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Mar 22

If You Want to Lose Weight, "Avoid These Foods Like the Plague," Fitness Expert Says – Best Life

Everyone's weight-loss journey is a bit differentbut in general, you need to make some dietary changes to shed extra pounds. When switching your habits, you probably head to the supermarket to stock up on fresh fruit, veggies, and lean proteins like chicken. But while wandering the aisles, it can be tough to pick out other healthy options to eat. Making things more complicated, some products tout weight-loss effects when they're really "fake health foods" that can derail your progress, according to fitness expert Michael Smoak. Read on to find out which foods and brands he says to avoid if you're serious about weight loss.

RELATED:Fitness Coach Shares "3 Easy Steps" to Lose Weight Before Summer.

In a Jan. 7 TikTok video, Smoak (@HigherUpWellness) takes viewers on a trip through his local grocery store to showcase "fake health foods."

First up on his list of skips is Bolthouse Farms Protein Plus shakes.

"[If you tell me], 'Oh, I'm eating cleaner,' and I see one of these in your hands, I will slap it out of your hand and then slap you," Smoak jokes.

Even though the shake has protein, he notes that it also has 49 grams of sugar and a total of 400 calories.

"You can eat a sizable whole-food-based meal for 400 calories," Smoak says.

RELATED: Lose 50 Pounds by Following 2 Simple Rules, Successful Dieter Says. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

Next up on the list of "fake health foods" is Power Up Premium Trail Mix. According to Smoak, even though it promises "high energy," that doesn't necessarily make it a good choice.

"No, this isn't inherently bad food, but it is very calorie-dense for like, this much food," he says, holding up his hand in a small circle formation. On the back of the trail mix packaging, it lists the serving size as a quarter cup.

"So, if your goal is fat loss, put the [expletive] trail mix back," Smoak urges viewers.

Smoak also picks up a pack of Yoplay Original yogurt, which says it is "low fat" and an "excellent source of calcium" on the packaging. While this may have you believe you're starting your day with the healthiest choice, you'd be mistaken.

"Only 5 grams of protein and 20 grams of sugar," Smoak says, recommending that you swap out the Yoplait for Oikos Triple Zero Blended Greek Yogurt.

"Less calories, three times the protein," he says. "See how getting fit is just about raising your awareness? Little swaps like Yoplait for Oikoslike putting the [expletive] Bolthouse Farm juice down and just having a meal instead, or just a regular protein shake."

RELATED: Certain Foods Trigger Natural Ozempic-Like Weight Loss Effect, Doctor Says.

Smoak continues to stress paying attention to marketing ploysespecially if you're a fan of pistachios.

According to Smoak, if you regularly buy these nuts because the packaging advertises "protein," that's not actually the full truth.

"Pistachios and nuts are a fat source, not a protein source," he says. "I'm not yelling at you. I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at big food."

While some nutritionists say there are good choices in the cereal aisle, Smoak recommends avoiding it altogether.

"Anyand I mean anykind of cereal" is a fake health food, he says, listing common buzzwords like "made with real food," "good source of fiber," and "good source of calcium."

"Cereal is the worst thingwell, one of the worst thingsyou can start your day with," he tells viewers. "You should start every day, or the first meal of every day, high in protein. You know what cereal has none of? Protein."

For a good source of protein, consider swapping cereal for eggs, Smoak suggests.

RELATED:Walmart Shopper Reveals the 5 Frozen Foods He Ate to Lose 100 Pounds.

Rounding out his list, Smoak also cautions against buying juiceeven if you've always thought it's a healthy choice.

"If you're still drinking juice cause you think it's healthier, a good source of vitamins, you're almost too far gone," he says. "Luckily, you found this video. I got you."

Smoak advises viewers to stop drinking juices like Tropicana due to the sugar content.

"You know the only place real sugar occurs in nature? In fruit, bound up in fiber," he explains. "Orange juice is just sugar without the fiber. Not good for your blood sugar, not good for your energy, not good for your appetite, not good for you."

If these particular items aren't on your regular shopping list and you're still looking for tips to shop smarter, Smoak recommends shopping in certain areas of your local food store.

"Easiest tip in the world, if you wanna be healthiershop the perimeter of the grocery store," he says. "Meat is on the perimeter, fruits and vegetables are on the perimeter."

The items that might detract from your weight-loss journey tend to be in the middle aisles, so those are areas to "limit," Smoak cautions.

Best Life offers the most up-to-date information from top experts, new research, and health agencies, but our content is not meant to be a substitute for professional guidance. When it comes to the medication you're taking or any other health questions you have, always consult your healthcare provider directly.

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If You Want to Lose Weight, "Avoid These Foods Like the Plague," Fitness Expert Says - Best Life


Mar 22

Water Fasting: What is It and is It Safe? – BarBend

In the past few decades, practices like intermittent fasting and time-restricted fasting have gained wide acceptance as tools for weight loss and other (potential) health benefits. As is often the case, if a practice is proven to be effective, some people will presume it to be even more beneficial if it is taken to an extreme.

One of the extreme variations of fasting, which isnt new but has become popular thanks in part to celebrities like UFC President Dana White, is water fasting. The belief is that you can rapidly unlock tremendous physiological improvements by lengthening the time that your body subsists on only its most essential nutrient good old H2O.

Laura Douglass, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with fellowship training in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. She is an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Chicagos Pritzker School of Medicine, where she is also the director of the Transabdominal Cerclage Program. Laura is a graduate of both the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the residency program of the University of Chicago.

Water fasting is the act of depriving your body of any nutrients other than water for a set period. While terms like intermittent fasting or time-restricted fasting typically apply to fasts of less than 24 hours, water fasting generally refers to fasts lasting longer than 24 hours. In some extreme cases, these fasts may extend for multiple weeks. In his viral video highlighting his own experience, Dana White said his water fast lasted 86 hours.

Studies indicate that there are multiple reasons why you might consider it worth the potential risks to eliminate all food and other supplements from your diet and simply drink water.

[Read More: How Much Water Do You Really Need to Drink a Day?]

Many religious or cultural fasts include water as an option to consume, and short-term fasting for a few days would be unlikely to yield any downsides for a healthy adult, said Douglass. During a short-term fast, the body converts to breaking down fat stores to extract nutrients. The downside occurs when the fast goes for too long, at which point muscle wasting will occur.

The most obvious outcome of a water fast is losing body weight. By depriving your body of food altogether, you induce ketosis, during which your body turns to its fat stores for energy, and feeds off the resulting ketones instead of glucose. (1) Across multiple water-fast studies, participants dropped significantly, with more body fat lost than fat-free mass. (2)(3)

Water fasts have been credited with improving the moods of some study participants. Some shorter-term fasting studies have shown some links between fasting and reductions in anxiety, depression, and fatigue. (4) Also, test subjects in one water-only fasting study experienced reduced anxiety following fasting, although this effect was limited to older test subjects. (5)

If you suffer from high blood pressure, a water fast may help bring it back down (though never try anything without talking to your doctor first). A medically supervised water fast of 10 to 11 days resulted in the average test subject experiencing a drop in blood pressure of 33/13 mm Hg. (6) Moreover, the test subjects with the highest initial blood pressure readings experienced the steepest declines in blood pressure.

If you find yourself plagued by chronically high cholesterol, a water fast may offer a potential solution. Similar to the case with intermittent fasting, an extended water-only fast was demonstrated to lower LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol following refeeding. (7)

While low insulin levels are dangerous, high insulin levels are indicative of an overactive pancreas, and also a warning that type 2 diabetes might be looming. (8) Water-only fasting has proven to be an effective intervention for lowering blood sugar levels, thereby reducing the insulin present in the bodies of study subjects. In one study, the insulin levels of test subjects experienced a nearly three-fold plunge below baseline levels. (7)

While the aforementioned water-fast outcomes all sound like study-backed ways to enhance negative health conditions, thats only half of the story. In most cases, studies exploring the outcomes of water-only fasting have unearthed undeniably dangerous side effects of this type of fasting. If you ever intend to participate in a water-only fast, these risks to your well-being should be considered.

[Read More: 8 Natural Ways to Decrease Appetite]

A fast of only a few days would be unlikely to cause serious issues, but if it were prolonged, nausea and GI upset would be among the most mild problems that could happen, explains Douglass. This is especially true if negative consequences like muscle wasting occurred during the fast.

Extended water-only fasting deprives your body of macronutrients and micronutrients deemed essential for optimal energy production. Most study results suggest that fasting is either detrimental to athletic performance, or has no effect. (9)(10) However, there are no strong indications that your physical performance will improve once your body enters a fasted state.

As your body begins to recognize the loss of the nutrients it craves, you will probably experience a downturn in mood, or an increase in irritability. Micronutrients like B vitamins, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iron, calcium, and omega-3 fatty acids are all linked with optimal brain and nervous system function. Deficiencies of these nutrients have been linked with depressive symptoms. (11)

The results of at least one study found that fasting contributed to the practice of disordered eating. (12) For the record, the study in question specifically involved intermittent fasting and its effects on adolescents. However, it is worth considering the likelihood that regular water fasting might introduce you to a pattern of unhealthy dietary behaviors, like extended food avoidance.

[Read More: 9 Types of Diets How They Work and Pros & Cons]

As a consequence of an eight-day water fast, test subjects experienced several dangerous metabolic issues. This included low serum sodium levels, elevated uric acid levels in their blood, hypoglycemia, and aggravated ketogenesis. (3) Several of these conditions have been linked with diagnoses of gout and kidney stones.

While studies have shown that water-only fasting decreases insulin levels, they also indicate a subsequent increase in insulin resistance. (13)(14) In response to insulin sensitivity, your pancreas will make even more insulin, a general characteristic of prediabetes. As such, while water fasting may temporarily reduce the insulin present in your body, it may increase the likelihood of greater future insulin overproduction.

Eliminating nutrients from your diet means you will not get the recommended amount of protein to repair your muscle tissue after exercise. (15) As a result, lifting heavy weights during prolonged fasting will leave microtears in your muscle fibers without sufficient amino acids available to repair them. (16) This will lead to reduced muscle mass and muscle weakening over time.

[Read More: How Much Water Do You Actually Need While Training?]

Over the course of a five-day water-only fast, participants lost an average of 26 percent of their IGF-1, which is a hormone that contributes to tissue growth in adults, including muscle growth. In addition, participants in the study lost a significant number of B cells and T cells, both of which are white blood cells that are vital to warding off illnesses. (7)

If you participate in a fast lasting more than five days, you are at high risk for fatal refeeding problems. (17) Even if all goes well during your fast, low levels of potassium, phosphate, or magnesium are likely to bring about refeeding syndrome. This is a condition marked by adverse effects ranging from muscle weakness and vomiting to seizures, coma, and potential death.

[Read More: How To Stay Hydrated While Working Out]

BarBend deems all recommended macronutrients and most micronutrients essential to maintaining proper bodily functions. Therefore, we do not advise our readers to casually participate in water fasts. Even if you have been diagnosed with a medical condition for which water fasting has been deemed an appropriate medical intervention, a water fast should only be observed under the care of a licensed healthcare professional.

[Read More: Learn How to Make a Homemade Electrolyte Drink from a Certified Nutrition Coach]

As with most diets taken for quick weight loss, you probably wont sustain the losses for very long after the fast ends, advises Douglass. Going without food for long periods of time is dangerous, and the longer a fast goes, the more difficult it is to bring you out of it safely. And if youre doing all of this for long-term weight loss, a water fast is unlikely to give you a true edge.

While medically supervised water fasting appears to result in some physical benefits to those who follow it, results have been mixed. Any potential positive outcomes of water fasting appear to be accompanied by detrimental consequences. As such, you should exercise extreme caution before you choose to embark on a water fast, as there is an elevated risk that you may not emerge from such a fast completely unscathed.

Personally, I would never advise someone to begin a water fast, not even post-op patients, insists Douglass. Thats because early feeding especially of carbohydrates before and after surgery yields better recovery and return of bowel function, with less morbidity. I could never advise a healthy person to undertake such a dangerous course of action on their own.

If you still have questions about the safety and efficacy of water fasting, we provide clear answers for you here.

Study results indicate that you can lose significant weight by water fasting. Test subjects involved in one 10-day controlled water fast lost an average of 10 percent of their body weight, amounting to an average of 16 pounds per subject. (2) Moreover, a higher percentage of the weight lost consisted of body fat, and the majority of the lost body fat remained absent following post-fast refeeding.

According to expert opinion, a healthy person can survive for up to two months (in extreme cases) on water alone. (18) However, water fasts lasting longer than five days create circumstances under which refeeding must be conducted very carefully to avoid potentially fatal consequences. (17)

How you should break a water fast depends upon its length. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence advises that refeeding begins at no more than 50 percent of your energy requirements if youve been fasting for over five days. (17) Furthermore, it is advised that refeeding begins only after your plasma electrolyte levels have been carefully measured by a medical professional in order to avoid adverse events.

Water fasting has many risks. During a water fast, you are likely to experience increased irritability, a reduction in energy, compromised muscle repair, potential kidney damage, and reduced levels of key hormones. Following the fast, you are also at risk of refeeding syndrome, which is a potentially fatal condition.

Featured Image: Oleggg / Shutterstock

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Water Fasting: What is It and is It Safe? - BarBend


Mar 22

Renew Reviews – Does It Really Work For Fast Weight Loss? (March 2024 Urgent Update) – Peninsula Daily News

Renew is a nutritional supplement thats getting a lot of attention lately. It claims to help with a few essential things: improving deep sleep, helping you burn fat, and improving your bodys metabolism.

It also claims to help you feel healthier and more energized overall. We know that sounds like a big promise, right? Thats why we decided to take a closer look.

Science has found that getting good sleep is essential for losing weight and keeping your body working well. Renew is supposed to help with that, and its why some people are excited about it. But were here to ask the big question: does it work?

Were going to do a detailed review of Renew. Well look at its ingredients, what science says about those ingredients, and what people whove used it think. So, if youre considering Renew, stick around, and lets find out!

Try Renew now and experience the difference!

You might think that youre doing okay as long as you get enough hours of sleep, but theres more to the story. Not all sleep is equal.

Your body is at work repairing itself when youre in deep sleep. This includes your brain, heart, immune system, and, yes, even metabolism. Deep sleep is when your body does maintenance work to keep you running smoothly. This is when the magic happens: fat-burning, fighting off aging, and boosting your memory and immune system.

However, getting into deep sleep isnt always easy, and without it, you might find it challenging to lose weight, age faster, and be more open to getting sick. Even your skin and appearance can be affected by not getting enough deep sleep. If your body is a smartphone, deep sleep is when it charges up. Without enough charge, it wont work as well.

Therefore, the big idea behind Renew is to help you get more of this special deep sleep. The research shows that if you can improve your deep sleep, you can improve almost everything about your health. You can burn fat more efficiently, slow down how fast you age, look better, and boost your memory.

Moreover, stress, eating habits, and even how much screen time you get can interfere with deep sleep. Renew aims to help your body overcome these obstacles, making it easier for you to dive deep into that restorative sleep you crave.

So, why is deep sleep so hard to come by? Were surrounded by screens that emit blue light, which can mess with our sleep cycles. Were stressed out, and our diets arent always great, which can affect our sleep. Thats why a little help from something like Renew can be a game-changer.

Click here to visit the official website for Renew >>>

If you stay away from chemical-laden supplements that promise you the world but also have tons of side effects, youre heard. The Renew Metabolic Regeneration Formula uses all-natural ingredients to boost your metabolism while ensuring your health is safe. Heres what this supplement is made of:

Withania somnifera, also known as Ashwagandha, is a plant that has long been used to help people relax and get better sleep. When it comes to deep sleep, this ingredient is a champ. It helps your body get into the kind of sleep where it recovers and rebuilds itself. Thats important because deep sleep is when your body does much of its repair work.

Withania Somnifera also gives your metabolism a little nudge. Think of your metabolism like a fire burning inside you. Sometimes, it burns slowly, and sometimes it burns fast. Withania Somnifera helps keep the fire burning just right, which can help you maintain a healthy weight.

Lastly, its good for your blood sugar levels. Keeping your blood sugar stable prevents you from hitting those energy highs and lows throughout the day.

Griffonia Simplicifolia helps you get that deep, restorative sleep your body craves. Then theres fat-burning. Griffonia Simplicifolia has your back in turning what you eat into energy instead of storing it as fat. Imagine it as a helpful buddy in the gym, encouraging you to push harder. And for heart health, this ingredient supports a system that keeps your heart beating happily and healthily without putting too much strain on it.

Get Renew now while its on sale limited time only!

L-theanine helps you get into deep sleep more easily and acts as a gentle nudge to your brain, telling it to slow down and get ready for restful sleep. This is super important because deep sleep is when your body does most of its healing and recharging. L-theanine also boosts cognitive function, which is just a fancy way of saying it helps your brain work better.

When it gets dark at night, your brain starts producing melatonin to tell your body its time to sleep. Adding a bit more melatonin can help you fall into deep sleep more smoothly. Melatonin also helps keep your blood pressure healthy. Stable blood pressure is key to preventing strain on your heart and arteries and keeping your cardiovascular system running smoothly. Melatonin also supports your immune system. It helps your body fight off germs and stay healthy.

Zinc is essential for helping you get into deep sleep. Imagine zinc as a little helper that tells your body, Hey, its time to rest and repair. This is crucial because, during deep sleep, your body fixes itself up, making you ready for the next day. It is also a big player in keeping your immune system strong. It helps your body fight colds, the flu, and other illnesses. One Italian study found that in combination with melatonin and magnesium, zinc helped fight insomnia.

Magnesium works a bit like zinc, helping your brain understand its time to wind down and get ready for quality sleep. It also ensures you fall asleep in a healthy, natural way and stay asleep so your body can do its nightly maintenance work. Magnesium is also super important for your heart. It helps your heart beat steadily and keeps your blood pressure in a good range.

Arginine is an amino acid that plays a significant role in how your body burns energy and stays fit. Think of it as a spark that helps keep your metabolism running smoothly. This means your body can use the food you eat more efficiently, turning it into energy instead of storing it as fat.

Besides helping with metabolism, arginine is excellent for your blood flow. This ensures that blood can move quickly throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to where theyre needed most.

Buy Renew Before its SOLD OUT >>>

Lysine helps your body turn food into energy, ensuring you have the fuel you need to get through your day. With lysines help, your metabolism works like a well-oiled machine, efficiently using what you eat for energy rather than storing it.

This ingredient also keeps you feeling more energetic and ready to tackle whatever comes your way, from a busy workday to a workout session.

Gaining control of your health gets easier when you balance your sleep cycle and give your body enough rest. Since Renew is made from all-natural ingredients, here are some benefits it promises to bring along:

Boosting your metabolism means your body gets better at converting food into energy. This is crucial because a fast metabolism can help you feel more energetic and lively throughout the day; improving your metabolism, youre helping your body use nutrients more efficiently and keep your energy levels high.

Burning off body fat is all about helping your body use its stored energy most effectively. Its like when your body uses the extra fuel in the tank. This process is vital to losing weight and shaping up. By focusing on burning off body fat, youre encouraging your body to tap into those reserves and convert them into energy. This requires a combination of good nutrition, regular exercise, and sometimes extra help from supplements. The goal is to get your body to a place where its efficiently using its stored fat for energy, leading to a leaner, healthier you.

Renew: Get the benefits youve been looking for!

Having incredible all-day energy means feeling awake, alert, and ready to tackle whatever the day throws at you, from the moment you get up until its time to wind down. Its about saying goodbye to those afternoon slumps or needing countless cups of coffee to keep going. This energy boost isnt about a quick fix but sustaining a steady level of vitality throughout the day. It helps you do your activities, enjoy your hobbies, and still have the zest to spend quality time with loved ones without feeling wiped out.

Restoring memory and cognitive function is about sharpening your mind, making remembering details easier, learning new things, and staying focused. Imagine your brain as a sponge ready to soak up information and retain it without effort. Improving your memory and cognitive skills means less forgetting where you left your keys and more effortlessly keeping track of important dates, names, and tasks.

Turning back the clock means helping your body feel and act younger than it is. Its not about magic potions or time travel but about giving your body the support it needs to function at its best. This includes better energy, sharper thinking, and a feeling of vitality that you might have thought was behind you.

Healthy skin, bright eyes, and vibrant energy are signs that your body is getting what it needs to repair and rejuvenate itself. Its the kind of renewal that makes people notice youre glowing but cant quite put their finger on why.

Renew is available online from the official website. Several packages are offered, with discounts increasing if you order in bulk.

A 60-day money-back guarantee covers all orders. If you have any questions about the return policy or anything else, please get in touch with customer service for more information.

A: Taking this supplement before bed is recommended so your body can absorb its nutrients well while you sleep.

A: No, its not a standalone weight loss solution. A healthy diet and regular exercise are still vital to shedding pounds. Think of Renew as a supportive friend, not the whole solution.

Read what others are saying and decide for yourself >>>

A: Its always smart to chat with your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if youre already taking medications.

The idea behind Renew is that it could help you get better sleep, feel more energized during the day, and maybe even look a bit younger. But, and this is important, its not a miracle worker. Sure, its a good supplement, but dont expect it to cure serious stuff like diabetes or magically make you drop pounds overnight without any effort.

Renew could give you a nudge in the right direction, especially if you want to improve your sleep or boost your metabolism. But remember, you still have to eat right, exercise, and take care of yourself in all the usual ways.

Visit the official website to learn more today!

The news and editorial staff of Sound Publishing, Inc. had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this sponsored post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Sound Publishing, Inc.

Sound Publishing, Inc. does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products, nor do we endorse any products posted in our Marketplace.

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Renew Reviews - Does It Really Work For Fast Weight Loss? (March 2024 Urgent Update) - Peninsula Daily News


Mar 22

A controversial study says intermittent fasting may shorten your lifespan. It shows how little we really know about the … – Yahoo News UK

Timing your meals around the clock with intermittent fasting may not boost longevity, a controversial new study suggests.Sasithorn Phuapankasemsuk/Getty Images

A new study links intermittent fasting to a higher risk of early death instead of longevity.

Some experts are skeptical, citing major limitations with the study like other lifestyle variables.

It's too early to say if fasting has long-term risks, so focus on what you eat instead of when.

Intermittent fasting may not be the key to longevity after all and may even be linked to dying earlier, according to controversial new research.

Once one of the hottest topics in longevity research, limiting your eating to a specific window of time each day with intermittent fasting has been touted as a way to reduce your "biological age" and extend your life.

That's why the authors of a new, as-yet-unpublished study about intermittent fasting were surprised to find it was linked to a higher risk of dying of cardiovascular disease, the lead researcher told Business Insider.

While there's not yet enough evidence to say intermittent fasting is risky, the findings suggest we may have a lot more to learn about whether it's good for our health in the long run.

Fasting is popular among longevity enthusiasts who believe it can help you stave off age-related diseases, so you feel younger for longer. They are backed by studies that found fasting has health benefits such as reducing blood pressure, helping manage weight, balancing blood sugar, and more.

However, some rigorous studies on intermittent fasting have found mixed results: some suggest it's no better for you than other diets, and isn't worth the side effects like hunger.

The long-term effects of fasting hadn't been as well studied, said Victor Wenze Zhong, co-author of the most recent study and professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China.

Zhong's team looked at data from more than 20,000 American adults, comparing their self-reported eating habits to their rates of illness and death over an average of eight years.

Story continues

The researchers expected to find that people who only ate within an eight-hour window i.e. people who follow the 16:8 diet would have a lower risk of dying during the study, and better heart health. That's what other studies had found, after all.

What they found was that people who self-reported fasting for 16 hours a day were 91% more likely to die of cardiovascular illness during the study than their peers who ate during a longer window of time or didn't fast.

It's too early to say if intermittent fasting causes a higher risk of cardiac death since the study is observational and so far only suggests a link

The findings are part of preliminary research that will be presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions this week in Chicago. The study has also been submitted to but has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Judging by the summary alone, independent experts are skeptical.

For one thing, the study analyzed participants' diets based on just two days worth of surveys on their eating habits.

"Two days of diet record data are not at all reflective of an individual's regular eating pattern this is a major limitation to the study," Krista Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois Chicago who has published extensive research on fasting, told Business Insider.

Varady also noted that the study didn't account for lifestyle factors like exercise, socioeconomic status, alcohol and tobacco use, and other variables that can make a major difference in heart disease risk.

Other researchers were more blunt in their assessment of the study.

"So much is unclear about this study.In particular, why were the particular two days chosen to measure times of eating?How do they know whether food was eaten outside the 8-hour window and just not entered in the questionnaire?" David Spiegelhalter, emeritus professor of statistics at the University of Cambridge, said in a statement. "This abstract should not have been graced with a press release."

Some experts believe this may be a thread worth pulling.

More specific data could help scientists understand how fasting may affect our health over time, according to Christopher D. Gardner, a Stanford professor, and chair of the writing committee for the American Heart Association's 2023 scientific statement, who was not involved in the study.

"Overall, this study suggests that time-restricted eating may have short-term benefits but long-term adverse effects," Gardner said in a press release.

For example, Zhong's team said people on fasting diets tended to have lower muscle mass than those who didn't fast. Maintaining lean muscle is a crucial factor in healthy aging, and eating too little, or fasting for too long, can make it harder to build or maintain muscle.

"Loss of lean body mass has been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality," Zhong said. "This will be an exciting research question, but we really do not know much right now."

To follow up, Zhong wants to look at what people eat, not just when they eat, since the study results suggest people who fasted tended to have a lower diet quality than people who didn't fast.

For now, there's good evidence that focusing on eating the right things, like plenty of protein, fiber, and other nutrients, can be a major tool in living a long, healthy life as we wait for future fasting research to offer some clearer answers.

Getting enough of these nutrients could be key to mitigating potential side effects to make fasting safer.

As for proven methods to eat for a healthy heart, the Mediterranean diet and DASH diet are evidence-based ways to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart disease.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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A controversial study says intermittent fasting may shorten your lifespan. It shows how little we really know about the ... - Yahoo News UK


Mar 13

What is the Fast-Mimicking Diet (FMD) and What Are Scientists Saying About it? – Newsweek

Imagine if you could diet for just five days a month and see results. Results that extend far beyond weight loss and promise to "rejuvenate" your body at a cellular level. This is the basis of the fast-mimicking diet, also known as FMD.

Intermittent fasting has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, with programs like the 5:2 diet and time restricted eating receiving endorsements from celebrities and nutritionists around the world. All of these different diet plans are characterized by a cycle of fasting and feeding on a regular, cyclical schedule. But unlike most other fasting diets, which rotate on a daily or weekly basis, the FMD revolves around a monthly cycle.

"It's really another form of intermittent fasting but it's unique in the sense in the way it is organized," Adam Collins, associate professor of nutrition at the University of Surrey in the U.K., told Newsweek.

The FMD diet, designed by gerontology professor Valter Longo, consists of five days of restricted eating, where calorie consumption is kept at around 700 calories per day. "The FMD [...] is a low calorie nutrition program that last 5 days with a specific low sugar, low protein, high fat plant based composition, designed to match or surpass the effects of water only fasting, without the safety and compliance issues," Longo, director of the Longevity Institute of the University of Southern California, told Newsweek.

"For people without [specific] diseases, it is designed to be used for only 5 days for 2 to 3 times per year (10 to 15 days per year [in total]) and otherwise not impose a lifestyle change."

Like any energy-restricting diet, people do tend to lose weight on FMD. But weight loss isn't the only benefit of this type of cyclic fasting. In 2018, Collins and colleagues at the University of Surrey investigated how the health benefits of intermittent fasting compared to other restrictive dieting strategies.

"We had one group doing the 5:2 diet and then we had another group doing traditional continuous energy restriction," Collins said. "So they had the same overall energy restriction if you average it out across the week. Then what we did was we waited until they had lost 5 percent of their body weight and brought them back into the lab."

Interestingly, those on the 5:2 diet didn't lose the weight any faster than those undertaking more traditional energy restriction. But what the researchers did see was a significant difference in various metabolic markers between the two groups.

"Our metabolism is designed to operate in a cycle of feeding and fasting. Your body is able to cope with these changes and adjust accordingly. You're going to start tapping into energy reserves, and that essentially boils down to us shifting from predominantly using carbohydrates for energy to now using mainly our body fat. So that fast-feed cycling is having metabolic effects.

"From a cellular point of view, if you're changing the availability of energy, your cells are going to have to change their priorities. So you're going to change from synthesizing and building new molecules to breaking down and recycling old ones instead. And this process, called autophagy, is where all of the longevity stuff comes in, because all that breaking down and recycling is like spring cleaning for your cells."

The difference between the 5:2which involves restricted eating twice a weekand FMD is the window over which fasting takes place. "[FMD] is a way to fast where you're not doing it every week but when you do it, you're doing it for a cumulative period of time," Collins said.

Preliminary studies have already suggested that FMD can reduce inflammation, improve cognition, reduce our risk of cancer and heart disease, and possibly event protect against Alzheimer's. Most significantly, in a paper published by Longo's team in the journal Nature Communications on February 20, it was shown to potentially reverse biological aging.

"In [our] studies the FMD was shown to decrease liver and abdominal fat without reducing muscle mass, it reduced A1C [a measure of average blood sugar levels], it caused changes in the immune system cells consistent with a rejuvenation of the immune cell profile and it caused a 2.5 year median biological age decrease in both of the clinical trials which enrolled a total of 184 participants," Longo said.

It is worth noting here that two thirds of the study participants were overweight or obese at baseline so some of these positive results may have resulted from simple weight loss among these participants. "It seems it was most beneficial for the obese, as would be expected, and those with higher systolic blood pressure etc at baseline," David Clancy, a lecturer in biogerontology at Lancaster University in the U.K., told Newsweek.

Even so, the beneficial effects persisted for several months after the last FMD cycle.

However, as encouraging as these results are, 184 is a fairly small sample size, and most of our prior understanding of this topic has come from research in animals. "While preliminary findings are encouraging, more research is needed, particularly more human studies with meaningful sample sizes," Caroline Susie, a dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the U.S., told Newsweek.

With all that in mind, who is best suited to this diet?

"Those who are overweight or obese, those with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, those with fatty liver, those with pre-diabetes or high A1C, those with high CRP or other inflammation markers," Longo said.

Clancy added: "It's not unreasonable to think that, during ages 40 to 60 at least, this regime twice per year may add 3 to 4 years of healthy life, maybe more, in those with higher BMI, blood pressure, blood sugar etc. This is the age range where we accumulate problems that will harm us later.

"That said, a sensible exercise habit could achieve the same, or even better, and is maintainable into older age. Starving oneself in older age is risky because immune responses to infections need ready resources."

The elderly are not the only ones who should be cautious of restrictive dieting. "There are concerns about this dietary approach for those living with certain medical conditions," Susie said. "This diet is not appropriate for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding; people with a history of disordered eating are not appropriate for FMD; people who are currently underweight and or already living with vitamin/mineral deficiencies are not appropriate. Additionally, if you are living with cancer, diabetes, or congestive heart failure, FMD is not appropriate.

"Always check with your doctor before you start any diet or make any changes to your diet."

The FMD program is commercially available under the brand name ProLon.

Is there a health problem that's worrying you? Do you have a question about fasting? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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What is the Fast-Mimicking Diet (FMD) and What Are Scientists Saying About it? - Newsweek


Mar 13

New Study Explores the Effects of Water Fasting for 7 Days – Men’s Health UK

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The research involved 12 volunteers, five women and seven men, and were told to consume just water for seven days. The investigation involved a comprehensive analysis of around 3000 plasma proteins measured before, during, and after fasting.

After three days of fasting, the researchers noticed that the body changed its energy sources from glucose to fat, resulting in an average weight loss between participants of 5.7 kg. This weight loss came from fat mass and muscle mass. During the follow up, after three days of returning to their normal eating patterns, the loss of muscle was almost completely reversed while the fat mass didn't return.

The researchers also noticed differences between certain proteins made within the body, which they believe can help them find and diagnose specific diseases and conditions.

The researchers assessed the health effects of 212 proteins altering during fasting across roughly 500 outcomes and sought to understand how these alterations in these specific proteins during fasting might relate to different conditions.

For example, they highlighted the connection between a protein called SWAP70 and arthritis, suggesting that the changes in this protein during extended fasting could potentially be beneficial for those with arthritis. They also identified an association between another protein, HYOU1, and heart disease, indicating that changes in this protein might have potential positive implications for heart health.

This is one of only a few studies that has found a positive correlation between water fasting and its ability to inform targeted health interventions.

'For the first time, were able to see whats happening on a molecular level across the body when we fast,' said Claudia Langenberg, director of Queen Mary's Precision Health University Research Institute (PHURI). ' Fasting, when done safely, is an effective weight loss intervention. Popular diets that incorporate fasting such as intermittent fasting claim to have health benefits beyond weight loss. Our results provide evidence for the health benefits of fasting beyond weight loss, but these were only visible after three days of total caloric restriction later than we previously thought.'

'Our findings have provided a basis for some age-old knowledge as to why fasting is used for certain conditions,' added Maik Pietzner, Health Data Chair of PHURI. 'While fasting may be beneficial for treating some conditions, often times, fasting won't be an option to patients suffering from ill health. We hope that these findings can provide information about why fasting is beneficial in certain cases, which can then be used to develop treatments that patients are able to do.'

Fasting is a contentious issues, and we don't endorse fasting for seven days. For most people, fasting for such an extended period is impractical, especially for those aiming to lose weight, as it's not sustainable to go without food for that length of time

Extended water fasts also carry risks and should be done only under professional supervision. Many individuals may find interventions such as intermittent fasting or shorter fasting methods more sustainable and a lot safer in comparison to extended fasts.

It's also important to note that this study only saw health benefits after three days of no food.

New research such as this study could help us find out more about how extended fasting impacts the body beyond weight loss, which is still unclear. But water fasting requires further investigation. For now, it's important to adjust your diet under supervision of a nutritionist or dietician so that you can ensure the safety of your health.

Kate is a fitness writer for Mens Health UK where she contributes regular workouts, training tips and nutrition guides. She has a post graduate diploma in Sports Performance Nutrition and before joining Mens Health she was a nutritionist, fitness writer and personal trainer with over 5k hours coaching on the gym floor. Kate has a keen interest in volunteering for animal shelters and when she isnt lifting weights in her garden, she can be found walking her rescue dog.

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New Study Explores the Effects of Water Fasting for 7 Days - Men's Health UK


Mar 13

Longevity Diet: What You Need to Know to Benefit – Woman’s World

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Longevity Diet: What You Need to Know to Benefit - Woman's World


Feb 21

Here’s Why You Should Never Try To Lose Weight While Pregnant – HuffPost UK

Gaining weight in pregnancy can be difficult to accept, despite it being very normal. On average, most women gain around 10kg 12.5kg during their pregnancy, according to the NHS.

However, the weight gained during pregnancy is not because you are eating for two it actually comes from your baby growing and your body storing additional fat to help with milk production after birth, and it is completely normal and healthy.

Though it can be a shock seeing the scales jump up so fast, it is never advised to lose weight while pregnant. In fact, intentionally losing weight by dieting or exercising outside of your norm can be dangerous for both the mum and the baby.

Kate Hilton, a clinical dietician at FeelGut says: For most pregnancies, the focus should be on maintaining a healthy balanced diet to support the babys growth and development.

There are risks when trying to lose weight during pregnancy, the chances of delivering a baby with a low birth weight are increased. Restricting calorie intake can also lead to inadequate intake of essential nutrients required for foetal development, such as folic acid, iron, calcium, and protein, crucial for your babys development.

My advice would be to not make any drastic changes to your diet during pregnancy, instead; engage in regular moderate physical activity which can support overall health during pregnancy without the goal of weight loss.

It can be mentally, emotionally and physically challenging to accept your new body, but personal trainer and nutrition coach Sarah Campus of LDN mums fitness is a huge advocate for being strong and fit for birth, but NOT loosing weight unless told by your GP.

She said: Trying to lose weight whilst pregnant is not advised because you could be depriving your growing baby of nutrients that they need to grow and develop. It is advised to go for healthy weight gain with good nutrition and exercise while pregnant.

Being pregnant is not the time to be dieting, restricting calories, hitting personal bests. It is a time to nurture your body and that of your growing baby.

Sarah explained that though obesity or being overweight during pregnancy can lead to problems such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia and issues with blood clotting, you should not go to extremes during your pregnancy.

She advises: The best way to have a healthy pregnancy is to optimise your health prior to pregnancy. During pregnancy its advised to focus on healthier foods, including vegetables, proteins, whole carbs, as opposed to processed foods. It is ok to monitor your weight and make adjustments to your eating habits throughout your pregnancy, but good to be guided by a health care professional.

Continue to exercise to keep your entire body healthy and strong. Talk to your health care professional about safe exercise, especially after the 12th week of pregnancy.

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Here's Why You Should Never Try To Lose Weight While Pregnant - HuffPost UK


Feb 21

Stages Of Fasting: 4 Fasting Timeline Phases, According To Experts – Women’s Health

Whether youre brand new to fasting or have been doing some type of intermittent fasting for years, its no secret that the popular diet trend is everywhere nowadays.

Fasting may help activate your metabolism, increase longevity, and can even mimic the health benefits of aerobic exercise, says Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, a dietitian and nutrition consultant for the E-Health Project. That said, fasting isnt for everyone. There are many potential side effects, and limiting your diet may not be best for everyone's body or lifestyle. So, you should always consult with your doctor or a registered dietician before starting a fasting protocol.

Below, experts explain the four stages of fasting, what happens during each part of the fasting timeline, and who should (and shouldnt!) try fasting.

Meet the experts: Raj Dasgupta, MD, is a physician and the chief medical advisor for Sleep Advisor. Kelsey Costa, MS, RDN, is a dietitian and nutrition consultant for the E-Health Project.

Fasting is widely known for its ability to help jumpstart weight loss. Some studies suggest that intermittent fasting is about as effective as a typical low-calorie diet for weight loss, says Raj Dasgupta, MD, a physician and the chief medical advisor for Sleep Advisor. That seems reasonable because reducing the number of calories you eat should help you lose weight.

Apart from weight loss, following a fasting schedule may encourage a calorie deficit or simply help you follow a more consistent diet routine. Short-term fasting may also help boost metabolism, per a recent study, and research has shown that people can lose up to 13 percent of their body weight through intermittent fasting, according to a recent review of 27 randomized controlled trials. Fasting can [also] help reduce inflammation and promote weight loss, lowering fasting insulin levels and decreasing cardiovascular risks, Costa adds.

During a fast, the body transitions between the fed and fasting states, experiencing distinct metabolic and hormonal alterations, Costa says. This process can trigger your bodys metabolism and promote autophagya process in which unnecessary or deteriorating cells are recycledand accelerate lipolysis, which helps break down fat stores, she explains.

The fast-fed cycle supports the body's efficient use of energy and underpins many of the physiological benefits of fasting, Costa adds. Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of each specific phase.

After you enjoy a yummy meal and your body is digesting, youve entered the first stage of fasting: the fed state. Immediately after food consumption, the body enters the fed state, where insulin levels rise to manage increased blood sugar spurred by nutrient absorption, Costa adds. During this phase, excess sugar becomes glycogen in the liver and muscles. Then, hunger-regulating hormones like ghrelin decrease, and leptin (which has an appetite-suppressing effect) intensifies, she says.

Depending on the type and amount of food you consume during this stage, a variety of reactions can occur. Individuals may experience feelings of fullness, satisfaction, and temporary relief from hunger, Costa says. Emotionally, this state might offer a sense of comfort or pleasure derived from eating, though again, the fuel sources consumed and the individual's relationship with food can shape this experience.

Consuming meals high in refined carbohydrates and added sugars can lead to a dramatic spike in blood sugar levels, followed by a crash that can affect emotional stability, Costa says. This may cause feelings of irritability and fatigue, mood swings, and exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Choosing whole foods and maintaining more balanced blood sugar levels are fundamental for optimal brain function and emotional well-being, she says.

Roughly three to four hours post-meal, your blood sugar, and insulin begin to wane and the body taps into glycogen reserves for energy, Costa says. This is the onset of the early fasting state. This intermediary phaseescalating up to 18 hours without foodactivates fat breakdown while the body gears up for alternative energy sourcing. Think: Youre not quite fed, but not full-on fasting yet.

Because your blood glucose and insulin levels are declining during this stage, you may notice some emotional shifts, Costa says. [Since] the body has not yet transitioned to burning fat for fuel, hunger signals intensify, leading to feelings of irritability and fatigue. It is common to observe oscillations in emotional well-being, with increased tension-anxiety and a more pronounced negative mood.

However, as you get more accustomed to fasting, you may find that your symptoms lessen and your emotions even out a bit, she says.

During the fasting statewhich can last between 18 hours and two daysthe liver depletes glycogen, causing the body to metabolize fat and protein into fuel, says Costa. At around the 24-hour mark, your body may produce ketones, and you may see signs of ketosis around the two-day mark, she says. FYI: This is similar to what happens in the keto diet when your body burns through fat instead of carbs.

The hormone ghrelin (which stimulates hunger) also shifts during the fasting state. Ghrelin levels typically peak between the first and second day of fasting before decreasing, Costa says. You may feel intense hunger during this time before the feeling starts tapering off. This reduction in hunger also usually coincides with the body's shift into ketosis and the subsequent use of stored fat for energy, Costa adds.

Short-term fasting may lead to an increase in positive mood attributes and a decrease in negative ones. You may even feel proud and accomplished about your diet and routine. However, if you have no prior fasting experience, this stage might feel particularly intense with more physical and emotional challenges.

The last stage is long-term fasting, sometimes referred to as a starvation statealthough experts stress that this should never be the goal.

After 48 hours without food, the body enters the starvation state, where it sustains itself through gluconeogenesisa.k.a. making sugar as fuel for the brain, Costa says. Your insulin levels decrease, ketone levels increase, and muscle breakdown may occur over time. However, this process is "not recommended for most people, and necessitates medical oversight to ensure safety and health," she adds.

In prolonged starvation mode, the body is forced to consume its muscle tissue for energy, which can lead to functional deterioration of the body's systems over time, says Costa. Extended periods of fasting can instigate a cascade of organ failure as the body depletes its energy reserves to dangerous levels. Extended fasting requires medical supervision, and you should always consult a healthcare provider before starting any fasting regimen, she says.

If you are considering intermittent fasting, make sure to discuss it with your doctor or healthcare provider first. Skipping meals and severely limiting calories can be dangerous for people with certain conditions, such as diabetes, says Dr. Dasgupta. People who take medications for blood pressure or heart disease also may be more prone to electrolyte abnormalities from fasting.

Before trying fasting, you should also have a strong social support network to endure very low-calorie days over the long haul, says Dr. Dasgupta. Pregnant women, people with eating disorders, or who have chronic health issues, hormonal imbalances, or nutritional deficiencies should be extra cautious and maybe [should] avoid fasting. Always check with your doctor before trying to fast to make sure it is a safe option for you."

Costa says fasting for a specific period, typically 16 to 24 hours, is generally safe for most adults and can offer significant benefits, particularly for those dealing with obesity or specific health issues. But again, pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as individuals with a history of eating disorders, should avoid it.

People living with conditions like type 2 diabetes should consult with their healthcare practitioners to tailor the approach to their needs, Costa says. If you have diabetes, your doc can help ensure that your blood sugar levels are closely monitored to prevent hypoglycemic episodes.

Ashley Martens is a wellness writer based in Chicago. With a lifelong passion for all things health and wellness, Ashley enjoys writing about topics to help people live happier and healthier lives. With a foundation in fitness, food, and nutrition, Ashley covers it all including sexual health and travel topics. Ashley is also a NASM-certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor.

Raj Dasgupta, M.D. is an ABIM quadruple board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. He practices at the University of Southern California, where he is an associate professor of clinical medicine, assistant program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and the associate program director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Dasgupta is an active clinical researcher and has been teaching around the world for more than 20 years.

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Stages Of Fasting: 4 Fasting Timeline Phases, According To Experts - Women's Health


Feb 13

Best Intermittent Fasting App Of 2024, According To Nutritionists – Women’s Health

Window is jam-packed with features that make intermittent fasting as simple as possible. It lets you schedule your eating windows, notifies you when eating windows open and close, lets you sync your data with the Apple Health app and Apple Watch, and provides a blog with tips on how to be healthier.

If you're unsure of where to begin, the Window app can help with that, says Colleen Moltzen, RD, a dietitian at Keatley MNT in New York, adding that the app can keep you motivated with visuals that easily allow you to monitor your weight loss progress.

The basic app is free, but you can also subscribe to the premium version for $9.99 monthly or $39.99 yearly. The upgrade unlocks all IF plans, individual meal plans, challenges that help you build new habits, and nutrition and mood trackers.

Download for Android

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Best Intermittent Fasting App Of 2024, According To Nutritionists - Women's Health



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