Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 129«..1020..128129130131..140150..»

Home » Diets that Work » Page 129

Easily one of the fastest-growing dietary trends of recent times, the Keto diet has now taken a backflip. According toa new study, Ketogenic dietmay cause harm if followedfor long periods, youngsters tend to do. Published in an online journal called Nature Metabolism, the study by Vishwa Deep Dixit of Yale School of Medicine, US, was carried out on mice which were put on a Keto diet. At first, the mice showed a reduction in blood sugar levels and inflammation. After a week, they started becoming obese.

The research went on to highlight the interaction between metabolism and the immune system, how these coordinate and maintain the functioning of healthy tissues.It was found that a Keto diet expanded gamma-delta T-cells, which leads to weight loss. But if followed for long periods, the diet program increases protein, and subsequentlyfat. This is because protective gamma delta T-cells are lostin the fat and, therefore, metabolism suffers. According to experts, in a Keto diet body gets 99 percent calories from fats and one percent from carbs. In the absence of carbs, thebody's glucose level starts plummeting and the body begins burning fat to raise the energy level.

This process produces a chemical called ketone bodies, that work as an alternative source of fuel. In a Keto diet, the pathway of metabolism changes as a source of energy production and energy consumption of the body changes. It adopts alternate metabolic pathways and uses stored carbs and fats as energy sources and one starts reducing weight fast. But when people start consuming unhealthy processed fats instead of heathy ones like nuts, cheese, whole eggs, seeds and others, the body starts storing fat that leads to obesity, saysDr Priyanka Rohatgi,Chief Nutritionist, Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore.

According to recommendations of the Indian Council of Medical Research, one kg body weight requires one gram of protein. If someone is 50 kg then he/she needs 50 grams of protein daily.For growing children, we recommend one and a half grams. Similarly, for those who play sports we advice two grams. But in Keto diet, stones in the kidney can be formed if followed continuously and to absorb this access in protein, the kidney has to work very hard, thus harming the organ, says Dr Arvind Bagga, Paediatric Nephrologist, AIIMS, Delhi.

In addition to this, when fat starts burning in the body, too many ketones start getting stored. The condition is called ketoacidosis. Due to this, the blood becomes acidic and could lead to liver, kidney, and brain damage. Keto diet leads to a deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the body as a low-carb diet lacks key nutrients like magnesium, calcium, potassium among others. Deficiency of these leads to nausea, vomiting, and constipation. It also disturbs metabolism, says Dr Shreekant Sharma, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Moolchand Hospital, Delhi, adding, Carbs are also essential for maintaining a healthy gut. They are a good source of fibre that promotes clean gut but most of the fibre rich foods such as banana, grapes, savoury beans, crunchy peas and others are excluded from the diet.Keto is completely discouraged for the elderly, diabetics, those with static lifestyles or ones suffering from any kindof kidney ailments.

The picture is not completely bleak. Keto has advantages too such as being healthy for children suffering from an epileptic seizure. Its also observed to work well for certain types of cancer as it stresses cancer cells. People with acne and PCOD may benefit as it reduces the production of hunger hormones. The bottom line is to choose wisely. Think about your bodys requirements and practise balance.

WATCH OUT

Keto diet leads to a deficiency of minerals and vitamins in the body as a low-carb diet lacks key nutrients like magnesium, calcium, potassium among others. Deficiency of these leads to nausea, vomiting, and constipation. It also disturbs metabolism. Keto is discouraged for the elderly, diabetics, those with static lifestyles or ones suffering from kidney ailments.

Originally posted here:
Keto takes backflip after new study finds it may cause harm if followed for too long - The New Indian Express

Brij Bhushan Goel is an insurance advisor who lives in Shalimargh Bagh, Delhi, in a family of seven. While his day job sees him advising people over the phone on insurance products, his passion is to talk naturopathy. Having got a diploma in naturopathy and yoga from the International Foundation of Health and Yoga, Delhi, in 1988, he has practised the oldest form of healing for 34 years. Through this time he has been on a raw diet.

What made you begin eating raw foods?

It was while formally studying naturopathy in 1986 that I first came across the concept of raw food. As an experiment, I stayed on raw foods for 10 days. I felt very good and that made me research further. Through my research, I discovered that raw foods can give one a balanced diet with proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fibres, vitamin and minerals. I also realised that raw foods have a lot of variety: fruits, seeds, dry fruits and also cover all tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. Within 10 days I was able to see changes in my body.

What kind of changes did you notice?

Well, it wasnt like I was sick or had a particular disease, but I used to get tired after a days work. Within 10 days of switching to raw food, I saw my stamina and energy increase. I felt much lighter and less lethargic.

Wasnt it difficult initially?

Not really. I never forced myself. If I had a great urge to eat cooked food or a strong craving, I indulged in it. But I felt I was doing an experiment on myself, so I closely watched how my body felt after I ate cooked food. I could see the difference and within two to three months my cravings went away. I started discussing what I was learning in my naturopathy course with my wife. She too tried it. There has been no looking back since.

What about the rest of the household?

Initially the rest of the family members ate mostly cooked food. But slowly they moved to a 50-50 diet. Everyone eats at least one plate of fruits, one of salad, and drinks one glass of vegetable juice daily.

Daily meals

How do you manage in social situations at a wedding or when youre invited to dinner, for instance?

Initially when I went to peoples houses, I would tell them I only eat raw foods. Relatives would often get hassled trying to find something to feed me and also feel bad if they couldnt. So I stared saying I am on a complete fast. That solved a lot of problems. My wife and I always try and eat before going for larger functions. Sometimes these functions have fruits laid out, but at times we dont find anything to eat. Over time I have seen people change. The same people who use to insist that I eat something cooked earlier, now serve fruits along with other items whenever there is a gathering in their homes.

What about the excessive pesticide use that we are witnessing today?

Pesticides are chemicals that will remain the same whether you cook or dont cook. The main thing is to wash and clean everything thoroughly. We wipe everything with a dry cloth after washing. Take the example of grapes: DDT is sprayed on them. That is why you will see white spots emerge on washed grapes. We just wipe the grapes with a clean cloth.

Are there any principles you follow?

I soak everything that is hard or very dry before eating -- not roast or heat, but soak. This includes dried fruits, nuts and seeds. To draw the benefit out of food, it must get properly digested. Hard or dry things, if not soaked adequately can cause more harm than good. I dont drink milk or tea of any kind. If I ever feel the need, I drink coconut water or honey and lemon water. I dont add salt to anything; most vegetables have their own salt. I only eat condiments that I can eat raw, like ginger, mint, coriander, and turmeric. While all grains can be sprouted, not all get soft enough to eat raw. Its difficult with beans like rajma, but sprouted wheat is soft. I eat that as well as raw sweet corn.

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.

Original post:
This naturopath from Delhi has been on a raw food diet for 34 years - The Hindu

World Health Day: The body needs around 1 gm of protein per kilo of body weight

World Health Day is observed on April 7. This global health campaign is an initiative of the World Health Organization in order to raise awareness about overall health and well-being of people across the world. As part of World Health Day 2020, we are going to talk about proteins and what happens if you do not consume sufficient protein in your diet. Protein is a macronutrient which is required by your body on a daily basis. Depending on your physical activity, diet and lifestyle, you need around 1 gm of protein per kg of your body weight.

From aiding weight loss to building muscles, proteins play multiple important roles in the body. Celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, in her book Don't Lose Your Mind Lose Your Weight, says that the primary function of protein is to build and repair your body.

"When we are deprived of a nutrient like protein, weight loss occurs because the body breaks down its muscle to make up for the resultant lack of amino acids. Your lipid profile, cholesterol and triglyceride levels can go up because in the absence of a primary nutrient like protein, the body experiences stress," she writes in the book.

Also read:Khichdi With A Twist: You Have To Try This Protein-Rich Quinoa Khichdi By Shilpa Shetty Kundra

Diwekar says this with reference to one of her clients, who lost weight by being on a fruit-only diet. It helped him lose 20 kgs. At the same time, his haemoglobin levels reduced, his cholesterol levels increased and he also began to look much older.

His diet included no protein, but only carbs, that too in restricted amounts. Also, the diet gave him some fibre. Proteins and fats were being completely avoided.

"Haemoglobin is not just iron but iron (heam) + protein (globin)," she explains in the book.

According to Diwekar, the many preconceived notions about dieting-like dark circles, chopped nails, hair loss, frustration and anger-are all linked to protein deficiency.

Protein deficiency can lead to hair lossPhoto Credit: iStock

Also read:High Protein Diet: Top 4 Facts You Need To Know About High Protein Intake

When it comes to weight loss and eating healthy, you need to consume proteins, carbs and fats all in a balanced way. Carbs and fats are needed to enable the proteins to work properly.

"Our protein requirement stands roughly at 1 gm per kilo of body weight. So if you are a 60 kilo individual, you will need 60 gms of protein in a day," Diwekar says.

This World Health Day, know that eating protein-rich foods are important for weight loss and multiple other functions in the body.

Also read:Weight Loss Tips: Top 5 High Protein Vegetables That Should Be A Part Of Your Weight Loss Diet

Disclaimer: 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.

Original post:
World Health Day 2020: What Happens When Your Diet Is Low In Protein? Nutritionist Explains - NDTV News

Did you know that the popular Diet Coke and Mentos soda geyser experiment works better at higher altitudes? Or that the average size of the bubbles formed on the scotch mints is about 6m? Now you do, thanks to the wonders of science and those with a bubbling passion for it.

A chemistry professor and a high school teacher climbed mountains and hiked across deserts in America to find the perfect spot to spike bottles of Diet Coke with Mentos.

I decided to do these experiments because I not only love the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment, but I have been studying all about it for 15 years now, Tom Kuntzleman, a chemistry professor at Spring Arbor University, Michigan, told The Register this week.

This made me wonder if the decreased air pressure at higher elevation allowed the experiment to work better

A few years ago I did the Coke and Mentos experiment at a friends house who lived at 6,000-feet elevation in Colorado. I was surprised at how well it worked compared to my normal experience. I live in Michigan at about 1,000-feet elevation. This made me wonder if the decreased air pressure at higher elevation allowed the experiment to work better.

The chewy confectionery acts as a catalyst, accelerating the release of carbon dioxide dissolved in the fizzy drink as a gas in a process known as nucleation. This rapid production of CO2 gas bubbles, particularly after the candy has sunk to the bottom of the bottle, forces the liquid out of the coke bottle, and forms a Coca-Cola geyser. It's a physical rather than a chemical reaction.

Now, the aforementioned duo have gathered enough data to figure out the equation that measures the critical size of the bubbles that have to form on the piece of candy to create the frothy eruption. They have to be larger than 3m any smaller and they wont grow big enough to rise up and out of the bottle.

Fizzy drinks including Diet Coke are pumped with carbon dioxide and sealed under pressure. Cracking open a can of the stuff releases that pressure and some of the CO2 dissolved in the sweet liquid makes its way back out as gas, creating the hissing sound. Most of it stays inside the drink, creating the tingling foamy sensation when its consumed.

Adding a Mentos candy to the Diet Coke causes more carbon dioxide to escape. The rocky surface of the candy has countless little cavities to trap little bubbles of gas, giving them a space to accumulate until they become buoyant enough to float to the surface. After each bubble escapes, another forms in its wake; the process is repeated numerous times to create a powerful release of carbon dioxide gas. This is amusing to many internet users.

Kuntzleman and his school teacher colleague Ryan Johnson teamed up to see if higher altitudes did indeed produce more powerful soda geysers. Johnson trekked up Pikes Peak, part of the Rocky Mountain range in Colorado 14,108 feet above sea level, and recorded his results.

Meanwhile, Kuntzleman drove across the Death Valley desert, 43 feet below sea level, and up Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the Appalachian Mountains, 6,638 feet above sea level to perform more experiments.

"If you only count Diet Coke, Mentos, and materials associated with running the experiments it probably cost around $150," Kuntzleman said. "If you start factoring in travel, payment for entrance to national and state parks, cost of gas Id rather not think about it."

The Diet Coke bottles were kept at 27 degrees Celsius (80.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Each one produced much more foam at higher elevations, likely due to lower air pressures that allow the bubbles to expand more easily, though that explanation is not confirmed.

The duo measuring the foam output at a low altitude, left, and high altitude. Credit: Kuntzleman and Johnson

The study has been published in the Journal of Chemical Education. While it may not be Nobel Prize worthy research, Kuntzleman said the experiment is still a neat way of demonstrating fundamental processes like the ideal gas law.

Because Im a chemistry teacher, I find the results to be very useful in my classroom. For example, the Diet Coke and Mentos experiment is strongly related to how CO2 gas pressure affects the amount of CO2 that dissolves in water," he told us.

"Therefore, discussing the results of my Coke and Mentos experiments provides a great platform to introduce students to various impacts such as ocean acidification associated with increased CO2 in the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels.

Sponsored: Webcast: Build the next generation of your business in the public cloud

Read the original post:
Where's the best place to add Mentos to Diet Coke for the most foam? How big are the individual bubbles? Has science gone too far? - The Register

The 52-year-old food writer and broadcaster, from Aghadowey, is a Taste Causeway ambassador and has championed the region's food and drink at numerous showcase events.

Q: Do you take regular exercise, and if so, what?

A: In December 2018 I started sea swimming in Portrush. A friend of mine had developed osteoarthritis and read that cold water swimming helped the condition.

Depending on how busy I am, I try to swim at least three times a week - although at the minute that's not an issue. It takes about 90 seconds to adjust to the icy water at this time of year but once you do, it's fantastic. It's so invigorating and really sets you up for the day.

Apart from sea swimming, I try to walk for at least an hour a day, although I find it difficult when it's pouring with rain.

I'm lucky that I live in Portstewart and love a walk on the beach. I find that whatever trouble you think you have has dissipated by the time you've walked to the Bar Mouth at the end of the beach and back.

Q: What's the worst illness you've had?

A: I had asthma when I was a child but outgrew it as I got older. Apart from a couple of flus, I've been lucky so far... but I take nothing for granted.

Q: How healthy is your diet?

A: I used to eat out a lot through work and got to sample a lot of decadent and calorific products so I've always tried to balance that out. I try to eat a balanced diet that's heavy on locally sourced, seasonal vegetables.

I've cut down on my meat consumption recently and try to eat rare breed, ethically sourced meat as much as possible. I eat fresh fish as much as I can and buy sustainable, locally sourced varieties like mackerel, gurnard, and hake when it's in season. I eat a lot of pulses and beans to supplement cutting down on the meat. I do, however, love cheese and bread - they would be my downfall and I find both very hard to resist.

Q: Any bad habits?

A: When I'm travelling around the place I often succumb to a sandwich from a service station. It's more out of necessity than anything and I always feel bad afterwards. I'm very partial to a sausage roll too... and a Tunnock's teacake.

Q: Do you drink and smoke? If so how much?

A: I don't smoke. Last year I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and had to start medication to lower it. I used to love red wine but have had to cut it out because it now gives me palpitations. I've cut down my drinking a lot. That's not to say I don't let my hair down either on occasion.

Q: Do you take any supplements?

A: I'm a firm believer in getting your essential nutrients from a decent diet rather than from a bottle. I wouldn't waste money on buying them.

Q: How do you take time out?

A: I really enjoy travel but the current Covid-19 crisis has put paid to that. I love reading and when I get the time it's lovely to get lost in a book. I find swimming in the sea, and the social activity around it, very relaxing and good fun.

Even though I cook for a living, I do find it relaxing when there's no pressure for results. I love cooking for people and I'm at my happiest at a table, full of good food and wine, surrounded by people I love. I'll never take that for granted again.

Q: How well do you sleep?

A: I'm normally asleep within 10 seconds of my head hitting the pillow. Usually I'll be wide awake a couple of hours later and find it hard to get back to sleep. I need to be completely exhausted to sleep right through for eight hours. In the summer, with the shorter days, I find a late evening swim knocks me right out.

Q: Do you worry about getting old?

A: I worry more about not getting old. I do worry about the logistics of being old and that I probably won't get access to any pension until I'm 70. I'm determined not to be defined by a number and want to carry on being stimulated and interested for as long as possible.

Q: What is your go-to product that keeps you feeling healthy?

A: Alicia Breslin has a stand in St George's market in Belfast (just inside the door beside the fish counters) at the weekend selling fresh vegetables and healthy ferments. Her Ginger Bug probiotic drink is amazing. I take a shot in the morning and it's really good for settling your gut and giving you a wake-up buzz at the same time. She does a Kick Syrup too that's bright yellow and full of healing turmeric. I also eat a lot of raw beetroot - grated in a salad with ginger, pomegranate molasses and cumin.

Paula is a Taste Causeway ambassador and is about to launch a mobile shop with food from the region along with videos of herself cooking the produce. To find out more, visit tastecauseway.com

Belfast Telegraph

See more here:
Me and my health: Paula McIntyre on her lifestyle - Belfast Telegraph

It's natural - and often sensible - to turn to medicine to help treat health problems, but have you considered the role food could play too?

hysiotherapist Louise Blanchfield was desperate to help improve her husband Richard's health after he developed a form of inflammatory arthritis that led to him walking with a stick and being told by his doctor he'd eventually need to use a wheelchair.

He already had the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis, so was faced with a lot of pain. Blanchfield began researching the links between inflammation in the body and diet and lifestyle.

She eventually devised a diet designed to reduce inflammation and promote gut health. Although sceptical at first, within weeks, Richard had started noticing improvements, and over the following year or so slowly got better and better.

"His joint pain cleared, movement got easier and function improved," says Blanchfield. "Little did we know that what we did was going to actually reverse his symptoms."

These improvements were shown in a colonoscopy the following year too; Richard's bowel looked normal and the scarring from previous ulcerative colitis attacks had repaired.

Louise (45) was so impressed that she trained as a nutritional therapist and is now known as 'the food physio'. She and Richard (49) have also shared their recipe ideas in their book - Eating My Way Back To Health.

Blanchfield believes it could be beneficial for people suffering with a range of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease and coeliac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, vasculitis, lupus, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis.

"Modern medicine had run out of answers, except take the tablet and get worse," she says. "Believing the root cause to Richard's problems was a damaged gut barrier, and a consequent overreaction of his immune system to food getting into his bloodstream that shouldn't have been able to get through, we set about trying to eat to heal the damage, settle the immune system reaction and calm the inflammation.

"We did this by removing foods we believed may be causing the gut damage, eating foods which contain nutrients needed for the gut to repair itself, and eating foods which are anti-inflammatory in nature," she adds. "Richard is now totally pain-free without any medication. I would never have dreamed this was possible. Our bodies are amazing and, given the right environment, it's incredible what they can achieve. Richard is proof of that."

Of course, it's important to remember everybody is different, and our health and dietary needs aren't always the same. It's never advisable to make any changes to your treatment regime, or any big diet changes without consulting your doctor.

"Our guts are as individual as our hair and our eye colour - what one person can eat and thrive on just doesn't work for someone else. It's about finding what works for you," says Blanchfield.

These dietary changes worked for Richard...

1. Go gluten and dairy-free

This helps to prevent probable food intolerances inflaming or damaging the gut, and proved beneficial for Richard. However, this doesn't mean ditching gluten and dairy is right for everyone.

2. Eat raw garlic

"This is to help balance gut bacteria, as it kills bad bacteria," explains Blanchfield.

3. Eat more than 'five a day'

Eating eight to 10 fruit and vegetables per day, rather than the standard five a day, can boost antioxidant levels and provide extra vitamins and minerals needed for optimum body function.

4. Make homemade sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is said to help boost good gut bacteria. "This is due to it being a fermented vegetable containing good bacteria, and because cabbage contains glutamine, which is needed as a fuel by gut cells," explains Blanchfield.

5. Ditch white rice and potatoes

Blanchfield suggests avoiding white potatoes and white rice, as they can feed harmful bacteria in the gut and help the bacteria multiply.

6. Eat the rainbow

Eat a variety of coloured fruit and veg, as this will give a good mix of vitamins and minerals. Include beetroot, turnip and carrots, as they feed beneficial bacteria and help them grow in numbers.

7. Fill up on chicken bone broth

Make and eat chicken bone broth; the collagen in it helps the gut to heal.

8. No processed food

They "contain additives that add to the toxic load in our bodies, increasing inflammation and making digestion harder," says Blanchfield.

9. Avoid alcohol

Alcohol is also inflammatory and adds to the toxic load.

10. Avoid fizzy drinks

But don't replace alcohol with carbonated drinks. Fizzy drinks are inflammatory too.

11. Pull the pork

Avoid all pork products as they're very inflammatory.

12. No crisps, cakes or biscuits

Steer clear of baked goodies - even if they're gluten and dairy-free - as well as crisps, as they're made from inflammatory fats.

13. Steer clear of vegetable oils

These can be very inflammatory, says Blanchfield.

14. Use Indian spices

Include spices like ginger and turmeric regularly in your diet, as they are highly anti-inflammatory.

Re-introduce certain things when symptoms settle

Richard followed the diet for nine months, before easing off some of the strict measures. Now, he can eat gluten and dairy on a rotational basis (once every four days) with no resurgence of his symptoms, and can go off the plan on holiday for two to three weeks and have no symptoms, resuming gluten and dairy-free eating on his return to ensure his symptoms don't return.

"Observe the diet strictly until symptoms have cleared fully," Blanchfield suggests, "and then to try a reintroduction test to see how flexible you can be with your diet on an ongoing basis. It then depends on the individual."

Eating My Way Back to Health by Louise and Richard Blanchfield is published by Purple Star Publishing, priced 29.99 on Amazon

Belfast Telegraph

See original here:
Can food play a role in reducing inflammation? - Belfast Telegraph

We may be currently stuck at home due to the 21-day lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic but it is very important to have a fitness regime in place.

According to various researches, being sedentary not only has a detrimental effect on physical health, but also affects mental health. Working out regularly and being physically active can help lower stress and blood pressure, reduce the risk of stroke, and prevent the onset of diabetes.

Our immune system works effectively when it flushes out bacteria from our lungs and airways, increases white blood cell counts, and raises our body temperature.

Many of us might also be feeling bogged and getting depressed during the lockdown. Being active helps in lowering the stress hormones like cortisol and helps in releasing the feel-good hormone, endorphin.

Shaun T, an American fitness trainer, motivator, and television personality led on with some motivation for the week for people who have been self-isolating themselves.

While we are at home and we try to learn one skill or the other, cooking has emerged as one of the top favourites among the lot.

A healthy diet can help in reducing the chances of cardiovascular ailments, diabetes, obesity, as well as depression and anxiety.

As long as we keep the processed foods that are high in sugar at arms length and follow a diet that comprises complex carbohydrates that are found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, we will be on the road to good health.

Yogurt can also help in keeping our gut healthy.

Maintaining a proper sleep cycle should be a top priority during this period. A good night of sleep will help our bodies repair its cells, clear toxins, consolidate our memories, and process information.

Sleep deprivation can have major health impacts such as negatively affecting our psychological health and emotional intelligence. For most people, six to nine hours of sleep per night is enough.

During the lockdown, remember to maintain a proper sleep pattern and wake up at a proper time. This will help in maintaining a normal routine throughout the day. Further, limiting the electronic screen time before going to sleep can also help.

While working out in the open is not an option now, there are a lot of home workouts that can keep our physical and mental health in optimum condition,

Taking a dig on the word quarantine, Cricketer Hardik Pandya motivated his fans to not just sit around, but also workout.

You can also walk up and down the staircase in your home or building (if you have one), jog in one place, do jumping jacks, sit-ups, and push-ups at home. You can also take out your skipping rope and start skipping in an open area in your home.

Though we cannot meet our friends and family freely now social media has helped us stay connected with each other.

We can still keep in touch with our friends and families over voice calls, video calls, messengers, and social media platforms.

Now more than ever, staying connected with our loved ones is as important as following a healthy diet, sleeping well, and engaging in physical exercise.

How has the coronavirus outbreak disrupted your life? And how are you dealing with it? Write to us or send us a video with subject line 'Coronavirus Disruption' to editorial@yourstory.com

Go here to read the rest:
Stay safe, stay fit: Here are 4 ways to stay healthy during the coronavirus lockdown on World Health Day - YourStory

As soon as it became clear that the only way to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus was to isolate and stay indoors, talk of the quarantine 15, a horrifyingly timely update to the freshman 15, was inevitable. Stuck inside our homes with only Netflix and snacks as comfort in the middle of what is arguably the most uncertain time in modern history, many of us were more worried about getting fat than contracting an illness that makes it so difficult to breathe that you might die.

It manifested, of course, in memes. One meme depicted a woman rolling her floured belly onto a cutting board like yeasted bread dough. So after this quarantine, will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me, another meme wondered. Self-described fitness experts shared at-home workouts, with posts detailing how to use ones own body weight and the canned goods weve all stockpiled to stave off isolation-related weight gain. Some fitfluencers suggested putting on actual pants, the kind that button, every couple of days to make sure that youre not gaining weight, because your comfy pants will make you believe that all is well in the kingdom. All together, it adds up to a neverending trickle of body-shaming.

It almost makes sense. In the middle of a global health crisis, why shouldnt people try to stay as healthy as possible? But, of course, there is nothing healthy about diet culture, which encourages everything from orthorexia, or an obsession with clean eating, to other forms of disordered eating in its pursuit of thinness above all else. These memes function as a shroud for the obvious harm that diet culture does to all of us. More than that, these jokes hide diet cultures insidious connections to classism, body shame, and a multibillion-dollar industry that stands to profit from all of us deeply hating ourselves.

First, jokes about the horrors of getting fat are a direct and painful jab at people who are actually fat in the present tense. All of us that exist in before-picture bodies are keenly aware that many people would rather be dead than fat. Theres nothing like seeing your thin friends react with disgust to photos of bodies that look just like yours. Every time you share one of those memes, you let the fat people in your life know exactly what you think of them that their bodies are disgusting, and youll do just about anything, including periods of literal starvation, to avoid looking like them.

And diet culture doesnt just harm fat people. It reminds all of us that we are not good enough, that being just a little bit thinner and more toned is the key to happiness. Quarantine-themed workouts targeting problem areas like chubby arms, bellies, and thighs remind us that the things we are told to be self-conscious about are, in fact, not good enough. Weight Watchers and NutriSystem literally would not exist without stoking fears that the couple of extra pounds that come with disrupting normal life will transform everyone into fat, shapeless monsters.

Whats so frustrating about all of this self-torture is that science has told us, over and over, that it is extremely unlikely to work. Somewhere around 95 percent of all dieters will eventually gain back all of the weight that they lost. Often it will be more, because dieting trains our bodies to hold on to every single calorie like its the last one well ever eat. Diet culture isnt successful because dieting works, its because its designed to set you up to fail. If it were, in fact, possible to lose all the weight and keep it off, we wouldnt all be dieting all the damn time.

And dont think that the industry doesnt see this moment as an opportunity. Multilevel marketing shillers and snake oil salesmen immediately realized that this is their time to shine, hawking everything from quarantine-friendly diet plans to vitamins that will allegedly prepare the immune system to fight off the novel coronavirus. As a journalist, Ive been pitched everything from bone broths to protein powders that will allegedly boost my immune system while warding off weight gain.

Most crucially, many of us arent sitting indoors just watching Netflix and relaxing. For the millions of people who have lost their jobs in the service industry and beyond, these are not times of abundance and leisure. People are having a hard enough time figuring out where their next meal is coming from, and shaming them because that meal is a package of ramen noodles or a fast-food burger is at best a dick move, and at worst a classist punch-down at people who are doing their best to survive. Admonishing working parents feeding their kids what theyve got instead of veggie-packed bento boxes they cant afford is as cruel as it is pointless.

Being stuck indoors, socially isolated and inundated with diet culture bullshit, is particularly fraught for people who are struggling with disordered eating habits. These unhealthy eating patterns are much more common than we think, and arent limited to the clinical diagnosis of illnesses like anorexia and bulimia. The leap from dieting to disordered eating is often not that dramatic, and because being stuck indoors can limit access to mental health treatment, its a good idea to err on the side of not being a complete asshole to those who are stuck at home, suffering in silence, enduring countless jokes about the weight that people are terrified to gain.

What we should really be doing right now is figuring out how to stop fighting with our bodies every single day. That is a productive use of this time, especially considering that no amount of starvation or exercise is going to make this pandemic feel any less scary, and no amount of thinness can protect any of us from contracting COVID-19. What is possible, though, is using this time to be a little bit nicer to both our own bodies, and the bodies that we are told are not good enough.

The freshest news from the food world every day

See the article here:
Quarantine Diets Reveal the Absolute Worst of Diet Culture - Eater

Photo-Illustration: Megan Paetzhold. Photos: Getty Images

Last week, New York and Grub Street asked some of our favorite past Grub Street Diet subjects to keep one-day diaries of what they eat while self-quarantining, which well be running over the next few days. Here, author and restaurateur J. Kenji Lpez-Alt walks us through Monday, March 23.

The first thing my daughter usually does when she wakes up is use up her daily allotment of screen time on Tumble Leaf. After 25 minutes, she says, Papa, its breakfast time, and we head to the kitchen. This mornings project: strata with bacon, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and Colby-Jack. She always wants pancakes. We eat a lot of pancakes, but not today.

I put Alicia to work tearing up bread heels. We have lots and lots of Japanese shokupan heels that came from the 16 loaves of bread I made sandwiches out of yesterday. The heels of all those loaves of bread ended up in a plastic bag in my kitchen.

Like most restaurants, mine, Wursthall, is facing some tough times. Part of our revitalization plan is to work with a couple of fundraising organizations (as well as our fundraising initiative) to raise some money and put our team to work making free meals for folks in need first responders, emergency room and other hospital staff, folks out of a job, people with kids home from school, etc. Everyones having a hard time, but some more than others. Were building the plane as were flying into new territory here, and this has been occupying nearly all my free time since the pandemic started in earnest.

The day before, Alicia helped me drop off deviled-egg-salad sandwiches and roasted broccoli with pumpkin-seed vinaigrette to San Francisco General and the Oakland Fire Department, a trip I almost had to postpone because, in all my planning, I didnt think about how I would fit 75 individually packed meals and a toddler into my car. (I finally found a couple big boxes in the shed.)

Incidentally, that amazing shokupan came from Andersen Bakery, and its likely the last Andersen shokupan heels Ill ever see, as I just got an email announcing that this Fridays delivery will be their last ever. They are closing the business for good. Damn, this one really stings.

We whisked the custard together, layered everything in a buttered casserole (she loves buttering things), and popped it in the toaster oven to bake. It was pretty darn delicious, and I decided then and there that breakfast strata is gonna be the first recipe if and when I ever start doing the Food Lab Jr. column Ive been dreaming of.

My wife, Adri, woke up and we all sat down to eat. I used a hot sauce that my buddy Greg Kuzia-Carmel made at his (excellent) restaurant Camper in Menlo Park. He calls it NAPALM. I think he needs to up his spice tolerance (I love you, Greg). Adri used a hot sauce we picked up in Colombia (the brand is Codi) made with uchuva (gooseberries) and habaneros. Im sorry we sound like hot-sauce snobs. We arent, I swear. Id be lost without my Franks.

Alicia went au naturel.

Ive lost 30 pounds in the last year or so, finally hitting my ideal weight, with a combination of exercise and portion control. Since social distancing began, Ive gained back ten of those, because we cant go to the gym, and eating just seems like a good way to pass the time. I hope Im not going to gain back the full COVID-19. Gotta find another way to exercise.

Lunch was chili that Adri made from one of those Sun Basket kits. Up until a few months ago, I did 100 percent of the cooking in the house. Adri wanted a chance to cook for us, and meal kits seemed like a good way to ease into it. Its fun for her, I love when other people cook for me, and the chili is pretty darn delicious with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a dash of Tapato.

Adri is still working full-time from home, so I hang out with Alicia all day on most days, taking a precious hour or two during her naps for Zoom conferences and work-related phone calls. Currently, those phone calls are with virologists and food-safety experts Ive been consulting with to write a comprehensive food-safety guide for Serious Eats, that I intend to keep updated as new information on the virus continues to roll in.

Taking my daughter during the daytime is a fine arrangement for me, as hanging out with my daughter is my favorite thing to do (Ive missed her since she started going to preschool a few days a week), and keeping happy is one of the best things we can do. Happy people have stronger immune systems, and we should all be taking whatever steps necessary to make sure that we dont get sick, whether its COVID-19 or anything else thatll put a strain on our medical system.

But it does mean that Im left to nights for the restaurant and writing. Ever since the restaurant closed for dine-in service, Ive been spending a few nights a week there, prepping and cooking for the free-meal deliveries. I was going to head in at six, then thought twice. Nobody has ever said on their death bed, I wish I had spent less time with my children, and fuck it, Im the chef I can just work extra late tonight.

Dinner was another meal kit Adri was going to make, but she was busy playing with Alicia, so I took over. I crisped up the prepacked pork carnitas in a cast-iron skillet while I heated the tortillas on a Baking Steel griddle (easily top-five most used things in my kitchen). Alexa played Beethoven and Beatles, my usual cooking mix. The tacos were legitimately delicious. (Though, I admit, I did not follow the directions that came with the kit.) This time, on the table was El Yucateco XXXtra Hot Kutbil-Ik, possibly my favorite widely available hot sauce.

Afterdinner, I gave a good-night hug and kiss to Adri and Alicia and finally headed into Wursthall. These days, were closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (so my incredible and tireless sous-chefs, Erik and Orlando, can have a full two-day weekend), which means I had the whole place to myself. The night before, I braised a few pork shoulders, sauerbraten style, in wine and vinegar. Today, I pulled, seasoned, and shredded them, cooked ten pounds of chickpeas I had soaking overnight (in salted water it helps prevent the skins from blowing out during cooking), and shredded 20 pounds of cabbage.

This particular batch of pork sandwiches should feed 48, and was destined for the San Mateo Samaritan House, where Ill deliver it bright and early.

My last meal of the night was a test-fire of the pork sandwich Ill pack into cook-at-home meal kits later this week. Half of them will go to the Samaritan House, and the rest will go to currently furloughed employees, especially those with kids out of school and families to take care of. Its heartbreaking whats happening, especially the feeling of helplessness that comes with it. A good sandwich can help a little. I crisp up the pulled pork, glaze it with a vinegary pork jus, and pile it on a buttered brioche bun with a red-cabbage slaw and pickled Fresno chiles (which I could eat by the fistful theyre so good). The kits will also contain a marinated chickpea and carrot salad.

But before I started cooking, I strapped a GoPro to my forehead. For some reason, people seem to enjoy watching first-person cooking videos on my YouTube channel. Im fine with that, I guess, as silly as it is. These days, I relish any opportunity to be silly.

*A version of this article appears in the March 30, 2020, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now!

Sign up for the Grub Street newsletter.

Continued here:
J. Kenji Lpez-Alt Quarantines With Carnitas and Breakfast Strata - Grub Street

Many Americans may find their bodies flabbier and less healthy when they finally emerge from the Great Quarantine of 2020.

And is it any surprise? Hello, pantry full of snacks and comfort foods. Heres looking at you, refrigerator packed with meat, cheese and milk.

Its all so tempting during the coronavirus crisis as people stay at home bored, anxious and stressed and seek relief by eating all day.

By the middle of this month, popcorn sales rose almost 48%, pretzel sales were up 47% and potato chip sales rose 30% compared to the same period last year, Bloomberg reported.

Theres also surging demand for cookies, crackers, soup, macaroni and cheese, breakfast food, potatoes, and canned, dried and fresh meat.

It didnt surprise Lisa Young, a registered dietitian in New York and author of Finally Full, Finally Slim.

When people are stressed, they tend to fall back on lazy patterns, letting the vigilance with the food go. And its comfort food its feel-good food, it keeps them full, Young told TODAY.

I think that in these times, its not a time to diet and to make yourself crazy but (social distancing) has now become a way of life and its so important that we make our way of life healthy.

Its also not surprising that people are buying shelf-stable foods that dont require a lot of time to prepare, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston.

Still, food prepared outside the home is generally less healthy than home-cooked meals, so he was optimistic the break from restaurant eating could be positive when it came to nutrition.

We dont know, well have to see, but Im hopeful that people will actually be healthier than they were before. Theyre not eating at (restaurants), Mozaffarian said.

Here are expert tips on how to stay on the nutritional track during this time:

Trending stories,celebrity news and all the best of TODAY.

People may be disoriented by their new reality of staying at home all the time, so the No. 1 most important thing is to set up a plan for the day, Young said.

You dont just want to nibble on seven mini-meals. You want to set structured meals for yourself, she advised.

Set a time for eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. Limit any mindless snacking in between. Stick to a routine.

Take the time when youd normally commute and do an online exercise class or take a walk. Any kind of morning exercise sets you up for good structure for the rest of the day, Young said.

This is a time when people truly should be supporting their immune systems, Mozaffarian noted.

Theres good evidence that healthy diets improve the immune system and so if you want to fight COVID-19, eating foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients especially many red and yellow and other colored fruits and vegetables can help the immune system, he said.

We have to try to make ourselves healthier COVID-19 is a reminder that healthy eating remains important.

Young advised buying healthy staples including:

Make your own comfort food by having whole -wheat pasta, red sauce and frozen vegetables, for example.

If you really want to have cookies in your pantry, stick to one type. Dont buy seven varieties of cookies because youll end up eating more of each of them, Young cautioned.

Eating snacks straight out of the packaging is a recipe for overeating. You dont want to spend unlimited time with that giant open box of crackers from Costco.

Instead, try portion control to limit how much youre eating. Its easy to do at home where theres usually access to a food scale or measuring cups.

Take the food out of the bag and figure out exactly how much you want to eat. Then you put it on a plate and you sit down and you enjoy it. You dont eat it standing while watching the latest news reports, stressed out, Young noted.

Young is a fan of what she calls the 80/20 rule, or eating well 80% of the time, and allowing yourself treats 20% of the time.

Its good to have something to look forward to, like air-popped popcorn, whole-grain pretzels or whole-grain crackers. Shes even OK with the occasional small portion of ice cream or macaroni and cheese. Just focus on nutritious food the vast majority of the time and sprinkle in any less-healthy favorites.

This is a stressful time dont make things worse by sitting on the couch and eating all day.

You think youll feel better after you eat, but then after you eat, you feel worse. It ends up being a totally vicious cycle, Young said.

You want to say: I want to be healthy, thats my goal right now. I dont want to get this thing and I want to stay healthy.

A. Pawlowski is a TODAY contributing editor focusing on health news and features. Previously, she was a writer, producer and editor at CNN.

Follow this link:
Coronavirus: How to stop overeating and avoid weight gain in self-quarantine - TODAY

Page 129«..1020..128129130131..140150..»

Home » Diets that Work » Page 129