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By: Millie Jackson

A few weeks ago, I was having a socially distanced visit with a friend. She quipped, Ive gained the Covid 19. Ill have to buy new clothes. I just shrugged. I knew that I had probably gained a few pounds during the time I have been at home, but I was no longer obsessing about it or particularly worried. I dont even own a scale anymore.

It hasnt always been the case. My weight has cycled up and down much of my life. My first diet was in junior high when I was considered chubby. I was rewarded with pretty clothes for losing weight. The message that thin was good and fat is bad had been reinforced and I learned it well.

The language of diet culture reinforces that we are supposed to hate our bodies, that we should be at war with fat, and that we should do anything possible to achieve an ideal that is not possible for many women. The $70 billion-dollar weight loss industry needs to feed us these messages to sustain itself. I have seen this language most of my life, but it has only been recently that I have really thought about what it is telling me.

At the beginning of the quarantine period there were many warnings about gaining weight while we were unable to live our normal lives, unable to exercise or go to the gym, unable to even go to the grocery store. Over the past few months I have read and seen many weight shaming postings and articles. There is really nothing new in the language, but I think it is more noticeable right now.

Weight can be a factor in health, but it isnt the only one. What it means to be healthy is multi-faceted and needs to take multiple factors into consideration. Reinforcing shame doesnt help anyone lose weight or improve their health.

I yo-yo dieted for decades, which was much more harmful to my health than maintaining a weight. A decade ago, I hit a high on the scale and looked for the most efficient way to make progress. What I found, a 1,000 calorie a day diet of bars and shakes, nearly destroyed my health and led to multiple injuries despite a 150 pound weight loss in a year.

I had done some crazy things before this Optifast, long term fasts, and the ever-present Weight Watchers, but nothing as drastic as that diet. Id like to claim that was my last diet, but it wasnt. But over the past decade I have been educating myself more about health and nutrition. Ive explored a number of the popular programs and diets. Some have benefits but some that appear positive send just as harmful of a message as the diet industry.

What I ultimately learned was that cooking real food, moving my body regularly through exercise that helped me rather than punished me, and not obsessing about a number on a scale served me better than any diet I had ever tried.

Over the past year I have settled into accepting and appreciating my body more. Im not always perfect and neither is it. It doesnt mean that I dont want to change some things but that isnt my constant focus. I have regained much of the weight I had lost because sustaining a 1,000 calorie a day diet along side a crazy exercise schedule is simply impossible. Im working on listening to my body more and what it needs. I have rediscovered exercise like walking which helps me move but also gets me outside more often.

Releasing much of the moral judgement about food and about my body has led me to be more content than I was when I focused on weighing, measuring and tracking every ounce of food I ate and every move I made. Losing weight was supposed to solve all my problems but in reality, it compounded some of my health problems. Rather than fight a battle with my body, I am now learning what matters to me being at peace with who I am right now.

Millie Jackson is a writer, coach, storyteller, and yoga teacher. You can learn more about her at http://www.millieljackson.com

Read this article:
The pandemic, body image, and what matters most - al.com

Padma Lakshmis unabashed love of food is clear in everything she eats in a day. While the Love, Loss, and What We Ate author does have a couple of staples in her diet, such as tea and apples with peanut butter, her eating regimen varies depending on whether or not shes filming Top Chef.

When shes working on the Bravo show, for example, Lakshmi, 49, tries not to eat too much food. I want to give the contestants the full audience of my appetite, especially in the first half of the season, she told Harpers Bazaar in a video interview posted on June 18. I have to, sometimes, try 19 different dishes in that quickfire alone.

The India native added: I usually try and take one or two bites. I try and chew slowly so I dont have to take a third bite and I get the full mouth-feel experience of whatever theyre giving me.

To clean out whatever food shes eaten while working, Lakshmi whips up a funky drink made with green tea with honey, unsweetened cranberry juice, a vitamin C packet and a heaping scoop of fiber powder. However, if she doesnt drink her custom beverage quickly enough, it morphs into a sludge.

Its important to drink that fast, she reiterated. Its not very pleasant this is not a treat this is medicine for my body because Ive had to eat whatever funky food Ive had to eat. When youre eating that much food, your system expects more food.

Since the Easy Exotic author eats more food than she normally would while filming, she keeps her meals as simple as possible once her workday ends. When Im home, I dont want to eat any of that fancy, over-seasoned, goopy food, she said. For dinner, I just eat a simple bowl of steamed basmati rice with dal or yellow lentils.

Though Lakshmi admitted shes not much of a dessert person, she does enjoy some flavorful dark chocolate from time to time. Theres this chocolate that has cloves, cayenne and crystalized ginger, she said. My only real sweet treat on a regular basis will be half a bar of chocolate.

Scroll down to see what else Lakshmi eats in a day!

Read more here:
Padma Lakshmi Shares Her Daily Diet: 12 Cups of Tea and Flamin Hot Cheetos - Us Weekly

The pet nutrition market is undergoing a shift that mirrors recent trends in the human market. As more consumers become conscious of their own diets, they are also increasingly asking questions about what theyre feeding their pets and searching for ingredients on par with what they would consume themselves. Data from Nielsen indicate that in 2018, American consumers spent $33 million on pet food that contains human-grade ingredients.1 Meanwhile, the U.S. pet supplement market reached a value of $636 million in 2018, according to Packaged Facts.2

Pet owners are scrutinizing pet products more closely. Whether theyre looking for a dietary remedy for a condition, responding to a pets allergy, or simply seeking out more nutritious pet food, consumers are judging pet foods and pet supplements on nutritional content, functional benefits, composition and filler, and even packaging. As demand for healthier pet products continues to grow, formulators are expanding their product lines with clean-label and functional ingredients that pet owners can feel good about buying. Here are some of the ways that formulators are changing their products to appeal to health-conscious pet owners.

Curcumin Increasingly Popular for Joint Health

Functional benefits are driving the pet health market, and one of the most popular functions that consumers seek out is anti-inflammation activity for joint health. Joint pain is among the most common health problems that pets face. One cross-sectional observational study of radiographic images from 100 cats found that 91% of cats suffer from a degenerative joint disease, such as osteoarthritis, in at least one joint. The study also found that while there is a strong correlation between age and prevalence of osteoarthritis, even young cats are susceptible to the disease.3

Leisha Jenkins, marketing associate for Verdure Sciences (Noblesville, IN), says that joint health and motor function support are some of the functions driving interest in turmeric and curcumin products for animal health. Jenkins says that joint health is increasingly becoming a top concern for the equine market. Larger animals like horses tend to be more prone to joint problems, Jenkins notes, and also require larger doses. The equine market is seeking solutions for inflammation and joint health because of the propensity of joint injuries and joint issues in horses, Jenkins says.

She continues: For large animals like horses, price per dose becomes a concern for added functional ingredients, which is why her companys curcumin, Longvida, offers a dose that is attractive and manageable for owners. There may be a significant opportunity in the equine market for an added ingredient that specifically targets issues like lameness, joint health, and inflammation.

Curcumins performance in clinical trials is fueling its rise in popularity for joint health applications. One 2012 animal study on 18 kennel dogs examined the effects of curcumin and NSAIDs on the genetic expression of peripheral white blood cells in cases of osteoarthritis. The dogs were divided into two randomly assigned groups of dogs with osteoarthritis (n=6 and n=6) and one group of healthy dogs (n=6). The osteoarthritis groups were given either a twice-daily 4 mg/kg dose of curcumin, or a 5 mg/kg/day dose of the NSAID firocoxib, for 20 days. The control group did not receive any drug or supplement. Blood samples on all three groups were taken at baseline and after 20 days.

The study authors found that curcumin and firocoxib had similar effects on gene markers for osteoarthritis. However, curcumin specifically targeted the interleukin-18 pathway, while firocoxib did not. The study authors concluded that this different mechanism of action makes curcumin an effective complementary remedy.4 The curcumin ingredient used in this study is a curcumin phytosome ingredient called CurcuVET from supplier Indena S.p.A. (Milan, Italy).

Verdures Jenkins says that curcumin is being incorporated in several pet formulations, and formulators are increasingly targeting functional ingredients toward specific health applications. Branded ingredients in particular, she says, are becoming popular among finished-product formulators. Incorporating branded ingredients into a product is another way to offer consumers an additional layer of confidence, she says. Branded ingredients offer a layer of consistency and quality to support clean, reliable ingredients.

Specialty Formulations Target Working & Competitive Animals

One emerging extension of the pet health market that is driving significant innovation is the professional animal market. Competitive animals like racehorses, as well as working animals like search and rescue dogs, have specific nutritional needs beyond those of house pets. Clinical data is showing that there may be benefits in tailoring specialty formulations to these kinds of animals.

One 2017 animal trial followed 16 search and rescue dogs for three months. The dogs were fed a high-protein, energy-dense diet according to each dogs nutritional requirements based on body condition, body weight, and training activity. However, the dogs were randomly assigned to receive a diet that was either high (n=8) or low (n=8) in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, chondroitin sulphate, and glucosamine. All of the dogs were given hematology and clinical chemistry blood analysis tests, as well as lameness and joint pain evaluations, at baseline and once every 30 days. After three months, the dogs in the high-supplementation diet group showed higher values of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and PCV/hematocrit relative to those on the low-supplementation diet. The study authors concluded that a high-supplementation diet may increase energy production during exercise and therefore improve dog performance during search and rescue tasks.5

Michael Crabtree, ND, director of scientific affairs for Bioenergy Life Science (BLS; Ham Lake, MN), says that protein-based fortification and supplementation is an effective means of improving diet for animals that struggle to meet their daily dietary requirements. Food manufacturers often think in terms of vitamin fortification, which involves adding nutrients back in after processing, he says. But what isnt usually discussed is the impoverishment of the energy content of food after processing. Adding high-energy molecules like D-ribose, vitamin B3, electrolytes, or CoQ10 provides a distinct advantage.

Crabtree says that energy and protein fortification could be an effective and budget-conscious way to ensure that high-activity animals meet their daily nutritional intake requirements. His colleague, Vice President of Sales Marianne McDonagh, adds that functional ingredients like Bioenergys branded D-ribose are continuing to expand into the animal market for this exact reason. BLS entered the equine performance market years ago, and we saw a lot of racehorse owners using Bioenergy Ribose for performance, recovery, and endurance. The success of that market prompted us to invest more research into animal nutrition, and last year we announced our decision to enter the pet nutrition market and help dogs, cats, and other animals around the world.

Grain-Free Fiber to Support Digestion

Pet foods are increasingly diversifying their functional claims, with specific SKUs now tailored for specific purposes. Sandra Perryman, director of quality, food safety, and co-manufacturing for pet food company I and love and you (Boulder, CO), says that there is a growing demand for customized pet food formulations that support particular life stages, breeds, or aspects of health.

Foods that resonate with consumers contain ingredients that serve a purpose, Perryman says. For example, miscanthus grass is an alternative fiber source that is showing promise for digestive health support in dogs and cats. Miscanthus grass could serve as a substitute for cellulose or beet pulp in formulations.

Perryman says that consumers are also seeking out pet food products that contain real meat, are grain-free, and consist of raw ingredients. Real meat, she says, provides essential nutrients and amino acids for dogs and cats that are often difficult to find from other sources. She notes that grain-free cat food is an essential requirement, as cats are obligate carnivores. For dogs, though, grain-free food is ideal for a dog with a grain allergy or intolerance. As for raw foods, consumers are looking for trustworthy brands that take the proper precautions.

Many raw pet foods can be risky due to a higher risk of illness from salmonella, Perryman says. Our Stir & Boom product uses meat that is considered to be raw, but undergoes a proprietary high-pressure pasteurization process designed to reduce the risk of salmonella contamination.

Pet Owners Go Online for Human-Quality Ingredients

While pet supplement usage is growing, pet owners are increasingly treating pet food as a first line of defense against various pet ailments. Functional ingredients are showing up in products with preventative, maintenance, and treatment claims for specific areas of pet health. Patrick Luchsinger, marketing manager, nutrition and pet food, for Ingredion (Westchester, IL), says that manufacturers are seeing an explosion in online sales. There has been huge growth in online pet food sales, both on websites like Amazon as well as pet-specific shopping sites. Pet owners are using the Internet to become more informed on pet care, including how the latest ingredients can meet their pets changing health and wellness needs.

Luchsinger points to the humanization of pets as a strong driving force behind consumers buying habits. Consumers are increasingly perceiving their pets to be members of their family, he says, and are consequently including their pets in their lifestyle choices. As many consumers consider themselves to be parents to their pets, they are feeding their pets high-quality food with clean-label ingredients like pea protein. Human eating trends like clean eating and non-GMO are consistently trickling over into pet foods, as pet parents want their pets diets to match their own diets.

Pet Ingredients Offer Opportunities for Brands

Consumers now view pets as members of their families. As pet parents seek out natural, clean-label nutritional products for themselves, they will also look for those same trends in their pets food and supplements. Formulators and finished-product brands can capitalize on this trend by creating and marketing specialty products with human-quality ingredients, zero fillers, and specific, research-validated functional claims.

Sidebar: Digestion & Immune Health Are Top Consumer Concerns

Patrick Luchsinger, marketing manager, nutrition and pet food, for Ingredion (Westchester, IL), says that the top functional concerns for pet owners include healthy digestion and immune health. Consumers, he says, are actively seeking out products like Ingredions branded Fortifeed, a short-chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) and prebiotic soluble fiber designed to boost digestive health.

Sidebar: Algorithms Lead to Smarter Formulations

Data and tech are now enabling brands to create custom pet health formulations. Direct-to-consumer brand Goodboy (Atlanta, GA), for instance, uses a computer algorithm to formulate customized functional supplements according to breed, age, gender, and weight.

Sidebar: Sustainability Initiatives in Pet Supplements

Some pet health brands are moving toward sustainable packaging materials. Late last year, PureForm Pet Health Supplements (Chilliwack, BC, Canada) introduced the pet health industrys first biodegradable canister and compostable shipping packaging.6

Read the original:
Pet nutrition's transformation: Pet food and supplements are getting healthier - Nutritional Outlook

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Rowing is a popular exercise meant to mimic the motion of rowing a boat by using one of many machines, the most common of which is the flywheel rower.

If youre interested in burning calories and losing weight, rowing is a great choice.

This article provides an in-depth review of rowing for weight loss, shows the number of calories youll burn, and includes a few workout plans to get you started.

To lose weight, you need to develop a calorie deficit. This means that you burn more calories than you take in normally by controlling your diet and/or expending more calories through exercise.

A modest calorie deficit of around 500 calories per day is usually a good place to start (1).

Rowing on a regular basis is a great method of contributing to this deficit.

The calories you burn through rowing vary based on a number of factors, including the machine youre using, exercise intensity, and body size.

As a general guideline, here are the approximate number of calories adults will burn based on body weight and intensity. The chart lists calories burned per 15 minutes, then per hour (2).

Note that these are not exact numbers, as the number of calories you burn is also affected by your age, basal metabolic rate, and health status, as well as the temperature of the exercise environment.

Keep in mind that varying your intensity changes the number of calories you burn.

When you supplement rowing with a proper diet, youll probably start to lose weight in the form of fat loss.

Exercises like rowing help mobilize fats in your body so that they can be used as energy (3, 4, 5).

A nutritious diet that provides fewer calories than you burn may also help burn fat. If youre looking to cut your total calorie intake, try eating more protein and veggies to keep you full, switching to zero-calorie drinks like water, and eliminating processed foods (6).

Studies suggest that a combination of aerobic exercise (cardio) and resistance training (like weight lifting) is optimal for fat loss (6, 7).

Physical activity guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suggest that you get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week (8).

As rowing is predominantly an aerobic exercise, its important to tack on resistance training for best results.

While running and rowing are vastly different exercises, you can compare them based on the number of calories they burn. In general, running seems to burn slightly more calories than rowing.

For example, a 175-pound (79-kg) person running at moderate intensity (12-minute mile pace, or 7 minutes per km) for about 1 hour burns around 616 calories, or 154 calories every 15 minutes versus 560 and 140 calories, respectively, from moderate rowing (2).

As with rowing, the number of calories burned running varies based on exercise intensity and body size.

Notably, running tends to be a higher impact exercise than rowing. This means that rowing may be a better option for people with preexisting injuries or other conditions.

That said, as neither exercise is vastly different in terms of calories burned, you should choose whichever you prefer or alternate between them.

Rowing boosts weight loss by providing a significant calorie burn, though you should be sure to pair it with a proper diet. Its comparable to running in terms of calories expended, though it has less impact on your joints.

In addition to aiding weight loss, rowing supports your health in several ways.

Rowing is a nearly full body exercise, as it stimulates most of the major muscle groups including your lats (latissimus dorsi), upper back (rhomboids), quads (quadriceps), hamstrings, core, biceps, and forearms.

This puts rowing ahead of other common exercise methods, such as running, cycling, and doing cardio on the elliptical machine, in terms of the extent of muscles worked.

Contrary to popular belief, rowing power is developed approximately 60% through your legs, with the other 40% coming from your upper body (9).

The only major muscle groups not worked during rowing are the chest (pectoralis major and minor) and triceps.

While rowing is best known for its aerobic (or cardiovascular) benefits, some people claim that it provides muscle and strength gains though data in this area is limited.

If optimizing muscle growth and strength is your goal, you should add traditional resistance training to your workout plan. Methods include using weights, bands, or body weight in low to moderate ranges of 630 reps per set (10).

Rowing workouts tend to use lower resistance and more repetitions than is required to promote optimal muscle gains.

That said, many rowing workouts include resistance training in between rowing intervals. This is the case with CrossFit, as well as other common training methods involving rowing.

Cardiovascular or aerobic exercises like rowing have repeatedly been shown to boost heart health.

Studies reveal that people who exercise regularly have lower blood pressure, resting heart rate, and LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as higher HDL (good) cholesterol and a healthier body weight (11, 12).

These positive health outcomes may also reduce your risk of stroke, heart attack, diabetes, and obesity (13, 14, 15).

Rowing 5 days per week for 30 minutes each day easily meets the DHHS recommendation to get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.

Rowing offers full body stimulation, potential muscle and strength gains, and improved heart health.

While it may seem fairly straightforward, proper rowing takes a great deal of technique.

Rowing consists of four distinct phases the catch, the drive, the finish, and the recovery. Here are the basics:

The sequence generally followed when rowing is:

Rowing technique takes times to develop. As such, practicing on a regular basis is necessary before you transition to more advanced workouts.

Rowings four phases are called the catch, drive, finish, and recovery. This exercise takes substantial muscle synchronization, so give yourself time to master the technique before moving to harder workouts.

After you get the hang of the technique, you can begin incorporating rowing into your exercise routine. Over time, you can build up reps and intensity to burn more calories.

Although its common to add other exercises in between your sets, the workouts outlined below solely include rowing intervals.

When youre starting out, your goal should be to focus on technique while slowly increasing the intensity of your workouts.

For this beginner workout, youll start slow, with only 20 minutes of moderate intensity rowing time. Use this regimen to get used to the rowing rhythm and create a solid foundation to build upon in future workouts.

It will take some time to gauge strokes per minute on your own, though most rowing machines calculate this number on their display.

To start, complete this workout 3 days per week until you feel youre getting the hang of it.

This workout kicks up the vigor a notch via intervals with ascending intensity, starting with lower strokes per minute (SPM) for longer durations and ending with higher SPM for shorter times.

Progress to this workout once youve mastered the rowing technique on the beginner workout.

Higher intensity workouts like this one can increase your exercise capacity over time.

This workout provides 15 minutes of intense rowing sandwiched between a 10-minute warmup and 10-minute cooldown.

While only slightly longer than the beginner workout, the intermediate one builds intensity throughout, leading to a higher heart rate and more calories burned.

Now that you have more experience, you may need to perform this workout at least 4 days per week to see progress.

This advanced workout brings the heat by using alternating intervals of high intensity rowing followed by a rest period.

Research suggests that high intensity interval training (HIIT) can increase your VO max the maximum rate at which you can deliver oxygen to working muscles more efficiently than constant intensity exercise (16, 17).

A higher VO max may reduce fatigue, allowing you to exert more effort when exercising or playing sports (16).

Dont attempt this workout without at least 6 months of solid rowing experience.

During rest periods you can row lightly to keep your blood flowing, though you should use this time to prepare yourself for the next set.

Now that youre advanced, you may need to complete this workout at least 5 days per week to boost your exercise capacity.

Be sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the workout to stay hydrated.

As you become a more advanced rower, you may want various ways to increase the intensity of your workouts.

One of the best methods is by using intervals.

For example, interval training may include working at a higher intensity for a given period, followed by a rest period. You then repeat this cycle for a certain number of reps.

You can also include other exercises between rowing intervals, which is quite common in CrossFit. For instance, you may row for 5 minutes, then do 10 pushups, and repeat.

You can use these methods to increase rowing intensity without greatly affecting the overall duration of your workout.

Use the beginner, intermediate, and advanced templates above to provide solid rowing workouts. To increase intensity, try using intervals or mixing in other exercises.

A wide variety of rowing machines are available on the market.

The most common is the flywheel rower, which uses a fan blade that spins when the oar is pulled to create more resistance the harder you row.

Another common type is a hydro rower. This machine provides resistance via a water-submerged flywheel thats said to give a sensation similar to that of rowing a boat.

Yet another kind called a magnetic resistance rower has a magnetic brake system that can be adjusted for resistance levels. This type tends to be the quietest.

Lastly, hydraulic rowing machines provide resistance via a piston filled with liquid or air. These tend to be the most compact and affordable, though they may not allow a natural rowing motion.

Consider reading up on the various models to find the one that best suits you. You may be able to test some of these at an exercise equipment store or your local gym.

Shop for rowing machines online.

Many types of rowers exist, all with various pros and cons. Before purchasing, investigate several models to see which will be most fitting for your application.

Rowing is a versatile cardio exercise with several benefits, including improved heart health. In addition, rowing promotes calorie burning that may aid weight loss.

If youre looking to try a new exercise, rowing is a great alternative to running and cycling.

Just make sure you get the hang of the technique before moving on to more advanced workouts.

See more here:
Rowing for Weight Loss: Calories Burned, Workout Plans, and More - Healthline

The consumer shift to a more plant-based diet is marching ever forward, with more and more plant-based products coming onto the market to meet new levels of demand.

Research released by Roy Morgan in April 2019 found just over 12 per cent of the population (2.5 million) follow a plant-based diet, up 14.2 per cent from 2014.

Cargill Texturising Solutions Australia & New Zealand national sales manager Brian Pert told Food & Drink Business that Cargills recently launched pea protein Radipure was developed in response to this growing consumer demand for plant-based proteins.

Pert says consumer interest spans beverages and food. Soy drinks have been around for a long time but research by Euromonitor International showed its 2014-19 compound annual growth rate was down to minus one per cent. Meanwhile, growth in other plant protein beverages was 11 per cent.

Plant-based beverages often suffer from a poor taste profile, texture, flavour and sedimentation compared to dairy beverages, but Radipure is a highly soluble and clean-tasting protein, Pert says.

Cargill also has a wide range of specialty ingredients and texturising solutions to help manufacturers bridge that last mile in terms of mouthfeel, specifically simulating the creaminess and fullness of dairy beverages.

Pert says its C*PolarTex range of highly stable texturising hydroxypropylated starches delivers excellent viscosity and mouthfeel. It means we can help manufacturers bridge the sensory gap between plant-based beverages and dairy.

Technical director for Cargills Food Ingredients and Bio-Industrial business in Asia Gaetan Heynderickx toldFood & Drink Businessabout the challenges manufacturers face in terms of texture, taste and solubility when working with plant-based ingredients.

With the breadth of our offerings for plant-based food and drinks we are in a strong position to deliver a complete solution to our customers.

We have thirteen innovation centres and applications labs globally, with five in Asia Pacific, so we are well equipped to partner with customers from concept to solution.

Starches for stability

Pert says plant-based meat products can also suffer from textural challenges. He says Cargills C*CreamAx range of modified tapioca starches can play a critical role in achieving the desired springiness as well as stability in plant-based meat.

Cargill also has a wide range of other starches in its arsenal. Botanicals such as corn, waxy corn, tapioca and potato come from its 12 modified starch manufacturing plants around the world. Its plants in Indonesia, Thailand and China provide shorter lead times and competitive pricing for Australian customers.

It also has hydrocolloids, stabiliser systems, and other texturising ingredients.

Packaging trends also need to be taken into account. Pert says: Not just from a food safety standpoint but aesthetically, water needs to be held inside the product for an increased amount of time and appearance has to be bright and pleasing. Its another reason modified starches play an important role in this burgeoning category is they denote food safety as well as providing the desirable texture and appearance.

For Pert, Cargill has double-barrelled expertise to work with manufacturers in or wanting to enter the plant-based food and beverage market.

For plant protein beverages we can provide our highly versatile Radipure pea protein and work closely with customers to optimise their recipes using our wide array of texturisers such as modified starches and stabiliser systems.

When working with plant-based meat products, our extensive range of modified, clean label and native starches, together with our hydrocolloids knowledge, means we can help our customers develop a complete textural solution to optimise the texture and improve the eating experience of their product, he says.

As the popularity of plant-based diets continues to grow, Pert says Cargill is determined to be the go-to partner for companies keen to take a bite of the market.

See the original post here:
Harvesting value from the rise of plant-based diets - Food & Drink Business

Five behaviors are associated with a lower risk for Alzheimers disease, a new study in Neurology suggests, and the more of them you follow, the lower your risk.

Researchers used detailed diet and lifestyle information from two databases, one of 1,845 people whose average age was 73, the other of 920 people whose average age was 81. All were free of Alzheimers disease at the start of the study. They followed them for an average of about six years, during which 608 developed Alzheimers disease.

The researchers scored the participants on their adherence to five behaviors: not smoking, consistent moderate or intense physical activity, light to moderate alcohol consumption, a high-quality Mediterranean-style diet, and engagement in late-life cognitively challenging activity.

Compared to those with none or one of the healthy lifestyle factors, those with two or three had a 37 percent reduced risk for Alzheimer dementia, and those with four or five had a 60 percent reduced risk.

The lead author, Dr. Klodian Dhana, an assistant professor of medicine at Rush Medical College, said that the paper focuses on modifiable risk factors. All five of these factors are related to each other, he added, and work best in combination.

My top recommendations are to engage in cognitively stimulating activities such as reading books and newspapers and playing brain-stimulating games, like chess and checkers, he said. Also, exercising regularly and following a diet for a healthy brain that includes green leafy vegetables every day, berries, nuts, poultry, fish, and limited fried food.

See more here:
5 Measures That May Lower Your Alzheimers Risk - The New York Times

THE RESEARCH, led by nutrition and exercise scientists at Nottingham Trent University, aims to better understand how peoples habits have changed since social distancing measures were put in place.

The researchers are appealing for participants for the study, who will be required to answer a series of questions about their habits pre and post lockdown via an online survey.

There have been suggestions that obesity and obesity-related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes increase the severity of Covid-19 symptoms and the likelihood of hospitalisation.

Part of the work will involve investigating how meal timing impacts the effectiveness of physical activity. This follows evidence which suggests that fasted exercise when people exercise on an empty stomach provides greater health benefits than fed exercise.

The questionnaire will reveal what times of day people eat and exercise, which will enable the researchers to identify the most appropriate time of day to implement a fasted exercise intervention for the next stage of the work.

Lack of physical activity and poor nutrition are the driving factors behind obesity, so we want to see how behaviours and patterns have altered from what people were doing pre-social distancing, said Tommy Slater, a PhD researcher in NTUs School of Science and Technology who is leading the study.

He said: The uncertainty around Covid-19 and the duration of social distancing measures means that we need to be prepared for longer periods of time at home and understand how this might influence our behaviour.

Given the potential link between obesity and the severity of the disease, it is important to identify how our behaviour has changed since social distancing was put in place. We then hope that this will lead to the development of interventions to reduce the impact long-term.

Go here to see the original:
Study to explore how diet and exercise are affected by social distancing - The Voice Online

HERBALIFE NUTRITION is all about giving consumers choice: their meal replacement shakes come in a variety of flavours, and they even have vegetarian, kosher, and soy-free versions of their popular meal replacement shake. The company now offers a vegan protein shake in select markets.

With forty years experience providing science-driven creations (that happen to be taste-bud approved, too), Herbalife is a leading force in the world of nutrition and proud to share its Tri Blend Select product.

Why vegan? Herbalife prides itself on providing customers with options. Nearly 5 million of the companys protein shakes are consumed every day, pointing toward a steady demand for tasty and health-conscious products.

Herbalifes Tri Blend Select is another opportunity to provide customers with a variety of healthy options. Consumer practices are shifting. More and more shoppers want clean labels products with ethical manufacturing processes and animal welfare in mind.

While veganism is on the rise, many people still correlate vegan food with poor taste or quality.

Not Herbalifes Tri Blend Select.

Its what the nutrition company likes to call uncompromising. Each ingredient is sourced from generational farmers and producers that have a proven track record for quality. These farming communities have been around for years and years, treating their services as a way of life. Expert knowledge, quality first, and environmentally friendly processes. They understand and appreciate local habitats. Their agricultural work doesnt take precedence it coexists with plants and animals, yielding sustainable growth, as well as the organic and delicious ingredients that make up Tri Blend Select.

Herbalifes mission in creating Tri Blend Select has always been people-focused: the right people creating the right drink for the right consumers those who enjoy a health-conscious, vegan-friendly protein shake.

What separates Tri Blend Select from other vegan protein shakes is not only its attention to taste, but also the carefully calculated blend of Herbalife ingredients that make it so pure.

First, of course, is the companys commitment to sourcing organic and wholefood ingredients. Tri Blend Selects formula has been designed to increase fiber and protein intake while still providing other essential vitamins and minerals.

Then theres the tri of the blend: pea, quinoa, and flaxseed.

Did you know? Pea proteins are friends of the digestion system and dont pose as much of an allergy risk as soy or dairy. Herbalife Nutrition sources its pea proteins from France, which acts as a sort of Mecca of pea agriculture. Seriously, theyve been grown there for hundreds of years!

As for flaxseed, its another pal of the digestive system. You may have used it before to cure an upset stomach, but its also high in a heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid.

Mix in its protein, fiber, and phosphorous for bone strength, and its impossible to deny the healthy punch that flaxseed packs. Herbalifes product comes from Canada, which, due to its northern climate, helps strengthen the alpha-linolenic acid and iodine content.

And last but not least, theres quinoa. Non-vegans (or recent converts) tend to be most familiar with this incredibly healthy ingredient. Quinoa comes loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats.

Herbalifes quinoa is sourced from Colombia, a country well-versed in its cultivation. Also worth mentioningquinoa is gluten-free yet another advantage pending diet restrictions.

Pea, flaxseed, and quinoa make up the main base of Tri Blend Select. In fact, pea accounts for about 50 per cent of the formula, flaxseed roughly 11 per cent, and quinoa approximately 5 per cent.

In addition to pea, flaxseed, and quinoa, Tri Blend Select incorporates organic rice fibre, organic coconut blossom nectar powder, rice protein isolate, inulin (chicory), gluten-free oat fibre, natural flavourings, sweetener (steviol glycosides), and acerola cherry extract.

The banana flavour in particular is high in protein and low in sugar, without jeopardising taste. Each serving offers 20g of protein, along with 6g of fibre, as well as Vitamin C and 7 other key minerals.

While Tri Blend Select is most commonly consumed as a meal replacement shake, it has a variety of usage at any point in the day. Consider it a post-workout recovery drink or protein shake to accompany your meal or even as a mix for overnight oats. Stir it up with oats, seeds, berries, and yogurt the night before and wake up to a nutritious drink.

Tri Blend Select is also well suited for baking. Herbalifes high-quality ingredients lend themselves to being baked, whether thats as a crunch bar, protein ball, or some other delicious recipe.

Herbalife Nutrition makes products for anyone and everyone looking to live a more healthy lifestyle. However, not all products can be applied to a strict vegan diet. If veganism is of interest, its important to understand what it is and the benefits of following the demands of the lifestyle.

Not only does veganism shift ones eating to a plant-based diet, but it also removes dairy products, eggs, and honey. While a vegan diet can prove quite healthy (more on this below), theres also a moral force behind the plan.

Those who practice veganism do so to exclude the exploitation and cruelty of animals, be it for food, clothing, or other products.

From a health standpoint, plant-based diets offer much value. They shift focus to very specific food groups: fruits and vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with nutrients, despite their low-calorie count. So, consumers get a lot more bang for their buck.

Vegan diets often have less saturated fats and cholesterol, which results in less risk of heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and various cancers. Plus, theres the added humanistic value of having a social impact.

A challenge with veganism can be finding enough good protein every day. Protein is essential to a healthy human body, especially with a rigorous exercise regimen since protein is necessary to help restore and build muscle.

Dietary proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. There are 21 amino acids in various foods, with 9 deemed essential because theyre acids that the body doesnt produce.

Except for soybeans, the majority of plant-based foods lack at least one of the essential amino acids.

The answer? Not only a variety of plant-based foods, but protein shakes. Using vegan protein powder is a great way to hit daily protein goals without consuming a large amount of calories. Herbalifes Tri Blend Select is intended to help consumers do just that.

The need for more vegan-friendly shakes that dont make consumers scrunch their noses when drinking isnt going away. Think back to the conscientious consumeras people buy more stock in their own health routines, more options are beneficial.

Above all else, Herbalife Nutrition is committed to creating healthy products that work for a diverse community of people. The company employs over 300 scientists whose work begins with Herbalifes ingredients. Every product goes through rigorous testing to ensure quality and to comply with government regulations in the 94 countries they operate in.

Diet is a ubiquitous term thats often misused. A lot of focus seems to be put on the lose side of a diet, when, in reality, your diet can be much more generalised. What are you eating? How? When?

Dieting isnt just about losing weight. Its about finding a healthy nutritional balance and developing strong goals that are both realistic and measurable.

Herbalifes nutritional philosophy rests upon three pillars:

1. Balanced nutrition

2. Healthy, active lifestyle

3. Personalised programming

In crafting its products, the Herbalife Nutrition team looks to create opportunities for consumers to engage in a healthy lifestyle that is driven by balanced nutrition. Whether its Herbalifes new Tri Blend Select for practicing vegans, or its flagship product like the Formula 1 Nutritional Shake Mix, there is a common theme of high-quality and high-priority.

That priority is helping people live healthier lives by giving them better choices. In todays world of options (both good and bad), health is something that demands attention. Herbalife remains committed to providing its large consumer base with products that adapt to shifting demand and emerging trends.

This commitment led to the creation of Tri Blend Select. As people explore their health options and adopt different diets, Herbalife Nutrition plans to be there every step of the way, utilising its talented team of scientists and dieticians to create products that help people live their best lives.

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Introducing Herbalife Nutrition's vegan protein shake - Voice Online - The Voice Online

Want to add some fun to your meal at home? How about throwing some fun into the fresh fruit juices that you serve? Just create a few fun ice cubes to go with it. These are easy to mae and need just a few ingredients. Here's what to do...Floral ice cubes Here's something colourful that kids are sure to love. Just wash a few edible flowers and freeze them in the cube moulds. You can use anything from lavender to roses. Herbs on iceHere's a smart way to keep herbs fresh for your next cooking day. Choose herbs such as parsley, oregano, mint, rosemary, basil or thyme. Break then up and add them to boiling water which helps preserve their taste. Cool and fill into the moulds and pop them out whenever you are ready to use them.Caramelised onions when you need themThe same thing can be done for caramelised onions where you caramelise the onion and add them to the ice cube trays with a little oil or melted better. Freeze. Remove the cubes when you need them. Coffee on the rocks Hey this one gives a pep to your cold coffee! Brew the java, semi-cool and pour it into the trays. You may add milk or keep it plain. Freeze and dunk it into the iced coffee glass whenever required.

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Hey busy cooks, try these foodie hacks with ice cubes! - Times of India

The Prime Minister listed the things he looked forward to most as he announced significant changes to lockdown restrictions, including getting a haircut and dining at a restaurant.

From July 4, pubs, restaurants and hair salons in England will be allowed to reopen - and indoor gatherings involving two separate households will be permitted.

At the Downing Street press briefing on Tuesday, Boris Johnson said he had a "very long list" of things he was looking forward to.

"I think it's great to see people out shopping again and frankly I can't wait to go to a pub or a restaurant, even if it may not be compatible with the new diet that I'm on," he said.

"I'd love to go to the theatre again, I'd like to go and see The Globe.

"I'd like to go to a restaurant, frankly. I would love to get my hair cut."

He added that he would "love to play village cricket again", although he described a cricket ball as a "natural vector of disease" at the Commons on Tuesday as he confirmed the sport remains banned outside the elite level.

But he assured that work was continuing with the likes of the performing arts and sports sector to ensure more activities could be given the green light in the future.

Mr Johnson added: "Don't think that this package represents the summit of our ambitions.

"It is as far as we can go for now but I want to stress again that we won't be able to make further progress unless we continue to work together to keep this virus under control."

Other venues that are set to open their doors include hotels, B&Bs and campsites along with most leisure facilities and attractions such as theme parks.

Outdoor gyms and playgrounds will be returned to use, and cinemas, museums and galleries will also be allowed to open their doors again.

However, live performances at concert halls and theatres are still banned, partly due to the risk posed by singing in spreading the virus.

"Close proximity" businesses including nightclubs, soft play centres, indoor gyms, nail bars and beauty salons will also remain shut, as will bowling alleys and water parks.

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Boris: I can't wait to get my hair cut and have a meal out (despite his diet) - Echo