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Nearing 24 hours of election coverage, TV news anchors are running on fumes and Diet Coke – Poynter

Posted: November 5, 2020 at 1:55 am

Do these folks ever sleep? Thats the question we all had as we tuned into network coverage of this Election Day Continued.

Many saw anchors such as NBCs Lester Holt and ABCs George Stephanopoulos when they shut off their TVs late Tuesday night and then saw them again when they turned on their TVs Wednesday morning.

Consider this exchange on Fox News when Dana Perino asked Bill Hemmer if he got any sleep.

Hemmer said, Forty-five minutes. What about you?

Perino said, I doubled that. But I have to tell you, that hour-and-a-half sleep that I had was like nothing I think I dont think Ive ever experienced a deep sleep like that.

Hemmer said, Were running on fumes. The thing about our industry Dana, and you know it very well, when there is information, when there is data, when the story is changing, you can run on adrenaline for a long time. Its those periods where you hit the walls and nothing is new and you start to think Hmm, whats next? And thats when you feel it.

But all on-air personalities on all networks seemed to be going strong, even in the middle of the night, even after 16 or 17 hours of being on the air. Holt told me last week that he was bringing an extra suit, and by Wednesday morning, he had changed into that suit.

Steve Kornacki, MSNBCs map guy, had been up for more than 24 hours, according to The Washington Posts Jeremy Barr. Kornacki even posted a video on Twitter to thank everyone for their kind words. Barr also reported that CNNs map guru, John King, left the studio at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning, slept for about two hours and then was back on the air by 11 a.m. As I mentioned above, Hemmer slept for 45 minutes, as did NBCs Chuck Todd.

How do they do it? Sounds like lots of caffeine is involved. Kornacki told GQs Gabriella Paiella before the coverage that hes all about the Diet Cokes.

Way too many and too many to count, Kornacki told Paniella. On a normal day, Ill have a couple. But on election night, I just keep it nearby and Im just kind of regularly using it. These days (people) all tell you, Oh, do you know whats in that? And I say, Well, no I dont.

Poynter is providing around-the-clock coverage and analysis of the 2020 election.Follow along on our live blogfor more.

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Nearing 24 hours of election coverage, TV news anchors are running on fumes and Diet Coke - Poynter

Building Resilience: Five Simple Steps to Thrive – Flagstaff Business & Online News | Northern Arizona Local Newspaper – Flagstaff Business News

Posted: November 5, 2020 at 1:55 am

My friends, winter is coming. Between flu season and being in the midst of a global pandemic, its really easy to get sucked into the fear narrative, get angry at the behaviors of others, and feel powerless to do anything.

Realistically, none of us can control other peoples behavior. We cant stop people from having big family gatherings, packing bars or attending large events. We cant control whether or not people practice social distancing or mask wearing, either.

But, do you know what you can do? You can be cautious with your own behavior and you can take control over your own health and build resiliency. Because, real talk, many of us will contract COVID-19 or influenza. Its our job and our responsibility to make sure our health is in tip-top shape so that our immune systems can tackle any virus that comes along.

So, how does someone go about building resilience? These are the top five strategies I use with both myself and my patients.

Take out the dietary trash. Food plays a huge role in, well, everything! Generally, I advise patients to eat food that looks like it did when it came from the farm. Or at least as close as you can get. If you need a chemistry degree to read a food label, look for something that is closer to real food, because what you have in your hand is too processed. Soda (regular and diet) and sugary foods need to go out the door, too. And alcohol has been a big problem for many people ever since our movements have been more restricted by the pandemic. It needs to be used minimally, if at all.

Get moving. Body composition plays a large role in the inflammatory and immune response. Adipose (fat) cells are, by nature, more inflammatory and people with a lot of adipose tissue will have a poorer response to both influenza and COVID-19 infection. Building muscle and losing fat can be a huge benefit for the immune system and pretty much any system in the body. There are a few exceptions, but I recommend at least a few sessions with a personal trainer for patients so that they dont injure themselves in the pursuit of fitness. Luckily, we have many fantastic personal trainers in Flagstaff who can get you off the couch and moving.

Modulate your stress response. Feeling fearful and stressed can contribute to depression and anxiety, tank the immune system, and contribute to weight gain. Those fight or flight hormones arent designed to be elevated all the time, but we have a lot of tripwires in our world that will trigger stress and fear. Common triggers are social media, news intake, school and work. Take a good look at your triggers, because some are controllable and some arent. Do you need a social media fast? News diet? Or do you need to see a counselor or other health professional to learn some tools to manage how you respond to work or school stress?

Socialize. We humans are social animals and our immune systems know it! Too much time alone isnt healthy for humans and there are safe ways to socialize in the midst of a pandemic. I have heard some great ways that my patients have been able to get creative and see family and friends safely. Being outdoors and distanced is a pretty simple and relatively safe way to maintain those vital connections.

Targeted nutrients can help. I cant recommend nutrients in this article, but I do recommend nutrients for patients if they have any gaps in their diet or they need specialized support. I do a detailed intake on patients before putting them on supplements or medications. But, I will say this, because I can never say it enough: You cant out-supplement or out-medicate a poor diet and lifestyle.

I want to finish this article by telling you about a patient I recently saw who really impressed me as an example of building resilience by taking a few simple steps. I saw this patients annual blood work results before she came in for her visit and her labs were greatly improved over the previous years labs. Her inflammatory markers were lower, her Vitamin D levels were improved, and her blood sugar had decreased. I was excited to speak with her and hear what changes she had made. When she got to my office for her physical, I found she had lost 50 pounds! Want to know how she did it? She cut sugar, including soda, out of her diet and started walking every day. Thats it. Those two simple changes she made drastically increase her chances of surviving COVID-19 or influenza if she ends up being exposed. I know you can get your health house in order and build resilience, too! FBN

By Amber Belt, ND

Amber Belt, N.D. is a naturopathic physician with sharp regenerative injection skills, a roller derby enthusiast, a business owner, an animal lover and a Flagstaff devotee. She has been performing regenerative injections for 12 years and can be contacted via aspenmedcenter.com or at 928-213-5828.

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Building Resilience: Five Simple Steps to Thrive - Flagstaff Business & Online News | Northern Arizona Local Newspaper - Flagstaff Business News

Tips to improve your life with a healthy lifestyle Film Daily – Film Daily

Posted: November 5, 2020 at 1:55 am

Are you fed up with restless nights and drowsy days? Does life seem to have come at a standstill, and nothing improves or gets worse? Has your happiness become a little less joyful? Are you frequently feeling under the cloud?

If your answer to two or more of these questions is yes, then youre at the right place looking for answers. But before we move any forward, pat yourself on the back for trying to improve. Most people dont even do that!

Health and lifestyle are more interconnected than you know. Improving one naturally improves the other, but how do you do that? Well, its not that easy, and its not that difficult either. Its how you look at it. And to make it easier for you to improve your health and lifestyle, here are a few tips that will be of help.

Declining health and lifestyle are indicators of a lack of motivation. And to make any changes in your lifestyle, you need a solid source of inspiration. Your motivation may come from your family, yourself, or your career, but it has to be something.

You arrive at his point in life for different reasons. Maybe youve lost a motivating force in life (breakup or separation), or youve achieved the goals you had set for yourself. So, what now?

In either case, you need to set a different source of motivation for yourself. Instead of spiraling in negative thoughts and emotions, make out what you really want. Do you dream of buying a fancy house in the better parts of town? Or is it a new car that you cant get your mind off? Or is it to settle down in life and start a family?

The thing that you want the most right now is ideal to find motivation for. Once you have your eyes on the prize, you will be much more focused and determined to make your way. And this is what will bring a shift in your lifestyle. Before all else, such motivation will drive you to improve other aspects of your life as well. It causes a chain reaction and is your first step towards improvement.

Coming over to taking care of your health, nothing fits in perfectly than exercise and working out. Research shows that people who exercise daily live better and fulfilled lives. And that can be attributed to the numerous health benefits it has. It is a major lifestyle change and positive in all entirety.

When you lose motivation in life and welcome stress, your physical activity sees a decline as well. Instead of walking, you prefer lying on the couch, and even getting the lights seems to be one hell of a chore at times.

And due to inactivity, you start experiencing pains in your body and become more vulnerable to catching a cold. But when you pick up where you left off in your physical activities, you immediately turn the tables around.

Working out helps improve your mobility, so you dont feel the annoying neck pain or backache. It improves your metabolism, so you have enough and more sustained energy throughout the day. Also, it boosts your immunity, so youre less vulnerable to seasonal illnesses. And the list goes on to cover mental health benefits and treating chronic diseases.

However, it is also one of the most challenging lifestyle changes to make. And it is not the starting out thats the tricky part. It is sustaining it for the long-term that takes planning and willpower.

A mistake that most people make when starting to work out is expecting quick results. And that compels them to resort to the more aggressive forms of exercise and high-intensity workouts. These are not only difficult to keep up with but impossible to make a lifestyle out of.

To reap the maximum benefits of exercise and have it stick with you for life, start with something that you can easily do. If it is walking, running, swimming, rowing, dancing, or playing a sport, start with it right away! You can then later scale up the intensity or frequency as you see fit. This way, you wont scare yourself away from the workouts and will have a habit of life.

Diet is often an excellent place to start your lifestyle change journey. Indulged in the digital age distractions, we have forgotten about the impact food makes in our life.

Unhealthy eating habits lead to several chronic illnesses like diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions. It is a risk to your life and takes a heavy toll on your mental health. The more junk you eat, the worse you feel through the days of your life. Replacing tacos with a can of beans is too far a shot and is certainly not what I intend to say. So, stay away from the crash diets and, instead, make up a plan for yourself.

You can also add a few food supplements or relaxants to your diet to meet the nutritional requirement. Relaxants CBD buds or herbal teas help you calm down and unwind after a hard days work. They allow you to recover your energy efficiently, so you dont run out of gas the next day at work.

You can buy yourself carious hemp products from a CBD wholesale that helps fight depression and anxiety. Other than that, you can include multiple herbs like rosemary and cinnamon in your meals to keep your health and lifestyle in check.

Sometimes, when life gets too bland, having a change of environment helps you recover better. Going on a vacation, attending a family wedding, making it to your high-school reunion, or spending the weekend with friends are excellent examples of giving yourself a break.

It is only natural to assume that you need a dose of enjoyment after a harsh episode of work. Youve bottled up your emotions for a while, and now is the best time to let them out.

Maybe you can figure your stuff out better when on vacation. Youll have more time to think about your motivation and blessings in life. And more than that, youll have all the time to make a plan and set a deadline for your goals. Taking a break from your normal routine is highly therapeutic and useful in introducing your lifestyle change.

Last but not least, you have to make sure that you act much more frequently on the changes in your life that youve outlined for yourself.

It is essential to remember that lifestyle changes are not temporary. They are permanent. Like brushing your teeth every morning, nobody looks up to it really, but everyone does it because it has to be done.

The more frequently you perform new activities in your life, the bigger difference you will see in how things turn out to be. However, frequency does not mean high intensity. So, dont plan on taking the bulls share of work in a single day. Be lenient on yourself and remind yourself to take one step at a time. And no matter how small that step might be, it is still making a significant change in your life.

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Tips to improve your life with a healthy lifestyle Film Daily - Film Daily

Urine test reveals quality of your diet — and whether it’s the best fit for your body – Jill Lopez

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

Scientists have completed large-scale tests on a new type of five-minute urine test that measures the health of a person's diet, and produces an individual's unique urine 'fingerprint'.

Scientists at Imperial College London in collaboration with colleagues at Northwestern University, University of Illinois, and Murdoch University, analysed levels of 46 different so-called metabolites in the urine of 1,848 people in the U.S.

Metabolites are considered to be an objective indicator of diet quality - and are produced as different foods are digested by the body, say the research team, who published their findings in the journalNature Food.

The work was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and Health Data Research UK.

Dr Joram Posma, author of the research from Imperial's Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction said: "Diet is a key contributor to human health and disease, though it is notoriously difficult to measure accurately because it relies on an individual's ability to recall what and how much they ate. For instance, asking people to track their diets through apps or diaries can often lead to inaccurate reports about what they really eat. This research reveals this technology can help provide in-depth information on the quality of a person's diet, and whether it is the right type of diet for their individual biological make-up."

The findings revealed an association between 46 metabolites in urine, and types of foods or nutrients in the diet. For instance, certain metabolites correlated with alcohol intake, while others were linked to intake of citrus fruit, fructose (fruit sugar), glucose and vitamin C. The team also found metabolites in urine associated with dietary intake of red meats, other meats such as chicken, and nutrients such as calcium. Certain metabolites were also linked with health conditions - for instance compounds found in urine such as formate and sodium (an indicator of salt intake) are linked with obesity and high blood pressure.

Professor Paul Elliott, study co-author and Chair in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine at Imperial said: "Through careful measurement of people's diets and collection of their urine excreted over two 24-hour periods we were able to establish links between dietary inputs and urinary output of metabolites that may help improve understanding of how our diets affect health. Healthful diets have a different pattern of metabolites in the urine than those associated with worse health outcomes."

In a second study also published inNature Foodby the same Imperial team, in collaboration with Newcastle University, Aberystwyth University, and Murdoch University and funded by the National Institute for Health Research, the Medical Research Council and Health Data Research UK, the team used this technology to develop a five-minute test to reveal that the mix of metabolites in urine varies from person to person.

The team says the technology, which produces an individual's urine 'fingerprint', could enable people to receive healthy eating advice tailored to their individual biological make-up. This is known as "precision nutrition", and could provide health professionals with more specific information on the quality of a person's diet.

Dr Isabel Garcia-Perez, author of the research also from Imperial's Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction explained: "Our technology can provide crucial insights into how foods are processed by individuals in different ways - and can help health professionals such as dieticians provide dietary advice tailored to individual patients."

Dr Garcia-Perez added that the team now plan to use the diet analysis technology on people at risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers say this urine 'fingerprint' can be used to develop an individual's personal score - called the Dietary Metabotype Score, or DMS.

In their experiments, the team asked 19 people to follow four different diets - ranging from very healthy (following 100 per cent of World Health Organisation recommendations for a balanced diet), to unhealthy (following 25 per cent WHO diet recommendations).

The team found that people who strictly followed the same diet had varied DMS scores.

The team's work also revealed that the higher a person's DMS score, the healthier their diet. A higher DMS score was also found to be associated with lower blood sugar, and a higher amount of energy excreted from the body in urine.

The team found the difference between high energy urine (i.e. high DMS score) and low energy urine (low DMS score) was equivalent to someone with a high DMS score losing an extra 4 calories a day, or 1,500 calories a year. The team calculate this could translate to a difference of 215g of body fat per year.

The next step is to investigate how a person's urine metabolite fingerprint may link to a person's risk of conditions such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Professor Gary Frost, co-author of the research and Chair in Nutrition and Dietetics at Imperial said: "These findings bring a new and more in-depth understanding to how our bodies process and use food at the molecular level. The research brings into question whether we should re-write food tables to incorporate these new metabolites that have biological effects in the body."

Professor John Mathers, co-author of research and Director of the Human Nutrition Research Centre at Newcastle University said: "We show here how different people metabolise the same foods in highly individual ways. This has implications for understanding the development of nutrition-related diseases and for more personalised dietary advice to improve public health."

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Urine test reveals quality of your diet -- and whether it's the best fit for your body - Jill Lopez

A heart-healthy diet doesn’t need to be low in fat – KXLY Spokane

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

November 2, 2020 2:15 PM

Posted: November 2, 2020 2:15 PM

Updated: November 3, 2020 5:37 AM

Recently, a Harvard Heart Letter reader emailed to say he was puzzled by a statement in the July issue namely, the one saying that low-fat diets dont seem to prevent heart disease. Dont most major health organizations, including the American Heart Association, recommend a low-fat diet? he asked.

Yes, they did for more than 40 years. But over the past decade, the American Heart Association, the federal dietary guidelines and other nutrition authorities have shifted away from advising people to limit the total amount of fat in their diets.

Instead, the focus is on an overall healthy dietary pattern. That means an eating style that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans, along with only modest or small amounts of meat, dairy, eggs, and sweets, says Dr. Eric Rimm, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

The reality is that eating more whole or minimally processed, plant-based foods will naturally lower your intake of fat, especially saturated fat. Found mainly in meat and dairy products, saturated fat can boost levels of harmful LDL cholesterol, a key contributor to heart disease. But simply cutting back on all types of fat does not necessarily translate into a diet that lowers cardiovascular risk.

Starting in the 1980s, when food manufacturers and consumers cut the fat from their products and diets, they replaced it with refined carbohydrates. People filled up on bread, pasta, low-fat chips and cookies, and low-fat sweetened yogurt. Eating lots of these highly processed carbohydrates floods your bloodstream with sugar, triggering a release of insulin to clear the sugar from your blood. But that can push your blood sugar too low, leaving you hungry again after just a few hours, which encourages overeating and weight gain. Whats more, a steady diet of these unhealthy carbs can eventually impair your bodys ability to respond to insulin, which can lead to diabetes. Both obesity and diabetes are closely linked to a heightened risk of heart disease.

But eating too many refined carbs wasnt the only problem. Avoiding unsaturated fats those found in nuts, seeds, olives, avocados, and fish isnt necessary. Not only do these foods make your meals more satisfying and tasty, unsaturated fat promotes cardiovascular health.

Some physicians advocate an ultra-low-fat diet, which includes just 10% of calories from fat. This diet excludes all animal-based products (such as meat, poultry, dairy, and fish), as well as refined carbohydrates (including white flour, white sugar, and even fruit juice).

But it also shuns some healthier unsaturated fats, including added oils and high-fat, plant-based foods such as avocados and nuts. Small studies have shown that this eating pattern may actually reverse the buildup of cholesterol-clogged plaque in the arteries.

At least some of that benefit may stem from the abundant fiber and other nutrients in the diets copious amounts of vegetables, beans, and whole grains, all of which are fairly scarce in the typical American diet. The only problem with an ultra-low-fat vegan diet is that its very challenging for most people to stick to over the long term. If you are among the 1% of people who can, may the Force be with you, says Dr. Rimm.

For everyone else, a Mediterranean-style diet offers the best of both worlds: a plant-centric diet thats not overly restrictive. The Mediterranean diet doesnt require extreme eating habits that make it difficult to socialize with other people, he says. Whats more, he adds, it tastes good and has the best evidence from long-term clinical studies for lowering a persons risk of heart disease.

To ease into this eating style, look over these suggestions from registered dietitian Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital. Choose one, try it for a week, then gradually add more changes over time, she advises.

Switch from whatever fats you use now to extravirgin olive oil. Start by using olive oil when cooking, including in salad dressings. Try swapping olive oil for butter on crusty bread.

Have salad every day. Choose crisp, dark greens and whatever vegetables are in season.

Go nuts. Instead of a bag of chips or cookies, have a handful of raw nuts as a healthy snack.

Add more whole grains to your meals. Experiment with bulgur, barley, farro, brown rice, and whole-grain pasta. Select dense, chewy, country-style bread without added sugar or butter.

Add a variety of vegetables to your menus. Add an extra serving of vegetables to both lunch and dinner, aiming for three to four servings a day. Try a new vegetable every week.

Eat at least three servings of legumes a week. Options include lentils, chickpeas, pinto beans, and black beans.

Eat less meat. Choose lean poultry in moderate, 3- to 4-ounce portions. Save red meat for occasional consumption or use meat as a condiment, accompanied by lots of vegetables, as in stews, stir-fries, and soups. Eat more fish, aiming for two servings a week. Both canned and fresh fish are fine.

Cut out sugary beverages. Replace soda and juices with water.

Eat fewer high-fat, high-sugar desserts. Fresh fruit or poached fruit is best. Aim for three servings of fresh fruit a day. Save cakes and pastries for special occasions.

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A heart-healthy diet doesn't need to be low in fat - KXLY Spokane

The inflammatory potential of diet is tied to Crohn’s disease risk but not to ulcerative colitis, suggests a new observational study – Gut Microbiota…

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

Environmental factors involving diet may play an important role in the onset and development of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), especially in their early stages. That is because of the involvement of dietary patterns and nutrients in shaping inflammatory responses that become detrimental if they persist over the long term.

A new nationwide cohort study shows the association between the inflammatory potential of diet and risk of Crohns disease.

The authors used an empirical dietary inflammatory score, derived by weighting food groups based on their relationship with plasma inflammatory markers (i.e., C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor a receptor 2), to explore the link between dietary inflammatory potential and risk of incident IBD.

A new nationwide cohort study shows the association between the inflammatory potential of diet and risk of Crohns disease

The index assesses the inflammatory potential of diet and is the weighted sum of 18 food groups based on food frequency questionnaire data, with higher scores indicating proinflammatory diets (e.g., processed and red meat, some fish, refined grains and high-energy beverages) and lower scores indicating anti-inflammatory diets (e.g., dark yellow and green leafy vegetables, tea, coffee, beer and wine).

The sample under study consisted of 328 cases of incident Crohns disease and 428 cases of incident ulcerative colitis from 3 large prospective cohorts in the United States.

Dietary patterns with high inflammatory potential were associated with increased risk of Crohns disease, compared with participants who showed a high intake of foods with lower inflammatory potential.

The authors also examined whether change in dietary inflammatory potential could affect the risk of IBD. Participants who shifted from a low to a high inflammatory potential diet and those who usually consumed a proinflammatory diet showed a greater risk of Crohns disease, compared with participants who persistently consumed a diet with low inflammatory potential.

Dietary patterns with high inflammatory potential were associated with increased risk of Crohns disease

In contrast, different levels of dietary inflammatory potential were not linked to risk of ulcerative colitis.

On the whole, the current study highlights the importance of diet in the development of Crohns disease by modulating inflammatory mechanisms. Although more mechanistic data and intervention controlled studies are needed, the findings show that what you eat is an important modifiable factor in IBD prevention.

Reference:

Lo CH, Lochhead P, Khalili H, et al. Dietary inflammatory potential and risk of Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Gastroenterology. 2020;159(3):873-883. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.011.

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The inflammatory potential of diet is tied to Crohn's disease risk but not to ulcerative colitis, suggests a new observational study - Gut Microbiota...

David Beckham Shows Off His Vegan Cooking Skills on Instagram – The Beet

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

Just a little over a month ago, power coupleDavid and Victoria Beckhamrevealed to theircombined 93 million followers that they are eating meat-free, and "enjoying it." The world-famous soccer superstarthen appeared in a virtual call on IGTV with Sir David Attenborough to discuss the ways we can help the planet and asked:"If you had one message to our children about the future of our world, what would it be?"

Looks like he is still at it. Over the weekend, Beckham cooked up a vegan casserole withplant-based ingredients, includinggreens, green beans, broccolini, wholegrain mustard, andfollowed it with a batch of delicious-looking homemade dumplings. A big thanks to PlantBasedNews for capturing the moment in the below footage from Beckham's Instagram.

Meanwhile, spice girlturned fashion designer Victoria Beckhamhas eaten a mostly plant-based diet with the exception of her daily supplements. However, when they both revealed their meat-free switch, Victoria noted that she is about to try a line of vegan products. "So I really like this brand," as she shows off the label on her IG story which states Puori protein and vitamin supplements."I have been taking supplements for quite some time, she adds, "so I am going to try the new vegan products, and these are targeting people who have a plant-based diet, which I actually do have, so I am really excited to try it."

Any step toward a veggie-forward or plant-leaning diet is a win-win for the planet, your health, and the animals. We're rooting for the Beckhams to keep going and their fans to leap into the game.

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David Beckham Shows Off His Vegan Cooking Skills on Instagram - The Beet

How is red meat linked to cancer? – Medical News Today

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

Over the years, scientists have demonstrated an association between red and processed meats and cancer. However, they are still unpicking the mechanisms that drive this relationship.

The authors of a recent study, which appears in BMC Medicine, argue that at least part of the answer might lie in an immune interaction.

Nutrition and dietary habits play pivotal roles in a wide range of health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Red meats and processed meats have each received a fair amount of attention in this regard. Both have been implicated in cancer risk, but how they exert their influence is up for debate. As the authors of the latest study explain:

Although various mechanistic explanations have been proposed, [such as a] high energy/fat diet, N-nitroso, nitrates, nitrites, heme iron, [and] compounds produced by gut microbiome or during cooking, none seems to be specific to red meat or dairy.

The authors point to tentative evidence that N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) might be a risk factor for colorectal cancer.

Neu5Gc is a carbohydrate, or sugar, present in foods derived from mammals, and it is abundant in red meat and dairy. It occurs at low levels in some fish but is absent from poultry.

Humans cannot synthesize Neu5Gc, but when we consume it, small amounts accumulate on cell surfaces. When immune cells encounter this nonhuman material, it triggers the production of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies. Studies have shown that humans have a wide range of these antibodies.

Scientists have also found evidence that long-term exposure to these antibodies promotes inflammation and cancer in animal models. However, they have yet to identify any clear effect of eating mammalian products on levels of these antibodies.

As these anti-Neu5Gc antibodies travel around the body, they bump into Neu5Gc on cell surfaces, sparking inflammation. Experts believe that this, in turn, exacerbates cancer, because cancer cells tend to have higher levels of Neu5Gc on their surfaces.

In one study, researchers demonstrated an association between levels of circulating Neu5Gc antibodies and colorectal cancer risk. However, the level of antibodies was not associated with red meat intake.

Now, the latest study has set out to unpick the relationship between a persons diet and their levels of Neu5Gc once and for all.

In the study, a group of scientists most from Tel Aviv University, in Israel, or the Sorbonne Paris Cit Epidemiology and Statistics Research Center, in Bobigny, France took data from the NutriNet-Sant survey. This extensive survey conducted in France aims to investigate the complex relationships between nutrition and health.

The authors of the present study took data from 16,149 adults, all of whom had registered a minimum of six dietary records.

Meanwhile, the researchers calculated the amount of Neu5Gc in a wide range of common foods. Using this data, they constructed what they refer to as the Gcemic index, which ranks food according to levels of Neu5Gc specifically, the Neu5Gc content in each food relative to the amount measured in beef.

Next, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 120 participants with at least eighteen 24-hour dietary records; they noted the levels of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in the serum.

We found a significant correlation between high consumption of Neu5Gc from red meat and cheeses and increased development of those antibodies that heighten the risk of cancer, explains corresponding author Dr. Veder Padler-Karavani, of Tel Aviv University.

For years, there have been efforts to find such a connection, but no one did. Here, for the first time, we were able to find a molecular link thanks to the accuracy of the methods used to measure the antibodies in the blood and the detailed data from the French diet questionnaires.

Now, combining earlier knowledge and the data provided by the new study, the theory becomes more solid: Consuming mammal products, such as red meat and dairy increases the amount of Neu5Gc on cell surfaces. In turn, this increases the level of circulating anti-Neu5Gc antibodies.

With an increase in these antibodies comes an increase in inflammation, which might raise the risk of exacerbating certain medical conditions, such as cancer.

It is worth noting that the immune response described above is unlikely to be the only link between red meat and cancer.

The authors also mention other factors, including the high fat content in meat and mutagens chemical compounds that cause irreversible changes in cellular genetic material such as heterocyclic amine, which is produced when meat is cooked at high temperatures.

In the future, the researchers hope that their Gcemic index will become a tool to assess the amount of Neu5Gc in a persons diet. This might help design personalized recommendations for at-risk individuals.

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How is red meat linked to cancer? - Medical News Today

THESE are the 5 differences between a vegan diet and a plant based diet – PINKVILLA

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

If you are someone who likes to be labelled as a vegan or a plant based diet consumer, there are a few differences you should know before switching between these two diets. Follow this simple guide to learn the key differences between a vegan diet and a plant based diet.

Are you planning to turn vegan? With plenty of people across the world choosing to turn to veganism and stick to the greens to reduce the impact of climate change or for various other reasons, theres a surge of vegan diet foods. However, very few people are aware of what all is included in the diet and how to consume it.

Before switching to a plant based diet or a vegan diet, we are here to tell you about the key differences between the two terms and talk about their impact.

What is a vegan diet?

Being vegan refers to choosing the animal-free lifestyle wherein you avoid any meat consumption in order to support animal cruelty. While it may differ from person to person, mostly the reason behind turning vegan is to reduce the harsh impact on animals through your personal choices. This means there are no animal products in a vegan diet. People who call themselves as vegans avoid dairy products, seafood, meat, eggs and more.

Foods excluded in a vegan diet

Meat, seafood, dairy products, and eggs are excluded in a vegan diet.

Foods included in a vegan diet

Oils, highly processed foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

What is a plant based diet?

People who follow a plant based diet strictly eat a diet that focuses more on plant foods. It comprises of wholesome plant foods that are mostly organically grown or minimally processed. However, they might include certain animal foods like eggs and honey, unlike vegans.

Plant based diets have recently gained popularity after many people wanting to reduce the consumption of animals in their diet or junk food. Plant based diet is a more flexible approach towards turning environmental friendly or reducing their carbon impact on the planet as they dont completely cut off from certain animal products in their diet. Mostly, for someone consuming a plant based, their personal overall health is the biggest motivator. Being a vegan is a committed lifestyle decision whereas, following a plant based diet is more of an individualistic approach for your own personal gain.

Foods included in a plant based diet

Whole grains, fruits and green vegetables. They might include certain animal products like eggs and dairy products.

Foods excluded in a plant based diet

Meat and poultry and seafood.

Also Read:World Vegan Day 2020: How can turning Vegan save our environment?

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THESE are the 5 differences between a vegan diet and a plant based diet - PINKVILLA

Scientists Are Urging Americans to Eat More of These 5 Specific Foods – msnNOW

Posted: November 3, 2020 at 8:59 am

Does eating a healthy diet benefit both you and the planet as a whole? If you answered yes, you're correct. And if you answered no, you're also correct.According to a thought-provoking study published last week in Nutrition Journal,eating a healthy diet is good for the planet in some ways, but not necessarily others.

A trio of scientists led by Zach Conrad, Ph.D., assistant professor of nutrition in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences at William & Mary, set out to identify the links between diet patterns and environmental sustainability. (Related: 100 Unhealthiest Foods on the Planet.)

Using nationally representative data on the diets of 50,000 Americans of all ages and food waste in the U.S., plus other research, the study authors found that healthier diets do, in fact, use less land resources.

However, they also found that Americans have a tendency to waste a portion of the foods they buy. In fact, consumed food accounts for a mere 56 to 74 percent of resources used, while the remaining resources go, literally, to waste.

"Healthier diets tend to have more fruits and vegetables, which don't require much land but do require a lot of other agricultural resources including irrigation water and pesticides," Conrad explained to William & Mary's blog. "And fruits and vegetables are often more perishable than other foods, which means they are wasted in higher amounts."

This is not a good thing for the environment given how many resources go into making food, said the study's co-authors, Nicole Tichenor Blackstone, a member of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy at Tufts University, and Eric Roy of the University of Vermont.

"It's not just the food itself that is being wasted, it's all the associated agricultural resources that went into making that food," Roy told William & Mary.

In short, the research found that eating more healthy foods while also making sure you're eating, reusing, or composting the food you buy is key for keeping yourself and the planet in good shape.

Luckily,200 popular grocery stores have recently joined together to help reduce food waste. For your part, you can start eating more of these five specific foods the study authors are urging more people to eat both for their own health and the health of the planet. Oh, and before you head to the grocery store, here are 20 ways to be more sustainable when it comes to food.

Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!

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Scientists Are Urging Americans to Eat More of These 5 Specific Foods - msnNOW


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