Category Archives: Diet And Food

February marks FebFast, the month where people are encouraged to forego their favourite vice, such as alcohol or sugar, in support of disadvantaged youth in Australia.

The idea of giving up something, cold turkey, even just for a month is something that most people can find hard to wrap their heads around.

However, the concept of fasting isnt a new one, in fact it has been around for a long time, and it boasts some amazing results for participants. Interestingly though, many people dont know exactly how it works, why its effective or how to go about it safely.

In a nutshell, fasting is a broad term for a variety of different fasting methods that all involve restricting your daily calorie intake to a relatively narrow window of time each day.

One popular method for intermittent fasting, is the 5:2 diet. This involves eating normally for five days in the week and then restricting your calorie intake to 500-600 for two days of the week. Another example is the 16:8 method, which involves adopting an eight hour window and fasting for the remaining 16 hours of the day.

By this point you might be asking, why? Fasting can have some major health benefits, including enhanced sleep, improved mental health, reduction in the likelihood of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease and promotes weight loss. It works like this:

Eating large meals before bed has been proven to negatively impact your sleep, promoting a more restless and less refreshing sleep.

However, fasting gives your digestive system a chance to settle down, bringing your body back to energy saving mode. It helps you to wake up feeling far more refreshed and energised, with a body clock that has become more synchronised.

Anxiety disorders have been known to be linked to a persons sleep, noting the importance of having a good sleep cycle to help improve the symptoms of anxiety.

Therefore, fastings ability to restore equilibrium in that area, demonstrates its ability to lessen anxiety. It also steers participants away from foods that inevitably lead to energy crashes, with quick serotonin boots and can actually worsen a persons symptoms over time.

National

Why A Staggering Number Of Aussies Aren't Eating Their Veggies

Aussies may be spending more money on fresh produce, but that doesn't mean they're eating their daily greens.

Fasting is known to improve certain blood markers such as increasing good cholesterol (HDL) and reducing triglycerides (TG), which are a type of fat present in the blood that is known to promote heart disease, as well as reducing blood pressure and heart rate.

These factors lead to improved heart health, and a lower chance of cardiovascular disease.

Theres more research to show that fasting successfully lowers blood glucose and insulin levels and is therefore an effective preventative method and treatment for management of type-2 diabetes.

During fasting, your body replaces burning glucose (carbohydrates) to burning fat as its primary source of energy and fuel. This results in gradual weight loss, as well as improvements in glucose regulation, blood pressure and heart rate, which in turn aids the effectiveness of endurance training.

However, it must be noted that the results will not happen straight away and require dedication to fasting, with results expected to occur after 10 weeks.

Overall, it is important to remember when intermittent fasting, is how to go about it safely, as its benefits reach way beyond shedding some extra kilos. The most essential safety tips to keep in mind when fasting are:

The 5:2 diet is a good example of this, as you only fast for two days and are still receiving 25 percent of your daily calorie requirements. Longer fasting periods can increase risks associated with fasting, such as dehydration, irritability, fainting, lack of energy and hunger.

This is also where the 5:2 diet is beneficial, as this can reduce the risk of fainting and the other aforementioned risks. Eating small amounts on fast days is far more sustainable that doing a complete fast and then bingeing on the weekend.

You get 20-30 percent of your fluids from food, so dramatically cutting your food intake will therefore have an impact on your hydration levels throughout the day. Aim to drink two to three litres of water on fast days but be careful to listen to your body, your thirst will tell you when its time to drink more water.

Health

Key To Losing Three Times More Weight Unveiled In Landmark CSIRO Study

If you're sick and tired of counting calories or jumping from one diet to the next, this news might come as a welcomed reprieve.

It can be tempting after a fast to fill up on all the foods you missed out on, but this can leave you feeling bloated and tired and can impact any long-term weight loss goals. On your off days, try to stick to a normal eating routine and incorporate as many of the food groups as you can.

If you begin to feel unwell or become concerned for your health, stop fasting straight away. While tiredness, hunger and mood changes are normal, feeling sick is not.

If you start to experience symptoms of dizziness, nausea and vomiting, chest pain or stomach pain, diarrhoea, or loss of consciousness please see your healthcare professional.

Apart from the wonderful cause behind FebFast, youre certainly not short of reasons to partake in fasting this year.

Featured image: Supplied/Getty

Excerpt from:
Does Intermittent Fasting Work? A Dietitian Answers Everything You Need To Know - 10 daily

KALAMAZOO, Mich.It takes brave actors to bare their souls and bodies on stage and an intelligent playwright to resist easy answers and assumptions to modern-day problems. It is that courage and perspicacity that makes The Cake at Farmers Alley Theatre a memorable production that is compelling and enjoyable.

Playwright Bekah Brunstetter rips the shows premise straightout of todays headlines. She mixes in a reality baking show, religious resistanceto LGBT+ relationships, and the refusal to bake a cake for a same-sex marriageinto a story that tackles difficult questions about love, intimacy, sex andtolerance.

While it might be easiest to keep the perspective on thelesbian couple who wants the cake, Brunstetters spotlight most often falls onDella, the owner of a North Carolina bakery who takes pride in following thedirections perfectly to create the best cakes.

Director D. Terry Williams leads his cast of four actors infinding the depth of each of their characters and putting the focus on therelationships each of them have with each other.

Zoe Vonder Haar makes Della a sympathetic character, even toan audience whose natural inclinations go against what she stands for and whofinds the things she does abhorrent. Haar conquers each of the demands thatthis show puts on her characterthe many monologues, the emotional swings, thecomplexities of her choices and the intensities of her relationships with eachof the other three characters.

Tia Pinsons Macy is first presented as the stereotypicalhipster with militantly progressive ideals that have no room for the people whodont march in step with them. However, Macys impatience with those who wouldinvalidate her or her way of life covers a vulnerability that Pinson carefullyreveals.

Molly Spiroff brings energy and enthusiasm to Jen, a youngwoman returning to her home in the South and the people she loves even thoughshe no longer fits among them. All the other characters have descriptors forJen and Spiroff manages to master each of them. She is sensitive, loving, andfull of life. She also has her own yearnings and things she wants to makeright, things that dont let her walk away easily from the world that wontaccept who she is now.

Spiroff and Pinson raise the stakes of the story by therelationship they portray. If love could be given a physical form andrepresentation on stage, it would look like what they do. They have thosespecial eyes only for each other, their connection smolders and they give theircharacters a deep commitment to each other that is able to withstand theconflict that they face.

It would be easy for Steve Isom to make Tim, Dellashusband, a redneck plumber who is oblivious to the struggles his wife hishaving. In fact, there are moments when Tim does seem to be out-of-step and simplecompared to the others on the stage, but that doesnt last for long and Isomensures that the audience is able to look at things through his eyes, if onlyfor a moment.

It is clear that Isom and Haar have worked together before, asthey convincingly portray a husband and wife couple who have faced challenginghardships together. They both show great courage and comedic timing inperforming what the script demands of themand in so doing, give the audiencehighly memorable moments.

Williams brought in Elizabeth Terrel as an intimacy directorto work with Spiroff and Pinson on safely and effectively portraying thephysical aspects of their relationship. It was an investment that paid off inthe intensity of their connection. Their relationship felt so natural andright, despite how the opponents of same-sex relationships would say they arethe opposite of those two adjectives, that the audience seemed to comfortablyaccept their physical intimacy.

What provoked nervous laughter and discomfort was the display of intimacy and sex between the older couple, perhaps because sex between older people is often portrayed only for comic effect and not show with the real challenges that The Cake explores.

What makes Dellas refusal to bake the cake a story that iscompelling and interesting is the love that she feels for Jen. This is not astranger she is rejecting, but someone whom she always figured she would bakefor. Jen is the daughter of her late best friend. She watched her grow up andthey stay in touch through emails and Facebook. They know each other well.

It is what keeps the show from being just a politicalshouting match or one that simply mocks a person for refusing to bake a cakefor a customer.

The cake becomes a metaphor that casts light on each of thecharacters and who they are. Della believes in the classic recipes, infollowing directions that have been passed down through the ages, just as shebelieves in using the Bible as an instruction book on life. Macy refuses toeven taste the cake, she wont give in to the slightest challenge to her diet,to her beliefs, to her ardent pursuit of what she believes to be right. Jenloves the cake and the joys and memories it brings her even when it casts shameinto her life that she doesnt know what to do with. Tim loves it because heloves his wife, but he isnt prepared for some of the ways it might challengehim.

All of these characters are fully flushed out with complexmotivations, which is what makes this play so very satisfying. And even thoughit deals with serious topics, it is often a comedy, one that brings the type oflaughter that signifies pure joy and the understanding and empathy of the crazysituations we back ourselves into by the beliefs we hold on to.

As always, Farmers Alley doesnt stint at the technicalstaff and all of them contribute to the delectable treat this show is. Propsdesigner Jody Badalamenti creates a wall full of gorgeous cakes, some fake,some real. Scenic designer Dan Guyette and scenic artist Alexa Wiljanen capturethe sugary sweetness of a bakery while providing quick and easy drop-out bedsto take the scenes to each of the couples bedrooms.

Kristen Chesaks lighting puts appropriate spotlights onDella, especially when she is fantasizing about the reality cooking show shehas been selected to appear on. She partners with sound designer Tony Mitchellto create a peek into Dellas mind and perhaps even how she views theauthorities that direct her life.

The Cake is more than just a fancy dessert that entertains and delights. It is a show that, like the special occasion cakes that mark peoples lives, attempts to bring people together and help them move toward a greater understanding.

Read the original post:
'The Cake' at Farmers Alley a powerful story ripped from the headlines and the SCOTUS docket - encoremichigan.com

While many diets may work for you, the key is finding one you like and can stick to in the long run.

Here are 5 healthy diets that are scientifically proven to be effective.

The low-carb, whole-food diet is perfect for people who need to lose weight, optimize health, and lower their risk of disease.

Its flexible, allowing you to fine-tune your carb intake depending on your goals.

This diet is high in vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, fruits, nuts, and fats but low in starches, sugars, and processed foods.

The Mediterranean diet is an excellent diet that has been thoroughly studied. Its particularly effective for heart disease prevention.

It emphasizes foods that were commonly eaten around the Mediterranean region during the 20th century and earlier.

As such, it includes plenty of vegetables, fruits, fish, poultry, whole grains, legumes, dairy products, and extra virgin olive oil.

The paleo diet is a very popular diet that is effective for weight loss and general health improvement. Its currently the worlds most popular diet.

It centers on unprocessed foods believed to resemble those available to some of humanitys paleolithic ancestors.

The vegan diet has become increasingly popular in the past decade. Its linked to a number of health benefits, including weight loss, improved heart health, and better blood sugar control.

The diet is based exclusively on plant foods and eliminates all animal products.

The gluten-free diet is essential for people who are intolerant to gluten, a protein that is found in wheat, rye, and barley.

For optimal health, you should focus on whole foods that are naturally gluten-free. Gluten-free junk food is still junk food.

So many diets exist that it can feel overwhelming to simply find a single one to try.

However, its important to note that some eating patterns have more scientific backing than others. Whether youre looking to lose weight or simply boost your overall health, try to find diets that are supported by research.

The five examples listed above are a good place to start.

See the original post:
5 Diets That Are Supported by Science

Overhauling your dietespecially when it comes to lowering your cholesterolmight sound daunting, but new research has found that focusing on your diet as a whole, (rather than just cholesterol intake) starting with some simple swaps, can help make eating healthier stick. Making a few dietary changes can make a big difference when it comes to your heart health.

In a recent scientific advisory published in the American Heart Association (AHA) Circulation journal, researchers analyzed over 50 studies, including several meta-analyses, and found heart-healthy diets are also naturally low in cholesterol, which is important because high blood cholesterol can up your risk for heart attack and stroke. And, the one trick researchers found when digging through the data was that focusing on the overall diet rather than tediously tracking a numerical value of cholesterol intake is more effective in helping you successfully stay on track with healthy eating.

Focusing on heart-healthy dietary suggestions (think: lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and less of foods high in saturated fats such as butter, cheese, and red meat) works because totality of the diet matters, especially for people who need to lower their cholesterol, Jo Ann Carson, Ph.D., R.D.N., immediate past chair of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee told Runners World. Plus, people more often arrange their diets based on foodsnot from a list of nutrientsso food-based advice relates more directly to daily dietary decisions.

It gives the health care professionals the basis for clarifying that too much cholesterol in the diet can be bad for you, but you can enjoy sources of cholesterol in moderation. This includes perhaps an egg a day, or an occasional shrimp cocktail, Carson said. The advisory also reinforces the message that it is the entire dietary pattern that contributes to heart health.

Because having high blood cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease, its important to exercise and eat well to keep LDL (bad) cholesterol low and HDL (good) cholesterol levels up. Additionally, keep in mind that many foods contributing to high cholesterol are high in saturated fat, which can lead to increased levels of LDL cholesterol and increase a persons risk for heart attack or stroke.

To optimize your heart health, you should incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, lean protein sources, as well as healthy fats from nuts, seeds and vegetable oils into your diet, Carson said. Following a Mediterranean or DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet, which is low in cholesterol by nature) can help lower the risk for heart disease and stroke. When including healthy foods in your diet, be careful not to exceed your calorie needs, Carson cautioned. This will more likely happen if you add too much fat or sugar.

[Build your personalized and adaptive training plan for FREE with Runcoach.]

So, reaching for foods that contain polyunsaturated fats (found in nuts, seeds, and fish) and monounsaturated fat (found in olive oil and avocados) and avoiding high intake of saturated fat is a good step in creating a heart-healthy diet. And, because the fat in animal foods is typically higher in saturated fat and contains cholesterol, reducing fat in your diet from animal sources is one simple way to help reduce cholesterol, Carson said. Below are some simple tweaks Carson suggested you can make.

Check in with your doctor to make sure your cholesterol levels are healthy and always consult with your doctor before making any major dietary changes.

See the original post here:
This Research-Backed Trick Can Help Healthy Eating Stick - Runner's World

CHICAGO Losing weight remains a top goal for half of American adults, according to The NPD Group.

Around 25% of consumers will follow a specific diet plan in 2020, the market research company said, up from approximately 20% in 2016. Top diet plans include the low-carb, high-fat ketogenic or keto diet, and intermittent fasting, an eating pattern that cycles between periods of eating and periods of fasting. Around 5% of consumers follow the keto diet while 4% follow intermittent fasting.

Instead of adhering to a formalized diet or nutrition plan, 16% of consumers said they follow their own diet, which may include a range of personalized dieting patterns. Among the most common are eating more healthful foods and beverages and limiting the amount of food eaten, NPDs Health Aspirations and Behavioral Tracker Service found. The remaining percentages of consumers who follow a diet plan to lose weight are fragmented across a variety of other diet programs.

From the standpoint of food manufacturers and food service operators, dieting and trying to lose weight are big consumer behaviors, said Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst at NPD. The opportunity is to help consumers follow through on their goals by positioning products and menu items to a specific diet, like keto-friendly, or innovate on new products that deliver on what consumers are looking for in terms of dieting or losing weight.

Not all consumers seeking healthier options are trying to lose weight, though. NPD also found that close to a quarter of U.S. adults reported being on a nutritional plan with the goal of promoting long-term health, but not necessarily weight loss.

Go here to read the rest:
One in four weight-conscious adults follow a specific diet - Baking Business

There's even more research to suggest that the best diet is one you can stick to.

Researchers from the University of Otago, New Zealand looked at 250 overweight but otherwise healthy participants assigned to one of three dietary plans: the Mediterranean diet, paleo, or intermittent fasting.

They then compared how well they were able to stick to the diet over the course of 12 months, using a calorie-counting app and daily self-weighing, with each person's weight and body fat, measured at the beginning and the end.

Regardless of the type of diet, only 3557% of participants were able to stick to the diet for the full year, according to recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

While all participants showed small amounts of weight loss and body fat by the end of the study, some were more effective than others. Fasting was the diet that delivered the most consistent weight loss for people that could stick to it. But the researchers found it was more of a challenge to maintain than the Mediterranean diet.

casanisaphoto/ iStock Participants on the Mediterranean diet at lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and olive oil, with moderate fish, eggs, poultry, and dairy. They were allowed red meat once a week or less, and a glass of wine daily, but were told to avoid processed food, butter, and sugary drinks.

The study found that about half of the participants on the Mediterranean diet were able to stick to it for a full year.

For those who didn't, researchers found that the problem seemed to be processed foods only a third of people were able to consistently cut out processed meats and refined grains from their diet. By contrast, most participants didn't have trouble with other elements of the Mediterranean diet, like consuming olive oil, nuts and seeds, and cutting back on red meat.

The Paleo dieters focused on eating whole foods like and fruit and vegetables, too, but also ate plenty of animal products, butter, coconut products, and olive oil. They also ate moderate amounts of nuts, seeds, dairy, and legumes, but limited grains, processed food, and sugar.

Only a third of participants on the Paleo diet were able to stick to it and for the same reasons. The study found Paleo dieters ate more fat and less carbs. They avoided sugary drinks, processed seed oils, and breakfast cereals, as instructed, and also ate enough animal protein. However, many continued to eat grains and sources of sugar. By the end of the study, those on the Paleo diet showed the least weight and fat loss of any of the participants, even if they stuck to the diet.

lacaosa via Getty Images Those on intermittent fasting (IF) diet were allowed to eat what they wanted five days of the week, but on the other two days were severely limited in how many calories they could consume 600 a day for men, 500 for women. They weren't limited in the types of food they could eat on those days, but were encouraged to eat high protein foods with low-carb vegetables and greens to feel fuller.

Researchers found participants on the intermittent fasting diet were the only ones to lose weight continuously throughout the 12-month period. Those on other diets had lost weight at six months, but plateaued.

During the fasts, however, participants ate fewer calories, but consistently over-estimated, and had difficulty staying below just 500-600 calories a day. Some 54% of them stuck with it for the full year.

Although the Mediterranean diet had the highest number of participants after a year, that still only amounted to 57% of people who initially began the diet. This confirms previous research that diets can be hard to stick to over time.

However, those who followed the Mediterranean diet even imperfectly had better measures of blood pressure and glycemic control, suggesting there are benefits to even moderate changes in eating habits, researchers concluded.

The Mediterranean diet was previously named the overall best diet for 2020 by US News and World Report, for the third year in a row, in part because it was deemed more sustainable than "crash" diets like the Whole30 that eliminate entire food groups.

Read more:

Gwyneth Paltrow claims she shaved 1.7 years off her biological clock by changing her diet

The Mediterranean diet is named the best diet for 2020, and keto remains one of the worst

'Intuitive eating' is on the rise, and experts say it's because people are fed up with diet culture

Follow this link:
Fasting diet is best for weight loss, but the Med diet is healthier - Insider - INSIDER

While many people recognize Maye Musk as the oldest model to become the face of CoverGirl or as the mother of Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk, she also had a successful career as a registered dietitian for 45 years and still keeps up her credentials.

Though some of her son Elon's Silicon Valley contemporaries, like Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey, are fans of internet-famous diets like intermittent fasting, gluten-free diets and the ketogenic diet, Maye Musk is not sold: "I never did the fad diets, I have to stick to science," Musk tells CNBC Make It.

Maye Musk, 71, is the a dietician and at 69 became the CoverGirl model.

Photo credit Mark Seliger

Intermittent fasting, an eating pattern that entails alternating between periods of fasting and eating, has become mega-popular among high-profile figures from Dorsey, who says it makes him more productive, to actress Jennifer Aniston. But while studies on mice suggest that intermittent fasting could help with weight loss, help slow the effects of aging, improve cognition and possibly protect the brain against neurodegenerative diseases, overall, experts agree that there needs to be more research done on humans to determine whether it's safe and maintainable.

As for the ketogenic diet, it is a high-fat, extremely low carbohydrate diet that was originally intended to treat epilepsy. The point of this diet is to put your body into a state of "ketosis," which means that you're burning fat instead of carbs for energy. Some mice studies suggest that a low-carb diet could improve brain function, and many people use the "keto" diet to lose weight. However given how restrictive it is, it can be challenging to follow and could lead to nutritional deficiencies.

You have to think "...is it sustainable? Is it foods you like? And are you fun to be around?" Musk says of restrictive diets.

Gluten-free diets have been popular but are really only a medical necessity for people with Celiac disease.

"I've had to teach myself in social situations not to talk about anything relating to diet because everybody has their own theory," Musk says.

But there are a few healthy diets Musk approves of, including the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil; the DASH diet, a low sodium diet aimed at lowering blood pressure; and the flexitarian diet, a mostly plant-based diet.

Musk's own diet is closest to the flexitarian diet: Musk says she typically has high-fiber cereal and 1% milk for breakfast. Then she'll have a snack of yogurt and fruit, and a salad and whole wheat bread, or sushi for lunch. Her afternoon snack is a latte and fruit, and for dinner, she likes to "keep my evenings very light" with a bean soup, or cooked vegetables with protein and a starch like potatoes, rice or whole wheat bread.

"Healthy eating is easy with a knowledge, but avoiding poor eating is hard," Musk says. She loves sweet foods, such as chocolates and cookies, but says that she doesn't like to keep them in her home "because I will finish them off."

The best thing people can do to improve their diet is pretty simple, Musk says. "You have to really use common sense and enjoy the foods you eat, and you have to be aware," she says.

Reporting by Cat Clifford and Jessica Leibowitz

Like this story? Subscribe to CNBC Make It on YouTube!

Don't miss:

Read the original here:
Maye Musk was a dietitian for 45 yearswhy she doesn't believe in fad diets like keto or intermittent fasting - CNBC

The whole30 diet is just what it sounds like 30 days of eating only whole foods, meaning foods that haven't been processed or refined. At the same time, you cut out dairy, grains, and added sugars, to name just a few. What's left ends up looking pretty much like every other extreme low-carb diet.

The inventors, Melissa Hartwig Urban and her ex-husband Dallas Hartwig, describe the diet as a type of elimination diet. Elimination diets are used under medical supervision to identify specific foods to which you may be sensitive, or allergic.

Notably, thanks largely to social media, people are adopting whole30 more like a standard weight-loss diet. And while many personal accounts indicate that it may have helped some individuals with weight-loss short-term, some experts aren't impressed with the diet. Here's what you should know before trying the whole30 diet.

The whole30 diet involves a lot of restrictions. The website even includes guides to help people navigate some of the more specific bans. The main points of the diet are:

Don't eat:

Do eat:

The whole30 website says that dieters should not focus too much on weight loss. In fact, you're advised not to weigh yourself or take body measurements for the entire 30 day period.

Instead, according to the inventors' theory, you stop eating many different types of food at once to "reset" your body. When it's over, you slowly add back each type of food group and observe how your body reacts.

For example, if you add milk back into your diet and start getting stomach aches again, it is possible that you have trouble digesting lactose.

However, some critics of the whole30 diet say that it may not do what it intends, as taking a break from certain foods can cause you to react badly to them when you add them back to your diet.

One advantage of the diet is that it encourages people to cook more and move away from highly processed foods, says Carrie Dennet, MPH, RDN, a registered dietician nutritionist.

However, "this diet also makes it difficult to enjoy meals with others," says Dennet. You may have a hard time keeping it up without becoming socially isolated.

Moreover, the US News & World Report's panel of medical professionals report that the diet's highly restrictive nature is another mark against it, calling it the "antithesis of a long-term healthy dietary pattern."

In fairness, the whole30 diet is only meant to be done for 30 days. No more, no less.

There's no published research that evaluates whether, or not, the whole30 diet works or is even safe in either the short or long-term.

It is concerning that the whole30 diet can potentially lead to nutritional deficiencies, say Dennet. "The reality is that the more foods or food groups you take 'off the table,' the harder it is to meet nutritional needs."

Dennet also advises that people should only do elimination diets under the supervision of a registered dietitian who can help you determine the best elimination diet to follow for your specific needs since food sensitivity and allergies are different for everyone.

See original here:
What is the whole30 diet? Why experts call it the 'antithesis' of a healthy diet - Insider - INSIDER

Bob Harper caught the bug in Nashville. It was just a small studio in his neighborhood, but when Harper started exercising there, he was hooked. So he packed up, drove to L.A. from Tennessee and broke into fitness. Next up: becoming a celebrity trainer and then hosting The Biggest Loser.

Looking at Harper, you might assume he rode from Nashville to Cali in the hope of rockstardom. When we caught up with the fitness host at his home (now in downtown Manhattan), he answered the door looking more grunge than gurublack Rolling Stones T-shirt, bleach blond hair, tattoo sleeves and ink across his knuckles. And while his looks may resemble those of a guitarist after an all-night bender, Harpers habits are anything but excessive.

In fact, the 54 year old may just be the healthiest guy weve featured so far.

Following him to his kitchen, we can definitely say he has the most health-enviable, Whole-Foods-isle-looking fridge weve ever seen, and we get the sense that our visit prompted zero rearranging; Bob Harper wakes up to a fridge like this every dang day. Fridge staples include kombucha (for after Yoga), green juices (low sugar) that taste like grassI kinda like that, fresh vegetablescarrots, brusel sprouts, asparagus, celerygreek yogurt, egg whites, and fruit. No microwaveables. No sweets. Unlike plenty of other celebs who rely on chefs, Harper cooks most of his own food. I want to know whats in my food. I get to control every protein, fat, and carb that I eat.

It all may sound obsessive and hyper-curated, but Harper has reason to watch his diet.

In 2017 while at a CrossFit class, Harper experienced a heart attack. Luckily there was a doctor in the class who was able to administer CPR. Still, Harper had to be put in a medically-induced coma after he was defibrillated. He owes his life, doctors say, to his superior physical condition.

Subscribe to Men's Health

But that physicality needed some adjustments, Harper concluded.

Before I was eating high-protein, high-fat. I worked out really intensely. And I had this veracious appetite. Since my heart attack, I really count my micros. I look at my protein, fat, and carbs. I tend to stay a little low fat. I stay away from red meat.

Harpers heart attack also forced him to back off the intense exercising. Before, he would slam CrossFit workouts. Now, he opts for yoga, hitting his studio up the street 5-6 times a week. And thats hot yoga, by the waywalking into a room thats 115 degrees with high humidity, standing on a mat for 90 minutes, no music, specific direction; its a mind fuck. He admits the intensity is comparable to CrossFit.

Harper says anyone focusing on serious dieting or exercising needs to start slow. I dont like cutting out major food groups. I want to keep a good balance of all the nutrients. Harper also advises that anyone starting their fitness journey take everything in stride. Dont try to change everything all at once. You cannot be Miss America, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Superman in the first week, month, or year.

To lose big, you have to win the long game. And Harper is out in front.

See the rest here:
The Biggest Loser's Bob Harper - Diet and Workout - menshealth.com

Anna Glavash @AnnaGlavash

TuesdayFeb11,2020at1:58PMFeb11,2020at1:58PM

Cats are what is called obligatory carnivores. They do eat grass, but their diets should only have about 1% or 2% non-meat content, said Mark Dunn at Natures Pet Market.

Cats are designed to live on meat. The only vegetable they get is from the intestines of the things they hunted and killed, said Nancy L. Johnson, DVM. Unlike dogs, cats need supplied taurine in their food, because they cant synthesize it, but commercial cat foods are formulated to contain appropriate levels of taurine.

Cats can get taurine from hunting rodents and should be allowed to do so, said Dr. Teri Sue Wright, DVM. I recommend my clients bait their backyards with compost piles and then let their cats hunt, she said.

But grain isnt appropriate for cats diets, say the doctors. They dont tolerate it well, said Johnson, and it causes inflammation in their systems, said Wright.

See the rest here:
What about cats? Whats their best diet? - The Register-Guard