Category Archives: Diet And Food

American doctors at Yale University have studied the effects of a ketogenic diet in mice to measure the benefits of this increasingly popular regimen, which involves eating more fat and less carbohydrates.

Very popular in recent years, ketogenic diets are based on higher consumption of fat and lower consumption of carbohydrates. In concrete terms, a person who follows a ketogenic diet will, for example, eat a lot of smoked salmon and avocado, but will avoid cakes, sweets and other sugar-rich foods, including certain varieties of fruit (grapes, mangoes, bananas).

Apart from its rapid and effective slimming effect, a ketogenic diet may also help protect against diabetes, explain researchers at Yale University. Published inNature Metabolism, a study by the researchers showed a reduction of glucose in the blood of mice one week after following a ketogenic diet.

Read also: 2019 dietary 'trend': Out with Ketogenic, in with Mediterranean

When the body lacks sugar, it draws on its reserves of fat and begins to produce ketogenic bodies, which provide an alternative source of energy. At the same time, the body also produces gamma delta T-lymphocytes, and the study found that it is precisely these immune system cells that help to ward off diabetes and the risk of inflammation.

However, the study also showed that the opposite effect may occur if a ketogenic diet extends beyond one week: When mice continue to eat the high-fat, low-carb diet beyond one week, they consume more fat than they can burn, and develop diabetes and obesity. They lose the protective gamma delta T-cells in the fat, points out Vishwa Deep Dixit, a professor of immunobiology at the Yale School of Medicine and the main author of the study.

Our findings highlight the interplay between metabolism and the immune system, and how it coordinates maintenance of healthy tissue function, adds Emily Goldberg, a postdoctoral fellow in comparative medicine and the co-author of the study.

The ideal duration to maximize the health benefits of a ketogenic diet has yet to be determined, however, the researchers concluded that ketogenic diets work best in small doses and over a short period of time (less than a week).

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Ketogenic diets are effective but may be harmful over time - The Jakarta Post - Jakarta Post

Many of us had a great time during the holiday season, visiting friends and family, watching football, and probably eating more food than we needed. What the heck. It was the holidays and all that home cooking was too good to pass up, right?

Unfortunately, for too many of us the overeating never stops. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) more than 39% of American adults are considered obese, overweight; thats 93 million people, not including children, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30. The BMI is simply a fatness measurement determined as follows: BMI= weight in pounds multiplied by 703, then divided by height in inches squared. For example: (180 lb x 703 = 126,540) divided by (60x 60 = 3,600) equals BMI of 35.

In many survival situations things can happen beyond our control such as accidents or storms, but losing weight and getting in shape is completely within our control and nothing is more important to our personal survival. And, just like wilderness survival the key to success is knowing exactly what to do and then having enough want to to turn that knowledge into effective survival action.

While many diet plans and weight loss programs can be confusing and hard to follow, I use a very straightforward weight loss routine. I call it 5N4 and I created it as a universal method for my overweight wilderness survival students to get back in shape. Ive had students drop 12 pounds in six weeks just by sticking with 5N4.

Lets start by looking at what might be considered a typical day of food consumption for millions of adults in America. The calorie counts shown are the general amounts for the particular food and serving size.

Starting with breakfast: cereal, whole milk, wheat toast, butter, orange juice; 600 calories. Lunch might include a hamburger with fries and a flavored soft drink; 850 calories. Dinner might consist of grilled chicken breast, rice, green beans, wheat roll, and an oatmeal cookie for desert; 730 calories. And, add a beer or glass of wine with dinner (120 calories) and a candy bar (200) mid-day snack, and were talking about a daily total of 2,500 calories.

According to Web MD, that many calories might be OK to sustain a 30-50 year old male who walks 3-4 miles every single day at a brisk pace of 3 miles per hour, in addition to doing their typical daily life activities. But, keep in mind that if that same individual is trying to lose any weight at all then the solution has to include a whole lot more exercise and cutting way back on caloric intake.

The 5N4 routine can help us to do both. It consists of five rules and four principles, all easy to remember and follow for as long as needed to lose weight.

Rule One: Cut out all deserts, sweets, crackers, chips, and bread of any kind. No cookies, candy, pie, cake, sweetened drinks, rolls, bagels, or toast.

Rule Two: Cut out all spirits and alcohol. No wine, beer, whiskey, scotch, bourbon, gin, rum, brandy, shine or any related drinks. This rule is more difficult because alcohol itself is habit forming. Simply having a beer every day after work creates its own physical and psychological craving that must be interrupted.

Rule Three: No seconds at any meal.

Rule Four: No snacks between meals.

Rule Five: No sitting; that is no prolonged sedentary activity such as spending hours at a time watching television, working on the computer, or playing video games. Cut back on sitting time with an active hobby or taking exercise breaks to go walking or jogging.

The Four Principles are just as easy to follow: limit lunch to just fruit or salad, drink plenty of water every day, eat only half of a restaurant dinner entree (save half for another dinner), and eat nothing after 9 p.m.

Always consult a physician before starting this or any other weight loss program. The 5N4 program should work for those who are willing to make the commitment. Learn more about survival and upcoming programs at http://www.mountaineerwilderness.com.

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Surviving the typical American diet | News, Sports, Jobs - The Inter-Mountain

Vegetarianism is having a moment in the sun. Record numbers of people are giving it a try, the number of places offering vegetarian food is ever-increasing, and the variety and quality of vegetarian alternatives to meat products are rising with it.

But, is this all just misplaced environmental concern, sentimentality, and hippie mumbo jumbo? After all, the stereotype of a vegetarian remains less than flattering. Or is there a method to the bacon-denying madness? Today, we'll look at three philosophies that endorse vegetarianism, look at their arguments, and consider if you should put that piece of steak down.

Peter Singer is an Australian philosopher well known for his work in Utilitarian ethics. His 1975 book Animal Liberation is a groundbreaking work in the field of animal rights and presents a bold program for treating animals much better than we currently do.

He begins with a simple idea; that animals have interests that should be considered equal to the similar interests of human beings. If it is wrong to inflict unnecessary pain on human beings, then it is also wrong to do it to animals.

While it is true that many arguments have been made to separate humans and animals because of differences between them, Singer points out that we never apply them to other members of the human race. If we can't hurt and eat people with very low intelligence or who cannot use language, then why do we justify eating animals because they don't use syntax? Since animals clearly can feel, why should we not consider them as equal when calculating the net pleasure and pain caused by an action?

He argues that any attempt to morally separate humans from other animals when it comes to whose pain matters is based primarily on speciesism, prejudice against other animals, rather than a consistent logic and should be rejected. He then concludes, given the nature of industrial farming and the suffering many animals endure because of it, that we should switch to vegetarian and vegan diets to maximize the total happiness.

There are two subtleties to his arguments that must be remembered. The first is that he is not talking about "animal rights" in the pure sense. He certainly isn't arguing that an elephant be given the right to vote. He is arguing only that the difference between pain in humans and elephants is morally irrelevant and that the elephant's interests should be considered as equal to a humans' when deciding what to do.

Secondly, he is a utilitarian, and some apparent contradictions come with that. Most notably, he argues that some medical experimentation on animals is morally justifiable, as the benefits of the research will significantly outweigh the pain caused to the animal in the laboratory. Similarly, while he likes free-range farming as an idea, he doesn't encourage it in all cases as it can be worse for the environment than factory farming. The cost to benefit ratio doesn't quite work out for him.

His work has been widely influential, and most of the modern animal liberation movement cites him as a major influence. However, some philosophers, such as Richard Sorabji, have argued that his moral theory is simplistic and gives rise to strange moral instructions in some situations.

Many religions have lines of scripture that are commonly interpreted as encouraging or even mandating vegetarianism.

The Dharmic Religions of India are well known for their tendency towards vegetarianism. In Jainism, vegetarianism is mandatory, as harming animals is considered bad karma. Hinduism and Buddhism also have scripture forbidding violence against animals, but how much that applies to the killing of animals for food is still debated. For those who do eat meat, ritualized methods of minimizing the suffering of the animal before death exist.

A third of Hindus are vegetarians. The number of vegetarian Buddhists is not known with certainty. The Dali Lama tried the diet for a while himself but was forced back to omnivorism again for health reasons. He continues to encourage vegetarianism in the name of reducing the suffering of animals.

Pythagoras, of the theorem, encouraged an entire way of life named for him which included vegetarianism. This was perhaps motivated by his belief in reincarnation and aversion to violence.

Lastly, many more recent thinkers have put forward arguments based on the environmental costs of industrial animal farming as a reason to cut back on our animal consumption. Thinkers like Steve Best and Peter Singer have made this argument. They point to studies like one in Nature, which reminds us of how much of the carbon footprint of meat production we'll have to cut back on if we want to reach our goals in the fight against climate change.

You might have noticed that most of these schools and thinkers share a common theme; they tend to object to the production of meat, the killing and suffering of the animal, rather than the actual act of eating it. Some people make arguments along these lines, but they are in the minority.

Most, if not all, of the thinkers mentioned above would undoubtedly be fine with lab-grown meat if the energy costs of producing it could be lowered. Similarly, many debates over if it is alright to eat oysters, which probably can't feel pain and are rather plant-like, have taken place as part of the broader discussion of moral vegetarianism.

There you have it; serious thinkers are often behind vegetarianism, and they make very good arguments as to why you should eat less meat -if any at all. While they won't convince everybody to switch to tofu, they do provide an excellent starting point for any discussion of what an ethical diet is.

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Why some philosophers think you should be a vegetarian - Big Think

Most people have heard about the necessity of including omega-3 fats in their diets, but they are unsure of the food sources that supply them. Busy work schedules and long days tempt people to eat quick and easy meals from a fast food restaurant or pre-made dinners from the freezer. A steady diet of manufactured foods can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, as well as a lack of essential omega-3 fats.

Omega-3 fats are essential to good heart health. The inclusion of omega-3 rich foods in the diet are believed to considerably lower the risk of fatal heart attacks. Over the centuries, the human diet has changed drastically. The hunter-gatherers who subsisted on their hunting and fishing skills along with the natural plant life they gathered, had a diet that contained a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fats.

Most of the food they consumed was low in total fat and saturated fat. As humans have become more dependent on manufactured foods, including vegetable oils and margarine, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is out of balance from the original 2:1 to 10-20:1.

The primary benefit of omega-3 fats is improved heart health. Your cardiovascular health benefits from lower blood pressure, fewer triglyceride concentrations, and an improved endothelial function, which promotes the growth of new blood vessels.

Omega-3 fats also contribute to healthier and stronger bones, protection against both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, reduced risk of Crohns disease, and lessens the chance of developing autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and nephropathy.

Medical research has determined omega-3 fats assist in promoting the growth of new blood vessels and are antiarrhythmic, antithrombotic, antiatherosclerotic, and anti-inflammatory. Some research suggests omega-3 fats also reduce the risk of Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease.

The foods listed here contain natural omega-3 fats. Avoid processed foods that have added omega-3 fats.

These are just a few of foods containing omega-3 fats, and the list starts with items containing the highest quantity. An online search will provide you with many more foods, and you are sure to find some you will enjoy adding to your diet.

Omega-3 fats are necessary for good heart function and health. If you havent been getting an adequate supply in your diet, start adding omega-3 fat-rich foods to your daily meals. Your whole body will benefit from this essential food element.

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The Importance of Omega-3 Fats to Overall Health - Taste Terminal

Sacramento, La Quinta and San Luis Obispo are among the cities that have been awarded gas tax dollars to create protected bike lanes by eliminating or reducing the size of lanes used by motor vehicles.

When Governor Newsom signedExecutive Order N-19-19 September 20, he directed the already controversial, voter-approved gas tax money away from fixing local highways (as voters were promised) in favor of rail projects. Simultaneously, cities have been using the funding not to improve roads or increase auto lanes, but instead for ongoing road diets and increasing bicycle lanes.

But the attempt to get California drivers out of their cars and onto public transit or bicycles isnt working out as central planners hoped.

Newsoms latest road plan for California eliminates two important highway expansion projects on vital freight corridors in Central California. Plans to increase stretches of Highway 99 from four to six lanes in the Central Valley have been put on the back burner.

Governor Newsom is intentionally starving us out of our roads, Assemblyman Jim Patterson told California Globe in October. Voters approved SB 1 with the promise that our crumbling highways would get the attention they deserve. Instead of building capacity, our gas tax funds are being siphoned off to fund Newsoms favored pet-projects, Patterson said. Governor Newsoms promise not to forget about the Central Valley is full of hot air, just like his climate plan.

Its as if the Governor wants California residents to reach back to the 19th Century when bicycles and trains were the only transportation, other than horses and wagons.

Coinciding with Californias reduction of automobile lanes and the increase of bicycle lanes in congested cities comes a new report from California Healthline showing that more cyclists died in traffic accidents from 2016 through 2018 across the state than during any three-year period in the past 25 years. California Healthline is a service of theCalifornia Health Care Foundation, which says it is especially focused on strengthening Medi-Cal.

However the article claims the increase in bicycle fatalities is because there are more autos on the road and bigger autos like SUVs often have larger blind spots than those of smaller cars, making it more difficult to see a cyclist. And it was not noted that California routinely has the highest number of bicycle-related fatalities of any statein the United States.

The article also omitted how many bicyclists were not wearing helmets.

The more people are driving, the higher the probability of an incident, said Jennifer Boldry, director of research at PeopleForBikes, a national nonprofit that advocates for greater bike access and safety, California Healthline reported.

The obvious conclusion for the pro-cycling, anti-auto crowd is to reduce auto lanes, reduce speed limits, encourage more bicycling and less auto driving. It might be a nice goal, but in California it is not realistic with the state spread out across more than 160,000 miles.

Sacramento, La Quinta and San Luis Obispo are among the cities that have been awarded gas tax dollars to create protected bike lanes by eliminating or reducing the size of lanes used by motor vehicles, the Los Angeles Times reported. The goal of the project is not just to make Sacramento a more bicycle-friendly city but also to improve public safety, Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg said.

These were streets with some of the highest numbers of fatal and serious crashes in the city, Steinberg said. When we looked at why, the primary collision factor on the streets was unsafe speeds. And one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to reduce the speeds is to reduce the number of travel lanes.

Sacramento has implemented this scheme by removing lanes for autos, and adding bicycle lanes right next to traffic. This has caused daily lengthy backups on major arteries leading into and out of downtown. This has also caused many drivers to cut through residential areas, adding significant traffic on streets once reserved for children riding bikes, mothers pushing strollers, walkers, joggers and dog walkers.

And, doesnt idling traffic also emit more of the dreaded greenhouse gas?

Matt Rocco, a spokesman for the California Department of Transportation said, Road diets, like other operational improvements, can help improve the flow of traffic and improve safety for the motorists, bicyclist and pedestrians.

Attempts to force people out of their cars have not worked. Lane and road diets only cause more congestion and pollution and bicycle fatalities when autos and bicycles are forced to share the road.

According to the National Motorist Association, increased traffic on residential streets is often caused by the mismanagement of the main arterials and collector streets. When cities improperly install stop signs, mistime traffic signals and underpost speed limits that have no relation to actual vehicle speeds, drivers will find other streets that flow better.

The City of Sacramento has been implementing road diets for many years, creating total chaos downtown, and in urban residential areas. Streets that were once two-way with four lanes are now one way with two lanes, or with one lane and increased bicycle lanes.

Roundabouts have been added in some downtown urban residential and light commercial areas with disastrous results; emergency vehicles cannot navigate around them.

And autos have fewer places to park. What the central planners fail to take into consideration is that not everyone in Californias big cities lives and works downtown. Even people who choose to live downtown dont all work within walking distance some actually leave downtown daily to work in large data centers in the suburbs, manufacturing factories in the outlying industrial areas, retail areas, and office complexes away from downtown.

In May, the state Senate approved a bill requiring Caltrans to develop policies that encourage the creation of more bikeways, sidewalks and crosswalks on state highways that are surface streets, the LA Times reported.

Motorists are fighting back, the National Motorists Association reported. In 2017, commuters using two important commuting thoroughfares in Playa del Rey became so enraged that they not only formed two groups to fight city hall but also started a recall campaign against the city councilman who championed the road diet in the first place. In October, the city reversed the road diet.

Bicycle fatalities will continue as long as urban planners continue to try and force people out of their cars. Motorists deserve roads that not only work, but can also be put to work, National Motorists Association said. That means allowing people the freedom to travel to the destination of their choice when they want with the least amount of interference. That is a fundamental principle of the American way of life. It also means keeping roads open for the movement of goods and services that is essential for society as a whole.

In 2016, the National Motorists Association launched aSTREETS THAT WORKinitiative designed to influence lawmakers and educate the public on the societal benefits of freedom of mobility.The NMA initiative is the antidote for Vision Zero, which aspires by government mandate and at great cost fiscally and in terms of personal autonomy to reshape urban transportation.

STREETS THAT WORKadvocates for:

As for the California Healthline article, they never questioned anyone except bicycle advocates. Consequently, there was no discussion of the physics involved when bicycles and autos mush share the road physics always wins.

Dave Snyder, executive director of the California Bicycle Coalition, or CalBike, said many California cities have made significant progress in improving infrastructure in recent years, resulting in safer roads for cyclists. Still, he said, more needs to be done in more places, California Healthline reported.

Some people see 2,000-pound or larger vehicles going 40 to 60 miles per hour within a few feet of them, and they think, No way. Thats not safe, and its not fun, Snyder said. Theres no reason why that has to be. Theres no reason why we cant create networks of bikeways, even on the main streets, that are protected from that high-speed traffic.

As the National Motorists Association concludes, motorists have the largest majority of any interest group in the country. Collectively, we have a mighty big voice when it comes to things like road diets and traffic calming.

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Governor's Theft of Gas Tax Funding: Reduction in Auto Lanes, Increased Bike Fatalities - California Globe

Its known that drinking more water can help lower the likelihood of urinary tract infections (UTIs) by flushing out bacteria present in the urinary tract. But what about the food we consume? Can what we eat (or avoid) help reduce the risk of a UTI?

The answer is yes, according to new research, published January 30 in Scientific Reports, which found that the overall risk of developing a UTI was lower in vegetarians compared with meat eaters.

RELATED: Is There a UTI-Causing Superbug Lurking in Your Gut?

The study took place in Taiwan, where investigators recruited participants from among volunteers of Tzu Chi, an organization of Buddhists who participate in a variety of charity and disaster-relief efforts. About one-third of the members are vegetarians, and all volunteers must agree to swear off alcohol and smoking to join the group.

Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire, which included whether they identified as a vegetarian. Individuals who said they were vegetarian but reported eating meat or fish as part of their diet were classified as non-vegetarians. After researchers excluded people under 20, those with incomplete questionnaires, and those with a history of UTI, 9,724 subjects remained: 3,257 vegetarians and 6,467 non-vegetarians.

Investigators followed participants from 2005 to 2014 through the National Health Insurance Program, which covers nearly 100 percent of the population, to identify any diagnosis of a UTI. At the end of the study period, 217 people in the vegetarian group had been diagnosed with a UTI compared with 444 people in the non-vegetarian group.

RELATED: What Is a Flexitarian Diet? What to Eat and How to Follow the Plan

That difference translated into a 16 percent lower overall risk of UTI for vegetarians compared with non-vegetarians. In a further subgroup analysis, a vegetarian diet was significantly associated with a reduced risk of UTI mainly in females, according to the authors.

After adjusting for various chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol, the vegetarian diet seemed to have a protective effect against UTIs for women, but no distinct difference was found in males, the authors write. The risk reduction was also present in nonsmokers for uncomplicated UTIs which are those that crop up in otherwise healthy people.

Women are more likely than men to get a UTI; 60 percent of women will have at least one UTI in their lifetime compared with only 12 percent of men. This is because women have shorter urethras than men, meaning that bacteria has a shorter distance to travel to get to the bladder, according to the Urology Care Foundation.

Because vegetarian diets are associated with different bacteria flora in the gastrointestinal system, it isnt surprising that the risk of UTI was lower in this group, says Chin-Lon Lin, MD, the lead author and a professor at Tzu Chi University in Taiwan.

Dr. Lin suspects that the risk reduction is due to the combination of more vegetables and the elimination of meat. But we do think meat plays a more important role because it changes the intestinal flora, says Lin.

The strains of E. coli that cause the majority of UTIs are known as extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC), and they can colonize and infect normally sterile body sites. Researchers theorize that by eliminating meat, particularly pork and poultry, which are known to contain these strains of E. coli bacteria, people are less likely to introduce the bacteria into their bowel and therefore lower the risk that the bacteria will travel to the urethra.

Another potential contributor could be the high fiber content in vegetarian diets. Because of the way fiber is metabolized, it decreases the pH in the gut, which in turn may inhibit the growth of E. coli, the authors write.

RELATED: 9 Things You Should Know Before You Go Vegetarian

Although these findings are intriguing, there are a number of other factors in the Buddhist lifestyle beyond dietary ones, says Yufang Lin, MD, an integrative internal medicine doctor at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, who was not involved in this research. This makes it difficult to attribute the reductions in urinary tract infections to the effects of diet alone, she says. While I dont think this study provides conclusive evidence that a vegetarian diet reduces UTI risk, there are a number of things about the vegetarian diet that can support the reduction of UTI, says Dr. Lin.

The study authors acknowledge their findings have a few key limitations. They based the presence (or absence) of a UTI on the coding of the healthcare provider (ICD-9) rather than the gold standard, which would have been clinical symptoms and lab tests, including a urine culture. Factors that are known to influence UTIs, such as water intake and sexual activity, were not measured or accounted for in the findings.

According to Dr. Chin-Lon Lin, further research should include more analysis of the strains of bacteria that are responsible for UTI, which will shed light on the mechanism of the apparent protective effect of vegetarian diets.

In addition to reducing exposure to E. coli by eliminating meat, there are ways that eating more vegetables can reduce the risk of UTI, according to Dr. Yufang Lin. Many plant-based foods, particularly herbs or bitter foods, have antimicrobial properties and are also antioxidants, she says.

A vegetarian diet is often rich in components that are antimicrobial, says Lin. Antimicrobial means it has the ability to fight the presence of microbes, including bacteria. These work to suppress bacterial growth in the food that we eat as well as suppress bacterial growth in the gut, she says.

This is combination reduces the amount of bacteria in our intestinal environment, which in turn reduces the possibility of bacteria going to our bladder, she explains. This is how a vegetarian diet that has a lot of antimicrobials can be very beneficial, says Lin.

As part of the vegetarian diet youre also going to get a lot of foods that are antioxidants, says Lin. They are also supportive of our own immune system and as a result can also promote our ability to fight off infection, she says.

Finally, fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients, which help support the bodys functions in general, says Lin. There are a lot of factors that support having a plant-based diet. You dont necessarily have to be a vegan for better health, she adds.

I absolutely think when you eat lots of whole foods, vegetables, fresh fruits, things of that nature, youre going to get multiple benefits and the potential to reduce UTIs, Lin says. For someone whose immune system is a little bit weaker, she recommends cooking with lots of spices such as garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, oregano, ginger, all of which are antimicrobials and antioxidants, she says.

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Urinary Track Infection (UTI) Risk Reduced With Vegetarian Diet - Everyday Health

Its not common knowledge that meat is a resource reaper, so wed like to show people the scale, explains Hanna Pamula, a PhD student at AGH University of Science and Technology who has created a tool which calculates the carbon footprint of your food.

The Omni Calculator Project is run by a small team of scientists in Poland who are developing ways to help people work out everything from body fat to the cost of Brexit and this meat footprint calculator is just the latest addition. Using data from over 1,500 studies across 120 countries on animal agriculture, the tool looks at carbon dioxide emissions, land use, water and air pollution.

Even frequently neglected factors like eutrophication, caused by too many nutrients in the soil, were taken into account in their calculations. Although results vary depending on where the meat was produced, the tool averages these out to give you the most accurate numbers.

One serving, according to the project, is 85g or a portion roughly the size of a deck of cards. There are five different common animal protein sources you can choose from: lamb, fish, pork, beef and chicken. One of the most revealing results from the data the team used was that even the lowest-impact animal product exceeds the impact of the average vegetable substitute by quite a significant amount.

Pamula and the Omni calculator team think that providing information about our individual carbon footprint easy will encourage people to make eco-friendly decisions. We try really hard to create attractive tools that have educational value, she adds, such ecological calculators should be as user-friendly and easy to understand as possible. Thanks to that, people actually start using the tools and are more and more aware of environmental issues.

It isnt just the health of the planet that the tool wants to improve but yours as well. We wanted to show that reducing meat consumption can be profitable not only for the environment but also for your health, says Pamula, Apart from sodium and saturated fatty acids intake itself, the diet change may be profitable to your health.

She suggests that the less meat you eat, the more you will reach for protein-rich legumes, pulses and nuts which can significantly reduce the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Environmental benefits aside, increasing numbers of people are adopting these small dietary changes for the sake of their own individual health.

The amount of meat eaten around the world has quadrupled in the last half a century to roughly 320 million tonnes each year. Thats the equivalent of over 950 million cows. If we all adopted the average American diet then we would need more than one planet to provide the amount of land needed to create that much meat. Changing to a vegan diet, Pamula suggests, could reduce this land use by up to 75%.

A plant-based diet isnt for everyone, however, and simple changes like a few meat-free days a week could have a big impact with all kinds of meals meeting that could be called planet-friendly. Any increase in your intake of vegetables is beneficial and adopting a flexitarian diet, for example, could provide the answer to avoiding the damaging mountain of meat we currently consume in the West.

Staying away from animal products could be the best way to reduce your carbon footprint, according to recent scientific studies. The UNs Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that high consumption of meat and dairy in the West is fuelling global warming and urges those looking to lessen their environmental impact to cut down on meat, milk, cheese and butter.

Its more about having a moment of reflection than it is pushing people to completely transform the way they live. We would like to encourage everybody to cut down on meat, not become vegan today, Pamula says. She hopes that having the exact figures for personal choices could better inform people thinking about making this kind of change. The huge numbers showing the meat impact give the opportunity to reflect on our meat-rich diet, the PhD student explains, maybe we can cut that burger or chicken nuggets from our daily menu.

Have a go below and find out the impact of the meat you eat.

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This tool can tell you the true environmental impact of the meat you eat - Euronews

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Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Recent data shows that one person dies every 37 seconds in the U.S. from heart disease. About 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each yearthats one in every four deaths.

Some of the major factors contributing to heart disease include stress, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, smoking and congenital heart defects.

Fortunately, about 80% of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, are preventable. Meaning, by sticking to a healthy lifestyle you can keep heart ailments at bay for good.

Here are seven surefire tips to keep your ticker in the best shape, according to experts:

#1 Stay physically active.

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"Exercise, especially aerobic exercises like running, cycling, dancing or swimming, is essential for optimal cardiovascular health," says Dr. Amnon Beniaminovitz, a multi board-certfied cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology. Besides helping you maintain or reach a healthy weight, aerobic exercise helps lower blood pressure, reduce stress, increase HDL and improve blood sugar regulation. In addition, "it promotes positive physiological changes, such as encouraging the heart's arteries to dilate more readily," tells Dr. Beniaminovitz. "It also helps your sympathetic nervous system (which controls your heart rate and blood pressure) to be less reactive," he adds. According to a Harvard Health Publishing report, exercising regularly also helps grow more blood vessels by expanding the network of capillaries. "In turn, muscle cells boost levels of the enzymes that allow them to use oxygen to generate energy. More oxygen-rich blood and more efficient metabolism: it's the formula that explains why people who exercise regularly enhance their endurance and strength," it explains. Dr. Beniaminovitz recommends establishing a morning workout routine, ideally lasting 30-40 minutes. Here are three kinds of exercises that are great for your heart health. Other than that, try to keep moving throughout the day as largely a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of developing heart-related issues, even if you workout regularly. So take the stairs, have walking meetings, invest in a standing work station or take a short walk during lunch break. Bottom line: Stay physically active as much as possible.

#2 Load up on whole foods.

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Eating mostly whole foods that are free from any kind of additives is crucial for better cardiovascular health. "A heart-healthy diet consists of lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, legumes, eggs, poultry and healthy fats (fatty fish, olive oil, etc.)," says Rachel Berman, registered dietitian and general manager of Verywell. Both Dr. Beniaminovitz and Berman recommend following the Mediterranean Diet. Dr. Beniaminovitz also suggests keeping a food log to help monitor your daily diet and make better food choices. Here are some heart-healthy foods you should eat more often:

#3 Cut back on processed foods.

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Processed foods are packed with harmful ingredients like trans fat, saturated fats, MSG and added sugar and sodium. "Trans fats, both artificial and naturally-occurring, raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels," says Dr. Beniaminovitz. "Eating trans fats is also linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes," he adds. Similarly, "consuming foods that contain saturated fats also raises the bad cholesterol levels in your blood, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke," explains the cardiologist. Meanwhile, eating salty foods increases the amount of sodium in your bloodstream. "Extra sodium in the blood pulls water into your blood vessels, increasing the total amount or volume of blood inside them. With more blood flowing through your blood vessels, the blood pressure increases," says Dr. Beniaminovitz. "Its like turning up the water supply to a garden hosethe pressure in the hose increases as more water is blasted through it," he explains. Over time, "high blood pressure may overstretch or injure the blood vessel walls and speed the build-up of gunky plaque that can block blood flow. Also, the added pressure tires out the heart by forcing it to work harder to pump blood through the body," tells the heart specialist. "Consuming too much added sugar is just as bad for your heart health," says Berman. It can contribute to high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes and inflammationall of which are linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart attack. "The recommended amount of added sugar for an average adult is less than 100-150 calories per day," tells the dietitian. Here are ten processed foods that are worst for your health.

#4 Manage stress.

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While some amount of stress is actually good for you, the key is to keep stress and anxiety from spiraling. "Excessive stress can lead to an increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, inflammation and abnormal heart rhythmsall of which are bad for your ticker," says Dr. Beniaminovitz. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), deep breathing and realistic goal setting are some ways to manage your stress levels effectively. Here are a few more tips to control and reduce stress.

#5 Say no to smoking.

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"Studies after studies have shown that quitting smoking is one of the most important things you can do to ensure better cardiovascular health," says Dr. Beniaminovitz. "It causes inflammation and damage to all vascular beds and is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes," he adds. Moreover, research highlights that smoking elevates heart rate, tightens major arteries and can cause an irregular heart rhythm, all of which force your ticker to work harder, states Texas Heart Institute. Even passive smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke causes nearly 34,000 premature deaths from heart disease each year in the U.S. among nonsmokers.

#6 Watch your alcohol intake.

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"Alcohol is a direct cardiotoxin and is bad for your heart," says Dr. Beniaminovitz. "Excessive drinking can lead to the weakening of the heart, increased inflammation, high blood pressure, higher LDL or bad cholesterol levels," says the cardiologist. "Heavy drinking may also prematurely age arteries over time, particularly in men, when compared to moderate drinkers," says the American Heart Association. Moreover, "binge drinkinghaving five or more drinks in two hours for men or four or more drinks for womenmay put you at higher risk for atrial fibrillation, an irregular or quivering heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke and heart failure," it adds. "If you dont drink already, dont start. If you do drink, talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of consuming alcohol in moderation," suggests AHA.

#7 Make sleep a priority.

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"Poor sleep increases the levels of stress hormones (like cortisol and adrenaline) in your body. These hormones lead to an increased production of glucose, which can contribute to diabetes and obesity," tells Dr. Beniaminovitz. "These stress hormones also increase baseline heart rate and blood pressure causing the heart to work harder," he says. Poor sleep also adversely affects our food choices, making us crave more carbohydrate-rich foods like candy, fries, sugary beverages, etc., adds cardiologist. According to the National Sleep Foundation, adults (aged 26-64) should get seven to nine hours of sleep per night while older adults (aged 65+) should sleep for seven to eight hours every night. If you've trouble falling asleep, check out this helpful guide from Mayo Clinic.

And lastly, don't forget to request your healthcare provider to conduct screening tests for blood pressure, cholesterol and coronary artery disease during your regular visits.

The rest is here:
Seven Simple Ways To Boost Your Heart Health - Forbes

Jordan Spieth was just 19 years old when he turned pro in 2012. Since then, hes checked off preeeetty much every career accomplishment that a golfer could dream of, winning the Masters, the U.S. Open, and the British Open. (The PGA Championship still famously eludes him.) But as of late, Spieths fortunes have swung in the opposite directionhe finds himself in an unfamiliar position, ranked No. 51 in the world, his worst spot since his rookie campaign.

And yet, chatting with the eternally unflappable Spieth, youd have no idea he was in the midst of perhaps the most difficult stretch of his career. Im healthy and probably stronger than Ive ever felt, he said at the Under Armour headquarters in Baltimore earlier this month, where he was revealing his newest signature golf shoe, the Spieth 4. I feel rested and recovered and ready to go.

Now 26 and in year five of a ten-year contract with Under Armour, a deal that reportedly rivals the one that Nike once made with Tiger Woods, Spieth is no longer the young phenom on tour. Hes cool with that, and off the course, he looks forward to guy-in-his-mid-20s activities like overdoing it on guac with his wife at a local Mexican restaurant.

He filled us in on what his diet and training routine looks like and why he doesnt check his phone when hes practicing. And he breaks down his newfound appreciation for different recovery methods. (Spoiler: Hes got a hyperbaric chamber at home.)

GQ: What time are you up in the morning?

Jordan Spieth: I'm typically up around 7:00. I like to train in the morning. When I'm home in Dallas, I'll train four or five times a week. Its a lot of mobility stuff, like yoga, bands, some plyometrics. In the off-season, thats when youll see me doing more lifting. Im not doing much cardio off the course, since by the end of a day of golf, Ive sometimes walked about ten miles. Plus, I hate the treadmill. Ive learned to love bikes. We've got a Peloton at home. I did an Ally Love ride this morning.

Do you eat once the training is done?

If Im training at 9 or 9:30, then Ill eat before. Otherwise, Ill train and then eat after. Ive learned to love making my own breakfast. I don't cook much, but I do cook that. I'll do eggs with avocado, chicken, and apples, or apples, gouda, and sausage. Sometimes Ill have a sweet potato hash with that. Other mornings, I'll just make shakes.

Whats in the shake?

I really like Vega protein powder, and Ill use the vanilla if Im going sweet with berries. Otherwise, I prefer the taste of the chocolate better. But typically, Ill use that as a base, then add mixed berries, banana, peanut or almond butter, and chia seeds or flax seeds. I just load up anything I find in the kitchen. I'll finish it with spinach or kalesince you cant really taste it and its good for youand add some almond milk, then blend it.

After Im done there, Ill head to the course. On a typical day, Ill start with anywhere between two and four hours of practice time. Then I'll actually play. It's a 9-to-5 essentially, like anywhere else, and I stay away from my phone while Im at work. I really try to approach it like that, but the flip side is that I enjoy it a lot more than I would if I were sitting at a desk. Its kind of a dream come true for me.

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Jordan Spieth: The Real-Life Diet of Pro Golfs Biggest Guacamole Fan - GQ

This is part ofCanadian Health and Wellness, a series in which Corus radio stations nationwide dig into health issues facing Canadians with the help of some of todays most respected diet and exercise practitioners. Read the rest of the series here.

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By 2023, an additional 1.7 million Canadians will be obese, according to a 2017 study from the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report estimates 25 per cent of the population is currently obese thats about 9.35 million people.

With just three years until the OECD milestone, people are attempting to fight the battle of the waistline bulge, and many are exploring the keto diet as an option to lose weight.

A ketogenic diet is rich in proteins and fats, and it usually includes plenty of meats, eggs, sausages, cheeses, fish, nuts, butter, oils, seeds and fibrous vegetables.

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The keto diet forces the body to burn ketones from fat instead of glucose from carbohydrates, and during that transition, a persons body can experience something called the keto flu. As the name suggests, it leads to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, headaches, constipation, diarrhea and irritability, among others.

LISTEN BELOW: Canadian Health and Wellness the keto diet

Tammy Crowley of Welland, Ont., is one of them.

Shes been following the ketogenic diet for two years.

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Crowley says she has lost 35 pounds and kept it off. Over the years, shes tried everything from diet programs to more drastic measures.

I dont want to specifically say any one program, Crowley says. Everyone is different, and whatever works for you is great. I just found something that finally worked for me. Ive actually, through the years, Ive had gastric bypass (surgery) for losing weight, and yes, that was great in the beginning, but you put it back on.

Its not an easy fix. Unless you learn properly whats good for you, thats the best way to go, Crowley continues. Im not running any of the other programs down. This just works for me. Ive never felt better. Im going to be 60 soon and I have more energy now that when I was in my 20s.

The effectiveness of the keto diet as part of a long-term lifestyle change is still unknown, but there are medical uses for the regimen. For example, the keto diet is being used to help treat children with epilepsy.

Jennifer Fabe, a registered nutritionist with the Division of Pediatric Neurology at McMaster Childrens Hospital, says the therapeutic ketogenic diet has been used as a treatment for epilepsy for nearly a century.

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However, she stresses, it is customized for each patient and only used when people meet certain medical criteria. Fabe says the diet is monitored regularly for effectiveness, tolerance and side effects at home and by a medical team.

Fabe is also the president of Matthews Friends, a charity that specializes in ketogenic dietary therapies for children and adults with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Dr. Andrew Mente, an epidemiologist with the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., says the keto diet can also have benefits for those with Type 2 diabetes.

Conceptually, it is a diet that is high in fat, adequate in protein and very low in carbohydrates, Mente explains. And conceptually, this diet would make sense for people with carbohydrate intolerance, i.e. people with Type 2 diabetes, in controlling their glucose levels and possibly even reversing their diabetes.

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There is evidence that when people are assigned to a ketogenic diet if they have Type 2 diabetes, they are able to normalize their glucose levels and possibly reverse diabetes, he adds. In people from general populations, generally healthy populations without diabetes, the evidence is less clear. So, what we would need going forward is more study to investigate both the effectiveness and safety of a ketogenic diet in general populations.

Mente says the ketogenic diet is one approach for Type 2 diabetes, but its not the only diet for people with Type 2 diabetes. Its too soon to say what the long-term impacts of the diet will be on both those with Type 2 diabetes and the general population.

According to Mente, the best idea for those without medical issues requiring a ketogenic diet is to eat a balanced diet.

A nuanced approached is seldomly promoted. Everybody seems to take an extreme position on a variety of matters, and diet is no different, Mente says. For general populations, I would say a nuanced approach is more appropriate going forward until we get the evidence (on the long-term impact of keto) because we want to make recommendations that are evidenced-based.

But what about using the keto diet for weight loss?

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Dan Tisi, registered dietitian at St. Josephs Health Care in Hamilton, says there are some pros and cons to losing weight with the keto diet. If theres a medical indication there are some benefits, like epilepsy, then the keto diet can have a positive impact. However, for weight loss, Tisi views it as another tool in the toolbox.

With ketogenics having an emphasis on certain fats and proteins, people need to be aware of the nutrition that may be missing if they are on keto, Tisi says.

A lot of people will have to do supplementation of some kind with higher-quality supplements because there tends to be a B vitamin deficiency. Electrolytes are the most common thing thats missing, usually.

They are also responsible for things like the keto flu that people experience in the beginning, especially the electrolytes part, and magnesium has to be added to that as well. Although, most North Americans are already deficient in magnesium, Tisi explains.

Its best if you are going ahead with keto to do it with the assistance of someone that can really assess your situation and help you determine if this is the tool you should be reaching for.

For someone like Crowley, who has struggled with weight issues for most of her life, she is not willing to easily let go of something that has worked.

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She says she is aware that some cardiologists have concerns about ketos emphasis on full fat and high protein, and so does she. Crowleys father died at 51 from a heart attack, and she says that plays on her mind. She says she did a lot of research before starting keto, and Crowley is willing to shoulder the medical risk.

Id rather feel as good as I feel right now and only live another five years than live another 10 years and feel like crap.

2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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Is the keto diet a safe option for losing weight? - Global News