Gut and Psychology Syndrome, known as GAPS, refers to the idea that the health of your digestive system is directly connected to how your brain functions. So, the GAPS diet is designed as a way to help treat people with stomach ailments and a wide range of psychological issues.

Proponents of the GAPS diet claim that it cures a long list of ailments, none of which are backed by scientific research. Here's what you need to know about the GAPS diet and why many experts do not consider it a legitimate medical treatment.

The concept of GAPS and the GAPS diet were created by Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, a physician who spent her career working as a neurologist and later a nutritionist in her own clinic.

According to Campbell-McBride's theory, large growths of bad bacteria in the gut give off toxic substances like acetaldehyde and clostridial neurotoxins when digesting food. Her theory, which is unproven, is that these toxins then enter the bloodstream where they can harm your immune system, organs, and cause psychiatric and neurological problems.

The GAPS diet claims to prevent this by promoting "good" bacterial growth in the gut and eliminating high-fiber, inflammatory foods.

The GAPS diet is a type of elimination diet that consists of three phases:

The introduction phase of the GAPS diet is made up of six sub-stages, which start with extreme restriction, then gradually add in more foods. This phase can last anywhere from 4 to 6 months, depending on how digestive symptoms like diarrhea evolve. Here's what to start eating and what to add as you progress through the introduction phase:

Once you have passed through all six stages and added all the allowed foods, you have reached the full GAPS phase. This phase of the diet continues for around 1.5 to 2 years before other foods like potatoes and fermented grains can be gradually reintroduced.

Tamara Duker Freuman, a New York-based registered dietitian and author of "The Bloated Belly Whisperer," is critical of the GAPS diet's extravagant claims, saying that diet alone may not be enough to cure many serious diseases.

While diets can help lower your risk of disease or treat symptoms, Freuman says, "Anyone who claims their diet cures anything and certainly such a laundry list of diseases is making claims that are not supported by scientific evidence."

In fact, scientific evidence may go against the claims of the GAPS diet. To encourage a healthy gut biome, Freuman says, the current research says that a diverse diet with plenty of fiber is the best option which directly contradicts the low-fiber requirements of the GAPS diet. Moreover, severely restricted diets can actually have a negative effect on the gut microbiome, Freuman says.

Lastly, the GAPS diet relies heavily on probiotics as a source of healing for the gut. However, researchers are still learning how exactly probiotics affect the human microbiome and there's limited research as to how effective they truly are especially when it comes to treating serious inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease. And for some conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), probiotics may even cause harm. Learn more about how to relieve SIBO symptoms in our article about the SIBO diet.

"I would never recommend the GAPS diet to anyone under any circumstances," Freuman says especially children and adults who are underweight because it can potentially lead to nutritional deficiencies.

For people experiencing digestive problems, the right elimination diet should stabilize your symptoms within a week or two, Freuman says. But you should not continue that similar diet for months or years, as suggested by the GAPS diet.

Instead, if you're suffering from get issues, Freuman recommends other diets like the low-FODMAP diet or Mediterranean diet, depending on the individual's symptoms and condition. After all, there's no one-size-fits-all solution.

Continued here:
What is the GAPS diet and why one expert says she wouldn't recommend it under any circumstances - Insider - INSIDER

When it comes to a long and joyous life who wouldnt want to be able to add on a few more years?Increasing life expectancy allows many to enjoy their retirement and watch the children and grandchildren grow up. Its commonknowledge certainhabits will deter this dream. Eating unhealthy foods, smoking, drinking excessively and not getting the adequate amount of exercise will greatly affect life longevity.Diethas been proven time and time again to not only help ward off cancers but also to increase life expectancy.

Plant-based diets are a way of eating which celebrates plant foods and cuts out unhealthy items such as added sugars and refined grains.

Plant-based diets have been linked to a number of health benefits, including reducing a persons risk of heart disease, certain cancers, obesity, diabetes and even cognitive decline.

According to the study, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition, plant-based diets and in particular veganism, may just be the secret to a longer life.

The study, which looked how various diets impact biomarkers, found that vegans have the most antioxidants in their bodies.

The impact was largely down to ones higher intake of fruits and vegetables.

In fact, the study found that vegans also have substantially lower rates of deaths among them as opposed to their meat-eating counterparts.

For several decades, research has consistently proved over and over that a vegetarian diet will reduce ones risk of major diseases and help to increase life.

Read more:
How to live longer: Eating more of this food has been proven to increase life expectancy - Express

A study from Spain found the diet ofmultiple sclerosis (MS) patients to contain more fat and protein, and fewer carbohydrates, than recommended, which was linked to abdominal weight gain and higher levels of inflammation.

As an excessive intake of lipids is known to be related to oxidative stress and inflammation, one of the practical outcomes of this study could be new dietary guidelines that stress lesser fat consumption, its researchers said.

The study, The Relation between Eating Habits and Abdominal Fat, Anthropometry, PON1 and IL-6 Levels in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis, was published in the journalNutrients.

MS, a neurodegenerative disease, is marked by immune system attacks on the protective myelin coating of nerve fibers, affecting the communication between neurons. These attacks also result in inflammation that can accelerate disease progression.

People with MS show disabilities associated with muscle mass loss, and excessive weight around the abdomen. While diet is known to play an important role in disease, the nutritional status and eating habits in MS patients have not been studied in depth, as of yet, the researchers wrote.

A team led by scientists at Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Mrtirsought to characterize how caloric and nutritional intake related to body measurements and inflammatory signals in patients.

In total,57 adults with MS were selected to participate (average age, 47.04; 66.7% women and 33.3% men). All were diagnosed at least six months prior to study enrollment, and were being treated with glatiramer acetate (sold as Copaxone, Glatopa, and generic forms) or interferon beta (sold under several brand names).

Each was asked to fill out a form called the Food Frequency Questionnaire, which provides information on how often major food groups (tailored to a given culture) are eaten. Patients also registered every food they ate, measured down to ingredients, for seven days, providing a more detailed look into their diets.

Results showed thatthe average MS patient ate less than the recommended quantities of carbohydrates(which include fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains), and higher amounts of proteins (like meats and fish), and lipids (fats like butter, oils and cheese). This was true in both male and female participants, with men consuming higher-than-recommended amounts of cholesterol.

Caloric intake was seen to be in the normal range for women (mean calorie intake of 1917.11 kcal; normal range18752300 kcal for females), and slightly lower than recommended for men (mean calorie intake of 2312.04 kcal;normal range24002850kcal for males).

Body measurements were taken, and patients were classified as having abdominal obesity if they had a ratio of waist circumference to height greater than 0.5 (their mean waist circumference was97.53 cm). In total, 50 of the 57 participants (87.7%) had abdominal obesity.

Those withabdominal obesity also had a higherbody fat percentage, and higherbody mass index(mean of 28.54 found; normal range is 18.524.9).

Researchers then measured inflammatory signals in non-obese and obese participants, specifically looking at the proteins IL-6 and PON1.

Levels of IL-6 were significantly higher in obese patients compared tonon-obese ones, the researchers found. No significant difference was seen in PON1 levels.

IL-6 is generally correlated with obesity, and it is involved with inflammation, which is part of the pathology of MS.

PON1 is an enzyme that is activated during the breakdown of LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol. While low PON1 activity has been associated with certain types of disease, these findings and others from related studies indicate it is not a relevant biomarker for MS.

From these results, the researchers suggested a link between the accumulation of abdominal fat in MS patients and a rise in IL-6 levels, but not PON1.

Overall, these data showed a nutritional imbalance in MS patients, and one that can contribute to abdominal weight gain and higher levels of inflammation, as measured by IL-6 levels.

MS patients nutrient intake shows an imbalance between macronutrients, the researchers wrote.This seems to favour abdominal obesity associated to high values of proinflammatory interleukin 6, which, however, is not correlated with a lower activity of the oxidation marker PON1.

They noted their study was limited by a small patient size and a possible regional bias, as all participants were from Spain.

Nevertheless, the team suggested it had practical implications for MS patients. Namely, establishing new dietary guidelines based on decreasing high lipid intakes could be a therapeutic strategy to reduce the inflammatory state, and to limit weight gain.

Total Posts: 1,053

Patrcia holds her PhD in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases from the Leiden University Medical Center in Leiden, The Netherlands. She has studied Applied Biology at Universidade do Minho and was a postdoctoral research fellow at Instituto de Medicina Molecular in Lisbon, Portugal. Her work has been focused on molecular genetic traits of infectious agents such as viruses and parasites.

Read the rest here:
Diets of MS Patients in Spain Seen to Favor Fats, Proteins and... - Multiple Sclerosis News Today

For the first time in years we have been stirred by images of migrant workers attempting to cross borders within our country, hungry and powerless. Perhaps it is because we have finally had the time to feel. In our comfortable homes, we have experienced empathy, some guilt, a great deal of thankfulness, and a sense of responsibility in the way we procure food and eat. We are finally measuring our lives in coffee spoons not a bad thing in times like these.

It is a good time to reflect on what we are eating, says Manjari Chandra, a functional nutritionist in Delhi. She talks of minimalism when it comes to food, looking at fasting (for 14 to 16 hours) instead of feasting, and building responsible food practices like stopping before we are full or cutting down the number of meals we have in a day. Here is how you can buy and eat more mindfully taking into account our own nutrition, the health of our community, and our environment, because in the end, everything is connected.

Your only innate guard is immunity, and because we have a long way to go, it is best to try and get this strengthened, says Chandra. It is not like popping a pill though a couple of bone broths and salads may not immediately get you a more robust immune system. Look at it as working on the terrain. She means when every part of the body is strengthened, and all your systems are working like they should, it is likely you will have good immunity.

The immunity function lies in the gut, so those who have constipation, acidity, or any other gut malfunction, could strengthen it with vitamins (especially vitamin C) and minerals (zinc, magnesium, selenium), adds Chandra. Again, people who are immune-compromised are those who have hormonal imbalances, endocrine-related disorders like diabetes, and autoimmune conditions. It is important to know that everyone can gradually build immunity.

Onion, ginger, garlic, tulsi, pomegranate, and eucalyptus are all anti-viral foods that can reduce the chance of you contracting a viral infection. However, there are no definitive studies on how much of each is good to consume. It is safe to put these in the traditional foods we eat. Star anise can be had in a tea with mint: it has shikimic acid that is used in the medicine Tamiflu to treat the H1N1 virus. Black pepper, asafoetida, and carom (ajwain/oman) are also helpful.

Internal inflammation makes you susceptible to disease. Highly processed foods, and a diet rich in refined oils, high carbohydrate, high protein, and simple sugars cause inflammation. Cut down on sucrose-rich fruits that cause insulin spikes.

Dietician Sheela Krishnaswamy says we need to use this time as an opportunity to eat healthy. Cooking fresh, not ordering in, and not buying processed-packaged food are valuable practices we can take into the days ahead.

In Goa, where she is based, and fruits are a currently a rarity, (while vegetables are not regularly supplied in the market), she says it is possible to work with what is at home cereals and dals, changing these up if possible, millets-dal, brown-rice-dal, wholewheat-dal. These give the macronutrients and some micronutrients.

She says it is a good idea to add ghee and/or coconut oil and simple spices and herbs to the food for antioxidant protection. If you can set some curd at home, nothing like it, for beneficial bacteria. The availability of minerals and vitamins in whole sprouted grains, like ragi, green gram, chana, goes up and their digestibility increases as starch is partially broken down.

It is also a time to look around the house and consume all the little bottles of ingredients that we have put on the backshelf. Finish the raw peanuts and the leftover nuts and seeds do soak them overnight to get rid of the anti-nutrients, which are plant compounds like phytates that reduce the absorption of minerals. And while you are drinking manjal, have it with milk it needs a fat medium to be better absorbed, says Lovneet Batra, a sports nutritionist in Delhi.

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Diets in times of disequilibrium - The Hindu

Cassidy Hall

By Cassidy Hall

We live in a world full of dietary advice at our fingertips, but, unfortunately, that advice is not always received from experts. In my Extension role, participants often clue me in on trendy dietary advice. Currently, healthy fat is a hot topic. What are healthy fats? Should we still be pruning fat from our diets or is that old news?

Lets start with discussing if we should be pruning fat from our diets the answer is it depends. Our bodies require fat as a source of energy. Fat is essential for our bodies to absorb nutrients, produce hormones, it helps to protect the organs and aids in keeping us warm, according to the American Heart Association.

We absolutely need fat, but like calories, all fats are not equal. This leads to the question of determining which fats are healthy fats. Healthy fats tend to come from plant sources with a few exceptions. Olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados are examples of healthy fats that come from plants. Notice that I did not include coconut oil. Tropical oils such as palm oil and coconut oil are sources composed primarily of saturated fat which make them solid at room temperature. Coconut oil is all the rage right now, trending as a healthy fat. This claim is not backed by science, the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the American Heart Association. Why not?

When you read the label, coconut oil has 14g of total fat. Of the 14g of total fat, 13g are saturated. When you compare this solid fat to olive oil, olive oil also has 14g of total fat, but only 2-2.5g of saturated fat. Due to the difference in saturated fat content, coconut oil is solid at room temperature while olive oil remains liquid. Thus, healthy fats are liquid at room temperature.

According to the AHA, saturated fat leads to increased LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, while unsaturated fats can help improve cholesterol levels by increasing HDL (good) cholesterol. So how much is too much fat? Again, it depends.

A family member recently took an online quiz to see what recommendations shed be given if she chose to follow the ketogenic diet. Let me pause to mention that this keto diet is not backed by medical professionals or dieticians due to its extreme fat content and negative effect on kidney function.

The quiz results revealed that based on a 1,200 calorie diet, my family member should consume 97g of fat. This is far off from the American Heart Associations recommendations. According to the American Dietary Guidelines, no more than 65g of total fat are recommended for a 2,000 calorie diet. The American Journal of Nutrition recommends between 20% to 30% of calories should come from total fat. The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 5% to 6% of calories should come from saturated fat.

There are 9 calories per gram of fat, so based on a 2,000 calorie diet, no more than 120 calories should come from saturated fat which equates to about 13g of saturated fat. Keep in mind that 2,000 calories is the average recommendation for adult males. Women, on average, require 1,800 calories.

Swapping fats during cooking is a first step in reducing your saturated fat consumption. Instead of using butter or coconut oil, use liquid oils. When making your dairy selections, choosing low-fat or light dairy helps you to get the same protein, calcium and nutrients without the saturated fat and extra calories. Choose lean cuts of meat with less marbling and visible fat as well as more beans, nuts and seeds. Pruning the (saturated) fat from your diet is a huge step in heart-health maintenance.

Asparagus is entering into its season of availability this month. Get your taste of healthy fats and eating seasonally with this delicious recipe that also works well for grilling, and pair asparagus with grilled or baked fish for a heart-healthy meal perfect for spring. Feel free to add a splash of lemon juice for an added twist.

Read this article:
Prune the (saturated) fat from your diet - The Wilson Times

My weight gradually dropped from 75 kg to 60 kg. But thats not it. My energy levels were high and I became more active. #OnlineWorkshop #FoodSecrets

Even though it had been two years since shed given birth to a healthy baby girl, Kirti Yadavs postnatal health issuesnausea, constipation, low energy levels and insomniacontinued.

While these health issues were not unusual, the Bengaluru resident did some research and realised that her diet was aggravating them and wondered if a change in her eating habits could provide much-needed relief.

So, in 2017, Kirti, a vegetarian, became a vegan. While her health improved by leaps and bounds, an unforeseen but welcome result of this dietary change was weight loss. Today, she conducts workshops to teach vegan recipes of everyday and gourmet dishes. Join her in her online workshops and give a dairy-free spin to your diet!

Speaking to The Better India (TBI), Kirti says, Before switching my diet, I got a blood check-up done and was shocked to see that my cholesterol levels were very high even though I was eating healthy. I considered the headaches, constipation and such health issues normal because they had always been a part of my life. But they were no doubt, a reason for my struggle. After the blood tests, I started researching diet forms, and I came across many people who had turned vegan and had positive things to say about that lifestyle.

Butter, ghee, cheese, milk and other dairy products are an intrinsic part of the Indian cuisine, and it seems almost impossible to imagine food without them.

But Kirti had her health issues to overcome, and as an experiment, she decided to make the switch, and it took only a few months for her to see the results. Her cholesterol levels were down, there was no constipation or nausea, and happily enough, she was steadily losing the weight that she had gained during pregnancy.

I would average around 75 kg before my pregnancy. When I gave up dairy, my weight gradually dropped to 60 kg, and that is my normal now. But thats not it. My energy levels were high, and I became more active. It became evident to me that this diet was doing more for my body than the previous one, she tells TBI.

To help others like her, who want to switch to a vegan diet, but it impossible to give up dairy, Kirti conducts recipe workshops. Select from them below.

Also read: Experts Answer: How to Make Organic Compost & Fertilisers at Home

(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)

Continue reading here:
Bengaluru Mom Lost Nearly 25 Kg with Plant-Based Diet. And She Will Teach You How - The Better India

Kartik Aaryan is a Bollywood actor who has gained a massive fanbase over the years.Apart from being a talented actor, Kartik Aaryan is definitely close to his family as is evident from his social media handle.He recently celebratedher sister's birthday at home by cooking a special cake for her amidst the Coronavirus lockdown inthe country.

Check out what the SonuKe Titu Ki Sweety actoreats in a day to maintain his health. Here areexcerpts from his interview to an entertainment portal.

ALSO READ|Kangana Ranaut Praises Kartik Aaryan, Calls Him A 'genuine Talent

Image courtesy: Kartik Aaryan Instagram

ALSO READ|Kartik Aaryan Bakes Cake-turned-biscuit For Sister's Birthday, Calls Her 'pride Of Family'

ALSO READ|Kartik Aaryan Goofs Up The New Hand Emoji Challenge; Watch Video

ALSO READ|Kartik Aaryan Pledges Rs 1 Cr To PM-CARES; Says 'whatever I Am Today Is Because Of Fans'

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.

Originally posted here:
Kartik Aaryans diet routine that he follows to maintain a fit body; Read here - Republic World - Republic World

Highlights

With a pandemic outbreak upon us, and all of us safely tucked inside our home, we are counting days when our lives would resume normalcy. More often than not, we are all at some point or the other binge watching our favorite TV series. Nothing comforts us more than a platter of snacks, which completely transforms the experience.

However, at times like these, sometimes we even delve into unhealthy snacking which may add to health-related worries over a course of time. While it is advisable to exercise and spend time following productive pursuits, one cannot deny the importance of a healthy and a balanced diet. Here aresome easy, delicious, healthy and quick recipes that could be yourperfect companion during self-quarantine.

These make for a delicious, refreshing appetizer or a quick bite.

Ingredients:

For the cucumber cups:

For the filling:

Method:

For the cucumber cups:

For the filling:

To serve:

Pro-Tip:

Cucumber could be a healthy addition to your diet

A different version of fajita vegetables, this snack is all things loaded and lip-smacking.

Ingredients:

Method:

For the vegetables:

Pro Tip:

Small ragi (nachni) chapattis with a topping of pizza sauce and cheese, make a healthy alternative to regular pizzas. It can also be eaten as a main course by making a big chappati about 7 to 8 inches in diameter, with pizza sauce, cheese and other toppings.

Ingredients:

For the ragi (nachni) chappati:

Other Ingredients:

Toppings (optional):

Method:

For the chapattis:

Method:

Pro Tip:

For the nachni (ragi) pizza:

Ragi is a rich source of protein

Healthy, tasty and vibrant, they can be an amazing appetizer for your family.

Ingredients:

To serve:

Method:

How to proceed:

To Serve:

Dhokla is a steamed Gujarati snack

About Author: Renu Dalal, daughter of the late legendary chef and cook book author Tarla Dalal is the author of the books Simple and Delicious Vegetarian Recipes and Modern Vegetarian Recipes.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

View original post here:
4 Healthy And Easy Snacks To Munch On During Quarantine - NDTV Food