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High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than a quarter of all adults in the UK. But, you could lower your risk of developing hypertension by avoiding liquorice, it's been claimed.

High blood pressure - which is also known as hypertension - puts extra stress on blood vessels and vital organs.

The condition could lead to some deadly complications, including strokes and heart attacks.

It could be caused by eating an unhealthy diet, or by not doing enough exercise.

You could be raising your blood pressure by simply eating liquorice, it's been revealed.

READ MORE: High blood pressure - one of the best things you can do to lower your reading

"The sweetness and blood pressure raising properties of liquorice are due to high quantities of glycyrrhizin," she wrote on her website, MyLowerBloodPressure.com.

"Glycyrrhizic or glycyrrhizinic acid which makes up to nine per cent of liquorice roots weight.

"Glycyrrhizin is 50 times sweeter than sucrose sugar, and is commonly used in herbal teas and confections in place of sugar.

"While liquorice root has beneficial actions in that it is a source of plant oestrogens antioxidant flavonoids, and has antiviral action, but it is best avoided if you have hypertension as it consistently causes blood pressure to rise."

If you have high blood pressure, and just can't live without liquorice, you could still eat products that have been flavoured with aniseed oil, she added.

Meanwhile, you could lower your risk of hypertension by eating more celery.

Celery contains plenty of potassium, which is a crucial nutrient in protecting against hypertension.

Potassium helps to regulate the amount of sodium in the body. Too much sodium increases your chances of high blood pressure.

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High blood pressure - the sweet treat you should avoid or risk deadly hypertension - Express.co.uk

One of the first disruptions dietary supplement ingredient suppliers experienced at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic involved logisticsspecifically, transportation. Not only was labor not available to transport goods, but companies faced severely spiked transportation costs.

Nutritional Outlook hosted a webcast on April 16th featuring several ingredient suppliers from various countries, as well as other industry experts, to learn about the challenges companies are facing as a result of the pandemic.

Watch this webcast free on demand

Transportation Troubles

Dietary supplement businesses, including retailers, manufacturers, and raw material suppliers, remain operational in many parts of the world today. Consumers, it turns out, regard supplements as essential during a pandemic, as skyrocketing sales indicate. While demand for supplements is growing, the initial disruptions caused by lockdowns and social distancing requirements definitely upended the industrys supply chain.

In the early days of the lockdown in India where his company is headquartered, it was difficult to secure transportation and labor, said webcast panelist Shaheen Majeed, president worldwide of ingredients supplier Sabinsa (East Windsor, NJ).

While we are 100% operational, there have been operational challenges with regard to staff transportation and shipping logistics, said Majeed. In many cases, weve been moving materials using our own transport and providing our own staff or labor. Labor was just not availablefor example, unloading and loading of goods at docks and warehousing. Despite these challenges, Majeed said Sabinsa continues to be able to transport its goods to its customers.

Still, it turns out that it now costs the company more to do so. Numerous speakers, including Majeed, testified that currently, the cost of transport has drastically gone up. Logistical transportation costs have absolutely increased, he said.

Wilson Lau, vice president of Nuherbs (San Leandro, CA), has observed these changes in China where his company primarily sources ingredients. Lau said, Right now, airfreight from China is horrendousprices spiked two to three timesand the availability is low because a lot of those air shipments bandwidth has gone to personal protective equipment (PPE), which is as it should. Also, the number of flights have been greatly reduced because people arent traveling back and forth between China and the U.S., China to Europe, etc.

Another webcast panelist, Michelle Li, vice president of operations for supplier Scientific Living (Irvine, CA), expressed similar experiences. In the past few weeks, weve seen some congestions due to the reduction in cargo flights and shipping vessels. And this is causing a delay in our shipping efforts. Theres no surprise that we do see a surge in transportation costs, especially for air freight, and as we heard earlier. Some of these costs are three to five times the amount we normally saw before the coronavirus outbreak. Ocean shipments are less impacted from a pricing-increase standpoint, but we are seeing longer lead times due to indirect services. These longer lead times at ports around the world also take into account customer clearance processes that have been extended to somewhat decreased inspection activities.

Li added: Were not only seeing these changes and effects from our Chinese partners, but also our partners in India, South America, and parts of Europe.

And Majeed said: Sea and cargo transport is still somewhat limited and definitely more expensive, and by more expensive, I mean weve seen rates as high as 400% over normal rates. And while this will probably stabilize as more movement picks up (be it air or sea), more permissions are granted, and more workers are able to come back, we dont see prices coming back to pre-virus days. Thats something well just have to be mindful and careful of as we move on.

Supply: Short and Long Term

And what about actual supply shortages? At this time, is there enough supply of ingredients out there to meet demand? The answer is largely yesfor now. Webcast panelist Ettore Milano, PhD, medicinal plant purchasing manager for supplier Indena S.p.A. (Milan, Italy), said, The main issue of the moment relates to the logistics and transportation, not the sourcing of ingredients.

Many companies had stored inventory of ingredients in the short-termand smart companies even began stocking up when news of the COVID-19 pandemic first hit months ago. Said Sabinsas Majeed, We certainly kicked it up a notch when reports not only from China but also from our Chinese office that various lockdowns were happening over there. We realized there would be a fundamental shortage throughout the world, and so we took action in late October or November to process more material and to stock up our warehouses. So, weve been airlifting immediate goods that our customers needed, and putting sea shipments that have been going out regularly for the past few months. So, were on track as of whenever the lockdown had happened. Weve been adequately supplied, with our houses being full.

Supply is sufficient for now, but that could change soon, panelists pointed out. Even if companies had built up inventory, that inventory wont last forever. Said Nuherbs Lau: On the supply side, were currently fortunate that we and our partners have quite a bit of inventory in stock, but for some herbs that are hot, such as honeysuckle, its going to be an issue because harvest is a month or so away, so as we burn through our current inventory due to increased demand, its going to be hard, with harvests being so close.

He continued: What Im really worried about is the fall/winter, if there is a secondary outbreak of COVID-19 in China, in certain places, that might be more localized than, say, shutting down or quarantining a whole region or the country. When it happens to that level, are there going to be people to go harvest these fall crops? Or even the summer crops? If it does come back in the fall/winter, are there going to be people out in the fields picking it, or will they miss the harvest due to this, and there will be a severe supply chain shortage?

I think thats true around the world, he added. Its not specific to China. There are harvests going on here in the U.S., and if its more mechanized, then maybe one person on a big combine can go pick all the wheat up, but for example if you need people in the fields to pick apples, if you dont have enough people out there, youre not going to pick it. So thats what I really worry about in the short-term/medium-term is how this is going to impact harvests as they come up. Once its harvested, then its just a matter of timing. The supply is there, but its a matter of getting it out, so thats a bottleneck of days or months, but the issue is if you cant get the raw input. Then you have a real supply issue.

Sabinsas Majeed expressed similar concerns. As the growing season progresses here in India, getting people into the fields to plant, to nurture, to harvest material for the worlds output is going to depend on a lot of factors, and it really comes down to how organized their systems were before this pandemic. [I]n India specifically, migrant workers have been hit hard, especially up North, and thats going to have a short-term and a long-term effect that this nation will feel for months if not years to come.

Lau said, Hopefully I am always looking at things from the side of the farmer and being slightly pessimistic, but overall I think if anyone comes to you with an overly optimistic viewpoint of the supply chain and saying that they have everything under control, Id be very worried. I think this is the time to have a Plan A, B, C, D, E, F, and then keep going down the line as far as you can.

What Will Demand Look Like Later?

The fact that demand is significantly increased for dietary supplements overall, and for products for immune health specifically, has made it even more challenging to meet demand with current supply chain obstacles. Webcast panelist Jim Emme, CEO of Now Health Group, spoke to the increased demand. He said, Weve not only seen an increase in immune products; weve seen an increase in personal care, essential oils, aromatherapy, homecare systems. It seems like as people are quarantined at home, there are spa days that are happening because they cant go to a spa. Theyre doing it themselves. So, weve seen interruptions due to high demand across every category that we sellnot just immune products.

Scientific Livings Li said: From a supply chain point of view, this growth can be somewhat double-edged, as we see many parts of our global supply chain struggle to keep up with the increase in these demandsWe started bringing in extra inventory prior to the Chinese New Year, with the anticipation that there would be potential shutdowns. But between the extra inventory that weve been building and the shipments that are in route on the ocean as we speak, we are only fulfilling a portion of the void thats created by the COVID-19 crisis.

Its also uncertain whether this higher demand will ultimately taper off to more normal levels later. Said Li: Based on the current retail data, we do see a spike in demand for dietary supplements. One of our major short-term challenges is to really balance an inventory to meet the increase in demand, but also avoid severely overstocking. So, at this point, its difficult for us to tell if the increase in demand from what we see today will translate into longer-term, higher sales volumes for a lot of these products.

She continued: One scenario is if COVID-19 persists and we may continue to see higher unemployment rates and slowdown in our economy. As a result, are we going to see less discretionary spending for a lot of these health and wellness products? But on the other hand,if we take a glimpse into future trends based on what we have already seen in China where e-commerce sales spiked during the three months of quarantine, and we continue to see that demand grow, after this quarantine has ended there is an optimistic mentality that maybe in the States, this preventative health and wellness mentality will perhaps stay, and we need to prepare for this.

Ongoing Change

The only guarantee in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic is that obstacles and solutions will continue to shift. Said NOWs Emme, Overall we realize that there are many things that are fragile in this entire supply chain right now. It could be a transportation problemjust because were not having one today doesnt mean we wont have one tomorrow. The problems are changing by the hour. The challenges are occurring day in and day out, around the clock.

Even as a country like China begins its initial recovery for now, other parts of the global are increasingly impacted, meaning that the supplement supply chain should expect to continue seeing challenges worldwide. Said Lau: Chinas back open and up and operational. However, my assumption is that COVID-19 is going to come in waves to different parts of the world. So, I think its going to be an ongoing challenge for the near future.

Scientific Livings Li said the same. We did see the supply shock initially start off in China, but its now becoming a larger, global supply issue.

Watch this webcast free on demand

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COVID-19 and the Dietary Supplement Supply Chain - Nutritional Outlook

Can you eat mangoes on a weight loss diet? Ways to eat the summer fruit, why you should avoid it before bed  |  Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Delhi: Summer is here, which means that it is the time to enjoy those delicious, nutrient-packed hydrating fruits. These refreshing fruits can provide your body with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that improve immunity, boost digestive health and support weight loss. One such fruit is mango, also called the king of fruits.

Not only mangoes give your taste buds that delightful tropical experience, but the popular summer fruit also has a range of health benefits. Contrary to popular belief that mangoes are fattening, adding this sweet, flavourful, fleshy fruit to your diet may help you lose weight and reduce your risk of certain diseases, including cancer.

Mangoes are a delicious versatile fruit and you can enjoy it many ways:

You can eat mangoes for breakfast or lunch or as a mid-meal. However, you may avoid eating the fruit before bed or right after a meal as it may interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption. It is advisable to eat fruit an hour before or two hours after a meal.

Just like any other fruit, moderation is key here. Try to limit your intake of mango to 1 cup per day. Mangoes are sweeter and contain more sugar compared to many other fruits.

Mangoes is a nutritious and delicious fruit that can offer many health benefits, if eaten in moderation. However, if you have diabetes or any other condition that makes you sensitive to sugar, you should consult your doctor to know what is right for you. Perhaps, adopting a well-balanced, varied diet combined with regular exercise will help you stay fit and healthy.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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Can you eat mangoes on a weight loss diet? Ways to eat the summer fruit, why you should avoid it before bed - Times Now

A study of the eating habits of superheroes from more than 40 films has revealed that Earth's mightiest heroes have one thing in common fighting evil on minimal nutrition.

The research, commissioned by British cooking appliance manufacturer Belling and carried out by Tom Craig, a Visiting Professor in Film at the University of Malta, found that the superheroes are often depicted snacking on junk food such as waffles, churros, pizza and cheeseburgers.

Of the 43 films analysed, only 18% featured even one of our heroes recommended five-a-day fruits and veg, while dessert foods such as ice cream, cake, and cookies account for 30% of the on-screen food sightings.

Pizza is the most commonly-eaten dish, appearing in 9% of the movies, and Eastern is the favoured cuisine with Japanese, Thai, and Chinese dishes cropping up in another 9%.

The superhero with the least nutritious diet is Spider-Man, who enjoys chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies, gummy worms, a churro, and doughnuts throughout his various iterations. Meanwhile, Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, is seen eating a peanut butter sandwich as a full meal in Avengers: Endgame, and Eddie Brock and his symbiote Venom eats nothing but deep-fried tater tots more than once.

Healthy exceptions to the rule include animated favourites The Incredibles enjoying a balanced home-cooked dinner, Bruce Wayne blending spinach smoothies between bouts of defending Gotham as Batman, and Iron Man Tony Stark, snacking on crudits and blueberries.

The most exotic meals eaten by these much-loved characters include Bruce Banner enjoying Brazilian Picadinho, a Brasileria stew, in The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers enjoying shawarma after saving New York in the eponymous film, Scarlet Witch and Vision cooking paprikash in Captain America: Civil War, and Eddie Brock biting into a live lobster in Venom.

Inspired by the study, Belling has created a superhero-themed recipe book which recreates ten as-seen-on-screen dishes as healthier, family-friendly versions. The book, Superhero Recipes For Your Little Heroes, is available for free via Bellings website.

Jane Rylands, Head of Marketing Communications at Belling, said: Given the popularity of the superhero film genre, its no surprise that viewers are inspired by what they see on the screen and we know that this means our little ones will want to eat the foods they see Iron Man and Elasti-Girl enjoying too.

As Bellings been at the heart of the family home for more than 100 years, we understand the importance of instilling a love of cooking from an early age and we hope our superhero recipe book will help to do just that.

Commenting on the importance of food in superhero films, author and academic Tom Craig added: Superhero movies are hugely significant, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe now the largest franchise in film.

The food eaten by our heroes often performs a narrative function, but production companies are also aware that dedicated fans apply themselves to debating and replicating the eating habits of modern superheroes with Disney even going so far as to dedicate dining experiences themed around super-meals at its parks. Its clear that the food and drink portrayed in superhero films is much more than a background prop.

Recipes created by Belling include:

Families can request a free limited edition printed copy of Superhero Recipes For Your Little Heroes or download a PDF at http://www.belling.co.uk/superheroes

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Superheroes all have terrible diets, study of 43 films shows - MyLondon

2020 has seen New York heartthrobs Diet Cig drop three of the most joy-inducing singles weve heard in quite some time. Thriving, Who Are You?, and Night Terrors.

The band are set to release their highly-anticipated second album, Do You Wonder About Me? . If these singles are anything to go off, the album is going to be a total dream.

In anticipation for the release of Do You Wonder About Me? Diet Cig were so generous as to talk us through their favourite visual artists that theyve collaborated with throughout their career. So pop on their latest single, Who Are You? and check out what they had to say below.

Visual art has always been so important to our band, we love taking the time to create exciting visuals to accompany our music and launches! Were so lucky to have had the pleasure of collaborating with so many amazing artists in this way. We spent a lot of time making our own visual art in 2019 as we wrote our upcoming album Do You Wonder About Me? and diving into screenprinting, digital illustration and sculpture really helped us push our creativity and find other artists who we admire! Heres five visual artists we had the pleasure of working with on merch, album art and photography for our new record:

Dessy Baeva

Dessy is an illustrator that I had been following on instagram for a while, Im such a big fan of her work and when I started doing digital illustration she was such a big inspiration! Her colors are so beautiful and saturated and when we were brainstorming album art ideas I couldnt get her work out of my head. I dmd her and asked if shed be interested in taking on a big project with us and when she agreed we started working on our album cover! We went through lots of sketches and colorways, one of which appears within the physical album as a poster! It was so lovely working with an artist I admire so much on a personal level and I couldnt be happier with what she came up with!

Shannon Levin

Shannon created our logo and some of our merch items, shes a type wizard and created a custom logo/font for us! Her work is so cool and unique, full of really fresh and dynamic shapes. We worked together on creating our logo and it was really fun to go back and forth on the details of the type because weve never commissioned someone to make a logo before. She gave us three options to choose from to get started and it was so hard to choose what direction to go in because they were all so good!! Were really inspired by her illustration work and her type work and it was such a pleasure to work together on making our design dreams come true.

Megan Badilla

Megan is an illustrator in the Bay Area who weve had a bunch of mutual friends with for a while now! When we were planning our album preorder merchandise drop, we decided we wanted to do an exclusive bundle inspired by each single that was coming out. We wanted a special t-shirt in them that was designed by a different artist for each song, and Megan created the shirt for our first single Thriving! Her style is so cheeky and playful and she totally captured the vibe we were looking for in the Thriving tee. Im obsessed with all the characters in her illustrations, is it weird that I want to be friends with them all???

Fabiola Lara

Our second single weve made a bundle for is a song called Who Are You? and Fabiola designed the shirt for it! Her work is like if somehow your middle school birthday party was actually as cool as you remember it being, it feels nostalgic and fresh all at once, like some teenage fever dream. I love her textures and references to pop culture, her work just brings me joy!! I want to have a sleepover inside her illustrations <3

Em Dubin

Em is a super talented photographer who weve known for a couple years now, were gone on tour together, done photoshoots, and even made music videos. We worked with her on our album photoshoot, she not only took the photos but creative directed our looks, the set, everything. She always captures her subjects so beautifully and nobody has ever made me feel so comfortable in front of a camera. I love her live photos of bands, and her on-set work is so well executed.

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Diet Cig on their favourite visual artists that helped inspire their music - Brag Magazine

Jessica Alba has a secret to staying so fit without making extreme sacrifices, starving, or suffering through a craving to treat herself. She follows the Fab Four diet, designed by her nutritionist Kelly LeVeque, author of Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever. The principles are quite simple: it consists of eating anything as long as the meal contains a balance of four food types: protein, fat, fiber and vegetables.

The foundation of this method is that the Fab Four are elements that elongate your blood sugar curve and therefore reduce that anxiety-inducing, urgent sense of hunger that causes to you satisfy cravings at any time of the day or night. The diets equilibrium also offers nutritional and hormonal balance to help your body stay healthy.

The actress, who is also a mother and an entrepreneur, turned to a nutritionist because she felt tired and suspected that not getting enough sleep wasnt the only issue. In an interview with Well + Good, celebrity health and wellness consultant Kellyrevealed that when she reviewed Jessicas typical daily diet, she discovered that the star sometimes skipped breakfast and had eliminated sugar, leading her to crave carbs during the day. The nutritionist therefore recommended the celebrity start her day with a power-packed smoothie, for example one made with a handful of greens, banana, chia seeds, almond milk and almond butter.

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This is the fab diet Jessica Alba follows it allows you to eat anything! - HOLA! USA

In modern times, the COVID-19 pandemic is the most severe public health challenge. India has pulled out all the stops in keeping its people safe. Yet, every citizen needs to play her/his part by adhering to the official directives in ensuring the overall well-being of the nation.

In dealing with this infectious epidemic, considerable discussions have revolved around the human defence mechanisms and the role of vitamins in boosting the same.

Deficiencies and Diseases

Undoubtedly, nutritional deficiency can impair immune functions which are meant to protect against disease or potentially-damaging foreign bodies. Accordingly, maintaining a healthy immune system is critical at all times more so during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Multiple factors weaken immunity, particularly poor diet and malnutrition, stress, lack of sleep, excess alcohol consumption, smoking and similar bad habits. Nonetheless, vitamins can play a key role in optimising immune functions by boosting the bodys defence mechanism and resistance to infection.

Vitamins are essential dietary constituents, which the body requires to function normally. Our bodies do not produce most vitamins, except vitamin D, which are required in small amounts to maintain good health. Therefore, these must be obtained via the food we eat. Together, vitamins and minerals are termed micronutrients because their requirement is minuscule unlike those of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, which are referred to as macronutrients.

Known to influence the immune system, vitamins A, C, D and E have received specific attention in recent years as these boost immune functions. Vitamin A plays a central role in vision, skin, genes, growth and immunity. This vitamin is found as carotenoid a pre-vitamin in many foods such as green leafy vegetables, spinach, broccoli, carrots, pumpkins, melons, mangoes. Carotenoids are converted into active vitamin A in the body. Vitamin As active form is found in liver, egg yolk, butter, whole milk and cheese.

Its deficiency is a major problem in populations subsisting on cereals with limited intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits. Vitamin A deficiency is widespread in India. Its supplementation in preschool children decreases mortality and morbidity from some forms of diarrhoea, measles and malaria by improving immunity.

Dietary Intake and Immunity

Another key one is vitamin D, synthesized by the body with the help of sunlight while some foods are natural sources. These include oily fish, egg yolk, veal and mushrooms. Its deficiency is universal. Even in countries such as India with ample sunshine, it remains deficient. Epidemiological studies show vitamin D deficiency is present in most parts of India and across age, gender and socio-economic groups. The best-known function is in calcium absorption and bone health while its role in supporting immunity is complex. Nonetheless, it improves innate and adaptive immunity while enhancing the pathogen-fighting ability of white blood cells.

Next comes vitamin C, which plays multiple roles synthesizing collagen, absorbing iron, scavenging free radicals and defending against infections and inflammation. Fruits (especially citrus), cabbage-type and green leafy vegetables, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, and liver comprise rich sources. Its deficiency can cause scurvy with symptoms such as bleeding gums, bruised skin, fatigue, appetite and weight loss as well as lower resistance to infections. A potent antioxidant, it contributes to immune defence by supporting various cellular functions of both the innate and adaptive immune system.

Then there is vitamin E naturally available as a group of eight fat-soluble compounds. The liver converts these into alpha-tocopherol the chemical nomenclature for vitamin E. Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils are among the best sources of alpha-tocopherol. Green leafy vegetables are also rich in vitamin E. It is a potent antioxidant and can modulate immune functions. Although its deficiency is rare, supplementation significantly enhances immune functions, especially in the elderly.

Collectively called micronutrient deficiencies, vitamin and mineral deficiencies are widespread across India. The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau (NNMB) monitors the populations dietary intake. A series of surveys by NNMB highlight the poor dietary diversity in our population. More than 75% of children and women receive less than 50% of their daily dietary requirement of vitamin A. The recent Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey revealed that barely 6.4% of Indian children below two years received a minimum acceptable dietary intake.

The ideal way to augment vitamin and mineral intake is by diversifying the diet, which is a sustainable, long-term approach. But to quickly boost a persons micronutrient status in the short term, it is best to rely on fortified foods (including home fortification) as well as vitamin and mineral supplements, under the guidance of a doctor or dietician.

The writer is Senior Advisor, Nutrition Tata Trusts

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Covid-19: Proper intake of vitamins and minerals in your diet boosts immunity, heres how - Hindustan Times

Rumors surrounding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's ill heath have intensified after media reports suggest that he has died or is in a vegetative state following heart surgery.

CNN firstreported that Kim is in "grave danger" following a heart surgery according to a US official who also said that the country is closely monitoring the situation. A later report from a Japanese magazine statedthat the North Korean leader was in a "vegetative state". Further unconfirmedreports emerged that Kim had died this week.

Reports also emerged of North Korea's closest ally, China, sending medics to the country to "advise on" the North Korean dictator's health. The 36-year-old leader's condition remains a mystery as North Korea is one of the world's most secretive states.

However, experts have long been warning about Kim's diet and eating habits. Kim has been known to be a chain smoker and has been seen puffing away on cigarettes in public appearances, as well as on the sidelines of summits with US President Donald Trump.

Personal chef to Kim's father, Kim Jong-il for 13 years, Kenji Fujimoto had spoken to the Daily Mail in 2015 about the dictator's extravagant and luxurious eating habits. The chef used a fake name out of concern for his safety.

He told the publication, "I used to make sushi for the General (Jong-il) at least once a week and Jong-un always joined the dinner. So I could say Jong-un liked sushi."

Kim also reportedly had a fondness for champagne as Fujimoto revealed that the North Korean leader's favorite was Cristal and that he would finish "usually about two bottles [in a sitting]." The leader also reportedly drank "10 bottles of Bordeaux" during a meal.

In 2012, Fujimoto attended an extravagant banquet in North Korea on a personal invitation from Kim. The banquet served up delicacies such as Kobe beef steaks and shark fin soup. On the occasion, Fujimoto said, "I was so drunk when I visited North Korea in 2012 and when I woke up, I was in my bed, so I don't remember what was on the table well."

Reports also suggest that the leader's massive weight gain since he took the position as the Supreme Leader could be accounted to his love for Emmental cheese. The UK's Metro claimed in 2014 that Kim had vanished from the public eye due to his love for cheese and alcohol which reportedly caused gout.

According to the Metro's report, Kim likely picked up a taste for Emmental cheese during his education in Switzerland. Made from whole cow's milk and is not low in fat content. Reportedly, in 2014, Pyongyang officials visited a French dairy college in an attempt to secure more fine cheeses for their country.

Ermanno Furlanis, an Italian chef recruited to make pizza for the regime in 1997 as North Korea, also spoke to Daily Mail, saying that Kim Jong-Un's father, Kim Jong-Il was a "maniac" for food and that his interest in food was "not normal."

Furlanis added that Kim may have inherited his father's taste for meat, saying, "They loved so much the meat, the salami, the prosciutto, the ham." He further explained, "In North Korea, they are very fond of bulgogi (Korean-style marinated beef), and we know that meat is not healthy if you eat too much."

Kim Jong-il died of a heart attack in December 2011. According to the Daily Mail, the elder Kim was obsessed with luxury food and drink and would often send Fujimoto on missions to retrieve the finest ingredients from around the world, such as Uzbek caviar and Czech beer.

Though Kim Jong-Il lived to the age of 69, his son's penchant for smoking may have resulted in poorer health. According to reports, Kim prefers French designer cigarettes. The Yves Saint Laurent variety that he prefers sell for $44 per pack and the accompanying leather case to carry them in costs $165.

Continued here:
Kim Jong-Un's poor health could be a result of his diet that included lots of cheese, meat and alcohol - MEAWW

By MARIGA THOITHIMore by this Author

Somewhere amid my thoughts about the uncertainty of tomorrow, someone's daughter called me and asked me about what I had eaten.

She always asks about these things and I know it's a sign of love. She's always worried about my eating habits because honestly, they're bad. I survive on a bachelor's diet and it's bad.

I want to stop but the truth is food has never been a priority. As I write this I am in the middle of cooking fries and the day before that I had a three days takeout after a saleswoman convinced me to not only get chicken and fries but also add two pizzas since there was a BOGOF offer. I'll cook better tomorrow, I hope.

This reminds me of an interesting conversation I had with a friend of mine, Alex Ikawah, about gender and diet.

I got lost somewhere midway when he started talking about feminism, food, and diet. I looked it up last week and it had interesting reads if you looked past the 10,000 academic papers.

Are academic papers made as digital paper to light fires when the internet is out? I don't understand how you can work that hard to make your writing unreadable.

The research made a lot of sense about how we men chose to nourish ourselves. Small things like the fact that we men, myself included, would scoff at the idea of a vegetarian diet.

If you want to kill me just shoot me, but don't force me to live like a rabbit. Or the fact that meat has been tied to masculinity.

That's why you chose some nyama choma and cold tusker and not milk and cookies or cabbage and a smoothie. See how odd that sounded even though you were just reading it?

Meat has been made to seem like a manly thing even though it causes increased risks of cancer, weight gain, kidney problems, and cardiovascular diseases. But it's not a battle against meat but so many more other things.

When a man starts looking healthier and gaining weight we all remark that there is a woman behind him doing a good job.

We know so because he's stopped eating an alternate diet of noodles and mutura from Njuguna's as a meal.

I'm now finishing this article drinking a beer and munching on eggs. So ironical! What sort of life is this that we live as men?

This is the reason why we're asking women 'utanipikia lini (when will you cook for me)?' We're living like we're auditioning to be walking adverts for malnutrition.

It also does explain why women constantly complain about the taste of our protein. That's how you end up tasting like battery acid and expired milk at the same time.

It also explains why men end up admitted to the hospital more than women and why the flu makes us feel like we're dying and need to write our wills.

There's nothing unmanly about eating well and I need to remind myself that a lot. My well-refined minimalist spice rack of salt and black pepper needs to do a bit better.

Excerpt from:
Why is a good diet alien to men? - Daily Nation

The Hindu diet is practiced by adherents of Hinduism, the third largest religion in the world (1).

Its a primarily lacto-vegetarian diet, which means that it includes dairy products but excludes meat. Still, some people who practice Hinduism choose to eat certain meats or other animal products.

You may be curious about its history, how it compares with vegetarianism, and whether it offers health benefits.

This article tells you everything you need to know about the Hindu diet.

The Hindu diet is the eating pattern usually followed by adherents of Hinduism, most of whom live in India. Yet, as an estimated 1.1 billion people practice this religion, there are many variations of the diet (1).

In general, Hindus follow a lacto-vegetarian diet, which excludes meat, fish, shellfish, and eggs but includes dairy.

Hindu religious texts advocate for ahimsa, a practice of nonviolence toward all living creatures. This tenet justifies a lacto-vegetarian diet, as the killing of animals for food can be considered violence in Hindu cultures (2).

Additionally, Hinduism considers cows sacred, as theyre representative of maternal gentleness. As such, even among Hindus who eat meat, beef and byproducts like beef lard are taboo (3).

There are no universal, mandatory dietary restrictions for practicing Hindus with the exception of abstinence from beef.

Thus, the Western concept of vegetarian diets, with its rigid bans on certain food groups like meat, fish, and poultry, doesnt apply to the Hindu diet.

All the same, a majority of Hindus follow what could be considered a lacto-vegetarian diet. Some may follow a stricter diet while others may have more relaxed practices even eating meat, such as chicken or goat.

In fact, many Hindus living in India report including at least some meat in their diet particularly those who are poorer or lower in the caste system (4).

The Hindu diet is followed by adherents of Hinduism. While its primarily a lacto-vegetarian diet, many Hindus may eat meats like chicken or goat.

The traditional lacto-vegetarian version of the Hindu diet may provide several health benefits.

Lacto-vegetarian diets can be associated with heart health, as they tend to be higher in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and antioxidants than omnivorous diets.

Indeed, vegetarian diets are linked to lower blood pressure levels than diets that contain meat (5).

Additionally, one review found that vegetarian diets lowered levels of total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease. All the same, vegetarian diets also reduced HDL (good) cholesterol (6).

However, the Hindu diets inclusion of dairy products may help maintain or increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. That said, dairy products may also raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, depending on what types of dairy products are involved (7, 8).

In Hinduism, moderation of food intake is considered an important virtue called mitahara. This practice emphasizes diet and nutrition as keys to healthy living (9).

This focus on food moderation may promote healthier attitudes about food. In fact, dietary moderation is associated with lower calorie intake (10).

In turn, a lower calorie intake may aid weight loss.

Indeed, the traditional lacto-vegetarian Hindu diet is linked to lower body weights in India, compared with other eating patterns common in the country (11).

The traditional Hindu diet may be richer in fiber and antioxidants than other diets due to its high concentration of fruits and vegetables (12).

Fruits and vegetables both boast fiber, which has several health benefits. These include lowering cholesterol and promoting healthy digestion (13).

Fiber intake is also associated with a lower body weight because it promotes feelings of fullness. High fiber foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, likewise tend to be lower in calories than low fiber foods (13).

Additionally, fruits and vegetables are some of the best dietary sources of antioxidants. These plant compounds may help prevent or reverse cellular damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals (12).

Antioxidants may decrease chronic inflammation and lower your risk of illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers (14).

Notably, a study in 100 people in India revealed that those who followed lacto-vegetarian or ovo-lacto-vegetarian diets which include eggs had higher antioxidant levels in their blood than non-vegetarians (15).

The Hindu diet is primarily plant-based, but the addition of dairy products helps ensure that your body gets adequate vitamin B12 and zinc, which may help your body fend off anemia and certain chronic illnesses (16, 17).

Specifically, due to their fiber, nutrient, and antioxidant contents, plant-based diets are associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, and type 2 diabetes (18, 19, 20, 21).

One study in 32 vegetarians and non-vegetarians in India found that the non-vegetarians had ratios of gut bacteria similar to those of people with colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (22).

From these results, researchers inferred that a vegetarian diet may protect against these conditions. All the same, more research is needed (22).

The traditional Hindu diet may be associated with improved heart health and antioxidant status, as well as reduced body weight and chronic disease risk.

The Hindu diet is primarily lacto-vegetarian, though some practicing Hindus eat meat.

Generally, the only food completely banned for Hindus is beef. That said, many Hindus refrain from alcohol, and some may avoid onions and garlic, as these plants are tied to anger or passion according to certain religious doctrines (3).

Here are some foods that are commonly eaten or acceptable on the Hindu diet:

Ghee is a type of clarified butter widely used as a cooking fat in India.

Some Hindus follow a strict vegetarian diet, while others eat meat. Generally, the only food strictly off-limits on the Hindu diet is beef.

The Hindu diet is practiced by adherents of Hinduism and primarily lacto-vegetarian.

However, theres a large degree of flexibility, as some Hindus strictly abstain from meat while others eat certain meats, such as chicken or goat.

Thus, theres not necessarily one right way to follow the Hindu diet although its usually associated with a high intake of whole, nutritious vegetables and high fiber grains and legumes.

In general, lacto-vegetarian diets are associated with lower body weight and a decreased risk of several diseases.

Thus, the traditional Hindu diet offers a number of health benefits.

Read more:
Hindu Diet: Practices, Benefits, and Foods - Healthline

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