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Gender-Affirming Care: What It Is and How to Find It – Livestrong

Posted: November 19, 2021 at 1:59 am

Gender-affirming services have evolved quite a bit in the last 50 years, but we still have a long way to go.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

From "genderqueer" to "gender-affirming care," the newest terminology in the LGBTQ+ community does much more than slap a new label on an old idea. The words we're now using to identify patients and their health care needs show that the goals of care providers are becoming more closely aligned with the needs of transgender and gender-nonconforming people.

The best part? Gender-affirming care isn't just helping a small fraction of the population; it's making health care better for everyone.

What Is Gender-Affirming Care?

Gender-affirming care describes an array of health services that alleviate the suffering associated with gender dysphoria, defined in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as clinically significant distress or impairment related to a strong desire to be of another gender.

But gender-affirming care is more than hormones and surgery. "At its core, it's about seeing the whole person, affirming them exactly as they are," J. Aleah Nesteby, nurse practitioner, former director of LGBTQ services for Cooley-Dickinson Hospital and a clinician and educator with Transhealth Northampton, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

Gender-affirming care isn't just a new way to say "sex change." And that's important, because how trans and gender-nonconforming people's identities and experiences are named and described reflect our broader cultural values of diversity, equity of access and consent.

While language like "sex reassignment" or "gender-confirmation surgery" used to be accepted, today it is recognized that sex assignments at birth are an unscientific guess at best, and that only the individual can confirm their own gender. We don't know everything there is to know about gender, but we know it is evident in early childhood, and no amount of therapy or conditioning can change a person's innate sense of their gender, according to a landmark article in the March 2006 issue of the OAH Magazine of History.

Gender-affirming care allows a patient to change their sex characteristics, bringing their minds and bodies into greater alignment, while continuing to receive a lifetime of competent care from providers who recognize that the challenges people who are trans and gender-nonconforming or nonbinary (TGNC) face are not just medical, but social. This type of care goes far beyond treating dysphoria to acknowledge the physical differences of postoperative bodies and the stress of living with transphobia.

More than 50 years after the first gender clinic (that is, a center that provides transition-related services) opened its doors, gender-affirming care is no longer experimental. The June 2017 issue of The Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy describes it as the best, most effective treatment for gender dysphoria.

The authors behind a March-April 2021 paper in The International Brazilian Journal of Urology agree, adding that gender-affirming care enjoys a very high rate of patient satisfaction. According to the most recent World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care (SoC), published in 2012, satisfaction rates range from 87 to 97 percent and regrets are rare, topping out at just 1.5 percent.

Who Needs Gender-Affirming Care?

As we mentioned, gender-affirming care directly benefits people with gender dysphoria. About 44 million people worldwide have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, according to The International Brazilian Journal of Urology paper mentioned above. But estimates like these likely underreport the true figures, according to WPATH.

In previous editions of the DSM, the desire to be of another gender was described as a disease doctors were meant to cure; but today, we embrace a diversity of gender identities as healthy and normal. Still, gender dysphoria can cause distress or impairment, and a person with the condition may want to change their body's primary and/or secondary sex characteristics through hormones, surgery and other procedures.

In the U.S., there are about 1 million TGNC people, a number that is expected to continue rising, according to the January 2017 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. But not everyone who is TGNC wants or needs gender-affirming services.

That's because a diagnosis of gender dysphoria is completely separate from a person's gender identity or sexual orientation. Transgender people, for example, have a gender identity or expression that's different from the sex they were assigned at birth. But that doesn't automatically mean they want to change their sex characteristics, or that this difference causes them the stress or impairment marked by gender dysphoria.

Similarly, people who do not feel strictly like a man or a woman all the time might identify as nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, genderqueer or with another label to describe their gender. Nonbinary people (also called "enby" or "enbies") are a fast-growing demographic, making up about 35 percent of the trans community, according to the June 2019 issue of Translational Andrology and Urology. Like men and women, enbies can be straight, gay, bisexual, asexual or identify with another sexual orientation. And like other trans people, enbies may seek gender-affirming care, or they may not.

For people who do want gender-affirming services, though, this approach to treating gender dysphoria has been overwhelmingly successful, and has been the standard of care for more than 30 years.

Gender-Affirming Care Is Patient-Centered Care

The first U.S. gender clinics only accepted patients who would complete a social, legal and medical transition that resulted in a perfect binary: a heterosexual man or woman who "passed" as such in society, and who retained no reproductive capacities associated with the sex assigned to them at birth.

Retention of reproductive capacity is a human rights issue. In the past, certain areas of the country and some clinics and private practices had policies that required transgender people be sterilized before they were issued corrected documentation of their sex or access to gender-affirming care. These policies are now recognized as a serious breach of human rights.

But obstacles to getting corrected legal documents still exist in some states, and there are medical providers who still insist on sterilization before performing reconstructive genital surgery. Yet patients are pushing back, and finding surgeons who will work with them to achieve outcomes that treat symptoms without sacrificing fertility.

James, who first sought gender-affirming care in 2001, wanted to keep his options open. (Several of the people LIVESTRONG.com interviewed for this story asked to be identified by their first names only for privacy reasons.) Now married, he and his wife are using reciprocal in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to grow their family. In this process, an egg from James is harvested and fertilized using donor sperm; the resulting zygote is implanted in his wife's uterus. James has already gone through one successful round of egg retrieval. If all goes well, his wife will experience a normal, healthy pregnancy, and both parents will have a biological connection with their child.

IVF technology has been available for more than 40 years; the innovation is in putting a high priority on James' desired outcomes from gender-affirming treatment. Under the model of care most doctors used to be trained in, medical experts would assess James, diagnose him and decide how to treat him, all without asking him what he wants.

In the informed consent model, on the other hand which is the backbone of gender-affirming care communication between patient and physician is intended to allow the patient to make educated choices about their care. This approach isn't just for TGNC patients: Informed consent increases patient satisfaction across the board. "Over time, most of the prescribing world has caught up to the informed consent model, and now it's seen as the standard of care," Nesteby says.

"Fifteen years ago when I entered practice, the bar was so low for providers in terms of who was considered good and trans competent," Nesteby says. "Now, expectations have changed. Patients, especially younger people, expect providers to talk to them about their options, including what's outside the typical standards of care."

Joshua Tenpenny's experience with gender-affirming care illustrates this point. Tenpenny is a massage therapist who lives as a man and identifies as nonbinary. When he sought genital surgery years ago, he wanted a nonbinary outcome neither male nor female so he looked for a surgeon who was open to an experimental approach, he tells LIVESTRONG.com.

The initial procedure was not entirely successful, and the surgeon was reluctant to perform a revision, but Tenpenny says he may try again in the future with another provider to achieve the results he envisioned. All procedures come with risks of complications and failure, and despite the outcome, Tenpenny found that not being confined to a small menu of options for bottom surgery has been an empowering experience.

The History of Gender-Affirming Care in the U.S.

The concept of gender-affirming care first reached most Americans in 1952 when Christine Jorgensen's transition from male to female made headlines. The first gender clinic in the U.S. opened in 1966 at Johns Hopkins. Backed by the most influential professionals in transgender care, the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association today the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) became the standard-bearer in the early 1980s.

But through the '80s and early '90s, seeking gender-affirming care continued to be an isolating experience, with cruel barriers like the "real-life test," in which people with gender dysphoria were only allowed to access hormones and surgery after six months, a year or longer living successfully in the target gender. For trans people who did not pass, the dangers of the real-life test ranged from harassment, unemployment and homelessness to violence and death.

Today, trans people are rewriting the standards for their own care. The WPATH Standards of Care, which have been broadly adopted worldwide, are in their seventh edition. Authors of the most recent version and the current board of WPATH include trans professionals: people who have a TGNC identity as well as cultural competency and expertise in the medical care of TGNC people. Even more significantly, stakeholders in gender-affirming care TGNC people, their families and their caregivers are changing health care for the better, making it easier to access and using informed consent to customize treatment to a patient's individual needs.

These changes are allowing people like Ian, who identifies as nonbinary, to receive the care they want. "When I first learned that the Standards of Care had been updated to include nonbinary people back in 2013, I made an appointment at Fenway Health in Boston in the hope of starting HRT [hormone replacement therapy]," Ian recalls. "I'd known that I was genderqueer and wanted to go on T since 2001, but I hadn't been willing to lie about my identity by pretending to be binary trans to obtain it."

Still, past versions of the SoC continue to influence the law, health insurance practices and guidelines developed by health care providers. Levi Diamond, a 43-year-old trans man, was recently told by surgeons that they would not perform top surgery on him (to alter the appearance of his chest) until he had lived a year in the male role. The current SoC criteria for mastectomy and creation of a male chest in transmasculine patients make no mention of a real-life test, but some providers crafted their own guidelines years ago, based on older versions of these standards, and have not updated their policies to reflect advances in care.

Similarly, Katy sought gender-affirming care after learning she was born with Klinefelter syndrome, a chromosomal difference of sexual development. Genetically XXY, people with Klinefelter syndrome are assigned male at birth. The signs of having an XXY karyotype versus the more common XY for boys can be subtle and difficult to discern, and those with Klinefelter syndrome are frequently unaware of their genetic difference from XY men and boys.

After a karyotype test confirmed her doctor's diagnosis, Katy was referred to an endocrinologist. Male hormones are often prescribed to treat symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome, but Katy asked for a prescription for estrogen. Disregarding her request and focusing on her intersex diagnosis, Katy's endocrinologist prescribed her testosterone. By doing so, he exemplified the bias many trans people encounter in seeking care, and the limits of the "pathology" model of care.

After nine months on testosterone, Katy was more certain than ever that male hormones were not for her. Years later, she found a more patient-affirming health care provider and began feminizing hormone therapy, a decision she knew was right within days of beginning treatment. Now 50, Katy has had four gender-affirming surgeries.

Innovations in Gender-Affirming Care

Both acknowledgment by the medical profession that gender-affirming care is medically necessary and laws preventing discrimination against TGNC people have led to an increase in gender-affirming services, according to a February 2018 article in The Washington Post. Coverage by health insurance has created greater access to care, which has also driven demand. The growing market has led more professionals to specialize in gender-affirming services, and more procedures have led to improvements, making treatments safer. Surgical results are also more aesthetic and more functional.

The typical order in which gender-affirming care is applied mental health services before HRT, then chest surgery, and finally, lower surgery has not changed, but protocols have evolved, and the sequence is more flexible in patient-affirming care models that use informed consent and harm reduction.

Usually, someone with gender dysphoria begins gender-affirming care with a mental health professional who diagnoses them and helps them decide on priorities and address concerns related to the next phase of treatment. Patients may be referred for hormone therapy in coordination with mental health treatment, or they may be assessed and prescribed by a physician.

It's a common misconception that gender-affirming care must be handled by a specialist. "A lot of people think you need to see an endocrinologist to be on hormones," Nesteby says. "It's not necessary for every person. A lot of cases can be managed in primary care." She compares HRT to diabetes care, which is typically handled by primary care providers.

About 80 percent of TGNC people will seek HRT, according to Jerrica Kirkley, MD, co-founder and chief medical officer of Plume, which provides gender-affirming care using telemedicine in 33 U.S. states. HRT in TGNC patients usually involves administering estrogen, testosterone and/or hormone blockers to achieve blood levels typical among cisgender people.

In the late 1960s, transgender patients were warned their surgical outcomes from what's collectively called "lower surgery" or "bottom surgery" would not resemble the genitals of cisgender women and men. For trans women, a vagina that could be penetrated by a penis was considered the only functional goal of surgery. By contrast, in the November 2013 issue of Sexual and Relationship Therapy, researchers note that patient satisfaction is now a well-accepted tool for measuring whether a health care service has been successful.

By the late 1980s, surgeons offered vulvoplasty creation of the labia and clitoris and were able to preserve sensation in the new structures. In recent years, the surgical results of transfeminine vaginoplasty closely resemble the cultural ideal, and 80 percent of trans women surveyed were orgasmic following lower surgery, The Journal of Sexual Medicine reported in February 2017. In Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in June 2018, it was reported that 94 percent of one surgeon's patients, treated over a 15-year period, were pleased with the results overall and would repeat the procedure.

Bottom surgery for trans men has also come a long way. There are two general categories: metoidioplasty and phalloplasty. The former takes advantage of the physical changes caused by testosterone therapy, which include the growth of the clitoris (the analogous organ to the penis). This larger clitoris becomes a penis that retains sexual function and sensitivity but may be too short for penetration. The latter creates a penis using a graft taken from the forearm, thigh or abdomen, which looks and functions like that of a cisgender man but doesn't always retain sensation.

In an article in the May 2021 issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine on patient satisfaction with transmasculine lower surgery, two-thirds were satisfied with the appearance of their genitals after surgery, but only one-third were satisfied with sexual function. However, 82 percent were happy with the effects of the operation on their masculinity.

Chest or "top surgery," sought by up to a quarter of people with gender dysphoria, has been about twice as common as lower surgery among patients seeking gender-affirming care, according to the Translational Andrology and Urology article. Today, there are methods available to retain greater sensation and result in less scarring for chests of all sizes.

Besides "top" and "bottom" surgeries, other procedures for masculinizing or feminizing the appearance to reduce gender dysphoria include facial feminization surgery (FFS), which is a category of aesthetic procedures including hairline correction, rhinoplasty and jaw reduction. Hair removal, nipple tattoos, vocal training, facial masculinization surgery, liposuction and other cosmetic procedures may also help treat gender dysphoria.

Hair removal has emerged as a critical gap in access to care for people using health insurance to pay for lower surgery. It is medically necessary preoperative treatment, delivered by a licensed professional. In a catch-22, though, hair removal has traditionally been offered in clinics that do not accept health insurance, because their services have not been covered in the past. "No one was credentialed to get covered by insurance," Nesteby explains. "Now you have this necessary service, but people are still having to pay out of pocket. That's been an access issue we only realized after insurance started covering surgery."

How to Access Gender-Affirming Care

The people who responded to interview requests for this article reported starting their search for gender-affirming care with a primary care physician, or through a clinic for underserved sexual minorities. Callen Lorde in New York City, Lyon Martin in San Francisco and Tapestry in Greenfield, Massachusetts, all came up in interviews. "I had an excellent experience with the Equality Health Center in Concord, New Hampshire," Ian says. "EHC offers informed consent as an access protocol for HRT. This fit well with my personal goals and preferences."

A major hurdle in accessing gender-affirming care is that, often, finding one educated and trans-competent provider isn't enough, because TGNC people need a lifetime of treatment.

For example, if a patient has surgery at a center hundreds of miles away, then experiences a complication after returning home, local emergency medical service providers must understand the treatment the patient has received and how his body differs from their expectations in order to properly care for him.

Similarly, trans women who have had vaginoplasty need urological and gynecological services that are different from the care appropriate for a cisgender man or woman. Yet both patients and physicians have reported a lack of provider competence, per an August 2021 paper in the Journal of Gynecologic Surgery.

Using a clinic whose mission is to serve the transgender community does not guarantee competent care either. In fact, one interview subject treated by a big-city provider focusing on the TGNC community routinely felt they mismanaged a common side effect of HRT, causing him distress when his dysphoric symptoms returned. Rather, gender-affirming care can come from small towns, family doctors and providers who don't specialize in TGNC care.

But it takes more than good intentions to provide appropriate care: It requires ongoing medical and cultural competency training. Many patients rely on word of mouth, transgender community message boards and online directories to find competent providers. A directory of transgender-aware care providers is available through the WPATH Global Education Institute, which offers a 50-hour training program to its members. (Patients can search for WPATH members who are care professionals here.)

"Gender-affirming services have evolved quite a bit in the last 50 years, but there's still a great lack of access," Dr. Kirkley says. "Primary care is improving, but there is no standardized curriculum of gender-affirming care in medical schools, nursing schools and public health programs. We still have a long way to go."

More recently, in the age of COVID-19, telemedicine is helping to close another gap in access: geography.

"Virtual care has changed the dynamics of all health care dramatically," Dr. Kirkley says. Insurance began to routinely cover telemedicine during the novel coronavirus pandemic, making trans-aware providers available to patients who would not have otherwise been able to access their services. "Before COVID there was a lot of doubt [that telemedicine is effective], but [the shutdown] has really validated the model. As an innovation in health care delivery, it has enabled Plume and other providers to provide gender-affirming care."

Still, the changes that have come with gender-affirming care benefit more than the TGNC community. People in all walks of life can appreciate the greater access telemedicine brings and the revolution in patient-centered care.

"I think that one of the benefits that cisgender, heterosexual people don't see about gender-affirming care or trans visibility is that it helps everybody," Nesteby says. "It's not only trans people who suffer from rigid boxes we put people in. When we don't force people into binaries, everybody wins."

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Gender-Affirming Care: What It Is and How to Find It - Livestrong

Senior Weight and Ways to Work it Off

Posted: November 8, 2021 at 2:14 am

Image from Pixabay

Seniors experience a host of physical changes that can affect their overall health and well-being. With age, metabolism begins to slow and the body doesn’t burn quite as many calories as it did in previous years. The digestive system may be unable to utilize the nutrients in many common foods. For many seniors, aches and pains may prevent intense physical activities. All of these factors combined contribute significantly to obesity in the 65-plus crowd.

While it may be more difficult, it’s still possible to lose weight despite advancing age. Later, we’ll highlight a few diet and exercise habits that can help seniors shed pounds. But first, Cool Kinetic Beautiful wants you to understand why maintaining a healthy weight is vital regardless of age.

Weight and disease

Obesity is one of the most dominant health crises around the world, with 13% of the adult population tipping the scales with a body mass index of 30 or higher. As Sciencedirect explains, this is problematic. Obesity is a known contributor to diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and pulmonary disease. Furthermore, and especially for seniors, a higher body mass may result in arthritis, a systemic inflammation of the joints that can significantly impede mobility.

Obese individuals have shorter lifespans and a degraded quality of life. In older persons, excessive weight is directly associated with urinary incontinence and visual impairments.

The role of diet and exercise

Diet and exercise are important throughout a person’s life. But these needs change as men and women enter their post-retirement years. Osteoporosis and waning muscle mass can make it more difficult to participate in activities, such as weightlifting and high intensity cardiovascular workouts. However, there remain a number of physical fitness options for seniors.

Swimming, walking and Pilates are among the most viable workouts for seniors. But if you’re not sure where to start, a Silver Sneakers program can be the hot ticket. Available to anyone who has Medicare Advantage or MediGap, this fitness program is typically found in most gyms and even some senior centers. You have access to fitness equipment in addition to a wealth of classes. 

Older people who exercise regularly enjoy greater flexibility, better balance, preserved neurocognitive function, reduced lipids in the blood, better joint health and lower blood pressure. Seniors can look to some technology for some extra fitness motivation. For example, a pair of wireless earphones can help them complete a workout because music can be an excellent motivator. Seniors can also use a fitness tracker to evaluate their progress. 

Exercise and everyday activities require fuel. And for humans, that means food. Unfortunately, we are a society of convenience and tend to gravitate toward fast and processed foods that require less preparation. As previously mentioned, age causes the metabolism to dwindle, making the body less able to properly digest certain types of food. For this reason, as well as to boost overall health, seniors should focus on eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

At home and on the go

Regardless of age or lifestyle, it is possible to create a healthy routine that includes a balanced diet and exercise without making sacrifices that impede a person’s standard of living. When out at restaurants, for instance, seniors should choose vegetable-based dishes or those that center on fish instead of red meat. Seniors no longer able to transport themselves back and forth to a gym or fitness center may opt for a simple home gym consisting of basic equipment such as yoga mats, resistance bands, dumbbells and other accessories.

A healthy weight looks different on people of different ages and body shapes. A good rule of thumb, however, is that seniors should strive for a body mass index of between 18.5 and 24.9, which is in the normal category. Most otherwise healthy adults will benefit from at least 150 minutes of mild to moderate exercise each week. Dietary needs vary according to age. Seniors should speak with their doctor to determine their unique needs and safest forms of exercise.

Elite HRT Releases Guidance on Lipotropic Injections – StreetInsider.com

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:57 am

News and research before you hear about it on CNBC and others. Claim your 1-week free trial to StreetInsider Premium here.

Detailed guide will help you understand if these injections are right for you

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The experts at Elite HRT have published a new guidance on the ingredients and effectiveness of lipotropic injections, which work to break down fat in the body. This free online resource provides information about the various benefits seen from these injections as well as who they may be right for, and who would be unfit to receive them.

The article, reviewed by regulatory affairs specialist Camille Freking, explains that lipotropic injections help to not only induce weight loss, but also improve the health of the integumentary system that supports the skin, hair, and nails. The most commonly known type of these injections is the MIC injection, which stands for methionine, inositol, and choline; these are the primary substances that help to break down the fat. Methionine is an amino acid that acts as an antioxidant to remove free radicals from the body and help the liver to metabolize fat. Inositol is a substance akin to a vitamin that helps break down both cholesterol and fat itself, while Choline is an essential nutrient that helps to produce a hormone that also breaks down fats. Also seen in lipotropic injections are B-12, a vitamin that boosts both energy and metabolism to help both with exercise and healthy eating. There are other essential B vitamins included in these injections as well, including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, and folic acid, which all help support weight loss.

Elite HRT notes that lipotropic injections do not cause weight loss, but help facilitate it, meaning that it is still advised to both exercise and diet when working to burn fat from the body. In addition, these procedures can bring side effects such as pain or swelling at the injection site, dry mouth, anxiety, fatigue, allergic reactions, or disruptions to bowel movements. These injections should not be used as a get thin quick method, but instead should be used only with the supervision of a trained medical professional.

About Elite HRT: Elite HRT is a telemedicine firm led by a network of physicians specializing in hormone replacement therapies. With unique approaches to HRT, TRT, HGH, and more, Elite HRT works to tailor solutions uniquely created for specific patients, all at affordable rates. Those wanting to learn more and contact Elite HRT can visit https://www.elitehrt.com/ and submit a contact request form with background information today.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211103005007/en/

Media Contact:Emma LombardiGR0press@gr0.com

Source: Elite HRT

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Elite HRT Releases Guidance on Lipotropic Injections - StreetInsider.com

Will Raiders Crack Under the Weight of Tragedy? Derek Carr Wont Let It Happen – gvwire.com

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:57 am

Life has thrown a lot at the Las Vegas Raiders and my younger brother Derek this season.

David Carr

On Football

As the face of the franchise, hes had to answer questions about the forced resignation of coach Jon Gruden. Now hes facing even tougher questions about Henry Ruggs III, who is accused of causing the burning death of a 23-year-old Las Vegas woman by driving his Corvette, while drunk, into her car at 127 mph.

Im confident that Derek is up to the challenge. His strong Christian faith and life experiences have prepared him for these moments. We saw his faith displayed when he said, I love the man, I hate the sin, after Grudens racist, homophobic, sexist emails surfaced.

This week, while acknowledging the tragic death of Tina O. Tinto and the terrible loss to her family, he said of his now-former teammate Ruggs, He needs people to love him right now. If no one else will do it, Ill do it.

I didnt expect him to say anything different.

This situation has hit my brother harder than you can imagine. Thats because he and Ruggs, in his second season with the Raiders, were becoming closer on and off the field. They had been texting Monday evening before the crash and Derek told me that Ruggs said he was having a good time at TopGolf, a Las Vegas sports entertainment venue. He even asked Derek for tips on his golf swing. Nothing appeared to be out of the ordinary.

But, from there, Ruggs made deadly and life-altering decisions that are inexcusable. I think back to my time in NFL locker rooms. The coaches are always warning you about drinking and driving. They almost plead with you to be responsible. And, even if youve had too much to drink, the NFL will get you home safely. All you have to do is text or call.

As compassionate as Derek is, hes also geared for leadership, and that means getting himself and his teammates focused on the Raiders game at the New York Giants on Sunday. Thats how it is in the NFL. You have to compartmentalize because youre constantly switching between real life and your football life.

Im sure people are waiting for the Raiders to crumble under the weight of what theyve already endured seven games into their schedule. I dont see that happening because I know what my brother is made of.

(You can listen to David Carrs podcast with his former New York Giants teammate Mark Herzlich titled The Super Hero Dads at this link.)

Former Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III makes an initial appearance in Las Vegas Justice Court in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. The team released Ruggs just hours after the crash. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP, Pool)

Last Sundays results shined a bright light on four clipboard holders who led their teams to victory.

Trevor Siemian, who hadnt started a game in four years and is third on New Orleans depth chart, came in for the injured Jameis Winston and helped the Saints take down Tom Brady and defending Super Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Siemian is a cerebral quarterback and he knows exactly what coach Sean Payton wants to do with the football.

Mike White of the New York Jets has been waiting for a chance to show what he can do since Dallas drafted him in 2018. Since joining the Jets, hes been waived and assigned to the practice squad too many times to count.

With first-round pick Zach Wilson injured, White took one look at Cincinnatis vanilla defense and carved it to pieces, completing 37 of 45 passes for 405 yards and three TDs. Coach Robert Saleh instantly made White the starter for the Thursday night game against Indianapolis. That could be a good thing for the Jets and for Wilsons future as he learns by watching White have success by taking what the defense gives him.

You didnt have to be a Dallas fan to love watching Cooper Rush fill in for Dak Prescott and lead the Cowboys past a good Minnesota team. With few people expecting much from him, Rush made some big-time throws with his parents watching in the stands. Rushs performance will raise the Cowboys confidence in him and it might lead to a 10-year career in the league.

Geno Smith has played pretty well for Seattle while filling in for Russell Wilson. Against Jacksonville, he finished 20 of 24 for 195 yards after completing his first 14 passes. The result: a 31-7 victory and a game ball from my NFL Network colleague Nate Burleson, a former Seahawks wide receiver.

Dallas quarterback Cooper Rush (10) was one of four backup QBs leading their teams to victory last Sunday. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Von Miller isnt as good as he once was, but hes still a guy that can do pretty well against a majority of offensive tackles. For the Los Angeles Rams, the beauty of getting Miller in the trade with Denver, is pairing him up with Aaron Donald and forcing teams to go to great lengths to protect their quarterback.

You put Miller and Donald on the same side in third-and-long and the Rams could drop eight defenders into coverage one of them Jalen Ramsey. Thats a scary prospect for any offense.

Obviously, Millers not the force he once was, but he can still wreck a game.

1. Dallas (6-1) The Cowboys are playing so well they could afford to rest Dak Prescott and still get a win at Minnesota, a tough place to play. This week, they return home to face Denver and figure to make it seven wins in a row. (Last week: No. 4)

2. Green Bay (7-1) The Packers were on cruise control until Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID and will miss Sundays game at Kansas City. Now Green Bays front office gets to see if Jordan Love is ready to be a winning quarterback. (Not ranked.)

3. Arizona (7-1) The Cardinals all-in strategy took a hit when they lost J.J. Watt to a shoulder injury. Coming off a 3-point home-field loss to the Packers, theyve got another tough assignment Sunday at San Francisco. (Last week: No. 1)

4. Los Angeles Rams (7-1) Not only did the Rams acquire future Hall of Famer Von Miller, but they host a Tennessee squad that lost running back Derrick Henry to injury. After that, the Rams face SF and Green Bay back-to-back on the road. (Last week: No. 5)

5. Buffalo (5-2) The Bills arent especially sharp right now, but their easy schedule offers them opportunities to clean things up without losing. (Last week: No. 2)

Fell out: Tampa Bay (6-2)

28. New York Jets/Giants (4-11) Thanks to Mike Whites heroics, the Jets actually have a winning record at home (2-1). Question is, can they carry the momentum of their upset win over Cincinnati into the Thursday night matchup against disappointing but talented Indianapolis? The Giants, meanwhile, continue to battle injuries and QB Daniel Jones inability to win games that are there for the taking.(Last week: Jets/Giants No. 28)

29. Jacksonville (1-6) The Jaguars got picked apart last week by Geno Smith. Imagine what Josh Allen will do to them this Sunday. (Last week: No. 29)

30. Miami (1-7) The Dolphins began the season bragging about their defense. After eight games, only the Texans and Lions have surrendered more points. (Last week: 30)

31. Houston (1-7) The Texans have lost seven straight since their opener. But, theres good news heading into their game against Miami. Tyrod Taylor, who completed 71% of his passes before getting hurt, will start at QB. (Last week: No. 31)

32. Detroit (0-8) The 2001 Lions lost their first 12 games under first-year coach Marty Marty Mornhinweg. Could they finish 0-17 under first-year coach Dan Campbell? With this bunch, its possible. (Last week: No. 32)

Escaped the Bottom: None

About the Author

David Carr is a former Fresno State quarterback, NFL No. 1 overall draft pick, and Super Bowl champion. Now hes an analyst for the NFL Network and writing a weekly column in collaboration with GV Wires Bill McEwen. The column is sponsored by Valley Childrens Healthcare.

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Will Raiders Crack Under the Weight of Tragedy? Derek Carr Wont Let It Happen - gvwire.com

3 popular weight loss drinks that don’t really help – Times of India

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:56 am

Weight loss is on most people's minds and everyone wants to lose weight quickly. Talking about quick weight loss, many people rely on some popular drinks thinking that it will help them lose extra kilos. But do these drinks really work? Can anything as simple as a drink help you cut fat? Not really. A healthy and sustainable weight loss is the combination of healthy eating and exercising. Simple tricks and tips like detoxifying waters and drinks can only support the process. Here are three very popular weight loss drinks that are not really helping you lose weight.As per a recent post by Dr Siddant Bhargava, When will we stop looking for quick hacks to lose weight? 3 drinks are popularly known for their 'weight loss benefits, which seriously don't work. The only thing that will help you lose weight is being consistent in a calorie deficit".

1. Apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar has been a popular drink for weight loss. It has various health benefits including taking care of your heart health and reducing your diabetes risk. But talking about weight loss, ACV can not actually help.

ACV can make one feel fuller for longer but it cannot change their body mass index. In fact, its consumption can lead to acidity, digestive issues and oral health problems in many people. It can also react with other medications like laxatives and insulin.

2. Green tea

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3 popular weight loss drinks that don't really help - Times of India

Overdosed on Diwali sweets? Heres how you can recover – ThePrint

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:56 am

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Its impossible to avoid binge eating Diwali delicacies. Friends, family, neighbours and festive mood dont allow us to stay away from mouthwatering snacks, sweets, spicy dishes. In recent times, with growing awareness on the role of healthy eating in preventing and managing obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases, some of us surely try to make Diwali a bit healthy by making a few modifications in cooking or choosing foods.

However, we can only hope that wehavefigured out how to eat sensibly during Diwali given there is an abundance of advice out there. All these tips, tricks and hope evaporate within seconds of sensing the caramelised aroma ofhalwaor munching the crisply friedshankarpalifor the first time. We eventually get convinced that its just a matter of three days grand feast and nothing much can happen even if we overindulge.

Wrong.

Oncethe festival is over and we are back to reality,thats whenbinge-eating-induced trauma hits us hard. Manypeoplestart panic fasting,go forsevere calorie restriction, vigorous exercises,or eatonly fruits or lemonade,consumeso-called detox drinks to shed off that extra kilos and inches. But those efforts hardly work. What works? Consistent effort in making gradual changes, getting back to exercise routine, adding essential nutrients back to the plates, not being anxious or stressed,and most importantly,not punishingyourself. Chronic stress will not do any good but delay the results.

Gastritis and constipation are the most common complaints following any festival. Festival special foods that are extremely spicy, greasy, sugar-loaded are often responsible for acid reflux or heartburn. Health-conscious or not, everyone indulges in binge eating during festivals. Consuming extra calories and not burning them leads to putting on extra weight. High sugary and calorie-laden delicacies shoot the blood sugar up and increase the risk of insulin resistance, pushing people who are already living with prediabetes one step closer to developing diabetes. Additionally, refined sugar and trans-fat cause inflammation that leads to fatigue and tiredness.

Also read: Diwali sweets and snacks are on their way. Heres how you can health-ify them

Getting over Diwali delicacies and starting normally is tough but not impossible. Here are some guidelines to bring you back to a normal lifestyle.

First, stop feeling miserable.There are many people like you who binge ate, gained weight, and felt lethargic.A sense of guilt may lead you to chronic stress and you might end up eating more to get over the guilt of binging. In that case, it will be impossible to escape binge eating and start normal again. Keep a positive attitude and forgive yourself for enjoying all those Diwali delicacies. After all, it was one of the most awaited festivals that India celebrates with true spirit.

Make a sensible planthat involves regular physical activity and eating healthy. Do not punish yourself with extended gym hours and an empty stomach. An emotional response to lose weight quickly may deprive you of getting essential nutrients, causing protein deficiency and drowsiness. A mix of guilt, anger and hunger may lead you to binge again. Additionally,extra hoursat the gym might cause muscle and bone injury beyond repair. Start your normal routine by eating light, small meals, adding protein and green vegetables to all your meals, adding fiber by including whole grains, leafy veggies, and legumes. Restart physical activity as part of your daily routine and not as a punishment. Dont look back and get on with your daily life.

Be realisticwith your progress. There is no way you can lose those extra kilos overnight. Its sensible to aim for losing 1 to 2 pounds (0.5 to 1 kilogram) a week. You need to burn 500 to 1,000 calories more than you consume each day to achieve this weight loss. A healthy calorie deficit can be achieved either by eating a low-calorie diet or by burning calories. The healthiest calorie deficit can be obtained by combining both.

Drink a lot of water torestore hydration.Eight to ten glasses of water daily help you stay satiated, minimise cravings and flush out toxins. Homemade fresh juices, lemon water, salted lassi, buttermilk, cucumber or fruit-infused water are good options to bring varieties.

Dont go detox.Post-festival times are the best times for the detox scams to trap you in their lucrative health claims. Diet fads like juice and vegetable cleanses are often sold as great ways to detox your body. Fundamentally, these diets dont vanquish any toxin from your body rather promote prolonged fasting, or severe calorie restriction. Short-term fast makes you feel fatigued, irritable, and lethargic.

On the other hand, long-term fasting with detox juices can be detrimental to health, because it causes energy deficiency, vitamin, and mineral deficiency, and even electrolyte imbalance. Most of the time, detox foods and supplements lack scientific foundations as the detox industry is not regulated or monitored by competent authorities. A serious overdose canbefatal if you are not careful.

In the end, moving on from past mistakes and starting fresh is the key to overcoming Diwali or any other festival binge eating. Focus on what you can do today, and put efforts to avoid such circumstances in the future. Cherish the priceless, delightful moments Diwali brought to you and get back on track by eating well, exercising regularly, sleeping well, and looking after your mental and social wellbeing.

Subhasree Ray is Doctoral Scholar (Ketogenic Diet), certified diabetes educator, and a clinical and public health nutritionist. She tweets @DrSubhasree. Views are personal.

(Edited by Prashant)

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Type 2 diabetes: How to REVERSE deadly condition in 4 proven ways… – The Irish Sun

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:56 am

TYPE 2 diabetes is a lifelong and sometimes deadly condition.

But for many, it can be reversed, even if not cured.

1

New research shows that reversal is more common than even doctors realised.

A study of people in Scotland showed that one in 20 with type 2 diabetes achieve remission, even without medical or surgical intervention.

Researchers said it was higher than expected and there could be many more people able to pull it off.

Diabetes remission is when someones blood sugar comes down to a healthy level and stays there for at least six months. Patients can come off medication.

Experts prefer to use the term remission rather than reversal because there is still the potential that it will come back.

Diabetes UK says there are still a lot of unknowns about how diabetes remission works.

However, the strongest evidence is that remission is best achieved by losing weight.

The charity says: If you have obesity, you are more likely to put your diabetes into remission if you lose a substantial amount of weight 15kg (or 2 stone 5lbs) as quickly and safely as possible following your diagnosis.

If you do want to start losing weight quickly to work towards remission, it's important to talk to a healthcare professional before you begin, to make sure its right for you. Also, you may need to reduce or stop any medications insulin or sulphonylurea, for example before you begin losing weight.

Rapid weight loss is not advised if you are a healthy weight, under 18, pregnant, breastfeeding or have ever been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

The charity suggests the following ways proven for weight loss and type 2 diabetes reversal for some:

The best evidence for diabetes remission is for a low calorie diet that involves just 850 to 1,200 calories per day.

It normally involves drinking soups or shakes for 12 weeks before gradually reintroducing foods again.

Unsurprisingly, it is hard to eat this little for so long, and side effects include nausea and headaches.

But according to a leading study, funded by Diabetes UK, a low calorie diet can help a quarter of type 2 diabetes patients lose 15kg or more of weight, and put 86 per cent of those into remission.

The results of the trial mean the NHS is now trialling it across the UK.

There are a number of areas where patients can access the programme through the NHS.

Private companies also sell soup and shake diets or you can find books or programmes online.

But you have to talk to a doctor before starting one of these diets to make sure it is safe for you.

Diabetes UK says some people go into remission by losing weight with a Mediterranean diet.

A Mediterranean diet focuses on fish, some dairy, eggs, lean protein like chicken, fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses, nuts and seeds, wholegrains and olive oil.

Red meat, processed foods and sugar is eaten in small amounts.

The diet of people around the Mediterranean sea is shown to be beneficial for anyone - but appears to be specifically helpful for those with type 2 diabetes.

It cuts back on foods that contribute to weight gain, like simple carbs, without being too restrictive. If a way of eating is easy, people will stick to it for longer.

It encourages foods that are good for blood sugar control, like wholegrains that are full of fibre.

In addition, the diet is known to be beneficial for the heart - and people with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of heart disease.

Diabetes UK has a meal plan to help make eating a Mediterranean diet more simple.

Low-carb eating can be beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes and may help get to remission, perhaps with more evidence than Mediterranean.

Generally, low-carb eating is when you reduce the total amount of carbs you consume in a day to less than 130g, Diabetes UK says.

For reference, two medium slices of bread may be between 30 and 40g of carbs, while a large jacket potato is around 90g.

If you tried eating a low-carb diet, youd focus more on proteins like fish, chicken or beans, fats like avocado, nuts and yoghurt and fruit and vegetables for snacks.

Youd have to closely monitor bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, pizza, sandwiches, bagels, biscuits, cakes, pastries and many other packaged foods.

The low-carb diet may work because out of the three main energy-providing macronutrients (protein, carbs and fats), carbs have the greatest impact in raising both blood sugar and insulin levels.

By cutting back on carb intake, it should help to bring down blood sugar and insulin levels.

People who see a drastic change in how many carbs they consume - and a move to a healthier diet generally - may also lose weight, which in itself will help towards remission.

Weight loss surgery is when the stomach is made smaller, or restricted with a band, so that you eat less food and feel fuller quicker.

Although it will take time for the weight to come off, experts say blood sugar levels start dropping very soon after surgery.

Research has found it changes the way the digestive system works and how the gut uses glucose.

One study found that almost a third (30.4 per cent) of people who had surgery were in remission after 15 years.

It may seem like a quick fix, but people who get weight loss surgery still have to learn to eat healthily for the rest of their life.

You can sometimes get surgery on the NHS if you meet certain criteria. Otherwise, it may cost some several thousand pounds privately.

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Type 2 diabetes: How to REVERSE deadly condition in 4 proven ways... - The Irish Sun

Guptill reveals he lost around 4.4 kg after knock against Scotland | T20 World Cup News | Onmanorama – Onmanorama

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:56 am

Dubai:New Zealand opener Martin Guptill has revealed that he lost around 4.4 kg weight after playing a lengthy knock in his team's win over Scotland on Wednesday in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup.

The attacking batter became the player of the match after scoring 93 off 56 with six fours and seven sixes. He played until the penultimate over and guided the Kiwis to a score of 172/5, which proved to be a winning total in the end.

"When I came off the field after batting, I'd lost about 4.4 kilos so the (hydration) process had to start pretty quickly after that," Guptill was quoted as saying on TVNZ's Breakfast hours.

After their 16-run win over Scotland in Dubai, New Zealand are next scheduled to face Namibia on Friday in Sharjah. And, Guptill also mentioned that he won't do much before the team's next match.

"I was pretty cooked but we have a day off so I won't be doing too much there," he said.

It was Guptill and Glenn Phillips's 105-run stand for the fourth wicket that steadied the ship for the Kiwis against Scotland. The veteran batter said how he and Phillips have done well together even in domestic cricket.

"We didn't have a great start, losing three wickets in the powerplay, it wasn't quite a rescue mission but Glenn and I had to assess the situation and then put a partnership together," said Guptill.

"I've played a lot of cricket with Glenn, we know how each other bat, we've put on some good partnerships for Auckland back home, so it was easy to get a partnership going together with him," he added.

New Zealand are currently placed third in the table in Group 2 with four points and a net run rate of 0.816.

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Cornell grad and lecturer touts benefits of plant-based diet – ithaca.com

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:55 am

If there is one piece of advice that 87-year-old Dr. T. Colin Campbell would give to those looking to age well and stay healthier longer, it would be to change your diet to a plant based, whole food approach.

The idea of plant based eating has gained popularity in recent years, but it was first coined by Campbell back in 1978. The bestselling coauthor of The China Study (published in 2006) said it has been exciting to see it gain traction in the last several years.

Its interesting because the idea of a plant based diet possibly being the best and the way of the future is just beginning to take hold in the mainstream public, Campbell said.

His recommendation that most everyone can adopt a plant based diet and have it benefit their lives hinges on a discovery he made early in his career: that people do not need to eat animal protein in order for their bodies to get the protein they need.

For the son of a dairy farmer, this flew in the face of what he had believed growing up but the evidence that a plant based diet can prevent and, in the vast majority of cases, even reverse common American ailments like diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease was so strong that he dedicated his career to researching it and publicly sharing his findings. He has also worked to shape public policy around health and nutrition and was the liaison to Congress for the medical research community in 1980 and 1981.

Campbell wasnt always interested in studying nutrition. He was completing his first year of veterinary school when he received a telegram from a well known Cornell Professor offering him a scholarship and research opportunity, which led him to complete his education at Cornell University and MIT in the field of nutrition, biochemistry and toxicology. During his time at Cornell, around 1965, he was tasked with coordinating an effort to aid malnourished children in the Philippines. It was believed at the time that the children needed more animal protein to be healthy, but what Campbell found instead was that the few children who came from families who were able to consume more animal protein had a higher rate of liver cancer than their peers.

I couldt quite believe what I was seeing, Campbell said. I had many students work in the lab on this question and over the years found that there is no need to consume animal food to get that protein. That is totally false.

Campbell spent a decade on the faculty of Virginia Techs Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, then returned to Cornell in 1975, where he currently holds his endowed chair as a professor emeritus of nutritional biochemistry in the Division of Nutritional Sciences.

In recent years Campbell founded a non-profit organization on online learning in nutrition which recently developed, under the direction of Campbells daughter LeAnne Campbell, the program Plant Forward, which holds online workshops.

The workshops teach a simple philosophy that can be difficult to put into practice at first but pays great dividends if the individual can stick with it for a month or two, Campbell said.

The people who stay with it are often people who have a serious health problem or have a motivation, he said. Sometimes the effects are almost immediate.

People can see their blood sugar drop precipitously in one day, he said. Its amazing.

The key is to go all-in on the new diet. He likened it to quitting smoking just cutting down to one or two cigarettes per day or smoking on some days but not on others is not likely to lead to success in the longterm. But soon, Campbell said, this new kind of eating will become second nature and even enjoyable.

Youll all of a sudden discover you crave a salad, he said. Just eat vegetables, grains, nuts, and avocados for the oil and fat.

As much as possible, stay away from added oils and refined carbs, he added.

The effects of adopting a whole plant-based diet are striking, he said.

We can turn experimental liver cancer genes on with animal based protein and turn it off by eating a plant based diet, he said.

Campbells own father died of a heart attack when he was 70, and his wifes mother died of colon cancer when she was just 51. That motivated us to think about changing our diet, so we did, he said. His wife is 80 years old, and both are largely medication free other than a short period Campbell spent on medication to control his blood pressure.

Campbells first book, The China Study, came out of a partnership in the 1980s with researchers at Oxford University and the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine and sold nearly four million copies worldwide. Campbell followed that up with his second book, Whole, in 2013, which is focused on the science behind plant based eating.

In 2020 he published The Future of Nutrition: An Insiders Look at the Science, Why We Keep Getting it Wrong, and How to Start Getting It Right.

He still gives lectures and is involved with the online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate in Partnership with eCornell. His research is the cornerstone of the 2011 documentary film Forks Over Knives, and his oldest son, Nelson Campbell, made another popular documentary on the topic called Plant Pure Nation.

Some advice that he received from his father that has guided him throughout his life: Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It is a philosophy that allowed him to question his original assumption that eating animals must be good for health.

The key is to be honest with yourself and check your own biases, he said. Thats really critical.

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‘Diets of Rochester’ – PostBulletin.com

Posted: November 6, 2021 at 1:55 am

But Shane was much more than a mere 1940s novelty store proprietor. He was a visionary. Shane proposed the first gas station mini-mart, was first to license the Slinky patent, and introduced the first diet frozen dinner.

Long before there were healthy choices and lean cuisines, there were Diets of Rochester.

In 1954, the year Swanson introduced the iconic TV Dinner, more than 25 million frozen dinners were sold.

Company president Leroy Shane.

About that same time, another craze was sweeping the nation: dieting. Thats when Shane saw an opportunity in the convergence of the two. The Minneapolis Star newspaper reported that a man with a weight problem has converted his difficulty into a growing business. After a trip through Mayo Clinic, they wrote, he was referred to the Diet Kitchen for a diet of 1,000 calories a day. Leroy Shane came up with the idea of packaging low-calorie frozen foods.

An ad from the Minneapolis Star in 1957.

In 1956, Shane started a $10,000 test market program with Marshall Fields in Chicago, and Diets of Rochesterthe very first frozen diet dinner company in the nationwas born.

In October of 1957, eight 275-calorie Dream Diets were created by Colette Heise, who was a dietitian at Methodist Hospital. Each dinner consisted of hot and cold portions in revolutionary packaging (one side heated, the other defrosted) and included a vegetable, salad, dessert, and one of either broiled chicken, pork tenderloin, Swiss steak, breaded veal, roast beef, breaded haddock, macaroni scallopine, or diced beef in gravy.

The dinners were manufactured by Tony Downs Foods in St. James, near Mankato. First Brokerage Co., of Minneapolis, handled distribution.

The company was headed by Sam S. Badali, one of the Midwests pioneer frozen food processors. Shane was vice president and Heise the head dietitian. The launch included several full-page ads in Twin Cities newspapers.

Advertising magazine Tide reported that Shanes promotional budget for the launch of the competitively-priced 79 dinners was $500,000, about $4.7 million in todays dollars!

Preparation of the Dream Diet meals was simple. In fact, that was their attraction. Warming simply required the entre and vegetable pouch boil in water for 15 minutes to cook.

Colette Heise, a dietitian at Methodist Hospital who helped create the meals.

Included with each Dream Diet were suggestions for various sensible breakfasts. Adhering to a 1,000-calorie diet simply required two of the frozen meals and one of the breakfasts described on the product package.

Shane created a jingle and the meals were heavily promoted by legendary pitchman Aaron Cushman, who had previously represented institutions like Century 21, Keebler Cookies, and for a time, The Three Stooges.

Newspapers from Reading, Penn. to Oxnard, Calif. and from Mason City, Iowa to St. Petersburg, Fla. cited the introduction of these culinary wonders.

Locally, the lunchroom of Shanes novelty manufacturing facility on North Broadway was transformed into an ad hoc test kitchen.

Erika Austin worked for Shane in those days and recalled that the lounge was always stocked with the dinners.

They tasted good, Austin said, for diet food.

The following year, Diets of Rochester appointed Bruce C. Hartman as executive sales manager. Hartman came from dinner giant Holloway House Frozen Food and prepared to expand distribution to the Milwaukee area, but there is no evidence that actually happened.

Unfortunately, Diets of Rochester never gained traction. The company faded away. The business name was revoked in June of 1959.

That there were some allegations the dinners traded on the Mayo Clinic name or that of the similarly titled Rochester Diet Kitchen played no part.

Shane was simply ahead of his time.

It would be nearly 30 yearsin 1985 with the introduction of ConAgras Healthy Choicebefore the industry fully embraced the diet frozen dinners Shane pioneered.

Today, nutrition-themed frozen dinners are ubiquitouswe chill-out with more than one and a half billion of them each year. But there was a time when they were a novelty. And an innovation. And it all started in Rochester, Minn.

"Leroy Shane: The Shepherd of the Sand Hills and The Life of the Party" by Chris Miksanek

Chris Miksanek is a longtime Rochester resident and local history buff (and the MedCity Movie Guy). He's previously written about Dr. Thomas D. Moore, the Mayo Clinic urologist who built the Graceland mansion Elvis famously called home in Memphis, Tenn. This story is excerpted from his current book, Leroy Shane: The Shepherd of the Sand Hills and The Life of the Party. If you want to read about Shane's other exploitslike the first gas station mini-mart or the Slinky patentyou can buy the book at facebook.com/BamberBooks.

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'Diets of Rochester' - PostBulletin.com


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