Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 32«..1020..31323334..4050..»

Home » Long Term Weight Loss » Page 32

An increasingly popular diet craze involves eating all the foods you were once told to avoid: fatty meats, cheese, heavy cream, and more. If this makes you do a double take, youre not alone. But the ketogenic diet, commonly known as keto, is a weight-loss plan that continues to gain adherents.

Some people advocate this eating plan or related versions of it for midlife women who want to drop pounds and improve their health during the menopause transition.

But experts urge women to proceed with caution.

Its true that some midlife women have lost weight with this plan, but the keto diet has the potential to create other health issues in the process, warns Bonnie Taub-Dix, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York City.

Menopause is officially defined as the time when your menstrual cycle has stopped for a year, but many use the term to describe the transition process leading up to that milestone, and that period can begin years before.

Menopausal symptoms include difficulty sleeping, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes. Many women lose muscle tone.

Lots of women complain that during the menopausal transition they put on pounds, even when they eat the same number of calories, says Nanette Santoro, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora and a longtime menopause researcher.

Whats more, fat distribution often shifts away from the hips and thighs and toward the abdomen. Virtually every woman gains at least some subcutaneous fat with the end of menses, Dr. Santoro says, something that might make a woman feel heavier even if the scale doesnt move.

This extra fat around the abdomen seems related to hormones, but no known mechanism currently exists, she says.

RELATED: 12 Ways to Beat Menopausal Belly Fat

This weight increase or change in fat distribution drives many women to seek out a new eating plan around the menopause years. Keto is one of those diets that may be recommended to women in midlife.

With our traditional way of eating, our bodies use glucose from digested carbohydrates to fuel itself through the day. The premise of a keto diet is to deprive the body of carbs, and therefore glucose, forcing it to turn to a different fuel instead.

That fuel: stores of fat. This fat gets broken down in the liver, creating a state known as ketosis and allowing the body to use this to fuel itself instead of glucose.

There is no one official ketogenic diet, so there are some variations in what people on the diet are instructed to eat.

Generally, anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of daily calories in a keto diet come from fat. This is a huge increase from the 25 or 30 percent recommended by most nutritionists and the20152020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,per Medline.

On this diet, some 5 to 15 percent of calories come from protein and only a tiny amount comes from carbs.

One diet that positions itself for menopausal women is the Galveston diet. Like keto, this diet provides for the majority of daily calories, some 70 percent, to come from fats, with the remaining allocated as 20 percent lean protein and 10 percent carbs.

Galveston is not technically a keto diet, its creator Mary Claire Haver, MD, a Texas ob-gyn, says. Thats because its meal plan distinguishes between healthy fats like olive oil, walnuts, and avocado, which the diet emphasizes, and highly saturated fats like those found in cheese and red meat, which are included in smaller amounts in the Galveston diet.

Taub-Dix, author of Read It Before You Eat It Taking You From Label to Table, says that while emphasizing healthy fats over heart-harming saturated fats is good, any diet that skimps on carbs is problematic. Carbs provide the most readily available source of energy and fiber, she says. Carbs also feed the microbiome, the living organisms that populate our intestines, skin, vagina, mouth, and other parts of the body.

Plus, when fats make up so much of a diet, they crowd out the beans, colorful vegetables, and fruits that are packed with nutrients, she says.

Canadian researchers evaluated numerous studies comparing the keto diet with low-fat eating plans in research published in 2018 inCanadian Family Physician. They found that when only high-quality studies were assessed, there was no weight loss difference between the two plans.

Another review of research on keto, published in March 2020 in Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, assessed very-low-calorie ketogenic diets, for which people dropped their calorie intake substantially. It found that such a diet did help people reduce their body mass index and waist circumference, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and blood pressure. However, such severe calorie restrictions are not typical of most keto eating plans, and the researchers could not assess whether the keto aspects or simply the huge drop in calories was behind the results.

No studies have looked at whether keto helps with estrogen levels and other menopausal hormones.

Some people on the diet say that their hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms are helped, but others complain that the diet makes these worse.

At the start of the diet, people often exhibit symptoms that can be similar to those of menopause. Known as the keto flu, this can include headaches, fatigue, sleep problems, and heart palpitations.

Some women worry that keto can trigger menopause, but there is no research or evidence to suggest that.

RELATED: Predicting How Long the Menopausal Transition Will Last, and When Youll Reach Menopause

Heart disease is a serious issue for midlife women, since once women pass into menopause, they lose the heart protection that estrogen provides.

Thats why a keto diet that allows eaters to consume high amounts of saturated fat seems especially dangerous for midlife women, Taub-Dix says.

Experts caution that eliminating food groups and eating small amounts of vegetables and fruits could lead to nutritional deficiencies if the diet is followed for a long time.

And because of its lack of fiber, many people on keto suffer from constipation.

Most studies of keto follow dieters for a limited period of time, meaning there isnt good research on how long it is safe to eat this way. Experts typically recommend that people who want to try this diet view keto as a short-term way of eating rather than a lifelong eating plan.

Thats another of its downfalls, Taub-Dix says. The best diet should be able to fit into your life permanently, she says. This is not that kind of diet.

You may drop weight on a keto diet, but a better approach may be to eat a healthier diet with few processed foods. Taub-Dix and many nutritionists prefer the Mediterranean diet.

Santoro emphasizes that there is no magic diet that will banish weight for menopausal women. For women of this age or any age, the best thing that helps prevent or mitigate weight gain is physical activity, she says.

Read the rest here:
Facts About Keto and Menopause - Everyday Health

A loss of smell or an impaired perception of odours was identified as one of the key symptoms of the coronavirus in the initial stages of the pandemic. There is evidence, however, that the symptom has faded as the virus has evolved. In a bid to understand the mechanisms behind the olfactory changes, researchers have studied the lining of the nasal cavity in depth. For a new body of research, however, scientists chose to dig deeper and study the tissue inside the brain.

The research, published in the journal JAMA Neurology, has warned that an infection from the virus is tied to damage in the part of the brain that controls smell.

The scientists drew their conclusion from the study of 23 deceased COVID-19 patients, who were compared to a control group of 14 deceased people without COVID-19.

Lead author of the study, Cheng-Ying Ho, NMD, PhD, associate professor from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, wrote: The striking anoxic pathology in some cases indicates that olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 may be severe and permanent.

He told Medscape: The results show the damage caused by Covid can extend beyond the nasal cavity and involve the brain.

READ MORE: Next pandemic not if, but when as wet markets STILL threaten another virus outbreak

We wanted to go a step beyond to see how the olfactory build was affected by Covid infection.Tissues were extracted from the post-mortem tissue in the brain, lung, and other organs for analysis.

The findings revealed a higher prevalence of damaged blood cells and axons a cable that transmits impulses between neurons in the brains of Covid patients.

The team also found axon deterioration was about 60 percent more pronounced in patients with Covid, while the damage to microscopic blood vessels was 36 percent more severe in these patients.

The researchers noted that axon damage in some patients suggests that Covid-induced smell loss could be severe and irreversible.

DONT MISS:

However, researchers found no evidence of a correlation between the severity of symptoms and the damage to the nerve cells of microscopical blood vessels.

The findings shed valuable light on some of the mechanisms at play in the long-term loss of smell that afflicts a large portion of the population.

Data released by the Covid Symptoms Study initiative last year found the symptom affected around 60 percent of people aged 16 to 65 who catch Covid.

But Professor Ho pointed out that these figures were released before the advent of the Omicron variant, which is less likely to cause smell loss in patients with Covid.

Read original article here

Read more from the original source:
Covid symptoms: Study links long-term loss of smell to brain damage - Verve Times

Steglatro (ertugliflozin) is a brand-name prescription medication. Its approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.

Steglatro is typically a long-term treatment to help improve blood sugar levels in combination with diet and exercise.

Here are some fast facts about Steglatro:

Like other drugs, Steglatro can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Steglatro, including details about its uses, see this article.

Steglatro can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Steglatro in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see Side effect specifics below.

Mild side effects can occur with Steglatro use. This list doesnt include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more details, you can refer to Steglatros prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Steglatro include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Steglatro and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see Side effect specifics below.

Steglatro may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more details, you can refer to Steglatros prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Steglatro, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see Side effect specifics below. An allergic reaction is possible after using Steglatro. But this side effect wasnt reported in clinical trials.

Steglatro may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drugs side effects and their answers.

The side effects of the 5-milligram (mg) strength of Steglatro are expected to be the same as for the 15-mg strength.

However, certain side effects may be more common at the drugs higher strength. Examples of side effects that were more common in clinical trials of the 15-mg strength than of the 5-mg strength include:

To learn more about what to expect with the 5-mg and 15-mg strengths of Steglatro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see Side effect specifics below.

In rare cases, Steglatro may cause side effects that have long-term complications.

Examples of these side effects include:

If youre concerned about long-term side effects with Steglatro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can advise on your risk of these side effects and potential ways to lower them. They can also recommend ways to ease your symptoms if they happen.

* For more information about this side effect, see Side effect specifics below.

It isnt likely. Diarrhea wasnt reported as a side effect in clinical trials of Steglatro.

Keep in mind that other diabetes medications may cause diarrhea. An example is metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza, Riomet).

Steglatro may be taken in combination with other diabetes drugs. So, you may have diarrhea if youre taking Steglatro with these medications. But this side effect probably isnt caused by Steglatro itself.

If you have questions about diarrhea and Steglatro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss your risk of this side effect while youre taking Steglatro with other diabetes medications.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Steglatro may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Steglatro.

Steglatro may cause certain genital or urinary tract infections (UTIs). Read on for details about each type of infection.

Genital infection

Mild female* yeast infections were a common side effect in clinical trials of Steglatro. Mild male* yeast infections were less common.

In females, symptoms of yeast infection can include:

Male yeast infections typically cause symptoms around the penis and groin, such as redness or discoloration, itching, and white or pale-looking skin patches.

In rare cases, Steglatro may cause a condition called Fourniers gangrene. This is a severe, life-threatening type of flesh-eating disease that affects the genitals. Symptoms include swelling and pain in the genital area along with an unpleasant odor coming from the affected skin.

You may have an increased risk of genital infections if you take higher doses of Steglatro.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms male and female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.

Urinary tract infection

Mild UTIs were a somewhat common side effect in clinical trials of Steglatro. But rarely, a more serious UTI can occur.

Mild UTI can cause symptoms such as:

A more serious UTI may cause symptoms such as chills, fever, nausea, back pain, or vomiting. This condition is typically severe enough to require treatment in a hospital.

Below are a few suggestions for what you can do about a genital infection or UTI.

Genital infection

Before taking Steglatro, tell your doctor if youve had yeast infections in the past. Also, tell them if you have yeast infections that continue to come back. These factors can increase your risk of getting a yeast infection with Steglatro.

If you have symptoms of a yeast infection while taking Steglatro, talk with your doctor. They can suggest over-the-counter treatments, such as Monistat (miconazole) cream or suppositories. Or they can prescribe a medication that will treat the infection.

If you have symptoms of Fourniers gangrene, contact your doctor right away. Youll likely need antibiotics and surgery to treat the affected area.

Urinary tract infection

Before taking Steglatro, tell your doctor if youve had UTIs in the past. You may have a higher risk of UTIs with Steglatro.

If you have UTI symptoms, talk with your doctor. They can tell you if your infection is mild or serious.

For mild infections, your doctor may prescribe you a medication to treat the infection. But for a serious infection, theyll likely tell you to go to the hospital right away for treatment.

Steglatro may cause increased urination. This was a less common side effect in clinical trials of the drug.

With increased urination, you may urinate in larger amounts, frequently at night, or more often than usual. You may also have urinary urgency (an intense need to urinate without having a full bladder).

If you have increased urination with Steglatro, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to ease your symptoms, such as avoiding caffeine and drinking less liquid.

Back pain may occur with Steglatro. This was a less common side effect in clinical trials of the drug. However, you may have an increased risk of back pain if you take higher doses of Steglatro.

Keep in mind that back pain can be a symptom of urinary tract infection (UTI). For details, see Genital or urinary tract infection above.

If you have back pain with Steglatro, talk with your doctor. They may check with you about other symptoms of UTI.

If you have back pain that isnt caused by UTI, your doctor can suggest ways to ease your symptoms. For example, they may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers. Examples include Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil (ibuprofen).

As with most drugs, Steglatro can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Although this side effect wasnt reported in clinical trials, it has been reported since the drug became available for use.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Steglatro. But if your symptoms are serious and you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Steglatro. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Kidney problems. Before taking Steglatro, tell your doctor about any kidney problems you have. Steglatro may cause dehydration as a side effect, which could worsen your condition. And doctors typically will not prescribe Steglatro for people on dialysis. If you have kidney problems but arent on dialysis, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Steglatro. They can advise if its safe to take Steglatro.

Liver problems. It isnt known if Steglatro is safe for people with severe liver problems. For this reason, doctors typically will not prescribe Steglatro for people with this condition. If you have any liver problems, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Steglatro. They can advise if its safe to take Steglatro.

Pancreatitis. Before taking Steglatro, tell your doctor if you have pancreatitis (inflammation of your pancreas). Also, tell them if youve had surgery on your pancreas in the past. You may have a higher risk of ketoacidosis with Steglatro. (This is a life-threatening condition that causes a high level of acid in the blood.) Your doctor can recommend if its safe for you to take Steglatro.

Planned surgery. If you have any surgeries planned, tell your doctor. This is because having surgery could increase your risk of ketoacidosis with Steglatro. To reduce this risk, your doctor may have you stop taking Steglatro a few days before surgery.

History of yeast infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs). Yeast infections and UTI are possible side effects of Steglatro. People whove had these conditions in the past may have a higher risk of these side effects. If you have had either of these conditions in the past, talk with your doctor. They can recommend if Steglatro is the right treatment option for you.

Factors increasing your risk of amputation. Before taking Steglatro, tell your doctor if you have certain factors that could increase your risk of amputation. (This is surgery to remove a body part.) Examples of these factors include nerve damage in your legs or feet, poor blood circulation, diabetic foot ulcers, or having an amputation in the past. You doctor can advise if Steglatro is the right treatment for you.

Allergic reaction. If youve had an allergic reaction to Steglatro or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Steglatro. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

It may be best to avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol while taking Steglatro.

Consuming large amounts of alcohol could increase your risk of certain side effects with Steglatro. Examples include:

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to drink while taking Steglatro.

Below are details about taking Steglatro while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pregnancy and Steglatro

It isnt known if Steglatro is safe to take during pregnancy. There havent been enough human trials of the drug to know for sure.

However, animal trials have shown harm to offspring exposed to Steglatro during pregnancy. Animal studies dont always predict what happens with humans.

But to be safe, your doctor may recommend that you avoid taking Steglatro during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

If youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor. They can recommend other medications that may be safer for you.

Breastfeeding and Steglatro

It isnt known if Steglatro passes into breast milk. So, it isnt known for sure if the drug could affect a breastfed child.

Because of the possible risk to a breastfed child, its recommended that you avoid breastfeeding while taking Steglatro.

If youre breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before starting Steglatro treatment. They can suggest other healthy ways to feed your child.

Most side effects of Steglatro are expected to be mild. But in rare cases, serious side effects may occur.

If youd like to learn more about Steglatro, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Read more:
Steglatro: Side effects and how to manage them - Medical News Today

I always worried about my daughter. Would she grow up feeling happy in her body? I vowed that she would learn that brains were more valuable than boobs and humor is more attractive than hair. I tried to weave these sentiments into our conversations over the years, and although Im not ready to declare victory yet (shes only 14), I think shes gotten the message.

But what about my son? Unexpectedly, its actually his body image I find myself worrying about. Is he happy in his body? Even more concerning: Would I know if he werent?

I am a health psychologist, professor and body image scientist. And yet, when I recently tried to engage my son in a conversation about body image, he was reluctant to talk. It was actually more than that it was as though he didnt have the words to talk about his body. Across 25 years of conducting research on body image, Ive found that my personal experience is reflected by many.

I interviewed dozens of boys ages 14 to 24 for my forthcoming book Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys, and conversations often started slowly and awkwardly (a real contrast to my experience interviewing girls for my other books). Boys could tell me they wanted bigger abs and pecs, and thought they should eat a ton of protein, but were often at a loss to articulate why.

One boy recounted taping his chest before heading to school one day because he was tired of his friends teasing him about his man titties. Scotch tape was not up to the task and created an embarrassing mess for him to extract himself from when he got home that afternoon.

The more I spoke with boys, the more it became clear to me that they couldnt win. Its nearly impossible for them to be tall, lean and muscular like the guys they see on TikTok bragging about their gym routines. Those bodies require a certain genetic predisposition and an unhealthy attention to diet and lifting weights.

One boy told me, Any moment where my shirt was off in public just caused me to feel embarrassed and uncomfortable.

It was clear from their actions whether it be weightlifting, carb-cutting, grooming or dressing that boys care and worry about their appearances. And yet, boys didnt think of their appearance concerns as body image issues.

Boys (and many of us adults, too) tend to think body dissatisfaction only plagues girls. But research suggests otherwise. One recent study found that 75% of adolescent boys are dissatisfied with their bodies. Up to half of boys are using supplements such as protein powders during their teens thinking it will boost their muscularity. (It wont.) A growing portion one-fourth to one-third of eating disorder patients are male. Clearly boys are suffering, but they seem to mostly be suffering in silence.

In addition to interviewing teen boys for Being You, I spoke to young men with a history of eating disorders. I heard them confirm what recent research suggests: Boys eating disorders are often not identified until their condition is dire. This is, in part, because boys who develop eating disorders dont necessarily have the same symptoms as girls. Boys may purge with excessive exercise; they are more likely to eat but eliminate entire food groups from their diets. Their preoccupation and psychological distress is present but not discussed.

All too often, boys parents, peers, coaches and sometimes even medical providers believed boys were getting healthy, when in fact they were sinking into a serious disorder. As one boy told me, It didnt take long before all that exercise and my healthy eating resulted in notable weight loss. I also found myself becoming obsessed with food. I was always thinking about what I was eating and not eating next.

Dr. Jason Nagata, an expert in boys body image and eating disorders at the University of California, San Francisco, is one of a growing number of scientists and advocates helping to shed light on boys vulnerabilities and signs to watch for. He told me: Boys with eating disorders may pursue a body ideal that is big and muscular. They may engage in muscle-enhancing behaviors such as excessive exercise and use of performance-enhancing substances.

Of course, some boys want to lose weight, and many want to lose weight and bulk up, which has led to new language and techniques bulking, cutting and shredding flourishing online. The scientific basis for these practices is questionable at best and the possibility of them leading to disordered eating habits is likely.

What makes the situation worse is that boys are less likely than girls to seek help for mental health issues. Nagata emphasizes that the longer food and body image concerns go unaddressed, the more habitual they can become. And, the long-term consequences of an eating disorder can be extremely serious and life-threatening; physical, social and cognitive development can be affected.

When I started writing Being You, I wanted to develop a resource for my son and tween and teen boys everywhere, but I wasnt convinced that boys experiences were as complex or serious as girls experiences. Ive changed my mind.

Boys experiences of their bodies are different from girls but just as challenging. They are also bombarded with messages that they need to fix their bodies, but arent socialized to understand how to get help when they need it. They may be unlikely to find themselves squeezing into a bikini, but they still dont want to take their shirts off at the pool. Until we normalize conversations about body image among boys, theyll stay stuck in a parallel universe to what girls and women have known for decades.

Recently, my son went to the gym with a friend to lift weights for the first time. I asked him when he got home if he thought hed do this regularly. He said, Nah, I really dont think so. Dont worry. Im happy with myself as I am. Body positive, Mom! I guess maybe hes been listening all along.

Dr. Charlotte H. Markey is the author of Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys, an accessible, evidence-based resource for teen and tween boys.

Do you have a compelling personal story youd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what were looking for here and send us a pitch.

Read more here:
Ive Studied Body Image For 25 Years. Heres What Boys Don't Know How To Tell You. - HuffPost

It seems that everyone wants to put the pedal to the metal in life, and the need for speed doesn't yield when it comes to weight loss. We want to see results quickly. And yet, the pace at which we drop pounds seems to slow down as we get older. Or does it?

The commonly held notion that metabolism slows as we age was called into question last year in a study in the journal Science. Researchers from Duke University found that metabolism stays mostly stable throughout life, declining about 3% per year until about age 20 and then plateauing until around age 60, when it declines again at the rate of about 1% a year.

The study surprised many who accepted the historical convention that changes in metabolism due to aging contributed to weight gain. Nevertheless, it's likely your lifestyle that is affecting your ability to slim down. So let's review some key eating habits that dietitians say can accelerate weight loss as you age.

Don't get sucked in by the claims of every new or old diet plan you see.

"Most diets are restrictive, challenging to follow, and are unrealistic to keep up with long-term," warns Sandy Younan Brikho, RDN, owner of The Dish On Nutrition. "If you love what you are eating, and if you are losing weight in the process, then you will not only lose weight, but also keep it off!"

Instead of a diet of subtraction, Brikho recommends adding in certain foods that can help with speedier weight loss.

Sign up for our newsletter!

It's a simple behavioral trick that'll reap big benefits over time. Brikho says getting into the habit of always covering half of your dinner plate in vegetableshelps increase your fullness, prevent overeating, and help you get the nutrients you need.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

"Do this and you won't need to double the portion of pasta and meatballs in order to feel full," she says. "You'll lose weight over time by automatically cutting down on eating too many other higher-calorie foods."

Even if your metabolism hasn't decreased, you may be burning fewer calories because you're not as active every day as you once were or maybe you're not getting adequate sleep. If, for whatever reason, your calorie burn is not what it once was and you haven't reduced your calorie consumption proportionally, you'll gain weight.

Avoid that scenario and lose weight by reducing the size of your meal portions, suggests Jesse Feder, RDN at Strength Warehouse USA.

"You don't have to change what you eat, just the amount," says Feder. "In today's culture, we tend to eat until we can't breathe anymore. I always tell my clients to stop eating when they feel content."

Tip: Put down your utensils and take a sip of water between bites.

"By doing this, we can actually begin to regulate the hormones that make us feel satiated more easily," Feder says.

Making sure you eat enough protein every day is the most important eating habit to adopt, according to Katie Tomaschko, RDN with Sporting Smiles.

"Protein is the most satiating macronutrient and will stall weight gain by preventing overeating excess calories," she says.

There's another important reason to eat more protein: protein helps build and maintain muscle mass which tends to decrease with age.

"Muscle burns more calories than fat and is one of the only ways you can increase your metabolism," Tomaschko says.

She recommends getting 25 to 30 grams of protein per meal to ensure you max out the benefits. Team up that protein with these Floor Exercises that Speed Up Belly Fat Loss, According to a Trainer.

"Processed sugar is everywhereeven seemingly healthy foods like yogurt and cereal sometimes contain a lot of added sugar," says Janet Coleman, RD for TheConsumerMag. "Cutting back on processed sugar from sweetened beverages and packaged foods and their empty calories will help speed up your weight loss."

Coleman suggests substituting sweets with fruits, especially berries.

"Berries are high in antioxidants that help fight free radical damage while improving the health of our cells," she says.

Getting into the habit of carrying a water bottle around with you in the car, at work, while shopping, can help you lose weight quickly for a number of reasons, says Tomaschko. Drinking water can help suppress your appetite and even assist with boosting your energy and metabolism. fills your belly, helping to ward off hunger.Carrying water wherever you go, discourages you from buying sugary drinks to quench your thirst.

"Hydration is essential to good health," she says. "It's so important to drink as much water as you comfortably can throughout the day," says Tomaschko.

You might even consider carrying your water bottle to family gatherings where alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages will be served. There's a clear connection between drinking alcohol and sugar-sweetened soft drinks and metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, says Feder.

In other words, choose more complex carbohydrates like beans, quinoa, 100% whole grain bread, and steel-cut oatmeal. Complex carbs are rich in fiber, which helps us stay feeling full longer, so we snack less between meals, says Laura Krauza, RDN, owner of Waistline Dietitian. Dietitians recommend that women shoot for eating about 25 grams of fiber per day while men should reach 38 grams.

Some of the best sources of fiber per serving, besides those above, include raspberries (8 grams), split peas (16 grams), bran cereal (5.5 grams), lentils (15.5 grams), black beans (15 grams), and air-popped popcorn (3.5 grams).

Pressed for time and need a quick drive-thru meal? Here's the #1 Best Fast-Food Order for Abdominal Fat Loss, Says Dietitian.

The rest is here:
Eating Habits to Speed Up Weight Loss as You Age, Say Dietitians Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

It seems like there are endless ads to convince us to buy a piece of equipment or a food supplement or enroll in a program to make us lose weight. But in reality, we just need to figure out how to burn more calories than we consume.

To that end, a new review of 21 studies suggests possible health benefits of intermittent fasting. Their findings suggest that fasting might be effective for mild to moderate weight loss for certain groups of people, at least in the short term.

They also indicate that it is a myth that people are going to feel weak and not be able to concentrate during fasting. In fact, they may actually have a better ability to concentrate.

The trials so far have only been conducted in adults who are generally overweight or obese and sometimes have high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and/or diabetes. But some have been performed in subjects with normal weight.

Even though they may benefit from weight loss, those with medical conditions including diabetes or patients who need to take medications with meals at certain times of the day should seek clinical supervision when considering intermittent fasting.

Based on existing evidence, intermittent fasting should not be done by children under age 12 and those who have a history of an eating disorder or a body mass index (BMI) of less than 18.5.

Opinions vary about the safety of fasting in teens with obesity, even when supervised.

Also, safety has not been evaluated in those older than age 70, and in women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

Despite the recent surge in the popularity of intermittent fasting, only a few studies have examined the health benefits of these diets in humans.

The researchers identified 21 clinical trials of three types of intermittent fasting strategies:

Alternate day fasting (alternating between consuming 0-500 Calories on fasting days, followed by unlimited food on feasting days), six trials.

5:2 diet (feasting on 5 days and fasting on 2 days), seven trials.

Time-restricted eating (eating during a 4- to 8- hour window), nine trials.

The trials were short (mostly 5-12 weeks long) and small (10-150 participants), and mostly conducted in the U.S.

They found these strategies can all produce a mild to moderate weight loss of up to 8% during trials of 8-12 weeks, similar to that attained with a calorie-restricted diet.

Some studies found that patients had improvements in blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin resistance, and hemoglobin A1c (a measure of blood sugar control).

These weight-loss strategies produced few gastrointestinal, neurological, hormonal, or metabolic adverse side effects.

The researchers noted that one or two weeks of adjustment is typically needed when individuals start intermittent fasting.

While following this eating pattern, patients should be encouraged to consume plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to boost their fiber and micronutrient intake.

On fasting days, they should consume at least two ounces of lean protein to help control hunger and prevent excessive loss of lean mass. On those days, alcohol is permitted but not recommended. Energy drinks and coffee or tea without sugar, milk, or cream are allowed, and diet soda should be limited to two servings a day because it can increase sugar cravings.

Ideally, people should be followed by a healthcare provider for adverse effects, especially during the first three months of intermittent fasting. Dieters should be monitored for deficiencies in vitamin D, vitamin B12, and electrolytes (salts in the blood stream), as well as for changes in medications for blood pressure, lipids, and glucose that may need to be adjusted if patients lose weight.

Patients who reach their weight-loss goals and wish to stop intermittent fasting need to transition to a weight-maintenance program, possibly by increasing energy intake on fasting days to 1,000-1,200 Calories per day or widening the eating window to 12 hours in time-restricted eating.

While this research is encouraging for those who find this sort of diet more acceptable than other weight control programs, much longer-term studies are needed on issues such as safety and in broader demographics.

Personally, I have found limited success in the past with fasting, especially when members of my household and I have become hangry, a condition that seemed to improve after eating something.

But if you want to try out one of the intermittent fasting patterns described above, it would be wise to discuss it with your healthcare provider first.

View original post here:
Intermittent fasting should first be discussed with your doctor - KPCnews.com

Most of us are likely tired of constantly being bombarded with advertisements for fad diets to try. These fast, trendy diets are tempting because of how easy they seem, but they aren't sustainable and are oftentimes very unhealthy. If losing visceral fat is your goal specifically, fad diets won't work nearly as well as gradually changing your daily eating habits.

To learn more about belly fat loss, we talked with two expert dietitians to get their advice on some of the habit changes that actually work for long-term, healthy, sustainable weight loss. Here's what they had to say, andfor more healthy weight loss tips, check out 30 Essential Spring Superfoods for Weight Loss.

There's value in the specific foods you choose to eat on your weight loss journey, but sometimes it's also about making sure you balance out the types of food you eat as well.

"Many people carry extra weight around their midsection because they are eating too many calories, which can leading to fat storage," says Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD author of The Sports Nutrition Playbook and member of our medical expert board. "To help keep your body well-nourished and manage your calorie intake at meals, follow The Plate Rule. Make 1/4 of your plate a high-fiber carbohydrate like brown rice, whole grain bread, or quinoa, make 1/4 of your plate a lean protein like beef, fish, or chicken, and then fill half your plate with colorful vegetables. Veggies provide water and fiber content to help with feeling full faster for very few calories. Then, wait 15 minutes before you decide if you need more food, and if you do, go back for more veggies."

Sign up for our newsletter!

Eating a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of fiber is important for losing visceral fat.

"Fiber helps slow down digestion, meaning it helps get you full faster and stay full longer," says Goodson. "Consuming high-fiber food like whole grains, fruit with edible skin, or even nuts and seeds at meals and snacks might help you eat less, ultimately leading to losing some weight around your midsection. Some ideas include oatmeal with seeds and berries in the morning, adding nuts to a snack and choosing a whole grain to fill one-fourth of your plate at lunch and dinner."

Another very important nutrient to make sure you get enough of during your weight loss journey is protein.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

"Protein slows down digestion and helps you get full faster and stay full longer, just like fiber does. It also helps to stabilize blood sugar and energy levels," says Goodson. "Eating adequate protein at all meals and snacks can help you stay more satiated throughout the day, ultimately helping you eat less and decrease your calorie intake. Consuming a deficit of calories on a regular basis can help with losing weight and ideally decreasing visceral fat."

"I have my clients follow a personalized macro plan, and, to be very simple, I advise them to match protein in grams with their current weight (pounds)," says Courtney D'Angelo, MS, RD, author at Go Wellness. "Finding foods that are high in protein is the key to accomplishing your daily protein goals, and protein powder is also something we can add in there."

People often assume that losing visceral fat means you have to give up carbs, but this isn't true at all. Carbohydrates are a necessary for giving your body the nutrients and energy it needs, and incorporating healthy ones into your daily diet can help you reach your health goals.

"If we want to change our body composition and lose visceral fat, or any fat, we must put the work in with our exercise," says D'Angelo. "I generally recommend 45 minutes of cardio per day, and, in order to do that, you'll need a sufficient amount of energy. One of the best ways we can get that energy is by eating carbohydrates. Find good carbohydrates such as whole grains, vegetables, whole fruits, nuts, or beans and incorporate them into your diet."

Along with protein and carbs, fat is another key nutrient that your body needs for weight loss. However, not all fat is created equal.

"Fat is another specific type of nutrient that your body needs to absorb vitamins, produce energy, and protect your brain and heart health," says D'Angelo. "But, there's a difference between 'good' fats and 'bad' fats. The 'good' fats help manage your weight, keep you mentally focused, fight fatigue, and manage your moodsall vitally important for getting rid of visceral fat. The 'good' fats are unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, so find those types of foods and add them into your daily diet as well."

Excerpt from:
5 Eating Habits for Visceral Fat That Really Work, Say Dietitians Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

In Germany, it is now possible for apps to be prescribed for therapeutic purposes, including for obesity therapy. Two obesity apps have been included provisionally in the directory of Digital Health Apps (DiGA) at the country's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). Studies of both apps are ongoing.

The way in which obesity treatment apps should be scientifically evaluated was recently summarized by nutritionist Christina Holzapfel, PhD, from the Ludwig Maximilian University, in Munich, Germany, at the conference of the German Nutrition Society (DGE).

In previous studies, weight loss apps tended to have moderate success. Compared to standard therapies, use of them is not necessarily associated with greater weight loss. A recent meta-analysis has shown, however, that they do affect eating habits and nutrition-dependent endpoints, such as body mass index.

Most studies to date have only observed short-term effects of the apps. In general, conclusions about the long-term progression of weight or eating habits cannot be drawn from these findings.

"It is unlikely that apps will be able to replace the human touch," said Holzapfel.

Digital helpers have advantages, however. Apps can help a lot, particularly with self-observation and questions such as, "How much am I actually eating and how often am I moving?" In this way, they can support weight loss. In addition, the data collected in the apps can be useful for enabling nutritional experts to give targeted feedback or to conduct long-term care, said Holzapfel.

Nevertheless, the studies in this field become outdated very quickly, she said. "We need more investigations with the new generation of these apps." Since advances in design are being made continuously, today's apps are probably being used much more intensively than the version from the first study in 2015.

Britta Renner, PhD, a psychologist from Konstanz, Germany, who uses and investigates apps in the field of nutrition for research, is of the same opinion. "Give it 3 years, and the apps will look completely different," she said.

A range of online programs are available in Germany, and there are no randomized controlled studies on them, said Holzapfel. A British study on the online programs available there did not detect any convincing weight loss effect, however. "The subjects in the online programs performed only marginally better than the control group in this study," said Holzapfel.

When it comes to obesity, an age group for whom apps and online programs are often out of the question is becoming more and more important. "Obesity rates have increased enormously recently, even in more elderly age groups," said Eva Kiesswetter, PhD, from the Institute for Geriatric Biomedicine at the University of Nuremberg, Germany, at the DGE conference.

In addition to the other well-known consequences, excess weight in the elderly can affect fall risk, pain, cognitive performance, and above all, one's independence. Nevertheless, there are concerns about weight loss, even in the elderly. This is because a decrease in muscle mass or bone density can be particularly risky for elderly people.

In a network meta-analysis, Kiesswetter and her colleagues investigated which weight-loss interventions had a positive effect on elderly people's physical functionality. The team incorporated 49 studies into their evaluations.

They found that multimodal therapies (the combination of a nutritional and movement-related intervention and a behavioral therapy) produced the best results. Multimodal therapies can improve functional status and moderately reduce body weight without causing a loss in muscle mass, according to the findings.

"However, it was the younger elderly who were more represented in these studies," said Kiesswetter. "It is not clear whether the results can be generalized to the oldest old."

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

More:
Researchers Investigate Whether Apps May Aid Weight Loss - Medscape

We have been constantly plagued with different diets to achieve weight loss: intermittent fasting, keto, juice cleanses, paleo, Weight Watchers and of course, the most common, CICO. While there are many benefits and evidence for such a diet, there are also some serious catches. But first, lets breakdown how this specific dietary plan work

What is the CICO diet?

The CICO diet is an abbreviation for the term calories in, calories out and is a regime that consists of consuming fewer calories than those you burn. It is perhaps one of the most common and popular gateways into the world of weight loss. The idea behind this dietary method is that as long as youre consuming enough for your bodys essential needs, you can eat whatever you want and lose weight since youre in a constant calorie deficit. And, for most, it seems to work.

Just one scroll through the CICO diet subreddit will boast hundreds of successful weight loss results, with individuals often using a calorie-tracking app to calculate their necessary caloric consumption. But while it may help you lose weight, that does not mean its a perfect method for healthy eating and living. It only works as an approach when people use the method the right way. Every dietary approach comes with a catch, here are four.

1 Nutrients are more important than calories

According to this method, if you maintain your specific caloric deficit, you can eat anything. So, technically, you could eat chocolate all day as long as you dont go over your total calories for the day. This concept has caused many to believe that all calories are created equal and that is simply not true. This can lead people to choose eating a packet of crisps over an avocado, because it may contain less calories, even though the nutrients and benefits of the avocado obviously far outweigh the irresistible crisps. Even if this way of eating successfully leads to weight loss, your body could suffer nutritionally.

Sports nutritionist and dietitian Robbie Clark explained to The Huffington Post that the way we metabolise and breakdown the energy from calories is not one-size-fits-allmany factors are at play and different calories (those from unhealthy foods and those from nutrient-dense foods) have different effects on the body.

Healthy, nutrient-dense foods will keep hunger at bay, help maintain stable blood glucose levels, reduce cravings, and allow your brain to signal to your stomach that its full, Clark said. Whereas, ironically, reaching for those unhealthy foods that may be lower in calories could not only cause obvious nutritional deficiencies, but also lead to weight gain. This is because that unhealthy food choice may not keep you satiated for long.

Nutrient-poor foods will [thus] have the opposite effect, causing hormonal dysfunction, spiking insulin levels, increasing cravings, suppressing satiety signals and encouraging overeating, he continued. Things that cant simply be replaced through supplements. Weight loss in this case doesnt equate to health. So, if youre gonna try this method (even though it does work in many ways), be sure to eat as nutritionally as possible within your means.

2 Calorie counting isnt always accurate

In order to partake in this regime, calorie counting is an essential element of it, and now, with a stream of fitness-tracking and calorie counting apps, it seems dead easy, right? Not quite. There are a number of factors that can throw off the accuracy of your daily count. Take the example of when youre eating at a restaurantcan you be certain of the calories in that meal? Have you factored in the effect exercising could also have on your calorie count?

Sometimes when working out over a certain threshold, your body can begin to limit the amount of calories used so that you dont starveits trying to help you. This is extremely difficult to accurately determine yourself but, perhaps the most common reason for inaccuracy can be the tendency to underestimate calorie consumption. One study found that often people forget what they ate or used in preparing a meal and also dont account for high-caloric drinks, hidden calories or mindless snacking during the day that may be ingestedthis can lead to underestimation of consumption and overestimation of exercise.

Something also to consider is the lack of available food options when filling out your diary on a calorie-tracking app. Often, foods and cuisines from different ethnicities and cultures are not accurately representedyour cultural food is not unhealthy just because an app says so. You do not have to limit yourself to plain chicken breast and broccoli.

3 CICO is not sustainable long-term

Speaking to The Express, Doctor Rupy Aujla expressed his concern on diets such as CICO, The cons surrounding diets usually boil down to sustainability. When you employ a strategy which reduces calories, a very common dietary method, your weight set-point changes. This means that when your caloric intake rapidly declines, you may go into whats known as starvation mode whereby your body holds on to as many calories as it can and thus, retains as much fat as it can.

This is why people tend to plateau, despite having a consistent calorie deficit for a long period of time, Aujla explained. This also leads to people falling off the wagon because they are less motivated, usually by the three-month mark, so they will regain the weight they rapidly lost. Not only are there physical reasons for this being unsustainable but mental ones too.

There is huge enjoyment to be had with food and it is definitely a big influence on your mental health. Living in such a restrictive way could severely impact your mental wellbeing. President of the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (ISNPR), Felice Jacka, stated that a healthy diet is protective and an unhealthy diet is a risk factor for depression and anxiety, and explained that there is huge scientific evidence that shows food is just as important mentally as it is physically.

4 Calorie counting can affect disordered eating

Counting your calories has long been associated with disordered eating and unhealthy behaviours surrounding food. Beata charity dedicated to aiding those with eating disorderstold the BBC as part of its investigation into this association that counting calories, especially aided by calorie-tracking apps, only exacerbate eating disorders and make recovery even more difficult. It also found many harmful entries by MyFitnessPal, Lose It! and Lifesum users that showcased dangerous evidence of binge eating, starvation and severe esteem and mental health decline.

4 reasons why the CICO diet is toxic both for your body and mind

Excerpt from:
Bizzare 'diet cult' that lives without food and water caught its leader eating McDonald's - Screen Shot

The study, published in the journal Nature Aging, lays the ground for research that explores the possibility of translating the findings into humans.

People have traditionally thought of aging as an inevitable part of life. But since the seminal work of Cynthia Kenyon in the 90s, researchers have also become aware that aging is under genetic control.

Scientists continue to be interested in finding out whether the negative effects of aging can be reduced or reversed entirely.

Currently, 16% of the United States population is 65 years or older. By 2050 this is expected to reach 22%.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that aging increases a persons risk of various serious chronic illnesses, such as cancer, dementia, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

The National Institute on Aging points out that there are various things a person can do to help reduce the effects of aging.

These include staying physically active, eating a healthy diet with lots of vegetables, fruit, and whole grains, getting a good amount of quality sleep, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, and regularly seeing a doctor.

In 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) published a baseline report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing, highlighting how countries can go about ensuring health and well-being as people age.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, says that humans now live longer than at any time in history. But adding more years to life can be a mixed blessing if it is not accompanied by adding more life to years.

The Baseline Report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing has the potential to transform the way policy-makers and multiple service providers engage with older adults. We have to work together, to foster the abilities and well-being of our older generations, who continue to give us so much.

As well as lifestyle and policy changes, scientists are also exploring whether new types of medical interventions could reduce the physiological effects of aging.

The authors behind the present study have previously found that epigenetic markers in mice could be reprogrammed using the molecules Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc. These molecules, known as Yamanaka factors, increased the lifespan and reduced the effects of aging in mice with premature aging.

Medical News Today spoke with Prof. Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, of the Gene Expression Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, CA, and a corresponding author of the present study.

In the 2016 paper, we developed a protocol and showed for the first time that Yamanaka factors could be expressed in mice safely without generating cancer. Moreover, in our previous study, we used a premature aging mouse model to demonstrate that Yamanaka factors can extend the lifespan of these mice by preventing the accumulation of aging phenotypes in cells and tissues.

However, we did not know if expressing the Yamanaka factors for an extended period of time in animals without any preexisting pathologies will work and whether it would be safe. The goal of the current study was to establish whether long-term partial reprogramming would have a positive or negative impact on a wild-type animals health, said Prof. Izpisua Belmonte.

To do this, Prof. Izpisua Belmonte and his colleagues split the mice into three groups. The first group received Yamanaka factors from 15 to 22 months or around 50 to 70 years in human terms.

The second group received the Yamanaka factors from 12 to 22 months or 35 to 70 in human years.

The third group was treated for a single month at 25 months or 80 years in human terms.

The researchers found that compared with mice that acted as a control, the mice who received the Yamanaka factors did not develop cancer or see any blood cell or neurological changes.

Further, the mice that received the Yamanaka factors for a number of months showed various reversals in the effects of aging.

The kidneys and skin of the mice resembled those of younger mice, their skin healed from wounds without producing as much scarring, and the scientists did not observe the usual metabolic changes in the blood typically seen in older animals.

The animals treated for just a single month late in life did not see these effects.

Prof. Izpisua Belmonte said there were still necessary steps before the research could be tested in humans.

The translation of our approach to humans requires developing ways to deliver the factors and controlling the levels and how long the factors are expressed. These steps will allow [us] to demonstrate the safe delivery of the factors, a critical aspect before we could start thinking in clinical trials.

Nonetheless, the findings provide exciting evidence that the technique could have benefits far beyond the reversal of the effects of aging.

After our initial 2016 study, our lab, as well as several other laboratories around the world, have used the same approach to demonstrate improvement in the regeneration of different tissues in mice and rejuvenation of human cells.

All these studies further prove that the controlled expression of Yamanaka factors for cell reprogramming could benefit diverse conditions and might be a general medicine approach in the future for various complications that arise during life, said Prof. Izpisua Belmonte.

Read more:
Aging safely reversed in mice by reprogramming cells - Medical News Today

Page 32«..1020..31323334..4050..»

Home » Long Term Weight Loss » Page 32