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Do Cleanses and Detox Diets Really Work? – The Manual

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

Whether the holidays were a time of a little extra indulging or its been a while since youve hit the gym regularly, you may be wondering if trying or cleanse or detox is the best way to jumpstart some weight loss, get back on a healthy diet plan, and reset your metabolism. Cleanses and detox diets are extremely popular. There are tons of commercial juice diets you can order, or enemas, or lemon and cayenne drinks recipes to follow, and expensive supplements and diet pills said to help detox your body, just to name a few.

Many of these popular programs claim to help rid your body of toxins, cleanse your blood and liver, and enable you to drop a significant amount of weight quickly. But do cleanses actually work? Are they safe? Is a cleanse the same thing as a detox diet? Is there an effective way to reset your metabolism and kickstart weight loss? Keep reading for the answers to these questions and the basics of cleanses and diet detoxes.

A cleanse is typically some kind of diet or regimen that aims to improve digestion and clean your system out, whereas a detox is said to systematically remove toxins that have built up in your blood, liver, or kidneys so that you feel more revitalized and healthy. Cleanses and detox diets usually involve a period of fasting followed by some kind of juice or liquid diet protocol with a strong emphasis on the complete avoidance of certain food groups like gluten, dairy, soy, alcohol, sweeteners, and perhaps even solid food. There may also be specific herbs, teas, supplements, and or enemas involved in the cleanse or detox as well.

The most important takeaway is that several of the claims made by detox dietsmainly that they can stimulate your liver and kidneys to eliminate excess toxinsare not true. Providing your body with healthy nutrients and steering clear of inflammatory foods like sugar, alcohol, and processed ingredients will reduce inflammation, support digestion, and aid circulation, but the liver and kidneys already detoxify nearly all harmful compounds in circulation and remove them via urine, feces, sweat, and even expired air. Heavy metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium can build up in different tissues of the body over time; however, there is no evidence to suggest that detox diets can effectively get rid of these compounds. Therefore, the actual detoxing or toxin-eliminating claims of detox diets are not true. That said, there can be some health benefits to cleanses and detox diets.

While cleanses and detox diets do not increase the elimination of toxins in your body or spur your liver and kidneys to go into turbo mode, there can be physical and behavioral benefits to short-term cleanses and detoxes. For example, while a cleanse or detox diet wont remove heavy metals that are already in your body from storage, you likely wont be ingesting other inflammatory compounds during the cleanse. Foods containing trans fats and hydrogenated oils, artificial sweeteners and sugar, salt, food dyes, and chemicals, and even gluten, dairy, corn, soy, and certain other ingredients can be inflammatory. If youre following a cleanse that focuses on fresh produce like organic fruits and vegetables in their raw, cooked, or juiced forms, youll be giving your digestive system a break from breaking down fats, protein, and these other potentially inflammatory compounds from processed foods.

Because cleanses are so restrictive, most people do experience modest weight loss. However, results can be short-term if a healthy, calorie-controlled diet is not maintained after the end of the cleanse. That said, severe caloric restriction is not safe and not supportive of metabolic health, particularly if maintained beyond a couple of days. Consider intermittent fasting as an alternative way to get some of the weight loss benefits of a cleanse in a more metabolically effective and safe manner. Long-term starvation diets, in turn, will slow your metabolic rate and can disrupt hormonal balance and can encourage fat storage rather than fat loss.

Lastly, some people enjoy behavioral and emotional benefits from following a short-term cleanse or detox program. Just as a digital detox can be a much-needed break from technology and an eye-opener as to your reliance on phones, TV, and other devices, a diet detox or cleanse can help reset your palate, cravings, and unhealthy eating patterns. A cleanse may reduce sugar cravings and restore mindfulness around eating, helping you stick to a healthier, more balanced diet upon completion.

Again, the primary thing to keep in mind when embarking on a cleanse or detox diet is that you arent actually going to be eliminating any toxins from your body. Even if this isnt your only goal, there are still a few additional precautions to consider. Nearly all cleanses involve severe caloric restriction, which can cause low energy, headaches, blood sugar irregularities, arrhythmias, and bad breath. This may not be advisable for those with certain health conditions (particularly diabetes, eating disorders, and pregnancy/lactation), so you should consult your doctor if you take medications or have illnesses or medical disorders. Colon cleanses that use laxatives and diuretics often cause severe diarrhea and excessive urination and can lead to dehydration, nausea, and vomiting.

If you use commercial diet pills and herbal supplements as part of your cleanse, its important to keep in mind that many of these products are not regulated by the FDA. As such, they may be dangerous in high doses and the labels can be inaccurate. It is highly advisable to avoid any products that are not regulated and that may contain harmful substances or doses; just because something is herbal, does not mean it is safe; for example, ephedra can cause convulsions and heart irregularities.

These are some of the food groups that most cleanses eliminate:

Some even eliminate solid foods and only encourage juicing and drinking broths. That said, most allow free consumption of healthy vegetables and fresh fruits, which provide all sorts of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. There are some healthy juices packed with antioxidantsto reduce free radical damage and support health. For example, you might try cold-pressed juices from Factor, which retain all of the nutrients and have no added sugars. Green tea is also usually encouraged, as there is evidence that it increases metabolic rate, aids metabolism, and reduces oxidative damage in the body.

Cleanses and detox diets can be a potentially effective way to transition to a nutritious diet free from processed foods and excessive sugar, salt, and fat. That said, a detox diet does not eliminate toxins from the body and there are dangers associated with long-term or severe caloric restriction, diet pills, and supplements, laxatives, and diuretics.

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Do Cleanses and Detox Diets Really Work? - The Manual

Nutritionists Say You Should Be Breaking These 4 Habits To Boost Your Metabolism Over 40 – SheFinds

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

When it comes to losing weight, we often hear the same thingseat well, exercise, get enough sleep. But there can be a lot of external factors that may make it harder, if not impossible, to maintain or lose weight. The functioning of your metabolism can play a big role in whether or not youre able to see results. Your metabolism refers to the process by which your body turns food and drink you digest into energy. If your metabolism isnt working how it should, it may reduce your bodys ability to burn caloriesthis can make weight loss particularly hard because being in a calorie deficit is necessary for this to occur. Lots of things can impact your metabolism, from stress to genetics, and even your age. This is why, as you get older, its important to lead a lifestyle that supports a healthy metabolism.

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First of all, why can your metabolisms functionality wane as you age? Losing muscle, which is common as you age, can affect it. [Muscle mass] helps keep your metabolism revved up, Says Lisa Young, PhD, a nutritionist in private practice, Limiting exercise can also slow down your metabolism as can yo-yo diets and severe calorie restriction. It may be tempting to try intense diets that promise quick results, but this is counterintuitive if your goal is lasting weight loss. Young shared with us her favorite tips for maintaining a diet that will keep your metabolism strong.

Skip the Soda

Sugary beverages have been linked to weight gain, obesity, and diabetes, and the over 40 crowd needs to be more careful to watch weight and sugar as the pounds creep on as you age. Sugary drinks, also dubbed liquid calories, can contribute to poor health and weight gain. Because you arent chewing, its easier to drink too much quickly without registering signals of fullness.

Limit Oversized Portions

Large portions contain more calories than small portions and encourage us to eat more. The over 40 crowd needs to watch calories and portions more closely.

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Being a Couch Potato

It is very important if you are over 40 to partake in an exercise routine to help keep your metabolism revved up and to avoid weight gain.

Limit Late Night Eating

When we eat late at night we tend to eat junk food and we dont have time to burn the calories making it easier to gain weight. Limit the ultra processed foods late at night and if you must have something, enjoy fresh fruit.

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Nutritionists Say You Should Be Breaking These 4 Habits To Boost Your Metabolism Over 40 - SheFinds

Green soup recipe for weight loss with lots of nutrition and health – Central Valley Business Journal

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

Photo: Image by silviarita on Pixabay / Pixabay

Christmas and New Years celebrations, They can make us feel heavy, bloated, and with the sensation of weight gain. In such a way that at the beginning of each year, the first week of January, we are all interested in giving ourselves a break from excesses and taking advantage of it to purify the body as much as possible. Although, most of us tend to have that renewed desire to feel better physically and emotionally, and of course to start new and healthy habits. It is important to do it gradually without extreme dieting or detox that can harm your health or end in the dreaded rebound effect. One of the best and easiest ways to do it is to bet on foods that promote a gentle detoxification, that accelerate the metabolism and that at the same time provide all the nutrients that the body needs. Detox soups are a great addition to any cleansing routine, they are also filling and very easy to integrate into your daily routine without falling into deprivation. This green detox soup is a true nutritional treasure, to balance the functioning of the body and stimulate its natural detoxification.

Its wonderful to know that in one simple pot, so many powerful healthy whole foods packed with nutrition come together. Which not only gently activate the bodys cleaning mechanism, are associated with great benefits to strengthen the immune system, prevent diseases, improve digestive and intestinal function. Additionally, this green soup helps stimulate and promote weight loss through multiple pathways. Improves liver function helps eliminate toxins quickly and safely, which can reduce body weight.

Although there are all kinds of soup recipes for weight loss, there are some ingredients that are a basic addition; especially for its benefits for promote liver cleansing such as green leafy vegetables, alkalizing tubers loaded with potassium and anti-inflammatory spices. Also, fiber, healthy fats, and quality protein are essential when preparing a nutritious detox meal. At this point it is no secret to say that the intestinal microbiota needs fiber to function properly, the consumption of foods rich in prebiotics and fermented foods such as probiotics is particularly recommended, which play an indispensable role in strengthening the health of the intestinal system and promoting the diversity of good bacteria. So some good advice from nutrition experts is to add navy beans as a great source of plant-based protein and fiber and miso as a probiotic.

This green detox soup recipe is characterized by el use of green vegetables that are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and great anti-inflammatory propertiess. Which stimulate the production of glutathione, one of the most beneficial antioxidants for the immune system and purifying processes. Furthermore, it has been shown that consuming green soup regularly, combined with a balanced diet in general, prevents obesity and excess weight. Best of all, it is very easy to integrate the consumption of this rich and creamy vegetable soup into your daily diet. It is advisable to consume a small cup of soup before meals, It is beneficial for reducing caloric intake and promoting satiety mechanisms. In addition, its nutrients benefit the healthy cleansing of the colon, which eliminates fats, liquids and retained waste.

Complementary to the daily consumption of this rich soup, its important to stay away from sugar, processed foods, and alcohol. Bet on drinking plenty of natural fluids such as water and herbal teas and you will soon notice wonderful results.

Ingredients:

1 small head of broccoli (about 250 rooks) cut into florets 1 carrot, diced 2 cups fresh spinach 1 finely chopped yellow onion 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium parsnip diced 1 stalk of celery 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced 1 cup cooked canellini beans 2 cups low sodium vegetable broth 2 teaspoons miso paste teaspoon cayenne inch grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon salt Coconut yogurt, to serve Freshly ground black pepper, to decorate

Preparation mode:

Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saucepan, add the onion, celery, carrot, parsnip and garlic. Cook over medium heat for five minutes, stirring frequently. Add the grated ginger and cayenne pepper, stir to mix the ingredients well, then add the vegetable broth and beans. Bring to a boil over medium heat, cover the pot and cook. over low heat for 20 minutes. Add the broccoli and spinach and simmer for 5 more minutes without the lid. Add the miso and mix to combine. Use an immersion blender to turn the soup into a smooth cream. Serve in a bowl and add a tablespoon of coconut yogurt over the soup, garnish with freshly ground black pepper, and serve hot.

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Green soup recipe for weight loss with lots of nutrition and health - Central Valley Business Journal

Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? – USA TODAY

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

Dr. Michael Daignault| Opinion contributor

Teachers call for a ban on energy drinks

Teachers are worried that our kids' are consuming too many energy drinks and it's leading to poor behavior and possibly poor health. Tony Spitz has the details.

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A young man was recently brought to the ER by friends who were concerned by his sudden behavior change,restlessnessand abnormal sweating. He was complaining of chest pain. On the cardiac monitor, his heart rate was accelerated and his blood pressure was spiking.

I usually consider a broad differential diagnosis for such an ER patient that includes infection, heart attack, drug overdoseor environmental exposure. His friends denied any knowledge of him having medical problems or taking prescription medication. And they denied drug abuse.

While ruling out an infectious cause, I was able to bring down his heart rate and blood pressure with some intravenous anxiety-reducing medication and fluid hydration. When he was more alert, he was able to tell us he had earlier consumed two energy drinks back-to-back beforeworking out.

As Ive discussed in previous columns about apple cider vinegar andvitamins, the supplement industry in the U.S., which includes energy drinks, is grossly underregulated. The dearth of quality research limits our critical evaluation of which supplements are effective. We are flying just as blind when it comes to knowing which supplements are potentially harmful.

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Consumers are under the dangerous misconception that if you can buy a supplement over-the-counter without a prescription, it must be safe. But because the FDA does not evaluate all supplements for safety, consumers cannot be sure that all the ingredients or the combination in a supplement are safe.

The most common supplement culprits that could land you in the ER are weight loss pills and energy drinks.

More: People swear by apple cider vinegar for weight loss. Does it actually work?

A landmark 2015 study showed that dietary supplements such as weight loss pills send an average of 23,000 people to the ER annually. Thats out of a massive 150 million Americans who combined spend more than $2 billion a year on weight-loss pills.

Companies typically promise their product will help you lose weight through one of these mechanisms:

"Fat burners" are the most well-known weight loss supplement and typically include high doses of caffeine, green tea extract, carnitine, yohimbe, soluble fiber and a slew of other herbs. The amount of weight loss from these ingredients is minimal, according tothe limited research we have. The strongest evidence for calorie burning is for caffeine.

Patients quickly get into trouble when they take powerful prescription weight loss medication outside a doctors supervision, combine multiple weight loss supplements particularly stimulants aimed to speed up metabolism with illegal stimulants like methamphetamine or cocaine. They present to the ER with an accelerated heart rate and elevated blood pressure, altered or agitated mental status, potential damage to liver or kidneys, and diarrhea or rectal bleeding.

Energy drink use was associated with 20,000 ER visits in the U.S. in 2011. Toxicity occurs via one or both of the following pathways: either via an extremely high dose of caffeine or from the compounding effect of caffeine with other ingredients.

The safe limit of caffeine for adults 18 and olderis up to 400mg a day. For those 12 to 18, the limit is 100mg. Energy drinks contain 70mg to 240mg of caffeine per serving. For example, Java Monster contains 100mg, and 5-Hour Energy includes 200mg. As a comparison, a cup of coffee contains about 100mg. Energy drinks also contain excess sugar that make them easy to down, and compared with the slow sipping of coffee, can lead to caffeine toxicity if consumed quickly.

By themselves, most of the ingredients in energy drinks are commonly found in our diet or occur naturally in our body and are not inherently dangerous:

However, the amounts of the aforementioned ingredients packaged into the energy drinks is often significantly higher than what is typically found in foods and plants. Combined with high levels of caffeine, and you have a perfect storm of cardiac toxicity.

As with weight loss supplements, a study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that rapid or overconsumption of energy drinks can alter the heart's electrical activity and lead to an elevated or irregular heart beat (known as arrhythmia) and increased blood pressure, both of which put strain on the heart. This can be exacerbated in people with underlying heart conditions. In some extreme cases, these ingredients have been known to cause thickening of blood in the coronary arteries and have led to cardiac arrest.

In the ER, our treatment options are limited for the toxicity from either weight loss pills or energy drink supplements. Common treatments include medications to reduce the stress on the heart and intravenous fluid for hydration.

Bottom line: Thoroughly review the full list of ingredients for any supplement you are considering. Pay particular attention to the amount of caffeine and be sure to not drink more than the recommended amount daily. If your goal is calorie-burning, amuch safer option is a pre-workout cup of coffee that is sipped slowly. Also, remember there's no magic bullet for weight loss. Any weight loss program should combine healthy eating choices with cardio or strength training, both of which are effectively at burning fat per new research. If your program includes a weight loss pill, please take it only under the direct supervision of a physician and be wary of combining that with other supplements.

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Which supplements are most likely to land you in the ER? - USA TODAY

6 Incredible Effects Of Giving Up Alcohol for One Month Eat This Not That – Eat This, Not That

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

With some new year's resolutions, it can take a little more time than a month to see resultsbuilding muscle and losing weight, we're looking at you. But when you go alcohol-free for a month, however, there are some very noticeable changes you can experience after just 31 days.

"Dry January," or giving up booze for the first month of the year, is a resolution that has a host of benefits. (You can even make serious progress toward increasing your chances of losing weight!) We asked nutrition experts for some of the effects you may experience by the end of the month when you keep the wine bottles on the rack or beer in the fridge. Read on, and for more on how to eat healthy, don't miss 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.

"Alcohol is technically a depressant, and including it in your diet may cause some people to feel negative mental side effects once the initial effects of the booze wear off," says medical expert board member and registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN.

"If you give up alcohol for a month, you may actually feel happier and have improved mental health," says Manaker.

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Alcohol contains more calories per gram (7 calories per gram) than two common macronutrients, protein and carbs, which are just 4 calories per gram. "And since taking in too many calories can contribute to weight gain, cutting the booze may support your weight loss journeyespecially if you tend to sip on super-sugary and caloric drinks like a fruity pina colada, cutting your booze may save some significant liquid calories," says Manaker.

There's more than one way that cutting alcohol out for one month can help you lose weight. A body of evidence supports that people tend to consume more calories from food when drinking alcohol, which can ultimately lead to weight gain; however, studies have yet to determine a clear cause-and-effect association.

While you may feel like a glass of wine before bed can help you wind down and fall asleep more easily, alcohol generally has a negative effect on sleep quality.

"Excessive alcohol intake inhibits normal regulation of circadian proteins and genes, and it can take weeks for this to get back to normal. In other words, your beauty sleep is the victim and pays the price when you party," says Daina Trout, MS, MPH, the Co-Founder and Chief Mission Officer at Health-Ade who has Master's degrees in nutrition and public health.

As Trout explains, it takes time for your sleep schedule to get back to normal after a long period of drinking, so if you cut out alcohol for one month, you may notice more restful sleep after 31 days!

Have you been experiencing bloating and other digestive issues recently? Cutting out alcohol for a month may be one way to alleviate this digestive distress.

"Excessive alcohol inhibits normal production of digestive enzymes, which means they can't break down what you eat, and food is left to sit undigested in your belly. This not only damages the stomach lining, but it also produces unwanted gases, bloating, and indigestionnot fun!" says Trout.

Side effects of inflammation, like skin issues and joint pain, may melt away over the course of the month when you ditch booze.

"Excessive alcohol injures the intestinal wall upon contact, causing inflammation locally and all over the body," says Trout. "A few bad nights can actually cause chronic and persistent inflammation in your bodyso what you were calling aging and bad skin might actually be the booze!" For example, one study of over 3,000 women found that participants who had more than 8 alcoholic drinks a week had significantly increased upper facial lines, under-eye puffiness, midface volume loss, and blood vessels than those who drank less or not at all. While you may not experience a complete anti-aging reversal after a month, taking this month off may encourage you to keep alcohol intake to a minimum to support healthy aging.

Support your body's natural immune defenses by dropping booze from your diet. "Excessive alcohol changes the gut flora in your microbiome for the worse, and quickly. These changes weaken your body's defenses, and put you at heightened risk for getting sick!" says Trout.

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Quick Healthy Lunch Recipes Eat This Not That – Eat This, Not That

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

Successfully making a quick and healthy lunch that doesn't come out of a greasy takeout bag is all about thinking ahead. If you keep healthy proteins in the fridge, like a rotisserie chicken, your favorite cheeses, eggs, and low-sodium lunch meats, the options for a meal you can whip up in no time are pretty endless.

Although, it's also important to stock your pantry with other ingredients that lend themselves to a fast midday meal. You'll need canned beans, quick-cooking rice, and your favorite spices. In the freezer, stock your favorite frozen veggie combos and some specialty items like frozen udon noodles. This way, you'll have everything you need to throw together all of these quick healthy lunch recipes.

The swift and delicious lunch recipes that follow don't require full-on meal prep. Instead, all of these meals can be made on the fly or prepped before you head out the door. Plus, if you're super short on time, don't miss 20+ Healthy Mug Recipes You Can Make in 5 Minutes (Or Less!)

Skip the fast-food McGriddle that's grease-filled and loaded with processed ingredients. Instead, make a quick sammie with one sunny-side-up egg, two pieces of all-natural bacon (or ham), and a slice of cheese. Leave off the top of the sandwich to cut back on the starchy carbs and keep you away from that overstuffed feeling.

Get our recipe for the Open-Face Hot Ham and Cheese with Chipotle Mayo.

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Quick-cooking rice is the key to this warming meal. Everything cooks right in a bowl in the microwave, making this one of the easiest meals ever. Toss in some rotisserie chicken for a little bit more protein.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

RELATED:We Tried 6 Store-Bought Rotisserie Chickens & This Is the Best

Piling fresh veggies, low-sodium cold cuts, and little cubes of cheese on skewers just seems more fun than a salad or sandwich, doesn't it? Dip these babies in a low-fat dressing of choice and enjoy!

Get the recipe from Lil' Luna.

Here, we take the classic Italian pasta pairing of peas and prosciutto, replace the noodles with dumplings, and throw in plenty of asparagus to round out the creation.

Get our recipe for Gnocchi With Peas and Prosciutto.

RELATED:15 Cozy Pasta Recipes Perfect for Weight Loss

This can be a warm-up to dinner (especially if you have guests over), or a light meal on its own. Better yet, double the recipe and freeze some for a busy week. Enjoy!

Get our recipe for Asparagus Salad With a Fried Egg and Prosciutto.

Hot dogs normally arouse the scorn of nutritionists and health-conscious eaters alike, but don't be so quick to dismiss the humble wiener. Yes, more often than not the ones you buy from a cart contain questionably nondescript insides, but there is another way! In the best circumstances, hot dogs are perfectly portioned, protein-packed vessels set to play host to a barrage of healthy, boldly flavored toppings.

Get our recipe for Mexican Hot Dogs.

RELATED:We Tasted 8 Hot Dog Brands & This Is the Best

Who would've thought that a delicious breakfast can be made in just minutes with the help of a mug? Combine two eggs, diced bell pepper, tomato, spinach and spices into a greased mug and microwave for about two minutes. You'll get a hearty protein-filled breakfast that will keep you energized and ready to take on the day in just an instant!

Or try our recipe forEasy Broccoli-Cheese Eggs in a Mug.

Put these tasty protein-packed salads together in the morning and then just shake and pour out onto a plate come lunchtime.

Get the recipe from The Seasoned Mom.

RELATED:35+ Healthy Salad Recipes for Weight Loss

Salads are the king of quick lunches and can be filling if you plan them out correctly. This bright arugula salad is packed with tomatoes, avocado, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese for a satisfying and healthy mid-day break.

Get the recipe from Lil' Luna.

It's taco time! In less than 10 minutes, you can throw together a Mexican-style raw taco by loading up a whole grain taco shell with salsa, shredded rotisserie chicken, avocado, and cilantro. Give it a squeeze of lime or lemon juice for that added tanginess.

Get our recipe for Rotisserie Chicken Tacos With Salsa Verde.

RELATED: 45+ Best Soups and Chilis to Make With Costco Rotisserie Chicken

These super-simple individual pizzas are a breeze to make. You can customize them any way you want with your favorite toppings.

Get the recipe from Bigger Bolder Baking.

Mashed avocado takes the place of mayo in these crazy healthy sandwiches. Black beans, cilantro, tomato, and goat cheese make these the most un-boring tuna sandwiches you've ever had.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

RELATED:The Best Sandwich in Every State

If you're not a fan of tuna or you're looking for a vegan sandwich recipe, try this one with mashed chickpeas, avocado, cranberries, and lemon. Full of fiber and flavor, this is one quick lunch that you'll want on repeat.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

RELATED:mSecret Side Effects of Eating Chickpeas, Says Science

Layer your favorite sandwich toppings and roll up these flatbreads for a quick and easy lunch that looks as good as it tastes. Bonus: the kids will love these too.

Get the recipe from Lil' Luna.

Sure you could toss together a simple grilled cheese in a few minutes, but this one will send your taste buds into overdrive. It strikes the perfect balance between sweet, savory, and spicy. If you don't have cherry jam, use what you have and play around with the flavors.

Get the recipe from Ambitious Kitchen.

RELATED:The Best Grilled Cheese in Every State

Really good teriyaki sauce and a good dose of garlic, ginger, and onion is the key to this sweet and tasty meal. Add some quick-cooking rice and a bag of frozen broccoli and you'll have a completely balanced meal in 10 minutes.

Get the recipe from The Seasoned Mom.

Cheese doesn't always have to be on the list of diet no-nos. As long as cheese is consumed in moderation it can make a healthy lunch much easier. Fill a whole wheat or sprouted tortilla with provolone or mozzarella which both easily get a day's worth of calcium per serving. You can use a stove, microwave, or panini press to make this dish, all in under ten!

Get our recipe for Cheesy Crispy Quesadillas.

RELATED:13 Easy Quesadilla Recipes to Make Right Now

Quesadillas are a quick-cooking lunch or snack, but why not kick them up by making them pizza-flavored? Mozzarella, marinara sauce, and your favorite toppings combine into the crispy, cheesy lunch. Add a salad on the side and you're good to go.

Get the recipe from The Seasoned Mom.

If you're not already avocado obsessed, this lunch will change that! Split an avocado in half, take out the pit and spoon out a small amount of the avo (obviously eat that). You can stuff it with anything from tomatoes and mozzarella with balsamic drizzle to quick brown rice with beans and salsa. Or try our recipe with crab!

Get our recipe for Avocado-Crab Salad.

RELATED:8 Amazing Secrets About Avocados You Never Knew

Wild salmon is a nutritional powerhouse with metabolism-boosting omega-3 fatty acids that can actually help burn calories. Throw together this quick meal in minutes with this New York bagel-inspired meal.

Get our recipe for the Smoked Salmon Sandwich.

If you're working from home, don't discount the stir fry as an amazing lunchtime option. The secret to a quick stir fry is to buy a package of assorted stir-fry vegetables so that you only have to do a minimal amount of chopping.

Get the recipe from Savory Simple.

RELATED:Secret Effects of Eating Tofu, Says Science

If you're only eating avocado toast in the morning, you're missing out on a perfect quick lunch. White beans and quickly microwaved asparagus make this a very healthy, balanced lunch in just 10 minutes.

Get the recipe from Savory Simple.

Frozen udon noodles are the secret to this perfect quick dish. A quick bath in boiling water thaws the noodles which are then tossed with almond butter that's been flavored with soy sauce, vinegar, sambal, sesame oil, garlic, and fish sauce. You can even throw in a bag of microwaved broccoli for a little more of a fiber punch.

Get the recipe from Savory Simple.

RELATED:15 Frozen Meals You Won't Believe Are Under 500 Calories

Avocado, corn, black beans, and red onion are tossed over romaine lettuce for this fiber-filled salad. A quick dressing of sour cream, scallions, lime juice, red pepper, honey, and olive oil turn lunch into a party for your mouth.

Get the recipe from Savory Simple.

Browse more of our quick, healthy recipes:

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Quick Healthy Lunch Recipes Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Magic Weight-Loss Pills and Covid Cures: Dr. Oz Under the Microscope – The New York Times

Posted: December 30, 2021 at 1:41 am

Dr. Oz admitted to the senators that his claims often dont have the scientific muster to present as fact. A study he had cited about green-coffee bean extract was later retracted and described by federal regulators as hopelessly flawed. The supplier of the extract paid $3.5 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission.

Dr. David Gorski, a surgery professor at Wayne State University and longtime critic of alternative medicine, said Dr. Ozs emergence as a Fox News authority on the coronavirus was no surprise.

He could have gone the route of trying to be more reasonable and careful, vetting information, trying to reassure people where the science was still unsettled, Dr. Gorski said. But of course, that wouldnt be Dr. Ozs brand.

Early in the pandemic, on March 20, 2020, Dr. Oz appeared on several Fox News shows trumpeting what he called massive, massive news a small study by a divisive French researcher, Dr. Didier Raoult, who claimed a 100 percent cure rate after treating coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, or Z-Pak.

At the time, with Covid-19 cases and deaths rising rapidly, hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial treatment, was being studied in multiple countries and adopted by hospitals without much evidence. Mr. Trump hyped it repeatedly at White House news conferences as part of his effort to minimize the crisis. Dr. Oz communicated with Trump advisers about speeding the drugs approval to treat Covid. On March 28, the F.D.A. authorized its emergency use.

On Fox, Dr. Oz noted that the Raoult study, with just 36 participants, was not a clinical trial, but his enthusiasm overran his caution. The study was the most impressive bit of news on this entire pandemic front, he gushed.

On April 1, as Dr. Oz called on Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York to lift restrictions on hydroxychloroquine, a public health expert, Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University, cautioned Fox viewers that the facts are just not in on the drug.

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Magic Weight-Loss Pills and Covid Cures: Dr. Oz Under the Microscope - The New York Times

55 Things You Can Safely Feed to Ducks – Fruits, Veggies …

Posted: December 19, 2021 at 1:53 am

When you head to a park or lake thats filled with ducks, its common to see people feeding them. Most often, people are feeding ducks bread. If youre raising ducks of your own, then you already know that bread is a terrible food for any waterfowl. It provides no nutritional value and can even stunt a ducks growth and development rate.

So, what exactly can you feed a duck? Truthfully, ducks can eat a wide variety of foods; bread just isnt one of them. As omnivores, ducks will happily eat fruits, vegetables, seafood, some animal proteins, grains, and other plants, including common weeds and many flowers.

To give you a good idea of the diverse diet that ducks can digest, weve gathered 55 foods that are duck-friendly and ideal for a duck-billed waterfowl to dine on. Theyll be split into categories to help you more easily browse through them, such as fruits, vegetables, proteins, etc.

Humans generally only want to eat fresh, ripe produce. Once fruit or vegetables sit out for a while, theyre no longer as tasty and fresh as we prefer. Likewise, underripe fruits are usually turned down in favor of those that are perfectly mature.

But ducks arent nearly as picky as people. You can offer your duck produce thats not quite fresh anymore. Browned bananas arent going to upset your duck. They also wont pose any health risks, so you can use your ducks to help eliminate your extra food waste!

All of the following foods can be safely offered to a duck without the worry of causing health repercussions. These foods all offer ducks vital nutrients that make them healthy, not just tasty!

Fruits are a great food to offer to a duck. Theyre loaded with vitamins and minerals that can contribute to good health for any duck. That said, not every fruit is safe to feed a duck.

Youll want to avoid citrus fruits, including lemons, grapefruits, limes, and oranges. These foods interfere with a ducks ability to absorb calcium and can lead to eggs with thin shells. Additionally, citrus is hard for ducks to digest, so feeding a duck citrus often results in stomach pain and can even cause acid reflux.

Avocados are another fruit to avoid. No part of the avocado plant or fruit should be offered as theyre toxic for ducks. Fruits with stone pits are also a concern due to their cyanide content. You can still safely feed them though if you take care to remove pits and seeds first.

The following fruits are safe to offer your duck:

Like fruits, vegetables are packed with essential nutrients. Many vegetables are completely safe for ducks to eat, though there are a few that youll need to avoid.

Spinach is another food that, like citrus, can block calcium absorption. Iceberg lettuce is also a poor choice, simply because it doesnt really offer any nutritional value, though other types of lettuce are great foods for ducks.

All members of the nightshade family should be avoided. This means no potatoes, rhubarbs, green tomatoes, or eggplant. For ducks, every part of these plants is toxic, including the stems, leaves, and flesh of the vegetable.

Instead, share this wide range of veggies with your ducks:

Many grains are safe for ducks to eat. While white grains wont hurt your ducks, whole grains are generally considered to be more nutritious. But you should avoid feeding your ducks any salty grains like crackers. Ducks can actually die from overdosing on salt.

Also, fatty or sugary grains should be omitted from a ducks diet. These foods can cause weight gain easily, which puts too much strain on a ducks legs. And bread should never be fed to a duck. It can make them sick and quickly leads to weight gain.

You can opt to share these grains with your duck without worry:

Ducks arent very picky eaters, and they will eat a wide range of plants that most people wont touch. For example, most weeds are edible for ducks. Additionally, all of the culinary herbs we use are safe for ducks. They can also eat many varieties of flowers.

Try any of these plants as a snack for your duck:

While you probably shouldnt feed your duck a steak, they can safely eat many proteins, including live ones such as worms and small fish. You can even give your ducks table scraps that have meat in them. Many ducks love scrambled eggs as well.

However, you shouldnt offer your duck any nuts or large seeds. These are too hard for a duck to digest and can even pose a choking hazard since ducks swallow their food whole. This means that proteins should also be cut into manageable portions before giving them to your duck.

Try out any of these protein sources for your duck:

Ducks can handle a very diverse diet. In fact, thats how to help your ducks thrive! As omnivores, they can eat many different foods ranging from greens and grains to proteins like meat and seafood. Still, you have to be careful not to feed your duck anything that could be toxic. Just because it can eat most foods that you do doesnt mean that all foods you eat are safe for ducks. Citrus, for instance, is great for humans but can cause acid reflux in ducks and could even lead to thin-shelled eggs. As long as you come back to this list for reference and make sure its safe before offering your ducks new food, you should be good to go.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

An avid outdoorsman, Dean spends much of his time adventuring through the diverse terrain of the southwest United States with his closest companion, his dog, Gohan. He gains experience on a full-time journey of exploration. For Dean, few passions lie closer to his heart than learning. An apt researcher and reader, he loves to investigate interesting topics such as history, economics, relationships, pets, politics, and more.

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Squirrels: Diet, Habits & Other Facts | Live Science

Posted: December 19, 2021 at 1:53 am

Squirrels are nimble, bushy-tailed rodents found all over the world. They belong to the Sciuridae family, which includes prairie dogs, chipmunks and marmots.

There are more than 200 species of squirrels, according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), and they are categorized into three types: tree squirrels, ground squirrels and flying squirrels. These three categories are further broken down into many squirrel types, such as Albino, Mountain Tree, Antelope, Spotted, Grey, American Red, Douglas, Fox, Pygmy, Northern Flying, Southern, Arizona Gray, Idaho, Arctic Ground, Alberts, Franklin, Richardson, Rock, White and Black squirrel.

Since there are so many types of squirrels, they range greatly in size. The smallest squirrel is the African pygmy squirrel. It grows to 2.8 to 5 inches (7 to 13 centimeters) in length and weighs just 0.35 ounces (10 grams). The Indian giant squirrel is the world's largest known squirrel. It grows to 36 inches (1 meter) long and weighs up to 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms).

Grey squirrels, commonly found in North America, are medium-size squirrels. They grow to 15 to 20 inches (38.1 to 50.8 cm) in length, with their tails adding an extra 6 to 9.5 inches (15.24 to 24.13 cm) to their length.They typically weigh about 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.45 to 0.68 kg).

A group of squirrels are called a scurry or dray. They are very territorial and will fight to the death to defend their area. Mother squirrels are the most vicious when defending their babies.

Some squirrels are crepuscular. This means that they are only active at dawn and dusk.

Squirrels live on every continent except inAustralia and Antarctica, according to theBBC.

Tree squirrels typically live in wooded areas, since they prefer to live in trees. Ground squirrels live up to their names. They dig burrows, a system of tunnels underground, to live in. Some squirrels also hibernate in burrows during the winter to keep warm.

Flying squirrels make their homes in tree holes or nests that are built into the crooks of branches. To get from tree to tree or from a tree to the ground, flying squirrels spread the muscle membrane between their legs and body and glide on the air. They can glide up to 160 feet (48 m), making it look like they can fly.

On average, squirrels eatabout one pound of foodper week. Many people think that squirrels only eat nuts, but this isn't true. Squirrels are omnivores, which means they like to eat plants and meat. Squirrels mainly eat fungi, seeds, nuts and fruits, but they will also munch on eggs, small insects, caterpillars,small animalsand even young snakes.

To prepare for cold months, squirrels will bury their food. In the winter months they have a store of food they can eat when supplies are scarce.

A female carries her young for a gestation period of 29 to 65 days, depending on the size of the species; smaller squirrels have shorter gestation periods, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web. Mothers give birth to two to eight offspring at one time. Babies are called kits or kittens and are born blind. They depend on their mothers for around two or three months.

After seven to eight weeks, the young are weaned. When the kits leave the nest, they don't travel farther than 2 miles from home, according to theMassachusetts Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Some species of squirrel have new litters every few months or as little as twice per year.

The taxonomy of squirrels, according to theIntegrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), is:

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List, these species are endangered: San Joaquin antelope ground squirrel, woolly flying squirrel, Sipora flying squirrel, Mentawi flying squirrel, Siberut flying squirrel, smoky flying squirrel, Vincent's bush squirrel, Baja California rock squirrel, Idaho ground squirrel, Perote ground squirrel, fraternal squirrel and Mearns' squirrel. The Namdapha flying squirrel is critically endangered.

Squirrels have four teeth in the front of their mouth that constantly grow throughout their lives. This ensures that their teeth don't wear down to nubs from gnawing on nuts and other objects.

These rodents have remarkable little bodies. For example, a squirrel has paddedfeetthat cushions jumps from up to 20 feet (6 meters) long.Their eyes are high on their head and placed on each side of the head so they can see a large amount of their surroundings without having to turn their head. They are also fantastic runners. Squirrels can run 20 mph (32 kph).

The gray squirrel (Sciuruscarolinensis) isn't just gray. It comes in a variety of colors, such as white, gray, brown and black. These little squirrels are great at planting trees. They bury their acorns, but forget where they put them. The forgotten acorns become oak trees.

Correction: This article was updated on May 4, 2016, to reflect the correct length of the gestation period.

Other resources:

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Squirrels: Diet, Habits & Other Facts | Live Science

How to Lose 30 Pounds Safely – Healthline

Posted: December 19, 2021 at 1:53 am

Losing 30 pounds can be challenging and time consuming.

It likely not only involves making dietary and lifestyle adjustments but also carefully modifying your sleep schedule, stress levels, and eating habits.

Still, making a few simple changes in your daily routine can help you lose 30 pounds while improving your overall health.

This article covers some strategies that can help you lose 30 pounds safely.

Whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 30, making a few dietary changes is essential.

Eating fewer calories than you burn each day is key when it comes to weight loss.

Some foods like potato chips, frozen meals, and baked goods pack a high number of calories but lack important nutrients like protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Loading your plate with low calorie, nutrient-dense foods can help keep you feeling full between meals while reducing your daily calorie intake to promote weight loss.

Fruits, veggies, legumes, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat, fish, and poultry are all great additions to a low calorie diet.

On the other hand, processed foods like chips, crackers, cookies, and convenience meals are typically high in calories and should be limited on a balanced, low calorie diet.

However, be sure to avoid cutting calories too low. Though calorie needs vary based on a number of factors, such as weight, height, gender, and activity level, decreasing your intake too drastically can slow your metabolism and make weight loss more difficult (1, 2).

For long-lasting, sustainable weight loss, try reducing your intake by 500750 calories below your baseline to lose around 12 pounds (0.450.9 kg) per week (3).

Still, its generally recommended that women and men consume at least 1,200 and 1,500 calories, respectively (4).

Processed foods, such as instant noodles, fast food, potato chips, crackers, and pretzels are all high in calories and low in important nutrients.

According to a study in nearly 16,000 adults, consuming higher amounts of processed foods was tied to a higher risk of excess body weight, especially among women (5).

Other processed ingredients like soft drinks are high in added sugar, which can also contribute to weight gain.

In fact, multiple studies have found that an increased intake of sugar-sweetened beverages may be linked to weight gain and obesity (6, 7).

For best results, cut back on beverages like soda, sweetened tea, fruit juice, and sports drinks and opt for water or unsweetened coffee or tea instead.

Adding more protein to your diet is a simple strategy to help speed up weight loss.

According to one small study in 15 people, eating a high protein breakfast reduced levels of ghrelin, the hormone that stimulates feelings of hunger, more effectively than eating a high carb breakfast (8).

Another study in 19 people showed that doubling daily protein intake significantly reduced calorie intake, body weight, and fat mass over 12 weeks (9).

Meat, fish, and poultry are a few high protein foods that can be easily incorporated into a healthy weight loss diet.

Other nutritious sources of protein include eggs, dairy, legumes, tofu, and tempeh.

Fiber, a nutrient almost exclusively found in plant foods, cannot be digested by your body (10).

Soluble fiber, in particular, is a type of fiber found in plant foods that absorbs water and can slow the emptying of the stomach to help keep you feeling full for longer (11).

Soluble fiber can also stabilize your blood sugar levels to prevent spikes and crashes, which could lead to increased hunger (12).

One study in 252 women found that each gram of fiber consumed was associated with 0.5 pounds (0.25 kg) of weight loss and 0.25% less body fat over 20-months (13).

Another recent study in 50 people showed that drinking a high protein, high fiber beverage before meals reduced hunger, the desire to eat, and food intake all of which could be beneficial for weight loss (14).

Fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds are a few healthy examples of foods that are high in soluble fiber.

Drinking more water is a quick and convenient way to boost weight loss.

In fact, some research suggests that drinking a cup of water before each meal can reduce your calorie intake to increase weight loss.

For instance, one study in 24 adults showed that drinking 17 ounces (500 ml) of water 30 minutes before breakfast decreased total calorie intake by about 13% (15).

Whats more, another study found that drinking 17 ounces (500 ml) of water temporarily increased the number of calories burned by 24% within an hour (16).

Reducing your calorie intake, cutting back on processed foods, eating more protein and fiber, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day can all help you lose 30 pounds.

In addition to switching up your diet, making a few modifications to your lifestyle can also boost weight loss.

Cardio, also known as aerobic exercise, is a type of physical activity that involves increasing your heart rate to burn extra calories.

Fitting some cardio into your routine is essential if youre looking to lose 30 pounds sooner rather than later.

According to one study, participants who did cardio 5 times per week lost up to 11.5 pounds (5.2 kg) over 10 months, even without making any other changes to their diet or daily routine (17).

Ideally, try to squeeze in at least 150300 minutes of cardio per week, or between 2040 minutes per day (18).

Walking, jogging, swimming, biking, hiking, and boxing are a few examples of aerobic exercises that you can add to your routine.

If youre just getting started, be sure to start slowly, set realistic goals for yourself, and increase the frequency and intensity of your workouts gradually to avoid overdoing it.

Resistance training is a type of exercise that uses resistance to contract your muscles and build strength and endurance.

It can be especially beneficial for increasing lean body mass and boosting the number of calories that the body burns at rest, making it easier to lose weight in the long run (19).

In fact, one review found that 10 weeks of resistance training increased lean body mass by 3 pounds (1.4 kg), reduce fat mass by 4 pounds (1.8 kg), and increase metabolism by 7% (20).

Using weight machines, lifting free weights, or doing bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, crunches, and planks are all types of resistance training that can be beneficial for weight loss and health.

You may want to consider consulting a certified personal trainer when first starting to ensure that youre practicing proper technique and using equipment safely to prevent injury.

High-intensity interval training, also known as HIIT, is a type of physical activity that involves alternating between bursts of intense exercise and periods of rest to keep your heart rate elevated.

Adding a few sessions of HIIT to your routine each week can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to weight loss.

In one study, participants who did HIIT for 20 minutes 3 times per week experienced significant reductions in belly fat, total fat mass, and body weight after 12 weeks (21).

Plus, another study in nine men found that HIIT burned more calories than other activities like running, biking, and weight training (22).

To get started, try alternating between 2030 seconds of activities like jumping rope, push-ups, high jumps, or burpees with 3040 seconds of rest in between.

Incorporating cardio, resistance training, and HIIT into your routine a few times per week can help promote sustainable weight loss.

Here are a few other tips to help you lose 30 pounds safely:

In addition to diet and exercise, reducing your stress levels, getting plenty of sleep, eating more slowly, avoiding restrictive fad diets, and holding yourself accountable can help you lose 30 pounds.

Several factors, including your starting weight, gender, and age, influence how quickly youre able to lose weight.

Generally, most health experts recommend aiming for about 13 pounds (0.51.4 kg) of weight loss per week, or approximately 1% of your total body weight (33, 34).

Therefore, it may take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to lose 30 pounds safely.

However, keep in mind that weight loss can vary quite a bit from week to week.

To promote long-lasting and sustainable weight loss, its important to stick with any healthy dietary and lifestyle changes even if you hit a plateau.

While the rate at which youre able to lose weight depends on several factors, you should aim to lose around 13 pounds (0.51.4 kg) per week.

When youre just getting started, losing 30 pounds may sound like a major feat.

Yet, making some healthy changes to your daily diet and workout routine can make it much more manageable.

Additionally, implementing a few other simple lifestyle changes can help maximize your results and ensure long-term success.

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How to Lose 30 Pounds Safely - Healthline


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