"What is the paleo diet?" we hear you cry! Well, if you're looking to lose weight, it could be the solution for you. Especially as its about getting back to basics when it comes to food, so it's really easy to follow.

Here's everything you need to know about the paleodiet before you give it a try...

The paleo diet is pretty easy to follow. The paleo diet is designed to resemble the diet of hunter gatherers in the Palaeolithic era from 2.5 million to 10,000 or so years ago," says dietitian, Dr Carrie Ruxton, from The Health & Food Supplements Information Service.

So it's time to forget any ready meals or artificial foods. "A paleo diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds foods that in the past could be obtained by hunting and gathering," says Dr Ruxton."Depending on the part of the world, some hunter gatherers may have eaten high quantities of meat and few plant foods whilst others ate more plant foods.

The aim of a paleo diet is to return to a way of eating that is more like what early humans ate," says Dr Ruxton. "The diet's reasoning is that the human body is genetically mismatched to the modern diet that emerged with farming practices. Farming changed what people ate and established dairy, grains and legumes as additional staples in the human diet. This relatively late and rapid change in diet, according to the hypothesis, outpaced the body's ability to adapt. This mismatch is believed to be a contributing factor to the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and heart disease today.

Here's the good news you won't feel hungry on the paleo diet.

Recommendations vary for paleo diets with some diet plans stricter than others," says Dr Ruxton. "In general, paleo diet recommends fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, lean meats (especially grass fed and wild game), fish, especially oily fish, oils from plants such as olive oil. The diet recommends avoidance of grains, such as wheat, oats and barley, legumes such as beans, peas and lentils, dairy products, sugar, potatoes and highly processed foods (in both snacks and meals).

In a word, yes. It could help you to lose weight," says Dr Ruxton. "A number of randomised clinical trials have compared the paleo diet to other eating plans, such as the Mediterranean Diet. Overall, these trials suggest that a paleo diet may provide some benefits when compared with diets of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, legumes and low-fat dairy products."

And it's not just good for your waistline. "These benefits may include more weight loss, better appetite management and improved glucose tolerance," says Dr Ruxton. "However, longer trials with large groups of people randomly assigned to different diets are needed to understand the long-term, overall health benefits and possible risks of a paleo diet.

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Not really. In the diet world, it's actually really healthy.

A paleo diet is rich in vegetables, fruits and nuts all elements of a healthy diet," says Dr Ruxton. "The main difference between the paleo diet and some other diets is the absence of whole grains and legumes, which are considered good sources of fibre, vitamins and other nutrients. Also absent from the diet are dairy products, which are good sources of protein and calcium. These foods not only are considered healthy but also are generally more affordable and accessible than such foods as wild game, grass-fed animals and nuts. For some people, a paleo diet may be too expensive.

A study in 70 women found that following the paleo diet for six months resulted in 14 pounds (6.5 kg) of fat loss, on average, and a significant reduction in central abdominal fat," says Dr Ruxton. "Another review of 11 studies concluded that the diet may aid weight loss, noting that participants lost an average of nearly eight pounds (3.5 kg) in trials lasting anywhere between two months and two years.

Yes, it's definitely worth a try in the short term. The paleo diet has been linked with weight loss," says Dr Ruxton. "Weight loss is likely as food groups are cut out and calorie intake is likely to be reduced because of that. However, it is restrictive to follow particularly in the longer term. Given its avoidance of many healthy foods, there is a risk of fibre, vitamin and mineral shortfalls (e.g., calcium in dairy foods, fibre and B vitamins in legumes and wholegrains). Anyone following this diet should be recommended to take a multivitamin/multimineral supplement.

Here's both good and bad news. "There is no need to sign up to anything to follow this diet. Various Apps are available some of which are free, some of which have a charge, says Dr Ruxton. However, you may find you have to spend more as you'll be buying good quality groceries. Although this is an investment in your health.

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What is the Paleo Diet? How it works and how it can help you lose weight - woman&home

Love Parmesan, but are trying to ditch dairy?Listen up:Youll probably also dig nutritional yeast, or nooch, as some fans like to call it. While theres nothing cheesy in it,nutritional yeast is often described as having a rich cheese-like flavor, one reason youll see it used on everything from pasta to popcorn.

Although nutritional yeast frequently guests stars in vegan fare, you dont have to be vegan to eat it. In fact, no matter what your diet, everybody can benefit by shaking a little moreof itinto their meals.

Nutritional yeast is a flaky, yellow-colored yeast that typically grows on cane or beet molasses, says Willow Jarosh, M.S., R.D., owner of Willow Jarosh Culinary Nutrition in New York City. Because its a deactivated yeast, its not alive when you use it in your kitchen. And while it has similar properties as brewers yeast, the two are different.

If that hasnt sold you on tryingit yet, maybe the nutritional benefits will. Start with B vitamins. Just two tablespoons ofit contain all eight of the B vitamins you need and well over 100 percent of the recommended daily value of five of them, including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, says Sharon Palmer, M.S.F.S., R.D.N., a plant-powered dietitian in Los Angeles who offers free resources at sharonpalmer.com. And on that B12 note, youll get more than a days worth of vitamin B12 in those same two tablespoons. B12, which occurs naturally in animal products, is key for vegetarians and vegans, Palmer says. Its important for regulating blood and nerve cell health and preventing a specific type of anemia, and a lack of B vitamins overall can lead to depression.

Nutritional yeastalso contains eight grams of protein and four grams of fiber, namely a type of soluble fiber called beta-glucan which is the main fiber in oats, too. Beta-glucan helps lower total and LDL cholesterol levels and can lower your risk for heart disease, says Julie Upton, M.S., R.D., San Francisco-based dietitian and co-founder of Appetite for Health and AFH Consulting.

And if youre looking for amino acids, youll get all nine in the powder, says Angela Wortley, R.D.N., dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor in Ann Arbor, Mich., adding that its chromium may be beneficial for blood sugar control. And dont forget the zinc; two tablespoons has 20 percent of your daily value of zinc, Palmer adds.

Just note, though: Nutritional yeast may not be for everybody. People with health conditions like migraines and inflammatory bowel disease may find that nutritional yeast worsens symptoms, though smaller amounts may be tolerated, Wortley says. And of course, if youre sensitive or allergic to yeast products, you should avoid nutritional yeast.

Nutritional yeastlovers are fans of this crazy-sounding food for several reasons, starting with flavor. Nutritional yeast gives a cheesy and nutty flavor to foods, Wortley says.

In fact, because of its cheese-like flavor, nutritional yeast can be beneficial not only for vegans who are eschewing dairy but even people who cant tolerate dairy, Jarosh says. It also adds a umami flavor, which has an added benefit. If you need to reduce your salt intake, nutritional yeast can help you reduce salt without limiting flavor, she adds. And its an easy way to add flavor to vegetables, especially if you dont like the taste of plain vegetables.

If you want to experiment with the food, Jarosh recommends using it in or on anything that Parmesan cheese might be found in. Start simple and use it as a seasoning for something like scrambled tofu, sauted greens or popcorn. And lets not forget the famous kale chips, which almost always havethisyellow powder on them.

Once youve gotten the hang of shaking it on foods like pasta, potatoes and vegetables, you can also use it in sauces, dressing, soups and vegan cheeses, Wortley says. And either by itself or with other seasonings and ingredients like breadcrumbs, it can be a fabulous breading for tofu.

When shopping for nutritional yeast, look for a brand thats fortified in vitamin B12 (not all are). Then check for it in the bulk section, which is the most cost-effective way to buy it, Wortley says. Cant find it locally? You can also order it online.

Nutritional yeastmight not make national headlines anytime soon, but thats no reason not to give this flavor-filled, nutritionally dense food a shake. Chances are, it will soon become your favorite kitchen helper.

Turn nooch into a Parmesan-like topping with this recipe from Wortley:

Add quarter cup of nutritional yeast, one cup walnuts, another cup of nuts like raw cashews or Brazil nuts, and a pinch or two of salt to a food processor. As an option, add a teaspoon of garlic or onion powder. Process until its a grainy texture like Parmesan. Just dont overprocess it or it could turn into a nut butter consistency. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four weeks.

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The Health Benefits of Adding Nutritional Yeast to Your Diet - The Beet

As we stare at the cliff-edge of a disastrous no-deal Brexit, following a nine-month state of emergency owing to a deadly pandemic, I know that I am not alone in wondering what food, exactly, will make its way to our tables this January.

Reports that supermarkets have been told to stockpile in anticipation of food shortages are not reassuring, though we should take comfort in the fact that Marchs panic-buying frenzy has limbered us all up somewhat. We are now a nation of preppers. As one shrewd commentator pointed out, you can now repurpose old Soviet jokes: A man walks into a shop. He asks the clerk, You dont have any meat? The clerk says, No, here we dont have any fish. The shop that doesnt have any meat is across the street.

Lets set aside the fact that, by this point in the year, we are all sick of cooking for ourselves. At first many of us, myself included, channelled our anxious energy/desperate fear of mortality into food. It was all sourdough and making your own pesto back then, but by this point its a Good Day if I can summon the energy to put a potato in the microwave. Is this what life is, just an endless cycle of meal preparation? I always thought my mother was a hero, but now I look at her (on a screen, obvs) with the kind of respect mafiosi afford family members who have done serious time. How many carrots has that hand chopped? If she had a ring, Id kiss it.

So whats on the menu? Thankfully, MailOnline has provided us with a handy graphic predicting our post-Brexit food future, and spoiler alert most of it is beige. I considered momentarily whether this was some kind of meta-commentary on the racism at the heart of the Brexit vision, but concluded that Brexiteers dont really do semiotics. Unless you count the post-referendum graffiti on the Polish cultural centre, or the National Front posters that appeared after the vote, or Farage standing in front of that Ukip billboard.

I dont know about you, but I for one am excited that pizza (dough is made from wheat varieties that thrive in other climates) is to be replaced with (checks menu) is that toast? And chips? Never mind. If I dont fancy a toast-and-chips extravaganza and my usual, house deposit-sapping avocados are rotting in a shipping container somewhere near Dover while a lorry driver defecates in a hedgerow, there is always (picks up menu again) egg on toast with a glass of milk. Oh.

Look, Ill put my cards on the table: I am the metropolitan elite. I like garlic in my food, and wine lots of wine. Wine made in France, where they have been making it for quite a while. Sort of know what they are doing, there, the French. It doesnt even irk me that they keep the best for themselves. Honestly, Im happy with a bog-standard Ctes du Rhne. My husband makes country wines, and it is as surprising as it is true, that you can make a rather nice tipple from parsnips, but you wouldnt want to drink it all the time, and I expect some of you will remain wedded to the grape (some friends I stayed with in Provence I told you: metropolitan elite were amused by the notion of parsnip wine. Direct quote: Mais, ce nest pas du vin, a).

Perhaps mead will make a comeback. Mead and (refers back to menu) mutton why does it all feel like the menu at a medieval banquet? The point is, Britain was not better before it joined the European Union, food-wise. My mother can still remember a time when yoghurt was not really a thing. My grandfather used to reminisce about being sent to Soho by a certain Mrs Cambruzzi who worked in the canteen at St Thomas hospital, so that he could make her famous spaghetti at home. It was the only part of London where you could source the ingredients.

European food has now enriched and enlivened our diets for so long that I really dont know how we could do without it. Supermarket spinach-and-ricotta tortellini is now the opium of the masses. The UK is the worlds largest importer of halloumi. Do we really want to face a future without squeaky cheese? What will vegetarians eat at BBQs? (The answer is: turnips.)

In some ways, those of us who have been students are prepared for the coming flavour famine. Ill never forget the time I ran out of money and had to eat the corned beef and tinned oysters from the back of the cupboard. I even resorted to stealing another girls instant noodles (yes, Sophia, it was me, I lied. I had the munchies). My flatmate and I once tried to make potato pancakes from a packet of Smash. What we ended up with was fried Smash. A fine accompaniment to mutton, I think youll agree.

Furthermore, thanks to Covid, we have already adopted a grandparents attitude to sellby dates. Ham looking a bit green? Just trim those bits off. Cheese gone a bit furry? Penicillin!

Best to start carb-loading on toast and chips now because, I dont know about you, but Im gearing up for the fight of my life. No Little Englander is taking my poisses away from me. So what if the house starts to go a bit pungent? Ill have six of those, please. Welcome to Supermarket Sweep.

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Goodbye pizza, hello toast. Welcome to your Brexit diet - The Guardian

Refinery 29 UK

Jupiter, computer artwork.There are many, many reasons 2020 went off the rails. But some would argue the planets played a pretty significant role. Starting with Jupiter: For the past year, the planet of abundance was in hard-working Capricorn, a supremely uncomfortable placement. Thats why were thrilled to learn that Jupiter will spend the next year in optimistic Aquarius a placement that astrologers are saying bodes very well for 2021.Jupiter resides in Aquarius from December 19 to May 13, dips into Pisces, then goes retrograde and moves back into the sign of the water bearer on July 28, where it will stay until December 28. Since Jupiter spends around a year in each sign, we havent felt this Aquarian energy from the healing planet in 12 years. And this year, we need it. Leaving the industrious and oppressive energy of Capricorn to welcome the individualistic, freedom-seeking energy of Aquarius has never felt so liberating, says Narayana Montfar, senior astrologer forAstrology.com.She explains that while Jupiter was in Capricorn, it wanted us to focus on achieving our goals and accumulating wealth which for many meant just making ends meet during a global pandemic. But in the progressive sign of the water bearer, its a different story. In Aquarius, the influence of Jupiter is more focused on the openness and expansion of the mind, the search for freedom, and the real value of individuality, Montfar says. Social activism, cooperation, and technology receive more attention, as we are encouraged to think outside the box and see the world from an us instead of a me perspective. In other words, Jupiter in Aquarius brings us some intense activist energy. Leslie Hale, psychic astrologer at Keen.com, agrees. She says Jupiter in Aquarius is futuristic, revolutionary, and concerned with fairness and justice. Jupiters expansive and freewheeling nature will work well in the sign that is associated with humanitarian interests, independence, freedom and innovation, she notes. This will be a time of enlightenment on many levels, an increase of knowledge and understanding especially in technology, medicine, the internet, global communications, and human freedoms with a bent toward solving ethical issues that involve us all. Think of it this way: 2020 got us fired up about many causes, from social justice to the climate crisis; 2021 will inspire us to take the actions needed to better our world. Well want to donate, protest, and learn more about the world around us. The planet of luck in activist Aquarius is exactly the energy we need to make things happen and move forward with change.The placement will affect us on a very intimate level as well. Well change our personal beliefs, which may revise the way we feel about our families and personal relationships, says astrologer Lisa Stardust. Yes, well be more compassionate and understanding but we will also be less affectionate. Aquarius isnt a touchy feely sign. Stardust says that loving people from a distance will be easy (good news, given that social distancing will still be enforced during the slow COVID vaccine rollout), but showing our affections on an interpersonal level will be difficult. Theres no need to force yourself to be cuddly, but knowing that this is a factor this year means its especially important to keep up communication with your loved ones in 2021, even if you stick to texts and Zooms. Saturn is currently in Aquarius too, and together the two planets are gearing up to form something called the Great Conjunction. This is a rare, powerful occurrence. The two planets last aligned in 2000, and the conjunction last happened in an air sign in 1980, Montfar explains. But during the placement, Saturn and Jupiter will both be closer to the Earth than theyve been since 1623. This conjunction will shift humanity from the materialistic and industrious energy of the Earth element (Capricorn) into the mental and humanistic approach of the air element (Aquarius), she says. So what do we need to do to take advantage of what astrologers are saying should be a very positive energetic shift at the end of 2020? Stay open, be flexible, listen to your intuition, and lean into your natural well of empathy, which may be feeling a little closer to the surface these days. Together, we have a chance to really turn things around next year.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Saturn Is In Aquarius For The First Time In YearsWhat Venus In Sagittarius Means For Your Love LifeYour December Horoscope Is Here

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5 essentials to have in your diet this holiday season - Yahoo Lifestyle UK

Whatever else weve learned from the race to come up with a COVID-19 vaccine, its clear that consumers depend on federal authorities to make sure the medicines we take are safe and effective.

So why do those same authorities all but shrug off the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements those over-the-counter herbal and holistic remedies intended to address potentially serious ailments?

These products are sold without any requirement for upfront evidence of effectiveness and without a need for regulatory approval prior to being offered to consumers.

While many if not most supplements are benign and pose no apparent health threat to the public, the largely free rein given to the $35-billion industry creates an unwelcome opportunity for unscrupulous businesspeople to indulge their worst tendencies.

Case in point: Checks worth a total of nearly $775,000 are currently being mailed to more than 13,000 consumers nationwide as part of a settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and a Colorado supplements company called AS Research.

The settlement involves a supplement called Synovia, intended to relieve arthritis and joint pain.

The FTC found that AS Research made misleading health claims and used phony testimonials, including one in which a user said he gave away his walker after using Synovia.

The complaint says theres no truth to AS Researchs claims that Synovia is clinically proven to significantly reduce arthritis pain and restore damaged cartilage.

It also says AS Research tried to get customers to upgrade to an enhanced version of Synovia for an extra $9.95 beyond the standard cost of nearly $70, including shipping, for a one-month supply.

In fact, the complaint says, Defendants ship the same product to all consumers, whether or not they pay an additional $9.95 per bottle.

An FTC spokesman told me about 10% of the Synovia settlement cash is going to California residents.

No one at AS Research responded to my requests for comment. The settlement says the owners of the company neither admit nor deny any of the allegations against them.

The practices described by the FTC are obviously skeevy. But weve seen a number of similar instances in recent years, and especially since the outset of the pandemic.

In one such case, I wrote in April about the FTC cracking down on a Los Angeles businessman named Marc Ching, whose company, Whole Leaf Organics, sold a supplement called Thrive that purportedly treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19.

The company represented that the benefits of Thrive are clinically or scientifically proven, the FTCs complaint says. In fact, there is no competent and reliable scientific evidence that Thrive or any of its ingredients treats, prevents or reduces the risk of COVID-19.

A Los Angeles Times investigation subsequently found that Ching allegedly engaged in troubling practices involving pet-related businesses and an animal-rescue charity.

The questionable supplements sold by both AS Research and Whole Leaf Organics could have been stopped in their tracks if the Food and Drug Administration required supplement makers to meet safety and efficacy requirements similar to those for makers of prescription drugs.

Pharmaceuticals have to undergo multiple tests and trials before theyre approved for use by consumers. The process typically takes years, although the urgency of finding a COVID vaccine accelerated things in a big way.

Supplements, on the other hand, are largely unregulated prior to hitting store shelves.

Manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements are responsible for ensuring that their products are safe and lawful, well-manufactured and properly labeled, and the FDA is authorized to take action when it identifies a violation, said Courtney Rhodes, a spokeswoman for the agency.

In other words, the FDA will weigh in only after a problem arises. The FTC, for its part, focuses on potentially deceptive marketing practices, which, again, typically come to light only after a product goes on sale.

Currently, the FDA has no systematic way of knowing what dietary supplement products are on the market, when new products are introduced or what they contain, Rhodes acknowledged.

The FDA has proposed strengthening its oversight of supplements, but Congress has shown no interest in giving it that power.

Thats clearly not good enough, as recent crackdowns demonstrate.

Daniel Fabricant, chief executive of the Natural Products Assn., a trade group representing the supplements industry, told me theres no need for supplements to be overseen as rigorously as prescription drugs.

They look like drugs, but theyre not drugs, he said. Thats like saying we should put orange juice through clinical trials to make sure it contains vitamin C.

Yeah, no.

Federal law says companies cant claim a supplement will cure an illness but they can say a supplement may be good for addressing certain conditions. For example, you cant say melatonin will cure insomnia but you can say it may help you get to sleep.

The problem is that, in the eyes of at least some consumers, this may be a distinction without a difference.

Walk through the supplements aisle of any big drugstore and its hard not to come away with the impression that the various bottles of pills have medicinal value.

At the very least, the FDA should require that supplement companies demonstrate upfront that their products can do what they say perhaps not as meticulously as testing for prescription drugs, but at least enough to satisfy modest safety concerns.

Cracking down after a health-related product reaches store shelves seems wholly inadequate.

Particularly at a time like this.

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Dietary supplements are largely unregulated. That's just dumb - Los Angeles Times

'Plant-based barbeque' might sound like an oxymoron, butserial entrepreneur, professional barbeque master, and American Royal winner Brian Rodgerswas weighing in around 300 pounds and eating meaty barbeque all day long. Then, he was diagnosed with six life-threatening diseases, turned to a plant-based diet,and transformed his health. Instead of ditching barbeque, he gave it a plant-forward makeover and used BBQ to help others live a healthier life.

In this episode of Awesome Vegans, Brian joins me to share his story of how he lost 140 pounds and created Fools Gold, a line of plant-based barbeque sauces and rubs for tofu, tempeh, sweet potatoes, and more. Brian was determined that if he had to give up meat, he would never have to give up the barbeque. Read on to see how Brian changed his life and adapted his passion to serve his health, and improve the health of others.

Here is a short excerpt from our longer interview, which you can watch below.

Brian Rodgers: I was 300 pounds about a year ago and, for everybody watching this, Im not 300 pounds. Now Im 160 pounds. Yay! So how it started for me: Im from Kansas City born and raised, home of barbeque! Ive been doing professional barbeque for over thirty years and won the American Royal actually, the largest barbeque contest in the world in 1999. So, Ive got a love for the barbeque chops!

I moved to Colorado, about two years ago, and I was still doing barbeque. However, I went to my doctor and I was diagnosed as being morbidly obese. I was 300 pounds. And I also got diagnosed with six life-threatening diseases. I was diagnosed with liver disease, with Despedida, I had severe hypertension. I even had a buffalo hump. I dont know if youve ever seen a buffalo how they have that little extra piece of fat behind their head. Well, humans can get that, too. I did not know that until I went to the doctor. I was diagnosed with buffalo hump, as well.

BR: Yes, yes it is.

BR: Its an actual diagnosis. Its related to several different diseases which- Im not a doctor, I dont even enjoy science or medicine. You have some amazing doctors on your show, Im sure they could tell you exactly what it is. But yeah, so its a fatty build-up behind your neck. I basically decided I was going to have to do something to change or I had to get gastric bypass surgery. Those were my two choices.

So, I went to the gastric bypass surgeon to see what that was all about. And he said, Were going to dissect your body. Were going to do all these different things to you. You could die, and then he dropped the bomb on me. He said, Now Brian, we talked a little bit before we started here and I know how much you love barbeque, and thats what you eat and youre a big foodie.

Im also a classically trained chef as well. He said, So I just want you to know that your taste buds are going to probably change. In fact, you probably wont like barbecue anymore. And that was it for me! That was it for me! That was the trigger!

BR: That was the trigger! He said I could die, you know and that was a lot, but giving up barbeque? I was not ready to do that. So, I started the next day, I went cold tofurky. I havent eaten a piece of meat since. I dont do dairy, I dont really do oil too much. I just stopped eating salt for the most part. And I went on a mission to see if I could still eat [plant-based] barbeque and here I am. I lost 120 pounds and I reversed all six diseases within six months of that first appointment. And now Ive gone on to lose another 20 so Ive lost 140 pounds since Ive started. Im maintaining it and Im still eating [plant-based] barbeque.

EA: Oh, I love this! I want to step back. First of all, shout out to the human body. We can abuse it for decades and sometimes knowingly we dive into the bag of chips and we know were being bad, and we try to retreat. Sometimes unknowingly, meat and dairy are served to us as healthy foods and so we dont even know that were doing something bad for the body literally since were weaned from our mothers. We are talking about decades of abuse. Listen to that! In six months, your body bounces back. Im incredulous and in awe of what the human body can do.

So, when you start to shift the Titanic and you say, Okay, no more meat because I dont want to go under the knife, and I dont want to die either. Im just going to do food as medicine. You decide that the easiest way to do this, the lowest hanging fruitis to change what I eat. Did you have any trip-ups, pitfalls, anything that kind of set you back a little bit? Or was it smooth sailing the whole way?

BR: Oh, every day is still [a challenge]. I got to tell you it was a lot easier to lose the weight and reverse the disease than it was to get it. I worked really hard at putting that 300 pounds on. And Ive been fighting childhood obesity since I was eight years old.Thats what Im all about. Thats what my foundation is. Fools Gold barbeque, thats what we do. All the things we do is about fighting the incredible disease of childhood obesity.

Ive been [personally] fighting it since I was eight years old and nothings ever worked. So, do I have trip-ups? Every single day. Every day its still a challenge. But Ive met so many incredible people that I didnt even realize this whole world of plant-based and veganism existed until I stepped into it. But yeah, challenges every single day. Every single day I want to do something that I know is not right for my body and its not an easy journey, particularly when you lose as much weight as I did. Its a mental challenge, too.

So, I mean I still look in the mirror sometimes and still see my old 300-pound self. Its a crazy thing, your brain takes a little bit to catch up with you. And my doctor is always telling me, Brian thats going to go away. Brian thats going to go away. But its really weird when your wife says, Brian youre 160 pounds and you walk past a store or in a mirror and you see a 300-pound man. I mean, I dont know if youve seen my before and after pictures, but its pretty dramatic.

So, yeah, its a battle. Its a battle every day but its a great battle. It is such an amazing battle that Ive dropped everything else. Ive had a lot of successes in my life. I sold a company to one of the big credit bureaus and made a lot of money. Now Ive dropped everything else and Im on a mission. Im on a mission to kind of be the lead generation aspect of plant-based and plant-based barbeque!

Not everyone can go cold Tofurky, like Brian, but Brian shows us that just because you give up meat and dairy, doesnt mean you have to give up taste! And I can vouch for this! Barbeque tofu, tempeh, and sweet potatoes are the bomb! You can find recipes here.

For the full interview, click here.

Elysabeth Alfano is a plant-based business consultant and helps people transition to a plant-based diet. Follow her @ElysabethAlfano on all platforms and at ElysabethAlfano.com

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This Expert Grill Master Lost 140 Pounds on a Plant-Based Diet - The Beet

This Morning: Type 2 diabetes can be 'devastating' says expert

A healthy diet is important for a healthy life, as stated by the old saying, You are what you eat. This is even more important in todays world where diabetes and obesity are a worldwide pandemic. According to the International Diabetes Federation 8th Diabetes Atlas, about 425 million people worldwide have diabetes and, if the current trends continue, 629 million of people aged 2079 will have diabetes by 2045. With these shocking statistics finding ways to help with better treatment is imperative. Studies and health experts agree that a low carb diet helps to lower blood sugar for better treatment and management.

Normally, when a person eats carbohydrates they are broken down into small units of glucose, which end up as blood sugar.

In healthy people, blood sugar levels remain within a narrow range throughout the day.

In type 2 diabetes however, this system doesnt work the way it is supposed to.

The actual amount that you need to eat will depend on your age, activity levels and the goals you are trying to achieve.

READ MORE:Diabetes symptoms type 2: Experiencing polydipsia when drinking is a warning sign

In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, low carb and ketogenic diets and how they affect type 2 diabetes was investigated.

The study noted: According to an alternative view, dietary components have a main role in producing hormonal responses that cause obesity, and certain types of carbohydrate can alter the homeostatic mechanism that limits weight loss.

The carbohydrate-insulin model (CIM) of obesity hypothesizes that a high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet causes postprandial hyperinsulinemia that promotes fat deposition and decreases circulating metabolic fuels (glucose and lipids), thereby increasing hunger and slowing the whole-body metabolic rate.

Insulin is the most potent anabolic hormone that promotes glucose uptake into tissues, suppresses release of fatty acid from adipose tissue, inhibits production of ketones from liver and stimulates fat and glycogen deposition.

Dietary carbohydrates are the main driving force for insulin secretion and are heterogeneous in their glycaemic index (GI) (an index of how fast blood glucose rises after their ingestion), and glycaemic load (GL) (derived from carbohydrate amount and glycaemic index).

As carbohydrates are the main source of glucose, reducing their intake may lead to a decrease in insulin requirements, an improvement in insulin sensitivity and a reduction of post-prandial glycaemia.

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In another study published in The Association of UK Dieticians, low carbohydrate diets for the management of type 2 diabetes in adults was analysed.

The study noted: The role and the amounts of carbohydrate in foods as part of the diet of people with type 2 diabetes is often misunderstood and has been questioned in recent years.

Low carbohydrate diets have been regarded as an effective option for people with type 2 diabetes since the publication of the Diabetes UK Guidelines in 2011 (Dyson 2011a) with the recently updated Diabetes UK guidelines reiterating this recommendation (Diabetes UK 2018).

Low-carbohydrate diets (i.e., defined as diets containing between 50g and 130g carbohydrate) can be effective in managing weight, improving glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes in the short term i.e., less than 12 months (Diabetes UK 2018).

This is probably due to the accompanying reduction in energy (calorie) intake and subsequent weight loss (Diabetes UK 2018).

When considering a low carbohydrate diet as an option, people with diabetes who are on certain drugs including insulin should be made aware of possible side effects such as the risk of hypoglycaemia or in rare cases ketoacidosis; it is important that individuals on such treatments should be supported by doctors and dietitians to manage such risks which may involve adjusting medication.

Doctor David Cavan said: I have witnessed a big outcome in many of my patients since I started recommending carbohydrate restriction a few years ago.

"The effect of changing the diet in this way is far mar dramatic than any medication, including insulin.

"And some people, who had been on insulin for many years to treat their type 2 diabetes, have even been able to come out altogether.

Top tips for following the low-carb rule include:

Reduce or eliminate the amount of sugar and high-carb foods which include breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, white potatoes, rice, crackers, biscuits, sweets, and fizzy drinks.

Try to load up every meal with non-starchy and salad vegetables such as kale, lettuce, broccoli, mushrooms, or peppers.

Eat good fats, including oily fish, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, and animal fats. Also include nuts and cheese in moderation.

Try carbohydrate alternatives such as quinoa or cauliflower as a substitute or rice and zucchinis for an alternative for pasta.

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Type 2 diabetes treatment: Low carb diet has proven to be effective at lowering your risk - Express

Credit: Karl Reinhard / Scott Schrage.

A native American who lived in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands of Texas between 1,000 and 1,400 years ago had one of the worst cases of constipation in the annals of medicine. Due to an infection, the mans colon swelled to six times its normal size, which made it impossible to digest normal food properly.

Ultimately, the man died of this horrific disease, known as megacolon. Centuries later, his remains, mummified by the arid conditions, were found in a rock shelter close to the junction between the Rio Grande and Pecos Rivers in South Texas.

But this story also has a positive side to it. Upon analyzing the mummy, scientists have found that during the last two to three months of his life, the man ate a diet of grasshoppers whose legs had been removed. Since his condition must have made it almost impossible to walk and procure food for himself, its likely that the man was fed by somebody else, perhaps family or other members of his community. Its one of the earliest bits of evidence of hospice care.

They were taking off the legs, said Karl Reinhard, professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of NebraskaLincoln. So they were giving him mostly the fluid-rich body the squishable part of the grasshopper. In addition to being high in protein, it was pretty high in moisture. So it would have been easier for him to eat in the early stages of his megacolonexperience.

The Skiles mummy from Texas, named after Guy Skiles, the person who first discovered it in 1937, had been stored in various private and public museums. More recently, in 2003, Reinhard and colleagues published a study in which they reported that the mummy contained 1,2 kilograms (2.6 pounds) of feces in its huge colon, along with a large quantity of unprocessed food. This led the researchers to conclude that the unfortunate man was infected with the parasite-borne Chagas disease and suffered from severe malnourishment due to the fact that his body was unable to process food.

In their new study, Reinhards team revisited the Skiles mummy, this time using scanning electron microscopy, which offered new clues about the mans diet during his twilight days.

The researchers examined phytoliths, tiny plant tissue structures that remain intact even after the rest of the plant decays and which are so robust they normally survive the rough, bumpy ride through the human intestinal tract. But in the case of this mummy, the researchers were astonished by the phytoliths found inside it.

The phytoliths were split open, crushed. And that means there was incredible pressure that was exerted on a microscopic level in this guys intestinal system, which highlights even more the pathology that was exhibited here, Reinhard said. I think this is unique in the annals of pathology this level of intestinal blockage and the pressure thats associated withit.

This most recent analysis of the Skiles mummy will appear in a forthcoming chapter of The Handbook of Mummy Studies, which also includes best practices for preparing and analyzing the contents of mummified intestines.

In the same handbook, Reinhard also described two other mummies who also received special care during their last days. One of the mummies belongs to a 5 to 6-year-old child who was buried between 500 and 1,000 years ago in Arizonas Ventana Cave by the Hohokam people. The third mummy, of an even younger child, was buried roughly 750 years ago in southern Utah.

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Scientists find a fatal case of constipation in 1,000-year-old mummy with grasshopper diet - ZME Science

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you James Allen.

The mind the invisible, transcendent world of thought, feeling, attitude, belief and imagination is unlimited in potential. To be utilized effectively and not be a waste when the need arises to cope with lifes challenges and adversity with matters of health, business, family, government, etc., it requires a daily diet of some paramount ingredients, i.e., positivity, hope, optimism, faith, confidence. Just as filling your car with gas allows it to drive and saturating your heart with love spreads kindness, thronging your mind with good vibes produces a healthier impact on your quality of life despite the circumstances.

The minds a terrible thing to waste, so dont. Instead, fill it with superlative thoughts to strongly (and safely) forge toward a non-pandemic tomorrow.

Dianne ScottDover

The Opinion page is populated with letters from you, our readers. The Delaware State News was founded on and still is dedicated to the basic principle of civilly and respectfully sharing ideas to create a better community for us all. To submit a letter to the editor, visit the Submit a Letter page.

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