According to a study being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO), which is being held on May 4-7, 2022 in Maastricht, the Netherlands, there may be some very particular dietary changes you can make that will help keep your arteries healthy and flexible.

The authors say that protein, niacin, and zinc were linked to improvements in both the structure and function of blood vessels in their study.

In addition, they point to a specific dietery pattern which may do a good job of providing you with these nutrients, as well as others that are linked to cardiovascular health.

The research is pre-publication and has not yet been peer-reviewed.

Lead author Dr. Brurya Tal and her team at The Sagol Center for the Metabolic Syndrome, Institute of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Hypertension, Tel Aviv-Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel, wrote that it is known that weight loss is associated with improvements in cardiovascular and metabolic health.

What it is not known, however, is whether any particular nutrient changes during dieting might be responsible for those improvements.

In order to investigate this question, the researchers enrolled 72 people with metabolic syndrome and obesity into a one-year weight loss program.

Metabolic syndrome is defined by the American Heart Association as having at least three of the following risk factors:

Having metabolic syndrome puts people at greater risk for heart and blood vessel diseases.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is characterized by a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30.

The study participants were provided with a personalized diet and exercise plan as well as regular meetings with a doctor and a dietitian.

The average age of the participants was 53.

They were required to complete a dietary questionnaire a week before beginning the weight loss progam as well as at the end.

At the end of the year, the research team measured blood vessel flexibility in three different ways: pulse wave velocity (PWV), common carotid artery intima media thickness (IMT), and flow mediated dilation (FMD).

PWV is the rate at which pressure waves move down the vessel.

Carotid artery IMT is the thickness of the two innermost walls of the arteries which supply blood to the brain.

FMT looks how much the artery widens as blood flow increases.

At the conclusion of the diet, peoples BMI had dropped on average 9.4 percent.

In addition, all of the measures of blood vessel flexibility had improved.

They found that improved PWV was linked to reduced calorie intake, lower saturated fat intake, and increased zinc intake.

IMT was linked to reduced calories and saturated fat as well. It was also linked to increased protein intake.

Finally, improved FMD was linked with increased intake of the vitamin niacin (vitamin B3).

Arterial stiffness is associated with aging. It is caused by the loss of elastin fibers over time with their replacement by collagen fibers, which makes arteries less flexible.

Blood vessels that are too stiff increase the risk of future heart disease, said Tal.

Increased arterial stiffness is closely linked to an increased risk for conditions like high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

The good news, however, is that it appears to be reversible. Reversing this condition could help prevent future cardiovascular disease.

Tal said because she has a PhD in nutrition, she was interested in looking at how nutrition might impact vascular flexibility.

Nutrition is a natural way to reduce the risk of heart disease and we have found that nutrition has improvement capabilities that have not been tested in studies published to date.

Some of the nutrients that appeared to play a role in arterial flexibility included zinc, niacin, and protein.

Zinc plays a crucial role in the production of nitric oxide, which helps blood vessels relax and widen.

Niacin also helps to dilate blood vessels, especially in the upper part of the body, according to the study authors.

As to which dietery pattern specifically can provide more of these nutrients, Tal said, The weight loss diet of the study participants was a Mediterranean diet, rich in protein and vegetables, which contained nuts and seeds and a moderate amount of fruits and starches.

Shereen Jegtvig, a nutritionist at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, who was not a part of the study, agreed with their approach, saying, The Mediterranean diet is a good heart-healthy diet according to a number of studies.

The Nordic and Okinawan Diets are good too, she said.

Basically, a heart-healthy diet is loaded with vegetables and fruits and includes plenty of whole grains (and less highly refined grains).

She also noted that you dont necessarily have to follow any specific diet.

The best diet is one that you can follow, so it needs to have a nice variety of foods you enjoy, just with a focus on healthier choices, she said.

When it comes to the specific nutrients mentioned in the study, Jegtvig said that good protein and niacin sources include lean meat, fish, seafood, dry beans, nuts and seeds. These foods are also high in zinc, she added, and oysters are an especially good source of zinc.

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Diets Rich in Protein, Niacin, and Zinc May Boost Blood-Vessel Health - Healthline

A new study suggests most overweight people who try to shed pounds are unsuccessful.

Scientists, led by Dr Marc Evans from University Hospital Cardiff, studied data on 1,850 obese adults with an average age of 53, of whom 79% said they had attempted weight loss in the last year. Of these, only about a quarter of obese people who tried to lose weight were able to keep off a substantial amount a year later.

The new survey, which is being shown to the European Congress on Obesity in the Netherlands, monitored information on adults from a range of countries - including France, Italy, Germany, the UK and Spain, the Daily Record reports.

READ MORE: Bread, potatoes and eight other foods that should not be kept in the fridge

Of those studied, 72% had gone on diets while others had also used exercise, medication, had surgery, or used weight loss apps. Researchers found that among those who had attempted to lose weight, 73.4% had not achieved clinically meaningful weight loss.

Here is what the study found about the following weight loss methods, which are likely to work, and the least effective.

Weight Loss Surgery

Those who had surgery were most likely to have lost weight with half losing at least 5% of their body weight. Some 32% of those who used digital health applications lost weight and three in 10 who took part in a weight loss service lost weight.

Medication/Exercise

Meanwhile, 30% of those who had medication or took up exercise lost a clinically meaningful amount of weight.

Diets

The study found that only 28% of people who embarked on a calorie controlled or restricted diet lost a significant amount of weight.

Combination

But researchers learned that people who had tried more than one method of weight loss for example exercise plus a calorie controlled or restricted diet were more likely to have achieved weight loss.

Just 22% of those who just attempted one weight loss strategy had shed a significant proportion of body weight compared to 33% who used a combination of weight loss tools.

Dr Evans said: "Our survey results indicate that while the majority of adults with obesity are actively trying to reduce their weight, using a variety of strategies, most are unsuccessful.

"This underscores the need for increased support and solutions for weight management."

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Diets and weight loss: What actually works according to vital new study - Liverpool Echo

Modern culture has us thinking we need to do everything the hard way. Grind it out to make a living, lift the heaviest weight to show off in the gym, cut out all carbs to drop fat, and the list can go on and out.

All those HARD things work well, and most people cant sustain the results because they cannot sustain the efforts day after day. Fitness and nutrition can become a constant off and on phenomenon that causes frustration, fatigue, and decreased confidence in oneself.

All harmful to our health in the short and long term.

You might be thinking, well, if dieting and hardcore exercise arent the routes for long-term success, why are they so popular?

The marketing of quick results, cheap intro programs that promise weight loss, delivered diet meals that take no time, and all the stuff that we think will make our lives easier and healthier. This is creating an even more uphill battle for people. I should know.

I struggled with this when I first started to try and improve my nutrition. I followed no carbs craze and dropped 18 pounds in about a month. The problem for me was carbohydrates. Our bodies #1 source of ENERGY, so I didnt have much willpower to stay consistent with my workouts, and on cheat days, I would eat far too much for one person to consume even in an entire cheat weekend. All because my body was craving a nutrient that it had been getting its fuel from for my entire life.

A few people succeed with these all-or-nothing and all-in approaches to weight loss, but Ive seen more people enjoy their daily life and succeed long term by making fitness and wellness a part of their lifestyle.

Some people have a habit of drinking soda all day long and not doing any exercise, and others have a habit of drinking water first thing in the morning and walking their dogs. Both daily choices and repeated daily become individual habits and routines. These routines shape our life experiences and, ultimately, our health.

To help you keep things simple, pick a few of the following lifestyle habits that you can sneak into your daily routine that will improve your health in the short and long term.

Regardless of WHAT you do nutrition-wise in the morning, make sure its a choice that aligns with your visions for your health. For some, it might be making a full, colorful breakfast. For others, it may be a smoothie packed with fruits, veggies, and protein to fuel you up for the day. Make sure what you consume first in your day begins with hydrating (water), add to it some things that have some color (fruit/veggies), and is at least a whole serving of protein (15-30g). A good rule of thumb is to focus on natural foods like whole grains, eggs, and fruits. This habit will set you up both mentally and physically for more healthy lifestyle choices throughout your day.

Recently, I took a trip to San Diego with my family. When I travel, I like to observe the culture and enjoy local coffee. In the mornings, we would walk around the beach town and grab a coffee/breakfast out. I quickly picked up on some healthy, lifestyle trends. Many people were walking dogs, riding bikes, skateboarding, or carrying a surfboard. The locals in California are always doing things outdoors because the weather is so beautiful, and in AZ we tend to avoid the outdoors if conditions arent ideal. I mean I know at least I do.

Heres your chance to flip the script by dressing for the current temperature in your area. Spend at least 15 minutes outdoors doing something you enjoy. Sunlight is proven to help improve physical and mental health, and the movement will be just as effective as time spent in the gym. Go for a walk, start that garden youve been dreaming of, or knock out that yard work that youve been meaning to get to and have FUN while youre at it.

We fail at fueling our bodies properly when we dont plan for the next meal to come, and I see this far too often with busy professionals, and I of course fail at it sometimes too. We all know the leftovers from Tuesday are not appetizing on Friday. Do your future self a favor and plan for a tasty lunch each day. Check out these fit-minded desk lunches provided by My Fitness Pal. If you get to work from home, make lunch and do a double serving, so you can bring it to the office the next day. Another trick is to spend a few minutes after cleaning up dinner making lunch for the next few days. You can even do it while watching your favorite show.

There is something about going to a Health Club that just cant be duplicated with an at-home workout. The motivating atmosphere, access to equipment, trainers, group classes, and amenities make physically going in a unique and engaging experience. If you can schedule two or three steps at the facility each week, the financial investment in your membership will be well worth it.

It doesnt need to be a heavy lift to see exponential results. Implement one of the above habits one at a time. The important thing is to find your groove that gives you the results you desire.

The 4 Your Health Blog is for working men and women who want to plug health and fitness into their everyday life. Together well get there!

Your partner in health,

Drew SaenzDrew@teamupaz.comTeamUpWellness.com

P.S. Whenever youre ready,,, here are a few weeks I can help you and your team improve their health and company engage their people in a meaningful way:

Implement Workday Movement Breaks!

Are you looking to implement workday physical activity for your staff? Not sure if people will participate? This program kicks off in June so theres plenty of time to learn more and education your team. Learn more about our Movement Break Program here.

Take our Corporate Wellness Scorecard

Are you curious about where your organization stands from a wellbeing perspective? I use a simple scorecard tool to determine your current stage of wellness readiness and the best next steps to improve. Email me with Score Card in the subject line, and I will get you all the details.

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Skip the Diet and Bootcamp. Revamp your Lifestyle Instead! - YurView

Nearly 30 years have elapsed since Billy Gunn made his debut at the mainstream level of pro wrestling. Although he first soared to superstardom as one half of the tag team known as The New Age Outlaws, a more fitting name for Gunn these days would be The New Age Outlier. That's because Gunnat the ripe old age of 58is the proud owner of a standout physique that puts the muscle development of many other wrestlers to shame.

One reason could be that Gunn keeps good company: He has a great source of high-level knowledge in the form of four-time Mr. Natural Universe Mike OHearn. Gunn also receives a fresh influx of daily motivation by training in the company of his sons, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn; the three collectively compete on the roster of All Elite Wrestling as The Gunn Club.

So how can the rest of us learn to ascend the mountain of physical perfection into our late 50s and beyond? Gunn was keen to share the same insights with us that enabled him to ultimately live up to his original billing as a Smoking Gunn.

Before I got into WWE I was training horses and doing stuff like that, so working out was never a part of my life. Once I got into the WWE, I realized that if I wanted to do this for a while, I had to start training. I think that was the transformation. When youre doing other things besides wrestling, sometimes weightlifting isnt always in the cards. It was never a big deal to me before that. Even when I played football, it was a thing, but it was never my thing. I never got into it or realized what it could do for me.

By the time I started getting into a full wrestling schedule and running 300 days out of the year, I realized Id better do something to keep myself in some kind of shape so that I dont fall apart. No matter what people say about our sport, it is definitely grueling. Its an everyday thing, and it isnt seasonal. Its not like we go for a couple months and then we have a couple months offwe go from January 1 to January 1. To prepare myself for that, I started asking guys around me for advice, and then going to the gym and just training. Seeing as how Id never done it before, I think once I started doing it, my body could just very quickly respond to it.

I was asking questions to the guys who were always training like Davey Boy Smith, The Godfather, and the Road Warriorsthe guys that you would obviously look at and say, Okay, maybe they know what theyre talking about because theyre 330 pounds and jacked through the roof. But back then, the advice was more along the lines of, Just go in and lift as heavy as you can. I dont think I ever got any great direction. It was really just, Get under this bar and push it until you cant do it any more, then back off, lower the weight and push it again. Then they would give me advice on what to do for each body part, and I would follow it. It wasnt like I had a guru that sat down and gave me training advice.

Honestly, we were traveling so much that the best advice was to simply get in there and get done whatever it was that you could get done, and make the most out of the time you have. That was the big thing they told me: Do what you can in the amount of time you have. Sometimes you had an hour, but sometimes you only had 30 minutes, and youd just go in there and let it rip. Go in there and bang it out.

It was mostly by word of mouth, especially if there wasnt an LA Fitness or a 24-Hour Fitness around. There was usually a gym in every town. Back in the day when we were traveling a bunch, we would fly into a place like Pittsburgh, and then we would do shows in towns that were about two hours in literally every direction. So we would land, get our rental car, get to our hotel, and then we would figure out that we had two hours to get to a gym and train before we had to go wrestle.

We would usually find a gym by word of mouth, especially since we didnt have the technology back then that we have now. Somebody usually knew of an off-the-wall gym that we could go into, and theyd either charge us $10 or let us train for free. Once you start going to those towns more and more, you learn about the gyms that are really good, and then you start writing them down in a book. So if we were in New Orleans we knew we would be going to Valhalla, or if we were in L.A. of course we knew we could go to Venice.

Thats the question of the day, and its a good question. Nowadays, I have a bunch of great people around me that are helping me. Back in the day, my thing with nutrition was never anything like what it is now. It used to drive guys nuts that I could eat anything I wanted and not gain any bad weight. I could eat and eat and eat, and my metabolism would take care of it. Genetics played a pretty good part in it.

Now, everything I do revolves around my nutrition. I am so anal about it. I know for a fact that if my nutrition is not on point, everything else completely falls apart. For me its a pain in the ass, because I take my food and everything I eat during the day on the road with me all the time. I have a big bag for my food; I have a meal-prep lady who puts together all my meals; I take egg whites with me; I take my oatmeal with me; I take everything with me.

I need to do this to maintain what I want to maintain, because Im doing this with my kids and its so much fun. I also dont want to be that guy whos just holding on. If were being honest, ego plays a little part in this. I like what I can do with food. Wrestlers are not bodybuilders; its a whole different world.

Those guys know about nutrition. Now that Ive been in that bodybuilding world, I know how valuable nutrition is. That is my number-one thing, because if my nutrition isnt on point, my trainings not on point, my traveling is miserable, and my everyday life is miserable. Thats how important nutrition is to me now.

It really doesnt. For the first few weeks when you do this for a living, youre super sore, and youre miserable. If I take any time off from doing this, like if I go to a school and train people and then bump, it will affect me. My body is so used to doing this; were professionals and we do this day in and day out and we know what were doing. My body has absorbed all of that.

Once we start saying cant or not able to, those are just excuses.

My training now is scheduled around my traveling. I only train one body part a day. My leg day is on Monday because thats the beginning of my week and Im usually always home on a Monday. Its not that I dont put much effort into the other body parts, but it just doesnt take as much effort to train everything else as it does my legs. Beyond that, I train Monday through Friday, and Ill usually take the weekends off unless I miss a day during the week. I usually dont miss any days, though. Im consistent with everything that I do. I train very specifically for what I do, so I do a lot of mobility training, and I still squat and deadlift. No, I dont do a lot of heavy weights with those because my body doesnt sustain heavy weight that much, but I still like to feel it during those lifts.

I would have to say squatting, because squatting is pretty much a full-body exercise for me. I spend a lot of time doing it. I do a lot of warmups before I get there. I do a lot of singles, and a lot of mobility training for my hips. I front squat and I back squat. Its not a super-heavy weight, but I squat on a 12-inch box all the way down. I do five-second squats. I do a lot of that, because if I dont get that stuff in for some reason, because my schedule is so busy during the week, Im miserable because my body just shuts down. Im older, so my body needs that flexibility. Squatting keeps me moving. Other than that, it would be some back stuff like sumo deadlifts just to get that movement and flexibility in my hips and knees, and it keeps my back strong.

Its those two things that are the most important. If I make excuses not to do them, Ill make excuses not to train at all. Once we start getting older, we start doing that especially in the job that I have. Ive found over the years that guys will say, Hey, Im beat up, so I stopped squatting, or Hey, Im beat up, so I stopped doing back, or Hey, Im beat up, so I started doing only bands.

The next thing you know, theyre doing nothing at all, and now theyre sitting on the couch and theyre miserable because their bodies are attuned to doing that. Thats not me; Im not built that way. Theres something in my brain that will just not allow me to stop doing those exercises. Once we start saying cant or not able to, those are just excuses. Everybody can do it if they want to.

Time has been really good to me. I cant disregard that. I dont feel 58. I just dont. A lot of it has to do with being around my kids. They push me, too, so its not like I can just sit around and do nothing.

No. There is nothing I cant do. I just refuse to say that. That wont even come out of my mouth. I do everything and I will try everything. Im not a person who says, This is my schedule, this is how I do it, and thats just the way it is. Ill try anything. Ill train with bands. Ill train with chains. Ill train with this, and Ill train with that. Ill train with anything, but Ive found what works for me. On Monday I squat. Tuesday is chest. Wednesday is my TV day so its usually arms or something a little easier. Thursday is shoulders. Friday is back, and if I need to do some hamstring stuff on the weekend or something that I didnt get in during the week, Ill just do it then. There is nothing I cannot do. I dont let thoughts like that enter my mind because Ill feel like Im letting myself down.

Yes; I dont do a lot of big stuff or let people dump me on my head. Thats just not a thing for me anymore. I realize that Ive aged a little bit. I also dont do anything off the top rope because that would be too jarring for me, and to be honest I dont want to take anything like that because Im afraid it would mess up my training! *laughs* That goes hand-in-hand with it. I also dont take stuff on my head because I broke my neck in 95, and Im careful with my shoulder because I once tore that in half.

Even though I said I wont do stuff off the top rope, I will do it as long as I have 100 percent trust in the guy thats going to do it to me. Nowadays, a lot of guys just do a bunch of stuff, and they have total disregard for the person theyre doing it to. Theyll just sling themselves on top of people, and thats not the way that I was brought up in the business. That just wont happen. But if Im 100 percent positive that I can trust a guy and that he can do it right, Ill be more than happy to do it.

It would be to get my nutrition on track and ask for help. I didnt do this all on my own. I had help getting me where I am and staying there. Like I said, Im not from the bodybuilding world, but I know somebody whos really good at it. Thats Mike OHearn, and I dont have any problem calling him every single day. As a matter of fact, he just asked me yesterday, Why dont you ever just call to say hello?

Dont be afraid to ask for help, get your nutrition on point, and be very smart with your training. Dont just go in and start slinging a bunch of weight and thinking you need to be the strongest person in the gym. Do stuff that helps you become a better person or makes your body react in the way that you need it to react. I dont need to be a bodybuilder now, but Im very much on that track because I love the results that Im getting, and at 58 I feel better than I did in my 30s. Right now, everything is clicking. Everything is right in line, and if it gets out of line or unadjusted, I have help. I feel part of my big problem before is I would never really ask for help because we as men think that we can figure it out on our own.

I think CT Fletcher said it best when he said he was eating for pleasure and not eating for results. I eat the same things. I finally found the foods that are right for me that process very well, that burn very well, and that do the best for me. That takes patience. That takes time to figure out. For instance, Im a very big white-rice guy.

Also, dont be afraid of carbs. For some reason, people are so afraid of carbs. Theyre really the building block for what we do, especially if youre active and you want everything to be right. Everyone shies away from carbs. Anyone can try any kind of diet on the planet they want to, because if you feel bad and you feel the need to figure things out for yourself that way, go right ahead. What works for me isnt going to work for everybody. Its a very tedious process that takes a very long time. You have to have patience. We cant just change everything all at once, because now you dont know whats working and what isnt working when you have 50 new things youre trying. Youve got to stick with one change at a time and one plan at a time.

Theres also a boring aspect to eating. I dont eat for pleasure. I tried eating like a regular person for about a week and I was miserable. I told my wife I wasnt going to do the meal plan and just eat like a regular guy, and that lasted about two days. And its not like I was eating crazy stuff, but my body couldnt handle it anymore, and I was just miserable. Yes, I do eat things that I like, but its the same things over and over again.

I like to say that Im superhuman, but Im not. I think thats where Mike OHearn comes in. I train with my boys every day when Im at home in Florida, and Mike lives all the way out in L.A. My wife is the greatest person on the planet because she just completely supports me in everything, and this is not an easy life to support. Whenever I feel like Im dragging a bit, shell literally stick me on a plane and send me to Mike for a few days, and I just rejuvenate myself.

Ill train with Mike and those guys at Titan Crew, and its a whole 'nother level. If you cant get into training with those guys, you just need to quit. Its very competitive. Mike is very motivational, and he helps you to get that feeling of wanting to train again.

Yes I get tired of training, and I get tired of traveling, but if I need to Ill just rest for a few hours and then go train. You just have to get it done. You cant make excuses not to. Thats the easy way out. We can all make excuses about what not to do and how not to do it, but the most important thing to do is just to get it done.

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Wrestler Billy Gunn Shared His Training Workout and Diet at 58 - Men's Health

At some point this century, our food production system will collapse. Currently, its most critical link is meat, particularly beef, whose production, according to data from the FAO, has doubled in the last sixty years. 80% of agricultural land is used for cows, pigs or chickens, either in the form of pasture or to grow the grain to feed them. Agriculture is responsible for a third of all emissions, with cattle as the primary culprit. As the world population grows, humans will be faced with a dilemma: either we stop consuming so much meat, or we look for other sources of animal protein. Science is already pointing to several alternatives: insects, laboratory meat and nutrients of microbial origin. Different models indicate that they are as at least as friendly to the planet as vegetarian diets, if not more.

Scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Assessment and the World Center for Plants in Taiwan have modeled what would happen if a percentage of the meat consumed were changed to meat alternatives. The study, published a few days ago in Nature, focuses on proteins from fungi. Isabelle Weindl, PIK researcher and co-author of the study, explains the choice: There are plant-based alternatives, such as soy burgers, and animal cells grown in a petri dish, also known as cultured meat. But there are also microbial proteins derived from fermentation. For her, those are the most promising. With a high protein content, their texture is reminiscent of steak, thanks to the stringy structure of fungi such as Fusarium venenatum. In addition, unlike vegetable alternatives such as tofu or seitan, among its components is a series of essential amino acids. Sausages and hamburgers have already been formulated with these mushroom mycoproteins.

Most importantly, its production can be largely decoupled from agricultural production. It does not require the deforestation of new surfaces and would free up millions of hectares. Our results show that even taking into account sugar as a raw material, microbial protein requires much less agricultural land than ruminant meat to offer the same amount of protein, says the German scientist.

The researchers envision that a certain percentage of meat in the diet will be replaced by these microbial proteins by 2050. If, within 30 years, it were possible to replace 80% of animal proteins with fungal ones, the problem of global deforestation could almost disappear, especially in the Amazon and Congo basins, which are currently the most affected regions. Greenhouse gas emissions would be 87% lower than they would be if the current system remained. Although new land would have to be dedicated to growing sugar cane or sugar beets, as sugars are essential for fermentation, that land could come from reclaimed pasture and fodder crop land. In addition, fewer cows ruminating would decrease emissions of methane, a gas with a warming potential 23 times higher than that of CO.

A less ambitious scenario, with only a 20% substitution, would still bring significant improvement. Says Florian Humpender, also from PIK and the studys lead author, We see that if we replace 20% of ruminant meat per capita by 2050, annual deforestation and CO emissions from land use change would be reduced by half compared to a conventional scenario. Reducing livestock numbers not only reduces pressure on the land, explains Humpender, but also decreases methane emissions from livestock and nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer and manure management.

Rachel Mazac, a researcher at the Institute of Sciences for Sustainability at the University of Helsinki, published a paper at the end of April on the incorporation of so-called new foods into the European diet and how they would help reduce the environmental impact of food production. She summarizes the results of this work in an email: The foods with the greatest potential turn out to be insect meal and cultured milk. But she also highlights microbial proteins, selected for their lower impact and a nutritional profile that meets our dietary requirements.

Her study, published in Nature Food, concludes that replacing proteins of animal origin with those offered by these new foods could reduce the impact of protein cultivation on climate change by over 80%. When comparing a vegetarian diet and one that includes with insects, fermented dairy and mycoproteins, the study finds a slight advantage for the former over the latter, but, as Mazac says, with a vegan diet people will also be able to stay healthy, feel good and have less environmental impact.

From a nutritional point of view, it would be healthy to significantly reduce the consumption of animal products in current European diets. Both Mazac and Humpender now show that these alternatives to animal proteins are also good for the planet. A well-known supermarket chain has been selling insects for five years. Many grocery stores have long had a variety of plant-based meats, and in February the European Union authorized the marketing and sale of acheta domesticus, crickets, as food. But they have yet to play a role in most peoples diet.

For Ascensin Marcos, research professor at the Institute of Food Science and Technology and Nutrition at the CSIC (ICTAN), much more research is still needed for these models to have a real application. Many unknowns remain to be resolved, she says, including the palatability of these new foods. If they dont like it, they dont like it, she argues. Acknowledging that it is a cultural issues, she says that it is one thing to give insects to an animal, and you eat the animal, and another to be the one who eats the insect. There are historical examples of cultural changes that have lowered or eliminated the aversion to certain foods, though. She mentions the case of ham in East Asia or seafood, which for the Japanese was like eating insects.

Marcos also raises an objection that goes beyond science. Whether we like it or not, we are omnivores and we have to eat everything. The real problem, she concludes, is that we have a very poor diet, we eat an excessive amount of protein, few carbohydrates and a lot of fat. This has its impact on us and on the environment, and the food industry does not help.

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Beyond meat: insects and lab mushrooms to save the planet - EL PAS in English

Kylie Jenner, like her sisters, has never been afraid to step into the spotlight. Jenner has one of the most high-profile Instagram accounts, and is a fashion icon. Jenner just posted a stunning new swimsuit photo on Instagram. In it, she floated on a surfboard in the ocean. She captioned the photo, "Happy girl." How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Kylie Jenner stays in shape and the photos that prove they workand to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

In an interview with Interview Magazine, Jenner revealed that she loves to go hiking. She says that it isn't just a way for her to stay in shape, but also a way of relaxing her. "I like hiking. I used to do a lot of hiking when I wasn't as busy. I had a lot of anxiety when I was younger, so I would just run to this hill path in the back of my mom's house and listen to Jack Johnson. I would listen to Jack Johnson and stare at the sky until my anxiety went away."df44d9eab23ea271ddde7545ae2c09ec

Jenner wants to use her large platform to help others. She has her own anti-bullying campaign, which is based off her experiences with cyber-bullying. "I feel like if I came out and just told my story about bullying, people wouldn't have sympathyand I'm totally okay with that, because people don't need to understand; they just think I'm not a normal person and live this magical life," she tells Interview Magazine. "But I wanted to give other people who have been bullied, and who overcame it to do something amazing, the opportunity to use my platform to bring awareness, to inspire people."

Jenner says that when it comes to her social media presence, she wants to be as authentically herself as possible. She tells Interview Magazine, "I just try not to change and stay authentic. I do feel pressure when I do sexy photo shoots and stuff, or if I want to post a picture I don't know. Because I want to be a good role model, but I also want to be me." Jenner also described an encounter with Lady Gaga that encouraged her to keep going.

Jenner has lived a unique life, and she tells Interview Magazine that she wants to keep living the same way, and have no regrets. "I feel like I'm going to look back and be like, 'Damn, I wish I could've just been a kid and done normal teenage stuff that my friends get to do.' But it also is a blessing, and I've done so many things that most 35-year-old women still haven't done. You can look at anything glass-half-full or whatever."

In 2016, Jenner revealed to E! News that she learned that she was lactose intolerant. This has caused her to limit and cut out dairy in her diet. "I'm working out and I'm eating a lot better," she said. "I didn't realize I was lactose intolerant. I just became lactose intolerant like, this year. And I love cheese and everything so I'm so mad, but it was my year to eat bad. I was like, while I'm young, I might as well. I didn't care about a diet or anything. But now, this last month, I've been working on it just for health reasons only."

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Kylie Jenner in Bathing Suit is a "Happy Girl" Celebwell - Celebwell

Bryant Stamford| Special to Courier Journal

Malnutrition is common in the elderly, but too often goes unnoticed because you cannot rely on appearances, and the warning signs may be subtle.

Often, the problem of malnutrition in the elderly is ignored because it is dismissed as a natural decline associated with aging. Although some decline with aging is to be expected, symptoms like chronic fatigue and tiredness, loss of strength, unintentional weight loss, depression, etc., may be signs of malnutrition.

The elderly are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition, and a major cause is an American diet. Our typical diet is high in processed foods loaded with saturated fat, sugar, and salt thatprovidelimited nutritional value. In addition, we avoid vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, foods that are the core of a good diet.

If all this is true, why arent we, the general population of all ages, suffering from malnutrition?

The reason is we overeat, meaning that if you eat lots of garbage foods, even though the nutritional value is lacking, you likely can (due to the sheer volume of food intake) cover minimal nutritional needs. Its like the old saying, throw enough mud at a wall and some of it will stick.

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The problem is older folks dont throw enough mud.

Another way of saying this is to point out that at an early age, we decide what we like and dont like to eat, and we settle into a lifelong pattern. As a result, when appetite falls off in older folks, they tend to eat a lot less of the same garbage foods they consumed all through life. In turn, their nutrient intake falls off too far to cover minimal needs.

I grew up in Pittsburgh and when I began to be concerned about health issues and learn about how a bad diet promotes heart disease, I believed the Pittsburgh diet hello, perogies must be the worst diet in the world. That belief was sustained until I moved to Louisville and discovered that the Kentucky diet is a step worse.

Its the Pittsburgh diet fried!

My mother was raised on the Pittsburgh diet and sustained it into her 70s, a time when she began really slowing down. In the past, my mother was always eager to get out and about, but now she had no interest, no get up and go, and her weight was dropping steadily. Anita, my wife and a registered dietitian, recognized the symptoms and sat down with my mom, and analyzed her diet.

Moms eating pattern was etched in stone, scanty food intake with a remarkable lack of variety and nutritional value. We decided to intervene, but my mother is stubborn and was not about to give up her way of eating. As a compromise, she accepted that she would continue to eat her own way, but would drink a smoothie blend Anita concocted for her,loaded with protein and other nutrients, plus lots of calories.

The key was making it taste delicious, like a rich chocolate milkshake. At first, my mother was reluctant, but once she tasted the dominant chocolate flavor, she smiled, and we were off to the races.

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The blend was a huge step up in nutritional value, and we knew if she drank it completely, it would provide virtually all the nutrients she needed for the day, and it didnt matter if the rest of what she ate provided only marginal helpful nutrients. After just a few weeks on the blend, she transitioned back to her old self, with increased energy and eagerness to participate in activities again.

I have written about the blend in the past, and I know from readers that it has been a great benefit to many older folks. Bear in mind that my mothers appetite had fallen way off, her weight was down, and she needed lots of calories, thus a good-tasting liquid she could drink that was loaded with calories and nutrients was the perfect solution. (NOTE: If weight loss is not a problem and you are satisfied with your weight, cut back on some contents of the blend to reduce overall calories.)

A word of caution. Because this blend is loaded, it's best to start with smaller 6-8-ounceportions at a time, perhaps three times throughout the day. Sip very slowly and take a long time to consume. Typically, I would take the first serving to my mother when she awoke late morning, and it didnt take long before she looked forward with great anticipation to her morning fix.

My mother loved chocolate, but any flavoring you desire can work. Also while there are some unusual items in the blend,dont worry, the strong chocolate flavor dominates.

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Add to the blender as follows:

Reach Bryant Stamford, a professor of kinesiology and integrative physiology at Hanover College, at stamford@hanover.edu.

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Tips on how to fight malnutrition in the elderly, recipe ideas - Courier Journal