveness boils down to why it was created in the first place. And the ketogenic diet was largely designed, interestingly enough, as a form of treatment for pediatric epilepsy in the 20th century, Sassos says. For those of you who don't know, manipulating your body into ketosis requires you to vastly restrict almost all sources of lean protein and almost all carbohydrates (fruits, veggies, and legumes included). But Sassos believes cutting out nutrient-dense veggies and other complex carbohydrates could do damage to much more than just your waistline. "The first thing that your brain needs to function are carbs. When you cut out carbs completely, you could be affecting regions of your body that you're not even aware of," Sassos says. "You need carbs; cooking the right kinds of healthy carbohydrates and watching your portion sizes are much more valuable tips that any kind of exclusion from your diet."

There's some science behind why you may lose weight during the first few weeks (mostly, water weight) and Sassos says that she appreciates the awareness that keto programs have brought to added sugar. "It does keep you away from candy and really sugary treats, but the fact of the matter is that you do need to eat natural sources of sugar," she argues. "Apples, Ezekiel bread, grains like farro and quinoa, beans; all of these things will contain natural sugars and complex carbs, and they're part of a wholesome, balanced diet."

Staving off all sources of carbohydrates in the long term isn't sustainable for most. Sassos says a failed attempt at the keto diet could end up in even more weight afterwards, or long-lasting damaging side effects from the increased dependency on fat. "If you're a normal healthy person and you're suddenly eating bacon, butter, and all of this red meat, it will affect your heart and overall cardiovascular system in not so great ways." Weight cycling, or the aspect of continuously dieting just to gain weight back later, has been shown to be severely damaging on our psyche and may even impact longevity, especially in young adults and teens and critics of the keto diet highlight this, as getting off the diet can often lead to rapid weight gain shortly thereafter.

There are too many harmful trendy diets to count, but sometimes the allure of a fad diet (often adopted by celebrities in a dramatic fashion) has to do with results. Sassos highlights the following three diets as being bad choices for long-term, sustained weight loss, but she also agrees that there are some lessons hiding beneath all of the glossy photos of their successes.

The bottom line: Nearly all of the diets that health experts love encourage a variety of food groups and moderation, whereas diets that restrict what you eat or when you eat it could inhibit to keep weight off in the long run. Anything that seems questionable probably is, Sassos says case in point, the Dr. Sebi Diet, which is currently making rounds on the internet for fast weight loss. Try to look for any scientific credentials within the book or website in question, and see if the diet's name has been attached to any scientific research published in journals. If you've never heard of it, it's probably for good reason.

Follow this link:
The Best Diets of 2020 - The Top Weight Loss Diets Per a Dietician - GoodHousekeeping.com

Q. With all this talk about influenza, coronavirus, and other illnesses, what can I eat to help protect me from getting sick?

A. For overall health and to help the body defend itself against disease, simple lifestyle changes including regular sleep and exercise and a nutrient-rich diet packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants may be just what the doctor ordered.

Although there are no cures for the viruses making their way around the workplace and globe, there are steps you can take to set yourself up for a good fight. As with anything health-related, prevention is the goal.

Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidants to help the immune system neutralize free radicals and fight cell and tissue damage that can lead to disease. Citrus fruits, red bell peppers, kiwi and strawberries are all great sources of this immune-boosting nutrient.

Vitamin A is a powerful antioxidant that promotes healthy vision and helps prevent infections. Choose dark green, yellow and orange fruits and vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and broccoli for vitamin A.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that assists immune function by protecting essential fatty acids and cell membranes in the body. Vegetable oils, nuts and sunflower seeds are good sources of this nutrient.

Zinc helps promote healing, tissue growth and repair. Zinc can be found in lean beef and pork, seafood, whole grains and nuts.

Magnesium may help regulate blood pressure and contribute to bone health. Plus it helps your body generate energy and is required for the action of more than 300 enzyme systems in your body. Eat more foods like nuts, spinach, and beans to increase your magnesium intake.

Folate is needed to help make the new cells that are essential for a healthy immune system. Folate can be found in whole grains, lentils, oranges and spinach.

Vitamin B6 supports a healthy immune system because it is needed to create antibodies that fight infection. Load up on fish, chicken, lean pork and whole grains for the most vitamin B6.

In addition to these immunity powerhouses, you can help minimize your chances of getting sick by these simple, yet effective tasks.

Wash your hands. Thorough and frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent many common infections. Scrub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds, rinse well and turn off the faucet with a paper towel. Or use an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

Eat right, sleep tight. A poor diet and poor sleep both lower your immunity and make you more vulnerable to infection. A balanced diet emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and small amounts of lean protein works best for most people. On the other hand, the amount of sleep needed for a healthy immune system varies from person to person. In general, adults seem to do best on seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Older children and teens need more rest between nine and 10 hours every night.

Exercise regularly. Regular cardiovascular exercise walking, biking, aerobics boosts your immune system. Exercise wont prevent infection, but if you do come down with the flu, you may have less severe symptoms and recover more quickly than people who arent as fit.

Avoid crowds during flu season. Flu spreads easily wherever people congregate in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and public transportation. By avoiding crowds whenever possible during peak flu season, you reduce your chances of infection.

Go here to see the original:
The right diet, behaviors can help in the fight against flu, other viruses - Mankato Free Press

To the editor:

Ladies and gentlemen of Greenfield, are you experiencing and benefiting from our road diet that was installed on the west side of our fair city?

I tell ya, folks, my car is running better, looking better, tires are fit and looking perky. I drive a 2006 Honda Accord, and it loves driving down the road diet. There is something magical going on, and the state road planner that got this road diet going should be promoted. Another thing I have noticed is the businesses along the road diet route are looking better. They are standing more erect and just paying better attention. Its quite evident they feel better.

With the above positive things taking place, please, please dont let the east side of our fine city go to rack and ruin. Road diet all the way to Blue Road. Heck, just extend it out to where the Pennsy Trail ends out east.

In case you did not get my sarcasm, I am no fan of this clamping down of the traffic movement and especially putting a bike route on U.S. 40, where a mere quarter-mile to the south is a dedicated rails-to-trails path. I do ride bikes and decided to ride on the U.S. 40 path just for kicks. I can say I would much rather be on the Pennsy Trail watching birds, squirrels and rabbits and fellow like-minded bicyclists and walkers than on a major road with cars whizzing by. I would love to see the Pennsy go to Charlottesville and Knightstown.

My attitude about this road diet is its a mistake. I liken it to the Soviet Union disaster where some veritable genius Soviet planner who most likely had no clue about agronomy decided to use the Aral Sea as a water source to grow cotton. The Aral sea has a salinity of 10 percent, so you get my point: Salt water and cotton plants dont mix, so the people are left with a sea that is almost gone and toxic land as far as the eye can see, a total, unmitigated disaster.

Fortunately, our little road diet experiment pales in comparison and can be easily removed.

In an op-ed column published Aug. 6, 2019, in the Daily Reporter, Andrew Smith wrote the road diet will choke U.S. 40 traffic. He stated the road diet will extend as far west as Cumberland and that the volume of cars exceeds 16,000 per day near the Mt. Comfort Road intersection. Our county is growing by leaps and bounds. New homes and entire neighborhoods are being built. It is vital our main artery, U.S. 40, be kept open as a four-lane highway and not reduced to a two-lane road. I consider the little bit of road diet that was installed as an experiment, and as an often-driver on the section, I see no benefit to it. The price tag for this two-mile section was quoted at $385,599. If it is extended all the way to Cumberland,we are talking about a price tag of upwards of $5 million.

The citizens of Greenfield and the greater surrounding Hancock County have bigger fish to fry. What about the importance of connecting interstates 70 and 74 with a bypass that takes the pressure off State Road 9? Thats not something that people want to look at but needs to be planned for in the next 20 years. State Road 9 from U.S. 40 to I-70 and beyond moves well now but is going to require some attention in years to come as our town has grown and will only continue to grow and move to north of I-70.

Its only a matter of time, folks.

George D. Stultz

Greenfield

See the article here:
Letter to the editor: The ill-advised US 40 road 'diet' should end - Greenfield Daily Reporter

We all know that what goes in, must come out. So, its a no-brainer that what you eat has a direct effect on your bowels. Switching up your diet or eating something new can impact how frequent and how often you have to go number two, and its important to talk about it.

I definitely think it should be less of a taboo to talk about our poop. There are some changes that can occur with our stools which may be an indication of something more sinister going on, Isa Robinson, a Registered Associate Nutritionist said. Talking about these things means people may be more likely to visit their GP and have the necessary investigations carried out earlier.

So, how can you prepare for changes in your bowel movements based on a new diet or healthy eating plan? Weve compiled a few of the most popular diets right now (with the knowledge that fad diets and diet culture have a host of problems) and asked professionals to weigh in with their thoughts.

The Mediterranean diet was introduced in the 1960s after scientists linked longer life spans in Mediterranean countries to their daily diet. They concluded that individuals living in countries like Greece and Italy consumed a diet primarily of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and very little red meat and dairy products. In other words, a diet high in soluble fibers.

Soluble fiber is found in nuts, seeds, oats, peas, beans, and fruits, like apples and pears. Soluble fiber helps keep your poop soft, but still formed, Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition and wellness expert with a virtual counseling practice in New York City said. This is what makes poop easier to pass.

Saying goodbye to meat is a great way to keep your poop regular and healthy. Because the vegetarian diet is comprised mainly of vegetables and fruits, your consumption of fiber is much higher than it would be on a carnivorous diet.

One of fibers many benefits is that it adds bulk to the stools, helping everything pass through. Fiber can provide a nice little push, Robinson said.

Just like the vegetarian diet, going vegan will improve your bowel movements and the regularity of them. And with the vegan diet going one step further and cutting out dairy and eggs, your time in the bathroom will likely be easier and quicker.

However, Robinson does point out that eating a regular balanced diet is crucial, especially when consuming a diet that restricts many foods: By balanced meals, Im usually talking about including three macronutrient proteins, carbohydrates, fat and some fruit or veggies too.

The paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, lets you consume as much meat as possible, but this is where you can get backed upfast. Meat tends to take longer to digest but Robinson says consuming a balance of fruits and vegetables with this diet, should help with constipation.

The keto diet places a high emphasis on consuming mainly protein and fat but keeping your carb intake below 40 grams per day. But this is where you run into a little more trouble.

Since the keto diet drastically eliminates carbohydrates, its very difficult to hit your fiber targets and therefore, may be hard to maintain regular bowel movements, Cassetty said. Expect infrequent and liquid poops. And since the keto diet eliminates so many plant foods that provide substances related to gut health, keto dieters often complain of constipation.

Whatever diet you choose, nutritionists agree that its important to remember to consume a healthy balance of fiber-packed foods.

Most Americans dont hit the daily fiber targets of 25-38 grams per day. If youre not regularly consuming this amount from a range of sources you might become constipated, which can be uncomfortable, Cassetty said. For people with IBS either accompanied by diarrhea or constipation diet can be a trigger. In this instance, understanding the foods that trigger your symptoms can be life changing.

Read on to get real about diet trends and fads:

See the original post here:
What Your Diet Is Really Doing to Your Poop, According to Science - SheKnows

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If you want to lose weight, one of the elements of your life you need to change is your diet. Eat better and you will see changes. One of the easiest ways to improve your diet is you eat fruits and vegetables. And one of the easiest ways to ingest them is to blend them up and make a tasty juice out of them. With the Omega Nutrition Juicer thats on sale at Amazon, you will be able to juice with ease.

Unlike other juicers, the Omega Nutrition Juicer makes for the best juice you can ask for. Theres no runoff or a lack of juice. This is designed to give you the best experience, better than others. Designed to go at 80 RPM, this will lead to less heat buildup and less oxidation. This, in turn, will lead to a longer-lasting juice you can enjoy at your own pace.

With this design that goes at 80 RPM, the Omega Nutrition Juicer will deliver juice with minimal pulp. It has a pulp ejection system so you can get more juice out of each fruit or veggie. Or if you like pulp, you can get pulp too. The features built into this machine allow for a personalized experience that you can experiment with. That way, each cup is to your liking every time.

The Omega Nutrition Juicer doesnt just have to be used as a juicer either. You can use it turn nuts into nut butter, extrude pasta, grind coffee amongst other things. That way when you pick this up, you can add a whole new element to your kitchen that will make staying healthy so much easier.

When you pick up the Omega Nutrition Juicer, you will make life so much better for yourself. It will allow you to have a healthier diet which leads to a longer, more fulfilling life. And it is designed with features that go beyond juicing. You wont have to worry about replacing it for a long time either, as you can get this fixed for 15 years. At this price, who can say no? So act now while the sale is live. Your stomach will thank you for it.

Get It: Pick up the Omega Nutrition Juicer ($200; was $320) at Amazon

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Improve Your Diet With This Juicer On Sale At Amazon - Men's Journal

Highlights

Health is not just a mind-set - it's a way of living. Diet culture is the in-thing these days and there is mushrooming of the number of health and wellness options in the industry. In the quest for eating healthy, people often end up pursuing diets that are just passing fads and not sustainable in the long run. A new research suggests that the consequences of dieting and even talking about dieting are much more pronounced in children than their adult counterparts.

Research suggests that the number of children and teens developing eating disorders continues to grow, thanks to excessive diet culture. These eating disorders can affect their health, both physical and mental, for many years to come, and thus, may be harmful for children. Diet culture is especially harmful for children since they are in the most need of a balanced diet with ample quantities of all the nutrients, which gives energy and encourages growth. If kids take up dieting, they are at a high risk of developing deficiencies of nutrients such as iron and calcium that are essential to the functioning of the body.

Jennifer Anderson, who is the founder of an Instagram page called 'Kids Eat In Color', feels the issue rings pretty close to home. "I've heard preschool teachers saying that kids will look at another kid's lunch bag and see chips, and tell them, 'Your mom's giving you poison'," said Anderson. Parents too have a vital role in preventing children from getting addicted to any diet culture. One way is to block, delete or avoid installing apps or watching shows which promote excessive dieting. With steps like these, children will stay put to eating a balanced diet and reduce risk of them developing any eating disorders.

About Aditi AhujaAditi loves talking to and meeting like-minded foodies (especially the kind who like veg momos). Plus points if you get her bad jokes and sitcom references, or if you recommend a new place to eat at.

Read the original here:
Here's Why Ending Diet Culture In Children Is More Important Than Them Eating Vegetables - NDTV Food

Don't go for the newest diet people are talking about, just eat healthier foods instead

LAUREN PETTIT | DAILY EVERGREEN ILLUSTRATION

Move over paleo, these diets don't solve the issue of being a healthier person. Instead focus on foods that are healthier and cutting calorie counts to achieve a healthier lifestyle for yourself.

There are so many options when looking for a newdiet plan. There is keto, vegan, intermediate fasting, vegetarian, paleo, detoxor juice cleanse and much more to choose from. These diets are trendy andunhealthy.

Fad diets often lead people to believe that there is a one-size-fits-all diet, and this is the one. The secrets out there isnt one perfect diet for all of us, said Lauren Keeney, a registered dietitian nutritionist and the owner and operator of Integrated Health LLC located in Moscow.

College is a colliding environment of lack of money and energy. When a student is lacking money, it is easier to buy staple items. These items look like ramen, canned veggies or soup and anything else that can be found at a low price. These low-price items are high in cholesterol and fat and they lack many of the key nutrients that are needed in a balanced diet. Low-cost foods also increase weight gain and fatigue.

It can come as no surprise that many college students are hopping on diet trends to lose weight fast, in the high stress and low energy environment. These fad diets are used to change a students look, weight and energy level.

I have done every diet you can do, from keto to fasting, said Hannah Bidon, a WSU junior majoring in nutrition and exercise physiology and minoring in psychology.

The diet is a quick fix that can have little tono effect on a students daily eating habits.

In my experience, I gave up and I couldnt doit. This was because it was unnatural for my body, Bidon said.

Starting a new diet can be exciting at first. Eventually the diet will come to an end, leaving the body feeling unhealthy and overall useless. Cutting out key components to a diet can harm the body.

Eat foods that your body craves and foods that make your body feel good, energized and satisfied. This means, eat what you enjoy and enjoy what you eat physically, mentally and emotionally, Keeney said.

Cutting out just carbsand fat can affect the body. Unless there are dietary restrictions or religiousguidelines, an individual should provide their body with all food groups.

The students that want to change their diets for ethical and environmental reasons are very different from those who want to lose 10 pounds in eight days. They try the new diets of detox, juice cleanse, one large meal a day, keto, paleo and much more. There are fewer extreme ways of dieting and healthy choices.

Diets come to an end and so does that healthy eating. Many times, the diet trend does not change an individuals overall eating habits or relationship with food.

In the end I gained the weight back or felt unhealthy after the diet, Bidon said.

Diets dont last forever, it is easier to makelife changes.

What many young adultslack in their diet is having a healthy relationship with food, Keeney said.

The best advice I was given was to balance the plate. Have all the food groups represented on the plate. Fruit and veggies, grain (bread, potatoes and more), protein (fish, eggs, tofu and nuts) and dairy (milk, yogurt and cheese).

Add more color to your diet, this way you canensure youre getting a variety of nutrients to support your overall health,Keeney said.

Students can add nutritious and need food groupsby adding in diverse veggies and sides to their main dish.

Take top ramen, for example. Overall it is not healthy. But it is cheap, so it is a staple in any students dorm, apartment, or house. It can be made healthier by adding a protein (I like an egg or two) and some green veggies. It not only looks more appetizing it can be more nutritious and filling.

Why even diet when it can end in gaining the weight back? I suggest making little healthy changes that can improve overall attitudes towards food. Little changes can make a big difference.

More:
OPINION: Research before you try a diet - The Daily Evergreen

When Jeff Lewis first started to develop symptoms of multiple sclerosis, he brushed them off. I couldnt get my right and left leg in sync when I was walking my right leg was delayed, the Houston-area chef tells Yahoo Lifestyle. But I was a typical male and I ignored it for a very long time.

Things got progressively worse from there, Lewis says. It wasnt until his vision started deteriorating at a concert that he finally admitted something was wrong. I was at a concert and, whenever I looked at the exit sign, everything would shake, he explains. I later found out that I was going completely blind in my right eye and my left eye was trying to compensate. At this point, Lewis says, he finally told his wife that, something was wrong.

Lewiss symptoms would get worse from there. I also lost the ability to speak, he says. Lewis finally saw his family practitioner who referred him to a neurologist. He was given four different MRIs and, finally, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and usually progressive autoimmune disease that damages the sheaths of the nerve cells in a persons brain and spinal cord, according to theNational Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS patients can have symptoms like difficulty with balance, trouble walking and involuntary muscle spasms. They can also struggle with invisible symptoms like fatigue, numbness and tingling, weakness, pain, cognitive changes and bladder and bowel issues.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society reports that more than 2.3 million people have MS worldwide.

Former chef Jeff Lewis in his element, the kitchen. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lewis)

At the time of his diagnosis, Lewis had started his own catering business and was even cooking for NBA players. My diagnosis happened around the same time as my company took off, he says. I had also just had my son. I just thought, Why did this happen to me?

Lewis says he was initially shocked by the diagnosis but, I wanted to be strong for my family. But three days later, he says, he went on his porch and cried like a baby. I just didnt understand why this was happening, he says. I couldnt see and I could barely talk. MS symptoms can be exacerbated by heat and stress two factors that were common for Lewis in his job and his neurologist recommended that he stop his work as a caterer. My entire world was crashing, Lewis recalls. But that night, I just decided Im going to fight this thing as hard as I can and make sure that Im doing everything I can.

Lewis started taking medication a shot he took every other day but it gave him flu-like symptoms. My quality of life sucked, he says. But he eventually transitioned to a newer medication that involved taking a pill a day, and didnt have the same side effects.

Despite his doctors recommendation, Lewis wasnt quite ready to give up his work yet. That came later, when he was cooking at the 2013 NBA All-Star game. While I was in the kitchen, it got too hot and my legs went out on me, he says. I had to stop and I sold the business.

Lewis eventually transitioned to working in real estate, but food has remained an important part of his life and treatment. I started eliminating a lot of the fried foods that I love, limiting my red meat intake and trying to have as many fruits and vegetables as possible, he says. Lewis also avoids processed foods and limits alcohol to social occasions. I was never a heavy drinker, so that transition was much easier for me, he says.

And, Lewis says, changing his diet has had its benefits. I feel like the combination of my diet and medication has helped. I can now see with both eyes and my speech is back.

While Lewis says he has symptoms from time to time,, he adds that, for the most part, my quality of life and outlook is so much better.

Lewis has also experimented with what he calls unconventional foods like Caribbean sea moss. A friend recommended it to me, he says. I take a tablespoon a day. It tastes horrible, but I genuinely feel like its helping me to stay afloat, along with eating better and taking my medication.

Experts generally recommend that patients with multiple sclerosis strive to follow the samelow-fat, high-fiber diet recommendations from the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

While theres no set diet, a number of diets have been proposed, Amit Sachdev, MD, medical director for the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Most diets that people with autoimmune diseases adhere to are focused on limiting carbohydrates and processed foods, he adds. Those can include diets that are gluten-free, paleo, Atkins, ketogenic and even Weight Watchers. The key is to maintain a healthy body environment, says Sachdev. A healthy body is important for all organ systems, including the brain and spinal cord.

The role of diet in MS symptoms is still being studied in humans, but eating well can cause improvements in fatigue and improvements in quality of life, Barbara Giesser, MD, neurologist and MS specialist at Pacific Neuroscience Institute at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

Its generally recommended that people with MS also limit how much alcohol they have. Its not the alcohol affects MS per se, but its a neurotoxin in anybody, Giesser explains. Alcohol can also impair balance and coordination, which can be a problem for some people with MS anyway. It also doesnt interact well with some MS medications.

Processed foods should also be kept to a minimum, says Sachdev. Good nutrition is an important part of avoiding bad days, he explains. Getting the most out of your meal times is the most important part of good nutrition. Its far more important than trying to supplement afterward.

Jeff Lewis enjoying life with his wife, Angela, and their two children. (Photo courtesy of Jeff Lewis)

Lewis says its important for him to eat well to stay healthy. You are what you eat, and thats true with MS too, he says.

Now, he says hes trying to be flexible with what every day will bring. With MS, you dont know whats coming, he says. Im not fearful about it, though. I just do my best and go about my day.

See more here:
'You are what you eat': Why this former chef changed his diet after being diagnosed with MS - Yahoo Lifestyle

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At first glance, the practice of intermittent fasting may appear similar to other trends that have captured the attention of the diet science world. In recent years, many have advocated for the practice of intermittent fasting, claiming benefits such as increased lifespan, mitigation of chronic disease risk, and improvements in physical performance. However, the actual potential for intermittent fasting in disease management and its benefit for healthy individuals have been a topic of debate.

According to a review published in The New England Journal of Medicine, evidence from preclinical studies and clinical trials on intermittent fasting have found benefits for a number of health conditions, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and neurologic disorders. Several of the benefits of intermittent fasting were found to be unassociated with its effects on weight loss. Some of these identified benefits include improvements in glucose regulation, blood pressure, heart rate, as well as in the efficacy of endurance training and abdominal fat loss. While the review authors noted that we do not fully understand the specific mechanisms of how intermittent fasting facilitate these benefits, it is thought to be due to a phenomenon known as metabolic switching.

Intermittent fasting utilizes distinct periods of feeding and fasting. In the fasted state, cells increase glucose regulation and stress resistance and suppress inflammation. This occurs in concert with the catabolism of triglycerides stored in adipose tissue, which subsequently leads to the production of ketone bodies that can serve as an energy source for tissues including the brain. In the fed state, cells use a glucose-based metabolism to engage in tissue-specific growth and plasticity. One of the more notable effects of switching between these 2 metabolic states is that the respiratory-exchange ratio in fasted individuals is reduced, which may indicate greater metabolic flexibility and energy production.

Intermittent fasting brings about an adaptive and evolutionarily conserved cellular response across a number of organ systems, which in turn leads to improved glucose regulation, increased stress resistance, and suppression of inflammation. Were built to function mentally and physically well in a food deprived state. Of course, in the wild its not voluntary fasting theres food scarcity and food deprivation, noted Mark Mattson, PhD, a professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and co-author of this review. He added that, During evolution, presumably, the brains and bodies that functioned well in a food deprived state were those that were successful in getting food and surviving and passing their genes on.

Although this eating pattern has shown potential for treating or managing chronic disorders including obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and neurodegenerative brain diseases, the review authors highlighted that further research is needed to generalize these findings to groups not involved in each study. Moreover, although preclinical animal studies have shown intermittent fasting to extend lifespan, clinical research in this area is limited due to the lack of longitudinal study data.

While an intermittent fasting eating pattern may be appropriate for some individuals, it can be difficult to adhere to and may not be the ideal pattern for everyone. I think its important that when we are looking at intermittent fasting or any diet, what works needs to be sustainable over a long period of time, indicated Fatima Cody Stanford MD, MPH, MPA, an obesity medicine physician, scientist, and policy maker at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

Clinicians who consider prescribing this eating pattern should also determine its appropriateness for their respective patients. This may include consulting a dietician and/or psychologist to determine whether a given patient is a good candidate for intermittent fasting. Furthermore, clinicians may want to discuss the willingness or ability to sustain such an eating pattern for an extended period of time with each patient. Because many individuals are accustomed to 3 meals with interspersed snacks as part of their daily routine, switching to this eating pattern may prove to be an early challenge in their treatment course.

It is also important to counsel patients on the initial adverse effects that may be associated with this eating pattern, such as irritability and reduced ability to concentrate during periods of food restriction. In order to ameliorate these adverse effects, it may be appropriate to consider a gradual transition into this eating pattern.

Intermittent fasting may have gained traction as a diet fad, but preliminary research has established a clear, if untested, scientific and medical benefit via its use as a prescribed and monitored eating pattern.

Reference

De Cabo R and Mattson MP. Effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease [published online December 26, 2019]. New Engl J Med. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1905136

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The Biggest Diet Trend of 2020 Is Not A Diet - Medical Bag

Meal residues entering the colon are metabolized by the gut microbiota and may lead to functional digestive symptoms in the general population. New research shows that probiotics may help improve the tolerance of a plant-based flatulogenic diet.

Although under physiologic conditions meal ingestion has a pleasurable dimension, a large proportion of the general population presents functional digestive symptoms including abdominal bloating, distension and discomfort. And gastrointestinal discomfort usually appears in the context of a plant-based diet rich in fermentable residues for our gut microbiota.

A new exploratory intervention study, led by Dr. Fernando Azpiroz from the Digestive System Research Unit at University Hospital Vall dHebron (Barcelona), shows the potential role of a fermented milk product with a probiotic bacterium in improving digestive comfort in response to a plant-based diet in healthy individuals.

Briefly, 63 healthy adult subjects received a 3-day high-residue dietincluding foods such as legumes, vegetables, whole grain cereals and fruitbefore and after 28 days consumption of a fermented milk product with lactic acid bacteria and the probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CNCM I-2494. In an initial phase, participants received their habitual diet followed by a 3-day flatulogenic diet. Those subjects with at least 50% daily adherence to the flatulogenic diet and an increase in flatulence score equal to or higher than 2 then entered the 28-day administration phase consisting of 2 daily pots of a fermented milk product with B. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria.

The 3-day flatulogenic diet induced gas-related symptoms, increased the daily number of anal gas evacuations and dampened digestive well-being, compared with the habitual diet. These findings were in agreement with a previous study that found patients complaining of flatulence had an increased number of gas evacuations related with abdominal symptoms, which was tied to instability in the gut microbial ecosystem.

Consuming the fermented milk product for 28 days reduced the subjective flatulence sensation and improved digestive well-being, which was accompanied by a reduction in the number of daily anal gas evacuations.

Although fermented milk product consumption did not lead to changes in fecal microbiota diversity, some associations were found between the product and both clinical parameters and the relative abundance of some gut bacteria.

For instance, the reduction in the number of anal gas evacuations correlated with a decrease in the relative abundance of Mogibacterium and Parvimonas and an increase in Desulfobibrionaceae. Furthermore, the reduced flatulence sensation was associated with a depletion in the relative abundance of Methanobrevibacter species and an increase in Succinivibrio.

On the whole, these findings show that the inclusion of a fermented milk product with a probiotic bacterium in the diet of healthy subjects may help improve the tolerance of a plant-based flatulogenic diet. The authors suggested that the improvement of digestive symptoms through intake of a fermented milk product could be related to both the gut microbiota metabolism of plant substrates and an effect probiotics have on gut sensitivity. Due to the high prevalence of functional digestive symptoms among the general population, exploring the role of probiotics for managing them might be worthwhile.

This review article belongs to the special issue Food and Diet for Gut Function and Dysfunction in the peer reviewed open access journal Nutrients. This issue was instigated by the European Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility, guest edited by Profs Fernando Azpiroz and Paul Enck, and made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Danone.

Reference:

Le Nev B, Martinez de la Torre A, Tap J, et al. A fermented milk product with B. lactis CNCM I-2494 and lactic acid bacteria improves gastrointestinal comfort in response to a challenge diet rich in fermentable residues in healthy subjects. Nutrients. 2020; 12(2), 320. doi: 10.3390/nu12020320.

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A fermented milk product with a probiotic bacterium may improve the tolerance of a flatulogenic diet in healthy subjects - Gut Microbiota for Health