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‘Physically I feel great, I have so much energy and my confidence has soared’ – Sunday World

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 11:00 pm

I've always had extra pounds that I wanted to get rid of and I managed to get down to my goal weight for my wedding - but after I got married the weight slowly began to creep up on me. Before I knew it I was carrying an extra 3 stone and I was in a complete rut.

he turning point for me was when I went on holiday with my friends in July 2016 and I remember just feeling so self-conscious the entire time. I just wanted to cover every inch of my body, I was miserable. Feeling like an alien in your own body is completely draining, That was my trigger point.

I joined Slimming World in January 2017 and when I finally walked through the doors of my local Slimming World in Carraroe, Co. Sligo my Consultant Charlotte, could not have been more welcoming.

I was 14 stone when I stood on the scales and when I went home that night I cried. While I was despondent, when I heard about plan I knew it would work for me. Even though I'm a vegetarian there was an abundance of recipes I could tweak to make the meals my own.

In my first week I quickly realised why staying in group was so important. I had a small loss and I was so disappointed. When I actually took a step back in group I realised all the things I was doing wrong. I wasn't weighing and measuring certain foods and I wasn't eating enough fruit and vegetables.

As I got to grips with the plan, I soon realised I could enjoy my life, eat loads and stil lose weight.

I got to my target in August 2018 and with that I learned the importance of good nutrition and the benefits of adopting a healthier lifestyle. This wasn't a quick fix - I finally learned how to eat properly while living my life to the fullest too.

Physically I felt great, I could finally shop the brands I wanted and had so much energy - but it was my confidence that really soared. Now I have no problem meeting strangers or speaking in public. I no longer have to worry about hiding myself in photos or worrying abo ut not finding a special outfit for an occasion.

Stepping through those doors three years ago was life-changing. Not only am I helping people, I've also set up my own business. I am now a Consultant in Ballymote, Co. Sligo.

I started last year in July 2019 and it has been a dream come through. When Covid-19 hit we adapted and went online, but now our group is reopening with a few changes to keep everyone safe and reassured. Our group is full of fantastic, supportive members. It's a wonderful place to start your weightloss journey. If I have any advice it's take the leap now - you won't regret it.

Stock up on lots of fruit and vegetables and put them in plain sight so they will be the first thing you reach for. If you find you're not using them all, at the end of the week, make sure that you're making a big batch soup so there's no waste.

If you are vegetarian take normal recipes and adapt them. For the Chicken Pasta Bake recipe you can swap out chicken for Quorn.

Find out what your trigger foods are early on. For me it's bread and wine. And then find healthier alternatives. Make sure that you're bringing some form of exercise into your day too, it will keep your mind focused.

Break exercise down into small bite-sized bursts. If you're dropping the kids off to school try walking in stead of taking the car. Build up your movement until it becomes part of your routine.

Journalling can also be really helpful, write down what you are eating and map our your meals for the weeks ahead.

Before: 14 Stone

Starting Weight: 14st

Current Weight: 11st

Total weight loss: 3st

Consultant: Charlotte Downey

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'Physically I feel great, I have so much energy and my confidence has soared' - Sunday World

Montgomerie playing well, healthy and going viral online – pgatour.com

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 11:00 pm

Colin Montgomerie Version 3.0 might be the best one yet.

Hes no longer the doughy Scottish antagonist of so many U.S. Ryder Cup nightmares.

Hes no longer the overly blunt European who seemed in contention in nearly every major only never to win one (five runner-up finishes and four other top 10s between 1994 and 2006).

Those days are long gone. Now hes the lean (!), affable (J), free-wheeling(?), viral sensation Monty. Hes at peace with being 57 and at peace with the game that has brought him so much.

Montgomerie is fresh off a solo second at the SAS Championship on PGA TOUR Champions, where only rookie Ernie Els was able to best him, and by only a stroke. And OK, maybe Monty still has a bit of that Scottish Spurrier in him.

I just saw Ernies putt on video and my God I thought was going 10 feet by! Montgomerie said Monday.

If, indeed, the South Africans putt hadnt rattled in from 40 feet for birdie, there at least would have been a playoff. And who knows from there? Montgomerie has been playing well since the PGA TOUR Champions made its return after halting play in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, with four top 25s in seven events.

Montgomerie said he had taken ill in March just as the pandemic started, and he lost seven pounds.

That kind of gave me a kick-start, and I thought, OK, lets keep going, Montgomerie said. Then after 1,000 calories a day and some exercise, Ive lost 40.

Ive felt good about it. Sometimes it doesnt help the golf, but Ive hit a lot of balls and got the swing back. Sometimes you lose rhythm and timing when you lose weight and all the swing goes. But theres more important things than golf. Theres your health. Being overweight doesnt help you, especially if you get the virus. And no doctor will tell you losing weight will hurt you.

More important things than golf? Who are you, Monty 3.0?

He spent the time off holed up at his home in Sunningdale, England, where he said the virus was taken very seriously. He said none of the golf courses near him was open. He bought a practice net and put it in his garden. That was a first.

It turns out the weight loss has been great for him. Not only does he look fitter than he ever has, but his swing coach, Kevin Craggs at IMG Academy in Florida, believes Montgomerie actually has gained swing speed.

Monty wasnt so sure.

I suppose a lot of people lose swing speed when they lose weight, Montgomerie said. Bryson DeChambeau was putting on weight to gain swing speed. Both cant be right. But I havent lost any. Thats task No. 1.

Two other keys to resurgent Montgomerie, who tied for third at the Bridgestone SENIOR PLAYERS Championship in August. His putter has been hot, and his mental outlook has stayed bright despite the pandemic.

Montgomerie ranks ninth on PGA TOUR Champions in putting average. He always has been above average with the flat stick, but only one other time in his seven years since turning 50 has he ranked in the top 10 in putting.

Im just trying to hole out, Montgomerie said. I had no three-putts last week on very quick, grainy greens. I was proud of that. You cant afford to make many mistakes on the green in three rounds. I have putted better since weve returned. If Im in the top 10 in putting I hit fairways, and generally my irons are Ok. If I can putt I know I can compete or rather contend. If I dont putt well Im down the list, but thats the same for most people. If you putt well you have half a chance.

Im just trying to be I am trying to be a little more positive. Ive been a little bit tentative. My game I should be used to it 56 years in, but my game was based on four rounds of not making many mistakes. Out here on Champions, you have to go out and go at it quickly. Sometimes I havent given myself a chance. Im lagging too many and its not good around here. You have to score 67 most days or youre not in the hunt.

Thinking positively and firing at pins instead of griping and aiming at the middle of the green? Who are you, Monty 3.0?

Wise and wistful in his late 50s, thats who.

When I was younger I would come over here for the TPCs and U.S. Opens and hopefully score around par, which was OK, Montgomerie said. Now Im on PGA TOUR Champions and pars -- God! -- youre not anywhere near contention. Its the same thing. You have to give yourself a chance to be more positive. Finishing second and third recently has been great. You dont get much from finishing 25th every week. Youve gotta contend, not just compete.

And then you get the mental side attached to. You have to think right.

Renewed and recharged, Montgomerie stopped short of saying he believed hed win again. He has seven PGA TOUR Champions titles to his credit; the 2019 Invesco QQQ Championship was his last.

His recent play has given him a surge of confidence. Hes looking forward to the few events remaining in 2020 and the loaded schedule in 2021. But while his game has changed for the better, so has the landscape.

Its getting harder all the time out here, Montgomerie said. Theres only one guy who really has improved or stayed the same and thats (Bernhard) Langer. Everyone else goes down a bit. Furyk, Els, Langer, Vijay, its getting harder and you add Mickelson, hes playing this week. Theres a helluva tough 10, youve got to be honest. McCarron if he gets his game back, Jerry Kelly, Kevin Sutherland. And the guys that no one had heard of, the likes of Scott Parel, Doug Barron, Brett Quigley, God, they can all play. Its good competition. Its great competition.

Which bring us to viral sensation Colin Montgomerie. At the SAS, the Scot was asked to take part in the #DreamsChallenge, which he wasnt aware of until watching the original video. But he figured, why not?

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Montgomerie playing well, healthy and going viral online - pgatour.com

Is a vegan diet right for you? Heres everything you need to know – TODAY

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

The word "vegan" may conjure up images of celebrities downing $10 green juice after their Sunday morning yoga class. But the eating plan is much more than another buzzy diet trend. Lizzo is one of the most recent celebs to subscribe to the eating philosophy, not to lose weight or make a political statement, but because she said, "health is what happens on the inside."

And she's right. A vegan diet can be a smart choice for many people; one that can improve your health, prevent or help control a variety of health conditions and yes, it can help you lose weight if that's your goal.

What is a vegan diet exactly? Put simply, it is one where youre not eating animals or foods that come from animals (like eggs, milk, cheese or honey). And while it is restrictive in some ways (especially for those who rely heavily on animal products), it also opens up a world of possibilities when it comes to getting creative with nutrient-dense, plant-based foods.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegan eating can be a healthy diet for people of all ages (including children), pregnant and lactating women, and athletes.

The diet may help you:

Research found that compared to eating a low-fat diet, people eating a vegan diet lost more than three times as much weight after two years. Research also suggests that for people with type 2 diabetes, eating vegan may help them better manage their condition, as well as help boost mood and weight loss and lower cholesterol. And since you'll be cutting out foods that are linked to poor health when eaten in excess, like meat, butter and cheese, a vegan diet will promote your health overall.

Data also suggests people who eat vegan, on average, tend to have lower BMIs and be less likely to develop hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome compared to non-vegetarians and other types of vegetarians.

But to see those benefits, you need to eat foods that are minimally processed, since they tend to be the most nutrient-dense for the calories, said Gabrielle Turner-McGrievy, PhD, RD, associate professor in the department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior in the Arnold School of Public Health at University of South Carolina (who studies the health benefits of vegan eating). You can do an unhealthy version of really any diet.

Done correctly, its beneficial for anyone, explained Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN, founder and director of Real Nutrition in New York City. Eating vegan (if youre doing it the healthy way) can benefit people who have heart disease and/or high cholesterol and are looking to reduce the amount of saturated fats in their diets, Shapiro says. It can also help people control diabetes and lose weight, so its a good option for those looking to slim down.

Eating vegan (along with other types of plant-based diets) is also good for the planet. Farming animals for food is known to be one of the big contributors to greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change. And it can be friendly on your wallet, too, according to another study from Turner-McGrievy and her colleagues. Dried beans and rice are a lot less expensive than beef, she said.

If your plate is currently filled with meat, fish and eggs, start by eating vegan a few times a week. This can make the transition easier, by giving you time to experiment with vegan recipes and slowly shift your mindset to building a meal around plant-based foods.

As long as youre not eating animals or animal products, youre following a vegan diet. But just because a food is vegan doesnt mean its necessarily part of a healthy diet.

Candy, French fries and potato chips can all be vegan, but they also tend to be high in fat and low in fiber, which means they wont fill you up and youre more likely to eat more than a healthy portion, explained Shapiro. A lot of clients come to me who put on weight after going vegan because the quick and easy-to-grab foods arent always so healthy.

Focus on plants and whole foods, the less processed the better, Shapiro said. Get protein from nuts, seeds, beans and other legumes. Eat healthy fats, like avocado, olive oil, nuts and seeds. When it comes to carbohydrates, choose nutrient-dense ones, like whole grains, potatoes, legumes and fresh fruits. Try non-dairy milks and yogurts. And definitely do eat lots of vegetables.

For packaged foods: check the label for ingredients you recognize and can pronounce, Shapiro said.

What a day on a vegan diet may look like:

Wondering what your plate may look like when following a vegan diet? Shapiro broke it down:

Breakfast: Oatmeal with chia seeds, blueberries and cinnamon

Lunch: Large salad of mixed greens, olives, a variety of vegetables, edamame and hemp seeds

Snack: 1/2 cup coconut yogurt mixed with cashews and goji berries

Dinner: Lentil based pasta, tossed with vegan pesto, spinach, broccoli and peas

Dessert: Small scoop vegan ice cream like those made by Daily Harvest or Van Lehwen

The only vitamin youre really missing out on is vitamin B12, which is only found in animals, Shapiro explained. Do consider a supplement, she said.

Other vitamins that you might not be getting enough are iron (plants have iron, but our bodies dont absorb it as well as the type found in animal sources) and zinc (which is found in some, but not all vegetables). Dairy products (which are not vegan) tend to be good sources of calcium and vitamin D, but many dairy alternatives (like nut milks and coconut yogurts) are fortified with these nutrients.

Done right focusing on whole and minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods a vegan diet offers a lot of health benefits for people of all ages and lifestyles. Educate yourself, however, before you start. Consider talking to a dietitian, reading books, stocking your pantry, taking a vegan cooking class or watching some Youtube videos. And as always, start with your doctor, who will be able to recommend the best eating plan for you.

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Is a vegan diet right for you? Heres everything you need to know - TODAY

There Is No ‘Best’ Diet – Lifehacker

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Photo: Yulia Furman (Shutterstock)

U.S. News has once again ranked all the diets, with the groundbreaking result that...they are all different ways to eat food. Amazing. Their website does provide a nice comparison of the various diets pros and cons, but the whole concept of declaring one diet better than another is broken to begin with.

As weve seen with the Dirty Dozen produce rankings, a ranking assumes that each thing is competing against the others, and that those at the top of the list are better than those at the bottom. With vegetables as with diets, there are a whole bunch that are just fine, and you dont need to pit them against each other any more than you need to choose which of your children is your favorite.

Then theres the question of what a diet really is, anyway; as a word of the English language, diet can mean many different things. If somebody is going on a diet, we understand that they are trying to create a calorie deficit to lose weight. If instead we read that the diet of wild lemurs varies among species, we understand the word to mean a description of the totality of things a lemur typically eats.

The 51 diets in the U.S. News database form a bizarre mix. Some are vague approaches to eating, like volumetrics; some are commercial products intended to help people lose weight, like Noom or Weight Watchers; still others are science-unsupported crash diets. Putting these disparate items into a lineup is not really helping anyone. U.S. News seemed to understand this on some level, since they only ranked the best 35, leaving a pool of particularly bad optionslike the Master Cleanse, which Im not sure fits any definition of a diet, to be honestoff the main list.

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I could puzzle over the rankings themselves for days. For example, Atkins and keto are listed as two separate things (theyre arguably not), and both rank below a raw food diet that the list describes as all but impossible to follow. Like the papers wildly popular college rankings, the diet rankings seem to exist to give us something new to worry and argue about, rather than to help people eat healthier or lose weight.

First, if youre looking to lose weight, recognize that all weight-loss diets work the same goddamn way: they give you a framework to eat fewer calories than you burn. The best diet to do that is whichever one you find easiest to stick with.

Some people feel great on a keto diet; some find intermittent fasting convenient; some would rather eat low-fat and vegan. It doesnt really matter, so long as the calorie deficit isnt too extreme and youre not depriving yourself of important nutrients like fiber, vitamins, or protein.

Whether youre trying to change your body weight or not, the basics of a healthy diet are pretty straightforward: lots of fruits and vegetables, enough protein, not too much sugar. If you have specific health concerns that youve discussed with a doctor, make sure to account for those. (For example, the DASH dietis a list of guidelines you can follow if you need to lower your blood pressure. It involves eating less sodium and more potassium, among other things.) If youre willing to pay for help, youre better off consulting a dietitian than buying into the latest expensive weight-loss product.

So are you looking to eat more healthy, lose weight, or both? Find an approach to eating that meets your goals and that you can stick with. If you want some structure, its fine to buy a book that gives you recipes and a fancy name for the diet. The top-ranked diet, the Mediterranean diet, is fine. But the #29-ranked paleo diet, despite its silly premise (that cavemen made lots of fake pizzas from almond flour and coconut oil, if I understand correctly), might do the job just as well.

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There Is No 'Best' Diet - Lifehacker

3 foods that you must include in your diet if you are planning to turn vegetarian – Times of India

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Vegetarianism is an integral part of our Indian culture. Back in time and even now, there is a huge population of people who rely on plant-based and dairy foods. While there are a big number of people who eat meat-based foods, many now feel the need to turn vegetarian due to health issues, parental preferences or out of our concern for animals and their rights.

While plant-based diet can help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and even some types of cancer, it is important to note that if you don't make the switch the right way, you can become deficient in some nutrients like protein, iron and Vitamin D.

Here are some healthy foods that are a powerhouse of nutrients and must be included in your vegetarian diet so that you don't lack any nutrients.

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3 foods that you must include in your diet if you are planning to turn vegetarian - Times of India

Human pretends to put dog on a diet. What he does next has people in splits – Hindustan Times

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

People these days are taking up different challenges involving their pets. Among them is one in which a human pretends to put their dog on a diet to see how they react. This person tried the challenge with their doggo and how it turned out has people laughing out loud.

The video has been shared on an Instagram account called dunkinandfriends. The clip features Dunkin who is being pranked. He, of course, doesnt know.

When the video starts, the text, I was told to pretend to put Dunkin on a diet and see his reaction appears on the screen. Moments later, the person proceeds to take out some dog food for Dunkin who can be seen waiting patiently for his food. The person then proceeds to put exactly three pellets in Dunkins bowl.

He looks at the food, then back at his human almost in disbelief. He immediately runs away and after a few moments, emerges with a knife in his mouth.

Watch the video below:

Posted on October 12, the video has collected over 64,000 views and more than 12,700 likes along with lots comments.

Less foodo, you get the stabbo, commented an individual. This went exactly the way that I thought it would, wrote another. That look he gave you right after you put in the dish was hilarious, shared a third. Well, that look was everything.

How did he even get that knife? Im laughing, asked a fourth.

What do you think of this doggo?

Also Read | Woman places ring on dogs nose for photo, it doesnt go as planned. Watch

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Human pretends to put dog on a diet. What he does next has people in splits - Hindustan Times

New research suggests that a change in diet could help protect the environment – Indiana Environmental Reporter

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago suggests that a shift in American diets could reduce the environmental impacts of food production and consumption by up to 38%.

What we eat has an impact on the environment through the land used to grow food, net greenhouse gases released by producing food and water use, said Joe Bozeman, who is a research associate at the University of Illinois Chicago Institute for Environmental Science and Policy and lead author of the study. By following guidelines developed with human health and the environment in mind, we can help reduce the environmental impact of food production.

This research focused on what dietary shifts would be needed among Americans in order to comply with the healthy goals created by the EAT-Lancet Commission, which represents the first-ever global dietary guidelines.

These recommendations were established in 2019 to aid policymakers and health care systems worldwide in sustaining natural resources to feed an estimated 10 billion people through the year 2050.

The study suggests that meat and refined sugar are among foods with the highest negative impact on the environment, while vegetables, fish and nuts have a lower impact.

"We found that shifting to increased vegetable and nuts intake while decreasing red meat and added sugars consumption would help Americans meet EAT-Lancet criteria and reduce environmental degradation between 28% and 38% compared to current levels," Bozeman said. "At the same time, health outcomes would improve, so following these global recommendations would result in a win-win for the environment and human health.

According to Bozeman, different populations would have to make different changes based on their current diets. Black people could meet the EAT-Lancet targets by eating more vegetables and nuts while consuming less red meat, chicken and added sugars. White people would need to shift their consumption to include less red meat and added sugars, but more nuts.

The research shows that meeting all criteria would significantly decrease environmental degradation in land, greenhouse gases and water.

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New research suggests that a change in diet could help protect the environment - Indiana Environmental Reporter

The Benefits of Honey + How to Incorporate It Into Your Diet – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Winnie the Pooh might have been on to something. While honey is known as a natural way to sweeten foods, it may have benefits for your body, too, says registered dietitian Mira Ilic, MS, RDN, LD.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

Honey is a liquid sweetener that bees make. After they collect nectar from flowers, they take it back to the hive and regurgitate it. Then, the other bees chew it until it becomes honey. The bees deposit the honey into tiny, waxy storage units called honeycombs. They fan it with their wings to dry it out. This process makes it stickier.

Honey gets its sweetness from its chemical makeup, Ilic says. Its made up of two simple sugars called glucose and fructose, along with some minerals.

The U.S. boasts more than 300 different types of honey. You can buy it:

Whether honey is light or dark in color depends on which kind of plant the bees who made it took the nectar from. For instance, dark buckwheat yields dark honey, says Ilic. But nutritionally, theres evidence that darker honey has less water and more antioxidants than light-colored honey.

Honey has so many different tastes you can enjoy compared to plain sugar, she adds. It can be sweeter or more bitter, depending on the flower source.

Light-colored honey tends to be mild in flavor. Varieties include:

Dark honeys are known for their stronger flavors. Examples include:

Store honey in a cool location away from sunlight. But sometimes, even in the perfect spot, honey can crystallize and solidify. Honey with a higher ratio of glucose versus fructose crystallizes sooner, Ilic explains. Glucose may also attach to the little particles of honeycomb and pollen in raw honey and is more likely to crystallize as a result.

But crystallized honey is still safe to eat: Ilic recommends using it as a spread, like butter. You can also re-liquefy it by putting the container in a warm water bath.

Honey contains antioxidants, minerals, enzymes that have many potential health benefits. Theres also evidence that honey can:

Many other claims have been made about the health benefits of honey some based on very small studies, others overstated and based on mixed study results, Ilic says. Additional studies are needed.

While honey has health qualities that other sugars only dream of, Ilic says its still an added sugar and eating too much of it can wreak havoc on your health. The American Heart Association recommends:

Those limits include all sources of added sugar in your diet, so use honey in moderation to avoid exceeding the limits, says Ilic. Try sweetening plain yogurt with a light drizzle of honey and add your own fruit, instead of eating flavored yogurt with too much added sugar. You could also use honey in sauces and marinades or as a skin mask.

If you want to use honey medicinally, Ilic says talk with your health care professional first.

Ilics first tip? The best honey doesnt come in a cute little plastic teddy bear. That kind of honey is processed and less beneficial than its counterparts.

The clearer the honey, the more processed it is. Raw honey seems to be the better choice, she says. Its likely to have some pollen and more enzymes because its not treated with heat. Pollen may have beneficial properties. But pollen does make honey look foggier.

If youre buying honey from a local source, she also recommends asking:

Ilic adds that an organic label doesnt automatically mean the honey is healthier or better quality. Bees sometimes fly a few miles past their pesticide- and herbicide-free property to ones with flowers that arent. And even organic honey may be ultra-pasteurized.

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The Benefits of Honey + How to Incorporate It Into Your Diet - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Diet and UTIs: All You Need to Know – Healthline

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Although many websites claim that your diet has a lot to do with UTIs, theres a lack of evidence supporting this association.

While some studies have shown that certain beverages and dietary patterns may increase susceptibility to UTIs, theres limited research on how your diet affects your risk of developing UTIs, or whether certain foods and beverages can limit the length or severity of a UTI.

In fact, according to research, your diet and fluid intake are not considered independent risk factors for UTIs (1).

Still, the available research on dietary pattern, foods, and drinks that may affect your risk of developing a UTI is covered in the following section.

Research on the connection between diet and UTIs is lacking, and diet isnt currently considered an independent risk factor for UTI development. However, some evidence suggests that certain dietary patterns may protect against UTIs.

Some research suggests that certain dietary patterns may protect against UTIs. Plus, some foods and beverages have been associated with an increased risk of developing UTIs.

Studies have linked plant-based diets to a lower risk of developing a UTI.

For example, a 2020 study that followed 9,724 Buddhists for 9 years found that a vegetarian dietary pattern was associated with a 16% reduced risk of developing a UTI. This protective effect was mainly seen in women (2).

Researchers have suggested that certain foods, including poultry and pork, act as food reservoirs for bacterial strains of E. coli called extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), which account for 6575% of all UTIs (2).

This means that food reservoirs may be a vehicle for transmission of ExPEC. The researchers in the 2020 study suggested that because vegetarians avoid common food reservoirs of ExPEC, vegetarian dietary patterns may help protect against UTIs (2).

Another way that vegetarian diets may help protect against UTIs is that they make urine less acidic. Research has shown that when urine is less acidic and more neutral, it helps prevent the growth of bacteria associated with UTIs (3).

Red meat and other animal proteins have high potential renal acid loads (PRALs), meaning that they make urine more acidic. Conversely, fruits and vegetables have low PRALs, making urine less acidic (4, 5, 6).

These factors could explain why plant-based diets may help protect against UTIs. Still, more research on this potential protective effect is needed.

Studies have also found a connection between the consumption of certain beverages and UTIs.

Older research has shown that soda intake may be associated with recurrent UTIs. An older study from 1985 in 225 women demonstrated that drinking cola soft drinks was strongly associated with UTIs (1, 7).

Some studies have likewise shown that certain beverages can act as irritants to the bladder and are connected to lower urinary tract symptoms.

A study in 30 women found that reducing potentially irritating foods and beverages, including coffee, tea, alcohol, and carbonated and artificially sweetened beverages, reduced lower urinary tracts symptoms, including how urgently and frequently they needed to urinate (8).

However, the researchers could not determine whether the reduction in symptoms was caused by the reduction of one or all of the potentially irritating beverages (8).

Another study that included 4,145 adults also found associations between coffee and soda intake and infections of the lower urinary tract (9).

Conversely, some studies have shown that certain foods and beverages may help reduce the risk of UTIs.

A 2003 study that included 324 women found that frequently drinking freshly squeezed, 100% juice especially berry juice, as well as consuming fermented dairy products like yogurt, was associated with a decreased risk of UTI occurrence (10).

The aforementioned study in 4,145 men and women showed that citrus juice intake was associated with a 50% reduction in lower urinary tract symptoms in men only (9).

Additionally, increasing water intake may help reduce UTI occurrence in certain populations.

A 2019 study in older adults living at nursing homes found that increasing hydration to support the daily fluid intake recommendation of 68 glasses of water per day reduced UTIs requiring antibiotics by 58% and UTIs requiring hospital admission by 36% (11).

Another study in 140 women with recurrent UTIs who drank less than 51 ounces (1.5 liters) of water per day found that increasing daily water intake by 51 ounces (1.5 liters) over 1 year protected against recurrent UTIs, compared with women who didnt increase their intake (12).

Although increasing water intake may be a way to reduce UTIs in certain populations, more studies investigating this potential link are needed, as most studies on this topic are outdated (13, 14).

When you have a UTI, avoiding potentially bladder-irritating beverages, such as coffee, tea, soda, alcohol, and artificially sweetened beverages like diet sodas, is a good idea and may help decrease symptoms (15).

Also, some research shows that certain foods and beverages, including spicy peppers, alcohol, tea, soda, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and some fruits and juices, may worsen symptoms of bladder-related conditions like bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) (16, 17).

However, these conditions are distinct from UTIs.

While it makes sense to cut these foods and beverages out for potential relief, theres currently no strong evidence that avoiding certain foods or beverages will help cure or significantly reduce symptoms of UTIs.

Keep in mind that this article doesnt address supplements in relation to preventing or treating UTIs. Research shows that certain supplements, including probiotics and cranberry, may help prevent and treat UTIs (18, 19).

Some evidence suggests that vegetarian diets may protect against UTIs. Drinking soda and coffee may increase your risk of UTIs and irritate your bladder. Staying hydrated and consuming freshly squeezed juice and fermented dairy may help reduce UTI risk.

In addition to trying out some of the dietary recommendations listed above, lifestyle changes may help reduce your risk of developing a UTI.

Risk factors associated with UTI occurrence include (1, 20):

Other factors claimed to increase your chances of developing a UTI include wearing tight underwear, hot tub use, not urinating after sex, and douching, although strong evidence to support these claims is lacking (20).

While you may not be able to influence some of these factors, if you frequently get UTIs, trying to avoid risk factors that are under your control, as well as making certain dietary and lifestyle changes, may help.

However, keep in mind that theres currently a lack of strong evidence to suggest that any foods or beverages can treat or prevent UTIs.

Moreover, its essential that you see your healthcare provider if youre getting frequent UTIs so that you can get proper treatment. Untreated UTIs can lead to serious complications, including urosepsis, a potentially life threatening infection (21).

Certain lifestyle modifications may help reduce UTI occurrence and UTI symptoms. However, its best to consult your healthcare provider if you frequently get UTIs. Leaving a UTI untreated can result in life threatening complications.

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Diet and UTIs: All You Need to Know - Healthline

Is The Keto Diet Good For PCOS? Benefits Of Low-Carb Diet For PCOS – Women’s Health

Posted: October 15, 2020 at 10:59 pm

Having polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can affect a lot of different areas of your life. Among other things, PCOS can impact your weight, and a lot of questions come up about the best way to manage PCOS weight gain via your diet. One frequently searched query? Whether the keto diet is a good eating method to help manage PCOS weight gain and other symptoms.

Before we get into that, its important to go over some PCOS basics. PCOS is a health condition caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Womens Health (OWH). This hormone imbalance causes problems in the ovaries, which make an egg thats released each month as part of your menstrual cycle. When you have PCOS, the egg might not develop the way it should, or it might not be released during ovulation, according to the OWH.

PCOS can cause a range of symptoms, including irregular periods, infertility, excess hair growth, severe acne, and weight gain, per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). As many as four in five women with PCOS deal with weight issues in conjunction with the condition, ACOG says.

PCOS may be managed with medical interventions like hormonal birth control pills. But lifestyle management, like losing even a little weight, may also help alleviate symptoms, according to ACOG.

And thats where the keto diet question comes up a lot. Heres what you need to know about how the keto diet can impact PCOS symptoms.

Theres a lot to dig into here. People with PCOS often deal with insulin resistance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means that the body can make insulin, which helps blood sugar enter the body's cells to provide energy, but cant use it effectively. Insulin resistance increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance can also lead to patches of thickened, velvety, darkened skin, a condition known as acanthosis nigricans, and this commonly occurs with PCOS, per ACOG.

So, how does the keto diet factor in here? The keto diet is an eating plan that focuses on minimizing your carbs and increasing your fat intake to get your body to use fat as a form of energy. People on the keto diet usually have no more than 50 grams of carbs a day, but some keto fans aim to have no more than 20 grams a day.

As you may (or may not) know, carbs convert into glucose (sugar) in the body, and insulin is needed to take that sugar to your cells for energy. Limiting your carb intakelike you would on the keto dietcan help relieve the insulin resistance that can occur as a result of having PCOS, but likely only for the short term, says Scott Keatley, RD, of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. However, building lean body mass (read: muscle) and losing weight will help your body manage insulin resistance over the long term, he says.

There is some evidence that suggests a keto diet in particular can help women with PCOS lose weight and manage symptoms. A small study published in the Journal of Translational Medicine in early 2020 had 14 medically overweight women with PCOS undergo a keto diet. After 12 weeks on the diet, the researchers found that the women had a significant reduction in body weight, the study states, losing an average of 20 pounds and experiencing a reduction in BMI. They also had a decrease in their glucose and insulin blood levels, along with a decrease in the amount of testosterone circulating in their blood. Our results suggest that a keto diet may be considered as a valuable non-pharmacological treatment for PCOS, the study authors concluded.

While a keto diet could help women with PCOS lose weight, it may have even more of an impact than a number on the scale, says Jessica Shepherd, MD, an ob-gyn in Texas. Reducing weight and insulin levels can help some women resume normal ovulation and improved fertility, Dr. Shepherd notesother side effects of PCOS.

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ACOG specifically says that weight loss alone may help regulate your period if you have PCOS, noting that this is true even if you lose a small amount of weight. Weight loss also has been found to improve cholesterol and insulin levels, and relieve symptoms like excess hair growth and acne, ACOG says.

But given that weight loss alone can lead to improvement in PCOS symptoms, its hard to say how much losing weight specifically with keto will make an added impact, says Taraneh Shirazian, MD, an ob-gyn with NYU Langone Health. Weight loss will help a woman with PCOS better metabolize her blood sugarthats what it boils down to, she says. And better metabolism of your blood sugar will theoretically help you ovulate. If you both lose weight so that your body is better able to have better cycles, and are on a diet like keto where your blood sugar is reduced and you keep those levels low, you can lose weight and potentially ovulate.

In general, though, Weight loss and a good, healthy diet is key in managing PCOS, says Christine Greves, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn at the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies in Orlando, Florida.

Factoring in all of that, Dr. Shirazian says that considering keto when you have PCOS is probably a good idea.

Yup, theres a chance they can help, too. Low-carb plans tend to focus on low-glycemic foods (that is, foods that are absorbed and metabolized at a slower rate, and cause a slower rise in blood sugar and insulin levels), and thats a good thing, Dr. Shepherd says. Low-glycemic foods will help to maintain stable levels of blood insulin, thus improving the bodys utilization of glucose, she explains.

Plenty of women with PCOS have lost weight on a low-carb diet. Lisa Hasselbeck previously shared with WH how she lost 118 pounds on a keto, and that her weight loss helped her manage symptoms of her PCOS.

Madi Wilson said she lost about 100 pounds on a low-carb diet after she was diagnosed with PCOS. And Jen Wagner says she lost 100 pounds of excess weight due to PCOS on a keto diet and modified low-carb diet.

In general, Dr. Shirazian says, A low-glucose, low-carb diet should help women with PCOS.

Technically, you could jump on the keto train on your own to see how it impacts your PCOS and weight. But experts say its not a bad idea to speak to a medical professional before diving in. Every woman with PCOS should touch base with their doctor, just in case they have issues, Dr. Shirazian says.

Consulting a nutritionist, if you can, can help you figure out any nutritional deficiencies you might be experiencing, and how to find the right diet that can help you meet your goals, Dr. Shepherd adds. It may be that a keto diet or other low-carb diet would be a good fit for you, or they may recommend something you havent even thought of.

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Is The Keto Diet Good For PCOS? Benefits Of Low-Carb Diet For PCOS - Women's Health


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