Dance Magazine recently spoke with Osipova about tomorrow night's performance, her life during the quarantine, her recent projects and future plans.

How does it feel to be back in the studio?

In the beginning it felt strange to enter the theater through a special entrance and not to be able to use dressing rooms, to wear masks and keep social distance from your friends and colleagues. But now, with nearly two months into rehearsals, it all seems normal. It's so wonderful to be back in the studio, to be able to move and jump and to feel the energy and the space.

Tell us about your performance in The Royal Ballet: Back on Stage program.

It's a solo from the ballet Medusa, which was created by Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and premiered by The Royal Ballet in 2019. This ballet is based on Greek mythology, and my character is a beautiful priestess, Medusa, unjustly punished by the goddess Athena, who turns her into a monster. The choreographic style of Cherkaoui, with its flowing movements, expressive arm gestures and plasticity, is amazing; and it emphasizes the mythological nature of the story.

How was the quarantine for you?

At first I actually felt quite good. For the last 15 years, I had a very busy schedule and there was never enough time to rest. And with the pandemic, everything suddenly stopped. So for the first month, I enjoyed sleeping in and relaxing. I bought a house with my fianc (American contemporary dancer Jason Kittelberger) and we spent our time renovating, painting the walls and working in the garden. We have four dogs and I was very happy that I could spend more time with them.

But by the second month of the quarantine, I started to feel restless. The most difficult part was to realize that I was no longer free to go wherever I want. I am a very spontaneous person and we always come up with some spur-of-the-moment plans, like visiting friends or traveling on weekends to a different city or a country. The feeling of sameness, when every day felt like a "groundhog day," was very hard for me.

Osipova and Jason Kittelberger in "Six Years Later"

Johan Persson, Courtesy Royal Opera House

How did the pandemic affect your plans?

There were many performances that didn't take place because of the pandemic, including my debut in the role of Siren in George Balanchine's Prodigal Son and my own programs in South Korea and Japan. David Hallberg and I were scheduled to perform in Swan Lake with The Royal Ballet in March; and in Romeo and Juliet and Giselle with American Ballet Theatre in June. But now I am happy to be in the theater, rehearsing and getting ready for the performance. In a few days I am flying to Novosibirsk, Russia, where I will be dancing in Don Quixote and Giselle. It's a great opportunity to be able to dance in full-length ballets these days and maintain my form.

You danced the role of Tatiana in The Royal Ballets revival of Onegin in January. What is special about this role for you?

Tatiana is one of my favorite roles. I have known and loved Pushkin's poem since my childhood. I understand absolutely everything, every little detail, about Tatiana. I feel like I know her as well as myself.

You performed in a dance film, "In Her Hands," which was part of the Summer Shorts festival on Marquee TV in August. What was it like?

It was an interesting project, inspired by the relationship of French sculptor Auguste Rodin and Camille Claudel, where I was able to work not only as a dancer but also as an actress; and I really enjoyed the acting component of it. A beautiful duet, which I am dancing with Matthew Ball, lies at the heart of this dance film. It was choreographed by Valentino Zucchetti, a dancer with The Royal Ballet who is also a wonderful choreographer.

Osipova on the set of "In Her Hands"

Julie Dene, Courtesy Royal Opera House

You are a classically trained ballerina. What attracts you in contemporary dance?

Unlike classical ballet, where every movement is carefully learned and rehearsed, with very little room for improvisation, in contemporary dance, every touch, every gesture is natural. When we embrace onstage, it feels and looks like a real embrace: It's an embrace between a real woman and a real man.

You so warmly describe your relationship with David Hallberg. What makes your partnership with him special?

We are two fundamentally opposite types of dancers, but David gave me some of my happiest moments onstage. He helped to awaken in me the feelings of femininity and love. I feel like he is part of my family, "my blood type," one of the closest people in my life. I always have him on my mind. Unfortunately, for various reasons, we didn't have as many opportunities to dance together in the past as we would have liked, but I still believe that we will be able to dance together, even if I am in London and he is artistic director of The Australian Ballet.

Do you think about forming your own dance company?

It's definitely my dream. I have always wanted to have a small experimental troupe, with maybe 20 dancers, who are versatile in neoclassical and contemporary styles. At this point I don't know when and where it's going to happen, but it's my ultimate goal.

What did you learn about yourself during the quarantine period?

On a personal level, I made a simple conclusion that there is nothing more important in life than having a close circle of family and friends who love you and care about you and staying connected with them during these times and knowing that they are healthy. And as a dancer, I realized that dance is a necessity in my lifesomething that I cannot live without.

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Yes, There Is a Place for Sugar in Your Diet - Dance Magazine

We know that changes in diet can control type two diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol. There is new evidence that diet can also help with behavioral health disorders such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, and others. On The Point's healthy lifestyles program, we discuss the connection between brain and diet, and foods that support physical and cognitive health.

Guests on the program are:

Dr. Uma Naidoo,nutritional psychiatrist and author of the new book This is Your Brain on Food: An Indispensable Guide to the Surprising Foods that Fight Depression, PTSD, ADHD, Anxiety, OCD and More. Dr. Naidoo is also the founder and director of the Nutritional & Lifestyle Psychiatry clinic at Bostons Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dena Irwin, Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist at theCommunity Health Center of Cape Codand Registered Yoga Teacher. She practices integrative nutrition, using whole foods healing and offers holistic nutrition counseling and cooking lessons.

Originally posted here:
The Connection Between Mood and Diet | CAI - WCAI

Photo by Nicholas McVicker

Above: This undated photo shows Mexican avocados for sale at Whole Foods market in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego County.

Scripps Research scientists have discovered why calorie-restricted diets may be effective. And they think the finding could lead to drugs that yield the benefits of dieting, without an actual reduction in eating.

Previous studies have shown that calorie restriction can have life-prolonging benefits by delaying age-related diseases like cancer. Thats because calorie restriction also causes a reduction in body temperature. With less food, the body adapts and tries to use less energy, says Bruno Conti, Scripps Research Biologist and lead scientist on a paper that came out last month in Science Signaling.

Aired 10/8/20 on KPBS News

Listen to this story by Shalina Chatlani.

This is probably an adaptive mechanism, because when theres not much food around, one thing to do is to save energy. You have to consider that a lot of energy up to 50% is used to maintain a high body temperature, Conti said.

Conti decided to study different groups of calorie-restricted mice in different temperatures to see just how much this reduction in body temperature mattered. And it turns out, the reduction in body temperature could yield most of the benefits of dieting.

It also contributes to its beneficial effects. In other words, we were able to modify mice genetically so they had a reduction of their body temperature. Even if they ate the same amount of food ... they did have a beneficial effect, he said.

Conti looked at two groups of calorie-restricted mice. One group was placed in a normal temperature. The other group was placed in another environment, somewhat hotter, where the mice couldnt experience a reduction in body temperature.

We found out that actually between 40 and 70% of the changes that occur during calorie restriction are actually due not to the reduction of nutrients, but to the reduction of temperature itself, he said.

Conti suggests scientists could produce a drug that could mimic the effects of reduced temperature in the body to get the same effects as dieting. Though, he says, there is still much work to be done to achieve that.

It might be possible to enjoy the effects of calorie restriction without having to eat less.

Conti warned that no one should try to reduce their body temperature themselves.

I would not recommend anyone to reduce try to reduce body temperature, because if it is not done properly, it can be lethal and detrimental.

He also says no one should try a calorie restricted diet without consulting their physician.

An El Cajon nursing home provided its residents with far less care than regulators expected while reporting millions in yearly profits, according to a KPBS analysis of its finances. Plus, Governor Gavin Newsom reveals more ambitious goals to fight climate change -- meanwhile one of his staff members tests positive for COVID-19. And, the state is adding a new metric ... Read more

Aired: October 8, 2020 | Transcript

Shalina Chatlani Science and Technology Reporter

I cover all things science and technology from the biotech industry in San Diego to rooftop solar energy on new homes. I'm interested in covering the human side of science and technology, like barriers to entry for people of color or gender equity issues on biotech boards.

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Scripps Researchers Uncover What Could Make Calorie-Restricted Diets Effective - KPBS

You've gone ahead and made the decision. You're ready to commit to making healthier choices in an effort to live a, well, healthier life. The easiest place to start is with your diet and purging your kitchen of any foods that have the potential to sabotage your weight-loss efforts. Then, you're pumped to head to the supermarket to stock up on these healthy foods.But there's a chance you might have a poser in the mix.

That's right, there is one seemingly "healthy" food that is actually anything but. In fact, it would be holding you back from reaching those goals you've set for yourself.

Don't worry, though. We're here to help you out and expose the one food that is often thought to be a healthy addition to a person's diet that might just be making things harder for you. And it's none other than

That's right, that box of granola you thought to toss in your shopping cart is better left on the shelf. While granola might seem like a healthier alternative to the sugary cereals you often ate, it's actually just as bad.

The main problem? Many of the granola options in the grocery store are made with less than stellar ingredients including butter, vegetable oil, and different types of sugars. Plus, they often contain mix-ins such as dried fruit and chocolate chips which all bring about one big offendersugar.

Take, for example, Quaker's Simply Granola in the Oats, Apples, Cranberries, and Almonds flavor. One serving is 260 calories, placing 7 grams of fat and 17 grams of sugar, 12 of which are added sugars. Kellogg's Special K Touch of Honey Granola has 9 grams of sugar in one serving, which might seem not as bad in comparison, but keep in mind the sugar here is coming from four different sources. You've got white sugar, honey, corn syrup, and molasses all in that one small cup of granola.

"People think 'oats' and feel good about eating it, but it's oats literally tossed in honey, which is crystallized sugar," weight-loss expertIlana Muhlstein, M.S., R.D.N, and authorYou Can Drop It! told us in a previous story.

So what should you do instead? First, you'll want to leave those sugary-bombs alone and if you're going to get granola to have as a mix-in for your morning yogurt, be sure it's a low-sugar option. But a much better way to start your day is to make a bowl of plain oatmeal and top with fresh fruit and a touch of honey or a few sprinkles of cinnamon for some natural sweetness.

Looking for more helpful tips? Sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox!

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The 'Healthy' Food That's Destroying Your Diet - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Its no coincidence that when Im stressed, my eczema gets worse.

Moving apartments, starting a new job, exams: All these events are usually accompanied by flare-ups.

Anecdotal evidence on the link between stress and eczema has existed for a long time, but theres been limited scientific evidence to support it. In recent years, researchers have begun studying the impact of stress on eczema in more detail.

The result? Scientists are realizing that the problem is more than skin deep. Stress, diet, and environment can all play a part in the appearance and severity of eczema.

But its really difficult to eliminate stress completely. Still, there are some steps Ive learned to help me cope and reduce the impact that stress has on my body.

Research has shown that periods of stress can make eczema worse, triggering the release of hormones that can cause inflammation and disrupt skin barrier function. People with higher levels of perceived stress are more likely to have eczema.

One study looked at the impact the death of a partner can have on eczema symptoms. It found that when a significant other had a terminal disease, their partner had an increased risk for developing eczema.

Similarly, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been shown to lead to dermatological symptoms such as psoriasis, hives, and eczema. Mothers who experience severe stress during pregnancy are more likely to have a child with eczema.

Theres further evidence that stress increases the chances of scratching, which then leads to a vicious cycle of itching and scratching that can make eczema symptoms worse.

The appearance of eczema itself can also be a source of stress for many people, increasing the likelihood that symptoms will worsen or reoccur.

I first developed eczema in my first year of college. The symptoms arrived suddenly and quickly started to get worse.

Over time I learned to manage the condition, but I still get flare-ups occasionally.

In my experience, periods of high stress increase the chance that my eczema will come back. The problem is, theres not a lot I can do to eliminate stress from my life. There will always be situations when my stress levels start to rise and my body takes a hit.

Ive found ways to cope with stress and minimize the effect it has on my health. These include:

Minimizing stress is hard. No matter how much you try to avoid stress, its pretty likely that youll find yourself in stressful situations through the course of a regular year.

What you can control is how you support your body through stressful periods.

I find that when Im stressed, the healthy parts of my routine can get lost. I sacrifice sleep to get things done, I eat whatever I can thats quick and comforting, and I forget to do the things that help me feel calmer.

By recognizing these habits, Im able to reduce the impact that stress has on my life.

There are also some techniques I use to combat stress.

Getting outside and giving myself some headspace can really help when I feel my stress levels rising.

To combat stress, try taking regular walks in nature. You can listen to calming music or just soak in the sounds around you.

When Im stressed, I often overcompensate with coffee. This can make me feel more anxious and disrupt my sleep cycle. To avoid this, I try to limit the amount of coffee I drink and have rooibos tea instead.

If you find that you reach for coffee to keep your energy levels up during periods of high stress, you can opt for green tea. It contains caffeine, but has been shown to actively reduce anxiety.

Breathing exercises and meditation can also help reduce feelings of stress by relaxing the body and redirecting your thoughts. The best part is, they can be done anywhere: at your desk, in line at the grocery store, or when youre getting ready for bed.

One study found that hypnosis can be used to effectively treat eczema, demonstrating the effectiveness of relaxation techniques for managing symptoms.

Moisturizing or massaging your body can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

Though time is often limited during stressful periods, I find that taking a few minutes to moisturize when I get out of the shower can help me feel much calmer.

Self-massage can help with stress, anxiety, and pain.

During times of high stress, one of the hardest things to manage is getting enough sleep.

I know that I have to prioritize sleep to help me manage my stress levels and prevent burnout. I make a conscious effort to get as much sleep as I can, even if I feel like Ive got a million things to do.

If you find your mind is still racing when youre in bed, make a list of everything thats running through your head. Use a pen and paper. When youre finished, put the list in a drawer or on the other side of the room so its out of sight and out of mind.

Keeping an eye on diet during periods of high stress can also help manage eczema symptoms.

When Im stressed, I tend to emotionally eat, and I know many people are the same.

It might be chocolate, chips, pasta, or wine. Whatever it is, it usually involves large amounts of sugary or greasy foods that could aggravate eczema symptoms.

When I find Im craving comfort food, I try to look for healthier swaps. Here are some ways you can support your body through your diet:

I like to have snacks in my bag so I can grab something whenever my energy levels are dipping, like:

Everyones experience of stress will be different.

For me, high stress situations can often trigger eczema symptoms. However, by supporting my body using relaxation techniques, sleep, and diet, I find it easier to manage the impact of stress.

Its not foolproof, but it makes a difference.

Elizabeth Harris is a writer and editor with a focus on plants, people, and our interactions with the natural world. Shes been happy to call many places home and has traveled across the world, collecting recipes and regional remedies. She now splits her time between the United Kingdom and Budapest, Hungary, writing, cooking, and eating. Learn more on her website.

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6 Tips to Ease Stress-Related Eczema - Healthline

Perhaps surprisingly for someone on the brink of dropping his sixth studio album, 2 Chainz isnt stressed in the slightest. In fact, hes feeling better than ever. Over the past six months, the rappers been dialing in a healthier lifestyle, which he credits for making him feel on top of his game. (Despite a ridiculous sleep schedulethe man behind Im Different typically goes to bed at 7 a.m.)

GQ recently caught up with 2 Chainz to chat intermittent fasting, his backyard garden, the one food he wishes hed eat less.

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

GQ: What time does your day start?

2 Chainz: My day begins at night because I'm an artist, and I'm up all night. I literally go to sleep about 6:30 or 7:00 every morning. I spend my nights recording, in my man cave of sorts. I'm an only child, and I don't really consider myself having best friends after my father passed. So, its a lot of "me time" at night. My engineer hangs with me, his names Nolan, and I appreciate him. And of course my dog named Trappy, hes my emotional support animal. We go everywhere together; hes about 5 years old.

Anyway. The day technically starts once I wake up around 12:30 or 1 p.m.

Whats the first thing you do when you wake up in the afternoon?

I drink a bottle of water. Then, I go to the gym on an empty stomach. After the gym, I like to get my protein in because I do a hard workout, so thats important. My smoothie contains a plant-based protein, cinnamon, and powdered peanut butter. By the time I have it, Im starving. Its the first thing I put into my body during the day because I do this thing called intermittent fasting, so Im only eating for an 8-hour period while Im awake. It just really attacks whatever fat you have.

Then do you have another meal right after that?

Story continues

Yeah. So I get home, and Im big on protein and vegetables. Im working with LG, and they got me this oven that has a built-in air fryer, which is great. I eat salmon sometimes. Im also really big on what I like to call my Tity Boi turkey burgersI eat them all of the time and I have them at my restaurant. Its a ground turkey patty mixed with feta cheese and spinach with lettuce, tomato, red onion, pepper jack cheese.

Is there anything you dont eat?

I don't eat beef. I dont eat pork. I love greens and I love beans. I don't eat candy. My dad was a diabetic. A lot of the things that I've been doing, it's been a habit. The intermittent fasting is new, but as far as the foods that Im eatingIve been this way. I also grow a lot of stuff because we have a garden out back. I ate okra yesterday that we got from the garden, and Ive also got bell peppers and mint back there too. I really appreciate the farm-to-table thing. Oh and I love a good salad with turkey bacon, you cut it up real small. This isnt me just saying this for the interview. This is my real life.

When did you get into intermittent fasting?

The beginning of the pandemic really messed up my eating habitsI would get up and I would smoke the joint and it would make me hungry and then I would have to eat. I knew I wanted to be better, so now I don't do any of that. I mean, I still smoke. But I've been strict on this diet for about six months now.

I think so many people are caught up in breakfast being the most important part of the day they overdo it first thing, but no one tells you that you can eat breakfast any time of the day. I really believe it's very important to get your heart going, get your blood moving, the oxygen flowing. It makes my day better. Even though I get started later than everyone else, it starts off right.

What happens after you eat that first big meal?

Once I start eating, Im eating something every one-and-a-half to two hours. I really, really try not to eat fries, but the air fryer makes it so easy, so I have those for a snack sometimes. I feel like a low-level chef. If its not fries, its chicken wings. And if Im just looking for something really fast, then my snacks are mostly cherries, grapes, pineapples, mangoes, and nuts like walnuts or cashews or lightly salted almonds.

What else are you doing aside from eating during the day if you dont get to work until the nighttime?

Well, I don't really start my day until later in the evening because I try to wait for my kids to come home from school so I can spend time with them. They get home around 3:30 or 4:00, and I spend time with them for a few hours. Sometimes I help with homework, but to be honest, you know Always Smarter Than a 5th Grader? Are we? I dont know really. But I like to think that I help.

We hang out and we have dinnerthey eat a lot of the same healthy stuff that I eat. Lots of proteins. Then we put them to bed and its time for me to go into my man cave of sorts.

Do you ever deviate from eating healthy?

Well, I have a couple clubs here in Atlanta. When I go there, they have delicious fries. They just hit different at 3 a.m. Im really trying to work on that.

What are you excited about right now?

Im excited about the NBA championship. I'm excited about my life. Im excited that my kids have gotten back to school and everything seems to be fine with that, no one is coming back with any symptoms and everyone in their classes are fine. I'm about to drop a new album, So Help Me God. And really, Im just in a place where Im excited to be a better husband, father, friend, and person. Some people didn't get up this morning. I realize what a blessing that is, that I did.

Anything else you got for me?

Its not that hard to eat good. So just avoid the candy and the soda and avoid processed foods and thats whats up. You can do that, right?

The Real Life Diet of Howie Mandel, Who Thinks of Running as Meditation

The comedian and game show host pounds the pavement to help treat his OCD, ADHD, and high cholesterolbut really, he can't remember a time when he didn't need to move.

Originally Appeared on GQ

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The Real Life Diet of 2 Chainz, Who Prefers Vegetables From His Backyard Garden - Yahoo Lifestyle

Ever wondered what a CrossFit champion eats for breakfast? Or how a spin instructor powers themselves through multiple classes a day? Or how an Olympic gymnast snacks? Food Diaries takes you on an inside journey through the healthy eating habits of athletes at the top of their games because, admit it, youre curious. See More

Amanda Newhall, 31, knew she wanted to be a firefighter when she was 12 years old, the year that two planes crashed into the World Trade Center buildings. I was in middle school at the time and remember following the news coverage in the days that followed, and something just sort of clicked for me, she says.

It was an ambition that stuck with her throughout school and now into adulthood. I joined Explorers, which is essentially junior firefighting through the Boy Scouts of America. You make uniforms to wear and go on ride-alongs with local firefighters, she says. When she was 19, she got hired as a volunteer firefighter in Healdsburg, California, where she now works full-time.

Being a firefighter is always an intense job, but this years wildfires ravaging much of the Westincluding Sonoma County, where she workshave proved to be additionally challenging. Its affecting our whole city; we really cant get a break, Newhall says. The summers are always very hectic because of the wildfires and the wildfire season seems to last later and later every year. Mother Nature hasnt told us when it will end this year yet.

In addition to being a firefighter, Newhall is also a fitness instructor with FireFlex Yoga, a wellness program for first responders. A lot of the moves [in yoga] mimic what you actually have to do as a firefighter, like deep squats on and off the firetruck, she says. She adds that its also recovery-based, which helps soothe first responders muscles from the wear and tear they inevitably put their bodies through just by doing their jobs. Fire stations buy into the FireFlex program and then an instructor comes to the station and leads the team through a workout on a regular basis. Newhall hasnt been able to go to other stations to teach thanks to COVID-19, but shes enjoying teaching her own team.

Being both a firefighter and fitness instructor means Newhall has to fuel her body properly, and she says its especially important for her to pay attention to what she eats because she has a rare metabolic disorder called phenylketonuria [PKU]. Its a rare DNA defect that affects her bodys ability to break down the amino acid phenylalanine. I have a pretty mild case of it, but it affects the way I eat because I have to limit my protein intake. Otherwise [amino acids from the protein] will just float around in my bloodstream.

Thus, while many people are focused on high-protein everything, Newhall has to be particularly mindful of her intake. Each day, she eats 25 grams of protein from a supplemental formula designed for people who have PKU, and gets an additional 35 grams of protein through food. (The average person as active as Newhall should get a recommended 75 grams a day.)

Typically for breakfast, I have my protein formula and some cashew nut yogurt, Newhall says. She loves that its portable enough to take to work or on a hikewhich is one of her favorite day-off activities. I like having a breakfast that wont slow me down, she says.

Watch the video below to see what a registered dietitian thinks of plant-based yogurt:

For lunch, Newhall likes either having a big salad or soupdepending on what shes in the mood for that day. Whole grains are a big part of my diet, so thats typically incorporated in some way, she says. But she adds that during the day she tends to eat pretty light because her body absorbs carbohydrates at a slower rate than the average person and she doesnt want it to slow her down.

If she gets hungry between lunch and dinner, Newhall says she likes to snack on dried mangoespecially on days when shes out hiking. Like cashew nut yogurt, its also really portable, so she can put some in a resealable bag, throw it in her backpack, and munch on it whenever hunger strikes.

Newhall says evening meals are a big deal at the firehouse. Its the part of the day where everyone comes together to sit around the table and share a meal. (Unless they get called to an emergency, of course.) Everyone takes turns cooking and Newhall says it can get pretty complicated because there are so many different types of eaters at her station. A lot of the guys I work with are big meat eaters and want to go full-on carnivore, but then someone else may be doing Whole30 or another specific type of eating plan, she says.

When its her turn to cook, Newhall says she likes to incorporate Chinese, Japanese, and Thai flavors into her cooking. I like making soba noodles with a creamy cashew nut sauce or a stir-fry with cauliflower rice and veggies, she says.

Newhall says she usually skips dessert because she doesnt have much of a sweet toothwith one exception. There are these glazed doughnuts with a unicorn made out of frosting on them and I just love them, she says. My boyfriend will surprise me with one about once a week and its always a nice surprise.

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This Firefighter Doubles as a Fitness InstructorHeres What She Eats To Fuel Her Body - Well+Good

Food production is now one of the main culprits in climate change. Therefore, the search for new food sources that can saturate, and, at the same time, not overload the planet, is so important. In a new meta-study, Professor Mouritsen and PhD student Charlotte Winter present alternative sources of protein for humans. Their findings are published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

More and more people are choosing to become vegetarians or, even more radically, vegans.

However, according to Professor Ole G. Mouritsen of the University of Copenhagens Department of Food Science, the vast majority of people find it difficult to completely remove meat from the shelf in the name of preventing climate change.

A lot of people just crave the umami flavor, which is found in meat, for example. Therefore, it is perhaps more realistic to consider a flexible diet where a person consumes small amounts of animal products such as meat, eggs and milk, along with vegetables. Nevertheless, you can already start thinking about alternatives to a juicy steak, of which there are actually many, explains the professor.

In a new meta-study, Professor Mouritsen and Ph.D. Student Charlotte Winter, his fellow in the Faculty of Nutritional Sciences, presents alternative sources of protein and healthy fatty acids, as well as their vision of what a sustainable diet of the future might look like.

Among other things, the researchers recommend looking for products of the future in the sea.

In particular, we need to find species that live on the bottom and focus on by-catch fish (which accidentally fall into the nets), scientists are sure. They emit much less CO2 than beef, pork and chicken.

The environmentally friendly by-catch fish that are currently used to feed pigs or obtain fish oil live on the ocean floor. These include: gerbils fish that dig in the sandy bottom to lay eggs; The sprat is a relative of the widespread herring and the blackmouth gobi, another small but tasty and forgotten fish, explains Mouritsen.

Sprat alone can meet 20% of Denmarks protein needs. And by catching sprat, we can avoid overexploiting the more well-known fish species such as cod, flounder and salmon, the professor explains.

Seaweed is also an extremely climate-friendly food source. However, only 500 out of 10,000 species are currently used and recognized for food, despite the fact that seaweed is rich in incredibly beneficial nutrients and vitamins.

Likewise, cephalopods are only marginally harvested: 30 out of about 800 species are used for food worldwide.

Among other things, it has a lot to do with our culture and traditions. It will take time to change your eating habits. We have eaten and cooked meat for over a million years. So while seaweed, squid and shellfish contain important fatty acids and vitamins and taste great, we are still reluctant to consider these species as our food sources, explains Ole G. Mouritsen.

For example, fermenting vegetables or adding enzymes can bring out the flavor of sweet and umami, says Ole G. Mouritsen.

Its critical that we continue to communicate these new nutritional opportunities. In doing so, we will gradually make changes in our eating habits and traditions. We hope this study will play a role, the professor concludes.

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Sprat, shellfish and algae: what the diet of the future might look like - FREE NEWS

Located in the Pacific Ocean, Okinawa Island is the biggest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu (Nansei) Islands of Japan. Its breathtakingly beautiful, but thats not what its best known for. Rather, as a celebrated Blue Zonean area of the world where people lead the longest, healthiest livesOkinawa is renowned for having the highest prevalence of centenarians. Their diet, along with lifestyle habits and exercise, plays a large role in that, of course. And no surprises here, but its mostly vegan.

Bansari Acharya, MA, RD,breaks this way of eating down for us, which traditionally focuses on vegetables, especially sweet potatoes, and soy foods. The Okinawa diet is generally low in calories, but high in complex carbohydrates. The philosophy of the Okinawa diet resides on the mentality that food is medicine, which explains their high use of beneficial spices and herbs in their diets, explains Acharya, noting that meat and seafood only constitute about 1-2% of the island inhabitants traditional diet. For Okinawans, tea is also a regular part of the routine of daily life (and something we definitely have come to savor more amidst these long months of hunkering down at home).

Along with a diet that is rich in complex carbohydrates, the diet also puts a great deal of importance on physical activity and mindful eating, which provides further benefits, adds Acharya.

So how, precisely, may this plant-forward diet contribute to blowing out 100 candles on the proverbial birthday cake? One of the reasons the Okinawa diet may help with longevity is the high antioxidant content. Plant-based foods, including the sweet potato, are high in antioxidants and protect against disease to extend life, shares Jinan Banna, Ph.D., RD, referencing this 2016 study.

In addition, [the] caloric restriction also likely contributes to longevity in Okinawa, though the biological basis for this is still being researched, Banna also notes, pointing to this 2014 study on caloric restriction and healthy aging in Okinawa.

Echoing Acharya and Bannas sentiments, Amanda A. Kostro Miller, RD, LDN, who serves on the advisory board for Fitter Livingpraises its virtues: When we compare it to our Westernized diet of high-calorie, high-fat and protein-focus, we eat very differently than the traditional Okinawa people. The main health benefits of this diet are its high vegetable focus for vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It also aims to consume little to no processed foods and refined carbs, she comments, also drawing attention to the fact that Okinawa island residents also strive for plenty of daily physical activity, whether thats tending to a garden or going for a long walk.

Along with these positives, Kostro Miller readily admits that there can be some drawbacks to the Okinawan diet (especially, one would infer, for Westerners merely adapting the food components of the diet but dont mimic the same social rituals and lifestyle habits of the Okinawans). Namely, she calls out the traditional diet lacking certain food groups like adequate amounts of fruits and whole grains. While the Okinawa diet definitely has the right idea, modern-day people can take the same principles and add in even more nutrition so they have a plant-based, well-rounded diet, Kostro Miller offers.

Despite its potential drawbacks, you dont need to tell us twice to load up on sweet potatoes with a miso-mustard glaze for dinner, accompanied by a hearty salad and a savory wedge of tofu. At the end of the day, as Banna aptly puts it, the Okinawa Diet is associated with a decreased risk for chronic disease, and we have much to learn from this pattern in the West. Now, if only we had a backyard and room for a garden.

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What is the Okinawa Diet and How Could It Help You Live Longer? - The Beet

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There are so many misconceptions surrounding the dietary supplement industry. Some of them have deep roots in traditional beliefs, while some are just unfounded and ungrounded myths. The only way you can reap the full benefits of dietary supplements is to have a resolute mind and goals into what you want to achieve. This includes a healthier life from making sound judgments. A lot has been said and done concerning dietary supplements, and it is up to you to decide what works for you and what doesnt. Among the most common misconceptions about dietary supplements include:

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Things To Keep In Mind When Buying Dietary Supplements Online - Blog - The Island Now