We investigate whether NEXT MEATS meatless karubi and harami make for a satisfying and delicious yakiniku dinner.

Many vegetarian and vegan eaters must be overjoyed to know that more and more plant-based options have become available in Tokyo eateries in recent years. With whole restaurants and convenience stores dedicated to meatless fare and even standard meat and fish-filled foods like burgers, sushi, and ramen being offered in vegetarian versions, its much easier than ever to go meat-free in Japan.

One new kind of meat substitute that was surprising to us is meatless yakiniku from startup company NEXT MEATS. Yakiniku literally means grilled meat in Japanese, so it sounds like it would be rather difficult to substitute real meat with a plant-based alternative. Luckily theres a Shibuya yakiniku shop that just started offering NEXT MEATS meatless yakiniku in-restaurant, so we had to go try it out. How does it compare to real yakiniku in flavor, satisfaction, and price? Lets investigate.

The restaurant we visited is the Shibuya Utagawamachi branch of Yakiniku Like. They offer the two kinds of meatless yakiniku that NEXT MEATS sells:harami (skirt steak) and karubi(short ribs). Both come in 50 gram portions for 290 (US$2.77) and 310 yen respectively, but right now, until the 31st, if you order one of the yakiniku sets, youll get a free sampling to try out.

We, however, were on a mission to eat meatless meat, so we had resolved not to eat any real meat on this visit. Our reasoning was that, if the NEXT Karubi and NEXT Harami really do resemble real yakiniku meat, then we should be able to say with confidence after a meal of it that felt like wed eaten yakiniku. And if not, well then you can safely conclude that it does not live up to expectations as a suitable meat substitute for yakinuku.

Yakiniku Like has customers place their orders using an iPad system, but it was actually kind of hard to find the meatless options. We had to go all the way to the third tab of the Campaign Menu, and then swipe to the left to see it. Were not sure if it was intentional or not, but it felt like they were making the meatless yakiniku a secret menu item.

Not knowing what the right amount to order would be, we started out by ordering three sets each of the NEXT Karubi and the NEXT Harami, plus a large size rice and an Oolong tea, which was pretty much everything we would order at yakiniku, just with meatless meat.

Then, before long, our NEXT Karubi and NEXT Harami arrived!

Naturally, when ordering regular yakiniku, the meat always comes raw so that you can grill it to perfection, but the meat substitute yakiniku looked like meat that was cooked already. When it arrived, the server told us which was which, but within minutes we had totally forgotten. But we had remembered to ask the server to show us the packaging so we could look at the ingredients, and it looked like theyre both made of the same things, so it probably didnt matter.

But.what were we supposed to do with this meatless meat? Its made of soybeans so it probably wouldnt have mattered whether we cooked them or not. Um, excuse medo we grill these? we asked the server, with visible confusion on our faces. Apparently the answer is yes, you do grill them, but only really to warm them up before eating them.

Alrighty then. We fired up the grill and gave it a whirl.

Actually, the process felt the same. It really seemed like we were cooking regular meat yakiniku, so we had to remind ourselves that it was meatless. That was kind of mysterious. The meat even got a nice char from the fire, so honestly, if we hadnt known it was plant-based meat, at this point we would never have realized.

But once it cooled and we took a good look at it, it was clear that it was neither pork nor beef. It didnt even look like chicken, really. If anything, it looked closest to the giant chunk of tuna that you can find in a tuna can sometimes.

Even so, no one around you is going to see you cooking it and notice that its vegan meat, so if youre worried about people laughing at you, dont be. It just looks like youre grilling meaty yakiniku like everyone else.

As for the flavor, both varieties had a salty-sweet flavor to them that didnt taste much like meat. Wondering what it would taste like with standard yakiniku sauces, we decided to dip it in and give it a taste

It tasted just like regular yakiniku!!

It was surprising how meaty it tasted. Charring it slightly to give it the fire-grilled flavor we know and love from yakiniku makes it even meatier. You dont get even a little bit of the soy flavor with the combination of grill and sauce.

It does lack the fattiness and oiliness of meat (naturally, since its made of soybeans), and it does tend to be a little bit crumbly, like ground meat, but the look, smell, and flavor are all very meaty. We really believe that if someone grilled it up for you without telling you it wasnt meat, you would never know.

By the way, once youve applied sauce to both the harami and the karubi its nearly impossible to tell them apart. It seems there really isnt much of a difference between the two at all.

Nevertheless, theres no doubt about the fact that this meat substitute was probably the best meat imitation that we have ever tasted. Flavor wise, it works as a good substitute for meat, and the satisfaction of cravings and the enjoyment of eating it got passing marks from us as well.

However, whether you feel full and satisfied after a meal of NEXT meat is a different story. Perhaps because its simply a mash of soybeans, we really did not feel full after eating it. Even though we ate a lot, we were hungry again pretty soon afterwards. You probably wont have to worry about indigestion or feeling a heavy stomach like you would from eating lots of fatty meat, but it doesnt carry the same satisfaction as meat does either.

Theres also one more problem: price. NEXT Karubi comes in 50 gram portions for 310 yen, and NEXT Harami for 290 yen for the same amount. Normal meat karubi is 220 yen for 50 grams, or 330 for 100, while harami is 310 yen and 520 yen respectively.

Surprisingly, the real karubi meat is actually cheaper, and 100 grams of real harami is also a better value than the NEXT meat, making real meat the overall more affordable kind of yakiniku, especially if you order a lot.

Still, though, if you are a vegetarian or a vegan or otherwise have a diet that excludes meat, and are craving a meaty flavor or something hearty, this might be a good option for you. Youre still getting the same yakiniku flavor and experience, so its almost like eating real yakiniku, and truly the price isntthatbad if a meatless diet is something thats necessary or important to you.

Starting on November 1, NEXT meat substitutes will be available at the Shinbashi main branch, the Shinjuku West Exit branch, the Akasaka-mitsuke branch, and the Ueno branch as well as the Shibuya Utagawa branch of Yakiniku Like, so if youre interested, definitely give it a try!

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We try NEXT MEATS meatless yakiniku: Does it live up to our meat-lover expectations? - SoraNews24

Speaking to Express.co.uk, Bulk Powders ambassador Hayley Madigan shared her top weight training tips.

She said: Weight training has a vast range of positive benefits for women, not just physically but mentally too! Weight training loads a resistance to our muscles, which allows them to rebuild stronger.

Not only does weight training improve our muscle strength, it also strengthens our bones, joints, ligaments and tendons all vital for our long-term health.

Additional to these benefits, weight training can improve heart health and blood pressure, improving our fitness as well as strength.

READ MORE:Adam Woodyatt weight loss: EastEnders star made easy change to slim

For complete beginners, I recommend starting in either a group training environment (like a (virtual) class for example) or with a personal trainer (online or in person).

When you have the advice of an instructor or coach you will learn how to train correctly and safely, this will enable you to perfect your technique and lower any injury risk.

The weights area in a gym training environment can look and feel a little intimidating to newbies, so following a routine even from your favourite Instagrammer or YouTuber will give you the courage to try something new and hit the weights.

It is also best to start of using small weights regularity and build up to heavier ones as this will cause less strain on the muscles.

Protein is also great for weight loss as it reduces the hunger hormone and boosts several satiety hormones.

Hayley continued: There are many forms of weight training you can try, from CrossFit to Body Pump classes (or virtual classes) it isnt a one size fits all form of training and is highly versatile.

Depending on your goal, I would always recommend incorporating some kind of weight training, even if youre a long-distance runner or a Yogi, the benefits of weight training can improve your performance in pretty much every sport.

Full body training can be a brilliant way to maintain strength all over if you only train two-three times a week, then adding in body part splits like lower body and upper body training can be a great way to target the individual muscles if you train more often like four-six times a week.

Research suggests that weight lifting burns almost just fat which can help target those stubborn areas which may carry more fat.

The expert explains how weight training is also a great way to develop coordination, attention and memory.

She explained: All of these improvements to the cognitive part of your brain will relay over to your everyday living, including your studying or working life there is so much more to weight training than just improving muscle mass!

See the rest here:
How to exercise to lose weight and build muscle at the same time - Daily Express

Avika looks completely unrecognizable in her latest photos. For Avika, there was one particular night which made her make the big change. In a very candid, emotional post, the actress said that she didn't like the way she looked and found it difficult to believe she was overweight, despite not having any health issues. A social media post reads:

"I still remember one night last year, when I looked at myself in the mirror & I broke down. I didn't like what I saw. Big arms, legs, a well-earned belly. I had let go too much. If it were due to an illness (Thyroid, PCOD, etc), it would be okay because that would be out of my control."

Although Avika is a proficient dancer and has a busy schedule, she realized the problems a bad lifestyle led her to have. Avika admitted that she had been negligent about her health, and it costed her heavily.

"...But, it happened because I ate anything & everything, and I didn't work out at all. Our bodies deserve to be treated well, but I didn't respect it.

Originally posted here:
Weight loss: From having a well-earned belly to fitting into size XS, secrets behind Avika Gor's weight loss transformation - Times of India

Created for Greatist by the experts at Healthline. Read more

Fat is necessary for sustaining life and protecting your organs. But where you store excess fat is all determined by your genetics. So, if you find youre carrying extra weight around your inner thighs, thats just how your body operates.

And while having some inner thigh fat is perfectly fine, if youre ready to tone things up, weve got you covered. Heres how to lose inner thigh fat in a healthy and sustainable way.

If you eat more calories than you can burn, your body needs to store those additional calories somewhere since they arent being used. Thats where fat comes into play.

According to the World Health Organization, there has been an increased intake of energy-dense foods (think high fat and high sugar) as well as lowered activity. This energy imbalance is the fundamental cause of weight gain.

Now as to where this fat is stored, again, you can thank your genetics for that. One study found that body fat storage is highly influenced by genetic factors, especially in women.

Women usually store fat in their hips, lower belly, and inner thighs. While men carry fat mainly in their abdomens, but arent completely off the hook with inner thigh fat either.

If your genes graced you with the gift of inner thigh fat, it can form in two ways:

As with any weight loss situation, a combination of diet and exercise can help you blast inner thigh fat. You just have to put in consistent work.

Since taking in too many calories can build up fat, reducing how many calories youre taking in each day can help you lose inner thigh fat.

One pound of fat is equivalent to about 3,500 calories. So, just cutting out 500 calories a day can help you eat 3,500 fewer calories a week, and lose about 1 to 2 pounds a week.

Other basic dietary changes to help you lose inner thigh fat include:

There are two different forms of exercise to help you lose fat.

To maximize your results, its a good idea to do a combination of both in the forms of cardio and strength training.

One study found significant weight loss results in both men and women after 10 months of aerobic exercise. Other research found that anaerobic exercises like HIIT are also effective for fat loss.

Plus, cardio helps you burn calories in the moment, while strength training helps your body continue to burn calories throughout the day.

So, a good rule of thumb is to exercise 4 or 5 days a week to see results, and incorporate both cardio and strength training.

But cant you just spot train? Thats a big nope!

As cool as it would be, you cant pick and choose which area of your body youd like to lose weight. Our biology rules the game, therefore putting time and energy into targeting a certain area of your body is likely a waste of time.

If you do a bunch of crunches and sit-ups to lose fat in your belly, youll probably gain muscle in those areas, but that doesnt mean youll burn fat.

Youll see greater results by performing multiple exercises that work multiple muscle groups.

Ready to get your cardio on? You can do any cardio exercise to burn fat, but the following exercises will get your heart pumping along with targeting those thigh muscles.

Running up and down hills just straight up blows, but it will get your thigh muscles strong and improve your fitness .

Grab a stopwatch and find yourself a hill (dont go too steep too quick). Then run up the hill as fast as you can for 30 seconds. Cool down and walk back down. Repeat this about 5 times, and aim to do this 23 times per week to start.

Not into running? Find a hilly area and take a walk, or go for a hike in nature thats a bit of a climb.

Maybe you live in a really flat area and there just arent hills that get your legs burnin. A treadmill can also do the trick.

Pick your cardio (walking or running) and gradually increase the incline to 5, 10, or 15 percent while you exercise for at least 30 minutes.

Mix this into your weekly cardio routine 23 times a week.

The best part about HIIT exercises is that they can literally be done anytime, anywhere.

Moves such as jump squats, burpees, and high knees are all forms of HIIT movements that can get your heart rate pumping in a short period of time.

Getting in HIIT exercises 23 times per week is a solid amount.

The following six movements will tone your inner thighs and reduce the appearance of fat. Include this routine into your exercise plan a few times a week to see results.

Repeat this workout 23 times through.

Reps: 1015 per leg

Equipment: Optional dumbbells

Reps: 1015 per leg

Equipment: Optional dumbbells

Reps: 30 seconds total

Equipment: Optional dumbbell or kettlebell

Reps: 20 total (10 per leg)

Equipment: None

Reps: 1015 reps per leg

Equipment: Optional dumbbells or a medicine ball

Reps: 15 reps per leg

Equipment: None

Some of us are graced with the genetics that give us thick thighs. But fat also accumulates in this area due to the extra calories and limited energy expenditure in the form of exercise.

Improving your diet and adding in cardio and thigh toning exercises takes time, but its the most beneficial way to get those thighs of steel.

See the rest here:
How to Lose Inner Thigh Fat: Causes and Toning Exercises - Greatist

Provided by Eat This, Not That! trader joes cashier in face mask

The next time you go to the grocery store, you might want to consider thanking the checkout person for their service. At the same time, you'll want to make sure you're doing so while wearing a mask and standing at a healthy social distance, as a new study published in the scientific journal Occupational&Environmental Medicine suggests the COVID-19 virus hit these frontline workers especially hard.

To address what they characterize as a knowledge gap regarding how COVID-19 has impacted retail workers, the study, led by Justin Yang, M.D., of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, chose a single grocery store in the Boston, Massachusetts area and tested its employees for COVID using nasal swabs. The researchers then spent several days assessing the employees' health history, anxiety levels, and perceptions about COVID.

Dr. Yang's team found that out of the 104 grocery store workers, 21 tested positive (20%) for COVID-19. Of those who tested positive, 91 percent had a job that involved direct interaction with customers, and 76 percent showed no symptoms (whereas only 40% of the general population are asymptomatic when infected). (In other health news, check out these 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked By How Toxic They Are.)

According to the scientists' data, those grocery store workers with direct exposure to customers were five times more likely to test positive than their back-office colleagues.In addition, 24 of the workers were found to have anxiety. Eight were found to have depression. The study authors noted that those whose jobs permitted them to practice social distancing were significantly less affected by anxiety and depression than their colleagues.

Scientists had already known that essential workers, including grocery store employees, are at an increased risk for the SARS-CoV-2 infection. They also knew that those workers are at an increased risk of spreading the virus to their friends, families, and communities. What the scientists did not know until reviewing the numbers was exactlyhowbad the infection rate can be.

While the study is limited by the small number of test subjects, among other things, the authors believe that the findings support "policyrecommendations that employers and government officials should take actions on implementing preventive strategies" to ensure the health and safety of essential workers.

In the meantime, here are 10 things you can do to make it safer for your local grocery store's employees, not to mention yourself. And here is the one thing you absolutely need to stop doing at the grocery store.

Read the original article on Eat This, Not That!

Continued here:
20 Percent of Grocery Workers Went To Work With COVID, Study Says - msnNOW

Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, N.C., this spring began trying out a new use for wearable continuous glucose monitors: to give care teams more information when adjusting insulin doses for inpatients. Its an example of a health system repurposing medical wearables.

Continuous glucose monitoring, or CGM, has been a part of outpatient diabetes management and treatment for years. Dr. Joseph Aloi, section chief for endocrinology and metabolism at Wake Forest Baptist Health, said hes seen outpatient adoption tick up in the past three to five years in particular, as needles have gotten smaller, sensors can be worn longer and the technology has become more affordable.

However, the technology is still considered investigational in the inpatient setting, where inpatient glycemic management teams tend to rely on traditional finger-stick tests to determine whether they need to adjust a patients insulin.

Thats changed, at least temporarily, at Wake Forest Baptist Health during the pandemic.

Inpatients with diabetes are offered the option to use a CGM sensor from Abbott Laboratories; its about the size of a quarter and worn on the upper arm for 14 days. Abbott donated the wearable sensors in April, after the Food and Drug Administration approved the system for use in the hospital setting during the COVID-19 emergency.

Traditionally, nurses check a patients blood sugar with finger-stick tests before each meal and at bedtime. So thats four finger-stick blood sugars a day, Aloi said. With the sensor, were getting more than 100 data points a day, something he thinks will provide a more comprehensive way to tailor patients insulin needs.

During the pandemic, continuous glucose monitoring has helped reduce infection risks, since nurses dont need to enter a patients room several times a day for bedside finger-stick tests, Aloi said.

A study published by TouchEndocrinology concluded that cost differences vary by volume. If a Type 1 diabetes patient is using eight finger sticks per day, the annual cost is $4,380; six finger sticks/day, the annual cost is $3,285; for three finger sticks/day, the annual cost is $1,643. CGM costs $1,712 annually, lower than six to eight tests per day, but comparable to three daily tests.

This is all (an) emerging change in practice, Aloi said. But my personal bias is that this is going to replace finger-stick testing in the hospital.

Read more here:
Hospitals, clinics may be ready to adopt wearable tech - Modern Healthcare