For theoretical intuition into the effects of different dietary strategies on herbivore population dynamics, we combine the analysis of two models: one extremely simple discrete-time population model that does not explicitly consider vegetation pools but assumes seasonal variation in forage quality and another that adapts the well-studied Lotka-Volterra consumer-resource model with one herbivore and two logistically growing resource pools, corresponding either to grass and trees or two different grass pools between which herbivores migrate. We are primarily interested in how herbivore population sizes change with respect to the degree of seasonal diet switching by herbivores, which depend on including limitations on plant productivity (capturing the benefit of switching diet, as either forage quality or total availability is depleted seasonally) and herbivore feeding behavior (as intake and digestive efficiency, including possible costs of the switching strategy itself). Despite its simplicity and a long history of attention, the Lotka-Volterratype system (described in further detail below) resists full formal analysis, and we have therefore presented predictions via computation (see Fig. 1 and figs. S2 to S5); it is for this reason that we have included the even simpler model for more complete analytical intuition.

For empirical evaluation, herbivore census data were extracted from the database previously published by Hempson et al. (14). Data were included for protected areas in Eastern and Southern Africa with an area > 500 km2, rainfall between 400 and 1000 mm year1, and good conservation status at the time of the census (see Fig. 2 and fig. S6) (33). These criteria aim to identify environmentally comparable regions with intact wildlife populations and to minimize the intensive management and edge effects in small reserves. Data for migratory populations were more sparse, because these have been heavily depleted through hunting and fragmentation (24). We identified six migratory populations of four species, including (i) wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and zebra (E. quagga) in the Serengeti, (ii) white-eared kob (Kobus kob) and tiang (i.e., topi or tsessebe, Damaliscus lunatus) in the Boma-Jonglei, (iii) wildebeest in Tarangire-Manyara, and (iv) wildebeest in Liuwa.

The percentage C4 grass component of African herbivore diets was estimated by synthesizing data from published sources (8, 9, 11, 34, 35) and averaging across regions and studies for each species (see table S1). This percentage was reflected about the 50% diet composition axis to estimate the degree of dietary mixing via the equation: 50 |50 percent C4 grass|. This has a maximum value of 50% when the diet is half C4 grass and a minimum value of 0% if C4 grass is all or none of the diet.

The main objective of our analyses was to determine whether the level of grass-browse mixing in a herbivores diet has an influence on its abundance. Herbivore abundance was estimated as individual density (the number of individuals km2) or as metabolic biomass density (body mass0.75 individual density km2). These data were then log transformed before fitting linear mixed-effects models with scaled % dietary mixing, species body mass, and their interaction as fixed effects in the full model. Species identity and protected area identity were included as random effects to account for processes including climatic and edaphic limitations on productivity and top-down carnivore effects on herbivore populations. Models were fitted in R (version 3.3.3) using the lme4 package.

First, we consider a population N that experiences alternating wet and dry seasons, with population growth from one wet season to the next described by the equationNw,t+1=wmd12mNw,twhere w corresponds to the wet-season growth rate of the population, d to its dry-season growth rate, m to the length of the wet season in months (this choice of unit of length is arbitrary and not important for model dynamics), and t to the time elapsed in years. If we nondimensionalize by N0 without loss of generality, thenNw(t)=[wmd12m]t(1)

These growth rates can be adapted to describe the case of grazers, browsers, and mixed feeders. Grazers grow at rates wG and dG in the wet and dry season, respectively, and browsers at rates wB and dB.

We assume that mixed feeders graze in the wet season and browse in the dry season, consistent with empirical observations (9). Hence, we also make the crucial assumption that, in the wet season, the potential growth rate of a herbivore is higher on grass, whereas in the dry season, the potential growth rate of a herbivore is higher on browse (i.e., that wG > wB and dB > dG). We also assume that the intrinsic quality of grazing or browsing forage probably does not differ by herbivore type, but that there are potential costs to generalism that might contribute to the relative success of the strategy (36); therefore, we assume that mixed feeders suffer some inefficiency in how they grow on both grass and browse, scaling their wet and dry season growth rates as cGwG and cBdB, with cG and cB < 1. Note that higher c denotes higher mixed-feeder efficiency.

A mixed-feeder population M therefore achieves higher population numbers than a grazer G and a browser population B, respectively, when1[dGdB]12mandcGmcB12m>[wBwG]m(2)

See fig. S1 for a graphical illustration of these conditions. Ecologically, they suggest the intuitive result that mixed-feeder abundances will exceed grazer abundances when dry season browse is sufficiently better than dry season graze to compensate the costs of mixed feeding. By the same token, mixed-feeder abundances will exceed browser abundances when wet-season graze is enough better than wet-season browse to compensate the costs of mixed feeding. In the case where there are no costs to a mixed-feeding strategy, these conditions reduce to our assumption that grass is better forage in the wet season and trees in the dry; but in the case where mixed feeding carries a cost, the success of the strategy is determined by how seasonal trees and grasses are relative to each other. Thus, the relative responses of trees versus grasses to seasonality are fundamental to determining the benefits of mixed feeding. In extreme cases, this is obvious: Diet switching is obviously disadvantageous when inefficiencies are overwhelming or when grass survives but there is nothing to browse in the dry season, as in heavily deciduous systems in the tropics.

This model can also be used to analogize the dynamic of a migratory grazer, with similar results. In that case, cGwG and cBdB correspond to the cost-adjusted growth rate of the migratory grazer on the wet seasonpreferred grass pool and the dry-season forage reservoir, respectively. Thus, a migratory grazer population grows to a larger size than its nonmigratory equivalent when the benefits of switching to the dry-season reservoir outweigh the costs of doing so. In this analogy, the costs of migrating may be energetic, rather than anatomical (as above), since migratory populations often have nonmigratory conspecifics. However, the analogy is limited by the fact that often, the benefit of migrating is that there is more (not better) food at the destination, and so the discrete-time model presented here is a poor analogy; see the coupled consumer-resource model below for a different perspective on this issue.

Note that the results presented in fig. S1 are qualitatively similar when we consider a discrete-time logistic model, especially when growth rates are slow relative to carrying capacity and identical when carrying capacity is taken to be the same across herbivore types (analysis not shown).

We have used a variant of the well-studied Lotka-Volterra consumer-resource model with one herbivore and two resource pools, corresponding either to grass and trees or two different grass pools between which herbivores migrate. For this detailed model description, we describe the two resource pools as grass and tree foliar biomass; all that is required to turn this into a simple model for migration, however, would be to change the names of the resources to, e.g., two different grass pools between which herbivores migrate. Here, grass and tree foliar biomasses (the resources, G and T) accumulate logistically with some growth rate (~carbon assimilation, AG and AT) and carrying capacity (KG and KT). Herbivores eat grass for a fixed fraction of time G and eat trees the rest of the time (T = 1 G), in proportion to their availability at a rate that depends on bite size (i.e., handling efficiency, G and T). Note that for the purposes of analysis, and always occur together and could be considered as one parameter; however, we maintain the distinction between the two to preserve their biological meaning. Foliage is converted to herbivore biomass depending on how nutritious food is and how efficient digestion is (combined into one term, G and T). This yields the following system of equationsdGdT=AGG(1GKG)GGGHdTdt=ATT(1TKT)TTGHdHdt=[GGGG+TTTT]HH(3)where is the mortality rate of the herbivore. For specialist herbivores (with either T or G = 1) in a nonseasonal environment, the equilibria of this system and their stability are well known. Those familiar with this model can skip two paragraphs to .

As a review, taking the example of a specialist grazer, T approaches its carrying capacity KT and does not interact with grass or the herbivore population. We are left with a two-dimensional system with zero isoclines from Eq. 3 atH=AG(1GKG)GGandG=GGG(4)respectively, and equilibria occur where these zero isoclines intersect (as illustrated, e.g., in fig. S2A). Stability is given by the Jacobian evaluated at equilibriumJ=[AGGKGGGGGGGH0](5)for which the trace is always negative and the determinant is always positive, such that, according to Routh-Hurwitzs stability criteria, any equilibrium that exists is also stable for all biologically realistic (i.e., positive) regions of parameter and state space (see also fig. S2, A and B). The example of a specialist grazer is directly analogous to a specialist browser as well (see fig. S2, I and J).

Analysis is slightly more complicated for a mixed feeder (with either T or G = 1) in a nonseasonal environment because the system is three dimensional (see figs. S3 and S4 for examples of trajectories in three-dimensional space) but nonetheless straightforward. In this case, equilibria are well defined by Eq. 3, and again, their stability is this time given by the (now) three-dimensional JacobianJ=[AGGKG0GGG0ATTKTTTTGGGHTTTH0](6)

In this case, Routh-Hurwitzs criteria for stability require that the trace be negative, the determinant also negative, and the determinant greater than the product of the trace and the sum of the determinants of the dominant subminors; here again, it is straightforward to show that any equilibrium that exists is also stable for all biologically realistic (i.e., positive) regions of parameter and state space.

The next key component of the model is seasonal variation: We assume that seasons alternate predictably, with effects on plant productivity (via A) and, depending on herbivory type, on herbivore diet. We assume that grazers graze and browsers browse all year. However, mixed feeders change their diets seasonally (9), switching from wet-season grazing to dry-season browsing when grass resources are exhausted and/or decrease in quality. By analogy, a migratory grazer might change resource pools seasonally from a preferred resource to a forage reservoir in the dry season. This seasonal change in productivity complicates analysis, even when the herbivore is a specialist grazer or browser (see fig. S2, C, G, and K). Although we can be sure that plant and herbivore population trajectories are always moving toward the seasonal stable equilibria described above, there is no guarantee that the system reaches equilibrium within a season (and, in fact, given that ungulates usually live multiple if not many years, reaching equilibrium within a season seems unlikely). Instead, we see the emergence of cycles in plant and herbivore abundance in response to alternating seasons. These seem, for broad ranges of parameter space, to tend toward stable cycles, as the system moves along deterministic trajectories toward (but not always reaching) seasonal equilibria (see figs. S2 to S4).

In the trivial case where mixed feeders perform better in both wet and dry seasons than pure grazers or browsers, analysis would be simpler: Mixed feeders would achieve higher population sizes overall (37). However, we must make assumptions to mirror a reality that directly violates this most trivial case, and mixed feeders may not always perform better overall than grazers or browsers. Although more extensive work has been done on similarly structured aquatic systems that reach equilibrium within a season (38), currently available analytical tools cannot go much further than this. We proceed for further intuition via computation methods below.

In reality, mixed feeders do better than grazers only in the dry season (when grass has run out) and better than browsers only in the wet season (when grass is more abundant and/or easier to eat than browse). The best-case scenario in this is that mixed feeders do exactly as well as grazers when grazing and exactly as well as browsers when browsing. However, mixed-feeder disadvantages may be more severe if mixed feeders, as generalists, are less efficient grazers than grazing specialists and less efficient browsers than browsing specialists. There are two possible ways to include the costs of mixed feeding (and analogous costs of migrating spatially). Mixed feeders may digest foliage less efficiently, payable as a fractional decrease in digestive efficiency (where efficiency = 1 corresponds to no cost; applied multiplicatively to the first two terms of Eq. 3). Alternatively, mixed feeders may have less efficient mouth shapes for grazing and browsing, resulting in a decrease in intake efficiency (applied multiplicatively to the last terms of the first two of Eq. 3 and the first two terms of the last of Eq. 3).

Via computation across a broad range of parameter space, we find that when the costs of mixed feeding are high, mixed feeders do not achieve higher abundances than grazers and browsers (see Fig. 1, A and D, and fig. S5, A and D). However, mixed-feeder advantages are relatively robust to mild decreases in feeding efficiency due to mixed feeding; in fact, both intake and digestive efficiency costs are widely debated in the literature, and recent syntheses suggest that mixed feeders have only slightly lower feeding or digestive efficiencies than grazers or browsers (36). Thus, we should expect mixed feeders to have increasing abundances with increases in the degree of mixed feeding, for realistic efficiency estimates (see Fig. 1, C and F).

To generate computation results, we have used Runge-Kutta fourth-order integration in the package deSolve in R, version 3.2.2. For all results shown herein, wet and dry seasons each last one-half a time step (with one unit of time assumed to be a year), and the transition between the two is abrupt (instead of, e.g., sinusoidal, which would capture a more gradual transition between wet and dry seasons). In the main text (see Fig. 1), we present results assuming AG,wet = 10, AT,wet = 5, AG,dry = AT,dry = 0, KG = KT = 1000, G = 0.02, T = 0.08, G = 0.08, T = 0.05, = 0.8, c = 0.95, and c = 0.8, except where parameters are varied for the parameter sweep, incorporating the assumptions that tree foliage is more nutritious than grass but that taking large bites of grass is easier than selective browsing of trees (see also fig. S3 for trajectories for a subset of those simulations). However, for generality, we also provide another simulation set that makes neutral assumptions about the quality and handling times of grass and trees (AG,wet = AT,wet = 10, KG = KT = 1000, G = T = 0.05, G = T = 0.05, = 0.8, c = 0.95, and c = 0.8; see figs. S4 and S5). Across all simulations, grazers graze and browsers browse all year; we additionally assume that mixed feeders exclusively graze in the wet season but that they switch to browsing in the dry (with G,wet = T,dry = 1, such that diet mixing = 50%). Where we vary the degree of diet mixing for parameter sweeps (in Fig. 1, B, C, E, and F, and fig. S5, B, C, E, and F), we achieve this by varying T,dry.

Note that, here, we consider only the population dynamics of a single herbivore at a time, ignoring the dynamics of the diverse food web, which have been considered in some depth elsewhere (18, 39). However, results using metabarcoding approaches suggest that diverse herbivores in savannas compete minimally, so this simplification may in a narrow sense be realistic; how this niche differentiation arises in a competitive, evolutionary context, especially in view of the advantages of generalism, may be of theoretical interest. Also note that our models consider the dynamics of grass and tree accumulation separately; although these may interact (40), tree-grass coexistence is not the subject of this work, and so we approximate equilibrium competition via limitations on the respective carrying capacities of tree and grass foliar biomass. Elaborations on these themes may be of future interest.

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Seasonal dietary changes increase the abundances of savanna herbivore species - Science Advances

One of the most effective weapons against cancer isnt found in a hospital.

Chemotherapy, radiation and surgical intervention are all important tools in treating the disease. But in the rich green, yellow, orange and red of fresh fruits and vegetables, in the fiber-rich whole grains, in legumes such as beans, peas and lentils, people have the chance to prevent cancer in the first place.

Food is more important than you think, said Abby Emerick, a clinical dietitian and board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition at Franciscan Health Indianapolis.

"What we put into our bodies; we really are truly what we eat. When we put junk in, it makes us feel junky on the outside. When we eat something good, it helps," she said.

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The exact way diet impacts cancer risk is unknown, but health officials agree what you eat and drink can have a massive impact on the chances of developing the disease.

That makes nutrition an integral tool in keeping cancer at bay.

Even small changes can have big impacts, Emerick said.

"We all know were going to have our ups and downs. We have to understand that life happens; theres going to be celebrations, and theres going to be weekends or bad days when we might not eat perfectly," she said. "But diet really does play a huge part of cancer prevention and getting our immune systems strong."

According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, 1 in 4 people in the U.S. will develop cancer at some point in their lives. Nearly 1.7 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2019.

Certain factors, such as genetics and environment, are untouchable in terms of reducing your cancer risk. But research shows that about 40% of cancer cases are preventable, meaning about 694,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year.

Diet is one of the simplest lifestyle changes you can make, Emerick said.

"What we put into our bodies, and how were using and moving our bodies, is the biggest factor," she said. "The No. 1 cancer prevention tip is to be as lean as possible without becoming underweight."

Through her job, Emerick often works with cancer patients at Franciscan Health Cancer Center. Her focus with them is to take the research and knowledge that medicine knows regarding nutrition and cancer, and try to use it to help patients before, during and after treatment.

She relies on the American Institute for Cancer Research, as well as the World Cancer Research Fund, which provides top recommendations on diet and cancer prevention.

"Theyre the ones who are doing the research, have the science behind it and the studies," she said.

Being obese or overweight leaves a person at increased risk for nearly a dozen kinds of cancers: esophageal, liver, kidney, stomach, colorectal, advanced prostate, breast, gallbladder, pancreatic, ovarian and endometrial, or the lining of the uterus.

One of the foremost recommendations is eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables particularly those with bright colors whole grains and legumes.

"I use the rule of thumb: If it can stain your shirt, its probably a good cancer-fighting fruit or vegetable," Emerick said. "The richer the color, those are the ones with lots of antioxidants and have those anti-cancer properties."

Limit fast foods and processed foods that are high in fat, starches and sugar. Also, limit red meat and avoid processed meat. A link has been found between those foods and cancer, so if youre going to eat meat, opt for more white meats, such as chicken or turkey.

Emerick doesnt advocate for one diet or another, such as going all vegan, keto or paleo. Rather, the key is making good choices overall in what you eat.

"We know that there is power in plants. The more plant-based diet is ideal, but we also know meat and animal products can fit perfectly fine into a diet thats great for cancer prevention," she said. "Its not doing one extreme or the other."

Paired with good diet, physical activity is key to reducing the risk of cancer. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends 30 minutes of activity each day, such as walking, cycling, dancing, even general gardening. As fitness improves, increase that to 60 minutes of moderate activity or 30 minutes of vigorous activity.

Emerick helps her patients understand that, and shows them how to start making small changes to improve their health. She knows that being faced with so many changes can be daunting, and often can discourage people before they even begin to alter their diet.

So its important to offer support with each tiny step.

"Often times when I meet people, they feel terrible. They have a lot of anxiety and fear about cancer, so, just empowering people to start small and gradually add on," Emerick said. "Make progress, and keep on with their healthy habits."

At a glance

Ten cancer prevention recommendations

1. Be a healthy weight: Try to keep your weight in the healthy range and avoid weight gain in adult life.

2. Physical activity: Be physically active as part of everyday lifewalk more and sit less.

3. Eat a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans: Make whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes such as beans and lentils a major part of your normal diet.

4. Limit consumption of fast foods and other processed foods that are high in fat, starches or sugars: Limiting these products helps you control your calorie intake, and makes it easier to maintain a healthy weight.

5. Limit consumption of red and processed meat: Eat no more than moderate amounts (12-18 ounces per week) of red meat, such as beef, pork, and lamb. Eat little, if any, processed meat.

6. Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks: Drink mostly water and unsweetened drinks.

7. Limit alcohol consumption: For cancer prevention, its best not to drink alcohol.

8. Do not use supplements for cancer prevention: Aim to meet your nutritional needs through diet alone.

9. Breastfeed your baby, if you can. Breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby.

10. After a cancer diagnosis, follow these recommendations, if you can: Check with your health professional about what is right for you.

Source: American Institute of Cancer Research

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Changing diet can have impact on preventing cancer - Daily Journal

In recent times we have seen a wave of vegans, vegetarians and people following a plant-based diet as a trend as people are gradually giving up on meat and animal products. While it may have certain health benefits, lets look at the reasons why it also helps to fight climate change.

After the release of a popular documentary - The Game Changers, a lot of people have taken into consideration the long term health benefits of practicing a plant based diet. Along with multiple health benefits, one of the most crucial factors of having a plant based diet is that it helps combat climate change as it requires less percentage of agriculture land mass essentially.

Along with promoting human health, plant based diet is vital for promoting the health of planet earth as well. The food we consume is the cause and effect of a healthy environment and how we can keep our planet alive. Its important to know the food we eat and its production. The high consumption of meat and dairy products is one of the major factors for global warming and it's highly increasing at an alarming rate.

Lets look at some of the ways a plant based diet can help save the planet and thus, mankind.

1. Save water

If you consume meat then you are responsible for about 15,000 litres of water consumption for a day on average. Cutting down on meat will reduce the water footprint by almost 60 percent. It takes up to 2,400 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef, you can do the match now.

2. Reduce agricultural land use

Agriculture covers almost 40 percent of land mass on Earth and if we ditch meat and stick to a plant based diet then we require 42 percent of less cropland.

3. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are related to food production out of which most of it is based on animal products. Another reason to switch to a plant based diet is to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that if released at a higher rate would lead to global warming.

4. Save lives

It is proven that excess of meat consumption can increase health risks and developing any chronic diseases. Hence, eating more plants than animals can save lives and prevent premature deaths from multiple diseases.

5. Save animals

Last but not least, by switching to a plant based diet can help ease out animal suffering. Several documentaries like Eating Animals, Dominion and Lucent tell us about the gritty reality of factory farming and exposes the conditions in which animal rearing is done.

Also Read:World Vegetarian Day: 5 myths about being vegetarian debunked

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5 Ways a plant based diet can help to save the planet - PINKVILLA

If you arent losing weight on the keto diet, you may not be following it correctly.

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Most people who do the keto diet will lose weight, but you have to follow it strictly and be in a calorie deficit to make it work.

Over time, you may hit a keto plateau where you will stop losing weight, even while following the same diet.

Even if you dont lose weight, a slightly higher number on the scale may not always be a bad sign if you are gaining muscle.

This article was reviewed bySamantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition and wellness expert with a private practice based in New York City.

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The keto diet is a popular way to lose weight and improve health. But not everyone loses weight on keto, and some stop losing weight after a few months.

If you arent meeting your weight goals on the ketogenic diet, you may need to make some adjustments or talk with a registered dietitian. Here are some reasons why you might not be losing weight on keto.

The main purpose of the ketogenic diet is to send your body into ketosis. Ketosis is a state where your metabolism shifts from burning carbohydrates for fuel to fat cells, instead.

However, it can take a lot of careful planning to put your body into ketosis. And it wont happen immediately. It can take anywhere from two to seven days of extreme carb restriction to reach ketosis.

You can check to see if you are really in ketosis using at-home urine test strips. These strips detect ketones, substances your liver creates when processing fat.

However, being in ketosis is not going to make you lose weight if you are still taking in too many calories, says Scott Keatley, RD, a dietitian at Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy.

Losing weight on the keto diet is like losing weight on any diet you need to burn more calories in the day than you consume.

The restriction does not need to be extreme, but you should be at a caloric deficit.

Being in ketosis makes this a little easier since with the right foods it can reduce your appetite so youre less hungry and therefore, less likely to overeat.

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Some foods to eat on keto that will help you feel full are:

Fiber-rich, low-carb vegetables like leafy greens, broccoli, and asparagus

Lean, protein-packed meat like seafood and poultry.

Healthy fatty foods like avocados, nuts, and seeds.

However, if youre still having trouble controlling your caloric intake, here are some tips:

Replace any sugary drinks you might have with flavored water.

Measure out snacks beforehand so you dont unconsciously consume too much.

Track your calories with one of Insider Reviews best weight loss apps.

If you restrict calories too much to less than 1,200 per day for the average adult this can also slow your weight loss goals. Because when you dont eat enough it can send your body into starvation mode, where your metabolism slows down and you may stop losing weight.

Numerous studies indicate a strong link between stress and obesity. Part of the reason could be related to the fact that stress increases levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, which leads to enhanced appetite and potentially overeating and subsequent weight gain.

Some simple ways to relieve stress include:

Exercising regularly

Getting more sleep

Connecting with loved ones

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults complete at least 150-300 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Physical activity is important for many reasons, including maintaining a healthy weight.

Regular exercise can also help reduce stress levels, boosting your chances of appetite control and weight loss. Some tips to maintaining a regular workout routine include:

Choose a workout regimen you enjoy.

Find a workout partner(s) to hold you accountable.

Make long-term goals to work toward.

Even if you are keeping your metabolism up, your weight loss may still slow down over time. As you cut calories and lose weight, your body will adapt to the change and start needing fewer calories to keep itself going, says Keatley. In other words, people tend to hit a weight loss plateau.

However, Keatley says that you should not use the scale as your only measure of progress. Lean muscle is denser than fat, so burning fat and building muscle can actually lead to a slight weight increase. The scale may freak you out when the change happening is positive, Keatley says.

There are certain medical conditions that are associated with weight gain, making it exceptionally difficult to lose weight. Many of these conditions are hormonal disorders like Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes, Cushings syndrome, and hypothyroidism.

Cutting carbs on the keto diet can lead to rapid weight loss. But if youre not losing weight, make sure youre in ketosis, not eating too many calories, and are controlling your stress levels.

If youre considering trying the keto diet to lose weight, Keatley says, I would advise anyone thinking of a keto diet to talk to their doctor and a dietitian before, during, and after.

Read the original article on Insider

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Why you may not be losing weight on the keto diet - Report Door

At this point in 2020, you might be struggling with hair loss or breakage. Perhaps you wish you could grow your hair long again. Thin hair, dry hair, brittle hair or lacklustre hair is something many people see after a time of stress and hardship. Which is where the powerful ingredient collagen comes in.

According to Jason Collier celebrity hairstylist to Laura Whitmore and Victoria Beckham collagen is what post-lockdown hair needs right now. Lets be honest, this year hasnt exactly been kind to the state of our hair. The combination of stress, a change in your regular diet, and hormone fluctuations might have resulted in increased hair loss. Hair issues like severely split ends, the first signs of greying and a lacklustre look might also be rearing their ugly head.

So how can collagen bring back your luscious pre-covid locks and restore the health of your mane? Here are the main reasons collagen is your hairs superhero.

You might know collagen is good for your skin, your bones and your muscles, but did you know it can also help improve your gut health? Dr Melissa Anzelone ND for Nutrafol says this is because collagen helps to heal the lining of the gut and digestive tract. As a result, your digestive system is better able to absorb protein and other nutrients necessary for healthy hair growth.

Your hair isnt the only part of your body and health that will benefit from improved digestive function, once collagen has taken care of it. Your mood, brain function, muscles, and energy levels tend to function alongside the health of your gut, which is why it is so important to focus on your diet and microbiome.

When used in synergy with hyaluronic acid, collagen also strengthens the dermis and the elements surrounding the hair follicle. This improves the way nutrients are distributed to the hair shaft.

Collagen has the ability to function as an antioxidant. When our bodies experience stress and air pollutants, or our lifestyle involves elements like smoking, an unhealthy diet or alcohol, the accumulation of free radicals takes place. This causes damage to our cells and DNA.

Hair follicles also suffer from this type of damage. When we age, hair damage tends to become a bigger issue, because the bodys ability to defend itself against free radicals decreases. The other problem that comes with age is that our bodies produce less and less collagen the older we get.

Studies show that collagen derived from fish scales have a powerful antioxidant ability. The results showed that marine collagen was able to fight off four different types of free radicals. While the research was only performed in laboratories, the results point to the power of collagen when it comes to countering the effects of ageing.

Hair is not the only thing dependent on healthy collagen stores in the body. Nails and skin also benefit when collagen production is optimal. And it all starts on the inside. The problem is that collagen production not only undergoes a natural slowdown. It is also affected by issues like sun damage, alcohol and excess sugar in the diet. Dr Julie Russak, brand ambassador for NeoCell, explains that when this happens, we can expect to see breakage in our skin, hair and nails.

In addition to the breakdown of collagen, the causes of hair loss can include:

By upping your intake of good quality collagen, you can help to counter the effects of hair loss and strengthen the rate at which your hair grows. It is also important to look at your diet and hormone health in general. Your hair is dependent on a healthy amount of protein and iron in your diet.

Click on this link to find out why a waist trainer is not the best idea if you want to lose inches off your waist.

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Collagen Is The Ingredient Your Hair Wants In Your Diet - Longevity LIVE - Longevity LIVE

At some point, we've all wished we had an opportunity to talk to a nutritionist about the healthiest way to eat to lose weight, build muscle, and if what we're eating will helpachieve our long term health and weight loss goals. The Beet made this happen on video (below) whenEditorial Director, Lucy Danziger hosted a live chatwith Registered Dietitian Nicole Osinga,who created The VegStart DietforThe Beet,a 2-week plant-based plan that helps you get healthy, and lose weight, easily and naturally.

On the live video, viewers asked any question they liked about diet, weight loss, and calorie counting. To give you an idea, a few questionsasked were: "What's the healthiest oils to cook with?" "What's the best source of vegan protein?" "How many calories should I eat to lose weight?" And, "How would you explain your diet: Are you vegan or plant-based?"

Nicole shared her expert advice onthese topics andexplained why 1,500 caloriesis the baseline for weight loss on The VegStart Diet. She elaborated on which is healthier: Keto, Paleo, or Plant-Based, and helped everyone better understand the importance of meal prep.

This video is like a free one-on-one session with a nutritionist who answers all your pressing diet questions. In case you missed it, the video is posted below. And, if you have any questions you would like to ask Nicole, send us an Instagram DM or email at info@thebeet.com andshe will get back to you soonest. Now sign up for The VegStart Diet and get your 100-page e-Book with 56 recipes, 15 must-try tips, and helpful fun graphics, and start your easy, healthy plant-based journey today, and lose weight in just two weeks.

If you want to chat about The VegStart Diet with others who are on their plant-based journey, join the free Facebook group for daily information, group chats, and advice from beginners who are testing out a plant-based diet for the first time.

Stay tuned for more from Nicole Osinga on The Beet andsign up for The VegStart Diet to make a difference in your body, your mind, and your life.

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How to Lose Weight on a Plant-Based Diet, From a Nutritionist - The Beet

Why are trans fats bad for your health? Ways to include healthy fats in your diet  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: Tans fats, unlike other dietary fats, have been linked to a number of health problems. Trans fats still pose a public health problem although regulators have restricted their use. Eating trans fats raises your bad cholesterol levels, increasing your risk of developing heart disease and other related conditions.

But, what exactly are trans fats, how are they made, or why are they bad for your health? To help you clear up these questions and other concerns about trans fats, we spoke to Dr Udgeath Dhir, Director and Head, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.

Trans fats are a form of unsaturated fats that come in both natural and artificial form. Naturally occurring trans fats are produced in the gut of some animals and are found in meat products - they may contain small quantities of trans fats. Artificial trans fats are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid. Along with making food tastier and giving it the right texture, trans fats are inexpensive to produce and last a long time.

Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. They are associated with a number of cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases. Research has proved the direct connection of trans-fatty acids with cardiovascular diseases, breast cancer, shortening of pregnancy period, risk of preeclampsia, disorders of nervous system and vision in infants, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, and allergy.

Since the body doesnt actually require trans fats to function, people should avoid eating them as much as possible. They are generally found in processed and packaged foods. However, this depends on the ingredients used in the particular item - one should check the labels for trans-fats before purchasing such foods. While its fine to treat yourselves to sweets and other high-fat foods occasionally, trans fats should be completely avoided, and be replaced with foods that have polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

The following tips can help people avoid or limit the intake of trans fats:

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Why are trans fats bad for your health? Ways to include healthy fats in your diet - Times Now

The coronavirus pandemic has dominated the headlines and our daily lives for most of this year. Medical News Today have covered this fast-moving, complex story with live updates on the latest news, interviews with experts, and an ongoing investigation into the deep racial disparities that COVID-19 has helped unmask.

However, this has not stopped us from publishing hundreds of fascinating stories on a myriad of other topics.

This week, we reported on the long-term cognitive benefits of playing video games (nobody tell my 12-year-old), the link between thunderstorms and an increased number of emergency room visits, and how simple changes to your lifestyle and diet could ward off dementia.

We also look at a new light therapy for people with migraine, which has been tested in humans for the first time, and a study that saw stem cell implantation restore motor function in mice with Parkinsons disease.

Finally, we look at the psychology of voting (and not voting) and news from Germany about how even a gentle 10-minute massage can bring about lasting relaxation.

Below are 10 recent stories that you may have missed amid all the COVID-19 fervor.

Good news for gamers, this week, with our report on new research that has found a link between video games and cognition. The results suggest that video games may induce cognitive changes that last for years after people have stopped playing.

Video games are a perfect recipe for strengthening our cognitive skills, almost without our noticing, says the lead author of the study, Dr. Marc Palaus.

Learn more here.

Our detailed report on this extremely rare, very serious congenital condition was read by over 100,000 visitors this week, making it our most-viewed new article.

Mermaid syndrome, or sirenomelia, was first described in the medical literature of the 15th century. It is called mermaid syndrome because the newborn babys legs are fused. Our article looks at the causes, treatments, and care techniques, as well as possible risk factors and the outlook for babies with this syndrome.

Learn more here.

There was also great interest in our coverage of new research that may help both the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimers disease. Nearly 4,000 readers spent, on average, over 6 minutes with this article.

Scientists at the Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, in Spain, identified differences in how the brains of people with Alzheimers chemically label a key protein, called the amyloid precursor protein, with sugars.

Finding this difference in the proteins sugar labeling, or glycosylation, could lead to the development of a new diagnostic test for Alzheimers disease. In the longer term, it may even inspire new treatments.

Learn more here.

This week, MNT reported on a possible link between weather conditions and the number of older adults visiting emergency rooms with respiratory issues. Over the 14-year period covered in their study, the researchers found 52,000 additional visits to emergency rooms on the days to either side of a significant thunderstorm.

Its thought that climate change will cause more intense thunderstorms of the type identified in this study. Respiratory problems spurred by an increase in temperature and particulate matter caused by storms could result in many more older people seeking medical assistance, particularly if they have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Learn more here.

Changing the diet and increasing physical activity levels can reduce the risk of developing dementia, even in older people, after a diagnosis of cognitive decline. That was the conclusion of a proof-of-concept study covered by MNT this week.

The changes proposed in the new study, led by a team from The Australian National University, in Canberra, are relatively easy to adopt and inexpensive to follow, making this approach to preventing dementia a promising option for many older people.

With the right intervention, people experiencing cognitive decline may retain sufficient neuroplasticity for their brain to bounce back from decline, says Mitchell McMaster, the studys lead author.

Learn more here.

Migraine usually involves moderate-to-severe headaches, which may accompany other symptoms that can be debilitating, such as visual disturbances, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and extreme sensitivity to sound and light.

Pain relief medications are not always effective and often cause unpleasant side effects. Light therapy, however, offers the promise of relief without a dependence upon drugs.

This week, MNT reported on new research that suggests that exposure to green light of a particular wavelength and brightness may relieve migraine headaches just as effectively as drugs.

The results have already been demonstrated in mice, and this new study represents the first time a clinical trial of green light therapy in humans has produced a significant improvement in the frequency of migraine headaches.

Learn more here.

In a fascinating study, covered this week by MNT, researches found that the type of neurons transplanted into the brain, rather than their location, was the key to restoring brain health and movement in mice with Parkinsons disease.

Within 45 months, the dopamine-producing stem cells implanted in this study made connections with the area of the brain involved in coordinating movement.

However, the researchers caution that the greater distances between brain areas in humans may make it more difficult for implanted stem cells to make these connections and restore movement in the same way.

Learn more here.

A diet of junk food in your teens and early 20s may contribute to serious health problems decades later, even if your diet improves in the meantime. This was the conclusion of new research that we covered this week.

The authors argue that this evidence supports the prescription of lipid-lowering drugs, like statins, in people aged 2039 years as well as earlier interventions to improve dietary and lifestyle choices if doctors detect high cholesterol.

Learn more here.

In recent weeks, MNT has published a number of articles on health and the 2020 election, covering topics like the mental health benefits of voting, advice on how to vote safely, and how health influences voting behavior.

In this Special Feature, we look at voter apathy and some of the factors that may influence the psychology of voting. We ask: Who votes, who does not, and why might this be?

Learn more here.

Finally in this weeks Recovery Room, weve found another reason to unwind with a massage. Psychologists at the University of Konstanz, in Germany, have found that a 10-minute massage measurably increases relaxation.

The researchers divided participants into three groups. One received a moderately intense 10-minute massage designed to activate the stress-relieving parasympathetic nervous system. The second group received a softer massage, and the third group was asked to sit at a table and relax for 10 minutes, no massage included.

All of the participants reported feeling less stressed and more relaxed after the tests, but heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological measure of relaxation, was much higher in those who had received a massage. The team now plans to measure the benefits of other relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises, using HRV as their guide.

Learn more here.

We hope these have provided a taste of the stories that we cover at MNT. We will be back with a new selection next week.

We publish hundreds of news stories and features every month. Here are some upcoming articles that may pique our readers interest:

See the rest here:
The Recovery Room: News beyond the pandemic October 2 - Medical News Today

The best way to eat now is under much debate, as keto dieters line up against plant-based eaters, the low-fat camp has their studies to wave at the low-carb believers. So, we turned to Dr. Andrew Freeman, a well-respected cardiologist, for his expert advice on how to eat to be heart-healthy, avoid cancer, lose weight, and feel great. Dr. Freeman, who is in the Division of Cardiology andDepartment of Medicine at the National Jewish Health in Denver, says you have to try to eat the way our ancestors did: Mostly plant-based, avoiding processed foods and eat as manynatural foods as possible. "They were hunter-gatherers, but mostly gatherers," Freeman explains.

When it comes to whether to try to follow a ketogenic diet and avoid carbs, his view is: "Avoid Carbage, which is the carbs that are garbage," or highly processed foods like white bread, white rice, packaged foods, and added sugar. When it comes to trying to lose weight and be healthy, he adds, rather than cut out an entire food group like carbs, take what he calls the Goldilocks approach: Not too many carbs and not too few, but just the right amount, and focus on legumes, whole grains, vegetables, and fruit, especially the kind you could pick.

First, it's important to analyze your lifestyle and dietary habits and cut out the processed food, the sodas, or the chips, packaged snacks, or sugary sweets. I would advise someone to look at the easy fixes first. When people realize they are consuming 1,000 calories a day in soda, that's an easy one to cut out. I would encouragesomeone who wants to be heart-healthy to go as plant-based as possible. If you think about how our ancestors ate: Back then you ate what you found and it was mostly plant-based foods.

I would not say the modern ketogenic diet is terrible, but for most people, the implementation of keto is hardly healthful. It usually involves a lot of processed meat, like bacon. Plus, eliminating foods that we know are beneficial like vegetables and fruitsbecause they have carbohydratesturns out not to behealthyeither.

We know that processed meatcontains carcinogens, and you want to stay away from carcinogens since they cause cancer. When it comes to keto dieting I have nothing against it specifically, but it's the way most people do it that does not make sense to me. They wrap scallops in bacon and eat lots of processed meat. They lose weight but eventually, their cholesterol goes up. We don't know enough about the ketogenic diet, long term, to say it is unhealthy in itself. But the foods that people eat on it have been studied, and there is plenty of research that shows processed meat leads to heart disease and a higher risk of cancer.

There are some people who don't do well with keto. Some end up with digestive issues. So while we don't have enough data to say keto itself is the problem, it's well known that a diet high in meat and dairy leads to diseases like heart disease and cancer. So it's great to be skinny but it's not great to be skinny and get cancer.

The data we have from some years ago shows that a lower carbohydrate diet is worse for you in terms of health outcomes. I tell people: Don't go too low in carbs, since it appears to be unhealthy to eat all thatfat and protein. Take the Goldilocks approach to carbs, which is not too little... Not too much. Just the right amount. And make sure those carbs come from whole grains, from vegetables, fruit, and from legumes.

There are enormous health benefits from eating legumes, like lentils, beans, and pulses. The end of the day human physiologybenefits from these types of natural foods, and we arerapidly moving toward recommending a diet that is plant-rich and low in processed food. I would also recommend that for weight loss, add bouts of intermittent fasting. That's how humans lived. Long ago,theyhad to survive in the natural world, and they ate things they could find in nature or they grew them. It turns out that beans are some of the healthiest foods you could eat, especially lentils. These are high in fiber, fill you up, and have plenty of protein.

Our ancestors lived the way we are supposed to live: from the food you could gather. The natural way to eat is plant-based, with a little intermittent fasting thrown in. It turns out this is how our ancestors ate and it works. They had to be hunter-gatherers but they were much more likely to be gatherers. If they did get a piece of meat it was a rarity and a small amount.

If you combine a mostly plant-based diet with intermittent fasting, you will be healthy and maintain a healthy weight. That's how I eat (though I don't quite do intermittent fasting). I'm up early and cranking all day but if I had a less demanding lifestyleI would do that every day. And I do make it a point to exercise and try to be mindful. But back to our ancestors: Back then, you ate what you found.

You need to get exercise every day. Think about this: We know that all-natural food looked different way back then. Try picking organic strawberriesthey are tiny nothings. So we spent a lot of time and effort picking fruit. Things didn't look like they do today in the store. The natural food was smaller and had more nutrients. But it took energy to pick those berries and get enough calories to survive. So when you look at our ancestors they were using a lot of energy to get their food. Not like today when you walk into a store and it's all laid out for you.

When you look at the healthiest people in the Blue Zones [Dan Buettner's book about longevity patterns and what people who live long healthy lives have in common] they all are physically active, have strong social networks, enjoy quality sleep. If you look at their diet, the one commonality is that they don't drink too much alcohol and they eat mostly plants.

Link:
The Healthiest Way to Eat to Prevent Disease, Says a Cardiologist - The Beet

Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Marketresearch is an intelligence report with meticulous efforts undertaken to study the right and valuable information. The data which has been looked upon is done considering both, the existing top players and the upcoming competitors. Business strategies of the key players and the new entering market industries are studied in detail. Well explained SWOT analysis, revenue share and contact information are shared in this report analysis.

Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market is growing at a High CAGR during the forecast period 2020-2026. The increasing interest of the individuals in this industry is that the major reason for the expansion of this market.

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Top Companies of this Market includes: Amway, INFINITUS, Herbalife Nutrition, DEEJ, Usana, Blackmores, PERFECT (CHINA), Swisse, China New Era Group, By-health, Suntory, Pfizer, Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Shanghai Pharma, TIENS, GNC, Real Nutriceutical, Southernature.

This report provides a detailed and analytical look at the various companies that are working to achieve a high market share in the global Vitamins and Dietary Supplement market. Data is provided for the top and fastest growing segments. This report implements a balanced mix of primary and secondary research methodologies for analysis. Markets are categorized according to key criteria. To this end, the report includes a section dedicated to the company profile. This report will help you identify your needs, discover problem areas, discover better opportunities, and help all your organizations primary leadership processes. You can ensure the performance of your public relations efforts and monitor customer objections to stay one step ahead and limit losses.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

Market Penetration:Comprehensive information on the product portfolios of the top players in the Vitamins and Dietary Supplement market.

Product Development/Innovation:Detailed insights on the upcoming technologies, R&D activities, and product launches in the market.

Competitive Assessment: In-depth assessment of the market strategies, geographic and business segments of the leading players in the market.

Market Development:Comprehensive information about emerging markets. This report analyzes the market for various segments across geographies.

Market Diversification:Exhaustive information about new products, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Vitamins and Dietary Supplement market.

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The cost analysis of the Global Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market has been performed while keeping in view manufacturing expenses, labor cost, and raw materials and their market concentration rate, suppliers, and price trend. Other factors such as Supply chain, downstream buyers, and sourcing strategy have been assessed to provide a complete and in-depth view of the market. Buyers of the report will also be exposed to a study on market positioning with factors such as target client, brand strategy, and price strategy taken into consideration.

Key Influence of the Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market report:

Table of Contents

Global Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market Research Report 2020

Chapter 1 Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market Overview

Chapter 2 Global Economic Impact on Industry

Chapter 3 Global Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by Region

Chapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions

Chapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type

Chapter 7 Global Market Analysis by Application

Chapter 8 Manufacturing Cost Analysis

Chapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers

Chapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders

Chapter 11 Market Effect Factors Analysis

Chapter 12 Global Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market Forecast

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Comprehensive Report on Vitamins and Dietary Supplement Market 2020 | Size, Demand, Opportunities & Forecast To 2026 | Amway, INFINITUS, Herbalife...