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Monsoon diet tips: You need to maintain optimum health and a strong immune system to stay disease-free during the monsoon. Here are some diet and safety tip you must follow.

Eat seasonal fruits and vegetables to stay healthy

Many wait for the rains to approach throughout the year. Monsoon gives the required relief from the scorching heat of the summer. This season also offers a variety of fruits and vegetables that can provide you with the essential nutrients. The risk of catching an infection or a viral disease is also higher during this season. After rains, it also becomes easy for mosquitoes to breed which results in an increased risk of various mosquito-related infections, such as malaria, dengue, viral, and whatnot. To understand diet tips and safety measures one should during the monsoon, we spoke to Nutritionist, Pavleen Gujral. Read on to know her expert advice on the same.

1. Have plenty of water: The first and the foremost step to do in monsoon is to keep your body hydrated. It is very important to drink plenty of water as it will help to flush out all the toxins from the body and give you a boost to fight from infections.

You need to drink enough water to ensure proper hydrationPhoto Credit: iStock

2. Always adhere to home-cooked food: Monsoon means more moisture in the air which may give rise to the spread of bacteria. Try to consume home-cooked food during this season. Do not forget to add seasonal fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Also read:Try These High Protein Breakfast Options

3. Make fruits and vegetables your best friend: Fresh fruits and vegetable salads are highly recommended during monsoons as it helps in boosting your immunity but make sure these are freshly cut and hygienically served. Avoid fruits that have been pre-cut or peeled or kept in the open.

4. Washing hands should be on priority: Always and always stick to the basic habit of washing hands before and after eating.

Do not forget to wash your hands regularlyPhoto Credit: iStock

5. Try to avoid leftover fridge food items: Stay away from the foods kept in the refrigerator for longer periods. Consumption of foods that has been stored for long can lead to diarrhea. Stay away from the food items that are moldy, discolored or decayed.

6. Let's keep the fried food at bay: Fried food always looks tempting but it is the unhealthiest option to eat. Too much consumption of fried foods can lead to weight gain too. So, it is always advisable to avoid fried and oily foods. Make sure that you are determined enough to hold out against these temptations by opting for some healthy yet tasty options.

Also read:Monsoon Diet: Foods To Eat And Avoid During Monsoons By Our Expert Nutritionist

7. Seasoning ingredients that you should include: Ingredients such as turmeric, pepper, ginger, garlic are the ones that improve the immune system and help boost digestion too. Ayurveda also suggests consumption of these ingredients to boost your overall health.

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Remember, the more you keep yourself healthy, the lesser are the chances of getting an infection. Follow all necessary steps to maintain self-hygiene, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

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

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

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Follow These Diet Tips To Stay Healthy This Monsoon - NDTV Doctor

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is a 50-year-old prediabetic who has recently experienced burning feet. He refuses to think it's his high-carb diet (bread three times a day, chips, ice cream) and instead thinks he just needs some vitamins for foot pain. Could you please explain why and how what he eats affects everything he's experiencing? -- Anon.

ANSWER: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition found in people who have had diabetes for years. It causes different symptoms in different people, but pain (often burning in character) and numbness are most common. The underlying cause is uncertain, but seems to be a combination of factors leading to nerve damage.

Prediabetes, often along with the other components of metabolic syndrome -- including high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat and high cholesterol or triglycerides -- may also bring on a neuropathy with very similar symptoms. Other causes, especially vitamin B12 deficiency, are appropriate to evaluate before determining the condition is most likely due to diabetes or prediabetes.

There are no specific treatments for the neuropathy, although there are medications to ease symptoms. Treatment of the underlying metabolic syndrome is therefore of the utmost importance, and the two most important treatments are diet and exercise. Avoiding simple carbohydrates, such as found in bread and chips, or the sugars in ice cream, is paramount. Regular exercise has an independent effect that adds to the effectiveness of the dietary changes.

Your husband is at risk, and the fact that the symptoms are recent means he should look at this as a wake-up call. Changing his lifestyle dramatically now can lead not only to improvement in symptoms (or at least they won't get worse), but it will also reduce his risk of heart attack and stroke.

There are many places to get help: His doctor, a registered dietitian nutritionist and a diabetes nurse educator all are excellent potential sources of information, but he has to make the decision to start the lifestyle change. Vitamins do not help diabetic neuropathy. If he can start making the changes, I hope he will find, as most people have, that his quality of life and sense of well-being are so much better that he will not want to stop his healthier lifestyle. Medications may be helpful, but the primary treatment is diet and exercise.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife smoked for many years and finally quit with the help of nicotine gum that is 4 milligrams each. Since quitting almost 20 years ago, she continues to use about 12 pieces of nicotine gum per day. Does ingesting this much nicotine in this manner put her at risk for developing some type of cancer from the nicotine? -- T.D.

ANSWER: No, nicotine is not carcinogenic, that is to say cancer-causing. In large doses, it is dangerous, but the doses she is taking are not -- at least, for a person used to them. Early signs of nicotine toxicity are excess salivation, nausea and vomiting.

There are many toxic substances in tobacco, some of which are cancer-causing. The tobacco does not need to be burned; chewing tobacco and snuff increase the risk of oral cancer. About half of all people who smoke will die because of smoking-related illness. Even one cigarette a day has significant long-term health risks.

Although it's not ideal that she continues to use nicotine gum (and it's not cheap), there is no doubt that the gum is much, much safer for her than continuing to smoke.

Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu. (c) 2020 North America Syndicate Inc.

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Roach: Diet and exercise are first prescription to try for prediabetes - LubbockOnline.com

14 June 2020

Japanese cuisine is undoubtedly delicious, but it's also incredibly healthy.

Why the Japanese diet is one of the healthiest in the world

According to the OECD, the average life expectancy for Japanese men and women is 84.2 years old. This is the highest age for any of the countries surveyed compare it to 81.3 in the UK and 78.6 in the US.

Diet plays a leading role in health, so it's safe to assume there's a link between life expectancy and what's on the menu. Japanese food tends to be well-balanced, largely unprocessed and full of nutrients, and luckily, there are plenty of aspects you can adopt into your own diet. So, how is it so good for you?

Japanese people eat an astounding amount of fish. According to 2011 data from the European Commission, Japan consumes 7.4 million tonnes of seafood a year.

Seafood is incorporated into Japanese dishes in a multitude of ways, whether it's in sushi, sashimi, tekkadon or more. This emphasis on fish has lots of health benefits studies have shown eating more fish can boost your IQ, ward off stroke and lower your risk of bowel cancer and those are just some on the long list of positives.

Few cuisines include quite so many variations of fermented soy as Japanese. These are soybeans that have had some kind of bacteria or yeast introduced to them.

A recent study published in the British Medical Journal found "a higher intake of fermented soy was associated with a lower risk of mortality". Many Japanese people would benefit from these positive effects of fermented soy, thanks to things like miso soup, soy sauce, pickled tofu and natto a sticky and slimy dish of fermented soybeans, which has a distinctive smell and is often eaten at breakfast.

One of the best things about the Japanese cuisine is how little of it is processed. Instead, there's a focus on fresh ingredients, simple types of food, and seasonal produce.

Overly processed foods tend to have more sugar, salt and additives than unprocessed meals, so it can only be good for your health if you follow the Japanese ethos of relying on whole foods. Plus, when ingredients aren't processed, they're more likely to retain good stuff like nutrients and fibre, which can help boost a healthy diet.

Unlike many diets all over the world, there's not a huge emphasis on fried foods in Japan. Instead, meals tend to be cooked by healthier methods like steaming, boiling or pickling, which are a lot less calorific and fatty than frying.

This doesn't mean there's absolutely no frying after all, delicacies like tempura and tonkatsu are deep-fried but it means there's a bit more balance, and not everything is cooked in oil.

In western restaurants, portions have been steadily growing over the years. This is problematic, particularly as many of us are likely to finish everything on our plate, rather than stopping when we're full. However, this isn't the case in Japan. Portions tend to be moderate, and instead of one plate piled high with food, you're more likely to be served little bowls and plates of different things.

This goes hand in hand with a Japanese ethos 'hara hachi bu' stopping eating when you're about 80% full. This means you don't stuff yourself until you feel sick, but have more restraint and eat in moderation. If everyone followed this mantra, obesity levels could plummet.

Go here to read the rest:
Why the Japanese Diet Is One of the Healthiest in the World - FemaleFirst.co.uk

WASHINGTON The Center for Biological Diversity today urged the federal committee that will soon finalize its recommendations on the 2020 national dietary guidelines to include assessments of food sustainability, climate and accessibility in its report to the Trump administration.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, updated every five years, are intended to protect public health and food security. The document serves as a government-approved blueprint for healthy diets and is widely used in nutrition-education programs and to set meal plans for government institutions, including schools, prisons, military facilities and federal cafeterias.

The Centers call for a broader scientific assessment comes after the Trump administration arbitrarily limited the scope of the review by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, excluding research demonstrating how plant-focused diets are more sustainable and climate-friendly.

The pandemic has vividly exposed how our current industry-friendly system prevents equal access to sustainable, healthy, safe foods, said Stephanie Feldstein, population and sustainability director at the Center. Amid the current COVID-19 crisis and the escalating extinction and climate emergencies we cant afford for these important dietary guidelines to be just another gift to the meat and dairy industry.

The committees review of the scientific topics that were predetermined by the Trump administration kicked off a comment period that closes on Wednesday. In a draft scientific report due on June 17 the committee will present its recommendations for the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to the public.

In recent weeks the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted troubling production bottlenecks in the nations highly inflexible, industry-driven food system that heavily prioritizes production of cheap meat over the safety of workers and equitable consumer access to healthy, sustainable foods.

But the Trump administrations unprecedented decision to limit consideration of research on food sustainability and accessibility restricts the dietary advisory committees ability to recommend changes to the food guidelines that could help address those problems.

Plant-focused diets are critical for public health and the future of the planet, said Feldstein. But it wont work if people dont have full access to them, and if the government doesnt play its part to make sure they make it to our plates.

In the comments submitted today to the Federal Register, the Center noted that sustainable, plant-forward diets are strongly supported by science to promote public health, protect food security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A study released earlier this year by University of Michigan and Tulane University found that replacing 50% of animal products with plant-based foods in the American diet would prevent more than 1.6 billion tons of greenhouse gas pollution by 2030. The Center recommended that the dietary guidelines call for reduced consumption of meat and dairy, particularly limiting red and processed meats.

The 2015 Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee included sustainability considerations for the first time, which were widely supported by the public and health experts. However, following pressure from the meat and dairy industry, sustainability was omitted from the final recommendations.

The rest is here:
Trump Administration Urged to Consider Sustainability, Climate, Accessibility in New US Dietary Guidelines - Center for Biological Diversity

SALT LAKE CITY Does it feel like theres always someone you know who is starting a new diet with promises of weight loss and happiness?

Theres good reason for that. The weight loss industry raked in over $72 billion in 2018.

If you're considering starting counting calories or following a strict meal plan, here are five questions you should ask yourself first.

This is a big one. What will this diet look like in the long-term for you? What will you do after the "diet" is over? If you dont see yourself sticking to this diet for the rest of your life, it may not be the diet for you.

The reason being that once the 21 days, 30 days or even 80 days of the diet are over, youre likely to return to previous eating patterns. You might want to eat all the foods you restricted and missed out on during the diet and end up bingeing.

A diet with a strict meal plan also doesnt teach you how to choose foods on your own or in different social situations. Everything you eat is dictated by the diet plan.

A realistic diet is one that teaches you sustainable lifestyle changes and you could see yourself following the rest of your life. The best eating pattern for you is one that incorporates your favorite foods and shows you how to follow a balanced eating pattern within your overall lifestyle.

The problem with this is when you cut out entire food groups, there will likely be gaps in your nutrition.

Before embarking on a diet that excludes one or more food groups it is important to do your research. Find out what nutrients might be missing in your diet if youre not eating foods that were previously providing your body with important nutrition. Then find other ways you can incorporate them in your diet.

For example, a vegan diet is likely to be deficient in vitamin B12, as this nutrient is found mainly in foods of animal origin. However, vegans may be able to incorporate vitamin B12 in their diet by eating fortified foods or taking a B12 supplement.

In my experience as a dietitian, many people jump on the bandwagon of a popular diet without doing their research first. People cut out whichever food group(s) the diet regimen prescribes and don't replace those vital nutrients with other foods or supplements. This can be detrimental to health, especially if it continues on a long-term basis.

What do you want to result from this diet? Is it a specific weight, certain pant size, or something else? If your only focus is on weight loss, then is your desired weight and timeline realistic? Setting realistic goals with slow and steady weight loss is best because you are more likely to keep it off.

If a certain weight is your goal, keep in mind what youll do and how youll feel if you don't reach that magical number on the scale. Remember the scale does not define you or your success as a person, and maybe that number you chose isnt best for your body.

Look at all the positive changes you have made instead. Maybe thats eating more vegetables, saving money from not drinking a soda every day, or finding a form of physical activity you enjoy doing. Any of those positive changes count as a win.

As an alternative to focusing on the scale, I encourage people to focus more on lifestyle outcomes. How about setting a goal of being able to play with your kids at the park without getting completely winded, completing in a 5K, cooking dinner at home more often, or just feeling better in your body.

Choose actionable habits to implement that will move you closer to your lifestyle goals.

A lot of diets out there just plain arent safe, including those with very low-calorie diets, untested supplements, cutting out certain nutrients. Some have unpleasant side effects and can make you feel really crappy all in the pursuit of "health". If you have to suffer through a diet and feel crappy to lose a little weight, it is likely not worth it.

Before starting any new eating pattern its a good idea to see if there is any research or studies backing this diet. Find out what the science and experts say. Nutrition is still a relatively young field, but there are plenty of reliable sources you can look to for solid information on various diets.

A realistic diet is one that teaches you sustainable lifestyle changes and you could see yourself following the rest of your life.Brittany Poulson, registered dietitian

There is no doubt that mental health takes a toll when overly restricting and analyzing every calorie that passes our lips. What might start as an innocent attempt to lose a little weight can turn into an obsession. It can become isolating and depressing at times.

As we obsess over everything we eat, its easy to feel shame, guilt and regret for eating a single food not allowed on the diet or going over your daily calorie allowance. This should never happen. Never feel guilty about eating something. Sure, there are days when you may have eaten too much and you didnt feel your best afterward, but you can learn from that and move on. No need to be ashamed, feel guilty or turn to more restrictions in your diet because of food.

Embracing the fact that food does not hold a moral value (i.e. no food is "good" or "bad") can be pivotal in keeping good mental health when it comes to eating.

Also, keep in mind that being a smaller weight does not automatically equal happiness. If you are unhappy at a higher weight, I suggest really digging into what is truly making you unhappy before deciding a lower weight is your key to happiness.

After considering these five questions, if you dont feel comfortable with any of your answers I suggest not going on the diet. Instead, I recommend exploring other options.

As humans, our bodies crave consistency. Going on and off diets only puts stress on our bodies, which can lead to weight gain and underlying inflammation.

Instead, find a balanced eating pattern that incorporates a variety of foods (including your favorite foods), is realistic, sustainable, safe and makes you happy. This will look different for everyone and might take some trial and error.

Thats OK. If you'd help exploring what eating pattern is best for you, find a dietitian to help guide you on your journey.

Editors Note: Anything in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended, nor should it be interpreted, to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition; Any opinions, statements, services, offers, or other information or content expressed or made available are those of the respective author(s) or distributor(s) and not of KSL. KSL does not endorse nor is it responsible for the accuracy or reliability of any opinion, information, or statement made in this article. KSL expressly disclaims all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on the content of this article.

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5 things to consider before going on a diet - KSL.com

With its focus on eating a variety of plant-based foods like leafy greens, vegetables and fruit, along with limiting sugar and saturated fat, many experts agree that the MIND diet is a healthy eating plan with a number of benefits.

Michele Rudolphi, a registered dietitian in Fort Wayne, Ind., recommends the diet to her clients. Not only is this diet whole-foods based, it is high in plant foods (specifically vegetables) which are typically lacking in the typical American diet With my clients, I also find that not only does it help to stabilize their blood sugar throughout the day, preventing cravings, it also helps them enjoy the flavors found in whole foods again, Rudolphi explained.

Dr. Susan Fox, a vascular surgeon in Hollywood, Florida, also encourages her patients to adopt the MIND diet. Fox explained that the diet is high in vitamins and minerals naturally occurring in beans, legumes and vegetables which promote a brain-healthy diet without the peaks and valleys of insulin and sugar disruption.

She also pointed to the diets benefits to both gut health and mental health. "There is definitely a link between what we eat, [and] how we feel, Fox said.

Whether you go all in, or take a slow and steady approach, the MIND diet may be a great first step towards adopting healthier eating habits.

Start by adding in more color in your diet, especially green, blue, red and purple fruits and vegetables. Swap refined grain foods with more whole grains like quinoa, brown rice and 100% whole grain bread. Limit your consumption of red and red processed meat to no more than once a week and cut down on sweets by eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages.

If your lifestyle goals include better brain health, along with maintaining healthy blood sugar and blood pressure levels, the MIND diet is a good option to try.

Kristin Kirkpatrick

Kristin Kirkpatrick is the lead dietitian at Cleveland Clinic Wellness & Preventive Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. She is a best-selling author and an award winning dietitian.

More:
MIND diet plan and foods to eat: What is the MIND diet? - TODAY

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed health to the forefront of many peoples minds. And while the best way to avoid COVID-19 is not to catch the virus in the first place, were starting to understand why some people become seriously ill with the disease while others have only mild or no symptoms.

Age and frailty are the most important risk factors for severe COVID-19, but data from our COVID Symptom Study app, used by nearly four million people, has shown that diet-related conditions, such as obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, are significant risk factors for ending up in hospital with the disease.

In the UK, around one in three adults are obese and many more are overweight. In the US, around two in five adults and nearly one in five children are obese. From generalised government nutritional guidelines to Instagram-worthy fad diets, theres no end of advice on how to lose weight. Clearly, it isnt working.

This is a complex problem to unpick. Factors such as sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and availability of healthy food all play a part. But on an individual level, we still understand relatively little about how each person should eat to optimise their health and weight.

In search of answers, our research team at Kings College London together with our colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital, Stanford University and health science company ZOE launched PREDICT, the largest ongoing nutritional study of its kind in the world. Our first results have now been published in Nature Medicine.

PREDICT-1, the first phase of the PREDICT research programme, involved more than 1,000 adults (including hundreds of pairs of twins) who were continuously monitored for two weeks to discover how they respond to different foods.

Participants had an initial set-up day in hospital for detailed blood measurements and testing of responses after eating carefully designed set meals. They then carried out the rest of the study at home, following a schedule of set meals and their own free choice of foods. We measured a wide range of markers of nutritional responses and health from blood glucose, fat, insulin and inflammation levels to exercise, sleep and gut bacteria (microbiome) diversity.

This kind of detailed, ongoing analysis was made possible through the use of wearable technologies. These included continuous blood glucose monitors and digital activity trackers, which meant we could keep track of our participants blood sugar and activity levels 24/7. Simple finger-prick blood tests also allowed us to measure their blood fat levels on a regular basis.

All these measurements added up to millions of datapoints, which needed to be analysed with sophisticated machine learning techniques (a type of artificial intelligence) in order to spot patterns and make predictions.

The first thing we noticed was the wide variation in individual insulin, blood sugar and blood fat responses to the same meals, even for identical twins. For example, one twin might have healthy responses to eating carbohydrates but not fat, while the other twin is the opposite. Straight away, this tells us that we are all unique and that there is no perfect diet or correct way to eat that will work for everyone.

The observation that genetics only plays a minor role in determining how we respond to food also tells us that simple genetic tests claiming to determine the right diet for your genes are ineffective and misleading. Curiously, identical twins only shared around a third of the same gut microbe species, which may help to explain some of the variation in nutritional responses and also points towards an opportunity to improve health and weight by manipulating the microbiome.

We also discovered that the timing of meals affects nutritional responses in a personalised way. The same meal at breakfast caused a different nutritional response in some people when eaten for lunch. But in other people there was no difference, busting the myth that there are correct mealtimes that will work for all.

Another surprise was finding that the composition of meals in terms of calories, fat, carbohydrates, proteins and fibre (macronutrients or macros) also had a highly individualised effect on nutritional responses. Some people handle carbs better than fat, for example, while others have the opposite response. So prescriptive diets based on fixed calorie counts or macronutrient ratios are too simplistic and will not work for everyone.

However, despite the wide variability between participants, each persons own responses to identical meals eaten at the same times on different days were remarkably consistent. This makes it possible to predict how someone might respond to any food based on knowledge of their underlying metabolism.

Intriguingly, we found that the levels of inflammatory molecules in the blood varied by up to tenfold, even in seemingly healthy people, and that a rise in these inflammation markers was linked to having unhealthy responses to fat.

We use the term dietary inflammation to refer to these unhealthy metabolic effects that are triggered after eating. Repeatedly experiencing dietary inflammation brought on by excessive blood sugar and fat responses is linked with an increased risk of conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and obesity.

On a more positive note, our findings suggest that it might be possible to improve weight management and long-term health by eating in a more personalised way designed to avoid triggering unhealthy inflammatory responses after meals.

When it comes to weight, weve traditionally put a huge emphasis on factors we have no control over, especially genetics. The fact is, while genetics plays a role, many more important factors affect how our metabolism, weight and health. Its time to move away from overly generalised guidelines, fad diets and one-size-fits-all plans and develop more personalised, scientific approaches to nutrition that understand and work together with our bodies, not against them.

For more on personalised nutrition, download and listen to our podcast, Medicine made for you, a series by The Anthill.

More:
Why one-size-fits-all diets don't work new study - The Conversation UK

DEAR DR. ROACH: My husband is a 50-year-old prediabetic who has recently experienced burning feet. He refuses to think it's his high-carb diet (bread three times a day, chips, ice cream) and instead thinks he just needs some vitamins for foot pain. Could you please explain why and how what he eats affects everything he's experiencing? -- Anon.

ANSWER: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition found in people who have had diabetes for years. It causes different symptoms in different people, but pain (often burning in character) and numbness are most common. The underlying cause is uncertain, but seems to be a combination of factors leading to nerve damage.

Prediabetes, often along with the other components of metabolic syndrome -- including high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat and high cholesterol or triglycerides -- may also bring on a neuropathy with very similar symptoms. Other causes, especially vitamin B12 deficiency, are appropriate to evaluate before determining the condition is most likely due to diabetes or prediabetes.

There are no specific treatments for the neuropathy, although there are medications to ease symptoms. Treatment of the underlying metabolic syndrome is therefore of the utmost importance, and the two most important treatments are diet and exercise. Avoiding simple carbohydrates, such as found in bread and chips, or the sugars in ice cream, is paramount. Regular exercise has an independent effect that adds to the effectiveness of the dietary changes.

Your husband is at risk, and the fact that the symptoms are recent means he should look at this as a wake-up call. Changing his lifestyle dramatically now can lead not only to improvement in symptoms (or at least they won't get worse), but it will also reduce his risk of heart attack and stroke.

There are many places to get help: His doctor, a registered dietitian nutritionist and a diabetes nurse educator all are excellent potential sources of information, but he has to make the decision to start the lifestyle change. Vitamins do not help diabetic neuropathy. If he can start making the changes, I hope he will find, as most people have, that his quality of life and sense of well-being are so much better that he will not want to stop his healthier lifestyle. Medications may be helpful, but the primary treatment is diet and exercise.

DEAR DR. ROACH: My wife smoked for many years and finally quit with the help of nicotine gum that is 4 milligrams each. Since quitting almost 20 years ago, she continues to use about 12 pieces of nicotine gum per day. Does ingesting this much nicotine in this manner put her at risk for developing some type of cancer from the nicotine? -- T.D.

ANSWER: No, nicotine is not carcinogenic, that is to say cancer-causing. In large doses, it is dangerous, but the doses she is taking are not -- at least, for a person used to them. Early signs of nicotine toxicity are excess salivation, nausea and vomiting.

There are many toxic substances in tobacco, some of which are cancer-causing. The tobacco does not need to be burned; chewing tobacco and snuff increase the risk of oral cancer. About half of all people who smoke will die because of smoking-related illness. Even one cigarette a day has significant long-term health risks.

Although it's not ideal that she continues to use nicotine gum (and it's not cheap), there is no doubt that the gum is much, much safer for her than continuing to smoke.

Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free.Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution today.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.

More:
HEALTH: Diet and exercise are first prescription to try for prediabetes - Rockdale Newton Citizen

Sweet snacks and dishes can shut down important signals which would normally tell us we have had enough to eat, scientists have found. Sensors in the mouth become dulled from sending fewer messages to produce a neurotransmitter known as dopamine, which plays a key role in the reward system.The process is thought to lead to people piling on pounds as they eat more.

Scientists at the University of Michigan found that feeding fruit flies a high-sugar diet reduced and delayed the activity of their neurons. The insects are used in health research as they share many genes with humans.

The neural circuits fruit flies use to process the taste of sugar also involve dopamine.

So the researchers bred flies with a genetic marker in the neurons, so they could observe the process.

When the neurons activated normally, the flies ate the equivalent of a single cookie even when they were offered an entire box.

But when they were fed a high-sugar diet which had inhibited the process the flies gorged themselves for hours. Dr Monica Dus, assistant professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology, who led the study, told how the brain was prevented from receiving messages that enough food had been eaten.

She said: "On a high-sugar diet, we find that the fruit flies' dopaminergic neurons are less active, because the [sugary] intake decreases the intensity of the sweetness signal that comes from the mouth.

"Animals use this feedback from dopamine to make predictions about how rewarding or filling a food will be.

"In the high-sugar diet flies, this process was broken.

"They got less dopamine neuron activation and so ended up eating more than they needed, which over time makes them gain weight." The team also found that taking the insects off the high-sugar diet could reverse the process, restoring the dopaminergic neurons to their normal functioning level.

Dr Dus added: "We think that essentially this processing of sweetness in the dopaminergic neurons is probably used as a cue, as an alarm to tell the brain to start slowing down.

"If that process is not there any more, then you have to wait for other cues to tell you that you're full.

"By that time, you've already eaten a lot of cookies."

The findings of the research were published in the journal Nature Communications.

See the article here:
Why we'll never feel full up on a sweet treat diet - Express

Keith Roach, To Your Health Published 12:00 a.m. ET June 12, 2020

Dear Dr. Roach: My husband is a 50-year-old prediabetic who has recently experienced burning feet. He refuses to think its his high-carb diet (bread three times a day, chips, ice cream) and instead thinks he just needs some vitamins for foot pain. Could you please explain why and how what he eats affects everything hes experiencing?

Anon.

Dear Anon.: Diabetic neuropathy is a condition found in people who have had diabetes for years. It causes different symptoms in different people, but pain (often burning in character) and numbness are most common. The underlying cause is uncertain, but seems to be a combination of factors leading to nerve damage.

Prediabetes, often along with the other components of metabolic syndrome including high blood pressure, excess abdominal fat and high cholesterol or triglycerides may also bring on a neuropathy with very similar symptoms. Other causes, especially vitamin B12 deficiency, are appropriate to evaluate before determining the condition is most likely due to diabetes or prediabetes.

There are no specific treatments for the neuropathy, although there are medications to ease symptoms. Treatment of the underlying metabolic syndrome is therefore of the utmost importance, and the two most important treatments are diet and exercise. Avoiding simple carbohydrates, such as found in bread and chips, or the sugars in ice cream, is paramount. Regular exercise has an independent effect that adds to the effectiveness of the dietary changes.

Your husband is at risk, and the fact that the symptoms are recent means he should look at this as a wake-up call. Changing his lifestyle dramatically now can lead not only to improvement in symptoms (or at least they wont get worse), but it will also reduce his risk of heart attack and stroke.

There are many places to get help: His doctor, a registered dietitian nutritionist and a diabetes nurse educator all are excellent potential sources of information, but he has to make the decision to start the lifestyle change. Vitamins do not help diabetic neuropathy. If he can start making the changes, I hope he will find, as most people have, that his quality of life and sense of well-being are so much better that he will not want to stop his healthier lifestyle. Medications may be helpful, but the primary treatment is diet and exercise.

Dear Dr. Roach: My wife smoked for many years and finally quit with the help of nicotine gum that is 4 milligrams each. Since quitting almost 20 years ago, she continues to use about 12 pieces of nicotine gum per day. Does ingesting this much nicotine in this manner put her at risk for developing some type of cancer from the nicotine?

T.D.

Dear T.D.: No, nicotine is not carcinogenic, that is to say cancer-causing. In large doses, it is dangerous, but the doses she is taking are not at least, for a person used to them. Early signs of nicotine toxicity are excess salivation, nausea and vomiting.

There are many toxic substances in tobacco, some of which are cancer-causing. The tobacco does not need to be burned; chewing tobacco and snuff increase the risk of oral cancer. About half of all people who smoke will die because of smoking-related illness. Even one cigarette a day has significant long-term health risks.

Although its not ideal that she continues to use nicotine gum (and its not cheap), there is no doubt that the gum is much, much safer for her than continuing to smoke.

Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

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