Students return to school on Sept. 7 with core public health measures in place and a return to a more familiar routine.

Nova Scotias Back to School Plan requires a commitment to vaccination and staying home if unwell, as well as ongoing hand sanitization, use of masks and continued cleaning of high-touch surfaces.Additional public health measures will be introduced if COVID-19 case numbers rise.

As the school year begins, masks are required at all times for anyone inside a school building or bus. They can be removed when the person is eating and drinking, participating in physical activity, and for breaks where people are physically distanced. As the province enters Phase 5 of its reopening plan, schools will transition to masks being optional.

Our schools are as safe as our communities and thanks to safe and effective vaccines, and Nova Scotians rolling up their sleeves, our schools have an additional layer of protection this year that will allow students to have a much more normal year, said Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotias chief medical officer of health. We continue to have core public health measures in place to protect everyone in our schools, including wearing masks, frequent hand washing, staying home if youre sick and sanitizing high-touch surfaces.

In September, students, families and staff can expect:

If enhanced public health measures are required and students move to at-home learning, learning from home will look similar to the approach used in 2020-21.

Like last year, the plan for the 2021-2022 school year was created with significant input direction and guidance from public health officials, advice from Provincial Paediatric Advisory Group, feedback from the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) and support unions, the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia (PSAANS), support staff and teachers, survey results from parents and guardians, and recommendations from other key partners.

This pandemic has illustrated the importance of keeping our children and youth in school, where they have access to supports and programs that benefit their learning, as well as their social, physical and mental well-being. Thanks to our parents, students and dedicated teachers and administrators, Nova Scotias education system has fared well through COVID-19. Im confident this plan with its appropriate guidance around masking -- supports a safe return to class. Our Provincial Pediatric Advisory Group continues to be engaged with public health and education partners to ensure our schools remain safe spaces for our children to learn, develop and grow.Dr. Andrew Lynk, chief of pediatrics, IWK Health Centre, chair of pediatrics Dalhousie University, president of the Pediatric Chairs of Canada

Nova Scotias Back to School Plan includes a layered approach to infection prevention and control getting vaccinated, staying home when you are sick, washing your hands often and wearing a mask when appropriate are all actions staff and students can take do. Additionally, regional centres for education and Conseil scolaire acadien provincial are ensuring that high-touch surfaces are cleaned often and ventilation systems are working as designed. Schools have not been a significant source of infection transmission and Im confident the plan for this year has appropriate measures that will continue to keep students and staff safe.Dr. Jeannette Comeau, paediatric infectious diseases physician and medical director, Infection Prevention & Control, IWK Health

-30-

See the rest here:
Plans for a Safe School Year - Government of Nova Scotia

Millions of students are heading back to school with a challenge they didn't have to face last year.The more contagious delta variant is fueling a nationwide COVID-19 surge that's sending younger people to hospitals including children. The best weapon for students ages 12 and up is vaccination, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But kids too young to get vaccinated also have ways to help dodge delta.Here's how students can help stay healthy before, during and after school:Going to schoolBefore heading out: Minor symptoms that may have been overlooked in the past such as a runny nose shouldn't be ignored now, said pediatrician Dr. Steven Abelowitz, regional medical director of Coastal Kids Pediatrics in California."With the current rise in COVID cases, especially in children, it is advised that parents of children even with minor symptoms should contact their pediatrician to rule out COVID," Abelowitz said, matching guidance from the CDC.Of course, some kids can get or spread the delta variant without symptoms. So precautions during other parts of the day are important.At the bus stop: When chatting with a friend outdoors, "the risk of acquiring coronavirus is very low," CNN medical analyst and emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen said."Therefore, waiting at the bus stop or recess or coming out of the school, masks can be taken off."But if there are many children crowded together, "even though it's outdoors, if you're unvaccinated ... the advantages of masks are going to outweigh the disadvantages," Abelowitz said.On the school bus: "Mask wearing is absolutely critical because you're in close proximity in an enclosed space," Wen said."Make sure to be wearing a mask that covers your nose and your mouth. It should be at least the quality of a 3-ply surgical mask," she said."There are also KN95s, depending on the age of the child, that are even better. But the mask should be at least a 3-ply surgical mask. A cloth mask is not sufficient."Research has shown properly worn surgical masks generally give more protection than a cloth mask. If a cloth mask is used, the CDC said it should have multiple layers.When carpooling with another family: Carpooling might be safer if you're in a "pandemic pod" with another family.In that situation, "all adults should be vaccinated, the adults should be trying to reduce risk in their lives as much as both parties agree to, and essentially, you're in a household with that family," Wen said."If you are not in a pandemic pod with someone and you're still carpooling, everybody in that carpool should be wearing masks. Windows should be rolled down," she said. "It's not zero risk, but that also reduces the risk substantially."In the classroom and hallwaysThe importance of masks this year: The CDC recommends students from kindergarten through grade 12 wear masks in school as the highly contagious delta variant spreads nationwide.The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends masks in schools for everyone over age 2.The delta variant has been a game changer, Abelowitz said.New pediatric COVID-19 cases are "significantly higher than a few months ago and climbing quite rapidly," he said."We do know that masks reduce the chance of spread. We do know that there's a significant increase in the delta variant," Abelowitz said."If these numbers are not controlled, eventually, unfortunately, the kids are not going to be in-person schooling."Get masks that kids actually like: There's no point in wearing a mask if a child keeps tugging at it or taking it off in school."This is something that does take getting used to," Wen said. "It may be good to practice wearing the mask at home and making sure that you're OK with that type of mask."Wen said her own son had to adjust to wearing a mask. But after "a couple of days into school ... it felt like second nature.""I think it's worth trying, if you can, different types of masks," she said. "Different people have different comfort levels."Some students might like one brand of well-fitting surgical masks over another. Other kids might feel more comfortable wearing child-sized KN95 masks, which allow more room for the nose and mouth."The most important thing is to find the best that you can consistently wear throughout the day," Wen said. "You don't want to find a mask that you're trying to pull off your face every 20 minutes."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Explaining masks to young kids: It can be tough explaining the importance of wearing masks in school to a young child. But it's not necessary to go into too much detail, Abelowitz said.For a 6-year-old, "You could simplify it as: 'There are people out there that are getting sick from other people. By wearing a mask, you will reduce the chance of you getting sick, and also reduce the chance of other people around you getting sick,'" Abelowitz said."'So that's why it's not only important for you to wear the mask to protect yourself, but it also can help protect other people.'"Another perk for young children: By wearing a mask and not getting sick, kids will be able to keep seeing their friends at school, Abelowitz said.Dealing with potential bulliesSome students might get bullied for wearing a mask. So it's important for children to be confident and prepared for such scenarios, psychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez said."Parents need to instill in their children that they are doing the right thing by protecting their own health and the health of others around them," said Hafeez, director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services in New York."They need to boost the child's confidence so they don't feel like they have to 'ditch' the mask to fit in or make the bullying stop. The more confident that the child is with the decision to wear a mask, the easier it will be for him/her to stand their ground."Parents can also help prevent such bullying in the first place."There is an old saying, 'children learn what they live.' A child who bullies over face mask-wearing has most likely learned that behavior from his/her parents," Hafeez said.If such bullying does happen, a child's response might depend on the age."For younger children, such as grade school, the simpler the answer the better," Hafeez said."Something like, 'I am being considerate by wearing a mask because I am protecting you from getting COVID. If you wore a mask you would protect others too.' Advise the child to say that and walk away and not engage with the bully," Hafeez said.If the bully becomes aggressive, the child should seek the help of a teacher.On the flip side, some students might get bullied for not wearing a mask for example, if their parents don't want them to."This is a tough situation for a child to be in. They might face words like "selfish," "germ spreader," "COVID Creep" or any number of insults kids might hurl at them," Hafeez said."If a child is in this situation and they do want to wear a mask, they should speak with their parents about doing so and explain how the bullying is making them feel and share what they might have learned about COVID prevention through mask wearing," she said."If a parent has forbidden a child under 18 to wear a mask, the student can say that he/she would like to wear a mask, but that is not the choice his/her parents have made for them."Wen said children have an opportunity to flex their maturity if they get bullied over wearing a mask.For example, they could say: "I wear a mask because of my grandmother. I don't want my grandmother to become ill. And I am doing this to protect people that I love."Returning to recessIf recess is outside and the school doesn't require masks outdoors, "I don't think that masks are (necessary) during recess," Wen said.That doesn't mean a student can't get infected outdoors. "At this point, there is no such thing as zero risk," Wen said. But "I would rather focus the mask wearing on indoor situations that are much higher risk."In areas with high COVID-19 numbers and when children are too young to be vaccinated "encouraging more distanced kind of games, even in outdoor settings, may be beneficial in mitigating" the delta variant, Abelowitz said.Both Wen and Abelowitz said it's a good for students to enjoy mask-free breaks outside."If they're outdoors, and they can maintain some distancing, and it's not that there's a major outbreak in a specific community, we prefer that they would be without masks," Abelowitz said.Enjoying lunch safely with friendsIt's impossible to wear masks while eating. And after a year of remote or hybrid learning, some cafeterias may be back to full capacity."I am worried about lunchtime. That is a high-risk setting, depending on how this is set up," Wen said."The best setup, obviously, would be outside. But if it's going to be inside, there should at least be excellent ventilation, some degree of spacing, and the kids should all be facing in the same direction instead of ... facing one another."But once students are done eating, they can put their masks on and chat face-to-face, Wen said.Some schools have allowed students to take their lunch to their classroom desks to help minimize crowds."Eating in socially distanced classrooms is certainly better than in a lunch hall with hundreds of other children in a small, enclosed indoor space," Wen said.One way students can socialize with different groups of friends is to eat outside, if the school allows it, Wen said. That could be in a courtyard, on the grass, or even a designated portion of the parking lot.Getting back to after-school funEven the best precautions during school can be nullified if kids get COVID-19 during after-school activities. And some students might let their guard down after school, Wen said."Remember that informal settings can have just as much if not more risk than formal settings," Wen said."I think so many people are worried about what happens when we're actually playing the sport and not thinking about wait, what about in the locker room?" she said."If kids are getting together in the locker room, spending time together, no masks on, that's a much higher risk setting that being outdoors playing a sport."The CDC warned about outbreaks connected to extracurricular activities last school year.And that was months before the delta variant the most contagious strain of novel coronavirus to hit the U.S. took over as the dominant strain.Those who were infected last year might not be fully protected from the delta variant this year especially those who are not vaccinated, Abelowitz said."We've seen that ... based on the Alpha variant or the variant prior, you have folks that have been infected with COVID can be infected again," the pediatrician said. "So we know for sure that you can be infected again, especially because there are different variants."Abelowitz said children should get vaccinated as soon as they're eligible.In the meantime, "close-contact sports, indoor sports are considered to be risky," Abelowitz said. The risk is amplified in areas of high COVID-19 numbers and low vaccination rates.Activities such as choir and band when students propel their breath into the air can also be high-risk, Abelowitz said.But that doesn't mean such activities and indoor sports need to be sidelined. Abelowitz and Wen said schools can consider regular COVID-19 testing for students in higher-risk activities.And whenever possible, after-school practices should be held outside, Wen said.If COVID-19 numbers are high in a community and not many children are vaccinated, a school may want to consider pausing higher-risk activities until the situation improves, Abelowitz said.All these safety precautions might seem daunting to some children. So it's important to emphasize what children can do now not what they can't do as they return to in-person learning, Wen said."It becomes more empowering to be able to say, 'Here is what you can do at school, including playing outdoors ... including being part of sports again,'" she said."We should be empowering and talk about what the child can do that's fun and what are the things that the child can do to reduce risk for them and for others around them."

Millions of students are heading back to school with a challenge they didn't have to face last year.

The more contagious delta variant is fueling a nationwide COVID-19 surge that's sending younger people to hospitals including children.

The best weapon for students ages 12 and up is vaccination, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. But kids too young to get vaccinated also have ways to help dodge delta.

Here's how students can help stay healthy before, during and after school:

Before heading out: Minor symptoms that may have been overlooked in the past such as a runny nose shouldn't be ignored now, said pediatrician Dr. Steven Abelowitz, regional medical director of Coastal Kids Pediatrics in California.

"With the current rise in COVID cases, especially in children, it is advised that parents of children even with minor symptoms should contact their pediatrician to rule out COVID," Abelowitz said, matching guidance from the CDC.

Of course, some kids can get or spread the delta variant without symptoms. So precautions during other parts of the day are important.

At the bus stop: When chatting with a friend outdoors, "the risk of acquiring coronavirus is very low," CNN medical analyst and emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen said.

"Therefore, waiting at the bus stop or recess or coming out of the school, masks can be taken off."

But if there are many children crowded together, "even though it's outdoors, if you're unvaccinated ... the advantages of masks are going to outweigh the disadvantages," Abelowitz said.

On the school bus: "Mask wearing is absolutely critical because you're in close proximity in an enclosed space," Wen said.

"Make sure to be wearing a mask that covers your nose and your mouth. It should be at least the quality of a 3-ply surgical mask," she said.

"There are also KN95s, depending on the age of the child, that are even better. But the mask should be at least a 3-ply surgical mask. A cloth mask is not sufficient."

Research has shown properly worn surgical masks generally give more protection than a cloth mask. If a cloth mask is used, the CDC said it should have multiple layers.

When carpooling with another family: Carpooling might be safer if you're in a "pandemic pod" with another family.

In that situation, "all adults should be vaccinated, the adults should be trying to reduce risk in their lives as much as both parties agree to, and essentially, you're in a household with that family," Wen said.

"If you are not in a pandemic pod with someone and you're still carpooling, everybody in that carpool should be wearing masks. Windows should be rolled down," she said. "It's not zero risk, but that also reduces the risk substantially."

The importance of masks this year: The CDC recommends students from kindergarten through grade 12 wear masks in school as the highly contagious delta variant spreads nationwide.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends masks in schools for everyone over age 2.

The delta variant has been a game changer, Abelowitz said.

New pediatric COVID-19 cases are "significantly higher than a few months ago and climbing quite rapidly," he said.

"We do know that masks reduce the chance of spread. We do know that there's a significant increase in the delta variant," Abelowitz said.

"If these numbers are not controlled, eventually, unfortunately, the kids are not going to be in-person schooling."

Get masks that kids actually like: There's no point in wearing a mask if a child keeps tugging at it or taking it off in school.

"This is something that does take getting used to," Wen said. "It may be good to practice wearing the mask at home and making sure that you're OK with that type of mask."

Wen said her own son had to adjust to wearing a mask. But after "a couple of days into school ... it felt like second nature."

"I think it's worth trying, if you can, different types of masks," she said. "Different people have different comfort levels."

Some students might like one brand of well-fitting surgical masks over another. Other kids might feel more comfortable wearing child-sized KN95 masks, which allow more room for the nose and mouth.

"The most important thing is to find the best that you can consistently wear throughout the day," Wen said. "You don't want to find a mask that you're trying to pull off your face every 20 minutes."

Explaining masks to young kids: It can be tough explaining the importance of wearing masks in school to a young child. But it's not necessary to go into too much detail, Abelowitz said.

For a 6-year-old, "You could simplify it as: 'There are people out there that are getting sick from other people. By wearing a mask, you will reduce the chance of you getting sick, and also reduce the chance of other people around you getting sick,'" Abelowitz said.

"'So that's why it's not only important for you to wear the mask to protect yourself, but it also can help protect other people.'"

Another perk for young children: By wearing a mask and not getting sick, kids will be able to keep seeing their friends at school, Abelowitz said.

Some students might get bullied for wearing a mask. So it's important for children to be confident and prepared for such scenarios, psychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez said.

"Parents need to instill in their children that they are doing the right thing by protecting their own health and the health of others around them," said Hafeez, director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services in New York.

"They need to boost the child's confidence so they don't feel like they have to 'ditch' the mask to fit in or make the bullying stop. The more confident that the child is with the decision to wear a mask, the easier it will be for him/her to stand their ground."

Parents can also help prevent such bullying in the first place.

"There is an old saying, 'children learn what they live.' A child who bullies over face mask-wearing has most likely learned that behavior from his/her parents," Hafeez said.

If such bullying does happen, a child's response might depend on the age.

"For younger children, such as grade school, the simpler the answer the better," Hafeez said.

"Something like, 'I am being considerate by wearing a mask because I am protecting you from getting COVID. If you wore a mask you would protect others too.' Advise the child to say that and walk away and not engage with the bully," Hafeez said.

If the bully becomes aggressive, the child should seek the help of a teacher.

On the flip side, some students might get bullied for not wearing a mask for example, if their parents don't want them to.

"This is a tough situation for a child to be in. They might face words like "selfish," "germ spreader," "COVID Creep" or any number of insults kids might hurl at them," Hafeez said.

"If a child is in this situation and they do want to wear a mask, they should speak with their parents about doing so and explain how the bullying is making them feel and share what they might have learned about COVID prevention through mask wearing," she said.

"If a parent has forbidden a child under 18 to wear a mask, the student can say that he/she would like to wear a mask, but that is not the choice his/her parents have made for them."

Wen said children have an opportunity to flex their maturity if they get bullied over wearing a mask.

For example, they could say: "I wear a mask because of my grandmother. I don't want my grandmother to become ill. And I am doing this to protect people that I love."

If recess is outside and the school doesn't require masks outdoors, "I don't think that masks are (necessary) during recess," Wen said.

That doesn't mean a student can't get infected outdoors. "At this point, there is no such thing as zero risk," Wen said. But "I would rather focus the mask wearing on indoor situations that are much higher risk."

In areas with high COVID-19 numbers and when children are too young to be vaccinated "encouraging more distanced kind of games, even in outdoor settings, may be beneficial in mitigating" the delta variant, Abelowitz said.

Both Wen and Abelowitz said it's a good for students to enjoy mask-free breaks outside.

"If they're outdoors, and they can maintain some distancing, and it's not that there's a major outbreak in a specific community, we prefer that they would be without masks," Abelowitz said.

It's impossible to wear masks while eating. And after a year of remote or hybrid learning, some cafeterias may be back to full capacity.

"I am worried about lunchtime. That is a high-risk setting, depending on how this is set up," Wen said.

"The best setup, obviously, would be outside. But if it's going to be inside, there should at least be excellent ventilation, some degree of spacing, and the kids should all be facing in the same direction instead of ... facing one another."

But once students are done eating, they can put their masks on and chat face-to-face, Wen said.

Some schools have allowed students to take their lunch to their classroom desks to help minimize crowds.

"Eating in socially distanced classrooms is certainly better than in a lunch hall with hundreds of other children in a small, enclosed indoor space," Wen said.

One way students can socialize with different groups of friends is to eat outside, if the school allows it, Wen said. That could be in a courtyard, on the grass, or even a designated portion of the parking lot.

Even the best precautions during school can be nullified if kids get COVID-19 during after-school activities. And some students might let their guard down after school, Wen said.

"Remember that informal settings can have just as much if not more risk than formal settings," Wen said.

"I think so many people are worried about what happens when we're actually playing the sport and not thinking about wait, what about in the locker room?" she said.

"If kids are getting together in the locker room, spending time together, no masks on, that's a much higher risk setting that being outdoors playing a sport."

The CDC warned about outbreaks connected to extracurricular activities last school year.

And that was months before the delta variant the most contagious strain of novel coronavirus to hit the U.S. took over as the dominant strain.

Those who were infected last year might not be fully protected from the delta variant this year especially those who are not vaccinated, Abelowitz said.

"We've seen that ... based on the Alpha variant or the variant prior, you have folks that have been infected with COVID can be infected again," the pediatrician said. "So we know for sure that you can be infected again, especially because there are different variants."

Abelowitz said children should get vaccinated as soon as they're eligible.

In the meantime, "close-contact sports, indoor sports are considered to be risky," Abelowitz said. The risk is amplified in areas of high COVID-19 numbers and low vaccination rates.

Activities such as choir and band when students propel their breath into the air can also be high-risk, Abelowitz said.

But that doesn't mean such activities and indoor sports need to be sidelined. Abelowitz and Wen said schools can consider regular COVID-19 testing for students in higher-risk activities.

And whenever possible, after-school practices should be held outside, Wen said.

If COVID-19 numbers are high in a community and not many children are vaccinated, a school may want to consider pausing higher-risk activities until the situation improves, Abelowitz said.

All these safety precautions might seem daunting to some children. So it's important to emphasize what children can do now not what they can't do as they return to in-person learning, Wen said.

"It becomes more empowering to be able to say, 'Here is what you can do at school, including playing outdoors ... including being part of sports again,'" she said.

"We should be empowering and talk about what the child can do that's fun and what are the things that the child can do to reduce risk for them and for others around them."

Here is the original post:
Here's how kids can stay safe this school year during the delta variant surge - WBAL Baltimore

This summer has been a scorcher. According to a major United Nations climate report released earlier this month, the planets temperatures have reached record highs, and the extreme heat that many Americans experienced this summer will only become more common in the future. The heat has had devastating effects on people of all ages, but the smallest among us are especially vulnerable.

But simply keeping your kids inside isnt the answer, says Dr. Samuel Schimelpfenig, a pediatrician in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with a specialty in sports medicine for kids and adolescents. We are healthier physically and mentally if were outside in nature, he says. If we keep kids inside, we dont have to worry about heat illness quite so much, but the downside is theyre not being physically active and theyre probably spending too much time on a screen.

If your kid is going to be playing in the heat, heres what you need to know:

While on most days the body does a great job of regulating its own temperature (thanks to a region of the brain called the hypothalamus gland), extreme heat can overwhelm that function, disrupting the normal process that results in the evaporation of sweat from the skin. That overheating can lead to heatstroke, which usually includes at least one of three telltale signs: unconsciousness, fever, and a lack of sweat, Schimelpfenig says.

Little kidsand their smaller bodiesare more at risk than adults. They absorb heat from the environment much quicker than we do, explains Schimelpfenig. Its the difference between cooking a single chicken breast or roasting an entire turkey. The bigger turkey will likely need three or four hours in the oven, while a chicken breast might be done in less than 30 minutes. This may be especially true for young athleteswith certain disabilities or medical diagnoses that might make them more susceptible to heat conditions, along with those taking certain medications that increase heat sensitivity.

Parents, coaches, and caregivers should learn to recognize and treat milder heat illness symptoms quickly. Something as simple as bringing a child inside, offering them a cold drink, and having them rest can make a difference. Missing the early signs could result in something much more dangerous. There are kids that end up in the emergency room dehydrated and needing IV fluids, says Schimelpfenig.

Heres what to look for:

Severe signs of heat illness often take those symptoms towards their extreme. If a kid has thrown up or passed out or is showing signs of mental confusion, seek medical attention immediately.

After adisrupted year of activity, kids may be out of shape or out of practice when it comes to handling heat.If youre working hard, youre also generating heat internally in an environment that is hot, says Schimelpfenig. You cant really work out in a sauna for very long before youre just too hot and exhausted to do it.

To maintain body temperature and keep kids happy,plan extra water breaks, provide shade (parents might bring along small tents or umbrellas on outdoor excursions), and remember to remove your childs bike helmet while restingits one more way for the bodys heat to escape. Other ways to cool off include eating a chilled snack (bonus points for snacks that have lots of hydration, like chilled fruit), jumping in a sprinkler or visiting a splash pad (though Schimpelfenig is clear that water cools you better inyour body rather than onit), or planning your activities for cooler times of day (early morning is better than high noon).

Teaching kids to regularly assess how their body feels can empower them to ask for help if they feel an onset of heat illness symptoms. Parents can also consider gear that helps kids help themselves: light colored, breathable clothing; moisture-wicking athletic wear; personal water bottles;and snack options that include electrolytes.

Finally, its important to stomp out the myth that canceling some activities due to heat is a failure. High heat indexes are often the reason esteemed athletes have to change their plans, says Schimelpfenig. In fact, recently at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the gold medal womens soccer match was moved due to temperature, while the womens marathon was moved up an hour to mitigate the effects of extreme heat. In those instances, indoor activitiesmay be the better option.

More here:
What Parents Need to Know About Kids and Heat Waves - Outside

As many say, the best secrets for weight loss lie in the food you eat and the diets you follow. As beneficial as diets like the Ketogenic diet and Intermittent Fasting could be (or a high-protein, zero sugar one), following a diet when you are trying to lose weight requires a lot of discipline. The results never come up fast, and many a time, it could happen that the diet could throw you a curveball and not really work well for you, making it further difficult to see an actual drop in weight, despite doing everything and foregoing sinful foods!

Hence, not only does it remain important to actually follow a diet that suits your needs and the lifestyle the best, but it's also important to keep tracking progress, check if the diet is actually working for you to help you achieve your goals.

The benefits and impact of a great diet are not just seen through weight loss, but other non-weighing scale related improvements as well. In case you are wondering, we tell you 5 brilliant ways to check if your diet is working for you!

Also See: How To Lose Weight | Weight Loss Exercises

Here is the original post:
Weight loss: 5 ways to check if your diet is working well for you - Times of India

A recent study found that alcohol consumption was associated with 740,000 new cancer diagnoses in 2020. That data seemed to highlight the notion that your everyday lifestyle choices truly can impact your long-term health so what about the foods you're eatingare they increasing your cancer risk? A nationally recognized doctor spoke with us to bring greater clarity to the subject of cancer and your diet.

Howard Grossman, MD, is a member of the Eat This, Not That! Medical Expert Board, a board-certified internist, and winner of the amfAR Award of Courage, known for his work with vulnerable patient populations. Here, Grossman shares some current wisdom around the topic of nutrition and cancer, pinpointing particular foods and the types of cancer they've been linked to.

Continue reading for Dr. Grossman's insights, and learn more from him inThe Worst Beer Mistake You Can Make, Experts Say.

Grossman starts out with one important point: "Diets and cancer are a controversial subject. Most of the problem is not the food, but the additives." To this, he adds, "It is always safe to say that a balanced diet that limits food additives . . . will be the most healthy."

To learn a list of particular foods that have been associated with cancer, keep reading.

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Grossman mentions processed meats as a category that's been linked with cancer (think hot dogs and sausages, bacon, deli slices, and anything that's not a fresh cut).

"The problem with processed meats and things like bacon and smoked foods are the nitrites," he explains. "High nitrite and nitrate levels, as found in processed meats, may increase the risk of gliomas (brain cancer) as well as thyroid, colorectal, and gastric cancers. The compounds in and of themselves are not carcinogenic [Editor's note: "carcinogenic" may be defined as something that's potentially cancer-causing], but in the body they combine with other molecules and can form carcinogenic substancesat least they are carcinogenic in some animal studies."

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"Red meat has been linked to colorectal, prostate and pancreatic cancer," Grossman says, but mentions the association is not entirely definitive. "Still a good idea to limit red meat intake for this and other health reasons," he suggests.

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"High alcohol consumption has been linked to oral, esophageal, stomach, breast, liver and colon cancer," Grossman says. "These are associations with excessive intake."

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"One thing to mention is that obesity can be a risk factor for many cancers," Grossman says. "Therefore, limiting sugary drinks and other sugary foods that add to weight can be a good tip." (Don't missThe #1 Cause of Obesity, According to Science.)

Grossman points out that while the foods listed have been demonstrated to have a link with cancer, "there are no absolutely definitive studies in humans." He says it's important to remember: "There is a lot we do not know about the links between food and cancer."

As the research on this topic continues, Dr. Grossman's main takeaway to help you prevent cancer is to follow a diet that "limits processed foods, limits red meat and sugary foods and is moderate in alcohol intake."

He concludes: "I always tell people to stick with 'whole' foods, [like] fruits and vegetables, lean meats and (unsalted) fish, and stop eating things that come out of a box."

For more on food and your health, keep reading:

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These 12 Cancers Are Linked to a Bad Diet, Doctor Says | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That