Category Archives: Diet And Food

The buzzy Planetary Health Diet cant work for the vulnerable populations who need it most.

Earlier this year, a groundbreaking study from the EAT-Lancet Commission outlined a climate-friendly path to feeding 10 billion people within planetary boundaries. Its recommendations included limiting meat consumption to about an ounce per day, or roughly two chicken nuggets, and bulking up on low-impact foods like beans.

The backlash was swift. Critics argued that scaling back on meat would devastate smallholder farmers who rely on animals for income. Others claimed the report was based on outdated nutritional science. Some thought the diet was just too hard to follow; our writer Sam Bloch agreed after trying it for a week. Public launch events were controversial, or sparsely attended. Almost a year later, the negative press coverage refuses to die: As recently as this week, the president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association pointed to reports that one of the studys backers had invested in an airline, saying the move exposes complete hypocrisy and hidden agendas. (He has a point: By some calculations, the carbon footprint of a single transatlantic flight is larger than a year of meat consumption.)

That would mean rich people eating less animal-sourced food and poor people eating more.

A new study from researchers at Tufts University and the International Food Policy Research Institute adds a wrinkle to the debate: the diet recommended by the EAT-Lancet commission is simply unaffordable for an estimated 1.58 billion people, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

To get these numbers, the researchers cross-referenced local income data with the retail prices of 744 foods in 159 countries. They based their model on the lowest-cost diet that conformed to the recommendations made in the report and found that following the EAT-Lancet diet would cost a median of $2.84 per day globally. It was also about 60 percent more expensive than a diet that met minimum nutritional requirements, largely because it includes high-cost meat and dairy.

The original EAT-Lancet Commission, and the reference diet that they published, was intended to provide a bulls eye, if you will, or a focus point of attention, towards which global diets could converge, says Will Masters, a professor of nutrition and economics at Tufts University who worked on the report. They recognized from the start that, if the world were to converge on the EAT-Lancet reference diet, that would mean rich people eating less animal-sourced food and poor people eating more. What weve done is just to quantify how much more expensive and out of reach that reference diet is for the poorest.

The Green Revolution gave us enough starches to survive; if we want to sustain a growing population, we have to invest in other food groups.

So what will it take to make this diet more affordable? The researchers write that such a change would require some combination of higher incomes and lower prices. This could mean revamping existing social safety nets to provide better coverage or supporting specific programs that aim to bring down the cost of healthy foods. The Green Revolution gave us enough starches to survive; if we want to sustain a growing population, we have to invest in other food groups.

Masters cites eggs as an example. Crops, he says, are produced efficiently by small-scale farmers. But foods like eggs, which are rich in protein and other nutrients, are much cheaper to produce at a large scale. Having chickens that lay eggs is a much lower cost per egg if you can put the chickens in a bigger coop and manage them in a more efficient way, he says. If you want low-cost eggs, youre going to need some specialized egg producers, and then a distribution system around that Backyard chickens are very important. But theyre not a good source of eggs.

Of course, higher incomes and lower food costs are just one step in the process. Once people have enough money to buy foods that match the diet recommended by the EAT-Lancet Commission, theres no guarantee that they will (or even necessarily should) make choices that conform to it.

But no one ever really expected the EAT-Lancet Commission to dictate the contents of the worlds shopping cart. Its report is more of a jumping-off point for further discussion about how our planet can feed 10 billion people. And, given the debate the diet continues to generate nearly a year after its release, it seems to have succeeded.

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New study shows the EAT-Lancet diet is unaffordable for at least 1.6 billion people - The New Food Economy

DEAR ABBY: My companion of many years and I are retired and live a few hours away from some of his family. When one of them plans a visit, she always insists on taking us out for a meal. She doesnt ask if we would like to eat out but rather commands it. Then she insists on paying for the meal.

I enjoy cooking and visiting with family during and after meals. I know what our dietary restrictions are, and most restaurant meals do not meet those requirements, which include low sodium, fat and sugar and no gluten. According to my companion, Im a good cook, and he enjoys everything I make.

I know I should say something, but what? I need a suggestion on how to deal with the situation without hurting anyones feelings. -- THANKS, BUT NO THANKS

DEAR T.B.N.T.: This relative may not mean to seem overbearing and may only be trying to be nice. Thank her warmly for wanting to take you to dinner, but tell her no. Explain that because of medical reasons, both of you must strictly limit the sodium, fat, sugar and gluten in your diet, which is why the two of you have decided it is safer to eat at home, where you can control what goes into your food. Then invite her to join you because you would love to see her and spend time with her while shes in town.

DEAR ABBY: I am in a difficult situation. My dear friends and bosses, Rebecca and Caesar, are selling their home. They had offered to sell it to me and, at the time, I was interested in buying it. Then I did the one thing I never thought I would do. I found love. Because its no longer just me, their house wont work for us. I was honest with my friends. They have been giving me the silent treatment ever since, and its causing problems at work. What is a girl to do? -- IN LOVE IN THE MIDWEST

DEAR IN LOVE: Recognize that Rebecca and Caesar are understandably upset that what they thought would be a quick and easy sale has now become more complicated. Explain to them again that you didnt mean to cause them a problem, but your circumstances changed. And if they continue to take out their disappointment by punishing you at work, look for another job.

DEAR ABBY: I agreed to pay for a cellphone for a friends daughter while she went to school in the U.S. She was supposed to be here for three years. WELL, it is now year four, and shes planning to stay here after graduation. How do I tell her that I am not willing to continue paying for her phone after graduation? -- TRIED TO HELP IN TEXAS

DEAR TRIED TO HELP: You have several choices. You can tell her parents, write to her or call her on the cellphone you have so generously underwritten. And after you deliver the message, you should be thanked for your generosity not only by her but also her parents.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at http://www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Continue reading here:
Dear Abby: Couple with diet restrictions tired of being bullied into dining out - OregonLive

There are several well-known factors that contribute to aging: smoking, stress, sun exposure and genetics, among them. But what you may not realize is what you put on your plate can also cause you to look beyond your year.

Everything that goes into your mouth affects your aging cycle, says Tina Martini, chef and author of "Delicious Medicine: The Healing Power of Food." Among the offenders are alcohol, refined sugar, and over-processed and fried foods.

When you eat fresh foods, as close to nature as you can get, you can slow down the effects of damage to your cells, thus slowing the aging process, she says.

Fried Foods

One of the main damaging factors is acrylamide, an organic compound that is produced during the frying process of some starchy foods. This has led the American Cancer Society to recommend limiting French fries, potato chips, foods made from grains breakfast cereals, cookies, toast because they tend to have higher levels of this chemical.

Acrylamide can affect the skin in the same way that sun damage does, says Martini.

Reduce your exposure by soaking raw potato slices in water for 15 to 30 minutes and draining before frying or roasting. Also, when cooking, choose boiling or steaming to stop acrylamide from forming.

Refined Sugar

Sugar is the main source of energy for our bodies, but it can also contribute to a process called glycation. The excess sugar molecules attach to proteins, creating "advanced glycation end products" or AGEs, which are linked to the loss of collagen. Losing collagen can lead to wrinkles and creepy skin.

Remove processed sugary foods from your diet and eat fresh vegetables and fruits, says Lorraine Kearney, BASc, NDTR, an adjunct lecturer at the City University of New York. To get the maximum nutrients from fruits enjoy them whole instead of dried, blended or pureed.

Snack on organic peaches, cherries, apples and strawberries as they can help to fight the signs of aging.

Enriched and Fortified Foods

You will often find the words enriched and fortified on labels of prepackaged foods. Those words generally mean that all the nutrients were removed during processing, and the manufacturer put back what they deemed important. A diet high in processed foods can lead to oxidative stress, which occurs due to an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in your body and may lead to cell damage.

Eating a diet rich in colorful foods increases the amount of nutrients the body needs to heal on the cellular level, Kearney says.

Stock up on fresh and antioxidant-rich foods like blackberries, blueberries, beets, bell peppers and radishes as they mitigate the effects of oxidative stress.

Alcohol

While drinking some alcohols in moderation is known to have beneficial health effects, overuse can cause wrinkles, puffiness, inflammation and dehydration.

While you should always remain hydrated, be extra mindful when consuming spirits; and instead of having a full glass of wine, enjoy a spritzer made with seltzer. Staying hydrated not only keeps your skin supple but also flushes toxins from the body.

Skin care is very important in protecting our skin, but its really the moisture in our bodies that keeps us radiant, says Martini.

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Fruits of youth: Consider this your guide to an anti-aging diet - Bloomer Advance

Jennifer Aniston is one the worlds most recognizable and beloved celebrities, and the fact that she has stayed youthfully glowing for the three decades shes been in the spotlight is a feat that has drawn a lot of attention. It turns out that Anistons health routines are relatively sensible. She makes choices rooted in self-control and repetition to maintain her health.

If fans want to follow in her footsteps, what changes should they make to their own exercise and diet habits? It turns out that one eating habit has really made a difference for Aniston.

Aniston has revealed that part of her health routine is intermittent fasting. She explains that she does not eat any solid food in the morning and sticks to just green juice and coffee. While it may sound easy enough to skip a hearty breakfast, Anistons routine is a little stricter than that. She has only an 8-hour window in which she is allowed solid food each day.

I noticed a big difference in going without solid food for 16 hours, she explained.

While this may sound like simply another fad diet, Aniston (and the many other celebrities and fitness gurus who follow suit) have science on their side. The Harvard Health Blog explains that more and more studies are stacking up to show the benefits of intermittent fasting. The trend can help with weight loss, but it can also boost metabolism in people generally.

Dr. Monique Tello writes that the fasting can be particularly useful at preventing diseases like diabetes: There is some good scientific evidence suggesting that circadian rhythm fasting, when combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, can be a particularly effective approach to weight loss, especially for people at risk for diabetes.

While some celebrities boast mind-boggling workout routines that would never translate to most regular peoples lives, Anistons workout regimen is surprisingly common sense. She focuses on a reasonable 45 minutes of cardio intervals (she prefers the elliptical) and gets a wide variety of weight and resistance training.

She likes to mix up her activities to prevent boredom, and she makes sure to travel with a pair of 8-pound weights so that she can squeeze a workout in on the road.

While the actress doesnt spend hours upon hours exercising every day, she makes it clear that consistency is key. Sticking with an exercise plan on a regular basis makes it a normal part of daily life, and Aniston has made a commitment to her health.

While Aniston clearly takes good care of her body, its important to note that her healthy habits extend to her mind as well. The actress has a daily routine of meditation that makes sure she sets herself up for a great day of focus and intention.

When shes not on set working, she tends to be a relatively late riser, letting herself sleep in until 8 or 9 in the morning.

As soon as she has woken up, though, she makes time to meditate. She uses a set transcendental meditation mantra and prefers to practice the mindfulness exercise for twenty minutes at a time. However, on days when her time is particularly strained, shell settle for a ten-minute session. The practice helps her make good decisions and is likely an integral part of her healthy approach to bouncing back from relationship struggles.

This combination of healthy mind, body, and diet practices has certainly worked for Aniston. She maintains youthful energy and appearance that stuns fans, and even though her personal life has often been splashed across headlines for the world to see she remains graceful and calm.

Continued here:
Jennifer Aniston Made This 1 Change in Her Diet That Really Made a Difference - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Its the latest hot topic. It seems every other person is doing some form of fasting these days. All sorts of acronyms get bandied about theres the 5:2, the 16:8, the Fast 800, intermittent fasting (IF) and alternate-day fasting (ADF).

Its been touted as the solution to everything from getting clearer skin, weight loss and increased longevity but is fasting a health fix or is it just a fad?

Intermittent fasting is probably the most popular approach. Most people already fast every day while they sleep. Intermittent fasting can be as simple as extending that fast a little longer.

You can do this by skipping breakfast, eating your first meal at noon and your last meal at 8pm. Then, youre technically fasting for 16 hours every day, and restricting your eating to an eight-hour eating window. This is the most popular form of intermittent fasting, known as the 16:8 method.

Popularised by British journalist Dr Michael Mosley, the 5:2 diet consists of five days of the week that are normal eating days, while the other two restrict calories to 500-600 per day.

Alternate-day fasting is another approach the basic idea is that you fast on one day, and then eat what you want the next day.

This fasting lark, while on trend right now, is not new.

Plutarch and Plato were big fans of fasting. The Greeks observed that sick animals did not eat and saw that it should be no different for humans. They believed fasting could both heal illness and improve cognitive function.

And almost all religious and spiritual practices throughout the ages have advocated fasting in one form or another. Buddha, Jesus and the Prophet Muhammad all fasted and believed in the power of fasting for physical, mental and spiritual benefit. A large number of religious fasting traditions are still practised today.

There is definitely something in it though.

Recent findings from the University of Graz, Austria, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, suggest other advantages, apart from weight loss, include reduced inflammation, better blood sugar control, improved heart health and boosted brain function in participants who undertook alternate day fasting.

Consultant rheumatologist Peter Browne believes there are definite benefits in fasting, but its not something that should be done in isolation. Browne, who works at the Bons Secours hospital in Tralee, says the evidence that intermittent fasting has health benefits is pretty clear. My initial interest in fasting was patient driven. Many of my patients want to try a non-medicine approach when they first see me for treatment and for some of them, fasting has very beneficial results.

He admits its not for everyone. Theres a cohort of patients who would struggle with adherence so its not an approach that can be universally applied, but there is no doubt that fasting can improve metabolic health with improvements in weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and improved blood sugars in many patients.

Fasting has benefits over and above weight loss too. Browne says it makes sense that allowing our bodies a break from eating, will divert energy to renewal instead. We have evolved to be in sync with the day/night cycle, ie, a circadian rhythm. Our metabolism has adapted to daytime food, night-time sleep. If our bodies are not digesting food at night, then theres time for repair.

This is a well-documented benefit of fasting autophagy, which plays a role in controlling inflammation and boosting immunity. When you fast, your body tries to save energy, and one of the things it can do to save energy is to recycle a lot of the immune cells that are not needed, especially those that may be damaged the first cells to go are the faulty ones. If you are intermittent fasting, this will happen while you are asleep, Browne says.

Nutritional therapist and director of Irelands functional medicine conference Maev Creaven agrees. Most people associate fasting with weight loss, but the benefits go far beyond.

Its more than calorie restriction, its about changing your hormones. There is strong evidence to show that fasting lowers insulin levels. Healthy adults experience a reduction in insulin levels after fasting. Part of insulins role is to regulate blood sugar. Too much insulin has been linked to obesity and other chronic health conditions like heart disease, and diabetes. If insulin is known as the fat storage hormones and is produced in the presence of glucose [carbohydrates], then the best way to lose weight is to reduce insulin via fasting or carb restriction. Its common sense really. There is no more potent way to lower insulin than to fast.

For Tony Murphy, fasting has made a massive impact on his health. A shift worker, he was about 25lbs overweight when he went to the doctor with breathing problems. I had shortness of breath, I was sleepy after eating and I just felt out of sorts. A chat with a dietician got him overhauling his diet. After that chat, I knew I needed to make a change. I went to my doctor and I didnt want to take medication if possible. We agreed that I would adopt some healthy eating guidelines and stop eating at 6pm every day.

He ate brunch mid-morning and a healthy lunch and dinner now he has lost 20lbs, is sleeping properly and has brought his cholesterol down to normal levels. Its a very simple idea, but combined with a bit of exercise and choosing more healthy food, Ive managed to avoid the risk of a lifetime of illness and medication.

There are some caveats though.

Some health professionals have expressed concern about the rise in fasting and warned that some people should absolutely not dabble in this eating style.

Bodywhys, the Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, has warned that anyone whos previously struggled with an eating disorder or experienced disordered eating behaviours should steer clear of fasting.

Similarly, pregnant women, teenagers and anyone with a medical condition should not fast. Always check with your doctor before embarking on any diet regime.

More:
The hard and fast rules when it comes to diet - The Irish Times

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease in which blood clots are formed in the small blood vessels of the kidneys, leading to symptoms such as hemolytic anemia destruction of red blood cells thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, and kidney failure.

Although aHUS is a genetic disease, it is commonly triggered by various environmental factors including eating certain foods. Foods also can cause flare-ups that can be either mild or severe.

Here are some pointers about food that you should keep in mind to help prevent or at least minimize aHUS flare-ups.

You should avoid contaminated food under all circumstances. Food and water contaminated with a type of bacteria called Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli can cause the acquired illness typical HUS. Symptoms of typical HUS are similar to those of aHUS and include hemolytic anemia, kidney failure, and long-term neurological complications.

Maintaining proper kidney health is important for reducing the severity of complications in aHUS. Try reducing your total daily salt intake to 5 to 6 grams per day (about a teaspoon). Its also important to keep yourself well-hydrated by drinking at least 1.5 to 2 liters of water daily.

While any food can potentially trigger an allergic reaction and consequently an aHUS flare-up certain foods areknown to cause the majority of allergic reactions. These foods include milk and milk products, eggs, sesame seeds, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, fish, and shellfish. It is important to identify the types of food to which you might be allergic and make changes to your diet accordingly, as even a small quantity of these foods can cause an aHUS flare-up.

To ensure good nutritional intake, it is important to find appropriate substitutes for foods to which you are allergic. You can create a safe dish by substituting good alternatives for allergy-causing ingredients. For example, cow milk may be substituted with rice milk or oat milk.

Your doctor or a dietitian will be able to provide a personalized diet regimen keeping in mind your susceptibility to food triggers. Make sure you follow this diet plan strictly and get approvals from the dietitian before incorporating any changes to your diet.

Some foods can trigger a very severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. Epinephrine (adrenaline) provides a first-line treatment in the event of anaphylaxis. If you are susceptible to allergic reactions, it is advisable to have an epinephrine auto-injector handy.

Delayed administration of epinephrine in the event of anaphylaxis can result in the risk of hospitalization and other adverse effects, including death. Therefore, it is important that you and your family members familiarize yourselves with the operation of the epinephrine auto-injector so that it can be used immediately in case of an emergency.

Last updated: Nov. 6, 2019

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AHUS News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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zge has a MSc. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Leicester and a PhD in Developmental Biology from Queen Mary University of London. She worked as a Post-doctoral Research Associate at the University of Leicester for six years in the field of Behavioural Neurology before moving into science communication. She worked as the Research Communication Officer at a London based charity for almost two years.

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aHUS and Diet: What Should I Eat and What Should I Avoid? - aHUS News

Weight gain makes a lot of people lose out on their confidence and face rejection, which can be very hard to deal with. For a homemaker, Bhavani, the struggle was all too real. However, she decided to take it in her stride and lose weight for good.To know how she did it, read her story here:Name: Bhavani RaghukandanOccupation: Homemaker

Age: 31 yearsCity: Trivandrum

Highest weight recorded: 104.5 kilos

Weight lost: 32 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 9 months. I started in June 2018 and reached my goal weight of 72 kilos by the end of January 2019.

The turning point: It had been bothering me for quite some time that my BMI was too high. I lost a few kilos of my post-pregnancy weight after stopping breastfeeding but still couldnt reach the healthy BMI range. I had tried many diets but none of them seemed to work. One day I came across a book about the paleo diet. When I read it, I thought, one more diet, why not try it and see. The first weekend of starting the paleo diet along with the gym, I saw that I had lost 1.4 kilos solid. It became the lifeboat I had been struggling to lay my hands on.My breakfast: 30 almonds or a cup of milk along with two boiled eggs. Some days I eat a cheese omelet with 2 eggs.

My lunch: I usually eat one big bowl of mixed vegetable gravy or soup, topped with some nuts and butter. I make it a point to add greens in my lunch in some way or the other.

My dinner: One bowl of seasonal salad, one cup of homemade greek yogurt and a dry paneer gravy. Some days I take to the traditional route of having a bowl of sabzi and eggs.

I love eating dairy products. That being one of the major staples of this diet, I dont feel the craving to cheat, since Im a lot happier with my meals than before.

My workout: I work out in the gym for 1.5 hours to 2 hours daily, 5 days a week. In the beginning, I was only doing functional training and 40 minutes of cardio every day. Once my weight reached down to 75 kilos, my trainer switched my regime to include weight training and targeting specific muscle groups with 20 minutes of cardio every day. I also like to do a bit of yoga for flexibility and some basic breathing exercises, in the morning.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: More than the calories, my diet completely went for an overhaul. I gave up the intake of any form of sugar and deep-fried items. Anything prepared in maida is a strict no-no.

How do I stay motivated? I have a photo of the before me on my phone. Whenever I feel low, I just look at that. Thats enough to get me to stop lazing around and head to the gym. Plus, after one year of training in the gym, I also participated in a competitions held there and to my surprise, I won a year's worth of membership! I laminated that certificate and have kept that in the room. That pushes me to go workout harder even on my lowest day.How do you ensure you dont lose focus? For so many years, all that my parents and I wanted was for me to lose weight. Standing on a weighing machine and checking my weight was the most nightmarish thing anyone could ask me to do back then. Once I started seeing weight loss in the same machine, I didn't want to stop now. Working out has become such a part of my daily routine now and missing even one day immediately puts my day off.

I have this practice of checking my weight first thing Monday morning every week. The weight I see on the scale now is enough to make me focus throughout the entire week.Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? Before this, life was difficult. Not being able to do even small physical activities easily like climbing up the stairs without feeling the need to stop in between and take a breath or getting up from the floor without support was daunting. I didnt even feel like walking down the street to buy something. Plus, I had to choose the clothes that fit my size rather than from the clothes I actually liked.

The rest is here:
Weight loss: Paleo diet made this mom lose 32 kilos in 9 months! Here's how - Times of India

While the news landscape might be a noisy hybrid of information war and geopolitics, the dairy, seafood and meat industries are wanting to make a point about misinformation too.

It seems every month a new diet is preached to us on television and in glossy magazines; the latest fad to get us all thinner and fitter while saving the world. The list is getting long. We now have lacto-vegetarians, flexitarians, keto diets, ovo-vegetarians, fruitarians, paleo lovers, freegans, vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians and many others. Exhausting.

But hold everything there. According to the new Waitrose Food & Drink report (a swanky supermarket in the UK) a new diet rising in popularity is "seaganism." No, this is not when you can "eat everything you see", rather than consuming a plant-based vegan diet and having the odd cheating fish dish to get a boost of omega 3.

Perhaps seaganism is a good thing? According to ourworldindata.org, a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions come from food, and more than half of those emissions originate from animal products. Better to eat fish than a hamburger it seems. Right?

Go deeper into these one-sided magazine articles and internet diet pages, however, and there seems something fishy going on. The ethical brigade might need to take a closer look.

A vegan-meets-seafood diet like this might lower risk of heart disease and reduced inflammation, as fatty seafood contains vitamin D and beneficial omega-3 fatty acids but both wild fishing and aquaculture farming result in a notable carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions. Consumer-led overfishing and bycatch are both serious problems in the fishing industries. Not to mention you're still eating animal product.

This also brings up the whole issue of the anti-red meat agenda. A 2018 report by British company Compare the Market Ltd. found that the UK's vegan population has increased by 600 percent since 2016. But is being a vegan actually healthier and better for the planet? A study by the University of Oxford might have concluded last month that healthy diets are best for the environment, but tell that poor Peruvians and Bolivians, who can no longer afford quinoa, due to western demand for their staple grain raising its price beyond their reach.

The meat industry wants to fight back. This autumn, Quality Meat Scotland launchedtheir"Meat with Integrity" campaign to counter vegan propaganda. Highland farmers argue that the public is being told the wrong information.

With both meat-eaters, vegans and now "seagans" critical of scaremongering claims, the public is confused. Charities and activists want to separate fact from fiction, while realising that the misinformation about what we eat seems to work both ways.

Vegans are not always right and meat can be healthy. In other words, eating locally sourced meat is better for the environment and carbon footprint than eating avocados from South America or cashew nuts from India.

The truth is, that vegan foods on our shelves can be far from natural, highly industrialized, highly manufactured, often owned by huge multi-national companies and as demand goes up, rainforests are destroyed. So perhaps in that case, eating locally sourced fish or meat as we have done for thousands of years, is stable and sustainable as long as it's done in proportion. Maybe it's best we all grow our own food in our back gardens and balconies.

With many wanting to live a greener life, caring about animal welfare or wanting to lower carbon footprint going, green is gathering steam but it's important we get our information correct. But in this mass media madness and mixed-up world of information war, that might be somewhat difficult. In spite of all the wrong information out there, seaganism and new fads aside, it's healthy to question not only what we eat, but also how it gets to our table.

ByMartyn Andrews,RT senior culture editor

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

Excerpt from:
The rise of 'Seaganism': As another diet fad enters the market so does food propaganda - RT

A man who dances the tango rules the world, says Tommy Chong, the reefer king of Cheech & Chong fame. Hes not speaking about his younger yearsChong is still doing the tango now, at 81, after first showing off his abilities in season 19 of Dancing with the Stars. He attributes his long-enduring physical fitness to genetics, among other factors; while chatting with me on the phone from a casino, he sounds as sharp as ever, his voice warm and rumbly.

When hes not lighting up the slot machines or dancing the night away, Chong sticks to his bread-and-butter: stand-up and sketch comedy, and advocacy for the legalization of marijuana. Weed, he says, has played a central role in his relatively good health over the years, and helped him cope when he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2016. (He is now in remission, and feeling great.)

During our conversation, Chong expounds on the health benefits of marijuana, his all-time favorite ways to exercise, and he also unveils what is, by far, the worlds most ingenious solution for beating the munchies.

GQ: If youll allow it, I was truly taken aback to learn youre 81you look great! Do you maintain a wellness or fitness regiment?

Tommy Chong: Well, when I was a kid, I played football, which is what got me interested in exercise. Its where I learned about calisthenics, and running, and lifting weights. Its a combination of weightlifting and spiritual wellness for me.

When did you start lifting weights?

Ive been lifting weights since I was 15 years old, but trust me, I was not a natural at it. I ended up moving out to Hollywood to do a movie, and I signed up with a trainer. It was this guy named Vince Gironda, and he had a special at his gym: 25 bucks and well get you in shape for a movie. He got me in the best shape of my life for Up in Smoke. He gave me a big lecture on how to maintain a diet and such. Ive just been following that routine to this day. Oh, and I invented a knee machine for myself.

A knee machine?

Yeah, I grew up poor so everything that cost moneysports like golf, or skiing, or whateverI didnt try out until later in life. When I started skiing, I realized I couldnt ski on moguls because it takes a lot of balance and its a big stress on your knees. So I invented this knee machine, I call it the bouncer. Its a skateboard stretched between four springs on a frame, and I just bounce on it like Im going over moguls. I should really put it on the market once I get it all togetherafter all, Ive only been working on it for 30 years now! It helps me with my circulation, and thats a huge part of keeping yourself healthy. I use that, and do a lot of walking, and have my tai chi, which is tango.

Tango? Like, the dance?

Yeah, Im a tango dancer. Ive been studying tango for years now. I love it. Ive tried to tell everybody about it, but people wont listen to me. Ive walked into classes and just had a blast dancing with people. With tango, the male dancer has to know what hes doing, because hes the lead. When I was on Dancing with the Stars, the pros they partner you with will back-lead the dance. So Ive been trying to get rid of that habit and learn how to lead the dance for the last couple of years. Thats why Im still taking lessons and classes, because you never stop learning to dance. My wifewho is gorgeouslikes to dance tango as well. Its fun, and it keeps things exciting. My other bit of advice for old guys is to check out the new fashion magazines, and do what they say.

Dance is such a wonderful exercise, and I dont think people always realize that.

The rest is here:
Tommy Chong: The Real-Life Diet of the Man Who Knows the Secret to Beating the Munchies - GQ

SAN ANTONIO The blood type diet originated from a naturopathic physician and author, Dr. Peter D'Adamo. He wrote a book called "Eat Right for Type" in 1996. He claims that your blood profile is connected to specific exercises and foods that can help you achieve your ideal weight.

"The theory behind it, is that we somehow carry the genetic traits," explained Annie Bell, registered dietitian at Fit Therapy of Texas. "Different blood types are tied to the ability to absorb and utilize certain nutrients in food."

The book breaks down the four different blood types and lists recommendations.

Type A blood:It's suggested to eat dark leafy greens, soy and olive oil. But refined sugar, mushrooms and beef should be avoided. It claims yoga is an effective workout.

Type B blood:Green vegetables, eggs and liver can help in weight loss. However, foods such as chicken, corn or wheat are not good. Hiking, cycling and swimming are recommended as exercises

Type AB blood:You should eat green vegetables and tofu but avoid chicken, beans or corn. Yoga, tennis and cycling are recommended as effective workouts.

Type O blood:You should eat high-protein foods and avoid dairy or wheat. It's suggested that high-intensity workouts are the best.

Bell said while the diet sounds believable, there's not enough scientific evidence to back it up. There hasn't been enough research done in peer-reviewed studies to solidify the claims. The registered dietitian added that the suggestions focus on what's already proven to lose weight.

"In all of the plans, he's addressing nutrition, physical activity, mental health and stress management," Bell said. "I think perhaps, people want something to blame their bad habits on: 'Oh, it's my blood type,' or it could also be they want that individualized approach."

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Lycia Torres, a personal trainer at Fit Therapy of Texas, said: "Our system is one full system. It all integrates from our internal gut. If our internal gut is healthy, every part of our body will be. It's really important to get moving, even if its 15 minutes a day."

Bell and Torres are in agreement that the blood type diet recommendations aren't harmful and may work for some people. But the bottom line is it has nothing to do with your blood type.

"Exercise is hard. Changing your diet can be hard, sure, but starting out with diet and gradually adding exercise to it, will really make a difference in your life," Bell said.

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Does the blood type diet actually work? - KENS5.com