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Mike Tyson, Vegan for 10 Years, Says "I’m In the Best Shape Ever" – The Beet

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

Boxinglegend Mike Tyson says hes in the best shape ever and credits his plant-based diet and rigorous exercise routine for making it happen. Over the last decade, Tyson has been plant-based andexplains how his vegan diet has completely changed his life for the better.

After retiring in 2005, Tyson was eating meat and drinking alcohol on a regular basis, he tells an interviewer. He was diagnosedas clinically obese in 2009 and toldTotally Vegan Buzz, I was so congested from all the drugs and bad cocaine, I could hardly breathe."Tyson also revealed in the interview, I had high blood pressure, was almost dying, and had arthritis."

In 2010, Tysontransformed his diet and ditched the meat in favor of a plant-based lifestyle, which he has continued ever since. Her also is completely clean and sober now, something he is proud to tell fans. The former heavyweight champ says everything he is doing to change his life and turn his health around is for his kids and his wife.

The 53-year old warrior explains,"Turning vegan helped me eliminate all those problems in my life, and adds, "I'm in the best shape ever." This kind of statement from such an iconic sports figurethat he is in better shape now than when he was competing and fighting and collecting belts and endorsementsissure to get attention the world over andspur more plant-curious athletes to try it out.

Last week, Tysonposted an Instagram videoboxing with hisnew coach,MMA trainer Rafael Cordeiro, and showed off hismuscular bodywith fast-speedform that is helping him stay in shape during the lockdown.

Corderio also agrees that Tyson is in his best shape and complimentshis punches: "He has the same power as a guy who is 21, 22-years old."

The trainer said he wasn'tsure what to "expect from a guy who hasnt hit mitts for I think almost ten years," Corderio told TalkSport. During the boxing session, Tyson clips together powerful punches so we can see his greatest moments. His trainer notes, "I held his right hook and thought he is going to kill somebody. Watch the video to see for yourself, we wouldn't want to get behind any of those, even in full body armor gear.

During an interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2013, Tysoncredits his plant-based diet for saving his life. He shared, "Well, my life is different today because I have stability in my life. Im not on drugs. Im not out on the streets or in clubs and everything in my life that I do now is structured around the development of my life and my family. I lost weight. I dropped over 100lbs and I just felt like changing my life, doing something different and I became a vegan."

Becoming a vegan gave me another opportunity to live a healthy life. High blood pressure, almost dying, arthritis, and once I became a vegan all that stuff diminished.

Before getting too ahead of ourselves and predicting Tyson'sreturn to thering, hehopped on T.I's Instagramlive and hinted the idea.Ive been working out, Ive been trying to get in the ring, I think Im going to box some exhibitions and get in shape.

Tyson also said, I want to go to the gym and get in shape to be able to box three or four-round exhibitions for some charities and stuff." It's clear that othersshould be nervous about the idea of Tyson's return, like professional boxer Ryan Garciawho commented on one of Tyson's posts, saying, "I got scared when you said Im back ."

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Mike Tyson, Vegan for 10 Years, Says "I'm In the Best Shape Ever" - The Beet

Following In The Footsteps of Elephants | Research Blog – Duke Today

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

Imagine for a moment that youre 6,000 pounds, living in one of the wildest places on Earth, with no schedule, nowhere to be. How do you decide where to spend your time? Where to go next? Do you move where food is most plentiful? Is water your main priority?

These are some of the questions addressed by Duke Ph.D. candidate Amelia Meier and former postdoctoral researcher Dr. Chris Beirne in Dr. John Poulsens lab. Their recent study published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution focused on the African forest elephantthe slightly smaller yet still undeniably huge cousin of the savanna elephant.

The team wanted to know what influences certain aspects of elephant behavior. Specifically, how much climate and resource availability drives elephant movement and influences their diet. To do this, the team looked at fruit abundance (a high-energy staple of elephants diets), water availability from rainfall, and elephant identity and how those factors affect how an individual moves and eats.

One might think that such a massive animal is easy to spot in the forest. However, the dense vegetation of Central African rainforests can be an impenetrable wall, allowing the massive animals to move unseen through the forest, leaving broken branches and steaming dung piles in their wake.

To better track them, the researchers fitted individual elephants with GPS collars that turn an iPhone into an elephant-tracking tool. This also allowed trackers to follow the elephants at a distance and avoid conflict with the sometimes temperamental animals.

Meier, Beirne, and colleagues also wanted to know more about the diets of the tracked elephants to see if what they ate changed with how much fruit is available. This less-than-glamorous job was done by dissecting fresh dung piles, estimating the proportions of leafy and woody material, and counting the number of seeds in each one.

Tropical rainforests are lush, yet have patchy resources, making it important for many frugivores to have flexible diets. Some trees only produce fruit in the wet season. Others fruit every other year. To gauge fruit availability, the research team conducted fruit-walks at the beginning and end of each day of following an elephant, in which trackers counted all of the ripe fruit on the ground.

A key finding of the study was that the most important factor driving movement was an elephants individuality; some respond to food or water availability differently and some simply move around more than others.

Interestingly, elephants appear to be affected by resources differently depending on the timescale the authors looked at. Water was important on both a day-to-day and month-to-month basis. Yet on a daily basis, fruit and water were more equally matched, with water still maintaining a slight lead.

Fruit availability was also critical in determining how much elephants moved and what they ate. When there was more fruit available, the elephants ate more fruit, as evidenced by the proportion of seeds in dissected dung piles.

Aside from being an awe-inspiring species, forest elephants are important to the health of their native ecosystems. They are unwitting gardeners, planting seeds of the fruits they consume in piles of dung and giving those seeds a better chance of survival. Thats part of why understanding what motivates forest elephant movement is more than the satisfaction of an elephant enthusiasts curiosity; it is critical to managing and conserving a species that is vulnerable to multiple threats from humans.

Meiers dissertation research focuses on elephant social behavior and the effects of human disturbance on elephant social groups, allowing her to pursue her long-term interest in animal behavior with a practical conservation application.

I was living in Congo and I knew I wanted to keep working in the region. There, you have elephantsthis amazing, highly intelligent, social species that is surrounded by conflict.

Poachers seek elephants for their ivory tusks, which are valuable on the black market. The pachyderms are also prone to conflict with humans when they start foraging in village plantations, destroying crops and damaging livelihoods.

The teams findings open the way for new questions about why different elephants exhibit different patterns of movement. What underlying factors affect behavior, and why? Does it have to do with age? Sex? Their social environment?

These questions remain unanswered for now, but the work of Meier and colleagues represents a critical step in understanding elephant behavior to improve forest elephant management and conservation strategies.

Guest Post by Anna Nordseth, a Ph.D. Candidate in the Nicholas School of the Environment

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Following In The Footsteps of Elephants | Research Blog - Duke Today

5 fibre-rich foods that should be a part of everyone’s diet for healthy digestion – Times Now

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

5 fibre-rich foods that should be a part of everyone's diet for healthy digestion  |  Photo Credit: iStock Images

New Delhi: The human body is really a marvel that has made provisions and systems to work everything out. One such system, the digestive system, is responsible for the breakdown of the food we eat into smaller and smaller components until they can be absorbed by the body and the nutrients and energy can be used for the functioning of other systems. The digestive system includes the gastrointestinal tract, and other organs like the tongue, glands, pancreas, liver, etc which are responsible for the secretion of enzymes for the breakdown of food.

How healthy are body is overall, plays an important role in how healthy our digestion is. However, the food we eat can also affect how efficiently it gets digested. For instance, dietary fibre, a type of carbohydrate, cannot be digested by the body's enzymes but plays a very important role in digestion -as a catalyst. It is recommended to include fibre-rich foods in your diet to facilitate digestion. Fibre is also known to fill you up really well, which helps in curbing appetite and avoiding overeating.

Most edible parts of plant food like cereals, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lentils, etc are rich in fibre and should be a part of everyone's balanced diet.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a professional healthcare provider if you have any specific questions about any medical matter.

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5 fibre-rich foods that should be a part of everyone's diet for healthy digestion - Times Now

What does the farm-to-fork strategy mean for the future of food in Europe? – FoodNavigator.com

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

According to the Commission this is thefirst time in the history of EU food policy that we propose a comprehensive agenda for all stages of food production.

It lists 27 measures (many still subject to further studies, consultations, and other impact assessments) which it says will pave the way for greener food production, healthier and more sustainable diets, and less food waste.

These include:

The strategy sets concrete targets to reach by 2030, including a 50% cut in the use and risk of pesticides, a 20% cut in the use of fertilizers, a 50% reduction in sales of antimicrobials used for farmed animals and aquaculture, and a target to increase the size of EU's agricultural land dedicated to organic farming to at least 25%.

In terms of food waste, the Commission is considering options tosimplify date marking on foodstuffs and to promote better understanding and use of date marking among manufactures and consumers. Therevised Waste Framework Directiveadopted on 30 May 2018, for example, calls on the EU countries to reduce food waste at each stage of the food supply chain, monitor food waste levels and report back regarding progress made. It also requires EU countries to preparefood waste prevention programmes(as a part of general waste prevention programmes) and encourage food donation.

Concrete plans in line with the EU's biodiversity and climate neutrality ambitions include targets for planting at least 3 billion additional trees in the EU by 2030.

The Commission said that in order to provide space for wild animals, plants, pollinators and natural pest regulators, there is an urgent need to bring back at least 10% of agricultural area under high-diversity landscape features.

FoodDrinkEurope, which represents the European food and drink industry, said it supported the Commissions ambition for our food systems to become the gold standard for sustainability.

Director General Mella Frewen said: While the food supply chain has shown resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by providing consumers with continued access to safe, nutritious and affordable food and drink products, this resilience must be further enhanced to prepare for other significant challenges on our doorstep, notably climate change.

On diversity, FDEs Environment Director Laura Degallaix said: We are committed, more than ever, to working closely with our supply chain partners to enhance biodiversity and contribute to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. We are also fully committed to eliminating deforestation and to ensuring that food raw materials are sustainably sourced within and beyond European borders. Crucially, we call on EU lawmakers to develop a policy environment that can support both biodiversity and jobs leaving no one behind.

Farmers, however, warned it was unrealistic to want organic food produced at conventional prices.

Tim Cullinan, President of the Irish Farmers Association, said: It is not credible for the EU to drive up production costs for European farmers while at the same time looking for low food prices. They want food produced to organic standards, but available at conventional prices.

It is likely that farmers will end up paying through higher costs and low prices while retailers will continue to make billions.

He added: The EU wants ever-increasing standards imposed on European farmers, but will do trade deals to import food from other countries which have much lower standards and do not meet EU rules

These EU strategies could be counterproductive as they we will drive European farmers out of business, leaving the EU dependent on these imports and threatening food security, he said.

Cullinan also took aim at the Commissions focus on plant-based based diets which he claimed risked ignoring farmers efforts in supporting biodiversity.

The review of how the EU can use its promotion programme to support the most sustainable, carbon-efficient methods of livestock production is something that should favour our grass-based system if its assessed fairly, he said.

One positive is an acknowledgment that farmers deserve credit for carbon they are already storing and sequestering on their farms. Farmers do this through their grassland, crops and hedges which also contribute hugely to biodiversity.

Dutch-based plant-based consumer product company Upfield, meanwhile, which makes the likes of Flora, Rama, Blue Band, ProActiv, Becel, I Cant Believe Its Not Butter and Country Crock, complained that Commissions move to encourage a shift towards healthier, more sustainable diets was still undermined by regulatory barriers.

The Farm to Fork Strategys commendable focus on supporting heathy, sustainable consumer choice highlights that we must end the senseless ban on terms like soya milk, plant butter or veggie burgers for foods that are better for the planet and for human health, said Dr Jeanette Fielding, Chief Corporate Affairs and Communications Officer.

One surprise in the announcement was the Commissions failure to commit to Nutri-Score.

We are proposing a mandatory front of pack nutrition label, said European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety StellaKyriakides. She added:We will not be recommending any specific type of front-of-pack scheme going forward we will be launching an impact assessment on the different types of front-of-pack labelling.

FDEs Deputy Director General Dirk Jacobs urged the Commission to formulate a single labelling system across member states.

Today's report demonstrates that a variety of approaches to FOP nutrition labelling continue to exist across the EU, he said.Acknowledging the possible co-existence of schemes on the EU market for the time being, we strongly appeal to the Commission and Member States to avoid further proliferation of national schemes while working towards a single, harmonised, voluntary FOP nutrition labelling system in the EU."

Large food brands including Danone and Nestl alongside supermarket retailers have previously rallied behind the mandatory adoption of Nutri-Score across the bloc.

However, not everyone agrees that Nutri-Score is the best approach to FOP labelling. Prof Frederic Leroy, Professor of Food Science and biotechnology at Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, and a long opponent of Nutri-Score on the grounds that it discriminates against ostensibly healthy foods with a high saturated fat content, such as canned fish and olive oil, welcome the fact that Nutri-Score will not be imposed as a mandatory top-down fop label throughout the EU.

Instead of an 'impact assessment', he called for a robust evaluation of how such labels reflect true nutritional value.

Reducing complex nutritional information to an almost puerile coloured-letter scheme, based on a couple of cherry-picked criteria, is not only based on shaky scientific premises, he told FoodNavigator, it can also cause confusion and harm.

Among the many absurd outcomes of Nutri-Score, he said, include depicting such foods as canned sardines and traditional cheeses as mostly unhealthy, whereas some of the ultra-processed foods come out as winners, as long as they are made with sugar and fat replacers or have added fibre, etc. Nutriscore can thus serve as tool for healthwashing by multinational companies, but I don't see how this would ever benefit the public. Or lead to healthier diets for that matter.

Italys food industry association Federalimentare has been another long critic of Nutri-Score, which it believes victimises its famous food delicacies such as Parma ham and Parmiagiano cheese. Its president, Ivano Vacondio, called the move not to yet roll out Nutri-Score: "Double success for Italy and for Federalimentare which has fought in several locations, Germany included, to promote a balanced lifestyle and a labeling system based on a balanced diet without demonizing any product.

But the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the Brussels-based consumers' group, made up of 45 European consumer organisations from 32 countries, and backer of Nutri-Score, criticised the move.

We are glad the EU Commission has made it clear that it plans to propose a mandatory front-of-pack nutritional label. But why wait until the end of 2022 to kick off talks for an EU-wide label? Numerous studies have proven Nutri-Score is the label consumers understand best and six EU countries have already endorsed it, said Monique Goyens, BEUCs Director General.

She said that relying on individual consumer choice alone will not be enough to change food habits if the healthy and sustainable option is insufficiently available or the most expensive one.

It is encouraging that the Strategy pinpoints measures to improve product recipes and foster more responsible marketing and advertising, but we need them to be binding. Codes of conduct, pledges and other self-regulation tools have proven toothless in making the healthy and sustainable choice the easy one for consumers.

Consumers should no longer be misled by claims which disguise sugar-laden snacks or yoghurts as healthy options. It was high time the Commission finally committed to preventing claims such as boosts your immune system and high in fibre from appearing on unhealthy foods.1 It is all the more relevant today when overweight or obese people run higher risks to develop diseases such as diabetes and cancer, but also complications from diseases such as COVID-19.

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What does the farm-to-fork strategy mean for the future of food in Europe? - FoodNavigator.com

The best meal kit delivery services of 2020: Blue Apron, Freshly, Sun Basket, Hello Fresh and more – CNET

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

Even on the best of days, heading to the grocery store can be a chore. Now, with most of the country in lockdown due to the global pandemic, heading to the local market for your groceries is even less appealing than usual. This is why a meal kit service just may be the solution for people looking for healthy home-cooked mealsduring thecoronavirus crisispandemic.

We've been on the meal delivery service bandwagon for a while now, and what follows is a list of our favorite picks for delicious meal options. Even better, many of them -- including Freshly, Blue Apron, Sun Basket, Every Plate and Gobble -- are currently offering deals for new customers.

If you live anywhere where it's even a little bit possible to glimpse the stoops of your neighbors, you've probably noticed cheerful meal kit company boxes from the likes of Blue Apron,Freshly,Home Chef,Sakara Life, Purple Carrot andGobble making ever-more-frequent appearances on their stoops over the last several years. The age of the meal kit food delivery service is upon us. Each meal delivery company provides a type of convenience service that combines the efforts of chefs, nutritionists and personal grocery shoppers, and delivers them into the hands of enthusiastic eaters or willing home kitchen cooks, with weekly menus and delicious, preportioned fresh ingredients including vegetables and meat for you to easily prepare. The variety of options available today is just staggering, with everything from gluten-free healthy meals to vegetarian options available and ready to ship. That means that people with special diets such as a diet for healthy weight loss don't have to exclude themselves from reading further. It's time to find the best meal kit delivery service for your needs whether you are a picky eater, vegan or on a special diet.

I once met one of the founders of Blue Apron, whose meal delivery kit box I'd become familiar with, thanks to the denizens of my apartment building. I mentioned that I thought the Blue Apron service sounded like a cool idea, but inundated him with a litany of reasons why such a thing didn't apply to me: I work in an industry where tasty meals are often provided, I'm rarely home, I'm culinary school-trained and so on. His counterargument was flawless: "Can I send you a free box?" I mean, duh.

Despite my protestations, the reasons I enjoyed the Blue Apron meal plan were plenty, and inspired me to continue my subscription with an occasional box of ingredients. Even with culinary school cred, I liked having ingredients I didn't know of or would rarely seek out when grocery shopping put directly into my hands. I was especially moved by the concept of getting provided the single rib of celery that a recipe demanded, sparing me the heartache of watching an entire head of celery languish in my produce drawer when left to my own devices.

There are now dozens of meal kit delivery programs to choose from, like Sun Basket,Martha & Marley Spoon andPurple Carrot, with a variety of healthy meal and niche meal selection customizations.These meal kit delivery service options have ingredients and menus available to fit special diets like vegan gluten-free, vegetarian gluten-free, plain old gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, vegetarian pescatarian, keto, plant-based, health conscious diet and just about anything else when it comes to dietary preference. You'll also often find promotional offers for new customers and convenient features like being able to skip weeks and cancel anytime. With limited or no commitment, if you're a calendar master and an account-management ninja, you can dabble in any or all of these services and choose, week-by-week, which best suits your circumstances.

Read more:Best air fryers of 2020: Philips, Cuisinart, Black and Decker and more

Home Chef boasts over 38 meal kits to choose from in any given week, including the all-new grill packs and one-pan dinners. Meal kit examples include Chipotle Chimichurri Mini Pork Meatloaves with Roasted Sweet Potato and Garlic Peppercorn Salmon Scampi with Garlic Cream Gemelli and Broccolini. Plus, you can customize the protein in your meal choices, which makes Home Chef dishes stand out from the pack. For example, with some Home Chef recipes, you can order double the protein such as chicken or meat without doubling the overall portions. With other Home Chef options, you can choose to order antibiotic-free protein instead of the standard version. Meal kits and ingredients are usually pretty standard in their offering (which is what keeps Home Chef efficient to the masses).

One new and unique offering from Home Chef is their oven-ready meals, which come with everything you'll need to make the meal including the cooking tray (no messy kitchen and no dishes). See an example of anoven-ready meal here.

Subscription: Starting at $7.99 per serving with additional premium Home Chef recipes offered at market price.

Read more:The best toaster oven is the one you'll hate the least

Healthy and fresh are common favorite meal kit descriptors, but Sun Basket goes a step further. Sun Basket is committed to organic, non-GMO, sustainably and responsibly raised products and ingredients, which it packages in 100 percent recyclable materials to boot. Basically, the box took the trip to the farmer's market for you.Sun Basket's recipes are developed by Justine Kelly, a San Francisco chef known for her work at the James Beard Award-winning Slanted Door restaurant, and for her appearance on Top Chef. All of her easy and delicious meals with organic ingredients are nutritionist-approved (500 to 800 calories per serving), and most meals take only about 30 minutes to prepare, with online Sun Basket tutorials available if you need a little extra guidance. You've got options for these nutritious meals too -- you'll be able to choose from a selection of six to 18 different organic meal recipes each week, including paleo, vegan meal, vegetarian and gluten free meals, so you'll always get what you want. Sun Basket delivery is available in 36 states, and Sun Basket shipments arrive on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. For three Sun Basket meals each week, you'll pay $74.93 for the two-person plan (or $11.99 per serving) and $143.87 for the four-person plan ($10.99 per serving), with a $5.99 shipping fee either way.

Subscription: For three Sun Basket meals each week, you'll pay $74.93 for the two-person plan (or the $11.99 price per serving) and $143.87 for the four-person Sun Basket plan ($10.99 per serving), with a $5.99 shipping fee either way.

A few of these services provide fully cooked, ready to eat meals to your doorstep, and Freshly is a good one if you desire wholesome, tasty comfort foods such as peppercorn steak, penne bolognese or chicken and rice pilaf. Meals are prepared right before delivery and are never frozen. With minimal reheating required by you, it's like having Mom cook dinner for you in your kitchen, without having Mom live with you. (Sorry, Mom.)

Subscription: $8.99 to $12.50 per serving, with up to 12 servings per week. Shipping is free.

At just $4.99 per serving and with an emphasis on delicious, hearty meal options and generous portion sizes, EveryPlate is the best plan for those whose journey into meal kit delivery is based on affordability. It keeps its overhead low by offering eight easy recipes to choose from weekly, which does mostly exclude vegetarians and those on special diets, but the eight available meals are full of variety and flavor otherwise. Get 18 meals for only $3.33 each, free shipping on your first order, plus the ability to skip or cancel anytime.

Subscription:Each serving is only $4.99. Each weekly box includes three recipes with either two or four servings apiece.

Blue Apron is largely accepted to be the granddad of meal kit delivery programs in the US. The eight menu choices available weekly range from simple pastas to delicious international options, with a seafood and vegetarian option always available. Even the simplest recipes might include an unfamiliar component or two, and the website often highlights these ingredients as an educational opportunity. Recipes are tagged with helpful keywords such as "customer favorite," "quick and easy," "great for grilling" and so on. Occasional promotions include a menu from guest celebrity chefs, or recipes that highlight popular travel destinations. An optional wine pairing service is also offered.

Subscription: Price per serving ranges from $7.49 to $9.99, with options to prepare two to four recipes per week and two or four servings per recipe.

Dinnerly rolls out some pretty exciting-sounding and delicious meals such as summery chicken panzanella and risotto with asparagus and cannellini beans. But with no more than six ingredients per recipe, the damage done to your time and kitchen is minimized. Along with not overwhelming you with myriad ingredients and multiple steps, the price tag for Dinnerly puts it squarely in the budget-friendly category, clocking in with a cost per serving of around $5.

Subscription: The options include a Two-Person Box for $30, or a Family Box for $60, each with three recipes for the week.

Gobble takes the template from the old guard of meal delivery kits but speeds it up by prechopping and part-cooking many of the components so that all recipes have a prep time of 15 minutes or less. Despite the "fast food" angle, each menu has a sophisticated and worldly vibe. Weekly recipe choices are cleverly categorized into From the Range, From the Ranch, From the Sea and From the Earth options.

Subscription: Options range from $11.99 to $13.99 per serving, with options for two to four servings of two or three (or more!) recipes.

HelloFresh helpfully tags each recipe accordingly, whether you are allergic to (or avoiding) dairy, gluten, soy, nuts and so on. Familiarity of ingredients is key, even when applied to dishes from various world cuisines. A Hello Fresh's portion sizes are generous, going with its relatively high cost per serving (up to $10 a person). "dinner to lunch" element is a unique twist that provides the home cook a variation on tonight's dinner to serve as a tasty portable lunch tomorrow.

Subscription: Options range from $8.74 to $9.99 per serving, with options for two to four recipes per week and two or four servings per recipe, customizable along Classic, Veggie and Family plans.

We like Green Chef for its versatility in the different specific diet plans available. Green Chef offers paleo, keto, pescatarian, vegan, and vegetarian options as well as gluten-free meals. No matter which diet you're following (for health or personal reasons) you'll be able to find a Green Chef plan that works for you. Because it offers so many different diet plan choices, this also makes Green Chef one of the most versatile meal kit delivery services since you get a plethora of different tasty menu options per week.

Subscription: $12.99-$11.99 per serving for a two-person Green Chef subscription at three meals/week; $10.99 per serving for a four-person Green Chef subscription at two meals/week.

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The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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The best meal kit delivery services of 2020: Blue Apron, Freshly, Sun Basket, Hello Fresh and more - CNET

Body fat scale accuracy: How they work and alternative methods – Medical News Today

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

Body fat scales are devices that a person can use to measure their weight and body composition at home. The term body composition refers to the relative percentages of fat, muscle, and water inside the body.

Understanding how much fat and muscle make up the body can be an important tool for people looking to track their overall health.

In this article, we provide information on how body fat scales work and whether they give an accurate estimate of a persons body fat percentage (BFP). We also outline alternative methods for estimating BPF.

Body fat scales use bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to estimate the relative percentages of different tissues and substances within the body.

BIA sends a weak electrical impulse through the body. The impulse encounters varying levels of resistance or impedance from the different tissues and substances.

The scales then use a mathematical formula that incorporates the value for electrical resistance with information about a persons age, height, and gender. People typically supply this information via a smartphone or other electronic device.

The mathematical formula then estimates the relative percentages of the following:

Fat offers more resistance than either muscle or water. As such, higher resistance values tend to result in calculations of a greater percentage of body fat.

Body fat scales provide a rough estimate of a persons BFP. However, they are not very accurate.

A 2016 study found that the BIA method of measuring body composition is accurate when using standard, published mathematical formulas. However, the body fat scale that the researchers tested did not use accurate formulas to estimate BFP. Therefore, it produced inaccurate estimates.

Also in 2016, Consumer Reports conducted a test of six different body fat scales. First, the researchers used a lab-based machine called a Bod Pod to take accurate body fat measurements. They then compared these results with the data that they retrieved from the home-use BIA body fat scales.

In this study, the home-use body fat scales either overestimated or underestimated BFPs. The most accurate readings were off by about 21%, while the least accurate were off by about 34%.

The primary advantage of using body fat scales at home is convenience. The scales are easy and safe to use. Also, as long as the scales are consistent in their measurements even if these are inaccurate they can help the person roughly track the effectiveness of their exercise regimen or diet over time.

However, body fat scales are not an accurate method for estimating BFP. According to doctors, they typically overestimate or underestimate BFP by a large amount.

Home body fat scales also cannot show where a persons body fat is stored. The location of body fat is an important consideration when assessing a persons susceptibility to disease. For instance, a 2016 study found an association between increased abdominal fat and a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Body mass index (BMI) uses a persons height and weight to get a general idea of whether their weight is likely to affect their health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BMI is a good tool for screening whether a person is underweight or overweight. However, it does not measure body fat directly.

BMI also does not take into account a persons muscle mass. Exercise can help a person lose fat and gain muscle. As muscle is denser than fat, a persons body weight may actually increase as a result of exercise.

A person could use both BFP values and BMI values to help guide their dietary and exercise choices. If either value is higher than average, a person should see their doctor. Higher values could indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Having a BMI or BFP below the recommended range also has health risks.

A person can use several different methods to estimate their BFP. Some are suitable for use at home or in a doctors office, but others must take place under tightly controlled laboratory conditions. Typically, the most expensive options provide the most accurate estimates.

Some methods that people can use to estimate their body fat at home include:

Calipers are tools that measure the distance between two sides of an object. A person can use calipers to measure the thickness of skin folds on different parts of the body. The accuracy of caliper measurements depends on the experience of the person using them.

Handheld BIA devices use electrical impulses to estimate BFP. As with step-on body fat scales, they are not very accurate.

The following body fat measurement tools require special machinery and provide much more accurate results:

A Bod Pod is a machine that calculates a persons body density. It does this by combining two measures: a persons mass or weight and their volume.

A person sits inside the Bod Pod, which uses highly accurate scales to measure their weight. Meanwhile, special sensors detect the volume of air that the persons body displaces based on air pressure changes that occur in the Bod Pod. This value represents the persons body volume.

The Bod Pod uses the weight and volume values to calculate the persons body density. A technician can then use a mathematical formula to estimate the persons BFP.

A Bod Pod requires specially trained operators, who tend only to use it in research laboratories.

Hydrostatic underwater weighing (HUW) calculates a persons body density and body volume to estimate their body composition.

HUW works by comparing a persons weight on dry land with their weight underwater. It also measures the volume of water that a persons body displaces when they sit inside a tank of water.

The above values make it possible to determine the persons body composition, including their BFP, based on the principle that fat is less dense than muscle.

As with the Bod Pod, HUW is typically only available in research laboratories and university settings.

Body fat scales are not very accurate at estimating a persons body fat percentage. However, they may provide a rough idea of how much fat a person has in their body.

Together, body fat scales and BMI can give a general indication of a persons health. If either value is high, a person should see their doctor for a health check. The doctor can also provide advice on diet and exercise.

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Body fat scale accuracy: How they work and alternative methods - Medical News Today

Higher amounts of saturated fat can affect your concentration levels: Study – The Indian Express

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:57 am

By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | Published: May 21, 2020 11:20:42 pm With little scope for jubilation, people often turn towards delicious food to soothe their frustrations. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)

Saturated fat has become a common feature in meals during the coronavirus crisis. With little scope for jubilation during self-isolation during work from home, people often turn towards delicious food to soothe their frustrations. However, a higher dose of saturated fat could impact a persons concentration levels, according to a new study. For this, 51 women underwent a test after consuming two sorts of meals: one that was high on saturated fat and the other was a similar meal but made in sunflower oil.

Annelise Madison, the lead author remarked, Most prior work, looking at the causative effect of the diet, has looked over a period of time. And this was just one meal its pretty remarkable that we saw a difference. However, it should be noted that the food prepared with sunflower oil comprised of a sizable amount of dietary fat though it was low on the saturated variety.

Madison stated, Because both meals were high-fat and potentially problematic, the high-saturated fat meals cognitive effect could be even greater if it were compared to a lower-fat meal.

The women were put through a stringent experiment, where they were served high-fat foods and called upon to make accurate observations. It was noted that the women who consumed meals with saturated fat were 11 per cent less able to detect target stimuli. Those who had signs of leaky gut displayed certain lapses in concentration too, which overall goes on to display that their instant reaction abilities take a hit during this time period. Their ability to sustain attention during the mere 10-minute-long test dipped as well. Madison reasserted that the women were performing poorly no matter what they ate. If the women had high levels of endotoxemia, it also wiped out the between-meal differences, she mentioned.

Studies in the past have proven that a meal that has high content of saturated fat shoots up the inflammation all over the body and also the brain. The same is the case with fatty acids too. It could be that fatty acids are interacting with the brain directly. What it does show is the power of gut-related dysregulation, the lead author commented.

The women involved in this process ate three normalised meals and even went through a fast of half a day ahead of every lab visit. This was to ensure that the diet variations were reduced and did not affect the psychological response to high-fat food. It was concluded that individuals who are troubled by the whole COVID-19 situation and resort to binge-eating or high-fat meals could have their concentration levels hampered due to this.

Kiecolt-Glaser proclaimed, What we know is that when people are more anxious, a good subset of us will find high-saturated fat food more enticing than broccoli. She continued, We know from other research that depression and anxiety can interfere with concentration and attention as well. When we add that on top of the high-fat meal, we could expect the real-world effects to be even larger. The research and study are published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

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Higher amounts of saturated fat can affect your concentration levels: Study - The Indian Express

You Can Lose Weight Without Skipping Any Meals – monroviaweekly

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:56 am

By John William

Between 2013 and 2016, the total number of adults who tried to lose weight was 49.1%. From weight loss supplements to taking admission in a fitness program, people try everything to achieve slim bodies.

Its now common knowledge that skipping meals is an unhealthy weight loss practice and receives heavy criticism from nutritionists and health experts. Though diet challenges are far from healthy, it is not advisable. But we have come up with great ideas such as choosing the right food and changing lifestyle to help you lose excess fats safely without losing the muscle mass.

With thisshort and easy-to-follow guide, weight loss is no big task for you.

1Watch Your Calorie Intake

Weight losshas a direct relationship with your calorie consumption. While a significantreduction in calorie intake is not realistic, health experts suggest cuttingout some calories from diet daily. If an adult cut 500 calories a day, he/shemight reduce one to two pounds at the end of the week. It looks like theeasiest way to cut calories is to skip a meal, but it leads to a significantdrop in blood sugar which is dangerous.

2Plan A Healthy Breakfast Routine

One thing that most people do to kick-start their weight loss journey is skipping the first meal of the day. Evidence suggests that skipping breakfast is bad for health and makes people hungrier. So, if youve skipped your breakfast, chances are higher for you to overeat at lunchtime. However, if you are really concerned about your meals, then make a bowl of whole-grain cereals in low-fat dairy mixed with fresh strawberries and cranberries. Moreover, you can learn some amazing breakfast recipes and encourage yourself to eat a healthy breakfast.

3Get More Steps In Your Day

Increasingyour step count is the most natural way to lose weight. If you are someone whodoesnt want to start a weight loss journey with intensive workouts, then gofor a walk daily. Go on a walk with a neighbor or walk to the mart to shop foryour groceries, a 15 to 30-minute walk is essential for weight loss andimproving your mental and physical health.

4Stop Weighing Yourself Daily

Our weightcan fluctuate daily depending on a number of factors including frequency ofbowel movement, hormonal changes, and fluid balance. A slight drop in weightmight encourage you, but the opposite makes sense as well. For this reason,people aiming to lose weight should not check their weight daily as it cancause anxiety, and you might end up binge-eating.

5Control your Stress

Most of thetime, its the stress that makes weight-loss tough for people. For some people,stress can cause weight loss, but for most people, it can cause weight gain.For example, when students are overly stressed due to the overwhelming burdenof assignments and exams, they eat high-fat calorie-rich foods such as fries,hamburger, chocolates, and cold drinks. By managing your stress, it is expectedthat you can reduce your cravings. Add some de-stressing exercises in yourroutine like yoga. If it doesnt work, visit a behavioral specialist.

6Go For Fiber & Protein-RichDiets

Instead ofskipping meals, put a full stop on your cravings with healthy and tummy-fillingmeals. Prepare protein- and fiber-rich meals as they can help you feel moresatisfied while being on a weight loss journey. Make sure that you evenlydistribute your fiber and protein intake evenly throughout the day.

7Go For Weight-Loss Friendly Snacks

Not all snacks are bad for you. Replace sodium-rich meals and carbs with healthy snacks to help you keep your resolutions like popcorn, nutrition bars, nuts, and dark chocolate. You can also prepare your own low-calorie easy-to-make snacks for munching during your favorite show at Netflix. Some examples include celery sticks with cheese dip, roasted salted chickpeas, yogurt banana dessert, hummus, oatmeal with walnuts and almonds, and homemade dry fruit trail mix.

8Shut The Kitchen Door

Set a timewhen you stop eating, preferably after your dinner so you wont go for a midnightsnack. A more favorable strategy is to make changes in your kitchen. For example,post sticky-notes on your refrigerator to remind yourself about yourresolution. This small activity will help you achieve a healthy mindset.Moreover, replace unhealthy foods such as chips, soda cans, candies, beverages,and ice cream with fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, lean protein, poultry eggs,and Greek yogurt.

9Learn About Portion Control

Portion control isnt really about eating a tiny portion of food. Instead, it is about differentiating between foods that you can consume plentifully and foods that you need to keep an eye on. To control your portion size, take a small plate, take veggies first, drink water before your meal, and eat slowly.

10Change Your Lifestyle

Perhaps themost critical factor responsible for your obesity is your sedentary lifestyle. Includingregular exercise will boost your metabolism and support your weight loss. Ifyoure interested in fast weight loss, then try aerobic exercises for 1 to 1.5hours. Regular cardio also improves heart health and could reduce your risk ofdiabetes. Try outdoor physical activities or some kind of sport.

Now, ifyouve finally decided to lose weight, make sure that you dont act desperately.Good things take time but remember nutrient-dense meals and healthy snackscombined with an active lifestyle can help you achieve your target only if youshow consistency with your efforts.

John William is a Business Development Officer at Crowd Writer. You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this or any other fitness or nutritional program to determine if it is right for your needs. This publication offers health, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional. Do not disregard, avoid or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your health-care professional because of something you may have read in this article. The use of any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.

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You Can Lose Weight Without Skipping Any Meals - monroviaweekly

I Finally Care More About Being Strong Than Skinny, and It’s Because I’m Working Out at Home – Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:56 am

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The first time I was congratulated for losing weight, I had just gotten my wisdom teeth out. For the past week, the only thing I had been able to stomach was chocolate pudding, plain yogurt, and lukewarm soup, but my doctor didn't know that. All she saw were the numbers on the scale ticking downwards - a cause for celebration, not concern.

I liked what my doctor was saying. For once, I felt like I had done something important - like I might actually have a shot at looking like the models I loved to compare myself to. I felt powerful, in control, and enjoyed being praised for what could only be my newfound commitment to health and fitness. In the moment, I didn't feel like acknowledging that my weight loss was by no means the result of a healthy lifestyle.

I had always been a healthy weight, but was never traditionally thin, so this kind of admiration was new to me. In years past, I would try to suck in my gut during dance class, shrinking my profile in the mirror as much as I could, and becoming frustrated when I couldn't make my backside look completely flat like the other girls. I became obsessed with my size and thought that if I could just lose a few more pounds, I would look the way I was "supposed to." I didn't know how, but I knew that getting thinner was my ultimate goal.

As I went through high school, I placed more and more value on superficial measures of skinniness that (spoiler alert) I was never able to fully achieve. Thigh gaps, flat stomachs, and, most importantly, the numbers on the scale, were the determining factors in how I felt about myself. What I heard that day in the doctor's office only confirmed my own toxic ideas about weight loss: skinniness meant health, and fitness wasn't anything without it.

A few years later I was off to college, and most of the exercise I attempted there continued to center around weight loss. I'd have a great workout and still find myself discouraged if I felt like I was gaining weight. Likewise, I'd pick up terrible eating habits and become delighted once I found that they were helping me become closer to a skinnier ideal.

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Related: As a Young Girl, I Was Ashamed of My Strength, but Now It's a Source of Pride

When social distancing became the new normal, however, my goals were temporarily derailed. I was home, hungry, and didn't have anyone around me to impress - not even my doctor. Without a gym or any motivation to do anything other than skim through social media and watch Tiger King, I turned to home workouts. Not as a means to lose weight, but as a way to pass the time and keep myself moving during a long period of isolation.

I started off half heartedly with a few videos that promised to target my abs and arms, and they delivered. The next morning my muscles were sore in a new way - a good way - and although I didn't initially believe that the various sets of crunches and planks would ever become easier, I was interested in the idea that a workout could mean more than just a smaller dress size.

I was finally working out because I wanted to feel like my best self no matter what my body looked like externally.

For the next month, I worked my way through different home workouts, even attempting intense HIIT exercises I used to avoid at all costs. In those four weeks, I grew stronger than I ever had when all I cared about was losing weight. My body was changing in a way I liked, but I was more excited about my ability to fly through the workouts I had initially struggled with, challenging myself in new ways and genuinely enjoying myself in the process. Workouts were now something I looked forward to instead of something I dreaded, and I noticed real progress that had nothing to do with my weight.

It took a few weeks of social distancing and some chaotic circumstances, but I was finally working out because I wanted to feel like my best self no matter what my body looked like externally. Going into my second month of home workouts, I'm continuing to view my health in terms of strength and nutrition, not weight loss and quick diets. Now when I approach my fitness, I remember to be mindful about what it is I actually want to achieve and whether or not I'm being honest with myself about my goals. Home workouts were my unexpected saving grace, but even when the gyms open back up and social gatherings resume, these are habits I'll want to keep forever.

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I Finally Care More About Being Strong Than Skinny, and It's Because I'm Working Out at Home - Yahoo Lifestyle

You Just Need 2 Dumbbells and These 30 Upper-Body Exercises to Get Strong, Sculpted Arms – Yahoo Lifestyle

Posted: May 22, 2020 at 5:56 am

Bodyweight moves like push-ups and planks will definitely make you stronger, but if you want to up the ante, you need to add weights to your strength-training workouts. We've compiled the most effective upper body dumbbell exercises all in one place. Choose four to six moves to create your own workout or follow along to these video workouts. Once you get the form down, don't be afraid to go for heavy dumbbells. After just a few weeks, you'll notice a difference in how strong your arms feel and how strong they look!

Related:

The Ultimate Home Workout Guide to the 150 Best Moves, Plus 30-Minute Workout Videos

Bicep Curl

Wide Bicep Curl

Overhead Triceps Extension

Upright Row

Overhead Shoulder Press

Dumbbell Thruster

Single Arm Overhead Squat

Bicep Curl and Overhead Press

Man-Maker Burpee

Squat and Press

Burpee Squat Press

Bent-Over Row

Triceps Kickback

Bent-Over Reverse Fly

Single-Leg Scarecrow

Lateral Arm Raise

Pilates Boxer

Plank Dumbbell Row

Plank and Straight-Arm Kickback

Side Plank With Weight

Push-Up and Rotate

Dumbbell Bench Press

Single-Arm Chest Press

Skull Crusher

Bridge With Chest Press

Lying Chest Fly

Lying Overhead Reach

V-Sit With Single-Arm Chest Fly

Right-Angle Bicep Curl

Bicep and Deltoid Squeeze

Excerpt from:
You Just Need 2 Dumbbells and These 30 Upper-Body Exercises to Get Strong, Sculpted Arms - Yahoo Lifestyle


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