Category Archives: Diet And Food

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UFC 245 includes three championship fights, several legendary all-time greats and a slew of up-and-coming challengers looking to make huge splashes by winning the biggest fights of their careers.

That's not a bad way to end 2019, and probably an even better way to get the jump on all the massive promotions that are already scheduled to happen early next year.

But with so many good fighters competing in such important matchups, which of the 10 UFC stalwarts throwing down on the main card this weekend at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will walk out of the Octagon with important victories under the belts?

Your favorite MMA media crew here at Bleacher Report is back again with UFC 245 main card staff picks.

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Kelsey McCarson

I'm sure UFC would love to see Urijah Faber try for the UFC title he never won during his earlier run with the company, but Petr Yan just seems like too much for the 40-year-old former WEC featherweight champion to handle at this point.

Yan has won eight straight fights entering the contest, and it seems like the 26-year-old is on the verge of getting his first title shot. Faber would be wise to take Yan to the mat as much as humanly possible, but I don't think he'll be able to trap Yan there enough based on how strong Yan is and how he most assuredly will do everything in his power to keep the fight from going there.

Yan, unanimous decision

Jonathan Snowden

Faber turned 40 this year. That's about 127 in fighter years, especially considering some of the grueling fights the "California Kid" had over the course of his long career.

Suffice to say, that's not a good thing. I see Yan backing the legend up against the cage and turning his lights off when an overhand right.

Yan, KO, Round 2

Tom Taylor

As Jonathan reminds, Faber is 40 years old. This isn't The California Kid we're talking about, but a full-grown, child-rearing California Man whose best fighting days are behind him. I realize that sounds a little harsh, but I just don't see him being able to compete with the apex predators of today's bantamweight division.

Yan, a rabidly aggressive 26-year-old who trains at the suitably named Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand, is one of those predators. He hasn't been much of a finisher recently, but I expect him to win this one decisively.

Yan via unanimous decision

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Kelsey McCarson

Older fighters going down a weight class after successful campaigns in higher divisions almost always ends badly. Jose Aldo is 33, and some people consider him the best featherweight in UFC history. But Marlon Moraes isn't just some random trial horse Aldo is facing to get his feet wet at bantamweight.

Moraes looked great for two rounds against UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo in his last fight before the tide suddenly turned and he suffered the knockout. The 31-year-old needs to make a big statement to get another crack at the title, and beating Aldo will go a long way toward helping him do that.

Moraes via unanimous decision

Jonathan Snowden

Aldo is the most accomplished featherweight in history, a living legend whose name is mentioned in elite company when you start listing off the greatest to ever do it. Long-time fans likely feel like they've been watching him foreverand it's kind of true. His eight-second knockout of Cub Swanson with a spectacular flying knee was more than a decade ago, and he won what would become the UFC featherweight title in hisnext fight.

All this is just a prelude to set up this amazing tidbit: Despite all this history, Aldo is just 33 years-old. That's why, even though he looks like the poster child for a diet pill gone wrong as he tries to drop to 135 pounds, I'm going with the veteran. It's too soon to give up on greatness.

Aldo via unanimous decision

Tom Taylor

I'm part of the large and vocal group of fight fans that think Aldo is making a mistake by dropping down to bantamweight. He was always a pretty slender featherweight, and it's hard to imagine him safely stripping any more mass off his body without compromising his durability and endurance. But you know what? He says the drop has been "easy" so far, and I'm going to take his word for it.

So long as the weight cut doesn't kill him, I see Aldo winning this one pretty handily. Moraes isgood, no doubt, but Jose Aldo is truly great. Even at 33, even after an extra-tough weight cut, he's great. I suspect the difference between very good and great will manifest itself in some kind of late stoppage, perhaps when Moraes starts to slow down.

Aldo, TKO, Round 3

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Kelsey McCarson

Part of me wants to go full hipster mode and pick Germaine de Randamie via shocking upset. The 35-year-old hasn't lost since Amanda Nunes stopped her in the first round back in 2013, and she's a good enough kickboxer to present some problems for Nunes assuming she can withstand the early barrage this time around.

The problem for De Ranamie is that Nunes seems to be peaking right now, and that says a lot since Nunes is already considered the greatest women's division MMA fighter ever. History will repeat itself this weekend when the two fight for the second time, only this time it will probably happen ever faster. Because everyone seems to make the same mistake against Nunes as of late. They show up for the fight.

Nunes, KO, Round 1

Jonathan Snowden

The first time these two met, six years ago at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Nunes pushed her opponent up against the cage, took her to the mat, calmly moved on to full mount and dropped punches and elbows until referee Herb Dean felt compelled to step in.

I'm not sure how much has changed since then.

If Nunes feels compelled to engage in a standing battle, this could be a five-round grind. But I think she'll eventually take the bout to the floor and walk away with another line item on her GOAT resume.

Nunes, TKO, Round 3

Tom Taylor

At this stage, Nunes is as close to a sure-thing as you'll find in fighting. She should be massively favored to beat any fighter she's matched up with, especially De Randamie. After all, she's done it before.

Yes, De Randamie has improved since that fateful night at Fort Campbell, but Nunes has done more than change. She's evolved into the kind of fighter you can't possibly pick against. She's smart, she's confident, she's powerful and she's experienced. All signs point to another decisive win from the woman who made Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg look mediocre.

Nunes, Submission, Round 2

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Kelsey McCarson

Max Holloway has won 13 straight contests in the featherweight division and is attempting the fourth defense of the undisputed featherweight title he won by defeating the legendary Jose Aldo at UFC 212 in 2017. He's been one of the very best fighters of the last half-decade, and he's still only 28 years old. But Alexander Volkanovski has been on a serious tear. He's powerful, aggressive and smart, which is the right combination of things that typically give Holloway trouble. I expect this one to be the best fight of the night, with Volkanovski pulling the upset in a fight that people argue over for years to come.

Volkanovski via split decision

Jonathan Snowden

The 28-year-old Holloway should be coming into his prime years. But he's seen some things in those 28 years, especially the seven spent in UFC's Octagon. He took quite a walloping against Dustin Poirier in April and those kinds of beatings can have lasting effects.

He survived in the immediate aftermath against Frankie Edgarbut he won't be lucky enough to walk away a second time unscathed. Look for Volkanovski to become just the fourth man to win featherweight gold.

Volkanovski via split decision

Tom Taylor

I completely understand why Kelsey and Jonathan are leaning toward Volkanovski in this fight. Poirier showed that Holloway can be beaten with the right combination of aggression, volume, and power, and it's easy to imagine the tankish featherweight title challenger Volkanovski putting those things together Saturday. Furthermore, I feel like Holloway's time is coming. As Jonathan pointed out, the kind of punishment he absorbed against Poirier has a lasting effect.

I don't think Holloway's reign will end at UFC 245, though. I think his range, his height, and speed should keep him out of the range of Volkanovski's C-4-packed fists. Even if he absorbs a few impacts, I think he's probably still durable enough to survive. It might not be the kind of decisive win we've gotten used to from the champ, but I think he'll do enough to keep the belt in Hawaii.

Max Holloway via unanimous decision

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Kelsey McCarson

Grudge matches are great, but what's even better is when two elite fighters match up so well against each other that it's almost impossible to pick a winner headed into the fight.

That's what I think we're getting in the main event on Saturday night with Kamaru Usman's welterweight title defense against Colby Covington. Usman looks like he might be physically stronger than Covington and is for sure the harder puncher. But Covington is probably the better wrestler from a technical standpoint, and he's one of the best pressure fighters the sport has to offer.

If Usman can make this fight about strength and power, he should be able to compete. But I think Covington will outwork him over the course of the five rounds and press Usman into making some key mistakes down the stretch that end up giving Covington the biggest win of his career.

Covington via split decision

Jonathan Snowden

These men are both outstanding wrestlers. Veteran observers know that can mean only one thingfive rounds of kickboxing.

It's Covington's output against Usman's power. It's a real toss up, but they won't be celebrating at the White House on Sunday morning.

Usman via unanimous decision

Tom Taylor

I think all of the trash talk has distracted from how good this fight actually is. As Kelsey mentioned, these dudes are evenly matched on paper. About the same age, about the same height, both 15-1, both wrestlers with bottomless cardio and high striking outputs. It's definitely hard to confidently pick a winner.

Having had to do just that for another B/R article earlier this week, though, I've had some time to think about this one, and I'm sticking to my guns. On the feet, I see Covington landing more. On the mat, I see him performing better. He has more submission wins than Usman, and he was a D1 wrestler, while the champ was D2. It's definitely not much to go on, but in a matchup that's this close on paper, you take what you can get.

Covington via unanimous decision

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UFC 245 Predictions: Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Picks - Bleacher Report

This article, written byLangis Michaud, Universit de Montral, originally appeared on The Conversation and has been republished here with permission:

Monique is 77 years old. I met her when she came to the eye clinic at the University of Montral, where I am a professor. A retired teacher, Monique has enjoyed an active and full life with her students and family and considers herself lucky to be in good health.

She is concerned, however, about a recent visual loss that prevents her from reading and enjoying her painting workshops. It also prevents her from driving safely, which is important if she wants to maintain her independence.

A complete examination of Moniques vision and eye health quickly revealed the cause of her problems: she has developed cataracts and her retina shows early signs of macular degeneration.

Cataracts are a normal phenomenon, resulting from the aging process of the eye and affecting everyone, without exception. They occur when the lens of the eye gradually loses its transparency, like a window that gets dirty with the seasons.

The light that enters the eye passes through opaque areas and generates blurred vision, without the possibility of improving it with glasses, lenses or magnifiers. Only surgery can restore the clarity of the eye.

The aging of the crystalline lens

The crystalline lens is particular and its metabolism is very fragile. When disturbed, the lens accumulates deposits and loses its transparency. This lens also absorbs a large part of the suns ultraviolet rays to protect the retina at the back of the eye.

The amount of UV absorbed accumulates over the years, contributing to the premature aging of the lens. That is why it is recommended to protect yourself with sun lenses from an early age.

Other factors that disrupt its functioning include the use of certain medications such as oral cortisone, the presence of diseases such as diabetes or a shock to the head, which can contribute to the arrival and progression of cataracts. Very rarely, cataracts are transmitted during pregnancy, especially following infections such as rubella, toxoplasmosis and herpes.

Finally, very strong links have been established between smoking and cataracts. Food, on the other hand, does not seem to have an impact. Quitting smoking and protecting your eyes with good sunglasses are therefore considered effective ways to delay the onset and progression of cataracts.

Implants to the rescue

Cataract treatment is quite simple. The ophthalmologist will perform surgery to exchange the natural lens of the eye with a new lens, called an implant. This surgery is very safe and can be performed at any time during cataract development, although surgery will usually only be offered if there is a significant impact on the patients vision and quality of life.

Implants are permanent and remain clear for life, without the need for replacement. They can be used to correct distance vision, including astigmatism, which would be accomplished through the use of a specially designed toric implant. Also, nearsightedness can be fixed via bifocal or multifocal implants, thus avoiding the need for glasses later on, in most cases.

However, the patient may be subject to seeing halos and may be more sensitive to light. It is also necessary to ensure that the retina is in good health, otherwise the final result will not be very good.

This is particularly the case for Monique, who also has the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This is a phenomenon affecting one per cent of people exceeding 40 years of age, but whose prevalence reaches 30 per cent at 80 years of age.

The at-risk population is composed of Caucasians (those of European origin) and women more than men. Systemic diseases everything that affects blood vessels such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity are important risk factors, as are oxidative causes such as smoking, high saturated fat nutrition and UV exposure.

Prevent macular degeneration

Essentially, the best retinal cells, which allow good vision (macular area), degrade over time if not well nourished by the vascular network and accumulate deposits that prevent their normal functioning.

These deposits become visible as small yellow spots at the fundus the part of the eyeball opposite the pupil. These deposits, known as drusen, can become confluent. The degradation of cells is accompanied by a change in their colouring (pigment reworking), a phenomenon that is also visible when the retina is examined. This is called dry macular degeneration. Vision is more or less affected depending on the number of affected cells.

Over time, the systems response can lead to the formation of new blood vessels to supply dying cells. These are fragile and have no real place to stay. They can easily burst. Their membrane formation, like roots invading a pipe, and their flow (bleeding) contribute to a very severe reduction in vision. This is when we speak of wet degeneration. This more severe form affects 10 per cent of AMD cases, but anyone with the dry form can progress at this stage.

Nutritional supplements

AMD treatments are limited and aim to limit the progression of the disease. They cannot cure it. Quitting smoking, good nutrition, regular exercise and following the doctors recommendations in the control of vascular diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, can delay the progression of the dry form of AMD.

Wearing sunglasses also helps, even on cloudy days. Taking omega 3 at the right dosage and fish oil extracts may help although more recent results have called this strategy into question.

In more advanced stages of the dry form, taking oral nutritional supplements including vitamins and antioxidants are recommended, except in some patients with a particular genetic profile.

The wet form has recently been effectively treated by injecting drugs directly into the eye, to prevent the formation of new blood vessels. These injections must be repeated periodically and restore vision when the procedure is performed at the appropriate time.

Moniques case is a mixed one. On the one hand, it is possible to greatly improve her short-term vision with cataract surgery, for which she will be referred to ophthalmology. Implants protect against UV rays, another factor in preventing the progression of macular degeneration. This will allow her to drive safely and resume her activities. She will also monitor her diet, which she admits is deficient, and take omega supplements. Her AMD is at a stage that is too early for vitamins or antioxidants.

Monique does not smoke and is not taking medication for vascular problems. If she does one day, she will follow her doctors recommendations and begin a light exercise program. Walking may be enough. Finally, she will be followed every six months in an optometry office, will perform simple home screening tests and will come in for a consultation as soon as a change is noted.

Monique is reassured! She will be able to remain active and independent to enjoy the good times of life.

Langis Michaud, Professeur Titulaire. cole d'optomtrie. Expertise en sant oculaire et usage des lentilles cornennes spcialises, Universit de Montral

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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BEYOND LOCAL: Age-related eye problems and how to treat them - CollingwoodToday

A U.K. initiative to eat vegan for a month is making a push in America

In a similar vein as new Year, new you initiatives like Dry January and Whole30, U.K. campaign Veganuary is coming to the U.S. and asking participants to keep a vegan diet for the first month of the year. During the 2019 campaign, more than a quarter of a million people took our pledge to try a vegan diet, says the non-profit, ...more than 500 brands, restaurants and supermarkets promoted the campaign, and launched more than 200 new vegan products and menus in the UK market alone.

Its certainly easier than ever to eat vegan, with the proliferation of fake meat. But will it actually work, or like Dry January, will it give a lot of people justification to binge come February 1? Traci Mann, a psychology professor at the University of Minnesota, told SF Gate that In general, denying yourself something makes you want to eat it more and then eat it more. But honestly, the biggest qualm is probably the name. When will we learn that January makes for unsatisfying wordplay?! We could instead go for No Meat November, Meatless March, or April Is The Cruelest Month (For The Meat Industry).

Wired: its like cleaning up citrus on a Florida freeway

Originally posted here:
A UK Campaign Supporting a Vegan Diet in January Is Coming to the U.S. - Eater

iStock.com/FatCamera The Top Trending Diet and Exercise Searches of 2019

The year is drawing to a close, and with that comes a wrap of the fitness and diet choices that ruled the web and influenced our health decisions for 12 months. To find out which workouts and diets shined bright in 2019, Google studied an aggregation of trillions of searches on its platform and combined it with data from Google Trends. The result? The top trending searches that had a high spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2019.

Popular favorites like the keto ultra diet and plank exercises made Googles Year in Search report along with newer breakout trends like the Dr. Sebi diet.

Workouts that saw a spike in 2019 were medicine ball workouts, flat stomach workouts, mirror workouts, the Bikini Body Guide workout and body groove workouts a workout routine that relies on dance moves to help exercisers burn off calories. Bungee workouts, plank exercises and the manduu exercise a concept that uses electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) for a custom exercise experience also topped the list. The one punch man workout, an anime-inspired workout, was also among the most searched work out terms.

A few diet regimens also saw a search increase in 2019. The intermittent fasting diet, 1200 calories diet, keto ultra diet and the GOLO diet were all common searches. The Dubrow diet, Sirtfood diet, endomorph diet, Dr. Sebi diet, Noom diet and the no carbs no sugar diet were also included in Google's list. Before embarking on any popular diet though you should be warned, many popular diets with have hidden side effects.

Slideshow: How you can do a total-body workout in your hotel room (The Active Times)

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These are the top trending diet and exercise searches of 2019 - msnNOW

Andre Drummond is a lot of man: 610 and 279 pounds, to be more precise. Those measurements guarantee that the 26-year-old Detroit Pistons center isnt going to blend in with the masses while walking down the street, playing Top Golf, or bowling (the latter two are some of his favorite off-the-court activities), but hes mostly cool with that. Case and point: His Today With Dre series on Overtime, in which he allowed cameras to document the full extent of his comings and goings, including his musical-minded pursuits. The series shows hes a defensive menace whos just as unfazed by an incoming dunk attempt as he is the prospect of spitting bars at a venue. My music is a little bit of everythingR&B, hip-hop, EDM, he says. I have a bunch of songs that Ill get out sooner or later.

Like his Overtime series, Drummonds admitted beer-a-day habit has also piqued the Internets interest of late. But I wanted to find out what really gives him his pre-game fuel, so we chatted prior to him catching a flight to Chicago. Given Drummonds stature, you wouldnt be off-base assuming he eats enough to feed a family of four at every meal. As it turns out, however, the current league-leader in rebounds is only swallowing up boards at a proficient rate.

GQ: Youve been in the NBA for eight seasons now. Whats the best piece of advice youve been given about staying healthy since you started?

Andre Drummond: Its all about icing, stretching, the things you eat, the time you go to sleep, and the pregame preparation. I like to eat a lot of fruit and starchy things to give myself more energy before games. But its the off-the-court things, like how Im taking care of my body, that are most important.

What time do you usually get up in the morning?

Im up around 8 or 8:30. But if were talking about the morning after a game, then Im up much later, like 12ish. I try to get eight or nine hours of sleep a night, and if I dont, Ill make sure to take a nap.

Whats your breakfast routine?

I work directly with my personal chef on my breakfast and making sure I have enough fats and proteins to perform without overindulging. In the morning, Ill drink some water, and then its usually an omelet with some potatoes and veggies. Ill go for any vegetables except zucchini, really. I hate that stuff. Ive also cut out red meat and processed foods, which means that I dont eat steak or anything crazy like that. I feel a lot better since Ive done that. My diet is now a lot of fish and leafy green vegetables, except I dont like tilapia.

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Andre Drummond: The Real-Life Diet of the Detroit Pistons Center Whose Offseason Routine Featured a Beer a Day - GQ

FISHERS, Ind. (WTHR) With just a couple weeks left in 2019, have you started thinking about your New Year's Resolutions? Every year, one of the top resolutions is losing weight!

With that being said, you'll probably start seeing the words "intermittent fasting" or "time-restricted feeding" more often. In recent years, it's really taken off as a successful way for people to lose weight. More research still needs to be done, but some recent studies have shown intermittent fasting has other health benefits as well.

Typically, for intermittent fasting, you eat all of your meals in an eight to 10-hour window, which means you don't eat anything for 14 to 16 hours. During the fast, you can drink water, coffee and other non-caloric beverages. Since your body ends up not having anymore food to burn, it turns to your fat and burns through that for energy.

Jodi Krauss, a mother of two boys, says when she sticks to eating in an eight-hour window, she loses one to two pounds a week.

"I have definitely seen a change in my body," said Krauss. "I'm a lot stronger. I'm not really that hungry in that fasting window because you can still eat what you want to eat. Take that with a grain of salt because I still eat a lot of whole foods. I don't have a ton of carbs. I get most of my carbs from vegetables, so I eat a high fat, low carb meal plan."

Besides weight loss, studies have revealed some other health benefits. Intermittent fasting has been effective in reducing inflammation and blood pressure, improving blood cholesterol and helping with insulin sensitivity, which is why it might be beneficial for someone that's pre-diabetic.

IU Health Dietitian Garrett Swisher thinks it's a great tool for people who have trouble sticking to a traditional diet or who can't help but snack late at night. Krauss agrees.

"I don't feel hungry," said Krauss. "It's more of a mind game mental approach. I'm a huge desserts person, and I love to have a late-night snack of ice cream. I know that if I'm in my fasting window, and it ends at 7, I don't need ice cream at 9 at night. So that helps me to have control to know that I'm just not going to have it or if I do decide to have it, which I can on this plan, I will just push my fasting window back and start later the next day."

Swisher says the only down side he sees is intermittent fasting can lead to bad eating habits such as binge eating.

There are now apps out there that help with eating control when it comes to intermittent fasting. Some of the most popular ones are called Zero, Fastient and Life.

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Intermittent Fasting: Does it really work? - WTHR

You must have experienced swelling or puffiness around eyes, face, hands or feet. However, in our day-to-day life we often ignore this health issue. This excess fluid build up inside the body is known as water retention or edema.This fluid retention usually occurs in the circulatory system or within tissues and cavities.

There are various reasons that can lead to this health condition. Many women experience water retention during periods or pregnancy. Another common reason why people experience this condition is due to low activity level or bedridden conditions. However, this water retention can be an indicator of an underlying disease such as kidney disease or heart failure. Thus, ignoring this health condition is not at all a good idea. Well, here are a few ways you can reduce water retention from the body by tweaking your diet at the same time going for a proper medical guidance is equally important.

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Simple ways to fight water retention just by tweaking diet - Times of India

A fathers diet can have a significant effect on the future health of his offspring, affecting everything from blood pressure to heart function and putting them at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, according to research.

The lead author of a British study says the findings show that men who want to start a family should have a healthy, balanced diet from at least three months before conception.

A study from researchers at the University of Nottingham published in the Journal of Physiology shows that poor paternal diet, specifically one that is low in protein, may impact the heart health of the offspring by changing sperm, and the seminal fluid, which bathes sperm.

We have known for a very long time that what a mother eats during pregnancy can influence how her child develops, and whether or not it will develop obesity, type two diabetes and heart disease, explains senior author of the study, and lead researcher, Prof Adam Watkins, assistant professor in reproductive biology at the universitys faculty of medicine and health sciences. However, the importance of the fathers diet on the health of the offspring has been largely ignored or overlooked. We were interested in investigating whether a fathers poor-quality diet at the time of conception might affect the long-term health of its offspring.

Researchers carried out their study on male mice on a poor, low-protein diet, monitoring the cardiovascular health of their offspring. The way mice produce sperm, the way the embryo develops, the way the foetus develops and the way a mouses blood and heart function are all very similar to humans. This means we can use mice to identify important biological processes which we can then look at in human patients.

What his research found, he reports, was both that the way the mices blood vessels worked, and the level of certain important factors in their blood, which regulate heart and blood vessel function, were significantly altered in response to the poor diet of the father: The blood vessels in the offspring did not work as well as they should do. This can ultimately affect blood pressure.

The normal proteins in the blood which would regulate blood vessels and heart function were altered, says Prof Watkins, adding that essentially what this meant was that the young mice were at increased risk of developing cardiovascular ill-health or heart disease.

We know that a poor lifestyle in men does have negative influences on sperm quality and that being overweight or smoking, or consuming excessive alcohol is not good for reproductive health. What we dont know yet is what the long-term implications of a fathers poor diet or lifestyle might be, he says.

We know that the sperm provides genetic information from a father to the egg it fertilises, and we know that poor diet in males can change that. We also know that the seminal fluid in which sperm is carried, interacts with the uterus and initiates a range of responses in the maternal immune system. These responses prime the uterus for the embryo.

We know that the sperm provides genetic information and that the seminal fluid primes the uterus for the embryo, so here are two possible ways that a fathers diet could influence how the offspring might develop.

Essentially, Prof Watkins explains, the Nottingham research shows that the health of mice offspring is influenced by sperm and fluid and that both of them have an equal influence on offspring health.

However, he says, while the research has to date only been carried out on mice, it has significant implications for human fertility in fact the researchers hope to run clinical trials on humans within the next two or three years.

We know that it can take about 75 days to make a sperm, and that seminal fluid is reproduced every 24-48 hours, says Prof Watkins.

If a man goes on a crash diet a week before getting his partner pregnant, he explains, the sperm will continue to reflect the old, poor quality diet,while the seminal fluid will reflect the newer, better-quality diet.

Therefore there may be a situation where the sperm and the fluid are not compatible to each other, so we are saying that if the sperm and the fluid are different, we see the biggest effect on offspring health.

The potential message is this, he warns: If men and women are thinking about changing their lifestyle and becoming parents, we would say that ideally they begin the changes three months before trying to start a family. That is an ideal time frame to change over from a poor diet and lifestyle to a healthier one in terms of its implications for the mans reproductive health.

The Nottingham research findings have interesting implications for what we know about the role of seminal fluid and sperm DNA fragmentation (a term used for the presence of abnormal genetic material within the sperm, which may lead to male subfertility, in-vitro fertilisation failure and miscarriage) believes Dr Bart Kuczera, consultant gynaecologist and fertility expert at Beacon Care Fertility:

What we know is that men with a poor lifestyle in terms of diet, smoking and drinking can have a condition called sperm DNA fragmentation.

Men are advised to live a healthy lifestyle in order to keep their sperm in the best condition, because, he explains: Sperm DNA fragmentation can be affected by poor diet, stress and overeating, for example. This study would make the case for a good diet and lifestyle for men; that is, a normal balanced protein diet.

Sperm quality of men in the western world, he warned, has been shown to have deteriorated in the last 40 years: We believe this is very linked to lifestyle and the environment, to the sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet which reaches the recommended carbohydrate level but would not include a diversity of food.

In the greater picture you could potentially have a population of children who would be affected in terms of physical health problems and weight gain as a result of the paternal diet at conception. It is important to spread the responsibility between the man and the woman at the time of conception, he says, adding that this study suggests that the father may have an equally significant impact on his offsprings health problems.

This study has implications for our knowledge about diet and lifestyle in terms of fertility and men should be made aware of it, believes Dr Hans Arce, fertility consultant and medical director of ReproMed, a leading Irish fertility and IVF clinic network. The majority of our knowledge in relation to diet and lifestyle in terms of fertility comes because we studied women. Women were the ones who got pregnant and they were the focus. We saw, for example, that women with obesity had children with a higher risk of obesity and diabetes.

However this study showed the offspring of male mice with poor diets ended up having the expression of inflammation, and more of a tendency to high blood pressure, for example.

Men should be made aware of this. Its something the schools, the public health service and the GP should be telling men about that our diets can affect their future childrens health. Studies like these have implication for human beings, he says, adding that the results point in the direction of the fact that the health of a man may have implications for the health of his offspring.

What this study says, he observes, is that a mans diet will not just affect his own health, but potentially has implications for the health of his offspring: We dont have proper human studies yet this is mice but it is pointing in that direction!

Lifestyle is the single biggest issue when it comes to fertility, believes consultant nutritionist Gaye Godkin.

Godkin believes the University of Nottingham study is a further endorsement of what she says, is the role of epigenetics in health outcomes from pre-conception health across the life course.

There is a growing body of evidence showing just how much the fathers diet impacts on the pre-conception phase, in terms of its impact on sperm and seminal fluid and from there on to the long-term health of his offspring.

Epigenetics, she explains, is the environment in which the sperm lives prior to penetrating the egg. Sperm is produced around every 75 days or so but new seminal fluid is produced every 24 to 48 hours.

If the man has a long-term poor diet, it will affect his sperm, she says, adding however, that a man can have healthy sperm, while at the same time his seminal fluid could be of much lower quality because of a poor diet just before conception.

Normal sperm carries DNA. A poor diet has a negative effect on the DNA and the DNA enzymes which in turn are crucial to the formation of a healthy foetus.

In fertility clinics, they measure the level of a condition called DNA fragmentation in the male sperm. This test shows the quality of the sperm. For years I have worked with men who have high levels of DNA fragmentation in their sperm. I believe that it is strongly linked to diet, as well as to lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, excess weight and the effect of pesticides.

While the Nottingham study was based on a mouse model, she says, its findings were moving in the right direction in terms of our understanding of the volatility of sperm quality and what affects it, as well as its relationship with the internal environment of the male body.

While there is no medical treatment available for DNA fragmentation, says Godkin, she has found that 90 days on a good-quality diet which also features a reversal of poor lifestyle factors can lead to fragmentation levels being significantly reduced to the extent that a couple are in a position to use their own sperm to achieve conception.

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Diets of fathers can affect future health of offspring, study finds - The Irish Times

The idea of relishing good food and losing weight never goes-hand-in-hand. However, the need to stay in shape in this fast moving world is equally important and this what makes us go for trying the best of diets and workout to lose that stubborn fat!Interestingly, there are diet plans that often makes you avoid several things you love! Then its time to say goodbye to such diets and embark on this new Mediterranean diet, which allows you to diet and relish your favourite meat delicacies prepared in a healthy way. However, as per a few studies, the traditional plant-based Mediterranean diet has been observed to significantly strengthen the metabolism by improving the gut health. According to a few researchers and fitness experts, the new version of Mediterranean diet includes meat to cater to Western palate preferences and also deliver several health benefits.The age-old typical Mediterranean diet includes extra virgin olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grain breads, pastas and cereals, moderate amounts of fish and red wine, and low consumption of red meat, sweets and processed foods. The new version of the Mediterranean diet includes 2-3 serves (250g) of fresh lean pork each week. You can replace pork with other leans meats. The findings published in the journal Nutrients showed that the Mediterranean-Pork (Med-Pork) diet delivers cognitive benefits."The Mediterranean diet is widely accepted as the healthiest diet and is renowned for delivering improved cardiovascular and cognitive health, but in Western cultures, the red meat restrictions of the diet could make it hard for people to stick to," said Alexandra Wade from University of South Australia.

"By adding pork to the Mediterranean diet, we're broadening the appeal of the diet, while also delivering improved cognitive function," Wade said.

This study compared the cognitive effects of people aged 45-80 years and at risk of cardiovascular disease following a Med-Pork or a low-fat diet (often prescribed to negate risk factors for cardiovascular disease).

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Now you can eat meat in this new Mediterranean diet - Times of India

Brittany Cartwright and Jax Taylor are probably one of the most surprising couples on Vanderpump Rules. Cartwright is sweet and wholesome and kind to everyone. Taylor has slept with almost every female member of the cast, constantly lies, and has been fired from his job at SUR more times than anyone can count.

But yet, the two have stayed together season after season and even got married earlier this year. So, are Taylor and Cartwright trying to grow their family and have a baby, already?

Cartwright and Taylor may have made it down the aisle, but that doesnt mean that their relationship was all smooth sailing. At one point, the two called it quits after Cartwright discovered that Taylor had cheated on her with one of their former coworkers. Not only was he unfaithful, but the gang also uncovered voice mails of Taylor trash-talking Cartwright, as well.

The pair split once this all came to light but ultimately, Cartwright took Taylor back. He later proposed and the two got married.

Just months after the wedding, Taylor was spotted without his wedding ring, fueling rumors that there was trouble in paradise. But Taylor claimed he just didnt like wearing jewelry.

I dont ever wear myweddingring, he toldHollywood Life.I just dont. Im not a jewelry guy. I go to the gym, Im working in the yard. At my house, my wife doesnt wear hers either. And myweddingringis big, so it gets in the way and all that.

We wear it when we need to wear it, like when we go out and stuff like that, but around the house and stuff, no, he continued. And, every time they [paparazzi] catch me not wearing myring, Im either at the gym or at my house.

Though Taylor and Cartwright have had more than their fair share of relationship ups and downs, they claim to be ready to have a baby.

Yeah, were obviously open to it, were not like, well I guess yeah, were working on it, Taylor told HollywoodLife in September. Were working on it, Ill leave it at that, were working on it.

And Cartwright shared the same sentiments.

I feel like I always say this answer, but its almost, its like the sense of family that I know that were together, and that were going to try for a family eventually, and that were starting something, its really cool, she told the outlet.

I mean were in the process, yeah, Im super excited, she said. She continued, saying that she hopes to have a baby in 2020, but isnt sure if it will happen yet. Im not pregnant yet, Ill say it again.

Since Cartwright has gained some weight, fans have been relentlessly assuming that shes already pregnant.

Oh man, so you diet, you diet, you diet, you diet for a wedding, you lose a bunch of weight, youre so stressed, youre so excited, you cant wait, and youre working out so hard, she said. And then after the wedding you might gain some, and then all of a sudden youre pregnant. Which I know people are stoked, super excited for if we do become pregnant. I am too. But sometimes you just gain weight.

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'Vanderpump Rules': Brittany Cartwright Reveals That She And Jax Taylor Are 'Trying' to Have a Baby - Showbiz Cheat Sheet