Category Archives: Diet And Food

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Signature Bank (Nasdaq: SBNY), a New York-based full-service commercial bank, announced today it has been named the winner of the annual Cigna Well-Being Award in 2019 for demonstrating a strong commitment to improving the health and well-being of its employees through its expansive workplace wellness program.

2019 marks the fifth consecutive year Signature Bank was named winner of the Well-Being Award by Cigna. Signature Bank was selected based on its robust wellness program, which was put in place in 2007. The program, with strong support from the Banks leadership, has continually grown and expanded to feature many incentives encouraging healthy behaviors in and outside the workplace. These include, among others, seminars and webinars relating to topics such as diet and stress management as well as in-house bio-metrics and cancer awareness programs. The Banks work environment and policies support a culture of health and well-being.

At Signature Bank, our assets are the 1,500+ committed colleagues who come to work every day and are productive and dedicated to their roles and this institution. Their health and well-being are top priority. We have broadened the wellness components of our program since its inception, which contributed to enhancing the health of our workforce and benefit the well-being of our colleagues. We are honored to be named a winner of the Cigna Well-Being Award this year and every year since 2015, and appreciate being recognized for our wellness program, which has been an important initiative for the Bank for more than a decade, said Joseph J. DePaolo, President and Chief Executive Officer at Signature Bank.

Cigna is committed to creating a healthy workplace and a culture of wellness, said Tony Contessa, Cigna's senior vice president of sales in New York and New Jersey. We continue to be impressed by the year-over-year efforts of Signature Banks wellness programs. They set the example for other companies in building healthier communities in the region."

Cigna Well-Being Award applicants are evaluated based on the core components of their wellness program, including goals, implementation, incentives, leadership engagement and employee participation. All applications are reviewed and judged by a multi-departmental Cigna selection committee.

While poor health takes a physical toll on workers, it also poses a burden to employers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. employers lose more than $225 billion each year in productivity due to employee health problems.

About Signature Bank

Signature Bank, member FDIC, is a New York-based full-service commercial bank with 31 private client offices throughout the New York metropolitan area and Connecticut as well as San Francisco. The Banks growing network of private client banking teams serves the needs of privately owned businesses, their owners and senior managers.

Signature Banks specialty finance subsidiary, Signature Financial, LLC, provides equipment finance and leasing. Signature Securities Group Corporation, a wholly owned Bank subsidiary, is a licensed broker-dealer, investment adviser and member FINRA/SIPC, offering investment, brokerage, asset management and insurance products and services.

Signature Bank recently introduced its revolutionary, blockchain-based digital payments platform, Signet, enabling real-time payments for its commercial clients. The Signet Platform allows the Banks commercial clients to make payments in U.S. dollars, 24/7/365, safely and securely, without transaction fees. Signature Bank is the first FDIC-insured bank to launch a blockchain-based digital payments platform, and Signet is the first such platform to be approved for use by the NYS Department of Financial Services.

Since commencing operations in May 2001, the Bank has grown to $49.41 billion in assets, $37.94 billion in loans, $39.06 billion in deposits, $4.74 billion in equity capital and $3.51 billion in other assets under management as of September 30, 2019. Signature Bank's Tier 1 and risk-based capital ratios are significantly above the levels required to be considered well capitalized.

Signature Bank is one of the top 40 largest banks in the U.S., based on deposits (S&P Global Market Intelligence). The Bank recently earned several third-party recognitions, including: appeared on Forbes' Best Banks in America list for the ninth consecutive year in 2019; and, named number one in the Business Bank, Private Bank and Attorney Escrow Services categories by the New York Law Journal in the publications annual Best of survey for 2019, earning it a place in the New York Law Journals Hall of Fame (awarded to companies that have ranked in the Best of survey for at least three of the past four years). The Bank also ranked second nationally in the Business Bank, Private Banking Services and Attorney Escrow Service categories of the National Law Journals 2019 Best of survey.

For more information, please visit http://www.signatureny.com.

This press release and oral statements made from time to time by our representatives contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on those statements because they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties relating to our operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and may be beyond our control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our future results, interest rates and the interest rate environment, loan and deposit growth, loan performance, operations, new private client teams and other hires, new office openings and business strategy. These statements often include words such as "may," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," potential, opportunity, could, project, seek, should, will, would, "plan," "estimate" or other similar expressions. As you consider forward-looking statements, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements and can change as a result of many possible events or factors, not all of which are known to us or in our control. These factors include but are not limited to: (i) prevailing economic conditions; (ii) changes in interest rates, loan demand, real estate values and competition, any of which can materially affect origination levels and gain on sale results in our business, as well as other aspects of our financial performance, including earnings on interest-bearing assets; (iii) the level of defaults, losses and prepayments on loans made by us, whether held in portfolio or sold in the whole loan secondary markets, which can materially affect charge-off levels and required credit loss reserve levels; (iv) changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (v) changes in the banking and other financial services regulatory environment and (vi) competition for qualified personnel and desirable office locations. Although we believe that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, beliefs and expectations, if a change occurs or our beliefs, assumptions and expectations were incorrect, our business, financial condition, liquidity or results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. Additional risks are described in our quarterly and annual reports filed with the FDIC. You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statements made by Signature Bank speak only as of the date on which they were made. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and we cannot predict these events or how they may affect the Bank. Signature Bank has no duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements after the date on which they are made. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made in this release or elsewhere might not reflect actual results.

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Signature Bank Recipient of Cigna's 2019 Well-Being Award for Fifth Consecutive Year - Business Wire

Transportation

Our transportation system is full of big problems in need of even bigger solutions. Here, transportation experts dish their most creative ideas.

Additional reporting by Spencer Buell, Jacqueline Cain, Brittany Jasnoff, and Alyssa Vaughn.

Photo by Michael Prince

Bill JamesFounder and CEO, JPods

JPods are an overhead network of ultralight vehicles that carry people and cargo from origin to destination using a tenth of the energy of cars, trains, and buses. Solar collectors at the top of the rails gather the energy to power the networks, which look something like Ferris wheel cars hanging from monorails.

Our vision is that it will start at places such as Logan Airport, where it will connect the terminals to the T station, hotels, and car rental building. Then it will spread. Within four years, you will be within walking distance of one station, and get to a station within walking distance of where you want to go. Or you could scooter or Uber the last mile to a JPod station to get around Boston. We will build the network with private capital, operate it without government subsidies, and pay the city 5 percent of gross revenues. We could begin building if Massachusetts passes a bill sponsored by state Senator Patrick OConnor, An Act Relative to Solar-Powered Mobility Networks.

Photo by Randi Freundlich

Joe CurtatoneMayor, Somerville

With the term road diet, Im really speaking about how we humanize our roads: how we think about and plan our community for people, not just the automobile. If you plan a city for cars, thats what youre going to get. We need to reclaim the right-of-way for the people.

That can mean adding protected bicycle lanes to create the bicycle infrastructure we have today. Or simply putting paint on the ground and delineating where the bicycle infrastructure is. Or widening the sidewalks, and reclaiming asphalt for placemaking, which has incredible social and economic benefits for a community. It even means reclaiming the streets for housing: We have a development on the west side of the city that will take part of the roadway to expand affordable housing.

On Bow Street in Union Square, we changed to angled parking, which did three things: added more parking for the merchants; allowed us to put in a bike lane; and acted as a traffic-calming measure. On Broadway in East Somerville around the same time, our goal was for that street not to be the on- and off-ramp to Boston any longer. So we eliminated a lane of traffic in each direction, added bike lanes, and expanded the sidewalks. And what happened? Traffic was less congested, and our businesses can take advantage of more vibrancy on the sidewalks.

Change is never easy, but weve been inspired by community members who have come out in support of these measures, because they are based on a set of shared values. One of our goals is to shift mobility to 50 percent more biking, walking, and public transportation.

Transportation is a regional crisis, like housing and climate change. There are great opportunities across communities in how we can connect those projects to have greater benefits. Weve seen the benefit of that from Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, and Boston working on the Bluebike system. I chair the Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, which represents 15 cities in the inner core of Boston, and we are having these conversations now. We are talking with Medford about priority bus lanes on Mystic Avenue, and with Arlington about connecting those buses in a more efficient and equitable manner to transit stations like Sullivan Square.

The important thing is that were learning from these incremental steps taking place around this region and across the country. To have true impact, we need to have full systemic change.

Gwen LighterCEO, GoFly

I spent three years of my life in Boston for law school and have spent most of my life in the New York/New England area, so I understand the density issue there. We need to go up to alleviate the congestion in our city centers and provide more viable, more sustainable mobility options.

GoFly has created a community of engineers, industry experts, and academics to solve this. The $2 million GoFly Prize has 854 competing teams from 103 countries creating personal flyers. They all look different and they all function in different manners. We are supported by Boeing, Pratt & Whitney, and Google Planetary Ventures, as well as the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Royal Aeronautical Society, and 18 other aerospace organizations around the world. The competition culminates in a grand final fly-off at NASA Ames Research Center in California on leap day: February 29, 2020. One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. That will be the moment when the world will watch as we make people fly.

There will be flying platforms, which may be best for first responders to land in areas that were inaccessible previously. Certain types of flyers might be better for package delivery, others for personal commutes. We have a number of teams designing flying motorcycles.

There are major companies working on flying taxis, where people go to a rooftop, get into a large flyer, and go to another spot in the city. Boston might have point-to-point travel from your home to your office or restrict it to skyport-to-skyport in certain areas.

Photo courtesy of NAACP

Tanisha SullivanPresident, Boston NAACP

Transportation is an issue that goes far beyond reducing emissions or whether the train is bright and shiny. It really should be about addressing our economic disparities, our affordable-housing crisis, and even our education disparities. Greater access to transportation enhances quality of life.

To achieve this, some of our public transportation should be fare-free for students and seniors. We should also consider flat rates for commuter railrather than penalizing people who live farther outside the major metropolitan areas. There should be incentives for families and companies to be more creative in how they think about transportation options. I propose a tax credit on trade-ins for electric cars; its not just about adding a new car to your households fleet, its about getting that fuel-operated vehicle off the road as soon as possible. Likewise, to get people out of rush-hour traffic, we need to incentivize more companies to actively promote, through financial benefits, the use of flexible-working schedules. We talk about where we live, we talk about where we workwe also need to talk about how transportation affects the time we spend with family and the time we spend with community.

Alice BrownDirector of planning, Boston Harbor Now

Today, its really hard to take public transportation from East Boston to the Seaport, or to the Navy Yard in Charlestown. Weve proposed a new star-shaped ferry route for the inner harbor. As part of that, Im especially excited by the prospect of rebuilding Lewis Mall next to Maverick Square to be a full ferry-dock facility. The people of East Boston will have a ferry, not only to go to Long Wharf, but to Charlestown and the Seaport.

People are rediscovering the harbor in so many ways. Theyre already out on the water in water taxis, ferries, and shuttle boats. We just need to expand where publicly accessible boats go.

Photo by Marilyn Humphries

Jim CanalesPresident, Barr Foundation

Based on the work that we have done and the partnerships we have funded over many years now in the mobility space, whats evident is that there is no silver bullet and no single fix. So what I end up focusing on is: What are some of the values and principles that should inform how we think about solutions? And there are a number of things that I would land on.

One is that we should think a lot about how we put people at the center of whatever solution were trying to advance. How do we think about what people fundamentally need in order to get to the places that they need to go? I think another element that is important for Boston, which aims to be a world-class city, is how can we ensure we are aspirational and bold as we shape the kind of mobility system that a world-class city deserves? Sometimes we can get stuck in these conversations about Well, thats not possible, Our system is so old, or We dont have the money to do it. Im hoping that we can really think big, bold, and aspirationally, and acknowledge that its also going to take time and resources and that its not going to get solved overnight.

Lama Bou MjahedResearch director, Mobility Lab

Shared dockless e-scooters and e-bikes could be a really viable way to enhance mobility in Boston, based on our study of Arlington, Virginias pilot program. The results show that people dont just use them recreationally, as was predicted, but to go to destinations, such as shops or work, or make connections to metro rail.

Companies that operate the shared-bike programs in Arlington paid a fee to the city, and deployed them across the county. Riders use an app to scan the code to unlock one. Theres usually a $1 fee to unlock it, and then a fee per minute; the average cost is around $3 for the scooters. When youre done, you park it, usually on the sidewalk. The city can use corrals to de-clutter the sidewalks; Arlington has seven now and is rolling out more. Of users surveyed, 32 percent said e-scooters and e-bikes replaced cars for them, whether Uber or private vehicles. So there is the potential to take cars off the road.

Karl IagnemmaPresident, Aptiv Autonomous Mobility

Self-driving robotaxis, which are currently operating in Las Vegas, will one day increase accessibility in Boston. Autonomous vehicles are without bias; they do not discriminate based on where people live, their income level, or their race. For underserved communities, they provide low-cost connectivity to reach transit lines.

Imagine a Boston with an efficient network of vehicles that are deployed only when there is demand, moving seamlessly to and from destinations, helping people better travel to transit stations, healthcare facilities, school, and job opportunities. That means improved mobility, reduced congestion, safer roads, and equitable access.

We have a fleet on the road in Las Vegas thats picking up and dropping off passengers six days a week, and so far weve given more than 75,000 rides to members of the public. We dont have a specific timetable for Boston yet, but we plan to ramp up significantly in the middle of the next decade.

Patrick SullivanExecutive director, Seaport Transportation Management Association

Because transportation affects all of us, it can bring people to the table who might not otherwise collaborate. I propose fostering stronger partnerships both among neighboring businesses that share many of the same transportation challenges, and between the public and private sectors. Its really interesting how willing businesses are to take that call, take that meeting, and be of assistance.

On the South Boston waterfront, for example, our organization brought together business leaders, along with leaders from city and state agencies, to launch the SeaportNorth Station ferry service in February of this year. The state agency, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, led the effort to procure the boats and figure out how to operate the service. A mix of employers and property owners in the Seaport came together to 100 percent privately fund the service, which serves their employees and the public. Related Beal, which owns Lovejoy Wharf, constructed the dock, which received some public funding. Today were seeing 14,000 riders per monthand six buses that were previously making dozens of trips a day between North Station and the Seaport are off of the road.

Ambar JohnsonProgram director, LivableStreets Alliance

Its so important for people to be able to connect safely and efficiently to transit centers that will take them to and from their jobs. The last mile concept can make or break transportation. And its the community that knows what obstacles they face to get to that next spot.

When we are doing this work, whether its state agencies, cities, or municipalities, it is integral to make sure that the process is community-driven. There is so much knowledge that community members hold, being so proximate to the issues theyre dealing with every day. In some cases, yes, we need new technologies. But really it gets as simple as, what if we just listen to community members, and get the things that theyve been asking for done? There are things theyve been asking for for years: more frequent service along Columbia Road; lower fares on the Fairmount Line; more connections, with lower transfer times; not having a road in their community treated like a highway, so that their children cannot safely cross the street. Listen and trust their judgment, and just implement it.

Tracy CorleyTransit-oriented development fellow, MassINC

For too long we have been designing our communities so that all of the activities are concentrated in major metropolitan hubs such as Boston, and everywhere else is just housing. That is what is causing congestion. By revitalizing our gateway cities and making them hubs of activity, we can ease people out of traffic on our roads and lower usage on our rail systems.

There are three ways to make that happen. First: more diverse employment opportunities close to home in those gateway cities, led by small-business development.

Second: Strengthen our Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs). We need not only those first- and last-mile connections to rail and other infrastructure, but also alternatives to cars for getting around in peoples own communities. That includes more frequent and reliable bus service, but we also need to empower RTAs to think systematically about ways to coordinate and collaborate with other communitiesfor example, providing one-seat rides between those gateway cities.

Third: Allow regional ballot initiatives so that gateway cities and surrounding communities can raise their own funding to address local transportation needs. Right now, transportation is centrally planned and gateway cities are really getting left behind. There is a bill being considered in the legislature for this.

Amy DainTransportation policy analyst, Dain Research

Theres a lot of demand for housing in the municipalities along the Route 128 corridor. But were continuing to build isolated developments that are only accessible by cars. If we build places that are walkable or have other means of transit, then we will reduce the amount of car use for the people who live there.

Theres a real opportunity there, but we need people who are thinking about that region, and devoting their careers to it, and feeling responsible for it. Who right now is responsible for 128? We could use an unofficial mayor. Think of Vivien Li, the longtime mayor of Bostons waterfront, as a model.

The Mayor of 128 could help view development in a different way. Whats the infrastructure we need to get people walking from place to place, taking the train, taking shuttles, and riding bikes, or maybe taking a kayak down the Charles River to your job? How do we set up regional mitigation funds and funding to upgrade stations? We need somebody whose whole career is devoted to it, thinking about it, pushing itand doesnt just come up with a plan and then move on to the next project.

Interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity. Additional reporting by Spencer Buell, Jacqueline Cain, Brittany Jasnoff, and Alyssa Vaughn.

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How to Save Transportation in Boston: Big Ideas - Boston magazine

Actress Kate Hudson, 40, has four businesses, three kids and two upcoming movies. But she still finds time to prioritize her health and wellnessand eating well is a big part of that.

In her interview for the cover story of the December issue of Women's Health, Kate said she eats around five times a day. She starts each morning by drinking celery juice, followed by a protein shake, oatmeal, an acai bowl, or eggs. Her other meals are mostly plant-based and include squash or zucchini noodles. And occasionally, she'll add chicken, fish, or steak to the mix.

Her new eating routine is motivated in part by Kate's daughter, Rani, who she had with boyfriend Danny Fujikawa in October 2018. Kate told WH that losing weight after having Rani was much harder than when she had her two sons.Unlike with the other two, I didnt really have time to work out. It took a different kind of discipline, Kate said.

This time around, Kate had to rely on stricter eating habits with the help of her Weight Watchers (now WW) partnership. Within just four months of healthy eating, Kate says she had almost hit her goal weight. Kate posted this photo updating followers on her progress in April. She wrote, "Im a couple lbs. from goal weight! Ive done it without stressing on food or working out like crazy although I have been disciplined."

Looks that celery juice is really working, Kate. Brb, running to Whole Foods!

A version of this article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of Womens Health. Pick up an issue on newsstands November 26.

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Kate Hudson's Diet Includes Celery Juice And Five Meals A Day - Women's Health

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KINGWOOD, TEXAS (WGHP) A Texas mother is outraged after she found a note in her child's lunchbox that said she should put her son on a diet, KTRK reports.

The worker has reportedly been fired.

"The thing that upset me the most is that this is bullying," said Francesca, the child's mother.

Francesca says her 5-year-old son had been going to Rocking Horse Day Care in Kingwood for three years and she never had any problems.

"I do everything in my power to build my son up and make him feel good about himself because he is amazing," Francesca said.

She had recently made diet changes for her son's lunch and wrote a note to be supportive, asking the workers on Tuesday "Please tell my son that his mommy loves him so much and that I'm thinking about him."

That same note came back in the lunchbox that night and had this written at the bottom:

"No! put him on a diet and go away."

"To know a grown-up who knows how hard life is and how mean people can be can say something like that, especially about a child...there's something wrong," Francesca said.

She alerted the day care which then investigated and told her the employee never intended for her to see what was written.

A director at the center tells says the employee admitted to writing the message and was fired.

He also said they're very sorry this happened.

Francesca has had to take her son with her to work the past two days while she tries to find a new day care.

"I put a lot of trust into this school to take care of him and it just really hurt me," Francesca said.

30.050026-95.184477

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Day care worker fired over note telling mother to put son on diet and go away - FOX61 Hartford

Juice cleanses are more popular than ever. What are the benefits and changes you can expect to experience if you try one? Health editor Lucy Gornall investigates...

Go on a juice cleanse they said. It will kick start your digestion they said. And help you poo, they said. I say they, I mean advertisers, promoters and juice-diet advocates.

Ahh, go on then. Despite the fact that a previous attempt at doing a juice diet left me so ridiculously hungry that I caved after half a day, I vowed that this time I would be strong.

Step one of the juice cleanse process is understanding what youre doing, its not to be confused with blending! Juicing is when you consume the squeezed juices from fruits and vegetables and you separate them from the pulp. Blending mixes all the edible parts of the fruit and vegetables, including the pulp and fibrous parts.

Juice cleanses are short, intensive periods of time, usually lasting between 3-10 days, where you only consume only the juice of fruits and vegetables. The makers and promoters of juice cleanses claim that they aid weight loss and detoxify the body.

I opted for a two-day Juice Fast Diet by Nosh Detox, which claims to help you lose weight and feel great, purify and nitrify inside and out without feeling hunger, and clear toxins from your system. Priced at a generous 110, I was hopeful. In fact, Nosh Detox say that 98% of clients have lost a few kgs within a few days.

Two black gift-bag style bags arrive at my flat the afternoon before I kick off my juice cleanse. Im actually spreading generous lumps of hummus on crackers when the delivery man turns up. Theres also sausages and garlic bread in the oven. I sheepishly put the juices away.

Each bag carries a days worth of juices. Theres one morning tonic and four 500ml smoothies, each a bright, vibrant healthy colour. Im excited, although Im still skeptical that this will keep me full. Nosh Detox also say that the cleanse helps to reduce sugar cravings so Im praying this kicks my 4pm chocolate habit to the kerb.

Its recommended that hard cardio is avoided whilst on the cleanse, although gentle exercise is encouraged. As a personal trainer and health writer, would I be listening? No. Should I have listened? Yes.

I throw myself into my usual morning workout a mixture of weights, cardio and high intensity interval training.

Post workout, I arrive at my desk and knock back a sour tasting Lemon & Ginger Tonic to be drunk at 8.30am- aptly described as the healer. I despise the taste at first. In fact I despise the taste full stop. But, its lemon and ginger (no honey) so what was I expecting?

Later in the morning its time for my first 500ml juice; The Rehydrator, to be drunk at 11am. But its only 10.20 and Im peckish and I cant resist. Its a tasty mix of summery fruits as well as flaxseed, known to help digestion and push things along. Well, just 15 minutes later, things have been pushed along alright and I experience my first juice diet movement.

At 11.35am, just 1 hour and 15 minutes after my second juice, I cave in and have some seeds. And a few Malteasers. Im legitimately hungry and its not even been half a day. Im unsure whether Im hungry because I KNOW I cant eat, or if I am in fact starving, which does feel possible.

Lunchtime is at 1.30; another 500ml bottle of goodness, which actually does actually fill me up this time. I am feeling great. Honestly.

Then 4.30 is The Healer, a green juice. Im a sucker for a green juice but as they tend to pack in insane amounts of fruit, I am also a little wary of the sugar hit. This one contains avocado, mango, watercress, pineapple and Green synergy Powder packed with protein. Its surprisingly good. Like Bali in a bottle. Plus, I feel quite energised after and ready for a busy evening of teaching gym classes.

Digestion wise, Im quite gassy. Im not bloated, but I keep getting urges to go.

I get home for dinner; a yellow, fruit filled juice, which also tastes great. I cheat again with a huge bowl of yoghurt and granola afterwards though. Oh, and a carrot. I cant help it I have this incessant desire to chew something.

The juice cleanse diet racks up about 900-1000 calories a day, a far cry from the NHS recommended 2000 calories-a-day. So, its not surprise my stomach is wanting some grub.

However, that night I sleep like a baby. Apart from my overly full bladder waking me up at 1am, desperate for a wee. Thats what happens I guess when you drink half a litre of juice before hitting the sack.

I awake on day two full of energy.

At 8:30am I only drink half of the Lemon and Ginger Tonic it makes me physically wretch. Instead, my coffee kick starts my digestion today, and trust me you dont want me to expand on that.

I mix up my juices today opting for the 4.30 juice at 11am. Its The Healer again this time made with kiwi, leafy greens, banana, oranges and Green Synergy Powder and it tastes amazing. I down it so fast though, that it doesnt even touch the sides. So half a fruit and nut bar along with some almonds finishes me off.

I feel like such a cheater but remind myself that I have been exercising so I am going to need some extra calories. In between the 1.30 and 4.30 juices, I snack a little more; crisps, Malteasers (again), dried fruit, granola straight from the box.

By 4pm on day two, my bowels are not happy. I have to run to the loo a good few times and whilst out on the tube, the urge to go strikes me and I have a mild panic. I guess its the combination of random snacks and over two litres worth of fruit and vegetables.

By the end of day two, I get into bed and enjoy another blissful sleep. My juice diet is over.

So whats changed? Are my skintight jeans feeling baggy? Is my skin glowing?

Honestly, no. My size certainly hasnt changed and my skin looks same, but I do strangely have heaps of energy.

The most obvious thing I noticed was the increased bowel movements. I feel flushed out. Empty. Not surprising really as Ive just spent the past two days dashing to the loo. I was expecting that the juices would make things move a little but I wasnt prepared for just how much, the experience could rival colonic irrigation. Whenever I went to, ahem, relive myself, it always felt unfinished, and 10 minutes later I would be back. I lost count of the number of trips I made.

Doing a juice diet also taught me that if youre exercising, your body really does need extra fuel. If you dont fill the tank, you cant expect it to run.

However, knowing that I have spent two days giving my body so many great vitamins and minerals, is reassuring. I hope that this health injection helps me to ward off the endless bugs and lurgies which are flying around right now.

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I tried a juice cleanse for two days and the amount of times I had to poo was staggering - woman&home

TRENDY low-carb diets promoted by celebs protect against flu, a study suggests.

They activate a special type of immune cell which creates mucus in the lungs, researchers say.

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This helps the body trap and kill the virus before it has a chance to cause severe illness. The research is a boost for low-carb keto diets which cut out bread, pasta and rice in favour of meat, fish and non-starchy veg.

They have been promoted by stars including actress Gwyneth Paltrow and reality TV star Kim Kardashian.

US scientists fed mice the keto diet and others standard grub. Fewer in the keto group died after being infected with flu. Analysis revealed the diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, which have not previously been linked to the virus.

Mice bred without the gene that produced the cells had no protection from flu, even on a keto diet.

Researcher Prof Akiko Iwasaki, of Yale University, said: This was a totally unexpected finding.

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"Harnessing the beneficial effects of a ketogenic diet through gamma delta T cells may offer a potential previously unrecognised avenue for influenza disease prevention and treatment.

Dr Jenna Macciochi, from the University of Sussex, said: There may be a thread of scientific truth to the old adage feed a cold, starve a fever.

Flu kills around 8,000 a year in England, official figures show.

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Trendy low-carb diets promoted by celebs protect against the flu - The Sun

The Hogan administration is weighing a one-year delay in restrictions on fertilizing farm fields with animal manure after a Salisbury University professor said the state is not prepared to deal with the impact of the pollution-prevention regulation on Eastern Shore grain and poultry growers.

Memo Diriker, director of Salisburys Business Economic and Community Outreach Network (BEACON), told a Maryland Department of Agriculture advisory committee Friday that the state lacks the funding and infrastructure to haul away or treat the excess manure next year when 1,300 farms are to come under a regulation limiting how much phosphorus-rich animal waste they can spread on their fields.

Are we ready to make the transition now? Diriker asked at the conclusion of his presentation. Based on this, no.

The states Phosphorus Management Tool rule, adopted in 2015, aims to reduce the risk of polluted farm runoff by controlling how much manure farmers can use to fertilize fields. Phosphorus, which is essential for plant growth, is one of the nutrients contained in manure. But when it reaches local waterways, it feeds algae blooms and worsens the fish-stressing dead zone that forms in the Chesapeake Bay.

Farmers have traditionally relied on animal manure as a low-cost fertilizer to feed crops both nitrogen and phosphorus. But in some places, manure has been applied in larger quantities than crops can use. As a result, phosphorus has built up in the soil there and poses a continual risk for polluted runoff.

Soil tests have found that 20% of the states 1.1 million acres of croplands contain so much phosphorus that they need to be regulated. Although there are hot spots in practically every county, more than three-fourths of the acreage with elevated phosphorus levels is on the Shore, and more than half is in the Lower Shore, according to state data.

The Maryland regulation restricts or bars outright the application of phosphorus on fields where theres a risk that the nutrient will wash out of the soil into nearby streams and drainage ditches when it rains.

Farmers fought such restrictions for years, questioning their need and contending that the higher cost of commercial fertilizer could make farming uneconomical. Gov. Larry Hogan campaigned in 2014 on a pledge to block the regulation put forward by his predecessor, Martin OMalley. Hogan promptly withdrew the rule once he took office, but he reinstated it a month later under pressure from legislators and federal regulators. He lengthened the rules phase-in to seven years and pledged to put it on hold if it looked like farmers would be hurt by it. Farmers finally accepted the regulation, saying they trusted Hogan to look out for them.

So far, about 65,000 acres on 350 farms statewide have been affected by the restriction, which applied first to fields with the highest phosphorus levels in their soil. By the time the phase-in is complete on Jan. 1, 2022, the rule is expected to control manure use on about 228,000 acres on more than 1,600 farms statewide.

The state has set up a manure transport program that is hauling about 250,000 tons a year to other farms some even out of state where it can be safely spread on fields or put to other uses. Two-thirds of that waste comes from dairy farms in central and western Maryland, while the other third has come from Shore poultry growers.

The state provides $1 million annually to subsidize the transport, with another $400,000 contributed by poultry companies responsible for most of the 300 million birds raised there every year.

Starting Jan. 1, though, another 122,000 acres much of it on the Shore are slated to be covered by the regulations next phase. Salisbury Universitys Diriker told the advisory committee that the state transport program lacks funding to handle the additional manure, and there may be trouble finding enough trucks and drivers unless the states per-ton subsidy is increased. Theres also a shortage of short-term storage space for holding the manure until it can be hauled away, he said.

State officials have said theres ample farm acreage elsewhere in Maryland and even on the Upper Shore where the excess manure could be safely applied with little risk of runoff. But Diriker cautioned that there are competing demands for that land, so less is likely to be available than previously thought. Farmers are being offered lucrative payments to spread sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, from wastewater treatment plants, and some are also leasing acreage to industrial-scale solar projects. Some farmers who use commercial fertilizer now also are reluctant to spread manure on their fields, either because it requires different equipment or because theyre wary of the regulatory scrutiny that may come with it.

Those and other factors are expected to drive up the costs of transporting the excess manure. Diriker suggested the state might need to spend about $10 million over three years to ensure there are enough trucks, enough places to store the manure and spread it safely, and maybe also provide some financial help for farmers who'd have to buy more expensive commercial fertilizer instead to get the nitrogen their crops still need.

State officials have said the best long-term solution for the excess manure generated by poultry growing operations on the Shore is to develop viable alternative uses. MDA has awarded nearly $6 million to eight projects statewide over the last five years to try technologies for converting manure into methane and potentially marketable fertilizer byproducts. The results so far have been disappointing.

Diriker said, alternative uses are promising in the long-run, but the exact timeline is fuzzy at best. Until those technologies prove themselves, he suggested that transport would have to serve. If the needed investments are promptly forthcoming, he said, the state might be ready to handle the next big batch of farms in a year or two.

Colby Ferguson, government relations director for the Maryland Farm Bureau, questioned the wisdom of investing heavily in transporting manure around the Bay region or even out of the watershed, given the costs and uncertainties about how much land would be available.

To me, it makes more sense to use it where its generated, he said. Forcing farmers to give up manure for chemical fertilizer will deprive soils of needed organic matter, he added.

Jeff Horstman, executive director of Shore Rivers, one of three environmental groups represented on the 21-member advisory panel, voiced his frustration with the situation. The hurdles Diriker had laid out have long been known and frequently discussed, he said, yet little has been done to get ready.

Whats the messaging going to be if we delay this because we havent done what we needed to do for the last five years? he asked.

Even before the panel had met, environmental activists were pressing the Hogan administration not to hold up the rules next step.

The delay would be a serious setback in the Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts, and we urge Gov. Hogan to reject the proposal, said Betsy Nicholas, executive director of Waterkeepers Chesapeake. It couldnt come at a worse time, when Maryland and all the other Bay states are behind in their pollution reduction efforts.

Hans Schmidt, assistant MDA secretary, acknowledged that the phosphorus rule is part of Marylands Bay cleanup plan. But a one-year delay in the rules phase-in means it would take full effect in 2023, he said, which is still two years ahead of the 2025 deadline for taking all steps needed to meet the nutrient reduction goals set by the Bay pollution diet.

Schmidt also noted that in the previous two years, the regulation took effect for those fields with the highest phosphorus levels. Those fields slated to be phased in next have lower, though still potentially problematic, levels.

Many on the advisory panel sounded sympathetic to delaying the phase-in for a year. But a motion to recommend the MDA do so failed on a tie vote. Some members said they were reluctant to back a delay until they had discussed how to deal with the impacts on farmers.

The panel instead voted to meet again on Dec. 13 and try to come up with specific recommendations for what the state would need to do now to get ready in a year, should there be a delay.

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Article: Next phase of MD phosphorus regulation may be delayed another year - The Chesapeake Bay Journal

The right diet is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Once people get into a routine, maintaining a healthy diet can be simple. However, when such routines are interrupted, such as on nights out on the town, it can be much more difficult to stay the dietary course.

Dining out is a great way to discover new foods. But when diners arent careful, dining out can be detrimental to their overall health. According to the American Heart Association, portion sizes in fast food and sit-down restaurants have gotten considerably bigger over the last half-century. Many restaurants now list calorie counts on their menus, but its easy to overlook such information and overindulge in a delicious meal while engaging in conversation. Thankfully, the following three strategies can help diners stay true to their diets while dining out.

Perhaps because theyre shared with fellow diners, appetizers tend to be overlooked when counting calories while dining out. But some appetizers, such as those that are fried or served with rich, creamy sauces, can be loaded with calories. That matters even if diners dont intend to eat a lot before their entres arrive. When choosing a first course, EHE Health, a healthcare provider that emphasizes the power of preventive care, opt for a broth-based soup and/or a salad with dressing on the side. Both options are low in calories but still satisfying.

2. Learn your menu lingo.

Before booking a reservation, take to the internet to find a restaurant that offers healthy fare. The AHA notes that menus may provide certain clues indicating their meals are healthy. Look for menu items described as light, fresh, fit, skinny, and so on. Meals described in such terms tend to be low-calorie options that are steamed, broiled, baked, or cooked in other healthy ways. When reading menus, EHE Health advises against choosing foods described as fried, breaded, buttered, or stuffed.

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3. Say so long to certain foods.

Adults who dine out infrequently may not be adversely affected by the occasional indulgence in unhealthy fare. However, people who routinely dine out may need to be more selective, as certain foods, when eaten regularly, can increase a persons risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other ailments. When dining out, the AHA advises diners to skip certain foods, such as bacon; salty meats; salty sauces, such as soy and teriyaki; French fries; white bread; white rice; and refined pasta, which is high in calories and low in fiber.

Dining out need not compromise a healthy diet. With a few simple strategies, diners can hit the town without derailing their diets.

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3 strategies to stay loyal to your diet when dining out - Williston Daily Herald

The ketogenic diet, more commonly called the keto diet, involves a severely restricted carbohydrate intake. People who follow the keto diet compensate for this reduction in carbohydrates by increasing their intake of high fat foods and eating moderate amounts of protein.

These dietary adjustments can sometimes cause mild constipation. Keep reading to learn more about the keto diet, including how it may cause constipation and how to treat it.

When people think of carbohydrates, they often picture grain-based foods, such as bread and pasta. Although it is true that eating too many simple carbohydrates, such as refined sugar, can negatively affect people's overall health, carbohydrates exist in both healthful and unhealthful foods.

The main types of carbohydrates in food include sugar, starch, and fiber, which are present in fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The term carbohydrate refers to a group of molecules that cells can break down into a simple sugar called glucose.

Glucose acts as the body's primary source of energy because cells can easily convert it into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) through a process called glycolysis.

People who follow the keto diet consume very small quantities of carbohydrates, usually limiting the intake to less than 50 grams (g) per day. This restricted intake means that their body will need an alternative source of energy.

In the beginning, the body will tap into its glycogen stores. Glycogen is a larger, more complex form of glucose that the body metabolizes after it burns through all of the readily available glucose.

When the body has exhausted its glycogen stores, the liver starts converting fatty acids into water-soluble molecules called ketone bodies. The cells can use these ketone bodies as an alternative source of energy when glucose is unavailable. When this happens, the body enters a state of ketosis.

Unfortunately, keto diets have their downfalls. People may find it difficult to sustain an extremely low carbohydrate diet for a long time. The transition into ketosis can also cause some undesirable side effects that may discourage people from sticking to the keto diet.

Aside from fatigue and headaches, people may experience uncomfortable gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. According to one large scale study on the use of keto diets to treat childhood epilepsy, nearly 50% of children experience the following GI symptoms during the first few weeks of starting a keto diet:

People who follow a keto diet may experience mild constipation that lasts a few days to a few weeks.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, people who have constipation often experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Reasons why someone might experience constipation while on a keto diet include:

Drastic changes to a person's diet can negatively affect their digestive system and even cause symptoms, such as nausea or constipation.

The body needs time to adjust to a diet. Gradually transitioning to a low carbohydrate diet over a few weeks may help prevent undesirable digestive side effects.

People who follow a keto diet usually consume 2050 g of carbohydrates per day. This amount is much lower than the recommended daily value of 300 g of carbohydrates per day.

Although people can benefit from limiting their intake of simple carbohydrates and processed foods, keto diets restrict all types of carbohydrate, including those present in high fiber fruits, vegetables, and grains.

The digestive system cannot break down fiber, so it stays in the GI tract and adds bulk to stools by drawing water into the intestines. This added bulk and water helps keep stools soft and bowel movements regular. Without fiber, constipation may be more likely.

The side effects that occur when people transition to a keto diet should clear up once the body adjusts. However, these side effects may discourage people from continuing the diet.

People who experience persistent constipation or have just started a keto diet may wish to consider the following treatments to manage their symptoms:

Read about 38 healthful high fiber foods here.

If a person's constipation does not improve after implementing these lifestyle and dietary changes, they can try using a low carbohydrate laxative, such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX).

Fiber supplements can also help relieve constipation. However, these products may contain carbohydrates, which could impair the body's ability to maintain ketosis.

People should speak with a healthcare professional before starting a new medication or supplement.

The transition to a keto diet can result in symptoms that resemble those of withdrawal, such as confusion, irritability, and increased sugar cravings.

The normal balance of electrolytes and other minerals changes when the body stops using glucose as its primary source of energy and starts converting fat into ketone bodies.

This imbalance can lead to flu-like symptoms, which people often refer to as keto flu. Some of these symptoms include:

The following tips may make the transition to a keto diet easier by lowering the risk of side effects, such as constipation and keto flu.

When switching to a keto diet, people may find the following steps helpful:

A keto diet has several potential health benefits, but it does come with risks, including constipation.

With a careful transition to a keto diet for example, gradually reducing carbohydrate intake, staying hydrated, and including high fiber foods in the diet people can avoid this.

If constipation or other adverse effects of the keto diet persist, a person should see a doctor.

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Keto diet and constipation: What to know - Medical News Today

A Texas woman is furious after she said she found a bullying note inside her 5-year-old son's lunchbox that a day care employee had written.She told KTRK-TV that she's sent her son to Rocking Horse Day Care in Houston for three years without any issues, until now.The mom said she recently changed her son's diet and wrote a note to workers, saying, "Please tell my son that his mommy loves him so much and that I'm thinking about him."Instead, that note came back home with another note written on the bottom."No! Put him on a diet and go away!" it said."I do everything in my power to build my son up and make him feel good about himself because he is amazing," the mom said.A day care employee who admitted to writing the note was fired, the TV station reported.Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

A Texas woman is furious after she said she found a bullying note inside her 5-year-old son's lunchbox that a day care employee had written.

She told KTRK-TV that she's sent her son to Rocking Horse Day Care in Houston for three years without any issues, until now.

The mom said she recently changed her son's diet and wrote a note to workers, saying, "Please tell my son that his mommy loves him so much and that I'm thinking about him."

Instead, that note came back home with another note written on the bottom.

"No! Put him on a diet and go away!" it said.

"I do everything in my power to build my son up and make him feel good about himself because he is amazing," the mom said.

A day care employee who admitted to writing the note was fired, the TV station reported.

Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

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'Put him on a diet': Mom says she's appalled by day care employee's note about her 5-year-old son - WBAL Baltimore