Category Archives: Diet And Food

Thursday, 24th August 2017 at 6:29 pm

BBC1 is to examine recent research into whether crash diets work as part of a new season of programmes examining Britains obesity epidemic.

Crash Diet Revolution will see Britains top nutrition scientists put crash dieting to the test andwill examine current research that suggests they are actually effective.

Could they offer an answer to the obesity crisis and save billions for the NHS?

Another show in the season will see Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall challenge the people of Newcastle to lose 100,000lbs in a year.

The three-part series, which doesnt yet gave a name, will see the presenter launching the social experiment which has the co-operation of Newcastle city council.

He will encourage people to make changes to their diet and get involved in physical activities to achieve the target.

Fearnley-Whittingstall said: The fact is that as a nation we need to do something about our increasing weight its doing too many of us too much harm. I think that galvanising a whole city to take responsibility for their collective health, by coming together to lose weight, could be an amazing way to make progress in the fight against obesity. Its not going to be easy but I am confident that the people of Newcastle are up to my challenge.

Also featured is The Truth About Obesity, in which presenter Chris Bavin will seek out the latest scientific research on why the problem exists.

Read more from the original source:
BBC obesity season will examine evidence that crash diets actually work - Radio Times

The Hazda is a small group of hunter-gatherers living in the central Rift Valley of Tanzania, one of the few remaining groups of people left in the world who still collect the majority of their diet through foraged foods. Modernity has still managed to touch their lives, of course, but far less than it has for those of us in the post-industrialized West. For this reason, scientists have long been interested in studying their biology, in hopes of gleaning something about humanitys evolutionary path.

A new study out of Stanford looks to the Hazda people to understand specifically the evolution of our diet and the bacteria in our gut. The study, published Thursday in Science, confirmed the results of several smaller studies in finding that the gut bacteria in the Hazda people was significantly different and more diverse than those of us in the industrialized world. They also found something new: That the makeup of that gut bacteria changes significantly from season-to-season.

All of the traditional populations have a certain set of gut microbes. We can look at them to infer the microbiome we should have evolved with, Justin Sonnenburg, a Stanford microbiologist and the studys lead author, told Gizmodo. In the industrialized world, we now may have lost many of those bacteria.

The microbiome has garnered much attention from both scientists and popular culture because we are beginning to understand that the trillions of microorganisms that inhabit our bodyparticularly those in our gutplay an important role in our overall health. There is compelling evidence to suggest that those gut bacteria can affect disease, mental health and even athletic ability. In one incredible study earlier this year, researchers traced the origin of a head-scratching brain disorder to a particular type of bacteria living in the gut. Another new study out Thursday found a link between anxiety and all that bacteria in our gut.

The most important thing for people to understand is that we are composite organisms. Were not just human cells, said Sonnenburg. It leads to this question of what microbes are the best for our health. We dont have a good answer yet.

Which leads to the Hazda people. Over the past 100 years, some aspects of modernity have begun to affect themtheir population has become a tourist attraction, and groups such as missionaries often donate money and food. But before that, their way of life was virtually unchanged for thousands of years, and they still live similarly to how our distant ancestors would. This could offer some clues into how we once ate, and perhaps even how we should.

To better understand patterns between diet and the microbiome, researchers collected 350 fecal samples from 188 Hadza people across different seasons. As hunter-gatherers, their diet varies drastically by season. In the wet season, they eat lots of foraged berries and honey. The dry season is optimal for the hunt.

They found that 70 percent of gut bacteria disappeared between the end of the dry season and beginning of the wet season, only to reappear later. This suggests not only that what we eat and the microorganisms that live inside us are intimately linked, but that it is possible to change the makeup of our gut bacteria very rapidly based on diet.

They also compared the Hazda peoples microbiome to that of 18 other populations of hunter-gatherers in 16 countries around the world. While the Hazda peoples microbiome varies significantly from people in the industrial world, they found striking similarities to other traditional populations. Two prevalent bacterial families within the Hadza and other traditional groups were either rare or completely undetected in people following non-traditional diets. The Hadza also had more enzymes to process plant carbohydrates than people eating a Western diet.

One thing I feel pretty confident in is that our microbiome has definitely changed, and it looks like a deterioration, said Sonnenburg. It really looks like an ecosystem in disrepair.

Alyssa Crittenden, a nutritional anthropologist who has studied the Hazda people for 13 years, said that the work is important in confirming many previous studies about traditional microbiomes, and in discovering the seasonality of gut bacteria.

But she said it also poses more questions than answersfurther study is needed to know what sorts of dietary choices and behaviors caused those seasonal changes.

Crittenden also warned against adopting the hunter-gatherer diet for yourself. While dozens of startups have launched claiming to be able to sequence your microbiome and tell you what sort of bacterial supplements you might need, this science is still in its early days.

We need to be very careful about adopting any diet that portends to be mimicking our evolutionary past, she said. The microbiome is influenced by our whole world, not just what we eat. Its not just what the Hazda are eating, but where and how they are eating it, too.

Crittenden noted that its an important time to study the Hazda people, since their way of life is at the moment changing rapidly.

Last year alone, 14 tons of corn was dropped into Hazda camps by missionaries, she said. The Hazda gut is right now undergoing industrialization.

Sonnenburg, who co-authored a book called The Good Gut, a wellness book about the microbiome, said the only sure-fire takeaway from studying the Hazda people is that a high-fiber diet is probably ideal. (Crittenden, who has also studied the Hazda microbiome, agreed.)

Thats about the extent of what we can tell people, he said. All the rest of what you might hear is a bunch of hooey.

As the science progresses, though, he said insights from traditional groups like the Hazda people may help lead to discoveries about how to fight disease and mental health problems like depression.

Its going to be very powerful, he said.

[Science]

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What Present-Day Hunter-Gatherers Can Tell Us About the Bacteria in Our Gut - Gizmodo

Space-filling model of the Cholesterol molecule. Credit: RedAndr/Wikipedia

A new dietary review of 49 observational and controlled studies finds plant-based vegetarian diets, especially vegan diets, are associated with lower levels of total cholesterol, including lower levels of HDL and LDL cholesterol, compared to omnivorous diets. The meta-analysis appears as an online advance in Nutrition Reviews.

The study authorsYoko Yokoyama, Ph.D., M.P.H., Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D., and Neal Barnard, M.D., F.A.C.C.reviewed 30 observational studies and 19 clinical trials, which met their inclusion criteria. They find:

A plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with total cholesterol that's 29.2 mg/dL lower in observational studies. In clinical trials, a plant-based diet lowers total cholesterol by 12.5 mg/dL.

The authors predict the strong correlation between vegetarian diets and lower cholesterol levels may be due to the association a plant-based diet has with a lower body weight, a reduced intake of saturated fat, and an increased intake of plant foods, like vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and whole grains, which are naturally rich in components such as soluble fiber, soy protein, and plant sterols.

The study authors hypothesize that the greater risk reduction for total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol levels observed in the longitudinal studies is likely due to long-term adherence to plant-based eating patterns and changes in body composition.

"The immediate health benefits of a plant-based diet, like weight loss, lower blood pressure, and improved cholesterol, are well documented in controlled studies," says study author Susan Levin, M.S., R.D., C.S.S.D. "Our goal with studying plasma lipids throughout the lifespan is to capture the net risk reduction of using a vegetarian diet to control lipid levels. We hope to empower patients with new research about the long-term cardiovascular health benefits of a vegetarian diet, which include a reduced risk of a heart attack, stroke, and premature death."

Charles Ross, D.O., a member of the nonprofit Physicians Committee and a former emergency department physician, has firsthand experience with putting a plant-based diet into practice.

Dr. Ross is in his late 60s, takes no medications, and lowered his previously high total cholesterol from 230 mg/dL to a healthy 135 mg/dL after adopting a whole-food, plant-based diet in 2012. Within the first month of making the dietary change, he effortlessly lost 10 pounds. Within a year, Dr. Ross traded a 34-year career of practicing emergency medicine for a new career path: lifestyle medicine. After 5.5 years of making the career switch, he continues to host free biweekly nutrition classes for his primary care patients and the community. More than 700 people have enrolled to learn how to lose weight, eliminate the need for medications to treat type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol, and to simply feel better. His former hometown of Roseburg, Ore., is now a Blue Zones community. He is a part-time instructor at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest and hopes to set an example for future physicians.

"I no longer work for a living," notes Dr. Ross, who now resides in Westfir, Ore. "I wake up every day eager to hear about how a plant-based diet and a healthful lifestyle is changing and saving lives in our community. What I've found is that if you want your patients to make significant health changes, you have to make them yourself. The prescription started to spread soon after my family, co-workers, neighbors, and friends heard about my experience."

For clinicians concerned about spending extra time in and outside of the exam room, the study authors encourage time-strapped health care providers to refer patients to registered dietitians who can help with the transition to a plant-based vegetarian diet. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans highlights a healthy vegetarian diet as one of three healthful eating plans to follow.

The study authors also note hyperlipidemia, or elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. A 10 percent increase in the prevalence of treatment for hyperlipidemia can prevent 8,000 deaths each year. Taking small steps, like those proposed by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel 3, which include assessing heart disease risk, making lifestyle and dietary recommendations, and assessing the need for future follow-up appointments and pharmaceutical interventions, could prevent approximately 20,000 heart attacks, 10,000 cases of coronary heart disease, and save almost $3 billion in medical costs each year.

"To make any form of health care work and to truly power economic mobility, we have to get healthy," says Levin. "The first place to start is by building meals around nutrient-packed, plant-based foods, which fit into nearly every cultural template, taste preference, and budget."

Explore further: Not all plant-based diets are created equal

More information: Yoko Yokoyama et al, Association between plant-based diets and plasma lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Nutrition Reviews (2017). DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nux030

Provided by: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

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New meta-analysis finds a plant-based vegetarian diet is associated with lower cholesterol - Medical Xpress

It started with loosely-defined "junk food." Then it was refined sugar. Next, alcohol was banished, followed by carbs. Before long, I had whittled my once-diverse diet down to a tiny number of foods. Any unexpected divergencea glass of champagne or bite of cake at a party, a failure to double-check the ingredients listed on the wrapper of a protein barwould send me spiraling into a total panic, followed by a compulsive workout-and-cleanse routine to rid my body of the intruders. My rigid adherence to diet and exercise had become an all-consuming obsession.

Yet, I (and my friends and family) considered my lifestyle to be healthy. I received constant praise for my discipline.

Whats trendier, after all, than an elimination diet or "eating clean?" It's easy to find ourselves seduced by alluring pseudo-scientific theories and the moralizing of our eating choices: bad food will harm you, good food will heal you.

For Americans, and especially for women, healthy eating has become practically synonymous with deprivation. Maybe that's why the red flagsdistressing and compulsive thoughts or behaviors, self-created rules around foodoften go unnoticed or even praised, despite the fact that restrictive diets can be precursors to clinical eating disorders, Kamryn T. Eddy, Ph.D, an associate professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, tells SELF. In a culture that's already hyper-fixated on our bodies, we're also constantly reminded that there are ways to improve and "purify" it every time we see a celebrity hawking cleanses and detox teas on Instagram (spoiler: they're mostly laxatives).

Too much or too little of any one thing is generally problematic, and strict food rules in any form can set the stage for eating disorders, says Eddy. She emphasizes that when we are as inflexible around food as I had become, physical and mental health is greatly compromised. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), food inflexibility can lead to guilt or self-loathing if a "bad" food is consumed, as well as anxiety about food planning and isolation from social events with food and drinks. It can also cause nutritional deficiencies when entire food groups are removed from a person's diet.

This type of ultra-controlled healthy eating, known as orthorexia, can take many forms. According to NEDA, orthorexia signs and symptoms include compulsively checking nutrition labels, an inability to eat any food that isn't designated "pure," obsessively following "healthy lifestyle" bloggers or social media figures, and showing an "unusual interest" in what others are eating. Of course, you can check nutrition labels and follow fitness experts on Instagram without being orthorexic. It's the compulsivity and obsession (reading labels every time, even multiple times, that you eat something and feeling anxious if you don't, for example) that define orthorexia.

Orthorexia can often lead to anorexia, registered dietitian Christy Harrison, certified eating counselor and host of the popular podcast Food Psych, tells SELF. I've seen many clients who get so afraid of foods they see as processed and unclean that they end up eating hardly anything. Then, even if the orthorexia didn't have anything to do with weight at the beginning, they end up extremely fearful of, and resistant to, gaining weight.

By restricting my diet in an attempt to make it pure, all I ended up doing was imposing nutritional deficits on my body (a body which, by the way, is already full of organs meant to filter what I eat, and which is perfectly capable of digesting pretty much any kind of food I could throw at it).

I opted out of so many celebrations and social gatherings in fear of the food that Id be expected to eat or the cocktails Id be expected to drink. I missed out on friends birthdays and fun nights out, and on the rare occasions when I would show up, my obvious discomfort (and my transparent lies about having already eaten or just wanting water) made everyone else uncomfortable, too. Friends and dates gradually drifted away, preferring the company of someone who could share a beer after work or go for tacos and margaritas without obsessing over the "unhealthiness" of what I was eating or drinking. My family walked on eggshells around me, buying my separate, special groceries from the health food store when I was home and watching me agonize over our holiday meals. I lived in the prison that orthorexia had built around me, isolated in a life devoid of joy and connection with others.

Eventually, deprived of adequate nutrition and rest over the course of a year, my body and brain suffered. I experienced heart irregularities, dizziness and exhaustion, an inability to focus, and the loss of my period, all symptoms of anorexia, according to the Mayo Clinic. My best friend, deeply worried by all of these symptoms (and tired of watching me self-destruct in the pursuit of the perfect, "healthy" body) stepped in. With my approval, she made a consultation appointment for me at a local treatment center. The admitting counselor confirmed it: my orthorexia had morphed into anorexia nervosa. If I didnt learn how to find balance, my restrictive diet could end up killing me.

Eating disorders are rooted in compulsivity and obsession surrounding food, though they may present in different ways. According to NEDA, orthorexia is characterized by being consumed with "good vs. bad" or "healthy vs. unhealthy" food, while anorexia is characterized by obsessive caloric restriction and weight loss.

Thankfully, doctors and therapists who specialize in nutrition, such as those at the Cambridge Eating Disorder Center (CEDC) in Massachusetts, are growing more aware of orthorexias prevalence, risks, and why it so often goes ignored, untreated, or even rewarded. This is especially true in patients who do not lose a large amount of weight, who continue to function normally in their day-to-day lives, or whose symptoms may not yet be apparent.

Since individuals with orthorexia may maintain an outwardly healthy appearance, they may be reluctant to see (it) as a problem, Seda Ebrahimi, Ph.D., director of the CEDC, tells SELF. Still, she says, the consequences of such restrictive eating may lead to significant nutritional deficiencies and health problems.

Orthorexia is not yet recognized by the DSM-5 and thus, not medically diagnosable. However, practitioners skilled at recognizing eating disorders will know what orthorexia is and can connect patients with the appropriate therapists, nutritionists, and medical doctors.

"For anyone reading this who has had disturbing symptoms arise since they started 'eating clean,' like bingeing or emotional eating, constant thoughts about food, low energy, dry skin, abnormal blood work, or stress fractures, consider that overly restrictive eating," Harrison says. "Orthorexia may be at the root of these symptoms. Don't take them as a sign that you need to 'eat cleaner,' because that could just make the problems worse." She says that treatment will vary by individual and depend on how far the orthorexia has progressed (or if it overlaps with any other clinical disorders).

I didn't see my orthorexia for what it was until it had transformed into anorexiawhich is what I was officially treated for. But my therapist and nutritionist both helped me to deal with those orthorexic thought patterns and habits. They also helped me to reject elimination diets, which I am still doing in my recovery. Through talk therapy and learned coping mechanisms, I was able to walk back my rigid thinking around what I'm "allowed" to eat, eating and exercising on a certain schedule, and defining healthy as being thin, toned, and free of "bad" food in my body.

Eating mindfully is good for you, and changing your diet to focus on minimally processed foods is generally recommended across the board. But if you find yourself with an ever-shrinking list of permissible foods, if deviating from that list makes you feel anxious and guilty, if you control your food choices so strictly that it interferes with other plans and activities, and if your relationship with food takes up a large amount of space in your life, it might be time to ask what your devotion to that diet is costing you.

Socially, I've had to step away from friends who engage in orthorexic lifestyles or restrictive diets, both on social media and in real life. Many people don't understand that I had a real disorder; they just think I "took my diet and exercise too far." I've accepted this, and while I try to clarify widespread misconceptions about the bad science of detoxes, cleanses, and elimination diets, I try not to preach at my loved ones.

With weekly therapy appointments, weigh-ins, and nutrition appointments, along with a meal plan designed to help me regain weight and relearn unstructured eating, my treatment team helped me find my way back to a balanced lifewhich, for me, includes regular doses of ice cream, pizza, and pinot noir.

The social messaging around what healthy looks like and the aggressive promotion of virtuous eating still creep in and create the occasional urge to diet. They probably will for the rest of my life. But now I know first-hand that banning certain foods won't always solve your problemsfor some of us, it can cause them.

Related:

You May Also Like: This Mom's Eating Disorder Nearly Killed HerNow She Wants to Change How We Talk About Bodies and Fitness

Read the rest here:
Orthorexia: How My 'Clean Eating' Turned Into Anorexia - SELF

Mindfulness, part of which involves meditation, has been around for a while. People have been practicing it (literally) religiously since the Stone Age and its been trendy in the U.S. to varying extents for seemingly almost as long.

Were glad it caught on, though, because the practice more than lives up to the hype. Its been shown to deliver health benefit after health benefit, ranging from stress reduction to hormone balancing to better social relationships. Now, it seems science has definitively proven that meditation is more effective for weight loss than even the smartest diet plans.

Thats right you can eat whatever you want, get mindful now and then, and end up healthier than you would pounding kale and green juices.

Lets get one thing straight: Dieting is a really bad idea. Its been shown in study after study to increase damaging stress hormones, cause inflammation, mess with your metabolism, induce overeating and weight gain, and even contribute to the development of disordered eating.

So really, any alternative to dieting (i.e., just not dieting) is bound to be better. But heres why meditation is a good call, and undoubtedly healthier for you than changing the way you eat.

At North Carolina State University, researchers investigated the effects of meditation on weight. They split research participants into two groups: One that would commit to a diet and one that committed to meditating every day.

The group that practiced meditation lost seven times more weight than the group of dieters.

There could be any number of explanations for this, some of which have been suggested by researchers and dietitians. Some say that mindfulness promotes healthier eating (hence the term mindful eating) by getting people back in touch with their bodys needs. Others have suggested that since mindfulness and meditation decrease the stress hormones that signal weight gain, meditation can help mitigate extra storage of fat.

Regardless of the reasons why, its clear that relaxing meditation is more effective than the unpleasant practice of dieting.

Meditation doesnt have to entail anything crazy. You dont have to go on a wellness retreat, stop wearing shoes, or take up yoga to learn how to meditate. For some people, meditation is as simple as a five-minute silent session. For others, its something they do in passing during their morning commute.

Mindfulness is simply a state of awareness, and meditation is a practice of increasing that awareness over time. So even if youre sitting on the bus, taking the time to become aware of the floor beneath your feet and the steady rise and fall of your breath is a form of meditation.

And that simple practice breathing, listening, and feeling can help you not only lose weight, but feel overall healthier in the process.

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Study Says Don't Diet Meditate Instead - The Daily Meal

Paleo dieter and advocate, Serenity Heegel, co-founded Serenity Kids with fianc, Joe Carr, after not being able to find pouched baby food that she felt was nutritious enough.

I just couldnt believe that nothing existed that would be something I would want to feed my own baby, Heegel told Food Navigator.

The couple began marketing a line of pureed baby food that offers the highest amount of protein of any liquid baby food.

NYC RESTAURANT FIRES EMPLOYEE WHO WROTE 'CHING CHONG' ON RECEIPT

The food line launched this month and has pouches that come in three different flavors uncured bacon with organic kale and butternut squash, chicken with peas and carrots, and beef with kale and sweet potato. The organic and free-range offerings are sold in packs of six 4-ounce pouches for roughly $27.

However, her formula for cave babies as they are called in the paleo community is making some waves with adults who question the health and safety of this fad-diet.

Paleo, eating food that would have been available to Paleolithic humans like non-processed foods, free-range meats and abstaining from grains, dairy, and most sugars caught on in 2002 with Loren Cordains The Paleo Diet. Since then, many adults looking to lose weight, combat certain ailments, or just feel healthier have adopted the food style.

Though, studies revolving around the benefits of the paleo diet have only been done on adults.

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Theres no research that shows a child needs a high-protein diet, Stephanie Di Figlia-Peck, a registered dietitian at Northwell Health, tells Moneyish.

A child whos growing and developing needs a balance of carbohydrates that come from fruits, vegetables and grains; protein and healthy fat. There needs to be a balance so you get the correct nutrient profile, she adds.

The concern for many is if a growing child is not getting proper nutrition, complications could arise including a weaker immune system, compromised growth, among others.

In Australia, a childrens paleo cookbook was pulled because it recommended feeding infants bone broth as baby formula.

The controversy surrounding feeding children a strictly paleo diet hasnt affected Serenity Kids sales, though. Heegels company sold 1,800 pouches during their online pre-sale and is anticipating a grocery store launch in the near future.

Continue reading here:
Couple creates paleo diet-friendly baby food, nutritionists concerned - Fox News

FOXBORO Rob Gronkowski put both of his hands on the podium in front of him, slumped his shoulders down and channeled his inner Bill Belichick.

He was being asked for his prediction regarding Saturday nights highly anticipated fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather.

We dont make predictions, Gronkowski said in a comically low voice, doing his best to imitate his often monotone coach.

It was a light moment yesterday, one synonymous with Gronkowskis colorful personality, but it offered some continuity to whats felt like a different kind of offseason, and preseason, for the Patriots star tight end.

Gronkowski is back on the field after having season-ending back surgery last year, the third such procedure of his career. And after a healthy offseason and some changes to his routine, Gronkowski might just feel the best hes ever felt.

Yesterday offered a snapshot. Gronkowski was asked about his new diet, overseen by Tom Bradys trainer Alex Guerrero, and if it has helped him.

Yes, for sure, he said.

Less sore?

Yes.

Anything specific?

Yes. And on it went.

Its hard to say because I couldnt tell you how I felt in the middle of August every single year, Gronkowski said when asked if this is the best hes felt in his career at this point. Its always a new year, and they all blend together, and now going into my eighth season now, it just feels good to be out there practicing every day with the guys.

Its not just practicing, either. Gronkowski actually is playing snaps in August, and that more than anything symbolizes how different this preseason is for one of the Pats most dangerous weapons.

For the first time in five years, Gronkowski was on the field playing in a preseason game in Saturdays loss to the Houston Texans. It had been nearly nine months since Gronkowski played in a game after leaving early from a Nov. 27 matchup against the Jets, and while he didnt make a catch against the Texans, he felt great to be out there.

For a guy whos been treated like a fragile package in the preseason the past five years, it didnt surprise him one bit to be on the field Saturday night.

It didnt surprise me at all, he said. Coach always says be ready every single day, every single game. No matter what it is. Preseason, be ready to play 60 minutes. Past is in the past, but it was great going out there and getting some work.

Im glad I was out there. It felt good just to get the game speed. You can never get enough reps, you can never get enough practice reps, so it felt great to go out there and get my feet wet and see what its all about again.

If Saturday was a test run, it remains to be seen what to expect next. Week 3 of the preseason typically is the game in which starters get some extended work before shutting it down for Week 4, so Gronkowski should see some more snaps Friday night against the Lions in Detroit.

For once, Gronkowski looks fully healthy, and hes looked that way since spring practices. But with such a long injury history, he would be the first to say everything isnt always what it seems.

I dont think theres such thing as feeling 100 (percent), Gronkowski said. I mean, if youre feeling 100 then that probably means youre at home, just chilling, just working out. So, I mean, everyones going through something, but I feel good.

The Patriots are risking that good health by sending him out on the field for meaningless games. Gronkowski, out of anyone on the Pats offense not named Tom Brady, doesnt really need the additional work. Hes had record-setting seasons without needing preseason tune-ups, and it seems like he and Brady havent skipped a beat, at least in practice.

But after a nearly nine-month layoff, Gronkowski is looking at things with a different perspective. Hes only seeing the rewards of being on the field.

I just felt the benefit when I was out there, just the speed of the game, live game speed, Gronkowski said. Its been a while for me, so I just felt the benefit of getting out there and getting in sync blocking-wise, the cadence, everything like that, so Im taking all positives out of it.

Originally posted here:
Rob Gronkowski's new routine, diet has him in good health - Boston Herald

A view of Delaware Ave. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Delmar, N.Y. This area of Delaware currently has four lanes for traffic. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A view of Delaware Ave. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Delmar, N.Y. This area of Delaware currently has four lanes for traffic. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A view of Delaware Ave. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Delmar, N.Y. This area of Delaware currently has four lanes for traffic. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A view of Delaware Ave. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Delmar, N.Y. This area of Delaware currently has four lanes for traffic. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A view of Delaware Ave. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Delmar, N.Y. This area of Delaware currently has four lanes for traffic. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

A view of Delaware Ave. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, in Delmar, N.Y. This area of Delaware currently has four lanes for traffic. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Delmar businesses split on 'road diet' plan

So what would a "road diet" on Delaware Avenue in Delmar do for businesses there?

The town of Bethlehem is considering reducing from four to three the number of traffic lanes along Delaware from Elsmere Avenue to the Normanskill bridge. The change would make way for turn and bike lanes to help make the busy road safer and easier to navigate.

And while many residents might support the idea although it would add nearly a minute to the average evening commute many small business owners remain wary.

After all, getting to some shops and stores tucked in along Delaware can already be an exercise in frustration, especially during rush hour.

But Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce President Jennifer Kilcoyne says business owners in town are split on the issue, and many are still making up their minds as the town completes a study and holds public meetings.

"There have been various views on the potential project," Kilcoyne told the Times Union in an email. "Some concerns include reduced traffic volume, traffic diversion and possible congestion due to reduced lanes and speeds. Others were encouraged by the promise of increased ease of access to their business that a center turn lane might provide."

Kilcoyne and town supervisor John Clarkson are urging residents and business owners to get as much information as possible about the issue before the town board makes its decision to move ahead with the road diet proposal. The next public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at Bethlehem Town Hall.

Kilcoyne co-chairs the Delaware Avenue Improvement Group, a volunteer committee set up by the town to look at all issues involving the town's "main street" business district. The stretch is currently undergoing a $3 million upgrade that includes new sidewalks, landscaping and replacement of the water main.

That project goes from the Four Corners (where Delaware Avenue crosses Kenwood Avenue) to Elsmere Avenue, where the road diet would begin if adopted by the town board.

The idea is part of a movement to create so-called "complete streets" that better serve the often competing needs of cars, bikes, pedestrians and public transportation.

Some residents along side streets in the area have real difficulty during heavy traffic hours getting out of their neighborhoods. The congestion also contributes to certain businesses being avoided at those times as well.

Details of the ongoing study and other information about the potential "road diet" for Bethlehem's Delaware Avenue are located here.

Read more:
Delmar businesses split on 'road diet' plan - Albany Times Union

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Then two years ago, my doctor ordered an A1C test. He had a hunch I may have type 2 diabetes as a result of my weight. My score was a seven, which meant his suspicions were correct. (A normal A1C level is below 5.7. ) It got worse: Because Ive had high blood pressure for so long, he said I could have long-term organ damage now that I also had diabetes. Youd think at that point, he would have sat me down and talked to me about how I could improve my diet, but he didnt. He just said something like, Watch your carbs and exercise. That was it. So I basically kept living as I had before.

MORE: 15 Common Risk Factors Of Type 2 Diabetes

My motivationThen my doctor moved away, and I found another doctor in a larger town nearby. My new physician told me that I needed to go on metformin (the generic name for a drug used to treat high blood sugar levels) immediately. He also told me that I should ramp up my exercise routine. So last year, I started hiking and rock climbing with my neighbor, who happens to be a yoga instructor. Im just a regular gal who sits at a desk all day, so this was not serious rock climbing or anything. But still, with the help of my new workout buddy, I lost 10 pounds. It felt great to be making progress, and my neighbor even started calling me the amazing disappearing woman. I have to admit it was a big ego boost.

MORE: 4 Steps To Reverse Diabetes Naturally

I thought my doctor would praise my progress, too, but at my next appointment, which was this past December, he told me that my blood pressure was still too high. He said, If you dont make drastic diet changes, Im going to send you to a nephrologist because your kidney function is very poor.

That terrified me. I lost my pastor to kidney disease, and I knew it was a terrible affliction. So I Googled 'What do you eat to improve kidney function?. I found information on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which is the diet recommended by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for lowering blood pressure. In 30 years, no one had talked to me about a dietary approach to lowering my blood pressure. I started reading about it, and I thought, if it didnt work, no harm no foul. I decided to start my new diet on January first, because everyone else starts their goals then, right?

My diet & exercise routineThe DASH diet is all about portion control and eating less fat, sugar, and salt. I bought smaller plates, spoons, and cups to make sticking to the plan easier. I also got smaller storage containers marked with various serving sizes so I could eat out of them and keep my portions in check. (Buy something similar on Amazon.com for $10.) I also posted to Facebook to let my friends know what I was doing and started keeping a food diary. These things helped keep me accountableand continue to do so to this day.

On the DASH website, I also found and printed out this shopping list that provides a list of foods that fit into the diet. I took it with me to the grocery store and stocked up on everything I neededwhich took me three long hours. (Thinking back on that now, its actually a bit humorous. Shopping is far easier for me now that Ive been eating this way for nearly a year.) I bought lots of healthy grains, fruits and vegetables, and low-fat yogurt. I cut out cows milk and started using almond milk instead. I switched from processed peanut butter to natural almond butter.

I also started preparing most of my food myself, which is something I hadnt done before. Id always eaten out or bought ready-to-eat stuff. I found new things that I liked, and many were things Id never eaten before. For example, Id never had steel-cut oatmeal. As a Southern gal, Id only had grits. I started eating strawberries and raspberries. I had never had asparagus or Brussels sprouts, but I started adding them to my shopping cart. I also began buying fresh meat and making grilled chicken or pork with cauliflower rice. (Which, by the way, is so good!)

Try one of these crazy delicious cauliflower rice recipes:

MORE: I Took A Walk Before Every Meal For A Month To See If It Would Help Me Lose Weight. Heres What Happened.

I also started walking. Every two hours, I would walk for 10 or 20 minutes or even an hour. It didnt really matter how long, it was just to get up out of my chair and move. Id already proven I could hike and do more challenging forms of exercise, so walking seemed like a smaller task that would help me get healthier.

The rewardCome March 1st I had my next doctors appointment, and I was excited to see the changes. I dont have a scale at home; I refuse to buy one. So it had been three months since Id seen the doctor, and two months since Id started the diet, and he said Id lost 33 pounds. He was in shock. And not only that, he told me that if I stuck with it, I could reverse my diabetes. I was determined to make it happen.

Two months later I had another appointment. I found out that I had lost an additional 20 pounds. He also shared the most amazing news with me: I didnt have diabetes anymore! My A1C was 5.3, down from 7. My blood pressure was also down to 115 over 30healthy numbers I havent seen since I was 21 years old. I felt ecstatic, but also relieved.

MORE: 108 Blood-Pressure-Lowering Smoothies

Even though my health has improved, I havent stopped my medications; that's not what my journey is about. With my long-term blood pressure issues, theres no way to tell what harms already been done, so I need to continue taking them.

My doctor is shocked Ive maintained my good health and weight loss for so long. He told me he doesnt care if lose another pound; he just doesnt want me to put weight back on. You have made too much progress to go back, he said. And I agree. I want to do everything I can to maintain my newfound health for the rest of my life.

How you can improve your diet, tooPeople will say, I dont have money to start one of these diets. But dont let that excuse hold you back. I shop for food at Walmart, and I promise that you dont have to spend a lot on groceries. Just follow a healthy shopping list and find ways to keep your portions reasonable. One way I do this is by asking the butcher to cut things into really small portions. This way I dont have to spend time measuring as many things at home, and I can cook only what I should be eating in one sitting. You just have to figure out what strategies work for you, and not let anything stand in your way.

Originally posted here:
Here's Exactly What I Ate To Cure My Type 2 Diabetes & High Cholesterol - Prevention.com

In case you need another reason to eat more veggies, a new study says they may be helpful in making men smell more attractive to women.

The study, performed by researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, found that men who ate a diet heavy in vegetables smelled nicer than those who ate a carb-heavy diet, NPR reports. Interestingly, those who ate more meat produced a stronger smell, though it wasn't thought of as better or worse.

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To understand how our diet impacts our smell, researchers recruited a group of young men and assessed their skin with a spectrophotometer. This device flashes a light onto someone's skin, then measures the color reflected back, which indicates how much fruit and veggies a person eats.

The men then filled out questionnaires about their diets, and were given a clean shirt to exercise in. After the men sweated it out, women were brought in to smell the shirts and share their opinions on each shirt's scent, including how floral, fruity, and attractive it smelled.

"Women basically found that men who ate more vegetables smelled nicer," Ian Stephen, the author of the study, told NPR.

According to the study, eating more fat, meat, egg, and tofu was also associated with a more pleasant smell. Sorry carbs, you're killing our game.

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Study Shows Following This Diet Makes You Smell Sexier To Other People - Delish.com