Just like being overweight for humans can lead to serious health conditionsthe same applies to dogs. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP),55.8% of dogs are classified as over weight. To make matters worse, 95% of owners dont even know their pets are overweight, which the APOP refers to as the fat pet gap.

Dr. Alex Schechter, DVMatPure Paws Veterinary Care of Hells Kitchentells me, Dog obesity is a major problem with our New York dog population. Limited exercise, high calorie intake, and non-nutritious foods tend to be the major culprits.In general, most pet parents actually think an overweight dog is a normal healthy baseline.

The Farmer's Dog

Its very prevalent, Dr. Joseph Martins DVM and Certified Fear Free Professional atBelle Mead Animal Hospitaltells me of the dog obesity he sees in his practice. My guesstimate is over 50% of dogs and cats are overweight and over 20% are obese.So 70-80% of pets weigh too much and this problem is growing. Its getting worse nationwide every year and especially the past few years.

So what makes a dog obese, what kind of health issues can obesity cause, and with all the brands popping up promoting whole food diets for dogs are these a viable solution?

The American Kennel Club says that figuring out whether your dog is overweight or not is a matter of both appearance of the body constitution and touch. You should be able to feel your dogs ribs when you press the sides of their body. Extra weight can lead to a variety of issues including Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, a range of orthopedic issues, skin disease, heart and respiratory disease, and even decreased life expectancy.

The Farmer's Dog

While there arent many lifetime studies on dogs, Martins tells me, There is one on Labrador retrievers that shows that labs who are over fed get overweight and consequently get more painful arthritis at earlier ages. Many of these pets require life long arthritis meds for pain years earlier than if they were kept lean. Another shocking part of this study also showed that 50% of overweight dogs were dead by 10 years of age and that dogs kept at an ideal weight lived 2-3 years longer than overweight dogs. This is a huge statistical fact every pet owner needs to knowlean dogs on average live years longer.

Schechter is a fan ofThe Farmers Dog, a breed-specific customized dog food made from fresh ingredients thats delivered to your door, for his adult dog patients because he believes the nutritional value of fresh food is far superior than processed dog food. I recommend The Farmer's Dog for all of my adult patients. I think they have revolutionized the pet food industry with a simple conceptfeed our pets fresher nutritious foods. We vaccinate our patients to prevent disease and have them on monthly medication to prevent against gastrointestinal parasites and ticks. However, I think we often forget that food can also be preventative medicine!

Before and after pic of Jasmine

Pet owner Linda Glass transitioned to The Farmers Dog when her Dalmatian, Jasmine, who suffered from persistent diarrhea was diagnosed with various infections and put on antibiotics, but the diarrhea continued.I tried a variety of food changes and combinations, explains Glass. I added wet food to dry food. I even started boiling chicken and rice. Nothing worked. Then I came across an ad on Facebook for Farmers Dog. After the first week of eating their food, Jasmine went to the vet and she weighed 82 pounds. Two months later they weighed her at 64 pounds. The vet was so impressed. Her coat was shiny, she didnt have flaky skin, and she had very little shedding. I told the vet about the food change and provided them a leaflet with the ingredients, which is now part of her chart. Glass says the only thing that changed to achieve these results is the dog food and the diarrhea is gone. Its worth every penny.

Brett Podolsky, Co-founder ofThe Farmers Dogtells me, Weve heard thousands of success stories from customers over the years. Its one of the most rewarding parts of our day! Its a constant reminder that making a simple change from highly processed products to real, fresh food can have a transformational impact on health. We hear how easy it becomes for people to manage their dogs weight and help eliminate all kinds of other health issues like allergies and stomach problems.

The Farmer's Dog

Whats unique about The Farmers Dogs subscription-basedfresh food plans is that they allow people to tailor their dogs daily caloric intake to their very specific requirements based on breed, age, and a variety of other factors which are asked about during theonline questionnaire. Furthermore, the plan allows people to adapt their plan to their dogs changing needs.

A kibble bag offers broad, and vague guidelines that dont take into account an individual dogs needs, making it very easy to over-feed and kibble-bag guidelines will always err on the side of too much food, so you end up buying more, continues Podolsky. Dr. Ernie Ward who runs APOP has told us at Farmers Dog that hehears about so many pet owners feeding exactly what they suggest on the bag and those suggestions are too much.

The Farmers Dog is madefrom human-grade meat and vegetables that provides more bioavailable nutrients for a dog. Because our food is gently steamed, not processed multiple times at high heat like kibble, it also retains a lot of moisture and the natural nutrients from our whole food ingredients, which is another factor in keeping a dog healthy and satisfied, explains Podolsky. Kibble type dog foods, on the other hand, are dried and devoid of moisture, which is what allows for the long shelf life.

The Farmer's Dog

On why a customized diet is the way to go for our pets, Podolsky tells me, Customized plans allow people to precisely control their dogs caloric intake based on their very specific needs. If you have a 16-pound elderly Pug who needs to lose weight, thats a VERY different caloric demand than a 25-pound Rat Terrier who is younger and extremely active. Yet the guideline on a kibble bag might recommend that any dog between 16 and 25 pounds is fed between one and two cups. Thats a massive gap, and into that gap falls the health of too many dogs, even though the owner has the best intentions.

Martins is also a fan of whole food diets likeFreshpet,which creates meals from100% natural farm-raised poultry, beef and fish and incorporates fiber-packed vegetables and anti-oxidant rich fruits that are gently cooked without preservatives and kept refrigerated (and can be found at major retailers nationwide).

FreshPet

I am a fan of whole food diets like Freshpet that are properly nutritionally balanced using fresh ingredients that are prepared and cooked according to FDA and USDA standards, Martins tells me. Actually pets age 7-10 times faster than we do and dont live as long so maybe its even more important for them. So feeding fresh foods like Freshpet that are gently cooked but provide more moisture, high quality protein, more natural fiber, and highest quality antioxidants makes good sense and pets seem to feel better and look better.

Veterinary nutritionists know now more than ever that cats and dogs have their own species specific trace nutrient requirements different from each other and definitely different from humans, to keep their hearts and other vital organs healthy, continues Martins. Its imperative that owners know you cant just feed pets what people eat long term and keep up with their vital micronutrient needs.We are all constantly looking to keep our pets healthier, happier and living longer. One piece of the puzzle to do that right now is to keep pets from becoming overweight by feeding them the freshest, most balanced measured meals daily along with exercise.

Protein in the diet is essential for dogs. Dr. Gerardo Perez-Camargo DVM, VP of Research and Development at Freshpettells me,Freshpetdelivers to the pet twice the amount of protein and half the amount of carbohydrates than dry foods. Pets need protein to maintain, repair and grow muscle. Muscle is metabolically active, that means that it consumes energy.A dog with muscle will be able to burn more energy and maintain a healthier body weight than the same dog with a lower level of muscle in its body.

https://www.instagram.com/barkleydoodles

Like The Farmers Dog, Freshpet has heard stories from thousands of pet parents whove experienced incredible transformations once their pets have transitioned to Freshpet. Pet parent Melissa Stewarts 9-year old overweight Chihuahua Benji had a complete turnaround with his weight once she switched over to Freshpet.She tells me, After switching, he slimmed down and acts like he did as a puppy! It really is a miracle! He loves to go on walks and can jump on to the couch again. Benji is a happy dog and so am I!

Read the rest here:
With Dog Obesity Becoming More Prevalent Is A Whole Food Diet The Answer? - Forbes

Coyotes have been leaving behind a clue to keeping the hungry omnivores out of neighborhoods and away from your pets.

Thing is, that clue is hidden in their poop.

Researchers have held what they call scat parties for the last two years. After collecting coyote turds into brown paper lunch sacks along some 50 routes in Los Angeles County, the scientists have gathered to see exactly what they have.

But first, they bake the poop to kill all parasites. Then, the stuff goes into a laboratory version of a washer and a dryer. Finally, researchers sit down and carefully pick apart what remains to analyze the content. In all, 3,100 samples were examined.

The producers of the poop fall into two categories: suburban coyotes and city coyotes. And the difference in their output is dramatic.

For starters, domestic cat remains were found in 20% of urban coyote scat, but just 4% of the scat produced by their suburban counterparts, who were mostly from the Thousand Oaks area and had broader access to wild habitat.

Overall, as much as 75% of urban coyote poo came from the human landscape: In addition to cats they eat garbage and fruit from ornamental trees particularly ficus berries, but also grapes, palm tree fruit and loquat, according to the study by the National Park Service and Cal State Northridge.

For the suburban coyotes, 30% to 43% of their stool contained food from those same human-related sources.

Whether its cats, fruits or garbage, the food resources that we have left out for them is why coyotes hang around, said the National Park Services Justin Brown, lead researcher for the two-year study.

We do have some control over coyotes being here, and its all tied to us, Brown added. If we dont provide the food sources in our neighborhoods, they would not be living in them.

Beside cats, fruit and garbage, the coyotes are also attracted to pet food which is sometimes intentionally left out for the wild canines by people concerned by their hunger. Brown dismissed that do-gooder concern.

He said a smaller available food supply would reduce the birth and survival rates for coyote pups, and would encourage the animals to forage in more natural habitats.

Coyotes are very mobile, he said. They would not sit there and starve. They would move on.

The dietary study is part of broader research into Los Angeles-area coyotes begun in 2015, which has included tracking the animals with radio collars. The research is intended to help residents and policy makers develop more successful strategies to reducing conflict between the animals and humans.

Among the findings: While urban coyotes will relocate if necessary to find food, they generally stick to a home range of 1 1/4 to 2 1/4 square miles, Brown said.

It looks like the home ranges are a bit smaller in the urban areas than out in the wild, he said.

Beside analyzing coyote poo for the dietary study, the scientists also looked at coyote whiskers, taking them from captured animals and road kill before performing a stable isotope analysis. Scat samples dont give a full picture of an animals diet because it doesnt include what has been retained by the body after defecation. Because so much people food in the United States contains corn and corn syrup products, it was fairly clear how much human food was in the coyote diet.

What we were surprised about is how much of their diet came from a corn-based food chain, said Cal State Northridge graduate student Rachel Larson, who performed the whisker analysis. The stable isotopes indicate that up to 38% of their diet could come from human leftovers.

Thats for urban coyotes. The primary food for suburban coyotes is rabbits 48% of the diet with squirrels and rats also core parts of the menu, according to Brown. In wet, winter months, suburban coyotes diet is the most natural. During that time, fruit from ornamental trees was found in 17% suburban coyote scat.

When it gets dry and warm, fruit from ornamental trees becomes more prevalent in their habitat and was found in about 30% of suburban coyotes about the same as urban coyotes throughout the year. Additionally, about 18% of feces from both city and country coyotes contained insects, with beetles and potato bugs the most common.

Both urban and suburban coyotes are likely to stick around, even if people clean up their ficus berries, lock down their garbage, and keep their cats and small dogs indoors.

Its just that theyll be more likely to stay out of sight and off neighborhood streets, Brown said.

We have coyotes living in urban areas that we dont get any complaints about, he added.

Read this article:
Coyotes diet points to ways to keep the animals from neighborhoods - Woodland Daily Democrat

One of the main reasons you embarked on a plant-based dietwas likely the health benefits of eating this way. In fact, newresearch has found that eating a plant-based diet can help you boost your immunity andlower your risk of diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

When you eat more plant-based foods, youre getting benefits purely from eating more plants, says Torey Armul, MS, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. We know plants are some of the best sources of vitamins and minerals, and fiber--things that are all heart-healthy and body-healthy. The other factor that's happening is that people tend to eat less unhealthy food. So, youre improving your diet by eating less of the worst foods and more of the best foods.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine lists plant-based foods high in vitamins as one way to boost your immune system right now. They suggest eating foods high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to fight off COVID-19 and other seasonal flu.

Studies have shown that fruits and vegetables provide nutrientslike beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin Ethat can boost immune function. Because many vegetables, fruits, and other plant-based foods are also rich in antioxidants, they help reduce oxidative stress.

Beta-Carotene:Beta-carotene is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation and boost immune function by increasing disease-fighting cells in the body, according to the PCRM. Excellent sources include sweet potatoes, carrots, and green leafy vegetables.

Vitamins C and E:Vitamins C and E are antioxidants that help to destroy free radicals and support the bodys natural immune response, the PCRM says. Sources of vitamin C include red peppers, oranges, strawberries, broccoli, mangoes, lemons, and other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin E sources include nuts, seeds, spinach, and broccoli.

Vitamin D:Research shows that vitamin D may reduce the risk for viral infections, including respiratory tract infections, so try to get yours from shiitake or portobello mushrooms.

Zinc:Zinc is a mineral that can help boost white blood cells, which defend against invaders. Since your body can't store zinc it's a good idea to get it daily. Sources include nuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, beans, and lentils.

While a plant-based diet definitely improves your overall health now, there are also serious chronic diseasesthat a plant-based diet can protect you from, lowering your risk factor. Here a rundown of those diseases and why a plant-based diet is often the first line of defense.

A recent article published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that sticking to a more plant-based diet was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Those subjects who ate healthy plant-based foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, as part of their diet had a 23% lower risk of type 2 diabetesthan those who didnt follow as much of a plant-based diet.

Eating this way can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes because, first, youre paying more attention to your diet, says Armul. When someone makes a change and starts reading food labels, planning ahead, and making their own meals, you tend to see some great health benefits.

So how many plant-based foods should you aim for daily to lower your type 2 diabetes risk? If I had to estimate, it looks like the majority of studies showed that around eight to 10 servings of plant foodsincluding beverages such as coffee and teaseemed to demonstrate the strongest protective association, says Frank Qian, who conducted the research published in JAMA Internal Medicine as a masters student in the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

When you eat less meat or ditch it completely, youre doing your ticker a number of favors, like reducing the risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Thats because a lot of meat is loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat, both of which can increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and create buildup and blockages in your arteries. But on top of lowering your meat consumption, eating a diet filled with high-quality plant foods is associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, according to research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study saw a 19% decrease in cardiovascular-related mortality and up to 25% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease to start.

A plant-based diet can help your kidney health, and there are a few different reasons for that. Weight management in itself is very important for kidney disease, says Armul. Eating fewer animal-based foods reduces the acid-based load in your body, so youre putting less stress on your kidneys. Plant-based foods also contain phytates, which bind phosphorus. Since youre eating less processed foods, youre not absorbing as much phosphorus, which tends to build up in the blood of those with kidney disease, damaging bones, and blood vessels, according to the National Kidney Foundation.

As of right now, eating patterns that show a reduction in the risk of cognitive diseases through a plant-based diet is association-based research (like this study published in Advances in Food and Nutrition Research), says Armul. Meaning, we cant say eating this way definitely has that result. I think these diets tend to be full of healthy omega-3 fats and we know that's brain-boosting food, she says. Youre getting the one-two punch because youre consuming less processed foods, simple sugars, high sodium foods, and saturated fats which we know are not brain boosters. Then, youre boosting the nutrients we know are good for healthy brains, memory, and acuity, says Armul.

By eating more prebiotics (good gut bacteria) that are naturally found in plant-based diets, you tend to nourish the healthy bacteria in your gut, says Armul. That strengthens your immune system and it helps with weight control. It even assists with things like blood sugar management and blood pressure, she says.

When you boost the healthy gut flora you also crowd out the less healthy gut flora. That means youre reducing the less healthy bacteria that live in your digestive tract that can lead to chronic disease, she says. Gut bacteria has been linked to chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and even certain cancers, making a plant-based diet a long-lasting eating prescription to help protect your health today as well as into the future.

Read more from the original source:
Want to Boost Immunity and Lower Your Risk of Disease? Go Plant-Based - The Beet

At 43, Kerry Washington is looking better than everbut its not by accident. The Little Fires Everywhere star told Allure that exercise is part of her everyday life. I love to work out. Its really important to me; its part of the culture of my family, she said.

But when it comes to food, Washington is all about balance. In general in life I try to live it, not diet, she previously told People. I think thats hard when youre restricting a lot. So I try to take it easy on a daily basis and do whats going to make me feel good.

You guessed it: That includes tons of fruits and veggies. Heres a snapshot of how Washington approaches her daily diet.

One of Washingtons personal trainers, Nonna Gleyzer, told Shape that the actress has always been an extremely healthy eater.

She eats a lot of vegan products, with little clean meals throughout the day, she explained, adding that the star focuses on lean proteins and veggies.

Washington also told ELLE that shes also really into juices and smoothies, particularly from Kim Snyder. The celebrity nutritionist is known for her recipes, like this Glowing Green Smoothie, which is packed with spinach, celery, lemon juice, cilantro, and more. I try to keep it consistent year-round, Washington said.

Is there anything coconut cant do? You can cook with it, slather it onto dry hair, and even use it to remove makeup. Washington swears by it to stay hydrated, according to her trainer. She loves coconut water, which gives her potassium and important electrolytes, Gleyzer told Shape. With the long hours she works, theres really no room for her to play around. She needs to be in the best shape every single day, and she definitely is.

Youll often notice a glass of wine in Washingtons hand as she stars as Olivia Pope in Scandal. But the actress told ELLE its always grape juice in her cup, because she would never be able to remember the two-page monologues otherwise.

Im also not a drinker. I love a drink occasionally, but I wouldnt be able to handle it. You see one sip, but I have to drink three cups to get the scene done, she said. I tend to be a when in Rome drinker. With that, she doesnt particularly have a favorite beverage. When Im traveling, I drink what they have there or Ill get a special cocktail.

Instead, Washington focuses on drinking lots of water. The things my mother always stressed were to drink a lot of water and get a lot of rest, which I used to roll my eyes at, she told Oprah Magazine. Now I think shes a genius. Health and wellness really are the sources of beauty.

Well, dont we all! Apparently, Washington saves room on her menu for some sweetness. The Little Fires Everywhere star previously told Glamour that shes a fan of Sprinkles Cupcakes and Elenis Cookies.

Elenis cookies are like the crack of cookies, she told the magazine, adding that she once sent them to her Scandal castmates while they were filming. In fact, the day that I brought Elenis cookies, we were shooting in downtown L.A. and there was a robbery and a shoot-out downstairs at the store below our set, and we were like, They heard we have crack! We were only kidding about the crack in the cookies! she jokingly recalled.

Like what you just read? Youll love our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. Oh, and were on Instagram too.

Here is the original post:
Kerry Washingtons Diet Includes Very Little AlcoholAnd She Prefers It That Way - Prevention.com

THE GOOD NEWS is that your kitchen table is perfect desk height. The bad news is that its right next to two weeks worth of Cool Ranch Doritos. Pile onto that stress snacking, this Pop-Tart will comfort me thinking, a disrupted routine, and a closed gym, and thats the Quarantine 15.

But you can actually come out of this healthymaybe even better off than you started. First of all, without your usual commute time sucking up valuable minutes of your day, youve probably got a few extra minutes between hand washes to devote to self-care.

Managing what you eat and how you move isn't that removed from deciding to quarantine, practice social distancing, or otherwise dealing with this new reality. They're all a matter of deciding what mattersand making it a priority. And having the tools to make it happen. Which you do now, with the science-tested, expert-approved strategies below:

7 Fat-Loss Foods that Make Your Life Easier

READ MORE

16 Easy and Healthy Snacks That Help With Weight Loss

READ MORE

How to Make Meals at Home From Your Favorite Healthy Fast-Casual Restaurants

READ MORE

5 Delicious Meals You Can Make With Stuff in Your Pantry

READ MORE

Resist Food Cravings With Advice From Neuroscientists

READ MORE

Easy Meal Prep: The Ultimate Guide for Healthy, Delicious and Quick Meals

READ MORE

This 6-move Bodyweight Workout Will Make You Seriously Lean

READ MORE

These 7 Bodyweight Moves Can Kickstart Your Home Workout

READ MORE

Blast Your Chest And Abs With This At-Home Workout

READ MORE

You Can Do This Full Body Workout at Home With Zero Equipment

READ MORE

The Bodyweight Home Workout That Crushes Calories

READ MORE

This No-Gear Workout Program Torches Fat in Just 24 Minutes

READ MORE

Is Intuitive Drinking a Good Way to Cut Back on Alcohol?

READ MORE

Are You Curious About Going Sober Curious?

READ MORE

8 Things That Happen When You Stop Drinking Alcohol

READ MORE

The 8 Best-Tasting Nonalcoholic Beers to Get Through Dry January

READ MORE

Why Drinking a Little Booze Each Day May Be Killing You

READ MORE

Heres the Healthiest Way to Drink Alcohol, According to a Dietitian

READ MORE

5 Morning Yoga Moves That Are Better Than a Cup of Coffee

READ MORE

Maintaining Perspective in Coronavirus Panic

READ MORE

Watch This Doctor Explain the 6 Reasons He's Optimistic About Beating Coronavirus

READ MORE

What to Do if Your Stocks Are Crashing From the Coronavirus

READ MORE

People Are Sharing the Different Ways They Cope With Anxiety

READ MORE

Why You Should Take a Minute to Meditate (Almost) Every Day

READ MORE

Read more:
Our Best Workout and Diet Advice for People in Social Isolation - Men's Health

Kelly Ripa is opening up about her eating habits. The Live With Kelly and Ryan cohost is the latest star to participate in Harpers Bazaars Food Diaries series in which she revealed everything she eats in a day.

The first thing Ripa, 49, does each morning is take a glass of water and mix it with a powder made of greens in order to alkaline her digestive system. Next in the drink department is a cup of coffee blended with ghee, followed by vitamins.

Believe it or not, the popular television personality doesnt actually eat any food until after she hosts Live with Ryan Seacrest each morning. I dont have any, sort of, chewing food before I talk on the air, she explained. When were finished, what I will have is a green apple, cut up, and then I take two tablespoons of almond butter and a teaspoon of cinnamon. I blend it all together, I put the apples in there and then I eat that like a porridge, if you will. That is my first chewable food of the day.

While most people consider lunch their second meal of the day, Ripa said hers is more of a brunch, because her morning schedule is such that her lunches often occur very early in the day. I eat lunch at such a weird hour, she noted. Its really like a breakfast/lunch.

Her hybrid meal of choice? A big salad with with microgreens, avocado and toasted nuts on top.

When it comes to dinner, the All My Children alum eats a smaller version of her midday staple salad and sticks to seasonal vegetables with a plant-based protein. Her favorites include grilled or fried tofu and tahini. Drinks however, are off the table, since Ripa revealed in January 2020 that she gave up alcohol the previous year.

Given her healthy eating regimen, its no surprise that Ripa doesnt exactly buy into the whole cheat meal philosophy. I try not to have that many cheat meals, because cheat meals leads to a cheat lifestyle, she shared. At my age now, I find that it takes too much effort to get ready, so I just stay ready.

However, that doesnt mean the Hope and Faith alum doesnt indulge from time to time. On my birthday will I have cake? Of course, Im not a monster, she quipped. At Christmas do I eat cookies? Yes, Im a human being.

Continued Ripa: What I will indulge in is, like, a delicious chocolate-covered almond or chocolate-covered cashew so I still feel like theres something healthy in there.

Scroll down to see more of what Ripa eats in a day!

Read more here:
Kelly Ripa Eats Her First Chewable Food of the Day Only After Recording Live Plus More Eating Habits - Us Weekly

Docket Number: FDA-2008-D-0610 Issued by:

Guidance Issuing Office

Office of Foods and Veterinary Medicine, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Office of Medical Products and Tobacco, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

Office of Medical Products and Tobacco, Center for Devices and Radiological Health

Office of Medical Products and Tobacco, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

This guidance provides recommendations to industry regarding postmarketing adverse event reporting for drugs, biologics, medical devices, combination products,2 and dietary supplements during a pandemic. FDA anticipates that during a pandemic, industry and FDA workforces may be reduced because of high employee absenteeism while reporting of adverse events3 related to widespread use of medical products indicated for the treatment or prevention of the pathogen causing the pandemic may increase. The extent of these possible changes is unknown. This guidance discusses FDAs intended approach to enforcement of adverse event reporting requirements for medical products and dietary supplements during a pandemic. FDA believes this approach will make it possible for firms with reporting responsibilities to focus their limited resources on the following types of reports:

reports related to medical products indicated for the treatment or prevention of the pathogen causing the pandemic

You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))

If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:

Dockets ManagementFood and Drug Administration5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061Rockville, MD 20852

All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2008-D-0610.

03/19/2020

See the original post here:
Postmarketing Adverse Event Reporting for Medical Products and Dietary - FDA.gov

Its no secret that eating a plant-based diet can have beneficial heart health effects for some people, but theres a catch. A new study warns that these diets are only potentially helpful for people who avoid certain foods the wrong kind of plant-based diet may eradicate the heart-healthy aspect of it, making it just as unhealthy as the average animal-based diet.

Past research has found that eating a plant-based diet or drastically reduced amounts of animal products may help protect heart health. These diets tend to focus on healthy fats, grains, nuts, leafy greens, fruit, and vegetables. However, it is possible to eat an unhealthy plant-based diet, which eliminates the benefits.

According to a new study presented by the American College of Cardiology, regularly eating things like refined grains, sugary foods, and drinking fruit juice may spoil the benefits of a plant-based diet. These people werent found to have any heart health benefits compared to people who eat animal products.

The key finding is that simply following a plant-based diet isnt enough you have to follow a healthy plant-based diet, which may not be as obvious to some as it seems. The results are based on tracking more than 2,000 adults over a 10-year period.

A healthy plant-based diet is described as one that includes larger amounts of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, nuts, oils, tea and/or coffee, and legumes. In comparison, an unhealthy plant-based diet is higher in things like fruit juice, sugary drinks, potatoes, refined grains, and sweet treats. The people who followed the first diet were found to experience significant heart benefits over participants who followed the latter plant-based diet.

The rest is here:
Plant-based diets may be beneficial, but only if you avoid certain foods - SlashGear

KEY POINTS

The coronavirus outbreak, which was discovered in December of 2019, has spread exponentially and is now a global pandemic. Despite its rapid spread, however, there is still little known about the virus. Researchers are still deep in the study as to how the virus may have been transmitted and how to kill it or protect against it. In the meantime, people around the world are adjusting to the profound changes in their lives and adapt to new norms.

During these uncertain times, it is important to maintain good health and keep the mind active. Consuming a healthy diet regularly can help not only in maintaining good health but also boost the immune system. While there are numerous healthy diets out there that can help you achieve this, there is one. However, that may not help in protecting you against coronavirus despite claims. coronavirus keto diet Photo: MrsKallend - pixabay

Unfounded Claims

The coronavirus pandemic also gave birth to an outbreak of information on social media about diets that are supposed to fight off COVID-19 infections. Among the diet that is said to help boost your immune system and protect you against the coronavirus is the keto diet. Health experts and nutritionists were quick to refute such claims saying it will not provide you protection against COVID-19.

Dr. Grace Farhat, a food science and nutrition lecturer at Liverpool Hope University, said that keto diet is good for losing weight and not to protect you from coronavirus. Dr. Farhat made this statement in the light of the surge of social media posts claiming keto diet can ward off COVID-19.

She said that the keto diet principle is all about reducing the intake of carbohydrates and substituting it with fat. By doing so, the body goes into a metabolic state called ketosis. At this time, the body utilizes its fat reserves instead of using carbohydrates as an energy source. This helps the body get rid of fat.

A keto diet can limit carb intake between the ranges of 20 to 50 grams each day. While it has gained popularity over the years, particularly among those who wanted to lose weight, health experts dismiss its capability to protect anyone from the coronavirus.

Expert Opinion

Claims are being made by some sectors that say adopting a keto diet could boost the immune system and therefore prevent you from getting a coronavirus infection. Dr. Farhat, however, said that she is 100% sure there is no scientific proof showing ketosis can help ward off viruses in humans, particularly the coronavirus. More than ever, you need to be discerning about medical claims being posted on social media.

A study conducted by Yale School of Medicine scientists has suggested that a ketogenic diet may provide you some degree of protection from flu. According to lead author Akiko Iwasaki, they found that ketosis in mice can boost particular immune cells and enhanced the protective mucus in the lungs. Researchers noted that a keto diet might provide you a practical avenue toward alleviating or preventing influenza disease.

Dr. Farhat, however, said that there is a huge difference between mice and humans. She expressed concern about the likelihood of a huge number of people joining the keto bandwagon because of this. She also said that while this study on mice showed promising results unless proven in humans, such bold claims about the diet should be avoided.

Keto Diet Will Not Protect You From Coronavirus

According to Dr. Farhat, ketosis creates acidic substances known as ketones. Having too many ketones in your bloodstream may damage your kidneys and liver. The keto diet has the capability of overloading the kidneys because there is excessive protein.

She says that the important thing to note is that keto diets deprive your body of carbohydrates, which is required for your daily energy use. Dr. Farhat suggested instead to consume a diet loaded with fruits and vegetables and to stay fully hydrated during self-isolation.

Continue reading here:
This Diet Cannot Protect You From Coronavirus According To Health Experts - International Business Times

A 10-year-old is out to save the world from an evil scientist, who has made it his mission to develop machines that shoot processed food out like a laser. Every time she feels tired, she powers up with water (same, girl!) and traditional, local foods.

Since earlier this year, this is the Fooya! universe in which students from schools in Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi have been spending time. The VR game, which can be played in smartphones without headsets as well, has been designed by California-based life science company FriendsLearn, for children between the ages of five and 13.

This year, it is partnering with schools in India to inculcate the idea of a healthy diet lifestyle from a young age. The idea of the game is to fight against advertising of processed junk food which later in life could lead to diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. And it is all done through neurocognitive training.

Before they have even begun to speak, children are being introduced to advertisements, says founder Bhargav Sri Prakash. They are made to develop this warm fuzzy association with sugar, cereals and colas. They become associated with celebration, and processed food is called a happy meal. Habits get formed early in life, so the seeds of life long diet risks develop in childhood.

What Fooya! attempts to do is remove these associations by drawing children into a universe where packaged and processed food is the enemy robots are inspired by vending and soda machines. To make it immersive, the game is in VR, and allows children to develop their characters personality, right from the looks to the skills.

We dont outrightly tell the children what is good or bad. They come to their own realisation by experiencing what their characters are going through, explains Bhargav. Depending on what they eat, their characters abilities, shapes, skills and health parameters like vision and speed change. So they experience the consequence of their choice. It is all about staying in balance, in the fit zone.

Digital vaccines

Bhargav has worked with university partners Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins and Stanford to publish research, and conducts randomised trials on the link between neuropsychology and resulting food behavior-habit formation in children. For the engineering graduate, the journey into childrens health has been extremely personal.

I started this company in 2011. This project became an obsession after becoming a parent in 2009 and realising how much advertising influences childrens habits and preferences, he says. Formerly in tech, and then working in a hedge fund, he left a career in finance for this company.

The Research and Development centre for this app is here in the city in Taramani, and he is now bringing his technology to Indian schools.

Once a school commits to becoming a health partner, it gets access to our content (the game) at a discounted price. The game is grade specific, it is equivalent to getting class-appropriate textbooks, he says.

First download for Fooya! is free, and is available on Play Store and App Store.

You have reached your limit for free articles this month.

Register to The Hindu for free and get unlimited access for 30 days.

Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.

Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.

A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.

Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.

A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.

We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.

Not convinced? Know why you should pay for news.

*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.

View original post here:
Fooya! app, now in Indian schools, inculcates healthy diets among children - The Hindu