Category Archives: Diet And Food

Another NFL player is hyping up his speed, and this time he wants his talent to take him to the Olympics.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill said during a press conference for the Super Bowl on Monday that after the season hed like to try qualifying for a spot on the Olympic track team. The 25-year-old was a high school All-American in 2012 on the track, and Hill even participated on track teams in college at Garden City Community College and Oklahoma State in addition to playing football.

That speed often shows up in games, as the wideout blows by defenders for home-run touchdownsscoring seven touchdown this season in 12 games. Though these wheels are lethal against NFL defenders, they may not be as dangerous when stacked up against the likes of top U.S. sprinters like Michael Norman, Noah Lyles, and Christian Coleman.

The thing is, I weigh like 195 right now. Back in high school, when I ran a 9.9 (-second 100-meter dash), I was like 175. So it would be me changing my whole diet that Ive been doing to get to where I am now, Hill told Pro Football Talk.

Hill himself dropped a 4.28 at his pro-day before the 2016 NFL Draft.

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It would likely take much more than cutting weight to reach his goal of the Olympics because hes been off the track for a few years. Right now, the fastest times in the world are in the 9.7 range for the 100-meter dash. (Coleman won the 100 in the world championships last summer in 9.76 seconds.)

Theres no doubt it would be exciting to pit football stars against the countrys best sprinters, though. It was fun just watching NFL players race in the 40-yard dash tournament this past summer. That was won by former Olympian turned NFL wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who went to the 2012 Olympic Games for the long jump. He took home $1 million for his efforts.

Even if reaching the biggest stage in track is likely out of reach, hes about to play on footballs biggest stage this weekend at Super Bowl LIV in Minneapolis against the 49ers.

Chiefs fans at least hope to see his speed on full display this Sunday.

Read more from the original source:
NFL Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill Wants to Run in Olympics - runnersworld.com

If you're looking to cut down on carbs or just want a fun way to eat more veggies, then it's probably time you invest in a spiralizer. A spiralizer will turn your fresh veggies into faux noodles (you know: zoodles). But you can spiralize way more than just zucchini.

Spiralizer Ultimate Vegetable Slicer

$29.97

The Spiralizer Ultimate Vegetable Slicer has seven blades that make it capable of spiralizing anything from beets to bell peppers. You can swap out the blade to customize the noodles you're prepping, whether you want a finer angel-hair like shred or something a little curlier to make fries with.

This spiralizer also comes with four recipe e-books, so that you'll never run out of veggie-inspired meals to make.

The product has over 4,500 reviews, but people couldn't stop mentioning how this spiralizer's been a game-changer for their diets.

This customer on the keto diet said the tool helped her flex her cooking skills.

Another reviewer mentioned how the machine helped him keep up with his vegetarian lifetstyle.

"As a vegetarian many of my calories come from veggies (or at least they should :)), but they get fairly dull to eat in their original form or diced. By putting them into noodles seems to really do the trick when it comes to making them even better!"

Other people raved about how much fun they had using the machine, including this customer who compared the spiralizer to a pencil sharpener.

"Spiralizing hard items such as sweet potatoes and zucchinis are an ease. In fact, it's so easy that my 3 and 6-year-old can do it. The only thing I can compare it too is that is has the same motion as a mounted pencil sharpener, but has less friction and hesitance. It feels more like the motion of turning the pencil sharpener when there is no pencil in it."

If you want to upgrade your kitchen counter space, the spiralizer's available on Amazon for $29.97. Go ahead and live your best spira-life.

Read more:
This Keto-Diet Approved Spiralizer Has Over 4,500 Positive Reviews on Amazon - Women's Health

Lorraine Kelly is a TV presenter who has been on the small screen for 35 years. Over the years, she made a change that helped her slim down by two dress sizes. The TV host revealed exercise and portion control started her weight loss journey.

Another recent post read: Such a good class as always last night - thanks @maxicise.tv ! Always good to see @mrmilesyounger and the gang. Good for the mind and the body #fit #happy #friends #mondaymotivation #love

The TV host will also use social media to share pictures of her being active and taking her dog for walks.

Lorraine has said she does not weigh herself but her lifestyle change helped her go from a size 14 to a trim size 10.

When getting fit, the TV host focused on cardio exercises to burn off excess calories.

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Lorraine even showed off her exact routine by releasing a fitness DVD detailing the workouts she would do in an aerobics class.

Speaking on This Morning, she said: I really look forward to my classes, and with the new DVD we wanted to show what a class was like.

Cardio can help speed up the fat loss process, according to a study published on the US National Library of Medicine.

In the study, 141 obese participants were split into groups and did different amounts of cardio exercise.

Read this article:
Lorraine Kelly weight loss: ITV star used one trick to drop two dress sizes - what was it? - Express

LifestyleWellbeingAt 43, and 18 stone, Ive gained freedom from crash diets and the constant panic that the weight might return

Wednesday, 29th January 2020, 5:14 pm

I had to get this fat to be grateful for what Ive discovered. At 43, and 18 stone, Ive gained freedom: from crash diets; from constant panic the weight might return; from worry my life will end if Im not the right weight; from constant thoughts of forbidden foods, until the inevitable binge, and guilt that would follow.

I also see my world hasnt ended. My partner still loves me. Im still a decent radio presenter, working at talkRADIO, and my dogs still wag their tails when I arrive home.

It started in my childhood. A misdiagnosis of a heart problem meant I was put on my first diet aged eight, which meant constant calorie counting and supervision of all food. I rebelled by secretly eating cakes and chocolates, and by 16 I was 17 stone with a relationship with food based on secrecy, guilt, and anxiety.

Ruthlessly strict calorie counting

I first lost weight in my twenties, through ruthlessly strict calorie counting, training, and being militant with both my regime and diet. But the more I deprived myself of the food I wanted, the more Id think about it until eventually Id give in. Id convince myself that I could have a chocolate bar as a treat. But once Id eaten that one, Id end up having another. And another.

Inevitably, my weight crept up. Just half a stone at first. Then Id panic and go back on a strict diet of misery and deprivation, and that half a stone would come off. This cycle of starving myself versus stuffing myself would continue in my thirties until it turned from half a stone repeatedly gained and lost, to a stone, two stone, and before I knew it, five or six stone at a time.

I went to the doctor about my yo-yo dieting, but in my experience the NHS arent interested until you need a gastric band. And along with every diet I did came a punishing workout/gym regime, either on my own, or, when I started doing well, with personal trainers. Ive had about 10 PTs over the years and spent thousands, all to end up back at square one.

Meanwhile, the diets I was choosing became more and more extreme. Id use low calorie, low carb, Atkins, Dukan, food combining, fasting, detoxes, shakes, soups and simple starvation. Despite all this I would always end up bingeing, and always, ultimately, end up gaining more back.

Plagued with thoughts of banned food

My most recent four-stone loss came in 2016 from a shake- and soup-based ketogenic diet. I spent months barely eating real food, and when I did, it was just protein. I looked great, but I was constantly fearful that Id gain weight and was plagued with thoughts of the foods Id banned myself from eating, until one day, after a year of deprivation, I gave in.

I ate one of the blueberry muffins Id walked past in the office canteen, and resisted, countless times before. Biting into that delicious sugary sponge brought back every emotion around food Id been suppressing, guilt, anger at myself for ruining it all and a promise to be stricter tomorrow.

Within months, Id gained back the four stone, and more, to put my weight at the highest its ever been.

Weary of it all and in my worst ever mental state, I finally chose to spend money on my brain, rather than my belly, starting cognitive behavioural therapy to get to the root cause of why, when Id done so much to lose weight, I was once again so fat? Had I not had the money for my own CBT, Id still be in the mess I was in.

CBT revealed that crash diets were the problem

One of the main lessons of CBT is to challenge all-or-nothing thinking, and encourage rational, instead of negative pre- programmed thoughts. I finally realised that far from helping me, every single restrictive crash diet was actually making me eat more.

The moment Id stray, the immediate negative narrative and subsequent resolution to be even more restrictive the next day meant I was actually giving myself the green light to eat more. I now challenge that narrative that I am worthless when I am bigger and that my life should stop when I am. If I hadnt got to this weight, how would I have discovered this?

Its not always easy. I sometimes have to use all my CBT knowledge to ignore the latest diet trend, and remind myself, its not a solution.

And something else has changed, too. By knowing I can have that muffin and the world wont end, I dont want it as much. For the first time, I have a biscuit jar, which actually has biscuits in as I dont eat every single one. As a result of ditching fads, my weight, although high, has remained constant for two years. Ive spent 30 years either gaining or losing and now, for the first time ever, I am a steady, albeit high, weight.

There's a place for treats in a healthy diet

Whats also encouraging is that there are now successful fitness professionals employing the non-restrictive philosophy, such as James Smith, whose best-selling Not a Diet Book challenges the diet industry.

Why would we have a life without the foods we enjoy? he tells me. I dont think we should make a case for consuming treats, but make one against those who say you never should. I want people to reduce their food intake slowly and have the muffin if they want it. I tell my clients, one hot day doesnt make a summer. A treat or two wont ruin your long-term plan, its part of human nature. Its normal. And if they have one, just do a few extra steps the next day.

So now Im not on anyones strict plan, Im eating well, but having that muffin if I want it. I am reading about sustainable long-term methods which arent too strict. I now get it. I am vlogging and Instagramming it as I want others to know they can do it too. I hope I succeed, as I want to be healthy and feel better. But if I dont, Ive had success already. Because I know I will have days when I am not perfect. But those days wont mean Ive failed.

Read more here:
Ive gained and lost a hundred stone and Im now at my heaviest but Im happy - iNews

The rise of the keto diet is hard to overlook. From keto cruises to keto-friendly product lines from food manufacturers, it seems like everyone knows someone who has embraced the keto lifestyle.

With such a boom in popularity, many dieters are turning to the internet and social media for keto inspiration. However, there can be conflicting and confusing information about what this diet actually entails, which leaves some people asking, "what actually is the keto dietand is it safe?"

For starters, the keto diet is more than just eating unlimited amounts of bacon, eggs, and cheesedespite what some Instagram accounts would have you believe. Keto, also known as the ketogenic diet, is a way of eating that allows the dieter to enter a state of ketosis. When you are in ketosis, your body is breaking down stored fat into molecules called ketones that are released into your bloodstream and flushed out in your urine. Ketosis occurs when your body shifts from burning sugar and carbohydrates to stored fat.

In order to get into this metabolic state, the diet consists of high-fat and very low-carb foods. Cedrina Calder, MD, a preventative medicine doctor based in Nashville, explains that most people in ketosis aim to stay under 20 to 50 grams of net carbs total for the day, though the specific carb tolerance varies from person to person based on a number of factors, including activity level. When calculating net carbs, take the total carb count and subtract out the quantity of fiber and sugar alcohols, as those do not have the same impact on blood sugar as other carbs.

For reference, one medium apple has more than 20 net carbs, which would top out the daily limit for many keto-ers, making ketosis difficult to maintain.

"This diet is very hard to sustain on a long-term basis for the average person," said Dr. Calder. "For the average patient, I advise them to choose a healthy pattern of eating that they can sustain rather than focus on a temporary diet."

RELATED: No-sugar-added recipes you'll actually look forward to eating.

With so many restrictions, it can seem surprising that keto has gained as much traction as it has. Like many recent phenomena, it all goes back to one cause: Social media.

The boom of Instagram, blogs, and other photo-sharing sites has led to more transformation pictures circulating than seemingly ever before. And the keto diet is a prime candidate for producing noticeable results quickly, making it a staple for the popular Instagram hashtag #TransformationTuesday.

"Recently, more and more people are inquiring about the keto dietnot necessarily for a long-term solution, but just to jumpstart their weight loss journey," said Gabrielle Mancella, RD, who says that at least one-third of her daily patients inquire about going keto.

When you enter ketosis, the switch to burning stored fat creates a diuretic effect, making people lose water weight quickly compared to other methods of dieting. This can make progress look and feel quick at first.

As you enter a state of ketosis, many people experience symptoms known as the "keto flu." While not a real flu, the transition period can cause headaches, nausea, weakness, muscle cramps, difficulty concentrating, constipation, or diarrhea. These symptoms can be caused by dehydration, sugar withdrawals, or an imbalance of electrolytesall common effects of switching to the ultra-low-carb diet.

For many people, the keto flu is enough to convince them to give up on this way of eating. But, if you stick it out, the flu symptoms typically subside in about a week. Dieters can avoid, or lessen the symptoms of, the keto flu by drinking enough water, seeking out electrolytes, and cutting back on their carb intake gradually.

Once in a sustained state of ketosis, many dieters report enhanced mental clarity and overall improved wellbeing, in addition to weight loss. However, there hasn't been a great deal of research done yet to determine if these results are an inherent trait of the diet. Dr. Calder said more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of the keto diet.

To check if you are in ketosis, strips from the drug store can detect the presence of ketones in urine.

While the weight loss can be quick, the keto diet also has some potentially serious drawbacks.

"Being in a state of ketosis can be dangerous for people with kidney disease or diabetes, especially type 1 diabetes," Dr. Calder said. "I also would not recommend it for individuals with an unhealthy relationship with food. Restrictive diets can worsen this relationship."

Because success on keto is dependent on cutting out foods that don't fit into the ultra-low-carb diet, this is not a diet made for people who like frequent cheat days or little daily indulgences, Mancella explains. After eating enough carbs that your body exits ketosis, the whole process has to begin again to get back into the fat-burning state.

"This puts immense strain on the body, and, in turn, is contraindicative to weight loss goals," Mancella says. "The brain's main source of energy are carbohydrates, and when we limit this, we are in turn affecting all of our other body processes."

Although she said that in healthy adults keto is generally safe because the body is able to self-regulate ketone levels by flushing the excess through urine, Mancella added that dieters should approach keto with caution.

"If not done right, this diet can cause havoc on our bodies," she says. "As a society, we have turned to a culture of restriction and extremes in order to obtain unrealistic beauty and aesthetic standards without considering the long-term consequences."

Knowing the restrictive nature, some people turn to the keto diet as a quick fix before an event that they want to drop a few pounds for quickly. Even that, however, can have some unintended consequences.

"Anyone starting a keto diet should be aware that once they stop the diet, they are likely to regain weight if they do not transition to a healthy diet," Dr. Calder said.

The keto diet itself doesn't have any required meals. The only goal is to stay under your allotted net carbs each day, so there is a lot of variation in how people choose to go about following the diet.

Generally, commonly eaten keto diet foods include meat, eggs, full-fat dairy, and low-carb vegetables, which helps to up your fat intakes to help maintain satiety without overdoing it on the carbs. You should aim for 70 to 80 percent of your daily calories to come from fat, 20 to 25 percent to come from protein, and 5 to 10 percent from carbs in order to maintain ketosis.

"A diet high in unhealthy fats increases the risk of heart disease," Dr. Calder says, explaining that if someone does choose to pursue the keto diet, they should opt to eat lean protein, low-fat dairy products, and healthy fats, including nuts, nut butters, seeds, avocado, and healthy oils.

Planning ahead can be the key for success on the keto diet to avoid falling into the trap of eating carbs out of convenience. While there are certainly plenty of options when eating out at restaurants, keeping it keto without a plan can be a recipe for disaster.

"I caution anyone who is new to concepts including portion control, meal prepping, grocery shopping, exercise, and, including, but not limited to, even cooking their own meals, as this diet will likely be detrimental to their long-term health," Mancella said.

When it comes to weight loss, Dr. Calder explains that all diets have the same end goal: creating a calorie deficit.

"If your goal is weight loss, you do not need to be on a keto diet to achieve this," said Dr. Calder. "You can create this deficit by making different changes to your diet and eating patterns, and with physical activity." She suggests that the average person consider a balanced, heart-healthy diet consisting of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and high-fiber, whole-grain carbohydrates.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dieting and healthy eating. Every body is different, and different people need to find the right dietary plan that fits their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

While the ultra-low-carb nature of keto might be able to help people shed some weight quickly, it is not a universal solution for everyone, and any new diet should be undertaken with guidance from a health care provider.

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Want to lose 10, 20, even 30 poundsall without dieting?! Get your copy of Eat This, Not That: The Best (& Worst) Foods in America!, and learn how to indulge smarter and lose weight fast!

See more here:
Is the Keto Diet Safe? We Asked Experts | Eat This Not That

Ocean charities hope to replicate the success of Veganuary campaign with new challenge for consumers to consume no fish in February

Across the country, hundreds of thousands of people kicked off the new decade by promising to ditch all animal products for a month.

The Veganuary campaign has taken the country by storm since it was launched in 2014 by husband and wife Jane Land and Matthew Glover. From a small base of just 3,300 participants in the first year, signatories to the campaign have doubled every year to top more than 300,000 in 2020, helped in no small part by Greggs' now famous vegan sausage roll.

Rising interest in plant-based diets has been spurred by a surge in consumer interest in healthy eating and growing public concern over agriculture's climate impact. Only last week the UK government's climate advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, suggested the UK will need to cut meat and dairy consumption by a fifth if the country is to meet its net zero emissions targets, pointing out that the land used for livestock at the moment will be needed for reforestation and other carbon-storing schemes. Critics argued that with demand for red meat already declining, the watchdog should have advocated for an even faster transition away from meat.

But some campaigners believe the public debate on greener diets has been too focused on meat and dairy, allowing the seafood industry to swim on in the shadows. In an effort to redress the balance, this year the Manta Trust, a UK based charity originally formed to protect manta rays, has teamed up with Oceans Festival UK to follow Veganuary with a new campaign - 'Fish-Free February'.

The campaign encourages people to ditch all seafood for the month of February and instead adopt "plant-based, sustainable ways of eating". The Manta Trust claims the campaign - which will use the hashtag #FishFreeFebruary - will "send a clear message of protest against current standards of fishing and seafood farming".

Simon Hillbourne is a marine biologist, digital media and communications manager for the Manta Trust, and creator of the Fish-Free February campaign. Hillbourne says he was moved to launch the campaign so as to address the disconnect between the unsustainable sourcing of much of the seafood sold in the UK and the surge in public focus on the environmental impacts of meat and dairy consumption. "Nobody is really talking about the ocean," he tells BusinessGreen. "In fact, some people were saying, 'I'll swap to eating fish, it's healthier'. [But I thought]: 'Well, hang on a second, the oceans are also in trouble'."

There's certainly a strong environmental argument for reducing the amount of seafood consumed globally. Global seafood consumption - including both seafood consumed by humans and seafood processed for feed - has more than doubled in the past 50 years, to around 22.3kg per capita. In the EU that rises to about 27kg per head. The world's rapacious demand for seafood means that as of 2015, a third of fish stocks are deemed to be fished at unsustainable levels. Just seven per cent of stocks are classified as underfished.

Sustainable fisheries advocates argue eating fish can be a sustainable dietary option as long as the seafood comes from well managed fisheries, a stance also backed by most governments. Only today the UK government introduced its Fisheries Bill to govern management of its fish stocks post-Brexit, which it said promises to ensure fish stocks are managed sustainable and marine habitats thrive once the UK leaves the EU fisheries regime.

Fish-free February acknowledges the need for sustainable management of fisheries and insists its "ultimate goal" is not to stop people eating seafood altogther, but rather to encourage a "radical reduction" in consumption. "We're not pushing for people to stop eating fish forever," Hillbourne says. "Fish is a perfectly viable protein source if it's come from well-managed, small-scale industries. Unfortunately, most of us, especially in the Western world, we can't really go to a small fishmonger just down the road who caught their fish this morning. We rely on going to big supermarkets which rely on big commercial fishing chains."

Moroever, even where governments intend to set fishing on a sustainable path, the problems of keeping track of who is catching what and when is a continual challenge for stock managers. In September 2019 the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) removed its 'blue tick' sustainability mark from North Sea cod, just two years after it was awarded, after new analysis revealed fish levels were much lower than previously thought.

The situation may be even worse in developing nations, according to the UN. Speaking at a conference in November, the Food and Agriculture Organisation director general Qu Dongyu warned that while fisheries in developed regions are becoming increasingly sustainable, developing regions are struggling to enhance the governance of their own expanding fishing industries. As the most recent update on progress against Sustainable Development Goal 14 - the goal covering life under water - has made clear, the world is a long way from delivering sustainable management of the world's oceans.

Yet despite the parlous state of global fish stocks, and the pressure industrial fishing puts on a marine environment already struggling to deal with warmer ocean temperatures caused by climate change, campaigners are concerned public attention - when it does fall on the oceans - is too preoccupied with plastics.

Ever since Sir David Attenborough presented Blue Planet 2, and the world saw the impacts plastic straws and bags are having on marine life, demand for a dramatic reduction in plastic use has exploded. Major corporates all now have plastic reduction strategies and countries across the world are banning single-use plastics.

But Dr Guy Stevens, CEO and co-founder of the Manta Trust, stresses that fishing and climate breakdown are a far bigger threat to the world's oceans. "I think we have become fixated on plastic reduction because it seems to be something that people can connect too and it's something people feel they have some power over changing," he argues. "But I think it's somewhat of a distraction from these bigger issues."

Alongside Fish-Free February, other NGOs are currently stepping up with new campaigns to refocus government attention on marine climate impacts and overfishing. Yesterday more than 100 environmental organisations, including ClientEarth, Seas At Risk, and WWF, launched a Blue Manifesto' to "turn the tide" on polluted oceans. Plastics - particularly microplastics - are mentioned, but the manifesto focuses much more heavily on addressing overfishing and lobbying for more protected marine areas. Among other measures, it calls for EU countries to adopt policies to drive low-impact fishing by 2030, such as bans on the use of destructive fishing gears and techniques.

"Politicians, policy makers and industry will have to work together and abandon the narrow view of fish as stocks we can over-exploit, and instead consider them as vital parts of complex ecosystems, crucial for ocean resilience," the manifesto reads. "Fish populations need to be restored to a level where they can reproduce safely with a surplus we can harvest."

If Fish-Free February is a success - and Hillbourne "sees no reason" why it can't be as big as Veganuary - then businesses will have a sizeable commercial opportunity to exploit. Just as Veganuary helped to spur massive growth in the market for plant-based foods, so Fish-Free February could deliver a surge in demand for alternative fish products.

Already, the market for fishless foods is showing signs of innovation. This time last year Quorn launched a new range of fish-free products, with CEO Geoff Bryant predicting that seafood-style alternative proteins will become an increasingly important solution for feeding the global population sustainably.

In addition, earlier this week US firm Good Catch launched its plant-based tuna range in the UK. The pea, chickpeas, lentils, soy, and fava bean blend is available in Tesco, with co-found Derek Sarno describing the product as offering a "seafood experience without the sacrifice".

Even fishing giant Thai Union is experimenting with insect proteins to ease demand on fishmeal supply chains, telling BusinessGreen last year that it is also exploring how to use alternative proteins for direct human consumption.

If Fish-Free February takes off, these firms could fast find themselves at the leading edge of a new growth market. So far the campaign is in its infancy, with little under 100 people signed up to its pledge tracker. But the consumer trends suggest a focus on sustainable fish consumption could be poised for major growth, attracting the growing band of 'flexitarians' not quite ready to embrace vegetarianism or veganism in full, but eager to find ways to tweak their diet so as to reduce their environmental impact. Stevens said the campaign should appeal to people not ready to go "cold turkey" in halting consumption of all animal products.

Time will tell whether Fish-Free February will ever mimic the popularity and influence enjoyed by Veganuary. But its a clear reminder for campaigners and companies that sustainable diets don't stop at the shore.

Read the original post:
Is Fish-Free February set to become the new Veganuary? - http://www.businessgreen.com

Through Sunday, April 19Family Museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf IA

Presented in conjunction with scientists at the global bio-pharmaceutical company AbbVie, the interactive children's exhibit Science + You enjoys a stay at Bettendorf's Family Museum through April 19, demonstrating the role that science plays in keeping the body healthy through fun and fascinating scientific experiments and a child-sized laboratory appropriate for young visitors.

Created by the Kohl Childrens Museum of Greater Chicago located in Glenview, Illinois, Science + You debuted in 2011 and has subsequently traveled to national museums in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco plus international venues in Germany and Brazil. Children will enter the exhibit as if entering a real-life laboratory., and at the first station, they can pretend to wash their hands and then wipe their feet on a special gel-like floor mat that changes colors to represent the dirt particles it is removing. Museum guests can even walk through a pretend shower to be bathed in blue lights before they put on their white lab coat, while graphics communicate how important it is for scientists to work in a clean environment. Science + You then continues its entertaining education through seven distinct exhibit components:

Antibodies: Demonstrating how antibodies act in the body, this component offers children the opportunity to understand a complex process through play. A clear Plexiglas structure is filled with magnetic balls, which represent germs in the body, while the four stations outside the structure include a movable antibody that children can use to manipulate germs.

Glove Box: Children can use a glovebox a sealed container used by real-life scientists with gloves built into the sides allowing one to manipulate objects safely. Demonstrating how scientists use a glovebox to contain materials as well as protect themselves, the children will wear thick gloves to measure substances using beakers, funnels and other lab equipment.

Mixing and Separating Test Lab: Exploring how scientists use machines to mix liquids and solids, this component demonstrates how different types of equipment function. Children can see the machines in action and can also manually mix and separate liquids and solids themselves.

Magnification Area: This component features a specialized Wentzscope and video microscopes that magnify objects on a large video screen, allowing younger children to compare and contrast an array of natural and man-made items up close.

Healthy Lifestyle: In this component featuring an outline of a human body with a hollow center, children place puzzle pieces representing various forms of nutrition, exercise, and rest in different areas of the body. When a healthy balance of all the components is achieved, children hear a congratulatory message as Healthy Lifestyle promotes being active in a variety of ways, from traditional exercise such as riding a bike to common activities such as cleaning the house, doing the dishes, or walking to school.

Test Kitchen: Here, children will make a healthy soup choosing their own combination of appropriate ingredients. Teaching children the importance of a balanced diet, this component has stations with soup pots that can hold up to six ingredients. Children pick the ingredients from the five food groups, and the burner under their soup pot lights up when theyve selected the correct balance of healthy ingredients.

Science Reflection: Finally, children can share their scientific thoughts and reflections after experiencing the entire Science + You exhibit. A variety of images, drawings, and terminology is provided that children can use to create their own collage, while a display wall allows children to share their collage reflection with the public. Grease pencils will also be provided for children to write down their impressions.

Family Museum visitors can experience Science + You through April 19, with regular venue hours Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5 p.m. The exhibit is free with $5-9 general admission, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)344-4106 or visiting FamilyMuseum.org.

Link:
Science + You, through April 19 - River Cities Reader

A new year signals a chance to renew your commitment to healthier eating, but many of the most popular diets, like the keto diet and paleo diet, eliminate entire food groups, which can cause you to fall short on nutrients you need.

For example, a study in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology suggests low-carb diets may not have meaningful long-term benefits for weight or heart health compared to other diets and could actually restrict foods that are good for your heart.

This new year, instead of jumping on restrictive diet bandwagons, focus instead on consuming real, wholesome foods you can still enjoy that deliver benefits backed by decades of research.

Consider these tips for incorporating nutrient-rich foods into a few trending diets to make them work for you.

Intermittent Fasting: Skipping meals could do more harm than good if youre not getting the nutrients you need to be your best. A better bet: balanced, flavorful meals that incorporate multiple food groups. If you really want to try intermittent fasting, consider not eating past a certain time in the evening so you can fast throughout the night, and make sure to eat a nourishing breakfast in the morning, like oatmeal made with real milk, topped with fruit and a handful of nuts.

Plant-Packed Plates: If youre considering a vegetarian or plant-based diet in the new year, its important to pack the right nutrients into your meatless meals, particularly protein, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Make sure youre getting enough by enjoying a variety of plant-based foods like beans, nuts, fruits and vegetables along with some other thoughtfully chosen options. Real dairy milk is a good choice in a vegetarian diet, providing as much as eight times more protein than many non-dairy milk alternatives. Each 8-ounce glass is also a source of vitamin D, and an excellent source of calcium and vitamin B12.

Focus On Fats: If youre keeping closer tabs on your fat intake, its important to choose the right ones and know that a growing body of evidence suggests not all saturated fats are the same. For example, whole milk, which has more dairy fat than skim or low-fat varieties, may actually help raise good cholesterol and could be considered part of a diet thats also good for your heart, according to research in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Calorie Conscious: Monitoring the calories you consume versus the calories you burn through exercise and everyday activity can help manage the fuel your body needs.

When you consistently burn more calories than you eat, you are more likely to effectively lose weight. However, that doesnt mean you have to forgo all your favorite foods. For example, when it comes to dairy, swapping full-fat options for skim or low-fat alternatives is one way to receive the same nutrient package with less fat and calories.

Make better nutritional balance a priority this new year and find more advice and recipes at MilkLife.com.

Originally posted here:
Resolve to make real nutrition a new year priority - Goshen News

There was a time in the mid-2000s when I was a huge fan of "The Biggest Loser" (no pun intended), a weight loss competition show that aired on NBC for 17 seasons from 2004 to 2016. I wasn't alone: Throughout its run, the show, which featured teams competing to lose the largest percentage of their original weight under the guidance of a seemingly sadistic personal trainer, brought in 5 million to 10 million viewers an episode.

When I was watching the show, I was unsurprisingly as consumed with losing weight as the contestants were: I did everything you saw on the show, from keeping a meticulous food and exercise journal to counting Weight Watchers points to obsessively weighing myself throughout the day. I also hid diet pills in my sock drawer, I went on "cleanses," and I misused laxatives to prevent myself from absorbing calories properly. Some days, I wouldn't eat at all eventually collapsing into bed lightheaded and deeply proud of myself.

And the whole time, I'd be watching "The Biggest Loser" for the sweet validation that everything I was doing to my body much of which was dangerous was for my own good. I, like so many others, believed that my weight "problem" was about my weakness, my lack of self-control, my failure.

I eventually let go of my obsession with becoming thin, and NBC seemingly let go of "The Biggest Loser" when it faded out without ceremony after its final season in February 2016. But now NBCUniversal (the parent company of NBC News) has revived the show on the USA Network this month as "a new holistic, 360-degree look at wellness."

Perhaps NBCUniversal executives hope that we've all forgotten that the show's "weight loss program" doesn't work in the long term: The majority of contestants gain the weight back and ruin their metabolisms. Or maybe the executives who approved its return to our airwaves think we don't care about the litany of former contestants' testimonies detailing the verbal abuse, eating disorders, mental illness and drug abuse that they experience on or after the show.

Ryan C. Benson, the show's first winner, warned about the dangerous fasting and dehydration he experienced while on the show, "to the point that he was urinating blood." Season Two's Lezlye Mendonca reported that contestants would use "amphetamines, water pills, diuretics, and throw up in the bathroom." Former trainer Jillian Michaels who most recently made headlines for concern-trolling Lizzo admitted that she gave her team caffeine pills to give them "more energy" to exercise. (Michaels, who was among the worst offenders among the trainers, seemingly took particular joy in berating the contestants, saying things like "it's fun watching other people suffer like that" a quote NBC thought was so great that it put it in that season's promo.)

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Joelle Gwynn from the 2008 "Couples" season reported that the show's doctor gave her "yellow and black pills" which, according to the New York Post, she later found out were most likely ephedra, a weight loss supplement banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 after it killed over 150 people to help her lose weight (he denied it) and that trainer Bob Harper (the host of the USA Network reboot) encouraged contestants to consume fewer calories than the doctors deemed safe and that he even supported vomiting.

One of the most outspoken former contestants has been Kai Hibbard, the second-place winner on the third season, in 2006. A year after her season ended, she would become one of the show's biggest critics, eventually calling her participation "the biggest mistake of my life."

I spoke with Hibbard, who is now a social worker and activist and the author of "Losing It: A Fictional Reimagining of My Time on Weight Loss Reality TV." She said, "I had hoped with all the studies, all the other contestants who have spoken out I thought it was enough to kill" the show.

"When I joined the show, I was like most other people: I was spoon-fed this myth my entire life that being thin meant you were healthier," Hibbard added. "Then I went through the whole process of the show and discovered the techniques they gave me to be thinner. I realized how sick, how physically ill they made me. That connection between thin and healthy was broken for me."

Hibbard said people still feel entitled to comment about her body, particularly because she's remained straight size because of a battle with lupus. "When people praise me for my body now, it's a reminder of how much size is not related to health, because right now I'm the sickest I've ever been," she said.

Dr. Lindo Bacon, author of "Health at Every Size: The Surprising Truth About Your Weight," told me: "The misinformation that the show gives about dieting is abhorrent. We know these tactics aren't successful to lose weight that will be maintained in the long term. All it is doing is helping people feel bad."

Unlike dieting, the negativity the show encourages about fat people does work. A 2012 study found that watching just one episode of "The Biggest Loser" exacerbated people's dislike of fat people and heightened viewers' belief that weight is controllable. Another study in 2013 also found that watching the show reinforced beliefs that weight gain is entirely in one's individual control thus the idea that fat people are to blame for not taking personal responsibility for their health.

"It's a myth that we have any data to support losing weight is going to be helpful," Bacon said.

Another 2013 study reviewed the literature on how dieting affects health indicators like cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose levels pretty much every area of concern that trolls purport to be so worried about when criticizing fat people. It showed that across all studies, virtually nothing improved with weight loss. The authors were unequivocal: "Weight, as we reviewed here, turns out to be an inadequate proxy for health outcomes."

While there's no proof that losing weight does anything for a fat person's health, we have plenty of evidence that anti-fat bias and weight discrimination compounded by shows like "The Biggest Loser" contribute to fat people being paid less, facing a higher risk for suicide and depression and receiving terrible medical care.

If people like former trainer Jillian Michaels really care so much about fat people's health and well-being, perhaps they should start by attacking anti-fat bias, rather than attacking fat people.

As a fat person, you're bombarded with messages that you are something to be fixed, rather than someone to be loved and accepted. "These outside messages are telling you that you would be treated better if you changed yourself," Bacon said. "No matter how much we hear this, the problem is not you. It's our culture."

In the new trailer, a contestant says: "I'm hoping to gain confidence. I'm hoping to gain self-love." Those words broke my heart, because I know exactly how he feels. Diet culture and shows like "The Biggest Loser" thrive on the lie that fat people are unhappy, unhealthy and unmotivated; there is no space in "The Biggest Loser" for a happy fat person. But we don't have to live like that.

Despite everything she's been through, Hibbard is optimistic. "When I went on the show, I wanted to change myself to fit into a society that told me I was wrong. At this point in my life, I want to change society," she said.

I'm hopeful, too, because now, for every executive who greenlights a show like " The Biggest Loser," there are people like Hibbard, Bacon and me insisting that fat people are worth more than just a number on a scale.

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'The Biggest Loser' is back on TV. Get ready for ramped-up fat-shaming and dangerous diets. - NBC News

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) What we put in our bodies plays a significant role in our well-being and it may be fueling some chronic problems.

Numbers from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention show 90 percent of the nation's $3.5 trillion in annual health care costs are for people with chronic and mental health conditions. So, when it comes to health and wellness, it's more than just vanity.

Vanessa Teff is a nutritional consultant says there are several reasons people are looking to change their diet.

"Digestion is number one," said Teff. "Hormonal issues is number two. We have a lot of kids, so they usually come in because they have a lot of skin stuff."

She also says depression and anxiety rank near the top for reasons why people are looking for help with their diets.

Based on health history and diagnostics at her clinic, she strives to get an idea of why issues are happening in the body. She said it could be a person is not getting enough of certain foods, but also not enough of the right combination for the person's microbiome.

Nic Schilling is one of Teff's clients. He went searching for help a little over a year ago after he was battling a number of GI-issues. Schilling was working out five to six days a week, but he said his diet was far from perfect.

"We all know what we're supposed to do, but it's more fun to play and eat whatever," admitted Schilling.

He said he thought since he spent at least five days a week in the gym, he could eat what ever he wanted. Some of his favorites to indulge in included ice cream, Funyuns, and drinking alcohol. He had also tried a number of fad diets, but only found short-term success.

"The big thing for me was creating a lifestyle," said Schilling.

When Schilling consulted with Teff, she didn't immediately strip things out of his diet. Instead, she added things like pickled ginger in the morning, a yeast supplement before lunch, and 800 grams a day of fruits and veggies.

"My pantry is not fancy," said Schilling. "I have chips and snacks in there and I'll work them into my day because I like them."

In just three months time, Schilling said many of his GI-issues started going away. He was hitting personal records in the gym, sleeping better, and noticed his overall well being improved.

"I'm buying less supplements and eating real food," said Schilling.

Through consulting with Teff, Schilling started counting his macros. It is where he has a set amount of carbs, fats, and proteins allotted for each day. He then weighs his food and tracks it all on an app on his phone.

"Just focusing on the right nutrition has been quite earth shattering," said Schilling.

When other diets didn't worked, he said this is the first one where he's really noticed long term success. Schilling said if you want to take your health and well being serious, don't do it on your own.

"My biggest suggestion, work with a coach. Figure out someone who can help you out with your diet or a program and that will help you be accountable," said Schilling.

Counting macros may seem intense for some, Schilling said it is something he doesn't even think twice about anymore.

"It was certainly a practice when I started a year ago. It drove me crazy and was certainly tough," said Schilling. "But, anything worth doing is worth making it into a habit."

Teff agreed and said this is not a program that works for everyone. While nutrition is the foundation that she starts with, she said there are a number of things to take into consideration including:

"What are people doing all day long?""What's there lifestyle like?"What are they surrounded by to get that shift?"

"Because with that busy mom, you want - if she can - you want to step back and breathe," said Teff. "Just give her 'her time.' She doesn't need more supplements and herbs."

If you're looking to make some lifestyle changes, Teff suggest starting with adding water and veggies to your diet. She said by adding healthy items in before trying to cut something will increase your chances of being successful in implementing a lifestyle change.

"When we take something out, we always feel like we're at a disadvantage and we're missing something," said Teff.

UW-Madison research to heal from within - all by what we eat

Tucked inside of a lab room in Babcock Hall on UW-Madison's campus, Dr. Bradley Bolling, an assistant professor of food science, and a team of researchers and students are working to learn what is in food. Different graphs show the chemical properties which then helps researchers understand the foods impact on health.

"In our lab we are studying specifically nuts, berries, vegetables, and dairy products and how their components can inhibit inflammation which is related to a number of many chronic diseases," said Dr. Bolling.

Over the past two years, Dr. Bolling and his team have published studies about how eating yogurt can prevent inflammation in women who eat it over a period of 9 weeks. Their findings show, what he calls, a modest benefit.

Another study on aronia berries and their anti-inflammatory properties just wrapped up this past year.

"Those were experimenter conducted primarily in mice that had inflammation in their gut," described Dr. Bolling. "We see that the aronia berry consumption decreased that inflammation that results in the gut."

Using food for healing is growing in interest. Dr. Bolling said there's been an increased interest among students at UW-Madison and by the creation of new food products on the market. While the market is flooded with food labels and new headlines that make these claims, he said this is process that moves quite slowly.

"To build information, to really make a dietary recommendation takes years and hundreds of thousands of human participants in studies," said Dr. Bolling. "The work that you see popping up in headlines tends to be sometimes animal studies or chemical-based studies which are promising, but maybe haven't been as well justified b corresponding human studies."

He also warns consumers to beware of marking labels on food products and encourages consumers to do their own research to see where the study maybe in the process. Dr. Bolling recommends reviewing this this link from the FDA on Health Claims in Food Labeling.

In the future though, Dr. Bolling believes studying the healing properties of food is going to lead to specific heath recommendations, rather than making broad scale recommendations.

Below are links to some of the recent research being done at UW-Madison:

Dairy Foods and Dairy Fats: New Perspectives on Pathways Implicated in Cardiometabolic HealthAronia Berry Supplementation Mitigates Inflammation in T Cell Transfer-Induced Colitis by Decreasing Oxidative Stress.Dietary Prevention of Colitis by Aronia Berry is Mediated Through Increased Th17 and TregPremeal Low-Fat Yogurt Consumption Reduces Postprandial Inflammation and Markers of Endotoxin Exposure in Healthy Premenopausal Women in a Randomized Controlled TrialhereLow-fat yogurt consumption reduces biomarkers of chronic inflammation and inhibits markers of endotoxin exposure in healthy premenopausal women: a randomised controlled trial

As always, before you make any lifestyle changes, be sure to talk with your doctor or nutritionist.

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Food as Medicine: Finding relief to chronic and mental health conditions - WMTV