For decades, the causes of obesity and the most effective way to lose weight have been the subject of fierce debate among scientists and healthcare professionals.

According to one theory, known as the carbohydrate-insulin model, food and drink that contain large amounts of carbohydrates cause a spike in circulating insulin levels.

The hormone drives fat cells, or adipocytes, to store the excess calories, which reduces the availability of these energy sources for the rest of the body.

This, in turn, increases hunger and slows metabolism, which leads to weight gain over time.

Dietitians often cite the carbohydrate-insulin model to explain the success of high fat, low carbohydrate diets such as the ketogenic diet.

Unlike carbohydrates, dietary fat does not cause a spike in insulin levels immediately after a meal.

On the other side of the debate, the energy balance model makes less of a distinction between fat and carbohydrates.

This model focuses instead on the balance between total calorie intake through eating and drinking, and total calorie expenditure through physical activity.

According to this model, if calorie intake exceeds expenditure, the result will be weight gain over time. But if expenditure exceeds intake, the eventual outcome will be weight loss.

Writing in the journal Science, two scientists argue that the carbohydrate-insulin model is overly simplistic.

John Speakman, from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, and Kevin Hall, of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, MD, do not dispute the success of high fat, low carb diets for some individuals.

They also acknowledge that insulin plays an important role in body fat regulation.

But they question whether the effect of insulin on adipocytes after eating food high in carbohydrates is solely responsible for weight gain.

They write:

[W]e propose that the role of insulin in obesity may be better understood by considering its action on multiple organs that is driven by factors mostly independent of carbohydrate intake. Reconsidering the role of insulin may improve our understanding of the causes of obesity and its treatment.

They cite a 2020 study in mice that compared the effect of 29 different diets on body fat.

Of these, 16 diets maintained a constant intake of protein while varying the relative contribution of fat and carbohydrate to total calorie intake.

The carbohydrate-insulin model predicts that the more carbohydrates are in a diet, the higher insulin levels will climb after eating.

As a result, according to the model, the mice should lay down more fat and increase their total calorie intake.

However, after 12 weeks roughly equivalent to 9 years in humans mice that ate high carb diets consumed fewer calories and had gained less fat and overall body weight.

This was despite having higher circulating insulin levels following eating.

Acknowledging that studies in mice may not reflect what happens in humans, the authors cite research in people that produced similar results.

For example, another recent study compared the effect of two diets on people with excess weight.

Each diet lasted for 2 weeks. One comprised around 10% carbohydrate and 75% fat, while the other consisted of approximately 75% carbohydrate and 10% fat.

Participants were allowed to eat as much or as little as they wanted.

As predicted by the carbohydrate-insulin model, the high carb diet resulted in a larger spike in insulin levels following meals.

However, participants on the high carb diet consumed fewer calories and reported that they felt just as satisfied after eating compared with those on the low carb diet.

Only the high carb diet resulted in a significant loss of body fat.

Speakman and Hall argue that insulin affects many organs around the body, and not just after mealtimes.

They write that its role in regulating body fat is best understood as part of a dynamic network of factors controlling and mediating the effects of energy imbalance.

For example, they say high insulin levels, combined with signals from fat tissue, tell the brain to reduce energy intake when the amount of body fat rises above a critical threshold.

David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., professor of nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, a leading proponent of the carbohydrate-insulin model, questioned the research cited in the article by Speakman and Hall.

He told Medical News Today that the study in mice was strongly biased because the low carb diets contained large amounts of saturated fat.

In rodents, saturated fat causes severe inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, precluding a meaningful test of the [carbohydrate-insulin model], he said.

He added that other studies have found that rodents on high carb diets rapidly develop obesity.

He also challenged the validity of relatively short studies in humans, such as the 2-week study cited by Speakman and Hall, which he said do not give the body sufficient time to adapt to the change in nutrients.

His own meta-analysis suggests that longer studies consistently show higher energy expenditure on low carb diets.

Several reviews of clinical trials have shown that low carb, high fat keto diets promote weight loss.

Prof. Naveed Satar from the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Science at the University of Glasgow in the U.K. told Medical News Today that low carb diets can help people lose weight.

He believes the diets owe their success to lower total calorie intake as a result of reduced appetite, but not from how some experts envisioned the workings of the carbohydrate-insulin model.

People who go on low carb diets tend to eat less as they increase protein intake, which tends to suppress appetite a little, he explained.

He added that his own research suggests that the excess calorie intake of individuals with excess weight tends to come from fat rather than sugar.

This suggests that, along with reduced calorie intake, reduced fat intake should remain an important component of weight-loss diets.

Continued here:
Should we rethink the role of carbs in obesity? - Medical News Today

Perhaps youve heard someone bemoan the quarantine 15 gained during lockdown, or of struggles to flatten the curve of a body that looks different after a year inside.

It was inevitable. The pandemic has made us more sedentary, and many of us have sought comfort in eating. We are languishing, as Adam Grant wrote recently, living in the void between depression and flourishing the absence of well-being. And where theres insecurity and unhappiness, there are companies looking to make money. So here come the weight-loss profiteers, the misery merchants dressed up as purveyors of wellness.

Theyre looking to make back whatever money they missed out on during 2020 and then some. In a normal year, the weight-loss business ramps up in January and goes strong through spring and into summer. Last year was not normal. There was stress snacking and procrasti-baking. There was no shedding for the wedding in a year when most weddings were postponed or drastically downsized; no pre-high-school-reunion crash diet or worrying if Grandma would body-shame you at Thanksgiving. The closest we got to beach season was tut-tutting at the Kardashians private-island getaway last fall.

And honestly, with a pandemic to worry about, getting bigger didnt seem like an especially big deal. Its no surprise that many weight-loss companies took a financial hit. According to Marketdata Enterprises, a research firm, the overall U.S. diet industry reached a new peak of $78 billion in 2019, but it lost 21 percent of its value in 2020.

Was that dip matched by concurrent weight gain among Americans who suddenly couldnt make it to their weekly weigh-ins or stock up on their meal-replacement shakes? Depends on whose data you believe. A study published in the journal Obesity found a global decline in some healthy behaviors: Respondents ate more processed food and exercised less. And a recent survey from the market research firm Ipsos found that about a third of Americans said they had gained weight during the pandemic.

But research from a company that makes internet-connected scales, Withings, painted a different picture. The French company analyzed data from five million smart scales, hybrid smartwatches and smart thermometers, and found that people actually lost weight in 2020, or were more likely than in other years to hit their weight-loss goals, if they had them. (Of course, those who own such devices are a self-selecting group that most likely were trying to lose weight.)

In any case, the weight-loss industry isnt going to let a lack of data dull its zeal to convince Americans that yes, we got fat, and that now we need to get up off our couches and get back into shape by buying their app, or signing up for their meal-delivery service or enrolling in their program. These corporate entities have been joined by the freelance scolds, the people who are not going to miss a chance to feel superior to their friendly neighborhood fatties. Magazines are full of diet-app roundups. Here is the famous physician wagging her finger at Krispy Kreme for offering free doughnuts to the vaccinated.

My Twitter feed is suddenly full of ads for intermittent fasting apps; on Instagram, its wall-to-wall shapewear and fat-shredding supplements. Then theres the Facebook friend who really wants to talk about the Keto diet, or Optavia, or the Beachbody plan, and would be happy to bring me into the fold. (Yes, the weight-loss industry has branched into multilevel marketing.)

You can consume a lot of this marketing without ever hearing the words weight or diet or calories. The diet industry has gotten impressively subtle, even as its incessantly in your face. Buzzwords like wellness and strength have replaced diet and calories. Its all about being the best you that you can be a you that is significantly thinner than the you right now.

I have one word for you: Resist.

As we should all know by now, diets dont work in the long term. Studies show that 41 percent of dieters gain back more weight over the next five years than they lost, and that dieters are more likely than nondieters to become obese over the next one to 15 years. For some, the language of diet culture can be downright dangerous, contributing to life-threatening eating disorders.

Theres nothing wrong with taking action to improve your health. Want to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet, or get back to regular workouts? Go for it. Get outside, now that we can do that again. But you dont need to enroll in a program, download an app or buy frozen meals to do any of this.

After everything weve endured and as the crisis still rages around the world each of us should cherish the body that got us through it, rather than punish it for failing to fit into last years skinny jeans.

Jennifer Weiner is the author of the upcoming novel That Summer.

Originally posted here:
Opinion | Post-Covid, the Weight Loss Industry Wants You to Diet - The New York Times

For the fourth time in the last five seasons, Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook is averaging a triple-double (meaning his per game average for points, rebounds, and assists is in the double digits.) Oscar Robertson is the only other player to have accomplished this feat, and he did it once, in 1962. Westbrook is also now just three triple doubles shy of passing Oscar Roberston for the most in NBA history. Breaking a record that until recently was thought to be untouchable requires oodles of basketball talent, and also Energizer Bunny levels of energy. Westbrook has both. At 32, hes still playing more than 35 minutes a game, thanks to a dialed-in diet and routine that involves wake-up push ups, less sleep than youd expect, hydrating with Flow Alkaline Water, and a pregame PB&J (two actually) that hes been having since high school. GQ caught up with Westbrook to learn what powers one of the NBAs most productive players.

For Real-Life Diet, GQ talks to high-performing people about their diet, exercise routines, and pursuit of wellness. Keep in mind that what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.

GQ: What time does your day usually start?

Russell Westbrook: Well, given that I have little children in the house, it starts pretty early. 6:30 or 7:00. That varies if I'm in season, so that can change, but normally about 7:00 AM.

Was it later before the kids?

No, it was about the same. I'm an early bird, I like to get up early, get my day started early.

What's the first thing you usually do in the morning?

Sometimes I do push-ups to wake my body up. That's how I start most of the time.

How many push ups will you usually do?

That varies too, based on how long Ive been up that night. But I try to knock out anywhere between 25 and 50, get my blood flow moving.

How many hours of sleep are you aiming to get?

Probably about five or six. If I get more than that, I'm very grateful.

That's not a ton of sleep.

Yeah, you know, I feel like when I sleep longer, I don't feel the best. Going nonstop, that's kinda how my life is. That's kinda how I function.

Did you used to sleep longer?

I'll get seven or eight hours of sleep every once in a while, but that's not my norm by any means. I've alway been kind of like this: stay up late, but I'm up early.

What's breakfast?

That's my favorite meal of the day, so I usually eat a really big breakfast. Fruit. Green juice, orange juice. Breakfast can vary, I pretty much eat anything: omelette, avocado toast, pancakes, waffles, hash browns.

As the day progresses, what are you eating for lunch and dinner?

Fish for lunch. Salad for lunch. Snacks I like to eat are peanuts, parfaits, yogurt, smoothies when I can. Dinner, lots of veggies, pasta. Right now I can only eat fish, no meat for awhile.

Why only fish?

I wanted to change up some things. I wanted to lose some weight, but also keep my strength and body together. So I am trying something new. Especially throughout the season, as I get older, I have to figure out better ways to keep my body in the right shape and healthy, to be able to do what I want to do, especially while playing.

You're obviously still playing at an incredibly high level. It sounds like you've had to tweak your diet and workout to maintain that endurance as you've gotten older?

I wouldn't say that's the case. I was fine before, I just wanted to lose some weight because I felt like I was too heavy. It was a personal feeling for me. That was kind of the only reason behind it, honestly.

If you have a late game, will you eat after?

It's tough for me to eat after games. I'll eat when I can. I'll do smoothies or shakes, just to recover. It takes me a while to wind down, and eat. But eventually I'll get some food in my system, for the next day.

Originally posted here:
The Real Life Diet of Russell Westbrook, Who Uses Push-Ups to Wake Up - GQ

Gary Kracoff and John Walczyk| Daily News Correspondents

During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have either gained weight or taken the time to get into shape and in some cases, a little of both. Regardless, weve all been inundated with information and claims about popular diet trends in the news or on social media.

The best advice when it comes to crafting a healthy diet isnt to trust an online trend, but to instead seek guidance from a dietitian trained to help us focus on being healthy, which is far more important than simply losing weight. They can answer questions about dietary and lifestyle factors, like stress, that affect health and can help build a personalized, long-term plan that includes proper caloric intake, optimized supplementation and prioritizes whole foods. Here are some insights from the dietitians we work with to debunk three popular diet trends:

Everyone should do intermittent fasting. This type of fasting can vary; for example, an individual can restrict eating during given times of the day or days of the week. These fasting patterns are based on circadian biology the notion that our body runs on a clocklike cycle and that there are ideal windows for calorie intake that can optimize liver function, the microbiome and digestion.

More: Over the Counter: Take tea time seriously during COVID-19 pandemic

While there can be benefits of this type of diet for some people intermittent fasting can support sustained weight loss for people who are obese its not meant for everyone. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have had an eating disorder, are chronically stressed, or dont sleep well, this may not be right for you. Intermittent fasting should not be a first step for people new to diet and exercise.

Keto is the best way to lose weight. Keto diets are based on the fact that some fats are very good for us, like those from avocados, olives and coconuts, and they shift calorie intake to a fat-heavy diet (up to 80%) with very low carb intake (as little as 5%). When compared to the standard American diet, which is high in carbs and sugars, a keto diet will keep blood sugar balanced, break down adipose tissue (stored fats in our body) and burn those good fats as energy.

More: Over the Counter: Five Tips to keep up the fight against COVID-19

While a keto diet can lead to great benefits, like weight loss due to breaking down adipose tissue, better energy and decreased chronic inflammation, its more of a quick-fix solution and not a long-term lifestyle. A keto diet typically works better for men and is not recommended for people with hormonal imbalances or kidney or liver disease.

Going vegan is better for me and the environment. The health and well-being of our environment is closely connected to all facets of human activity, including what and how we eat. Eating meat for instance, can be harmful for the environment because its production involves pollutants like pesticides to grow feed, methane produced by animals and carbon dioxide from transportation.

More: Over the Counter: Natural ways to keep your bones strong

But that doesnt mean cutting meat from the menu is the only way to improve our diets and save the planet we just have to be mindful of where our food comes from. As a whole, we all could consume more vegetables say, by having one vegetarian meal each week but we can still savor meat in moderation. Incorporating beans and lentils will ensure adequate protein when we cut out some meats. Buying local, in-season foods and organic, humanely sourced meat will also improve your diets impact on the environment.

Taken together, we have to understand that diets should be designed for an individuals own goals and lifestyle. There is and never will be a one-size-fits-all miracle diet. By working with a dietitian and prioritizing nutrition, youll be well on your way to looking and more importantly feeling healthier.

Gary Kracoff has a degree in naturopathic medicine and is a registered pharmacist and John Walczyk is a compounding pharmacist at Johnson Compounding & Wellness in Waltham, Mass. For more information, visit http://www.naturalcompounder.com. Readers with questions about natural or homeopathic medicine, compounded medications, or health in general can e-mail gary@naturalcompounder.com or call 781-893-3870.

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Over the Counter: Debunking online nutrition trends - MetroWest Daily News

The Lachnospiraceae family was statistically more abundant in horses fed hay, researchers said, while it was the least abundant in horses fed silage. (File image)

The abundance of a key bacterial family that inhabits the equine gut fell away significantly in horses fed silage, when compared to those given hay or grass, researchers found.

The decline seen in the abundance of Lachnospiraceae in horses fed silage was a significant finding, according to the researchers, as it may indicate inflammatory changes, as revealed by previous studies on humans.

Other than that, the silage diet did not generate any other apparent imbalance within the equine fecal microbiota in comparison with the other two common forages.

Further investigation is necessary to look at whether the decrease of Lachnospiraceae in the intestinal microbiota is correlated with a compromised gastrointestinal health of horses that are fed silage in the long term, the study team said.

Lachnospiraceae are found in the gut of many mammals. In humans, the Lachnospiraceae have shown an ability to convert lactate to butyrate, which is critical in the maintenance of healthy intestines and the reduction of the risk of intestinal inflammation.

Lachnospiraceae are also involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which act as growth factors for a healthy gut lining.

Yiping Zhu and his colleagues, in a study reported in the journal Animals, said horses are hindgut fermenters characterized by a complex family of microorganisms the microbiota mostly comprising anaerobic microorganisms that facilitate the digestion of a high-fiber diet.

The intestinal microbiota also affects the hosts immune system, influences the animals metabolism, and helps in the detoxification of harmful substances.

Therefore, any disruption to it can have major consequences on overall health.

Diet, they noted, can have a significant effect on the intestinal microbiota, with changes capable of triggering the likes of colic, metabolic syndrome and laminitis.

There is evidence that changes in dietary patterns alter the colonic microbiota, subsequently leading to changes in colonic pH and fermented products, and some of these changes may predispose horses to colic, they said.

Understanding the impact of different dietary patterns on the intestinal microbiota will help to reveal connections between diet and the overall health of horses.

In their study, the researchers investigated the effects of three different forage feeds grass, silage, and hay on the fecal microbiota of horses.

The study involved 36 healthy horses at the Guanzhong Stud farm in Shanxi province, China.

They were divided into three groups, with one group put on a grass diet (local pasture ryegrass), another receiving ryegrass silage, and the third receiving only second-cut ryegrass hay.

Fecal samples were collected after eight weeks from each horse and analyzed using high throughput sequencing to learn more about the bacteria present.

The authors described a range of changes in bacterial composition between the diets.

The Lachnospiraceae family was statistically more abundant in horses fed hay, while it was the least abundant in horses fed silage.

Streptococcaceae species, considered a core microbial component in equine intestinal microbiota, were present in significantly lower quantities in the feces from horses fed pasture grass as compared to those from horses fed hay or silage.

The Oscillospiraceae was another bacterial family with significantly different levels between groups. It was the most abundant in horses managed on pasture and least abundant in the hay group, which indicated that its presence could have been influenced by different diets.

This study revealed some characteristic findings on the fecal microbial composition in horses that were given each type of diet and showed significant differences between the groups, the study team said.

For the first time, baseline information has been established on the fecal microbiota of horses fed silage, they said.

They hoped that the information could be used to help balance the intestinal microbiota in horses that are fed mainly silage in combination with other types of forages in order to maintain intestinal health.

The authors noted that the body condition score of all the horses did not change and their body weight remained relatively stable throughout the feeding trial.

Throughout the trial, physical examinations were unremarkable for each horse, and no clinical abnormalities were observed.

The study team said more studies are warranted to further define the impact of the silage diet on equine intestinal health.

The study team comprised Yiping Zhu, Xuefan Wang, Shulei Chen and Jing Li, all with the College of Veterinary Medicine at the China Agricultural University in Beijing; Liang Deng with the College of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine at Shenyang Agricultural University; and Chunyan Zhu, with the Shanghai Center of Agri-Products Quality and Safety.

Zhu, Y.; Wang, X.; Deng, L.; Chen, S.; Zhu, C.; Li, J. Effects of Pasture Grass, Silage, and Hay Diet on Equine Fecal Microbiota. Animals 2021, 11, 1330. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051330

The study, published under a Creative Commons License, can be read here.

Continued here:
Effects of a silage diet on the gut bacteria of horses explored in study - Horsetalk

Social media is abuzz with Mothers Day wishes. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) settled for a unique wish. They rescued a mother cow and christened her Kim Kowdashian. Sharing the picture of the cow, they wrote, For mothers day, PETA India names rescued mother cow Kim Kowdashian after reality TV star Kim Kardashian. It ended with a shout-out at the end: Thanks for promoting a dairy-free diet @KimKardashian!

For the uninitiated, the reality star follows a plant-based diet. Earlier this year, she had shared picture on Instagram where she looked stunning wearing a white crop paired with cargo pants, and heels. The outfit highlighted her toned figure, and it was difficult not to notice her abs. Plant-based diet does a body good, read the caption.

Prior to this, Kim had shared that though she enjoyed eating many foods, her diet was mostly plant-based. I eat mostly plant based. No meat anymore. Oatmeal and vegan sausage for breakfast, vegan tacos are my fave for lunch! Salads are good too! she told a fan on social media.

I hate HOT anything! I hate Spicey anything. I know this is going to be very unpopular to so many but I just dont like it. Regular Cheetos for me or Cheetos puffs are my absolute fave, she said further.

Wondering what plant-based diet really means? Find out everything about it here.

For more lifestyle news, follow us: Twitter:lifestyle_ie|Facebook:IE Lifestyle| Instagram:ie_lifestyle

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PETA names rescued mother cow Kim Kowdashian, thanks reality star for dairy-free diet - The Indian Express

Welcome to Fear The Walls weekly recap of each Borussia Dortmund loanees performance at their respective clubs. BVB have four players out on loan, whose loans all end on June 30, 2021. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Olympique Marseille drew 1-1 to RC Strasbourg Alcace on April 30th. Leonardo Balerdi played the full 90. He had one shot, two drawn fouls, and one committed foul.

Balerdi has two goals, one assist, five yellow cards, and one red card in 18 appearances (17 starts) in Ligue 1.

Sergio Gmez came off of the bench in SD Huescas game versus Real Sociedad San Sebastian on May 1st. Huesca won 1-0. Gmez played 23 minutes.

Gmez has one assist and one yellow card in 25 La Liga appearances (three starts).

Immanuel Pherai was not in the lineup for PEC Zwolle in their 2-1 loss to SBV Vitesse on May 1st.

Immanuel Pherai remains at one goal, two assists, and one yellow card in 24 Eredivisie appearances (13 starts).

The Bundesliga was on pause this past weekend for the DFB Pokal semifinals.

Wolf remains two goals, three assists, and three yellow cards in 28 Bundesliga appearances (27 starts).

Stats from kicker.de and fbref.com

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On Their Loansome: Diet-Lite Edition - Fear The Wall