Category Archives: Diet And Food

On any given day, just over 1 in 5 American adults are actively trying to lose weight. An additional 50% have tried dieting for some length of time, but have retreatedto old routines while mounting the will to try again.

Results will be mixed, ensuring the nations sprawling diet industry a steady flow of revenue. According to Marketdata Enterprises, which tracks the weight-loss industry, we spend more than $60 billion a year on diet foods, books, coaching, meetings, mobile apps and meal plans to help with weight loss.

Thoughdieters may be deadly serious in their objectives,roughly 4 in 5 shun expert guidance infavor of a do-it-yourself approach, according to Marketdata. These homemade strategies are based ondiet plans touted by celebrities or trumpeted in bookstores, online or on TV.

Fads come and go. Confusion reigns. And failure is common.

Physicians generally arentmuch help. Under the Affordable Care Act, whose future is uncertain, primary care doctors are expected to advise all obese patients to lose weight and counsel them on how to do so. Research tells us a doctors recommendation can be a powerful spur to weight loss. But few are equipped to lead patients to the specific plan that will work best for them.

It doesnt help that the science of what works is filled with gaps and contradictions, or that the diet plan that works for one person may not work well for another.

Its simple to say that to lose weight, calories out must exceed calories in and that to reverse obesity, just continue the process. But experts say that losing weight, and maintaining that loss, is vastly more complex.

Its a matter of evolution adaptations tofamine and drought have helped design the human body to abhor the loss of weight. As researchers demonstrated in a study of people who lost about 14% of their starting weight with a very-low-calorie diet, the body undergoes a host of changes to ensure that the weight is regained.

Metabolic rate drops, allowing the post-diet body to do more with fewer calories. Myriad hormonal signals shift in ways that boost appetite. Those changes endure for at least a year after weight is lost, the researchers found. Even after weight comes back, many of those changes persist, ensuring further weight gain.

These findings, which have been replicated by other studies, helpexplain why95% of dieters will regain all the weight they lost within five years, and most will gain a few extra pounds as well.

Resultslike that have fueleda growing expert consensus that dieting temporary adherence to a regimen of eating that causes weight loss is a fools errand. When weight must be lost, experts say, it should be with strategies and eating patterns that can be maintained over the long haul.

Those strategies should be flexible enough to withstand the plateaus of weight loss. They should be sustainable enough to support long-term health and nutrition while helping prevent Type 2 diabetes and other diseases linked to obesity. And they should be tolerable enough to stick with through a weight loss maintenance period that may last a lifetime.

In short, diets must become a way of life, not a painful interlude,says Dr. Louis J. Aronne , a weight-loss specialist at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City who has developed an online program called BMIQ to guide physicians and obese patients on their choices.

The diet that people find easiest to comply with is the one that works best for them, Aronne says.

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Trying to lose weight? The key is to diet for the long term - Los Angeles Times

Its important to me that you know this isnt a diet book, writes author Jessica Murnane in her introduction to her cookbook, One Part Plant (Harper Wave, $27.99).

Murnanes book, instead, is what all cookbooks should be, a collection of enjoyable recipes meant to get you in the kitchen. Except thats not 100 percent true, because Murnane does have a bit of an agenda: She wants you to eat better, one plant at a time.

Her book, as its title suggests, advocates for a plant-based diet, but don't let that description deter you from cracking the spine. The book is not about what you cant eat, says Murnane, who will be in Chicago in March to promote the book. Im trying to get people to try something different, not deprive them of anything.

This approach is gaining her a lot of praise, not least of which from Lena Dunham, creator of the hit series Girls." In her foreword to One Part Plant, Dunham goes so far as to say the book will change your life.

Thats a high mark for a first-time cookbook author, but Murnane takes it in stride. Im not trying to shame anyone, she says. Im not here telling people to quit cheese forever just maybe eat more vegetables.

Murnane is the first to tell you that up until a few years ago, she wasnt really that into food or healthy eating, whatever that meant. As she writes on her website, her major food groups were Sour Patch Kids, Diet Coke, and Whatever Lean Cuisine Had the Most Cheese.

But then she was diagnosed with endometriosis, a painful reproductive system disorder that has few treatment options and no cures (Dunham also has it). In fact, it took a number of doctors to successfully determine the cause of her debilitating pain. After a number of surgeries and a cocktail of painkillers, therapy, yoga and even alternative medicines, she was faced with the possibility of a hysterectomy.

I thought that the surgery was my only option, she says, but then a friend shared with me a website explaining that a plant-based diet could help with the pain from endo. Murnane is quick to note that you should consult your doctors regarding treatment, but for her, the idea of surgery was daunting. All other options exhausted, she decided to try changing her diet before settling for the surgery.

At first, it was tough going. I was so mad and angry, like something was being taken away from me my first meal was a tortilla with salsa on it, and steamed vegetables. I thought, I think the hysterectomy would be easier. But Murnane stuck with the diet, skipping takeout and cutting out inflammation-causing foods, plus cooking for herself. And then she started to feel better, but not without some struggle.

When I started cooking, finding recipes was tough something easy that didnt take three hours to make and 10 minutes to eat, she recalls. Not finding any plant-based solutions in existing diet books everything was so restrictive, and no one likes to be told you cant eat this, dont eat that she set out to create her own recipes, while also obtaining a certification in plant-based nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Foundation.

Food should be nurturing, she says. You see people drinking kale smoothies, and you beat yourself up because maybe youll never be like them. That doesnt make dieting easier or fun. Thats the crux of her book: Changing a diet doesnt have to be all or nothing. It can come one meal, or one plant at a time.She personally doesnt identify as vegan (she still eats honey), but Murnane does avoid gluten, which can trigger pain and inflammation for sufferers of endometriosis. Going gluten-free isnt the answer for everyone, either, she notes.

The book itself is vibrant dishes pop off the page. The variety of foods, too, is impressive. Its not just salads here. Murnanes tacos (made with creamy butternut squash and lentils) look worthy of any taqueria, while her mushroom-spinach lasagna is so hearty and filling, youd never believe it didnt have cheese the creamy component is actually a surprisingly smooth and savory cashew sauce. A tomato-white bean panzanella (with bread!) is bright with smashed garlic but comes together in just a few minutes. Same goes for her roasted potato, corn and leek chowder, a hearty, comforting soup with only eight common ingredients. A dessert section features everything from a neon-red granita by fellow cookbook author and friend Julia Turshen, to chocolate chip cookies and a triple berry skillet cobbler.

Perhaps most impressively, none of the recipes look outright healthy in the way that many so-called diet books do. Theres no hit-you-over-the-head selling of a lifestyle, even as Murnane is the embodiment of a plant-based life by necessity. But ultimately, shes not here to convert you just encourage you to try going one part plant, one meal at a time.

(The book) is about more than just Meatless Monday, says Murnane. People hate Mondays already, and then youre going to tell them what they cant eat? Yeah, no.

Murnane, a former Chicagoan, is making a few stops in her old stomping grounds as part of herbook tour. She's partnered with local restaurants for plant-based promotions, including Do-Rite Donuts (223 E. Erie St.) for a 100 percent plant-based doughnut, available March 6-10,and Lula Cafe for a farm dinner March 6. Murnane will sign books at Foodease in the Water Tower Place, time to be determined, March 7. On March 8, she is hosting a party and book signing at Gather Home, 6-8 p.m. (2321 W. North Ave.). Email hola@onepartplant.com to RSVP. Visitonepartplant.com for more details.

jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com Twitter@joeybear85

Creamy mushroom lasagna

Makes: 8 servings

From "One Part Plant" by Jessica Murnane, who writes that she has enjoyed many pans of lasagna that sub vegetables for noodles, but for her, lasagna must have noodles.

Olive, grape seed, or coconut oil, or veggie broth for sauteing

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 pound mushrooms, chopped (you can use a mix of different mushrooms)

1 tablespoon tamari or coconut aminos

1 teaspoon dried thyme

3/4 cup raw cashews, soaked for a few hours (overnight is best), drained

1 cup veggie broth

2 big handfuls spinach

10 ounces gluten-free lasagna noodles (I love Tinkyadas brown rice pasta)

4 cups marinara sauce, store-bought (a 32-ounce jar) or homemade

Nutritional yeast (optional)

1 Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

2 In a large skillet, heat a glug of oil or veggie broth over medium. When the pan is hot, add the garlic and saute until it becomes fragrant. This will take about a minute. Add the mushrooms, tamari, and thyme. Cook, stirring every minute or so, for 6 to 8 minutes or until the mushrooms release their water and a little broth starts to form.

3 Combine the cashews and veggie broth in a high-speed blender and blend until the mixture is completely smooth. This might take up to 5 minutes, depending on the speed and power of your blender. Pour the cashew sauce into the pan with the mushrooms. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for a couple minutes to let the sauce thicken, stirring frequently. Throw in the spinach and stir for another minute.

4 Prepare the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions. Make sure to do this after your mushroom sauce is ready to go, so the noodles dont sit for too long and start sticking together.

5 Spread a third of the marinara sauce on the bottom of an 8-by-11-inch baking dish. Add a layer of noodles. Cover the noodles with half of the mushroom cream. Add a layer of noodles. Use another third of the marinara to cover these noodles. Add the remaining mushroom cream. Add the last layer of noodles and cover it with the remaining marinara sauce.

6 Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, add a sprinkle of nutritional yeast over the top, if you like, and bake for another 15 minutes. Let the lasagna rest for 5 minutes before serving.

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'One Part Plant' is all about plant-based eating, but don't call it a diet book - Chicago Tribune

You've heard of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets like the Atkins diet and Paleo diet. These and other so-called ketogenic diets are gaining in popularity due to their effectiveness, but do you know what, exactly, they do in your body to trigger weight loss?

In a standard carb-loaded American diet, the body burns glucose from carbohydrates as an energy source in a process called glycosis. But when you limit your carbs and increase your fat intake, your body moves into a metabolic state of ketosis, meaning that its burning fat stored in your body instead of glucose, according to Web MD. Ketosis also drastically reduces blood sugar and insulin resistance.

As Dr. Eric Westman, director of the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic at Duke University, told Time Magazine, "You determine what your body burns for fuel based on what you feed it.

Ketogenic diets have been used to treat pediatric epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and cancer. (Photo: Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock)

A ketogenic diet has been used for almost 100 years to treat pediatric epilepsy, Scientific American reports, because a ketogenic diet mimics fasting, which has long been known to have a therapeutic effect on seizures. Similar to a state of ketosis, the body also burns fat for energy during fasts. Usually, a pediatric ketogenic diet starts with 24 hours of fasting in a hospital setting, where doctors can monitor frequency of seizures, medication, and help educate the parents on the ins and outs of the diet.

Ketogenic diets may very well be able to delay symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases and even reverse them completely. Dr. Terry Wahls, whose lecture Minding your Mitochondria went viral a few years ago, summarily reversed the progression of her secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, following a Paleo ketogenic diet.

Dominic DAgostino, a Ph.D. and associate professor at University of San Francisco, recently told Mens Fitness that a ketogenic diet also could be the key to beating cancer. We think the majority of cancers could be metabolically managed through nutritional ketosis, either as a stand-alone pill or an adjunct to standard care, he said.

No matter what your reason is for considering a ketogenic diet, you should know that getting started may be a little rough on your body.

A true ketogenic diet can be hard to maintain, so do it under the care of a doctor or nutritionist to make sure you're getting adequate nutrition. (Photo: Elena Shashkina/Shutterstock)

Following a ketogenic diet is no small feat, because in order to start it, you have to go off carbohydrates almost entirely. Your body feels deprived. Its what many call a low-carb flu. But after you get through this initial roadblock, many report feeling sharper than before and more energized.

So what exactly can you eat on a ketogenic diet? Some options are below:

A true ketogenic diet can be hard to maintain, since carbohydrates from sugar in something as inconsequential as toothpaste or cookie crumbs can send your body back into glycosis.

If you want try a ketogenic diet, do it under the care of a doctor or nutritionist to make sure youre getting adequate nutrition. And though it may be difficult in the beginning, dont give up. The Mens Fitness article says that leading Boston College cancer researcher Thomas Seyfried, M.D., believes that a ketogenic diet is therapeutically even more valuable in fighting cancer than chemo.

A bold yet heartening statement.

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What is a ketogenic diet? - Mother Nature Network

Anita Curpier, Special to the Courier-Journal 7:03 a.m. ET Feb. 23, 2017

Salad with salmon(Photo: Adl Bkefi, Getty Images/Moment RF)

Why is it so hard to make meaningful changes in your diet? Lots of reasons. A big one is, at a very early age we decide what we like to eat and what we dont. This started a lifelong habit that most of us adhere to with remarkable consistency. In fact, although you may believe you have considerable variety in your diet, its more likely that your eating habits fall within a narrow range and you rarely venture far from it. If you are 60 years of age, you have a longtime habit to contend with when you try to change. Thats quite a challenge, and most give up despite good intentions.

Is restricting your food choices to a narrow range a problem? Yes, indeed, if your food choices are similar to those of most Americans, meaning high in processed foods loaded with fat and sugar. Its no secret that such a diet destroys health in many ways. Even so, we persist on the same course.

As a registered dietitian, I have counseled countless people over the years to help them improve their diet. When I worked in the hospital, many were heart attack victims and those having coronary artery bypass surgery, people who very much needed to make changes to reduce the odds of future heart problems. Unfortunately, I found most people reluctant to change, and not only because they were so used to eating in a certain way. My suggestions often were viewed as punitive, because I was telling them they needed to quit eating so many of the foods they enjoyed. And because there was a lack of understanding of basic dietary issues and the many ways diet can influence health, my suggestions often came across as too complicated and cumbersome, particularly for someone not highly motivated to change.

Today, I default to a more simplified approach to healthy eating, one that involves tiny steps that are easy to implement. For example, in a recent column, I emphasized the benefits of a higher protein diet as we get older to help counteract sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass). In that column, I provided an easy way to get more protein with a shake that works well as a nutritious lunch.

Heres another easy suggestion that pays big dividends. Eat more fish.

Fish is lean and high in protein, the perfect combination. Red meat also provides protein, but it comes with a lot of baggage like saturated fat. Unfortunately, we are a nation of meat eaters and fewer than 20 percent of us consume fish at least twice a week, and half of us eat fish only occasionally or not at all. The American Heart Association strongly promotes regular fish consumption because results from many research studies have shown that eating fish substantially reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.

One reason people avoid fish is the fear of pollutants and toxins, like mercury or pesticide residue. The Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and other authoritative bodies have concluded from their studies that there is insufficient evidence to limit fish consumption in adults. However, if pollutants are a concern, an easy way to reduce risk is to eat a variety of fish and other seafood.

An additional benefit from fish besides being lean and high in protein is the rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help combat inflammation, a key contributing factor in atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries).

Walnuts also are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and they offer other healthful advantages as well. A recent research study from the Prevention Research Center at Yale University asked participants to add 366 calories of walnuts to their diet every day for six months, then to avoid walnuts for the next six months. Researchers found that eating walnuts lowered total serum cholesterol and the bad LDL cholesterol significantly, thus reducing the risk of heart disease.

Another interesting finding was that despite adding 366 calories from walnuts, the weight of participants remained stable and they didnt gain any body fat. How is that possible? When comparing the diet participants followed with and without the walnuts, their diet was healthier with walnuts.

So, two simple tiny step changes that can add up to considerable health benefits include substituting fish for red meat at least twice a week, and making walnuts your new snack.

Anita Miles Curpier is a registered dietitian and has considerable experience in hospital and clinically based nutrition therapy. Contact her at boomingcj@gmail.com.

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Looking for a heart healthy diet? First step: Add fish, walnuts - The Courier-Journal

Playing EXCLUSIVE: Mama June's Trainer Reveals Diet and Exercise Plan That Led to Her Stunning Weight Loss

Mama June had to change her entire lifestyle in order to dramatically drop the pounds.

ET sat down exclusively with Kenya Crooks -- Mama June's trainer on her new docu-dramedy,Mama June: From Not to Hot -- on Wednesday, when he revealed the steps the 37-year-old reality star had to take after undergoing weight loss surgery. ET also sat down with two of Mama June's daughters, 11-year-old Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson and 17-year-old Lauryn "Pumpkin" Thompson, who've been keeping her on track.

Crooks started working with Mama June after she underwent gastric sleeve surgery in May 2015, which made her stomach smaller. However, when she couldn't lose any more weight, Crooks was brought in to help her get over the plateau. The celebrity trainer says the mother of four definitely wasn't a fan of exercise.

WATCH: EXCLUSIVE: Mama June's Weight Loss Surgeries Revealed -- How She Went From 460 Pounds to a Size 4

"Well, at first, it was a struggle," Crooks admits to ET's Jennifer Peros. "It was a struggle because, again, she didn't like to work out, but when she started seeing the weight drop, then it became an easy sell. We had to find some stuff that she could do and build upon that; once we found out what she could do, then we started killing it."

"We've done a lot of weight training, we've done a lot of plyometrics, doing a lot of running, but, you know, it's all about pressing past yourself, and that's what we've been able to do -- help her press past herself," he adds.

Of course, Mama June also had to start eating much healthier. Honey Boo Boo and Pumpkin share that sweets -- specifically Little Debbie cakes, which they call "fat cakes" -- have been the hardest for their mother to give up.

"She went to Dollar General and bought like five boxes of those things," Honey Boo Boo shares.

"She's not supposed to be eating what ... she was eating," Crooks jumps in. "But, long story short, everything is pretty much done in moderation. So, it's kind of like, you can have the shakes, and you can have, like, the small portions of lean meats, fruit and vegetables, but you have to understand that when you have those types of surgeries, you can't eat large. You really have to monitor the sizes."

"Something like a Little Debbie cake ... she can't eat that much of it," Pumpkin adds. "Because the gastric sleeve, they cut out the bottom half of your stomach, so, you can literally only eat that much."

Crooks says Mama June is now focused on keeping off the weight.

"I think that the most important thing that she has to understand is, yes, you can blow back up, and what you don't want to do is basically take a vacation from yourself," he stresses. "[If] you go back to eating the same way, you end up blowing up again. Again, we want to create change -- change that she can always maintain for the rest of her life."

Pumpkin is also diligently working to help her stay on track. "I tell her, like, 'Mama, you can't do that, you know,'" she says about Mama June's penchant for late-night snacking. "I have to show her [old] pictures of herself sometimes ... and I'm like, 'If you don't stop eating that junk, you're going to go right back.'"

WATCH: Mama June Drops Down to a Size 4 After Weighing 352 Pounds, Her New Show Teases

Though of course, Mama June is definitely loving the results.

"Like, every day, like at least three times a day, she was on the scale seeing how much weight she lost," Pumpkin recalls.

"There was one [Facebook photo] that popped up the other day, and I showed it to her, and she was like, 'I can't even believe that was me,'" she adds.

Watch the video below to hear Honey Boo Boo and Pumpkin break down their mother's weight loss surgeries, taking Mama June from 460 pounds to a reported size 4. Mama June: From Not to Hot debuts Friday, Feb. 24 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on WE tv.

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EXCLUSIVE: Mama June's Trainer Reveals Diet and Exercise Plan That Led to Her Stunning Weight Loss - Entertainment Tonight

Professional athletes dont get to the top by accident. It takes superhuman levels of time, dedication, and focusand that includes paying attention to what they put in their bellies. In this series, GQ takes a look at what athletes in different sports eat on a daily basis to perform at their best. Heres a look at the daily diet of L.A. Galaxy star Robbie Rogers.

Robbie Rogers is a year shy of 30, which is easy to forget once he starts talking about his career. Hes a unique case study: the professional athlete who is a veteran of his sport, yet still a relatively young member of, well, the human race. But a decade plus of traveling the world, kicking around a soccer ball, has given Rogers a certain informed gravitas. When he speaks, your natural reaction is to not only listen, but to lean in. That probably explains why 90 percent of my meals consisted of lentils and quinoa in the week after he broke down his vegetarian-esque diet for me.

GQ: Youve played professionally in the States, the UK, and in the Netherlands. Did you notice any differences with your diet when playing based on location?

Robbie Rogers: Yeah, a little bit. When I was in England, I became pretty much a vegetarian. I didnt really enjoy the meat over there, to be honest.

Yeah, its not the best.

No, its not. I mean, there are some good spots, but just in general I wasnt much of a fan. When I was in Holland, my diet was really different, but I was also really young. I would say that was more just with my age. I wasnt as aware of how important diet was, so I would still eat regular pasta and think that it was great for me. When I was younger, I would just be like, Oh, have some pasta and youll be good!

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A lot of people who grew up playing sports probably thought that. In high school, my basketball team would have pasta dinners the night before every game.

Yeah, the team going to Olive Garden and loading up on carbs! I would have bread and all this stuff that I thought was good for me. Then you realize its not. And I definitely feel a difference when Im really strict and on my diet for a few weeks versus if I cheat a little bit. I feel it in games and during training. It does make a huge difference and as you get older. You know, Im not as athletic as I was when I was younger, so I have to really focus on this stuff so I can keep that edge.

For you, was there a specific moment in your career where you really started to pay attention to your diet?

Probably right around when I was 24 or 25 years old. Before that I could just eat whatever and Id be fine. But then I realized that I like to play at a certain weight and I feel better when Im not eating too much sugar or when I eat at a certain time every day. Im 29 now, been a professional for 11 years. Ive done my own research but Ive also listened to the nutritionists around me and spoken to my teammates about what theyre doing and what works for them.

What have you realized works best for you in that time?

Just a much healthier diet with more vegetables and carbs that are actually going to work for me. Before, I never had quinoa or lentils, which are different things I try to focus on now. I do eat meat now, but not much. Maybe once every two weeks. I really try to eat more vegetables. Again, lentils and quinoa. Beans. Even brown rice. And obviously I try to stay extremely hydrated.

About two years ago, you made the switch from playing in the midfield to the backline. Were there any changes to your diet when you made that positional move?

No, not too much. Its still a lot of running, so just making sure I have those right kinds of carbs is important. Before and after games, actually, because you need those to recover. So I just try to read my body and see how Im feeling. See where my weights at. You know, there are times when well have three games in a week and I lose too much weight, too much muscle. So I have to make myself eat more, which sounds like a great problem, but sometimes its annoying.

Well, I feel like the sport has evolved so much over the last decade. Before everyone was focusing predominantly on cardio, but now strength training is a bigger and bigger sticking point.

Definitely. Its different for everyone, though. Some guys in different positions need to work more on their cardio and losing some of that big muscle because theyre just too heavy. But for me, especially as a runner, you can get little muscle injuries if youre not recovering well and if your muscles are too fatigued. For me, it was definitely finding the right diet to keep on weight and keep on lean muscle. Staying limber and lean, that way I can continue to run as much as I do.

So what types of eating patterns help you to best achieve that? Are you a strict breakfast, lunch, and dinner kind of guy?

I kind of am, yeah. With a snack after lunch sometimes, too.

Give me the full run-down. What does the typical day look like starting with breakfast?

I usually take Shakeology in the morning for breakfast. Just this massive shake with all this stuff in it. Ill add fruits and almond milk and cinnamon and flax seeds and omega fatty acids. Then Ill have some coffee and some water. I take a swig of apple cider vinegar each morning. And I also take one of those Bio-K probiotics every morning. That actually really helps me and my stomach. Then I head to the stadium, which is about a 45 minute drive for me. Ill have another coffee and banana there before we do all my prehab, all my rehab stuff and strengthening and everything. Then Ill go out to train, and in that time Im drinking a lot of water. Thats so important for us. After training, right around noon, Ill have another shake handed to me right as I get off the field, and then I go right into lifting.

At which point youre probably starving.

I eat lunch right after that. The team sets up a lunch for us, so Ill have a huge salad with some sort of vegetables, some fruit, some proteineither tempeh or tofu. Later on Ill have some more fruit, and then Ill have dinner. I actually try to have an earlier dinner, especially when Im cooking at the house. I live in L.A., so obviously there is always the temptation to go and eat out, but I try to limit that to once or twice a week. Dinner can be a bunch of different things. Last night I made vegetarian lasagna, which was really great. Every now and then Ill barbecue a steak, but thats maybe once a month. Some nights well make a vegetarian stew. My son will eat that now too.

Your son is almost a year old now. Has being a father had any effect on your diet at all?

Not really my diet, but I know I affect his diet. He also takes a Bio-K probiotic, which really helps his stomach, as well. But he loves vegetables and quinoa and lentils. Hell have potatoes here and there. So hes on a pretty great diet. Were introducing him to everything. We try to stay away from all those processed foods, but he has grandmas, so thats not always possible. But we just let him experiment and try different things.

My cousins all have young kids and I know they make some different products specifically for kids that they have actually gotten hooked on, like those fruit pouches.

I try everything he has, but I havent really gotten hooked on that stuff. There are some brands that do similar stuff. Like, theres Nomva, which Ill take. They have probiotics in them and its like a fruit of vegetable pouch. They sell them right at Whole Foods, and sometimes they have them at our stadium. Theyre really great.

Soccer players dont really get much of an off-season, but do you let yourself have some cheat meals during that time?

Oh, yeah, I always do. Im not crazy about everything. You know, I really love sushi and going to Izaka-Ya. On birthdays and holidays Ill have desserts. Im obsessed with popcorn, so whenever I go to the movies I have to get a popcorn. Ill be fighting with Greg [Berlanti, Rogerss fiance] over who gets to hold the popcorn.

No, I actually dont like that. Just the standard, salted, movie theatre popcorn. But in general, I try to stay on top of things because I do feel the difference during the season.

There has to be a balance.

Exactly. Youve got to enjoy life and enjoy peoples company and be able to do stuff with themeat out and enjoy different things. But when were in season, more days than not, youve got to be on top of things. Its your profession.

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The Real-Life Diet of Soccer Star Robbie Rogers, Who Is "Pretty Much" Vegetarian - GQ Magazine

Socialism: Want to lose weight fast? Don't worry about the latest fad diet. Just move to Venezuela. There, the new Socialist Diet has caused the population to lose millions of pounds in 12 months. Unwillingly, of course.

A new study of Venezuela's stunning decline under Hugo Chavez's socialist model, still followed faithfully by his lap dog successor, Nicolas Maduro, reports that the average Venezuelan lost 19 pounds in the last year. Today, the 2016 Living Conditions Survey finds, 32.5% of Venezuelans eat only once or twice a day, up from 11.3% just one year ago. And 93.3% of all people don't earn enough to buy sufficient food.

American Thinker blogger Ronald C. Tinnell called it "The Venezuelan Miracle Weight Loss Program."

We call it a shocking indictment of socialism, and should be a siren call to people around the world: Bring socialism to your country, and you bring misery. It's the one thing that socialism produces an abundance of.

It's a sad fact that Venezuela was once one of the wealthiest countries in South America, and even now has the second-largest oil reserves in the world. It should be a rich nation, filled with prosperous people worried about gaining too much weight, not losing it to hunger.

But as formerly middle-class Venezuelans scavenge for food some even stooping to dumpster diving and eating formerly beloved pets just to stay alive socialists allied with Maduro have changed nothing. Maduro followed Chavez's lead, spending all the money that the state-oil company earned on "social" programs, all the while attacking small businesses and companies and effectively nationalizing the supermarkets.

Meanwhile, inflation at close to 500% a year is the highest of any country on earth. Looking at the problems with declining food stocks and roaring inflation, Maduro decided to put the military in charge of the country's food distribution network. The result was predictable: Massive food shortages and rampant corruption, as armed military line their pockets by selling food on the black market.

"Mismanagement of the economy has created a humanitarian disaster beyond comprehension," wrote Ed Feulner and Ana Quintana in a piece that appeared on the RealClearPolitics website.

The country's infrastructure is collapsing from a lack of investment, while rule of law has been rejected for the rule of one tyrant. Children aren't spared; they're dying by the hundreds from curable diseases, a lack of medicine, electricity outages and no incubators for newborns. The resurgence of once vanquished contagious diseases is killing off the weak and the infirm. "Cases of diphtheria and malaria are re-emerging, and the number of Zika infections is estimated to be 'nearly 700,000', according to a Venezuelan health organization," wrote Feulner and Quintana.

Even worse is the chaos on the streets. Caracas' murder rate of 120 per each 100,000 inhabitants is the highest in the world. That's higher than in Damascus, Kabul or Tripoli.

It doesn't have to be this way. As recently as 21 years ago the Heritage Foundation gave Venezuela a 59.8 ranking on its Index of Freedom. Today it's at 27.0, just behind Cuba but barely ahead of last place North Korea. As with all nations that destroy freedom, socialist Venezuela has also destroyed whatever semblance of wealth it had.

If Venezuela seems remote and of little concern, consider this headline: "Democratic Socialists Make Headway In U.S. After Trump's Win." Yes, we know. The Democratic Socialists of America style themselves as kinder, gentler socialists. Think Sweden, they say, not Venezuela.

But the truth is, whoever practices it or whatever those who follow it call themselves, socialism is an economic system based on mass greed and class envy that has failed time and time again. There are no successful socialist nations, anywhere. Those that find this model appealing despite its obvious failures are the desperate, the poorly educated, the uninformed and those lacking entirely in basic common sense.

It is an economic philosophy of entitlement and grievance, one that always ends in poverty, wanton destruction, the breakdown of civilization and even death as the Venezuelans, who willingly handed control of their country over to the socialists, are now finding out.

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Original post:
Venezuelans Now On A Forced Starvation Diet Thanks, Socialism ... - Investor's Business Daily

But a couple of healthy recipes are always welcome.

You made the fitness resolution while raising your glass of bubbly on New Year's Eve, and you've worked out three times a week for more than a month. But the scale. Is. Not. Budging.

Isn't it possible that you're actually fitter that you have more lean body mass and less fat even though the scale hasn't changed?

Indeed, it is.

This is why trainers such as Washington, D.C., strength and conditioning coach Gabe Free are more interested in measuring your body composition, which looks at lean body mass compared with body fat, than just your body weight, which gives your overall weight and doesn't discriminate between fat and muscle even though, as we know, one generally is less desirable than the other.

"People get caught up with a number on the scale. But that kind of misses the point," Free says. "What we want to do is improve strength and increase lean body mass."

Technically, you could improve strength and increase lean body mass while gaining rather than losing weight, depending on your starting point. Because, as we know, muscle weighs more than fat.

Meir Magal, professor of exercise science at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, agrees that the body-composition measurement is a better measure of fitness.

It is also often a better tool than BMI (body mass index, in which body mass is divided by the square of the body height), he says.

"If you have someone who is very muscular, they might show up as obese when you use BMI," Magal says. "Body composition is a far superior measurement."

So why don't we hear more about body-composition tests if they're so much better than BMI and mere weight tracking?

Well, they require skill and, in some cases, can be costly. The cheapest and most common way is to use calipers, which measure skin folds by pinching your skin in at least three relatively fat-heavy areas: in men, the chest, abdomen and thigh; and in women, the triceps, abdomen and thigh.

This is the method Free uses regularly with his clients.

"We might do it once a month or at the completion of a specific training program goal," he says.

A slightly more involved but usually pretty affordable method is the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), in which a machine sends electrical currents through the body to determine fat-free body mass.

Lara Atella, co-owner of Hot Yoga Capitol Hill in Washington, uses this method. One of the things it looks at is water content in the body, so it is important that the test taker isn't overhydrated or underhydrated and hasn't worked out before the test.

More expensive but more accurate body-composition tests include underwater weighing and DEXA scans (a type of X-ray). These are often used by professional and collegiate athletes.

Some numbers to keep in mind in terms of body composition:

People might say things such as "He has zero percent body fat," but that is a fallacy.

The body needs some fat, and those levels are different for men and women: Essential fat for men is 2 to 5 percent, and for women, it's 10 to 13 percent. But that is not the number to aim for, Atella says.

Instead, for fit women, the target is 21 to 24 percent, and for fit men, it's about 14 to 17 percent. For athletes, the corresponding numbers are 14 to 20 percent for women and 6 to 13 percent for men.

"It's important for women to have that essential body fat, or it can mess with your hormone levels, which can lead to hair loss, fatigue and you can lose your period," Atella says.

It is possible to be what Atella calls "skinny fat." In other words, your body weight and BMI can be low while your body fat is high, which is not considered fit.

On the other hand, that's not necessarily connected to health risks. A high waist circumference, though, is associated with increased disease risks.

Sigh. It's not just overall fat but also where it's located that matters. This is why Atella also measures waist circumference and blood pressure.

"You could have high body fat, but that's not necessarily dangerous unless that fat is all around the waist," Atella says.

A waist greater than 35 inches for women and 39 for men is associated with hypertension and heart disease, Magal says.

There are, of course, genetic variations. Some people can have a rotund body shape and be healthy.

Let's say you are still upset about your lack of progress on the scale and decide to go on a juice cleanse diet to "lose 10 pounds in 10 days."

"It's not a good idea to lose that much weight that fast," Free says. "You didn't put the weight on overnight, and it's not going to come off overnight."

In fact, he says, the "crazy cleanse diets" work in the sense that you drop weight rapidly, but in the process you lose three times more lean body mass than fat. And it's never a good idea to lose muscle mass.

Muscles not only make you stronger, but more lean body mass is also associated with better metabolism.

A diet that supports muscle growth needs protein and some fat - which many cleanse diets virtually ban.

Magal suggests that anyone interested in fat loss and increased fitness needs to consult a nutritionist to set up a sensible plan.

Free eats 1 to 2 grams of protein per day per kilogram of body weight (example: 220 pounds = 100 kg; 1.5 grams of protein x 100 kg = 150 grams of protein per day).

Free acknowledges that it isn't always easy to persuade clients to step off the scale, but there are success stories. He has a client whose goal was to drop a significant amount of weight but in the end didn't budge the scale as much as he lost fat and became strong.

"He trusted the process. His clothes fit better, he feels better, and he's much stronger."

Boston is a fitness trainer and freelance writer. She can be found at gabriellaboston.com.

RECIPES

Skinny Corn Bread

Corn kernels, jalapeo and onion bulk up this low-fat skillet version.You'll need a 10-inch ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron.

The corn bread is best served warm, but you can refrigerate leftovers, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up toa week. The leftovers are also good cut into cubes and toasted for salad croutons.

cup diced yellow onion

cup fresh or defrosted corn kernels

2 tablespoons seeded, finely chopped fresh jalapeo peppers

cup flour

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon fine sea salt

1 cup stone-ground yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup regular or low-fat buttermilk

1 large egg, beaten

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

Place the ovenproof skillet on the middle oven rack; preheat to 400 degrees.

Spray a small nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the onion, corn and jalapeos; cook for about 5 minutes, stirring a few times, just until the corn is lightly charred. Transfer the mixture to a bowl to cool.

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl. Whisk the cornmeal into the dry ingredients.

Whisk together the buttermilk, egg and oil in a large liquid measuring cup, then pour that mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients, stirring just until blended. Fold in the cooled corn mixture.

Remove the hot skillet from the oven; immediately pour the batter into the skillet, spreading it evenly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the center is just firm to the touch.

Transfer the pan to a wire oven rack to cool for a few minutes before cutting the corn bread into wedges.

Serves 6.

Nutrition per serving(using low-fat buttermilk): 190 calories, 6 grams protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 35 milligrams cholesterol, 260 mg sodium, 3 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar.

Adapted from "Food, Health and Happiness: 115 On-Point Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life," by Oprah Winfrey (Flatiron Books, 2017).

Crunchy Salad With Curry Lime Vinaigrette

This is a kaleidoscope of colors and textures, and, surprisingly, it's kid-friendly. Lots of chopping here, so feel free to spread the tasks among your favorite kitchen helpers.

The vinaigrette can be refrigerated a day or two in advance. Whisk to re-emulsify before using.

If you're calculating, the salad is 5 Weight Watchers points per serving.

For the vinaigrette:

cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

1 clove garlic, grated very fine

1-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and grated very fine

Finely grated zest and juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

For the salad:

1 cup finely chopped cauliflower florets

1 cup finely chopped broccoli florets

1 cup thinly sliced sugar snap peas

1 cup shredded Brussels sprouts

cup shredded red cabbage

cup carrot matchsticks (julienne)

6 dried apricots, thinly sliced

cup thinly sliced scallions (white and light-green parts)

1 cups chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as basil, chives, cilantro and mint

cup hulled, roasted sunflower seeds (salted or unsalted)

cup chopped Marcona almonds

For the vinaigrette: Whisk together the vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, lime zest and juice, curry powder and salt in a liquid measuring cup. Gradually add the oil, whisking to form an emulsified vinaigrette.

For the salad: Combine the cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, carrots and apricots in a large mixing bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat evenly. Let sit for 10 minutes, then toss again.

Scatter the scallions, herbs, sunflower seeds and Marcona almonds on top. Divide among individual bowls and serve right away.

6 servings.

Nutrition| Per serving (using unsalted sunflower seeds): 160 calories, 5 grams protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 450 mg sodium, 4 g dietary fiber, 8 g sugar.

Adapted from "Food, Health and Happiness: 115 On-Point Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life," by Oprah Winfrey (Flatiron Books, 2017).

More:
Step away from the scale: It's not all about how much weight you lose - The Providence Journal

Its always best to get medical advice before going ahead.

When youre pregnant, theres a good chance youll be bombarded with all sorts of conflicting information. Whether its from your family, extended family, friends or even neighbours, youre sure to be getting lots of advice on what a Desi diet for pregnancy should be.

Theres so much information out there that it can be difficult to suss out what a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy should consist of.

Generally, you should consult your doctor regarding whats best for you during your pregnancy. However, if youre looking for a quick guide to a good Desi diet for pregnancy, then give this a read.

This one seems obvious, but it can be hard to fit enough fruits and vegetables into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are full of various vitamins and nutrients. Many of these are crucial for your babys development.

For example, mangoes are an ideal food for you to be eating. Theyre rich in vitamins A and C, as well as iron and folic acid. Try a mango smoothie or a lassi to get these vitamins into your diet.

Vegetables like cauliflower are also great for your pregnancy. Full of vitamin C and calcium, theyre good for your babys development. Try adding cauliflower to a curry or samosas to add them into your diet.

Try and include as many different fruits and vegetables into your diet as possible. Fruits and vegetables contain such a wide range of nutrients so its important to include lots of them. Try making a big vegetable curry or a vegetable soup to get as many as possible.

Pulses such as the various types of lentils and beans are key for a healthy Desi pregnancy diet.

Theyre not only a great source of protein, theyre one of the cheapest sources of protein available. If youre trying to be a bit more frugal during your pregnancy, pulses can be a great choice.

Lentils contain a large amount of folic acid. This means that theyre good for the early stages of your babys development. They also contain potassium, fibre and iron. All of these are excellent for the health of yourself and your baby.

Beans also contain fibre and iron as well as protein, so theyre an excellent addition to any meal.

Some women have even reported that their morning sickness has abated after introducing beans to their diet.

Pulses are also great for a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy because theyre so easy to cook. Canned beans only take a few minutes and can be added to chilis, curries and stews for that extra protein.

Dal is a staple in every Desi household and you can even make a big batch in a slow cooker to last you all week.

While you can get all the protein you need from vegetable based sources if you choose, many people will want to get their protein from meat. Meat isnt important only for protein, it is also a source of iron. This is crucial as getting enough iron prevents anaemia.

You do have to be careful with meat during pregnancy. The bacteria which causes food poisoning found in meats can sometimes lead to serious illnesses in pregnancy. So, always make sure your meat is thoroughly cooked.

For this, its best for you to buy a food thermometer in order to ensure that your food is cooked all the way through.

Most fish is safe to eat during pregnancy. However, you should be careful with the amount of tuna that you eat. Tuna contains more mercury than many other fishes, so its important to limit your intake to avoid mercury poisoning.

As with other meats, always make sure that your fish has been properly cooked through to avoid bacteria and parasites that may be in the food.

The only exception to this is sushi. You can actually eat raw fish while pregnant. You just have to make sure it has been frozen first. Freezing the fish will kill bacteria and parasites in the same way that cooking would.

Youll probably be wanting to eat dairy products during your pregnancy to ensure you get enough calcium.

This can be easily accomplished through foods like cheeses, yoghurt and milk. If you dont like consuming these foods by themselves, you could easily include them by stirring some natural yoghurt into a curry.

During a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy, you can certainly eat foods like paneer. However, you need to first make sure that its made from pasteurised milk. This helps to remove bacteria from the cheese and ensure its safe to eat.

You should also cook paneer before you eat it while pregnant. Even if its been pasteurised, paneer can still be a tempting spot for bacteria, so its important to cook it.

During pregnancy, you should be careful not to eat mould-ripened soft cheeses or blue cheeses. This is because the mould they are made with can contain listeria. This can be a very serious illness in pregnant women.

You also need to make sure that the only milk you consume is pasteurised or UHT (ultra heat treated) milk. Dont drink fresh or unpasteurized goat or sheep milk as it can contain harmful bacteria.

You should be able to create a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy which suits you. If you look through these food groups you should be able to cook meals which you enjoy and which suit your pregnancy.

However, if youre not sure on anything during your pregnancy you should always consult your doctor. If you want to eat a food and youre not sure if its safe for pregnancy, its always best to get medical advice before going ahead.

Other than that, getting a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy should be easy. Make sure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and plenty of pulses. Make sure you cook your meat safely and choose the right cheeses. If you stick to this, you and your baby should be happy and healthy.

Go here to see the original:
A Simple and Healthy Desi Diet for Pregnancy - DESIblitz

07:26 Wednesday 22 February 2017

As a local dentist and mum-of-two, Elaine Clavell-Bate understands just how much parents want to help their children protect their perfect smiles. Elaine says: "It's really important for our kids to get into healthy dental routines and learning good habits early will help set them up for a lifetime of great oral health."

Here's Elaine's advice on how you can help your children keep their healthy smile.

Brushing

The advice is to brush children's teeth for two minutes last thing at night and for two minutes at one other time of the day.

You should supervise your children's brushing until they are at least six-years-old.

Disclosing tablets are great tool for parents to check that kids are brushing effectively. These are chewable tablets that stain plaque pink so children can see the areas they need to brush better. Speak to your dentist or hygienist about their use and always Vaseline their lips first otherwise their lips will be pink too!

You should start brushing your children's teeth once the first tooth comes into their mouth. Use a fluoridated toothpaste containing no less than 1000ppm fluoride. Preferably over 1350ppm fluoride if possible.

For children under three years of age, only a small smear of toothpaste should be used, children over three should have a small pea sized amount on their brush.

It can be difficult to encourage young children to brush their teeth. But brushing can be made fun. Children really love colourful or character toothbrushes and there are lots of apps that can make brushing more interesting.

Playing their favourite song can help as can using a novelty two minute timer.

With our two young boys we encourage them to brush for the first minute then we take over for the second.

Tooth brush charts are a great help especially if they come with sticker rewards.

Children can use mouthwash from the age of seven providing they can spit out well and you can be sure that they wont swallow the rinse.

But remember mouthwash should not be used straight after brushing, nor should you or your child rinse with water after brushing. Toothpaste should be left on the teeth so encourage your child to spit out the excess toothpaste but not rinse.

Children from the age of 12 years-of-age can start cleaning in between their teeth, usually with floss or dental tape. They can see their dentist or hygienist to be shown how to effectively and safely clean between their teeth. This is especially important if they have crowded teeth or have braces on.

The kit

Toothbrushes should be replaced when the brush bristles are splayed or at least every 3 months.

Try to use a toothbrush with a small head and medium texture bristles. Either electric or manual, the main thing is to encourage them to brush for 2 minutes - the brush isn't as important as effective brushing.

Diet

We would encourage all parents not to add sugar to any food or drink. For very young children a free flow cup should be encouraged from 6 months and we advise that bottles be stopped if possible by 12-months-old.

Encourage water rather than juice especially in between meals and keep sugary food and drinks to a minimum.

Parents should try to reduce the frequency of sugary food. When children get sweet food and drink try to keep that food to with a meal rather than letting them snack on it between meals. This reduces the number of sugar attacks on the teeth.

Starting with good habits from a young age is important, it's much harder to change to a healthier low sugar diet than it is to start that way.

Using stickers or presents such as magazines or football cards as treats and rewards can be a useful way of avoiding sweets. Suggest this to family members and anyone who looks after your children too.

The obvious high sugar snacks to avoid are sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cake and sugary drinks. But you should check the sugar content of all snacks to make sure there are no hidden sugars. Dried fruit such as raisins are high in sugar and stick in children's teeth and can cause decay.

If you are unsure if your child's diet is high in sugar you can always record a diet sheet. This means writing down everything that your child eats and drinks and the times they have the food and drink for twp week days and one weekend day. Always be totally truthful and try to pick a week that is representative of their normal diet. (None of us would choose Christmas week to do this! )Take the sheet with you to your dental or hygienist appointment and discuss the content with them. They may be able to identify problem areas and suggest alternatives.

Coming to the dentist

Parents should get baby and child dental advice as early as possible so take your baby with you to your own check ups and make sure they are having their own appointments by the age of two.

Even if you feel your child may not be cooperative the dentist can give advice - it is important that your child is comfortable in the surgery from a young age.

If your child is nervous about attending the dentist encourage them to attend for regular check ups and don't put pressure on them to comply fully at first. They may just want to talk to the dentist or have their teeth counted while they sit on a parent's knee. We encourage toddlers to bring their favourite teddy and they can give their teddy their own dental check up using our mouth mirrors.

Eventually they will gain confidence. Generally the younger they start attending regular check ups the less nervous they are. Going to the dentist will become as normal as going for a haircut.

There are several treatments available to help prevent your children's teeth from decaying such as fluoride varnish and sealants. Your dentist or hygienist will advise you on when fluoride varnish should be applied to teeth and when sealants should be placed.

If your child needs treatment don't be scared to ask your dentist as many questions as you feel you need to. If your child is worried about treatment let your dentist know.

For young children there are books about cartoon characters visiting the dentist and these can be useful.

The dentist will fully explain each treatment and talk you and your child through every stage. It is important that you and your child feel in control and knowledgeable about the treatment as this will help to reduce any anxiety.

Elaine Clavell-Bate is a dentist and clinical lead at Clavell-Bate dental practice in Whalley. She has been a dentist for 11 years.

Read more:
Everything you need to know to protect your kids' teeth - Blackpool Gazette