Category Archives: Diet And Food

WASHINGTON The U.S. auto safety agency said on Friday it will investigate a 12th Tesla crash that may be tied to the vehicle's advanced Autopilot driver assistance system after a Tesla Model 3 rear-ended a parked police car in Connecticut last week.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) special crash investigation program will investigate the Dec. 7 crash of a 2018 Tesla Model 3 on Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut, the agency confirmed.

Autopilot had been engaged in at least three Tesla vehicles that were involved in U.S. crashes since 2016. The agencys special crash investigation team has inspected 12 crashes involving Tesla vehicles where it was believed that Autopilot was engaged at the time of the incident. In one of those, however, it was found that Autopilot had not been engaged.

To date, the agency has also completed a report on a 2016 fatal crash in Florida in which Autopilot was engaged.

Tesla, which did not respond to requests for comment Friday, and NHTSA both advise drivers that they must keep their hands on the steering wheel and pay attention at all times while using Autopilot. Tesla says Autopilot "enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane," but does not make the vehicle autonomous.

Some drivers say they are able to keep their hands off the wheel for extended periods when using the system. Last month, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey said Tesla should disable Autopilot until it installs new safeguards to prevent drivers from evading system limits that could let them fall asleep.

NHTSA has previously confirmed special crash investigations in a number of Tesla crashes, but the overall number of crashes under review has not been previously reported nor has the agency's investigation of the Connecticut crash.

In the Connecticut incident, the Tesla struck a state police car waiting for a tow truck to provide assistance to a motorist, and then struck a disabled vehicle. The Tesla driver said the vehicle was on Autopilot and he was checking on his dog in the back seat prior to the crash. The driver was issued a misdemeanor summons for reckless driving; no one involved was seriously injured.

A Connecticut State Police spokeswoman on Friday referred questions about whether Autopilot was engaged to Tesla.

"This crash couldve been avoided. While autonomous vehicles are an exciting development, the tech is simply not ready to be deployed safely. Congress must act to protect the public from these vehicles until their safety can be assured," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, a member of the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

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Latest Tesla Autopilot crash will be the 12th investigated by NHTSA - Yahoo Lifestyle

Metal Packaging plays an important role in the process of packaging and preservation. Globally, metal packaging has been witnessing a strong growth over the past few years on account of increasing health consciousness among consumers. There are several types of metal packaging used across the world. Use of cans is one of the most widely used type of metal packaging and it has become an important part of the human diet in developed and developing countries during past few years. It is of more value in those parts of the world where no or limited refrigeration exist for storing food. It is a mean of safely preserving foodstuffs, medicines, chemicals, etc. without microbiological deterioration. The global metal packaging is projected to reach more than US$ 150 Bn by 2026, with a decent CAGR in the forecast period.

Global Metal Packaging Market Dynamics

Metal packaging has a lucrative business opportunity, since it has excellent printability, cost effective- high speed filling & packaging, glossy & high aesthetic value over other packaging materials. The market of global Metal Packaging is anticipated to be driven by many factors such as rise in packaged food intake, and beverages, particularly the increased consumption and use of canned fruits and vegetables and the trend towards on-the-go lifestyles among progressively time-poor consumers. Nutrition retentive properties of metal packaging is one of the significant factors driving the market.

The growth of pharmaceutical industry and personal care industry is another major reason for the increasing demand of metal packaging. However, the increasing awareness of environmental concerns, and the adoption of new regulatory necessities on packaging recycling and the introduction of HDPE and PET bottles in packaging industry is anticipated to hinder the future growth of metal packaging market growth. To counter the alternative packaging material market, the metal packaging companies are also focusing on developing new metal packaging material prototypes and different product marketing strategies in order to keep on developing the market share in the global metal packaging market.

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The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.

A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.

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Metal Packaging Market Expected to Expand at a Steady CAGR through 2024 - Montana Ledger

My name is Danni Woessner (@ketowithdanni). I am 27, living in Massachusetts. For the past year I have been a stay-at-home mom but I recently went back to work as a behavior therapist. An embarrassing travel experience opened my eyes to the fact that I was nearly 400 pounds, so I experimented with various diets until I found (and fell in love with) keto.

I have been overweight since childhoodand I remember being made very aware of just how overweight I was at a very young age. I was active in high school as a swimmer but never really got my weight under control despite doing so much physical activity.

After high school, I lost a significant amount in a very unhealthy way but quickly regained it (and then some) after I had my first child several years ago. That's when my weight issues got really out of control.

I was a yo-yo dieter for years. I remember doing Atkins in 2015, after giving birth, and losing 60 pounds. But I slowly ate my way back up to almost 400 pounds. I suffered from binge eating and often hid how much food I was actually consuming throughout the day.

Three McDoubles for a quick snack? Sure. That was an average Tuesday for me. Vegetables were not a part of my diet and exercise felt impossible. I couldnt walk for more then a few minutes without being winded. I felt like food made me my worst self.

I was so excited for the trip. I knew I had been gaining weight but I was still going to enjoy my vacation. That was until I got on the plane and the seatbelt no longer fit. The belt had been snug for years for me, but I could still sit (albeit uncomfortably) without a seatbelt extender.

Asking for an extender crushed me. I had to find someone willing to change seats, because in the emergency aisle you cant wear a seatbelt extender. Having the whole plane stare at the overweight girl trying to make herself fit through the aisle was gut wrenching.

We enjoyed our honeymoon, but I was lazy on the trip. I didnt want to do much and moving was tough for me. And when I saw photos from our trip? It finally dawned on me on how big I was.

I tried Beachbody and lasted about 10 days. I looked into WW (formerly known as Weight Watchers) but only lasted a few days.

So, I started following a lot of people on Instagram that had similar stories and experiences to mine who had successfully lost a lot of weight on this so-called keto diet thing. I was intrigued. That's not to say those other diets didn't have great success stories too, but I personally felt like I really connected to the keto stories I read.

At the end of July 2018, I took the plunge and started eating keto. It was hard to navigate at first as I learned how to count and track my macros and how to measure how much fat, overall calories, and carbs to take in each day.

But eventually I got the hang of it and have been successful ever since. My biggest success tool has been tracking my food intake and macros, as it has made me aware of what Im putting in my body and prevents me from overeating. Ive also started adding in intermittent fasting.

In the beginning of my weight-loss journey, I didnt work out. I currently still do not have a solid workout routine. But when I was losing the bulk of my weight, I was kickboxing a few days a week.

Everyone's weight-loss journey will go differently. You have to trust the process. The scale is not always your friend, and thats ok. Those three numbers are just numbers. If youre putting in the work, it will work. It didnt take one day to gain the weight, and it will take longer than one to lose it.

For me, once I figured out the basics of keto, it was so much easier than I could have ever imagined. It helps that there are so many keto-friendly recipes that are just incredible. Though sometimes I do indulge in non-keto foods, I dont feel compelled to that often because it is so easy to make anything keto-friendly...and *just* as delicious as non-keto versions, I swear.

I want other women to know that you can change. You are not stuck at your current weight. If you are unhappy and just fed up, do it! Do your research, come up with a plan, and start. You can completely change your life whenever you're ready.

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'When I Started Counting Macros On Keto, My Weight Loss Finally Stuck' - Women's Health

Preparation is everything.

Is your freezer filled with meals from that expensive diet you abandoned a year ago?

Or maybe you saw the perfect piece of exercise equipment in an infomercial and spent a small fortune on it, only to see it now languish in your guest room.

Or perhaps valuable storage on your phone is still being taken by the fitness tracker that only serves to tell you data you no longer want to know about your sleep, diet and exercise habits.

Those items are wonderful if you use them as part of a comprehensive plan to get and stay healthy in mind, body, and spirit, but living a healthy lifestyle involves more than buying into the latest gimmicky product or fad.

RELATED:Doing These 10 Things Before 10 A.M. Can Seriously Improve Your Health

If you want to know how to be healthy, it's important to recognize that no specific diet or piece of equipment will be what gets you to your fitness goals, but rather your determination and intention to be in it for the long-haul.

Whether your fitness goals is to lose weight, get in shape or simply be healthy, here are three important tips to keep top of mind.

Consider the claims made by those touting the recent crystal water bottle trend, notably popularized on Gwyneth Paltrow's infamous website, GOOP.

These reusable glass water bottles contain a giant crystal said to infuse the water with special healing powers of some kind, with one retailer stating that each crystal possess its own unique frequency known to help with certain ailments and enhance desired qualities in ones life.

If only a rock could do that, right?

Is a jade egg going to balance your hormones? Even if if could, have you seen a doctor to determine whether they even need balancing?

Mari Kondo is awesome, but the tuning fork with rose quartz she allegedly uses in her everyday life and which will cost you a mere $75 is unlikely to restore a sense of balance, in this writer/psychologists humble opinion.

Does a daily celery juice detox make sense?

As stated by the Cleveland Clinic, Our bodies all actually have their own built-in detox machine the liver. If you treat it right with healthy food, physical activity and a healthy body weight, it can do the heavy lifting in eliminating toxins from your body. Drinking juice wont magically fix it or enhance it.

Much like the diet pills involved in the fen-phen scandal back in the 1990s, any magical quick fix, be it vegetable, mineral or other, should fail to pass the common sense test.

Any diet that has no protein, only protein, no carbs, no fats, only carrots or anything else that is extreme and immoderate is highly questionable.

Check with a physician or nutritionist before embarking on an all-or-nothing plan, or ask yourself if it passes moderation muster.

RELATED:What It Really Means When People Talk About 'Living A Healthy Life'

Is your goal to lose weight or eat healthy? Do you want to build muscle mass or be more fit? Are you trying to improve your concentration or check off the sleep box?

Considering what you really want to achieve helps you keep those important and motivating goals in mind. It also helps you choose a plan that is likely to get you to those goals.

Do not let someone else define your goal. If you dont want to quit smoking, youre not going to be able to do it for someone else. When you decide you want to quit, you can put your heart into it.

When deciding on a program, ask yourself if the time, money and effort are going to be worth it to you.

Fads are appealing because the quick fix is so tempting, but when it comes to meeting health and wellness goals, you cant just phone it in.

Prepared meals cost money, but food prep takes time. Gyms cost money, but relying on YouTube workouts may not give you the motivation or structure you need.

Think it through and try a plan you think you can stick with long-term.

If you hate running, dont start a running program. Its as simple as that.

There are plenty of ways to exercise, eat and engage in some type of spiritual practice, the cornerstones of wellness. There are certainly workouts, healthy foods and relaxation or calming practices out there that youll like.

Try something. If it doesnt feel positive, try something else.

Like your last boyfriend, sometimes if you give it time it grows on you. But if it doesnt, move on and find something that feels right.

You decide on a gym that seemed great on your trial days, but after a month, it doesnt feel right.

You plan to work out after work, but after a week you notice youre not sleeping as well or youre too tired to get important things done.

Changing things up and tweaking a plan is a great way to make it your own.

The healthy meals you bought may cost too much to continue forever, but if they worked, find a way to make them yourself on the cheap.

Its not a failure to decide to try something different. Its an opportunity to be creative and come up with something new.

RELATED:10 Wise Habits Of Happy, Healthy Women

Changing entrenched patterns is difficult. You must choose health and wellness every day.

One day it may seem like you can totally do this. The next day, inexplicably, it seems so much harder to skip that caramel latte.

Remind yourself what your goals are, and why theyre important. Text your bestie and wail about how desperately you do not want to go out in the cold and run, and then, not even be able to eat your favorite, totally unhealthy meal.

But keep at it. Its worth it to move toward your goals.

Sticking with your plans for eating, exercise or spirituality daily is fantastic, in theory.

The day someone brings your favorite dessert to the office, maybe give yourself a break. Eating it will probably cause less stress than depriving yourself, as long as it doesn't happen frequently.

If you miss a day of exercise, thats okay. Just don't skip workouts all the time.

Ruthless adherence to new wellness plans can be helpful to get you going at first, but when overplayed that kind of rigidity is more likely to lead to failure than a short detour from the path.

Making healthy changes is often self-sustaining. When you feel better, look better and function better, you will want to do more of whatever got you there.

That said, it doesnt hurt to build in rewards for effort. Putting aside money for something special, or making time to do something youll enjoy, are great ways to self-reinforce.

Using cheat days on meal plans and skipping classes or gym days as a reward can be worrisome, because its a slippery slope. Its more effective to do something positive for yourself when youve achieved two weeks at the gym or on a new meal plan.

Fitness apps that track progress are also reinforcing because you can the results of your effort concretely.

Its normal to slip up on new health and wellness goals. Theres no need for self-criticism, belittling or whatever it is you do when you realize youre not perfect. A lapse doesnt have to be an epic fail.

Evaluate your slip up, decide if you need to make a change, and start again.

Lapses give you good information about your weaknesses. You can come up with ideas about avoiding pitfalls, like not allowing the breadbasket on the table in a restaurant, or making sure you dont avoid the gym because youre avoiding the ex.

Lapses also give you confidence when you see you can regain momentum.

Use your common sense. Its a long and winding road to health and wellness, complete with roadblocks.

Focus on planning your path forward, recovering from setbacks and enjoying the journey.

RELATED:6 Things Healthy People Do Every. Single. Day And You Can, Too!

Judith Tutin, Ph.D., ACC, is a licensed psychologist and certified life coach. Connect with her on her website, where you can request a free coaching call and find out how to bring more passion, fun and wellness to your life.

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3 Simple Hacks To Help You Lose Weight, Get Fit And Maintain A Healthy Lifestyle - YourTango

After a scandal-dominated extraordinary Diet session closed last Monday, speculation began focusing on when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will use his power to call a snap election to prevent his administration from becoming a lame duck.

Abe became Japans longest-serving prime minister in terms of total days in office, but his Cabinets ratings are falling in the opinion polls, reflecting its latest scandals.

After the session opened on Oct. 4, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Isshu Sugawara and Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai resigned over money scandals.

Then the government was forced to postpone the introduction of private-sector English tests for a new unified university entrance exam system debuting in fiscal 2020 amid concerns about inequalities in test-taking opportunities. The concerns were sparked by education minister Koichi Hagiuda, who said students should compete for entry in accordance with their (financial) standing, implying they should compete financially.

Abe himself came under fire over the state-funded annual cherry blossom party, which is held to honor celebrities and other contributors to society but has instead been noted for an increase in Abe campaign supporters in recent years.

As a result, the Diet made little progress on Abes quest to revise the Constitution. But it did approve a Japanese-U.S. trade deal.

With the four-year terms of the House of Representatives members set to expire in October 2021, Abe is likely considering a strategy for dissolving the powerful lower chamber for a snap election, observers said.

If I find that the time has come to seek public judgment, I wont hesitate to dissolve the Lower House and call a general election, Abe told a news conference after the extra Diet session closed on Dec. 9.

At an LDP executive meeting earlier that day, Abe, who doubles as president of the party, said: Ill continue to work hard, as if I were always in a battlefield.

His remarks, however, have been met with skepticism within the party, which sees a Lower House breakup most likely after the 2020 Olympics. It seems many LDP lawmakers believe dissolution isnt that likely to happen so soon, such as after New Years.

Saying a Lower House dissolution is possible anytime is a scare tactic against the opposition camp and a rallying cry for the ruling bloc, a senior LDP member said Tuesday.

But the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and other opposition parties are assuming Abe will dissolve the Lower House early next year.

At a meeting of opposition lawmakers on Dec. 9, CDP President Yukio Edano urged participants to spend this year-end and the New Year period productively, with a resolve to bring down the administration whenever a general election is held.

At a CDP executive meeting Tuesday, Edano repeated his call to stay on the alert for a snap election early next year.

Noting the Diet is set to open on Jan. 20, Edano said, Whether the Lower House is dissolved on the day or on Jan. 31, after the fiscal 2019 supplementary budget is passed, well prepare for February as the month for a general election.

He also recently called on his colleagues, including the Democratic Party for the People, to consider a merger in order to challenge the ruling LDP-Komeito coalition.

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Will Abe pull snap election to stay in power? - The Japan Times

The Blood Type Diet which focuses on eating right according to each individuals blood type has been found popular for quite some time now. Upholders of this diet suggest that the blood type determines which foods are best for an individuals health.

There are many people who swear by this diet including Dr K J Yesudas, the eminent singer par excellence, and claim that it has saved their lives. But naturally several questions are bound to rise for most people about the details of the blood type diet, and if it is based on any solid evidence. Lets have a brief analysis here.

What is the Blood Type Diet?

The blood type diet, also known as the blood group diet, was popularized by a naturopathic physician, Dr. Peter D'Adamo in the year 1996; through his book titled Eat Right For Your Blood Type. He described in the book, how people could be healthier, live longer, and achieve their ideal weight by eating according to their blood type. Ones choice of condiments, spices, and even exercise should depend on ones blood type according to him.

The book which went on to become a best seller claimed that the optimal diet for any individual depends on the person's ABO blood type. It also states that each blood type represents genetic traits of our ancestors, including which diet they evolved to thrive on.

Recommended diet plans for each blood group

Type A: Called the agrarian, or cultivator. People who are type A have sensitive immune system; should eat a diet rich in plants, and completely free of red meat. This closely resembles a vegetarian diet.

Type B: Called the nomad. These people can eat plants and most meats except chicken and pork, and can also eat some dairy. However, they should avoid foods like wheat, corn, lentils, tomatoes.

Type AB: Called the enigma. Described as a mix between types A and B. Foods to eat include seafood, tofu, dairy, beans and grains. They should avoid kidney beans, corn, beef and chicken.

Type O: Called the hunter. This is a high-protein diet based largely on meat, fish, poultry, certain fruits and vegetables, but limited in grains, legumes and dairy. It closely resembles the paleo diet.

Proposed Link of Lectins between diet and blood type

One of the central theories of the blood type diet involves lectins, which are a diverse family of proteins that can bind sugar molecules. These substances are considered to be antinutrients, and may have negative effects on the lining of the gut.

According to the blood type diet theory, there are many lectins in the diet that specifically target different ABO blood types. It is claimed that eating the wrong types of lectins could lead to agglutination of red blood cells.

There may be evidence that a small percentage of lectins in raw, uncooked legumes, can have agglutinating activity specific to a certain blood type, like raw lima beans may interact only with the red blood cells in people with blood type A. However, it appears that the majority of agglutinating lectins react with all ABO blood types.

In other words, according to studies, lectins in the diet are not blood-type specific, with the exception of a few varieties of raw legumes. This may not even have any real-world relevance, because most legumes are soaked and/or cooked before consumption, which eliminates the harmful effect.

Is there a scientific evidence behind the Blood Type Diet?

Research on ABO blood types has advanced rapidly in the past few years. There is now strong evidence that people with certain blood types can have a higher or lower risk of some diseases. However, there are no studies showing this to have anything to do with diet.

In a large observational study of 1,455 young adults, eating a type A diet was associated with better health markers. But this effect was seen in everyone following the type A diet, not just individuals with type A blood.

In a major 2013 review study where researchers examined the data from over a thousand studies, they did not find a single well-designed study looking at the health effects of the blood type diet. They concluded: "No evidence currently exists to validate the purported health benefits of blood type diets."

Of the 4 studies identified as somewhat related to ABO blood type diets, they were all poorly designed. One of the studies that found a relationship between blood types and food allergies actually contradicted the blood type diet's recommendations.

Limitations

Restrictions: Depending on the blood type, one might need to severely restrict the foods he eats. Since the diet dictates that you eat very specific types of food based on your blood type, it doesn't allow much for personal tastes. Your blood type will determine your shopping list and your choices when eating out.

There are even recommendations about the types of spices and condiments you can use which might cause more inconvenience. Another interesting fact is that this diet doesn't ban gluten.

Exercise: The Blood Type Diet recommends specific exercises based on your blood type. For instance, it suggests yoga or tai chi for type A, and vigorous aerobic exercises like jogging or biking for up to an hour a day for type O.

Cost: D'Adamo recommends a lot of speciality and organic foods, which can be pricey. Vitamin and herbal supplements are also part of the diet which may be costly and difficult to find.

Is it good for certain health conditions?

The Blood Type Diet makes recommendations based solely on the blood type. So, if you have a chronic condition say, diabetes, you may be told to eat high protein, while another person with diabetes may have to avoid dairy or chicken. This may conflict with your diabetes treatment plan.

The American Diabetes Association recommends a more practical approach to a persons day-to-day eating. It also cautions against focusing on specific foods. In most cases it doesn't recommend cutting out any major food groups.

The Blood Type Diet also fails to address other conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure or cholesterol. Any needed weight loss achieved by following this diet is sure to have a positive impact on these conditions though. But no matter what your blood type is, it is highly recommended to strictly adhere to medical advice before starting a new diet plan.

Bottom Line

A reasonable conclusion from these is that not a single well designed study has been conducted to either confirm or refute the benefits of the blood type diet.

Different diets work for different people. Some people do well with a lot of plants and little meat like the type A diet, while others thrive on plenty of high-protein animal foods like the type O diet.

If one could find great results from the blood type diet, then chances are that he has simply found a diet that happens to be appropriate for his metabolism. It may not have anything to do with his blood type. Also, since this diet removes the majority of unhealthy processed foods from a persons diet, he shifts automatically to a healthy lifestyle. Perhaps that is the single biggest reason that it works, without any regard to the different blood types.

Advocates of blood type diets say that while the ideal study has not yet been performed, the absence of evidence doesnt prove the theory is ineffective. And theres also no proof that these diets are harmful unless there exists a medical condition.

Also, on The Blood Type Diet, when processed food and simple carbs are avoided, that may be enough to help you lose some weight. But any weight loss on this diet has not been linked to the blood type in any of the studies. Theres also no research proving that this diet can aid in digestion or provide more energy. Though welcoming the positive effects of the diet may not cause harm but actually benefit an individual, it is worth remembering that science is stacked behind traditional recommendations for healthy eating- not restrictions based on the type of blood.

(The author is the Director -TGL Foundation, Chairperson CSA, Editor- The Intl Journal, Sr Director FWO)

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Eat according to your blood type - Mathrubhumi English

We need our clinicians to buy in to the concept that thy food is thy medicine, and thy medicine is thy food. Instead of arguing over what Hippocrates meant by this, exactly or whether he even said it why not encourage his medical descendants to take up this mantle?

Arguably, most doctors are more equipped to write a prescription or make a referral than to discuss nutrition and lifestyle interventions. Without question, pharmaceuticals have their place, but so does food as medicine, and our brilliant doctors in whom we trust must take greater steps towards preventative care and lifestyle interventions that will address the growing burden of type 2 diabetes, obesity and malnutrition in this country.

An estimated 60 per cent of adults and one in four children in Ireland are either overweight or obese. The direct and indirect costs to the exchequer which are associated with obesity are estimated to exceed 1 billion per annum.

The Healthy Ireland Framework 2013-2025 states that the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland . . . is the most valuable asset that we possess as a nation. The report goes further to say that health in Ireland will be unsustainable in the future due to lifestyle diseases and ageing populations. It makes a strong argument for greater emphasis on illness prevention.

Therefore, I ask our politicians, the HSE and the Department of Health: if our health and wellbeing is such a prized asset, why isnt more being done to protect it?

Both hospitals and the food service sector are considered key areas for public policy interventions in this regard. Yet many doctors have no nutrition training. In the US, this has resulted in changes to curriculums whereby culinary medicine is being incorporated into doctor training in Harvard and Tulane universities, and even in some US hospitals. Nutrition knowledge and cookery education, like prescribed exercise, should become another tool in a clinicians toolkit. Ironically, the one place that we go to to get help when chronically unwell is a hospital. Yet doctors working there are ill-equipped to intervene or even get involved in this critical area.

In the UK, 50 million has been spent on failed bids to improve hospital food. Reports suggest 17 separate government initiatives since 2000 have resulted in no discernible improvement in the quality of meals served to patients. Albert Roux, James Martin and Loyd Grossman have all tried. Prue Leith has now taken up the baton.

But remaking hospital menus isnt easy.

Hospitals have to operate on strict budgets and food supply is frequently outsourced to companies that specialise in high volumes of food at a low cost often resulting in packaged and processed foods. Research shows us that 30-40 per cent of hospitalised patients are considered to be at risk of malnutrition. However, hospitals are a place where nutritionism rules.

Nutritionism is a term coined by the Australian sociologist Gyorgy Scrinis, and popularised by food writer Michael Pollan. It means reducing the value of a food to specific nutrients it contains. Its a little like the food pyramid which forms the basis of diet recommendations in Ireland.

A cereal advertisement I viewed recently is a perfect illustration of how nutritionism works. It talks about superfoods (health halo, anyone?) and we KNOW superfoods are healthy, right? By eating these cereal products, we get more zinc, more fibre and folic acid than . . . what? Not eating these processed cereals?

So how do we get zinc, iron, vitamin C, B6, fibre and folic acid if we dont eat the cereal?

Well, for starters we could eat meat, shellfish, legumes, nuts, dairy and eggs and even some dark chocolate for the zinc and iron. But the ad implies that eating more chocolatey cereal will serve you better than half a cup of black beans. As Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition at NYU, points out, such ads are not saying whether the iron from the fortified cereal is going to be absorbed as well as from the black beans, or what additional benefits youll get from eating the black beans and how much sugar is in the cereal versus the black beans. (For the record, 78 per cent of the cereal will turn to glucose once you eat it).

What we eat is central to human health, enabling the cells in our bodies to perform their functions via the nutrients, vitamins and energy consumed, but food also goes beyond calories and macronutrients. Anthropologists often declare You are what you eat, and certainly, by examining a persons diet, much can be gleaned about their background, financial status, religious beliefs and education level.

Since the 1970s, nutrition and public health experts have translated reductive principles Eat less fat! Eat less salt! Avoid processed foods! into dietary guidelines for the general public, telling us what to eat more of (fibre, vitamins, calcium, iron, Omega 3s, for example) and to avoid foods considered bad for health, such as saturated fats and refined foods high in sugar, salt and fat. Arguably, this abstract dietary advice is an oversimplification of something much more nuanced and complex. There are so many reasons as to why we eat the food that we do: for pleasure, convenience, and the cost of food, or due to food knowledge and our culture. Therefore, thinking about food in terms of calories-in and calories-out is reductive a mechanical approach [that] plays right into the hands of the food industry, as food writer Joanna Blythman says in her book What to Eat.

Food in hospitals is a budgetary nuisance. Improving the quality of hospital food service is complicated it has to deal with procurement, production, distribution/service, and safety/sanitation all of which are interrelated. Therefore, quality improvement strategies should be developed from a holistic point of view with engineering expertise: food service professionals in hospitals need to continuously research, plan and manage production processes to improve quality of products and efficiency of processes.

More chefs must be trained in culinary nutrition (thankfully happening out in IT Tallaght) and empowered as valued team members in hospital food service quality management who can communicate with patients.

If we could radically improve the food environment within hospitals, what impact would that have on both staff and patients?

Hospital food is often hardly recognisable as nourishing food, but rather as a source of safe calories. Food safety dominates our food production and is prioritised at all costs often at the expense of pleasure, culture and consumption. In addition, patients face a myriad of problems: inappropriate eating positions, food left out of reach, sounds, smells and cold temperatures that negatively affect food intake. Research shows that energy intake is improved among patients eating at a table rather than in bed ideally patients should eat communally unless they are completely bed-ridden, which would inevitably help with access, palatability and food waste. All of these principles should form part of a culinary medicine philosophy.

We should take the ounce of prevention approach. I think we can all agree that the rising cost of healthcare is unsustainable and that the economic burden of diet-related noncommunicable health risks and diseases is growing. Yet, while there is an obvious lack of healthy food procurement and promotion policies in institutions, worksites, schools and Government, it seems blindingly obvious to many of us that prevention is better than cure. For manypatients, nutritious food is medicine.

But what about detractors who say food is not medicine? That it doesnt matter if you get the iron and folate from cereals or whole foods whats important is just to get the nutrients. And this is where the arguments start to fall down: we know that iron is a mineral that serves several important functions such as carrying oxygen throughout your body and making red blood cells. However, although synthetic nutrients are almost chemically identical to those found in whole foods, the production process is very different to the ones found naturally in plants and animals. So despite the similar structures, your body may react differently to synthetic nutrients, especially when it comes to absorption.

When you eat whole foods, youre not consuming single synthetic nutrients, but rather a whole range of vitamins, minerals and enzymes that work synergistically to improve absorption: synthetic nutrients are unlikely to be used by the body in the same way. Take vitamin E, for example: studies show that natural vitamin E is absorbed twice as efficiently as synthetic vitamin E.

If clinicians better understood food and its importance to health and wellbeing, and made that understanding available to patients, families and healthcare systems for high-impact, low-cost, high-value care, then what effect would that have on the health of our nation?

And before you think I am suggesting that chewing parsley could replace a surgery, consider the following: is it wrong to think of food as medicine? Does it do a disservice to both food and medicine? Possibly because in reality, food is so much more than medicine: its social, its cultural and its a huge part of our lives. It is not just fuel and it is much more than nutrients but overemphasising the immediate impact of eating a superfood whilst ignoring long-term eating habits misses the mark. Eating junk food occasionally is very different to the impact on health when repeated regularly and combined with other unhealthy lifestyle habits (lack of sleep, insufficient exercise, smoking, drinking, stress).

Food is a significant human exposure and those of us fortunate enough to have food to eat every day can use it to impact our general health and wellness, including the prevention (or promotion) of chronic illness, and the management of virtually all diseases.

Food can definitely be medicine.

Too frequently though, the power of healthful eating is underrecognised or underapplied. Guidance related to food is not often part of a physicians armamentarium. This needs to change.

We need food education for our children and the best food environments for our hospitals.

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Is it wrong to think of food as medicine? - The Irish Times

It's that time of year again. Whether you're planning a New Years trip to the beach, contemplating this year's resolutions, or still recovering from Thanksgiving leftovers, you might be contemplating a long list of diet options.

Though research on dieting seems to converge on the advice to exercise and eat high-quality foods in predictable, moderate portionsAmerican consumers have a long and complicated history with dieting and its latest trends.

According to Google Trends, the five most-searched and potentially most popular diets in 2019 were: "intermittent fasting," "Dr. Sebi," "Noom," "1,200 calories" and "GOLO." Here's what they're all about and whether they're any good.

Intermittent fasting diet

Intermittent fasting (IF) is the practice of confining meals to certain timeframes. Common methods involve fasting for 16 hours once per day or 24 hours twice per week, but less restrictive windowslike keeping meals between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.have also been associated with decreased appetite and blood pressure, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Abstaining from food and snacks for longer periods of time allows insulin levels to go down, prompting fat cells to release their stored sugar for energy that, when not used, translates to fat.

Dr. Sebi diet

A vegan regimen, the Dr. Sebi diet asks participants to stick to a shortlist of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, oils, herbs and supplements, according to Healthline. These dieters are also supposed to drink a gallon of water each day and avoid alcohol, wheat products and microwaves.

According to the late Alfredo Bowman (also known as "Dr. Sebi"), the approach rids the body of toxic waste and strengthens it against disease, but these claims have been widely discredited.

Noom diet

The Noom approach is supposed to end "yo-yo," or inconsistent, dieting through changing food behaviors and impulses, according to its website. It relies on a mobile application that assigns users to a "coach" and holds them accountable to "red" and "yellow" foods, which are not dense in nutrients despite their calorie countas opposed to "green" foods, which are.

The membership will run users about $50 per month, but almost 80 percent of 35,921 Noom participants surveyed lost weight in one study published in Nature.com's Scientific Reports.

1,200 calories diet

This a restrictive diet that limits people's daily intake to 1,200 calories. Larger people, men, active individuals, breastfeeding or pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions in particular need more than this amount, according to Medical News Today.

While some research suggests that lower-calorie diets can provide health benefits and weight lossthe body can't store as fat what it doesn't consumeother research shows that metabolic rates can slow when people eat less over time, thus making weight loss more difficult in the long run.

GOLO diet

GOLO takes a somewhat anti-diet approach to dieting, according to its website. Instead of restricting calories, this diet encourages the consumption of low-glycemic foods that supposedly increase users' metabolic rate. It also promotes a supplement made from plant extracts that help regulate blood sugar levels and cravings.

Metabolism, the internal process by which bodies burn calories for energy, is largely determined by a person's genes, according to countless studies on the subject. That said, a combination of high-intensity interval training, protein and weight training can manipulate metabolism to a degree, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

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The 5 Most-Searched Diets of 2019 - Newsweek

AMD is a disease that can occur in phases, and it is often not until late AMD that vision loss becomes explicitly noticeable. For this reason, people will often live with earlier stages of the disease without knowing for some time.

According to the researchers, not all cases progress to late AMD. While early AMD is not necessarily noticeable in vision loss, it can be detected during eye examsall the more reason to make sure you schedule one annually.

"From a public health standpoint, we can tell people that if you have early AMD, it is likely in your best interest to limit your intake of processed meat, fried food, refined grains and high-fat dairy to preserve your vision over time."

If early AMD is detected during an eye exam, the findings of this study suggest that removing (or at least decreasing your consumption of) these foods could help slow or prevent disease progression.

Further explorations into the impact of overall diet as opposed to individual nutrients will potentially provide more context for preserving eye health. If you feel yours is beginning to wane, check out these natural remedies that may help.

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The Connection Between Diet & Vision Loss You Need To Know About - mindbodygreen.com

We need to learn a new language, said Kevin Camphuis, co-founder of Paris-based business accelerator Shakeup Factory.

Food choices, he explained, were once split between a Latin diet (characterised by an attitude of food meaning pleasure, taste and a social occasion) and the Anglo-Saxon diet (based on the philosophy that food equalled fuel and functionality).

However, there is a new culture of food which is more flexitarian and vegetarian, he said. The values the new generations have towards food is completely different to past generations. These eaters have a fast and casual approach to food, noted Camphuis. They seek food on demand that has health benefits. They are interested in plant-based foods, sustainability and novel ingredients.

"We've been growing, transforming, packaging, selling and eating the same food the same way for 60 years, said Camphuis. And it's over now. There's a new vocabulary that we have to learn that is very different from the previous one.

Whereas consumers traditionally sought two-to-three meals a day and made decisions based on trust, price and functionality, younger eaters demand as much as five-to-seven foods a day and value variety and immediacy.

Rick Miller from market research company Mintel agreed."The generation born after 1995 are questioning more and are less trustworthy of the bigger brands. That mean that smaller artisan brands seem to do better as they're leaner and they can change their business models to reflect consumers growing needs. What sits well with these consumers, he said, are brands that tell a story not just in terms of their product, but what they stand for as a company".

Miller cited the brand Tribe, which makes cereal bars aimed at runners, as an example of a company successfully 'telling a story' to connect with these consumers.

"Their whole business model and premise is based around fuelling from a clean and natural point of view but is also centred around ending modern slavery: its a powerful message and also niche. They're not talking about climate change or their carbon footprint: they're talking about this in particular and they've built and entire community around that."

The younger generation wants to know that brands care, and what they stand for, he continued. "It's not good enough now just to say 'we produce the best boiled sweets on the planet.'"

They also want snacks. "The snackifaction of our culture continues to escalate which may or may not be a good thing for the obesity crisis, noted Miller. We're also getting sportification and the merging of different sectors that were once very distinct. For example a few years ago you never would have seen an average consumer having creatine or Beta-Alanine or even protein supplements. Now you can go into any supermarket and buy a protein dink or a soft drink with cognitive enhancing ingredients, Nootropics and botanicals. The consumer wants more functionality, they want a merging of sectors together.

Interestingly, not all these food trends are being led by younger people. Populations are, after all, ageing dramatically in most developed countries. "We're living longer, but we're spending less years of our lives in good health," said Miller.

As such, consumers will increasingly demand food and beverage innovations offering solutions in areas such as mental alertness, physical resilience and skin reticence.

Meanwhile, Miller presented the tantalising question of what happens when two trends ageing populations and young people and the sustainability agenda meet? "The NHS [the UKs free healthcare system] produces nearly 6% of the UK's greenhouse emissions and wastes 100,000 meals a day in hospitals. Are we going to see the rise of the sustainable patient eventually?

Andres Montefeltro, CEO of Spain-based cultured meat company Cubiq Foods, added: "I think the opportunity here is that they need us to generate a new type of food. We used to say that processed food is bad. And now processed food can become more nutritional, and healthier than natural ones.

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Flexitarianism may save the planet -- but it's killed the traditional European diet - FoodNavigator.com