I know Democrats and progressives are going nuts over President Trumps first few weeks in office I know the Middle East is a mess and that we have no small number of incredible challenges at home but I have my own worries.

Like millions of other Americans, Im on my annual February diet.

You see, its not easy to be trim and fit in America. Our culture is saturated with an abundance of high-calorie, processed foods that turn into instant fat.

We work long and hard in sedentary office jobs, then eat our stress away, two or three fast-food treats at a time.

Weve become so fat, to quote Rodney Dangerfield, that our bathtubs have stretch marks.

We know our increasing tubbiness isnt healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity-associated diseases such as diabetes have soared in recent years. Gallbladder diseases, sleep apnea, high blood pressure and heart disease are all caused by carrying too much weight.

And so we are on a continuous mission to lose weight. Our challenge is that the fad diets that promise to get us there go in and out of fashion faster than the white patent leather shoes and belts my father used to wear to church.

According to the website The Daily Meal ( thedailymeal.com ), the Mediterranean Diet it features natural, plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts is in.

So, too, is the Paleo Diet, which apparently is similar to the Mediterranean Diet, except legumes are forbidden.

Which is a shame, too, because I just learned that legumes include alfalfa, clover, peas, beans, lentils, lupin beans, mesquite, carob, soybeans, peanuts and tamarind which go well with the bourbon I am driven to drink as I try to figure out which diet to go on.

Volumetrics is another in diet. It encourages the consumption of low-energy-density foods, which make you feel full with fewer calories than high-energy-density foods. It also sounds like too much math is involved.

The Gluten Diet is on the outs, though, according to The Daily Meal. Apparently, it puts people at risk for different deficiencies such as B vitamin deficiencies, calcium, fiber, vitamin D, and iron.

The Daily Meal no longer favors the Atkins Diet, either, which makes me sore.

Dr. Atkins said we could eat delicious steaks, pork, chicken and fish. He said we could eat as much eggs and cheese and other tasty no-sugar treats as we could stuff into our bellies. His diet was all the rage for years.

But now The Daily Meal says his diet is a no go? That it is not heart-healthy and that most users are not compliant over the long term?

Not so fast! Several prominent studies have concluded that old Doc Atkins was onto something. Low-carbohydrate diets may actually take off more weight than low-fat diets and may be surprisingly better for cholesterol, too.

One of my greatest dieting disappointments of the last 20 years, though, was the failure of the exercise pill, which had shown promise at Duke University around 2002.

Researchers had located the chemical pathways that muscle cells use to build strength and endurance. With that knowledge in hand, there was hope that a pill could be created that would pump up muscle cells without the need for actual exercise.

Dieting Americans could have sat on the couch, chomping potato chips and dip, while their biceps got as round as cantaloupes and their abs got as hard as stone but this uniquely American dieting innovation wasnt to be.

I think Ill try a new, restrictive diet this February: the Democrats in Congress Diet.

Ill deny myself everything.

Email Tom Purcell, author of Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood and Wicked Is the Whiskey, at Tom@TomPurcell.com.

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TOM PURCELL: Still searching for a diet panacea - The Albany Herald

This new year is still fresh. But before we even get too deep into 2017, theres an important subject to talk about: Dont begin by falling victim to a detox because its a hoax.

As new years resolutions go, its common for many people to cleanse themselves and eliminate toxins from their bodies. But we humans already have two amazing organs that are doing this job for us: our liver and kidneys. The kidneys and liver are quite effective at filtering and eliminating most ingested toxins, says Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D of The Mayo Clinic. In fact, if you think that by ingesting digestive enzymes, shakes or laxative-based teas will help speed up this process, the reality is theres no scientific evidence to prove it does assist.

The Myth:

According to Christy Brissette, M.S., R.D., and President of 80 Twenty Nutrition, the idea of detoxifying and cleansing the body and mind is not a new concept it goes back thousands of years and is still part of many religious practices such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But unlike religious fasting to attain spiritual enlightenment, the detoxes we are exposed to are done in hopes of losing weight or ridding oneself of toxins weve accumulated over the holidays. It is why we often see a plethora of new or revised detoxes (sometimes advocated by the latest celebrity or influencer) that promise that youll feel better and get what is perceived as a reset button for the body to begin the new year refreshed and rejuvenated.

Whether you hear the terms cleanse or detox, Brissette explains that theyre used interchangeably: With a cleanse, it usually involves ingesting a special product to go with the diet, items such as juices, soups and even charcoal nowin the hopes that it will not only clean your insides but that it will also assist with weight loss. In fact, Brissette says that there is often this mentality that our body is dirty and that there is a buildup of toxins we need to eliminate. Moreover, Brissette says that detoxes continue to pique the interest of many people, even those who are not regular dieters, because of the claims that this method of cleaning is completely natural and quick.

The Truth:

The Placebo Effect Detoxes and cleanses that claim to be quick, effective and natural appear to work because of the placebo effect. Brissette explains, Firstly, youve adopted the mentality that youre going to eat healthy, so when you switch from heavy indulgences to salads, nuts and fibrous foods, youre going to feel betterregardless if youre on a cleanse or not. A detox plan will also tell you to cut out alcohol, refined sugars and junk food. Any time you eliminate any of these foods, youre obviously going to feel less fatigued and have more energy. In actuality, the detox has nothing to do with you feeling better. Its just a matter of supporting what your body needs: healthy food and water.

Purging Fat From The Body The myth that your body is congested from all the fatty and rich foods consumed over the holidays doesnt exist. Brissette says that there is no evidence or research to prove this is true. Your liver and kidneys are natural filters. You dont need to clean them. If anything, we need to focus on healthy eating year-round.

Detoxes Are NOT Safe More dangerous is the fallacy that natural detoxes are safe. Oftentimes detoxes and cleanses will encourage a low-calorie diet along with the consumption of special herb shakes, laxative teas and other supplements. But this can cause more harm to your body than help it. Brissette says that if you use laxative-based products for an extended period of time, your body will begin to rely on them for bowel movement. Brissette also notes that overconsumption of laxative teas is not only stressful on the digestive system, but that youll also be dehydrated and lose electrolytes, sodium and potassium. The latter two are essential for regulating your blood pressure and heart rate. In extreme cases, if you lose too much sodium and potassium as a result of diarrhea or dilution (via excess consumption of fluids), you can actually suffer or even die from a cardiac arrest. Brissette advises that before considering any form of dieting or detox, you should always consult your physician or a dietitian.

Losing Weight And/Or Fat Despite celebrity endorsements and faux-doctors claiming that the miracle of a detox will assist with weight loss, the reverse is actually true: youll gain weight. You wont lose weight or fat, even though it may seem like you are. In fact, these individuals are most likely depleted of essential nutrients and proteins. This results in decreased muscle mass and a slower metabolism because your body thinks it has entered a state of starvation and is now trying to conserve calories rather than burn them off. Inevitably, doing this kind of detox will make you ravenous. When you succumb to your cravings and overeat, the now slowed metabolism will cause you to gain extra weight, and as a result, youll be heavier than when you began.

Realistic Practices For Good Health:

We all lead busy lives and have respective game plans to manage the chaos, so the same mentality should be adopted when it comes to our eating habits. But this doesnt mean obsessive calorie counting or shortcut detoxes which make unrealistic promises. Generally speaking, the pressure of a new years resolution is a fast-track to failure. Whats more realistic is small sustainable changes overtime, which will result in long-term, positive effects. Always strive to eat fiber-rich foods such as beans and lentils, healthy protein such as almonds and complex carbs such as whole grain bread and pasta.

How To Eat Well: Its easy to fall into mindless eating traps; from social engagements to working at your desk, the first step is to have an awareness of what youre putting into your mouthto chew and savor your food. And if you are constantly plagued with distractions, Brissette suggests keeping a simple food journal that tracks not only what you eat but notes when youre most hungry. This way, youll be ready and have a quality snack on hand, such as walnuts or almonds. This will not only prevent that 3pm energy lull, but you wont be tempted to make a trip to the coffee shop or vending machine for that cookie or bag of chips. Whether you like to snack or have several small meals a day, Brissette advises the following: Structure eating times around your schedule. And dont go more than 4 hours without eating something; otherwise, you may fall victim to a hunger attack and eat anything in sight.

Eating Healthy Should Not Mean Suffering: Eating should always be a joyful and pleasurable experience. Anything fat-free, low-fat or low carb will not offer satiation. Brissette explains: For instance, if youre having a salad for lunch, opt for full-fat dressing made with olive oil. Not only will this healthy fat keep you satisfied, but it will aid in the absorption of the leafy greens and vegetables youre eating.

Rather than succumb to the extremes of fad detoxes that can put your body into shock and make you miserable, Brissette endorses her 80/20 rule: 80 percent of the time, eat whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and lentils; and 20 percent of the time, allow yourself that splurge on your favorite beer or burger.

Trust the wisdom and design of your body; thank your liver and kidneys for a job well done, and for the new year, try Brissettes mindful method of eating and avoid being ensnared by a detox trap.

Tiffany Leigh is a Toronto-based food, travel, and science writer.

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Why Detox Diets Don't Work - Paste Magazine

CHARLESTON, WV--(Marketwired - February 01, 2017) - Low-carb or ketogenic diets are traditionally great for rapid weight loss, but many who suddenly embark on this style of dieting must often pay a steep price due to common side effects such as fatigue, irritability and low-energy. Not to mention, leaving potatoes and other healthy starches out of the diet in order to lose weight can result in nutritional deficiencies over time. Nationally recognized weight loss program, Diet Doc has formulated a new starch and carbohydrate blocker - CarbZap, a highly effective weight loss aid. CarbZap users can eat meals high in carbs and starches without the fear of excess weight gain or other conditions that come with high carb consumption. This innovative new prescription reduces sugar and carbohydrate absorption by breaking them down and eliminating them from the body before they can be converted into fat by:

CarbZap will help you to enjoy the health benefits that come with reduced carb intake such as better regulated blood sugar, and an increased metabolism for faster weight loss. Due to its carbohydrate-blocking benefits, caloric restriction is not necessary for individuals taking CarbZap since most carbs are not converted into fat but are instead excreted from the body. This helps to eliminate the fatigue, incessant hunger, cravings and decreased physical activity that often comes with low-calorie dieting. For those who regularly maintain carb restricted diets, the supplement can be particularly useful to boost the digestion and elimination of carbs during those occasional 'cheat days' when taken before carb laden meals.

Contact Diet Doc today for instant access to this powerful weight loss aid. Diet Doc's CarbZap has been carefully formulated by their own in-house doctors as a great weight loss catalyst on its own, or in conjunction with any one of our medical weight loss plans to help boost results safely and rapidly. Diet Doc's diet plans are developed according to each patient's health history to create personalized diet plans to promote quick weight loss, encourage weight management and improve conditions associated with excessive carbohydrate intake.

New Diet Doc patients can call or easily and effortlessly visit https://www.dietdoc.com to complete an initial comprehensive, yet simple, health questionnaire and schedule an immediate personal, no-cost consultation. Diet Doc Physicians all received specialized training in nutritional science and fast weight loss. Diet Doc reviews each patient's health history to create a personalized diet plan geared for fast weight loss, or that addresses life-long issues causing weight loss to slow down or stop. Nutritionists work personally with each patient and use their own algorithm to craft meal and snack plans that are compatible with each patient's age, gender, activity level, food preferences, nutritional needs and medical conditions. They combine these state of the art diet plans with pure, prescription diet products that enable their patients to resist the temptation to reach for sugary snacks, eliminate fatigue and curb the appetite. Over 97% of Diet Doc patients report incredible weight loss results with the majority losing 20 or more pounds per month.

At Diet Doc, all patients gain unlimited access to the best minds in the business. Their staff of doctors, nurses, nutritionists and coaches are available 6 days per week to answer questions, offer suggestions, address concerns and lend their professional guidance and support. Because of this, more and more people are turning to Diet Doc for their weight management needs. Diet plans are tailored to be specific to the needs of those of any age, gender, shape or size and for those who are struggling to lose that final 10-20 pounds to those who must lose 100 pounds or more. Call today to request a private, confidential, no-cost online consultation.

About the Company:

Diet Doc Weight Loss is the nation's leader in medical, weight loss offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, Diet Doc has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long term weight loss.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DietDocMedical

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DietDocMedicalWeightLoss/

Linkedin: https://www.Linkedin.com/company/diet-doc-weight-loss?trk=biz-brand-tree-co-logo

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Diet Doc's New CarbZap Prescription Effectively Blocks Carbohydrates During Meals - Marketwired (press release)

NORTH Yorkshire-based dairy farmer Mark Berry, has been feeding Alkanuts for the past eight months, as part of a successful change of system, which has seen him dramatically cut back on inputs.

He says: We were initially forced into lowering our inputs because of the falling milk prices a couple of years ago, but weve found that since weve stopped pushing yields, the cows are far healthier it has improved their fertility and we now have very few cases of mastitis.

The average yield has dropped from 9,500kg to 7,500kg, but because of the health benefits to the cows and the lower input costs, were actually still better off. Regardless of what happens with the milk price, I wouldnt go back to a higher input system again; this way is definitely better for us and the cows.

Now running a 100-strong Holstein milking herd and 150 head of youngstock, Mr Berry who farms 200 acres alongside his father, Malcolm has also started rearing heifers and selling them newly-calved, which has helped supplement the lower milk prices too.

I remember being told that when milk prices are low, its not what you make, its what you save that matters, and its following that philosophy thats got us through the past couple of years.

Mark introduced a rotational paddock grazing system a few years ago, which has enabled him to keep the cows out for longer (April-October last year, and until November the following year). Additional red clover has helped increase protein levels (to 17-18%) and through the parlour in winter, the cows are fed grass silage, brewers grains and cake from FiveF partner Dugdale Nutrition, which has included AlkaNut since last June.

Mr Berry explains: Because of their grass-based diet, dropping cake in the parlour can often upset their stomachs, but the addition of AlkaNut has definitely helped prevent this. Theres a lot less acidosis in the cows and newly calved heifers and cows are able to eat a bit more without it upsetting them.

I never cut back on quality when it comes to feeding, but it has to work, and this definitely works for us, with our forage-based system otherwise I wouldnt still be using it eight months down the line.

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Alkalised pellets offer greater feed efficiency - FG Insight

There's a reason parents want their children to drink milk. It's a great source of calcium, which is needed to build strong bones. We actively build bone until our mid-20s, then we start to slowly lose bone mass. One in 2 women and one in 4 men, ages 50 or older, will break a bone due to osteoporosis. In women, the risk of bone loss temporarily speeds up for about 5 years post-menopause.

While it's best to choose calcium-rich foods in our childhood, it's never too late to improve both bone and muscle health.

Here are some tips to fight osteoporosis from Environmental Nutrition newsletter.

--Supplement calcium if needed. Women under age 50 need 1,000 mg of calcium per day and women 50 and older need 1,200 mg. Men age 70 and younger need 1,000 mg per day and men 71 and older need 1,200 mg. Obtaining calcium from food sources is preferred, but supplemental calcium can be safely used to make up shortfalls. Calcium-rich foods include dairy products, canned sardines, salmon with bones, tofu with calcium, tempeh, calcium-fortified soymilk and some dark leafy vegetables.

--Be careful what you eat with your calcium. Spinach and beet greens contain oxalic acid, which makes their calcium unavailable. Cooking greatly reduces oxalic acid and eating a food with oxalic acid does not affect absorption of calcium from other foods you eat during the same meal. One food that will block calcium absorption is wheat bran -- if you eat wheat bran cereal with milk, you will not absorb all of the milk's calcium.

--Eat more produce. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables creates an environment in the body that prevents bone and muscle breakdown. Antioxidants and other nutrients, like potassium, in produce help prevent calcium loss.

--Take some Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and it helps build muscle. We make vitamin D when exposed to the sun, however, most of us protect our skin from the sun. Food sources include fatty fish and fortified foods such as milk. Taking 800 to 1,000 IUs of supplemental vitamin D with food is recommended for osteoporosis prevents.

--Have some protein at each meal or snack. Most of us get enough protein at dinner, but make sure you get adequate protein at breakfast and lunch. Protein is good for building muscle and bone.

--Stay active. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, running, strength training, stimulates bone-building activity and builds and maintains muscles.

--Avoid smoking, excessive intake of alcohol, caffeine and sodium, all of which can increase calcium loss.

Q and A

Q: Is it true that microwave popcorn contains substances that cause cancer?

A: No, but at least one ingredient, when inhaled regularly, can cause lung damage -- what has been dubbed "popcorn lung." The chemical, diacetyle, is a natural byproduct of fermentation and is found in low levels in foods such as yogurt, wine, beer, butter and cheese. The trouble comes from the synthesized diacetyle added to impart an artificial flavor and smell to popcorn. Diacetyl is also used in some flavored e-cigarettes and is found naturally in tobacco.

Microwave popcorn bags may be lined with other potentially harmful chemicals, notably PFOS. This chemical prevents oil from migrating through the bag and is found not just in microwave popcorn bags but also in some fast-food wrappers, pizza boxes and other food wrappings. The FDA recently banned PFOS in all food packaging. The biggest concern with chemicals such as diacetyl and PFOS is for occupational exposure. There's no reason to panic if you eat microwave popcorn occasionally. Still it's always wise to have good ventilation in your kitchen. To avoid all of this, pop plain kernels with an air popper, on the stovetop or in the microwave. --University of California Berkeley Wellness Letter.

RECIPE

If you're looking for a good weeknight dinner, try this Broiled Flat Iron Steak with Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes. The steak is broiled over the veggies to add flavor. It's from Cooking Light magazine.

Broiled Flat Iron Steak with Brussel Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

6 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

6 ounces sweet potato, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced into half-moons

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 (1 pound) flat iron steak, trimmed

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, divided

1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

3/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided

Preheat broiler, with oven rack 6 inches from heat. Place Brussels sprouts and potato on a rimmed baking sheet; toss with 1 tablespoon oil and spread in an even layer. Place a wire rack in pan over vegetables. Rub steak with 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, and place on rack in pan over vegetables. Sprinkle steak with 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and half of pepper. Broil 10 minutes. Turn steak over; drizzle with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil, and sprinkle with remaining thyme, salt and pepper. Broil about 5 minutes or until done. Remove steak form pan, and let stand 5 minutes. Cut across the grain into thin slices. Place vegetables in a bowl; pour in pan juices and toss to coat. Serves 4 (serving size: 3 ounces steak and 1 cup vegetables).

Per serving: 289 calories, 26 g protein, 13 g carbohydrate, 15 g fat, 39 mg cholesterol, 3 g fiber, 574 mg sodium.

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Osteoporosis update - MyAJC

Runner's World

This is What Happened When I Started Counting My Vegan Calories Runner's World So, I can safely tack on another 450 calories. My lunch usually comes from the restaurant, too. If I sneak the guys in the kitchen enough cold brew, ... I did pretty alright crafting my own vegan meal plan just by following my gut (buh duh duh!), but ...

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This is What Happened When I Started Counting My Vegan Calories - Runner's World

THIS month we feature the Caracal (Rooikat, nDabushe), the largest predator to be found in the Kloof Gorge.

The caracal is a medium-size cat, normally golden or sand in colour, although in some areas they are grey. It has very distinguishing black edge to the ears with long tufts that give them an unmistakable appearance. They are often incorrectly called a lynx, but it is not related to the lynx family.

Caracal are active in the day and night. They are solitary, territorial animals and fearless hunters and will not hesitate to hunt a prey larger than themselves. Caracal have been known to leap up into the air to catch and kill flying birds.

Their diet consists mainly of rodents, rock hyrax, birds (including ostrich), small antelopes, and rabbits. In Krantzkloof their primary diet is most likely Rock Hyraxes.

The gestation period is approximately 68-81 days, and females produce a litter of one to four kittens, with two being the average. They are weaned at 10 weeks, and will remain with their mothers for up to a year.

It is believed the name is derived from a Turkish word karakulak meaning black ear.

Caracals are excellent acrobats and jumpers and can land safely. In the Middle-East caracal were often trained to hunt game birds.

Caracal are relatively new to Krantzkloof and the first sightings were recorded in 2010. Since then they have been frequently recorded on camera traps, and females with kittens have been seen in the reserve. Caracal are not known to be a threat to humans.

Security: walking in the reserve is safe normal precautions apply when walking in isolated areas. - Supplied

.

24.com encourages commentary submitted via MyNews24. Contributions of 200 words or more will be considered for publication.

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In the gorge with Kloof Conservancy - News24

Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 | 2 a.m.

The American Heart Association (AHA) estimates that 44 million women in the U.S. are affected by cardiovascular diseases, and when combined with stroke, these diseases kill an average of 1 woman every 80 seconds. Thats 1 in 3 female deaths annually, said Vanessa Gastwirth, MD, FACC, at MountainView Hospital.

While historically considered a mens disease, heart disease kills more women than men every year. Furthermore, the AHA reports that 90 percent of all women have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke.

Common risk factors include age, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, genetics and, for some women, hormone levels.

Estrogen can affect your cholesterol levels

Naturally occurring estrogen tends to raise HDL cholesterol levels the good cholesterol that helps carry away artery-clogging LDL cholesterol.

As such, women generally have more HDL cholesterol than men. When estrogen levels peak for women during childbearing years, this HDL provides an extra level of protection from developing heart disease earlier in life.

Estrogen has favorable effects on health, including an improvement in cholesterol and on the function of blood vessel lining. However, it has adverse side effects as well, such as causing changes in blood proteins that can lead to blood clots, and increased production of inflammatory markers that can lead to vascular disease, Gastwirth said.

Higher estrogen levels may be protective against some heart diseases, but they are certainly not preventive. Further, menopause causes estrogen levels to drop drastically and can leave postmenopausal women more vulnerable to heart disease.

Menopause and heart disease

Menopause generally occurs in a womans late 40s to early 50s, the same age range that heart disease and risk factors begin to develop in both men and women. While postmenopausal women are more prone to heart disease than younger women, researchers arent sure how much hormones are at play.

A postmenopausal state and early natural menopause (occurring in women under 44) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, studies have not proven that menopause itself is a direct cause of cardiovascular disease. The increased rate of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women may simply be due to the increased prevalence of other risk factors in older women, Gastwirth said.

The AHA reports that during menopause, womens blood pressure begins to rise, LDL (bad) cholesterol levels increase, HDL (good) cholesterol levels decline or remain the same, and triglycerides (certain types of fat in the blood) increase, as well.

For many years, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used to treat symptoms of menopause was thought to also prevent heart disease, but this has since been disproven. In fact, some studies have indicated that prolonged use of HRT (more than five years) can actually increase the risks of heart disease for women.

While HRT continues to be safely prescribed to women for the purpose of easing significant menopausal symptoms, it no longer is considered a treatment method for heart disease. HRT should be administered conservatively, under a doctors close supervision and for no more than five years, or in women older than 65.

Preventing heart disease in women

While there are still many unknowns about heart disease in women the American College of Cardiology estimates that women comprise 27 percent of participants in all heart-related research studies we know that maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help slow its development and progression.

Prevention is extremely important in the management of cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modifications such as following a heart-healthy diet, maintaining a normal body weight, regular exercise, not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, Gastwirth said.

She also recommends that women over 20 undergo a cardiovascular risk assessment every three to five years. This assessment should include an evaluation of blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, smoking habits, activity level and weight.

Birth control and heart disease

Menopause-aged women are not the only ones who need to be concerned about hormone levels and heart health. Hormonal birth control including pills, patches and rings can increase a womans risk of developing blood clots and cause high blood pressure.

For the average woman, this risk of a blood clot is very small. The National Blood Clot Alliance estimates that annually, 1 in 1,000 women taking birth control pills will develop a dangerous clot, but its especially important that these women do not compound the risk by smoking.

Birth control and smoking should never be combined. Women who do both are at a greatly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and blood clots, Gastwirth said.

Knowing your risk factors can save your life, so talk to your doctor if youre a smoker and currently taking birth control.

See more here:
Can hormones affect heart health in women? - Las Vegas Sun

New York Post

Walt Whitman's super trendy diet tips New York Post While Whitman's guidance can be a bit eccentric, some of his tips are right on the money (and others sound like precursors to the paleo and Whole30 diet trends). Here's a sampling of Walt's wisdom:./K. Be a carnivore: Let the main part of the diet be ...

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Walt Whitman's super trendy diet tips - New York Post

Joel Hammond (Timothy Olyphant) finds another use for a garden shovel in Netflix's 'Santa Clarita Diet.'(Photo: Saeed Adyani, Netflix)

Spoiler alert:This story contains details about Netflix's undead comedy Santa Clarita Diet.

TV isn't known for gory comedies, especially not centered on a tame married couple of Realtors. But when Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) becomes undead in the premiere of Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet (now streaming), all hell breaks loose, even as her loving husband Joel (Timothy Olyphant) tries to help.

Victor Fresco, who created the series, describes it as a mashup of Desperate Housewives and The Walking Dead."I liked the lightness and the perfect organization of those planned suburbs, vs. the chaos that happensbehind closed doors," he says of the series, shot on location in the Los Angeles-area suburb.

USA TODAY

Drew Barrymore reveals the secret to the 'Santa Clarita Diet'

When he readthe script, Olyphant thought, "This is most outrageous thing I've ever read, and yet at the same time it's sort of oddly familiar and to some degree refreshingly old-fashioned," he says. And the fact that the unexpected circumstance awakens their vaguely discontented lives. "It's one of the best things that's happened in Joel's life in some time. It's definitely not the way he saw his day going. What's fun about the show is it's like any long-term relationship where someone decides to explore a side of themselves they've been afraid to explore in the past. It's the most thrilling thing that's happened, and also the scariest. Yougottadecide whether to step up and stay with her or cut bait and walk away." (Spoiler: He stays).

At first, Sheila seeks sustenance from raw hamburger meat, but quickly craves the human kind. Her first victim: Gary (Nathan Fillion), a creepy rival agentwhose intestines she snacks on in the yard of their split-level.

Nathan Fillion plays Gary, an ill-fated rival real-estate agent, on Netflix's 'Santa Clarita Diet.'(Photo: Saeed Adyani, Netflix)

"We wanted a big name in that role, where you'd be surprised that they die ... and get eaten," Fresco says. But "it was100 degrees in Santa Clarita," and Fillion was"outdoors all day, lying in the dirt. It was a lot to ask of him."

And for Barrymore, who takes to freezing body parts for later consumption. "I was literally in the shower at the end of every work day on the sound stages;I was covered in it," she says of the fake blood. (She didn't much care for the smell of the transformative, copious vomit in the series opener). "I invested in a lot of shaving cream because that was the only way to get that stuff off."

Dinner can be messy for Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) in Netflix comedy 'Santa Clarita Diet.'(Photo: Erica Parise, Netflix)

Fresco says the realistic limbs and innards were made from red-beet paste, raw fishor a gummy-bear material that was sweet and elastic. (The beet paste was the most disgusting).

As the series progresses, Joel becomes an accomplice, providing new meals ofa Porsche-driving jerk and their cop neighbor (Ricardo Chavira), whom he dispatches with a shovel. The Hammonds' daughter (Liv Hewson) and her pal, a nerdy neighbor (Skyler Gisondo) also are drawn in.

USA TODAY

Review: Netflix's 'Santa Clarita' is a diet that's definitely worth keeping

And in the season's final episode, Portia de Rossi, who co-starred in Fresco's short-lived ABC comedy Better Off Ted, plays a woman similarly "steely, smart as hell, and completely disconnected emotionally," who might help Sheila find a cure to what ails her, after inevitable decay sets in.

But the end of the first 10-episode season brings an arrest and more trouble,"They're in very different places physically, and they're both in trouble in their own way," Fresco says. So what would a potential Season 2 look like? "What's strong from beginning to end is they love each other and they'll always love each other. So they're going to work together and they're going to figure this out and get through it."

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What kind of diet do they keep in 'Santa Clarita'? - USA TODAY