As we all fight our inner "prepper" and try not to succumb to panic buying, it seems many of us have turned to an old favourite: baked beans.

Bean production at Australia's largest fruit and vegetable cannery in Shepparton, Victoria, has doubled its usual volume to producing 500,000 cans a day.

While baked beans might not look particularly sexy, they're a favourite among nutrition experts, including Clare Collins, a professor of nutrition at the University of Newcastle.

"I think most people have no idea how great they are when it comes to nutrition," says Professor Collins on Catalyst's How Food Works.

So what is it that makes many dietitians so keen on the bean? And should we all be eating more of them?

Only 7 per cent of Australian adults and 5 per cent of children eat sufficient serves of vegetables in their daily diet, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

So most of us need to be eating more veggies, and beans and legumes are one option that give you a lot of nutritional bang for your buck.

They are an inexpensive source of protein, particularly for vegetarians, and they also come packed with healthy levels of iron and other essential minerals such as folate, manganese and vitamin B1.

Beans have a high proportion of soluble fibre the kind of fibre that attracts water and helps slow digestion and a low glycaemic index or relative ability to affect blood glucose levels.

This means eating beans will generally make you feel full for longer, so less tempted to snack on other unhealthy options.

This is one reason why legumes and beans have been shown to be beneficial in preventing and managing diabetes.

US company Heinz first started producing baked beans locally in the 1930s.

(Catalyst: Jodie Boehme)

US company Heinz first started producing baked beans locally in the 1930s.

Let's clarify the terminology. The "beans" we are talking about are more correctly classified as pulses that is, the dried seed of a plant from the legume family, such as bean and pea plants.

The baked beans Australians have grown to love go under various names.

They're haricot beans, but are more commonly called navy beans, because they were chosen in the 1800s to feed the American Navy.

And they came to Australia via America too.

The US company Heinz started producing them locally in the 1930s when tariffs made it prohibitively expensive to import tinned food.

Then, during WWII, with large numbers of American troops stationed in QLD, local farmers began to grow navy beans and a local canning industry flourished.

Baked is also a bit of a misnomer. The dried beans go through a blanching process, and are then steamed in the can in a process called retorting.

There's no doubt that fresh vegetables are good for you, but unless you're eating them straight out of the garden, you may not be getting as many nutrients as you think.

Many vegetables, particularly green vegetables with a high water content are extremely perishable.

Studies have shown that certain nutrients like vitamin C can decrease dramatically within a couple of days of picking.

Freezing, drying, pickling and canning all enable us to seasonally shift our food, saving some of the abundance and nutrition of one season to consume when times are lean.

The SPC Shepparton factory has doubled its production due to demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Catalyst: Jodie Boehme)

The SPC Shepparton factory has doubled its production due to demand during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canning, invented in the early 1800s, is one of the most reliable methods to keep food preserved.

It works by creating an airtight vacuum that prevents microorganisms from entering, and then heating the can with high pressure steam to kill any microorganisms inside.

Heat also deactivates the enzymes in the food that would normally cause it to break down and spoil.

While it's true that the levels of some vitamins and minerals can decrease with heat, canning technology aims for a delicate balance of temperature and heating time, called thermal death time, to kill the maximum number of bugs while maintaining as much nutrition and structure in the food as possible.

And in the case of beans, cooking also makes the valuable fibre more digestible.

It's also no accident that baked beans come with tomato sauce.

Foods with lower acidity require higher temperatures and longer cooking times to ensure they're safely sterilised.

Navy beans are a low-acid food, so adding the more acidic tomatoes allows less cooking and therefore more preservation of flavour and nutrition.

Professor Collins says the tomatoes deliver an added bonus: "Beans are a good source of iron, and the vitamin C in the tomatoes helps your body absorb more of that iron".

But what about the salt and sugar? We're often told to avoid them, but they are also part of the sterilisation process.

Sugar and salt both reduce the water content of vegetable matter by drawing water molecules out through osmosis.

This partial dehydration creates an inhospitable environment for microorganisms to live and multiply.

"People worry about the sugar content in baked beans, but often don't realise some of those sugars are naturally occurring in the tomatoes," Professor Collins says. If you're really worried, check the labels as most companies make salt-reduced products these days.

And when it comes down to it, if you're in a hurry and reaching for a snack, any serve of veggies is probably be a better option than biscuits or cake.

Read more:
Baked beans an unlikely nutrition star, and pandemic hit - Health - ABC News

During this time of the pandemic, staying healthy and keeping your immune system strong is one of the best ways to make sure you get out of this quarantine period safely. But apart from exercise and proper sleep, what foods should you really eat? What diet should you follow? Keeping your immune system healthy Your body's immune system is your main defense against diseases and viruses that can harm your health and endanger your life. Since COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it makes sense that we must also maintain our health in excellent shape in addition to wearing masks and social distancing. And according to British television producer and qualified doctor Dr. Michael Mosley, following the Mediterranean diet is one of the best ways to do it. "[His immune system] is one of the first lines of defense. We know that there are microbes living in your gut, and they are there to defend you from other microbes that enter. But they do more than that because they help strengthen your immune system and your defenses. and things like that. Your microbial health is incredibly important. I'm a huge fan of the Mediterranean diet. I've written quite a few books on different things, and the Mediterranean diet is at the heart of all those books. My wife is a GP and she does all recipes, and she's very interested in the Mediterranean diet, "said Dr. Mosley. Considered one of the best diet plans that people can follow today, the Mediterranean diet consists of fruits, vegetables, and olive oil, as well as legumes like lentils and beans. "It is crucial that everyone keep gut bacteria healthy. Their gut is like a garden, and it needs a variety of different species, with a good fertilizer," he added.As for any additional food we can add to the diet to make sure our intestines are in top shape, Dr. Mosley recommends yogurt as it contains probiotics that act as food for good bacteria. Vitamin D supplements are also a great addition to any diet.Health experts consider the Mediterranean diet to be one of the healthiest diets ever created, focusing on natural foods, primarily plants combined with healthy fats. Pixabay. [TagsToTranslate] Mediterranean diet

Continued here:
Here is the best diet to boost your immune system in the midst of this pandemic - NewsDio

In order to to see their son Mark in the flesh and not from the flat screens of their phones the Millers had to go incognito.

Sharon Miller donned a white bunny costume and painted on a nose and whiskers. Husband Max drove the getaway vehicle, a Buick with a moon roof. The bunny popped out of that and cheerily, but quickly to avoid being outed, waved to five men outside a group home for people with disabilities. One of those five was Mark, who is 34 and has, in general, the comprehension of a preschooler.

The scene was a poor substitute for being able to run up to Marks wheelchair and give him a hug, tell him knock-knock jokes and watch him light up with his characteristic 1,000-watt smile.

But this is life in the novel coronavirus era. Safety means one of the last places of comfort loving human touch from immediate family is out for many, including people like Mark who live apart from parents.

Max and Sharon Miller, both 62, present too big a health risk to their son, his housemates at Mosaic and the staff members who care for them. Mosaic, like a lot of facilities, had to say no visitors. If his parents came at all, they would have to do so outdoors and at a safe social distance from their son.

It would be too hard to explain that to Mark. And because Mark needs consistency, the Millers have made the difficult but, they feel, necessary decision to keep their visits virtual for now or through a surreptitious drive-by.

It would be too upsetting for him, said Sharon, a retired elementary school teacher. We didnt want to scare him. We didnt want him to wonder whats going on. Were trying to keep things as normal with him as possible.

We are now seven weeks into social distance practices that have separated grandparents from grandchildren, nursing home residents from visitors, ICU patients from loved ones and new babies from the aunts-uncles-cousins-neighbors-friends parade.

Human contact by the people we love but dont live with is one of the hardest things the coronavirus has taken from us. Typically in a crisis, we have at least each other. This still-evolving crisis steals even that, placing households in isolation in order to contain community spread and keep people as healthy as possible and hospitals as able as possible to provide life-saving care.

Many have developed work-arounds: front-yard happy hours with lawn chairs spaced out. Back-yard visits, from a distance. Drive-by birthday parties with honking horns. Signs held up the window. And, of course, screens.

The ability to visit Mark through FaceTime is one saving grace right now for the Millers. They can interact safely and in a way that is familiar. Mark, who has lived apart from his folks for the last 14 years, is used to the phone-video app during their winters in Texas when they travel to see Marks sister. Mark is used to his dad calling from the cab of his tractor, which they do in planting season.

But as this grinds on, the Millers wish they could just do what any parent can in a scary time: Hug your child.

Mark was born healthy but suffered seizures starting when he was about six months old. Doctors couldnt do anything to control his seizures, which kept getting longer. When he was 10 months, he had a fever and a seizure that was so bad he had to be taken by medical helicopter from York, near where the family lived and still farms, to Omaha.

His brain had sustained damage and Mark suffered developmental delays, putting him on the trajectory that resulted in his challenges in comprehension today. The injury did not take Marks infectious smile, his penchant for jokes nor his ability to bring joy.

He cant verbalize his thoughts but he is expressive and his family and caregivers can understand his wants. But would that happen in a hospital emergency room if Mark were to suffer serious symptoms of the coronavirus?

Its why we moved to Omaha to go to appointments, Sharon said. I can say, This is what Marks trying to tell you. This is how Mark shows pain. This is how Mark is telling you hes happy. People who cant express that, if they get sick with this, its the concern you have as a parent. Will your child be treated the same as everyone else?

The virus forced Sharon and Max, both healthy, to recognize that their age puts them at higher risk. They updated their wills. And they found resources online through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services to use if an emergency happened.

Mark has lived outside his family home since he turned 21, the age at which federally-mandated educational services end. For about 10 years, he lived in Axtell, Nebraska, in a facility formerly known as Bethphage. It merged with another Nebraska facility for people with disabilities and, with locations throughout Nebraska and the United States, is called Mosaic. Mosaic is headquartered in Omaha.

He got very sick in the winter of 2016 and 2017, so sick he again had be taken by medical helicopter to Lincoln, where he was hospitalized for 70 days. He did recover and when Mosaic had an opening in another facility in Omaha, his family moved him there.

By then, his two siblings were launched a brother in Los Angeles, his sister in suburban Houston, Texas. His mother had already retired. His folks sold the family home in Geneva while keeping the farmland. The Millers bought a townhouse in Omaha to be near Mark, who lives in a specialty house that provides a higher level of care than he had been getting before. Mark doesnt require breathing assistance. He eats a special diet but has a stomach tube for his anti-seizure medication.

The Millers are used to visiting several days a week and would do it more but had been trying to give Mark his space, and balance his needs as a young man, his mother said. Before coronavirus, the Mosaic staff would take Mark and his housemates to the movies or other outings.

Weve always tried to respect that Mark has his own life, she said.

Sharon likes to come during lunch and read him books. She cant say enough good things about the setup, about the caregivers or about her son and feels, despite the challenge of not being with Mark right now, that the family is lucky. Marks in a small facility. He gets good care.

Still, the separation is hard. Sharon and Max had been in Houston visiting their daughter and her family since Dec. 15, although they flew home for eight days in January to see Mark. They returned to Omaha on March 15.

Normally they would have gone straight to see their son. But the couple had driven through four states and realized all the stops made them too exposed. They self-quarantined for 14 days.

We didnt want to carry anything into his home, she said.

By the time their quarantine was over, Mosaic was saying no to visitors. The Millers thought about social-distancing ways to still see Mark: Visit but stay outside. Read to him, but from a distance. But that would have been hard for Mark. Hes physical and the family is huggy. Instead, the best way to have a normal routine was FaceTime.

FaceTime was his normal, she said. Thats what we continued to do.

It doesnt make it easy. Which is why Sharon came up with her costume idea.

On Good Friday, when the weather was better than it was forecast on frigid Easter, she put on the costume and face paint. She FaceTimed with her grandchildren in Texas and then hopped in the Buick Encore. Max drove. They had made arrangements with the Mosaic house staff to have the men outside for a surprise visit. They were pretty far away from the street and the Millers gambled that Mark wouldnt know them.

It worked.

He did look a little questioning when I said, Happy Easter, she said. So then I just waved and blew kisses.

Marcus Butler handles a to-go order Friday at Dante Pizzeria. Many business owners in the Omaha area went into planning mode after Gov. Ricketts announced a series of new directed health measures that will allow restaurants, barbershops, tattoo parlors, salons and massage therapists to reopen on a limited basis.

The dining room space at Dante was converted to help with the take-out only service.

Workers place food in the trunks of a cars in an alley behind the Capitol District in Omaha. Volunteers distributed food to employees of the Capitol District who arent working due to the coronavirus.

Peppers sit in a box in an alley behind the Capitol District. Volunteers distributed food to employees of the Capitol District who arent working due to the coronavirus.

Jim Bartling in one of his familys hog barns in Unadilla, Nebraska, on Wednesday. The problem with being a hog farmer is that I just cant shut the door and lock it like store owners, Bartling said. This is a wound and there is no way to stop the bleeding.

Jim Bartling walks back toward his home after making rounds on his hog farm Wednesday in Unadilla, Nebraska. "I saw this coming all the way back when it was in Wuhan. If what was happening was enough to make them shut down so much, I knew it was coming our way," he said.

Jim Bartling in the farrowing facility on the Bartling Brothers farm. It is only going to get worse if things keep going the way they are going, he said.

Handmade signs to support essential workers during the novel coronavirus pandemic outside a home in Omaha on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.

A chalk rainbow hot air ballon rises up a home's front porch steps in Omaha on Tuesday, April 21, 2020.

A woman takes a photo of the bright but empty stadium at Papillion-La Vista South. Schools across Nebraska have turned on their stadium lights at 20:20 to honor the class of 2020 that will not be able to have prom or graduations.

Ella Pelletier and Matt Jones, both Papillion-La Vista South seniors, watch as the schools stadium is lit up as part of the Be the Light campaign on Wednesday.Schools across Nebraska have turned on their stadium lights at 20:20 to honor the class of 2020 that will not be able to have prom or graduations.

Nebraska Strong is written in chalk on a homes fence in Grand Island on Friday.

A message is written on a home's window on Friday in Grand Island.

A quarantine snowman wears a cloth mask and holds a toilet paper on Friday in Grand Island.

Fireworks erupt during a drive-in fireworks show at Werner Park on Saturday, April 18. The park would have hosted a minor league baseball game that day, but the start of the season has been postponed because of the coronavirus. Thousands watched the fireworks from the stadium's parking lots and surrounding areas.

People watch fireworks during a drive-in fireworks show at Werner Park on Saturday, April 18. The park would have hosted a minor league baseball game that day, but the start of the season has been postponed because of the coronavirus. Thousands watched the fireworks from the stadium's parking lots and surrounding areas.

Snow falls at a drive-up mobile food pantry run by the Food Bank off the Heartland and Millard Public Schools in Millard on Thursday. The mobile pantry more than doubled the number of packages of fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, potatoes and pantry staples they normally give out each month in anticipation of increased need due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Snow falls at a drive-up mobile food pantry run by the Food Bank off the Heartland and Millard Public Schools in Millard on Thursday. The mobile pantry more than doubled the number of packages of fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, potatoes and pantry staples they normally give out each month in anticipation of increased need due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Terri Connell loads a vehicle at a drive-up mobile food pantry run by the Food Bank off the Heartland and Millard Public Schools as snow falls in Millard on Thursday. The mobile pantry more than doubled the number of packages of fresh fruits and vegetables, bread, potatoes and pantry staples they normally give out each month in anticipation of increased need due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A message of good health hangs from a homes front porch in Omaha on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

A window message shows form a home in Omaha on Thursday, April 16, 2020.

An image of Jesus is reflected in a puddle during an Easter service at King of Kings Church on Sunday in Omaha. The church installed a large screen in the parking lot to enable drive-up and park services.

A home displays a message in a front window in Omaha on Friday, April 10.

Astrid Mitchell, right, and her mother, Katie Mitchell, observe the drive-thru stations Good Friday event at the Prairie Creek Inn Bed & Breakfast on Friday in Walton, Nebraska.

Hank, a Labrador retriever, does not respect social distancing and gives Morgan Henderson, the owner of Dirty Doodles, a kiss while being groomed at Dirty Doodles in Omaha. The dog grooming service has moved work stations outside so employees can remain six feet apart during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A message written in chalk on a wall along Martha Street in Omaha on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

Traffic is sparse at time on Interstate 80 through Omaha as people are encouraged to stay home amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Handwritten notes for customers at Nite Owl in Omaha on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Nite Owl has been writing personal notes to customers and offering specials, like the Social Distance Daiquiri, while offering curbside take-out as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues.

Karna Gurung answers a text on his phone at his store located at 822 N 40th Street on Thursday, April 02, 2020. Gurung is translating important information about coronavirus for non english speaking members of his community.

Rita Otis leads an outdoor Tai Chi class on a grass island at Glenwood Road and Sunset Trail on Wednesday, April 01, 2020. Participants had to maintain a distance of six feet due to coronavirus social distancing measures.

Rita Otis leads an outdoor Tai Chi class on a grass island at Glenwood Road and Sunset Trail on Wednesday, April 01, 2020. Participants had to maintain a distance of six feet due to coronavirus social distancing measures.

The Easter Bunny waves to families as they drive by at the Hy-Vee near 144th and Stony Brook Blvd. in Omaha on Saturday, April 4, 2020. The grocery store usually hosts an Easter egg hunt, but went with a drive-thru Easter Bunny visit this year to encourage social distancing in response to the novel coronavirus.

This sign was installed at Zorinsky Lake Park in Omaha on April 4. The mayor later closed all city parks.

A ball field is seen through a chainlink fence, at Lee Valley Park in Omaha on Saturday, April 4, 2020. Playgrounds and athletic fields are closed in all Omaha parks.

A ball field sets empty at Prairie Lane Park in Omaha on Saturday, April 04, 2020. Playgrounds and athletic fields are closed in all Omaha parks.

A Washington Elementary School sign reads 'Nebraska Strong' on Thursday, April 02, 2020, in Fremont, Nebraska.

About 100 people line up outside Brickway Brewery & Distillery in Omaha on Monday, April 6, 2020. The Old Market business was giving away free hand sanitizer on tap to anyone who brings their own bottle of 64 ounces or less.

Don Rupp wears a face mask made by his wife while waiting in line outside Brickway Brewery & Distillery in Omaha on Monday, April 6, 2020. The Old Market business was giving away free hand sanitizer on tap to anyone who brings their own bottle of 64 ounces or less.

Streets in downtown Grand Island are mostly empty. In Hall County, 35.5% of tests for the coronavirus have come back positive, compared to the 7.65% positive rate statewide.

Playground equipment is seen wrapped in caution tape at Pier Park on April 6 in Grand Island. Playgrounds are closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Russell Hatt smokes a cigarette outside of Fonner Park on April 6 in Grand Island. "I'm a widower, so this is what I do to stay busy. I bet on horses and play Texas Hold 'Em."

The Kroc Center is illuminated as a symbol of hope in Omaha on Monday, April 6, 2020.

Rabbi Daniel Blotner puts together Seder-To-Go kits at Chabad House in Omaha on Monday, April 6, 2020. The Seder is a ritual dinner to mark the beginning of Passover, which began on April 8. The free kits and were available for delivery for anyone who is homebound during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Leah Hanson and others visit their grandmother from outside the Douglas County Health Center in Omaha on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

From left, Carol Ann Hixson, Terri Rohmeyer and Carol Carol Coffey wave and blow kisses to a family member from outside the Douglas County Health Center in Omaha on Tuesday, April 7, 2020.

A woman walks a dog as the sun sets on Elmwood Park in Omaha on Wednesday, April 08, 2020. Omaha has closed all city parks until April 30 to combat COVID-19. The trail system will remain open, but parking lots at trail heads are closed. People must walk or bike in.

Walking is still allowed at West Papio Trail. Omaha closed all city parks through April 30 to combat COVID-19. While trails and sidewalks remain open, everything else in the parks is closed. Groups larger than 10 people are prohibited, and people must keep a physical distance of 6 feet or more.

Kennedy Cascio has decorated her home's front door with a symbol for medicine and hearts. Cascio is an intensive care unit nurse at the Bellevue Medical Center and created the display to "show that I am thankful for everyone working on the frontlines," as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues. Photographed in Omaha on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

A message is left along a fence at Lewis and Calrk Middle School in Omaha on Thursday, April 09, 2020. Omaha Public Schools have been closed since mid-March, with remote learning for all students, as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues.

Traffic signs on Dodge Street, near 168th, display self quarantine guideline suggestions on Monday, April 06, 2020.

A sparrow sit in its nest in the letter "g" in Walgreens sign at 5038 Center Street on Friday, April 10, 2020.

The rest is here:
Erin Grace: To see her adult son, this mother had to sneak by in costume - Omaha World-Herald

While most people are anxious about the coronavirus, people with underlying conditions such as diabetes may be especially so.

On top of life's usual demands, new strain related to the pandemic is taking a toll, said Jacqueline Alikhaani, a Los Angeles resident and volunteer heart health advocate. Alikhaani has diabetes, a serious congenital heart condition called anomalous origin of the right coronary artery, and other chronic conditions.

She worries about safely getting food, medicine, protective and other supplies, family financial losses, maintaining her household and caring for loved ones. Since the coronavirus crisis began, she has not slept as well, had problems getting medication refills, recorded some high blood sugar readings and is consulting with her doctors about an increase in intermittent chest pain, which she attributes to the stress.

"It's really frightening these days. I'm seeing that the risks are higher for people who have diabetes and heart disease," said Alikhaani, who is focusing on watching her diet, exercising, monitoring her blood sugar and blood pressure, and keeping her doctor updated. "I'm trying to learn more, understand and take precautions, stay on top of diabetic and heart health needs, and encouraging others to do the same."

As of late March, preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for about 7 100 US coronavirus patients showed that along with older age, various health conditions most commonly diabetes, chronic lung disease and heart disease put patients at risk of developing severe viral illness.

Specifically, among intensive care patients with Covid-19, 32% had diabetes. For hospitalised Covid-19 patients not in the ICU, 24% had diabetes. Yet for people with Covid-19 who did not require hospitalisation, only 6% had diabetes.

Earlier, more extensive research from China published in JAMA showed a 2% fatality rate among Covid-19 patients. But this rate jumped to about 10% for those who also had cardiovascular disease and to about 7% among those with diabetes. A report from Italy found among 481 patients who died of the virus, about one-third had diabetes. That represents a risk of death five times higher than would be expected based on diabetes' overall prevalence in Italy, said Dr Robert Eckel, an endocrinologist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

While there's much to learn about Covid-19, its course in people with diabetes appears to loosely parallel that of influenza. Outcomes are less stable, ventilators are more commonly needed, and severe complications are more likely in people with diabetes who get the flu, said Eckel, current president of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association.

The reasons are complicated. In people with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance gives rise to chronic, low-grade inflammation, leaving the immune system dulled by this ongoing state of alert. New infections are like "crying wolf" the immune system does not rally quickly and adequately, therefore allowing the virus to gain and maintain a foothold.

But the flu is not as dangerous as Covid-19 infection. And in Covid-19 patients with diabetes, additional risk factors such as heart disease, sometimes undiagnosed, are compounding the problem, said Eckel, who also is a past president of the American Heart Association.

Doctors' experience with bacterial infections indicates that controlling blood sugar before and during infection can be helpful. During the crisis, Eckel advises hospitalised Covid-19 patients who have diabetes to ensure their glucose is carefully managed and to monitor it themselves, with their own supplies, if they are able.

A diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, is a risk with other viral infections and a concern in coronavirus patients, he said. DKA occurs when an absolute or relative insulin deficiency prevents cells from using glucose for energy and they burn fat instead, creating chemicals called ketones that build up in the blood and can be toxic.

Amid a serious infection, Eckel said, diabetes drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors contribute to an increased risk for DKA. Patients with Covid-19 should talk to their doctor about stopping these medications at the time of hospitalisation, and possibly sooner.

Another diabetes drug, metformin, also might need to be discontinued in hospitalised coronavirus patients, he said. Under extreme circumstances, including dehydration and kidney disease, metformin could foster acidosis and even exacerbate kidney disease when intravenous contrast agents are used in imaging.

Outside the hospital, the ADA recommends keeping blood sugar well controlled and consulting health care professionals about managing risk and any viral symptoms. If feeling very ill including higher fever with cough and shortness of breath people should seek emergency care.

"Patients with diabetes need to be alert about not delaying if they're getting sick, particularly over a short time interval," Eckel said.

Alikhaani is an ambassador for Know Diabetes by Heart, a joint initiative of the AHA and ADA to reduce cardiovascular complications in people with Type 2 diabetes. She believes that ultimately more knowledge about Covid-19 will help the public avoid infection and improve self-care.

"People can partner with their doctors better when they understand more about the mechanics of what's going on," she said.

For now, Alikhaani is leaning a lot on faith, family and community. She said when the crisis passes and everyday life resumes, there could be a silver lining. "Maybe when we go back, we'll see that we might not miss everything that right now we think we are missing."

READ | Why is coronavirus a bigger worry for people with diabetes?

READ | Certain health conditions increase risks for severe coronavirus cases

READ | Some steroid meds may raise coronavirus risk

Read the rest here:
Understanding the risky combination of diabetes and the coronavirus - Health24

Executive statement on opening of cemeteries

The Executive has today agreed that cemeteries will be allowed to open on a restricted basis.

An amendment has been agreed to The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 that will allow family members to visit the graves of their loved ones while adhering to social distancing.

Changes will be made to the Regulations later this evening. However, those responsible for burial grounds will need time to prepare so that they can put in place the necessary arrangements to manage access safely.

First Minister Arlene Foster said: This Executive has asked the people of Northern Ireland to put their normal daily routine on hold; to stay at home, keep their distance and wash their hands in the fight against Covid-19. This has been an extraordinary ask in what are extraordinary times and the vast majority have complied with the regulations which has helped to flatten the curve of infection and save lives.

Changes to the regulations, even modest changes, must be criteria-led and supported by scientific evidence.

On that basis, the Executive has today agreed to open up cemeteries on a restricted basis so that family members can visit the graves of their loved ones while adhering to social distancing. This will bring comfort to many at these difficult times.

The deputy First Minister, Michelle ONeill said: We are all very mindful of peoples mental health at this time and we recognise the comfort that visiting the graveside of a loved one brings. Thats why we had committed to keeping this issue under review.

We also recognise that there is a fine balance in making sure that people do not face additional burden in terms of their mental health and wellbeing; and making sure that people are not put at further risk from transmissions of Coronavirus.

The limited opening of cemeteries will only be allowed where those in charge of those burial grounds can ensure compliance with the regulations and appropriate social distancing.

As with all the regulations, which are in place to protect people and save lives, we will continue to keep this decision under review.

Health Minister Robin Swann welcomed the changes to the Regulations.

He said: The Coronavirus Regulations are cross-cutting, significant and controversial and any amendment must be discussed and agreed by the Executive.

The change we have agreed, informed by the expert advice from the Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride and Chief Scientific Officer, Ian Young, strike the balance between protecting public health and not inflicting further suffering on individuals.

There are a number of people in our community who get great reassurance, mental support and strength by visiting a grave and this step now is a proportionate and empathetic response at this time.

The Executive has also agreed to amend the Regulations to clarify the circumstances in which a person can leave the house to exercise, including reasonable travel to exercise.

For example, a drive to a safe space or facility would be permitted. However, taking a long drive to get to a beach, or resort where numbers of people may gather is unlikely to be regarded as reasonable, even for exercise.

Excerpt from:
Coronavirus Northern Ireland: Live updates as mass testing to begin from today - Belfast Live

Depression is usually treated with therapy or medication, but what you eat can also play a role in your mental health. Though more research is needed, some studies show that certain diets may prevent or reduce the severity of depression.

"The right kind of diet may give the brain more of what it needs to avoid depression, or even to treat it once it's begun," says Lisa Mosconi, PhD, Director of the Women's Brain Initiative at Weil Cornell Medical College and author of The XX Brain.

Here's what experts know about which foods are helpful and which may be harmful for depression.

There are many different factors that contribute to depression. Some are out of your control, like genetics or a traumatic life event. But the foods you choose to eat can also play a role.

Because food can influence certain chemicals in the brain, like serotonin, that help regulate mood. An estimated 95 percent of your serotonin is produced in your gastrointestinal tract. So, it makes sense that what you eat may influence mood.

For example, a 2014 review found that people who followed a Mediterranean diet of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains were 16 percent less likely to experience depression compared to people who followed a typical high-carbohydrate Western diet.

The Mediterranean diet is thought to be effective against battling depression because it's rich in anti-inflammatory foods like leafy greens and fish, while also cutting down on processed foods that can cause inflammation.

Inflammation is known to contribute to a number of diseases including heart disease, Alzheimer's, and certain cancers like liver and cervix. How strongly inflammation contributes to depression is still unclear. But some studies, like the 2014 review, suggest that keeping inflammation at bay through your diet may help prevent depression.

Your brain needs certain nutrients to produce the chemicals used to regulate your emotions, Mosconi says. Some of these helpful foods and nutrients include:

Small, oily fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring): These fish are all high in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that has been shown to reduce the severity of depression symptoms by reducing inflammation.

Turkey: Eating turkey provides you with tryptophan, an amino acid that your body uses to produce serotonin.

Cacao: Certain compounds like flavanols and procyanidins, which are present in cacao in dark chocolate, can reduce inflammation in the body.

Probiotic foods: More research is needed to understand exactly how probiotics work and the different ailments they can treat. But what researchers have found is that probiotic-containing foods like yogurt and sauerkraut contain live bacteria that are helpful for balancing out your gut bacteria. That's important when it comes to depression because these bacteria can produce chemicals that regulate your mood, such as serotonin and gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA).

Fruits and vegetables: Eating foods like fruits and vegetables can be one of the most powerful ways to fight inflammation because they contain antioxidants, compounds that help protect your cells from the damage caused by inflammation. Here are some foods rich in antioxidants:

Many of the foods that are bad for your physical health can also affect your mental health. Below are some foods to avoid to help prevent and fight depression.

Processed foods: "Processed or deep-fried foods often contain trans fats and a variety of chemicals that can promote inflammation," Mosconi says, adding that inflammation is a possible cause of depression, as well as other brain illnesses like dementia.

Some examples of processed foods are:

Sugar: Eating a diet that includes a lot of sugary foods and drinks has been linked to higher rates of depression. This may be because sugar increases inflammation and can destabilize your blood sugar. When your blood sugar drops too low, you can have symptoms like nervousness and inability to concentrate, while high blood sugar can cause fatigue.

Getting treatment for depression often involves therapy or medication, but watching what you eat can also play an important role in your mood. Eating a Mediterranean style diet and avoiding processed foods may help you battle depression.

Read more:
The foods that fight depression and keep you happy - Insider - INSIDER

During lockdown weight gain is perhaps inevitable, and not necessarily the end of the world. But if you want to lose weight or at least not put on too much extra weight there is one thing you can do that is almost certain to help. It is very obvious when you think about it, and arguably not that easy, but it will give positive results, and perhaps it might not have occurred to you before.

So, you want to know how to avoid isolation weight gain at home? There is one item in a lot of people's diets that could be easily cut and would result in losing weight faster. You guessed it: alcohol, booze, and the drink. No one needs a lecture about why alcohol is bad for your health but I think a lot of you don't realise how consuming alcohol effects your diet and your weight loss. Or your weight gain, more accurately.

If Google Trends is anything to go by, everyone seems to be having more booze than usual now that we are in full lockdown. And in the case of the UK in particular, that is saying something.

Best protein shake blender: there are brands other than Nutribullet, you know

Let's get one thing out of the way right at the beginning: the best way to lose weight is not to exercise more, but to eat less. Especially now that we have to stay indoors almost all the time, eating the same amount of food as we used to will result in us putting on weight. Cutting back on calories of any sort will help you in your weight loss battle. No news there.

There are a lot of misconceptions about alcohol and as I mentioned above, I'm not here to lecture anyone about just how bad it is to consume alcoholic beverages. Sure, some types of alcohols contain certain micronutrients (like minerals) that can be beneficial for health, but this doesn't outweigh the negative effects of these drinks.

One very important thing to realise about alcohol is that it is basically pure carbohydrate. Carbs are one of the three main macronutrients your body needs to function; the other two are lipids (fats) and protein. This doesn't mean your body needs alcohol to function, on the contrary. Drinking alcohol adds nothing to your diet, alcohol calories are just 'empty calories'.

Shop low-calorie beer at Skinny Booze

Just how many calories, though? There are a few options that are considered 'low-calorie' drinks, like vodka and diet coke. Although diet coke can be considered free of calories (still pretty bad in every way) a double shot (50 ml) of vodka contains over 100 calories. You would have to run 10 minutes to burn off those calories and that is just one drink.

Shop alcohol-free beer at Amazon UK

How about beer? A small bottle (12 oz/355 ml) of Goose Island IPA is 208 calories, twice as much as what's in a double shot vodka plus diet coke combo. And whoever has only one small bottle of beer when they drink? That's right, no one.

Shop light beer at Walmart US

Maybe wine? A bottle (750 ml) of Cabernet Sauvignon is just under 600 calories, meaning that two medium glasses (approx. 175 ml) contain around 250-300 calories.

We used the Drinkaware Unit and Calorie Calculator to calculate the below numbers.

For the rest, we used MyfitnessPal's database and the manufacturers websites.

Promixx MiiXR X7 Performance Nutrition Food Blender 7 Piece Set Black | Buy it for 89.99 at Amazon UKThe Promixx MiiXR X7 is not just any blender; it is a performance blender with different mixer heads, two Tritan bottles and two no-leak lids so you can carry your freshly made smoothies with you. The 700w motor pulverises anything you put in this blended in a matter of seconds. The Promixx MiiXR X7 is dishwasher safe but also easy to hand-wash, too, thanks to the ergonomic shape of the bottles. Who needs a Nutribullet when you have blenders like the Promixx MiiXR X7?View Deal

Today's best espresso machines deals

Capresso Steam Espresso...

Barsetto Black Stainless...

Barsetto Espresso Machine...

Today's best Coffee Makers deals

Bodum Brazil 3 Cup / 12oz...

The Scoop® Single-Serve...

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The best idea, of course, is to keep your alcohol consumption to the minimum. As I mentioned in the 'how to lose weight at home' article, being mindful about your diet and food/drink intake can help. Before you pour yourself another drink, ask yourself: do I want another drink? Am I bored? Is there another task I'm putting off by drinking?

Admittedly, on some occasions, especially during social gatherings, it is pretty challenging to get out of drinking at least some alcohol. When everyone is having beers and wines around you, the social pressure on you to have one too could be immense. Even in these cases, there are ways to reduce consumption.

If you are a wine drinker, have a soda spritzer instead of just a glass of wine. You would still get the sensation of having a wine in a wine glass, but you also drink plenty of water, which dilutes the alcohol and makes it easier for your body to digest it more efficiantly.

If you are more of a beer drinker, see if there are any low calorie/alcohol-free beers in stock. A bottle of alcohol-free Holstein is only 8 calories (!) and there are plenty of low-cal options out there, especially if you live in the US.

And in any case, if you drink a glass of water after you had a drink, your stomach will fill up sooner and you will feel fuller sooner, making you less likely to drink too much alcohol. It also helps with hangovers, too.

Read the rest here:
How to lose weight in lockdown: one thing has GOT to go from your diet or at least reduced here's what you need to know - T3

Somewhere amid my thoughts about the uncertainty of tomorrow, someone's daughter called me and asked me about what I had eaten.

She always asks about these things and I know it's a sign of love. She's always worried about my eating habits because honestly, they're bad. I survive on a bachelor's diet and it's bad.

I want to stop but the truth is food has never been a priority. As I write this I am in the middle of cooking fries and the day before that I had a three days takeout after a saleswoman convinced me to not only get chicken and fries but also add two pizzas since there was a BOGOF offer. I'll cook better tomorrow, I hope.

This reminds me of an interesting conversation I had with a friend of mine, Alex Ikawah, about gender and diet.

I got lost somewhere midway when he started talking about feminism, food, and diet. I looked it up last week and it had interesting reads if you looked past the 10,000 academic papers.

Are academic papers made as digital paper to light fires when the internet is out? I don't understand how you can work that hard to make your writing unreadable.

The research made a lot of sense about how we men chose to nourish ourselves. Small things like the fact that we men, myself included, would scoff at the idea of a vegetarian diet.

If you want to kill me just shoot me, but don't force me to live like a rabbit. Or the fact that meat has been tied to masculinity.

That's why you chose some nyama choma and cold tusker and not milk and cookies or cabbage and a smoothie. See how odd that sounded even though you were just reading it?

Meat has been made to seem like a manly thing even though it causes increased risks of cancer, weight gain, kidney problems, and cardiovascular diseases. But it's not a battle against meat but so many more other things.

When a man starts looking healthier and gaining weight we all remark that there is a woman behind him doing a good job.

We know so because he's stopped eating an alternate diet of noodles and mutura from Njuguna's as a meal.

I'm now finishing this article drinking a beer and munching on eggs. So ironical! What sort of life is this that we live as men?

This is the reason why we're asking women 'utanipikia lini (when will you cook for me)?' We're living like we're auditioning to be walking adverts for malnutrition.

It also does explain why women constantly complain about the taste of our protein. That's how you end up tasting like battery acid and expired milk at the same time.

It also explains why men end up admitted to the hospital more than women and why the flu makes us feel like we're dying and need to write our wills.

There's nothing unmanly about eating well and I need to remind myself that a lot. My well-refined minimalist spice rack of salt and black pepper needs to do a bit better.

Go here to read the rest:
MAN TALK: Why is a good diet alien to men? - nation.co.ke