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The One Meal A Day (OMAD) diet is an extreme version of time-restricted eating, like intermittent fasting. However, unlike intermittent fasting which usually allows a four or eight-hour eating window, the OMAD diet has a one-hour eating window. So you fast for the other 23 hours of the day.

Although various forms of intermittent fasting have been shown to be an effective way to shed pounds, the OMAD diet is not recommended by nutritionists and can even be dangerous for people with certain health problems. Here's what you need to know.

The OMAD diet does not restrict the types of food or how many calories you can eat during that one-hour eating window. However, you should aim to consume the recommended amount of calories for your height, weight, age, and gender.

"Generally speaking, if only eating one time per day, one should consume the amount of calories required to meet their daily energy needs in that meal," says Kelsey Hampton, CSSD, a registered dietician and certified specialist in sports dietetics.

"Most adults should not consume under 1200 calories per day," she says. It sounds obvious, but getting enough calories is extremely important as too little may compromise the immune system and breakdown muscle mass as the body resorts to other ways to maintain energy reserves, says Hampton.

It's important to maintain proper hydration when on the OMAD diet. The diet allows water, coffee, or tea consumption throughout the day, but no other beverages, like low-calorie or diet beverages, are allowed.It's also recommended that you eat your meal at the same time every day to ensure a consistent 23-hour fasting period.

"It would be best to consume this meal following your most active time per day. This will help your body recover from exercise and replace nutrients that may have been lost during activity," says Hampton.

To give you some idea of what a meal on the OMAD diet might look like, here are two examples of a morning and evening meal. Please note, these are merely to illustrate what a healthy meal may look like and is not a recommendation.

Morning meal:

Evening meal:

These examples merely reflect popular breakfast and dinner options but you can vary the foods as you see fit. Just remember, while it may be tempting to eat whatever you want on the OMAD diet, it's recommended that you focus on nutrient-rich foods that ensure you're getting enough vitamins and minerals.

Less extreme versions of intermittent fasting that allow a four or eight-hour eating window have been shown to improve glucose tolerance, increase insulin sensitivity, and aid in weight loss. Yet, eating one unusually large meal can have the opposite effect of dieting in the first place.

One study in the journal Nutrition Reviews from 2015 cautions against extreme versions like the OMAD diet because it can lead to an abnormal increase in appetite and body fat percentage beyond where you were when you started the diet.

"When you eat once a day, you feel weak and sick. When it comes time to eat, one tends to overeat which can lead to a surge of insulin and ultimately feeling unwell," says Melissa Rifkin, a registered dietitian and owner of Melissa Rifkin Nutrition in New York City.

Rifkin warns that the OMAD diet can be dangerous to children, elderly, and people with health conditions like diabetes. These groups need a steady intake of calories to maintain proper health. Also, people who regularly take prescription drugs should steer away from the OMAD diet because most medications require you to eat when taking them.

As for a healthy adult, "it may be safe, but that doesn't mean it is ideal," says Hampton.

Both experts, Hampton and Rifkin, say that there is just not enough research to recommend this diet as a proper weight-loss technique.

"There are healthier ways for people to eat while reaching their goals. Lean protein, plenty of produce and quality fats and carbs can provide a broad spectrum of nutrients and can be tailored in a way to meet many different health and wellness goals," says Hampton.

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What is OMAD diet: Why eating one meal a day isn't recommended by experts - Insider - INSIDER

The first few weeks of a keto diet may come with a spate of flu-like symptoms, including nausea, fatigue and dizziness, according to a new study.

For the study, published today (March 13) in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers drew from the experiences of 101 people who had started a keto diet and described their symptoms across 43 online forums. Consistent with anecdotal reports of a so-called keto flu thought to strike those who begin this sort of high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diet people described their symptoms as peaking within the first seven days of a new keto diet, dwindling over time and ultimately resolving on their own after about four weeks.

"We sought to characterize the nature of keto flu, as there was a disjunct in the amount of popular media reports of its occurrence versus the academic literature," said study co-author Dr. Emmanuelle Bostock, a researcher at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania in Australia. "We found that a number of users of online forums self-reported flu-like symptoms, usually occurring in the first few weeks of commencing the diet."

Related: 7 Tips for Moving Toward a More Plant-Based Diet

The keto diet debuted in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy. But more recently, the keto diet has become a health craze, as it's thought to cause weight loss by forcing the body into a state known as ketosis. When the body is in this state, cells draw most of their energy from compounds called ketones, which are derived from fatty acids. Experts are still unsure why this causes weight loss, and studies have broadly failed to demonstrate that the keto diet is more effective than other weight-loss strategies. But the keto diet appears to differ from other diets in an unexpected way: its tendency to induce flu-like symptoms, at least within the first few weeks of someone starting the diet.

"I definitely see clients experiencing the keto flu," said dietitian and nutritionist Ginger Hultin, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who was not involved in the study. "Some people hardly get it, some get some of these symptoms and some get it more severely."

To quantify this phenomenon, Bostock and her colleagues drew from 43 online forums to identify consistent complaints. The researchers found that, within the first few weeks of starting the keto diet, people reported a sudden onset of headaches, stomach pain, nausea and other flu-like symptoms.

The researchers said it's unclear why the keto diet would have this effect, but they suspect it may have something to do with the way the bacteria and other microbes in people's guts change when people start the keto diet.

For example, the keto diet excludes many of the foods that support our gut bacteria, such as starchy vegetables and whole grains, according to Popular Science. Given that many studies have found a connection between the brain and the gut, changes in gut bacteria could potentially result in some of the symptoms of keto flu, Popular Science reported.

What's more, many people who start a keto diet need to make drastic changes to the foods they eat in order to cut out carbs, which could lead the body to experience withdrawal-like symptoms similar to those that occur when people cut out caffeine, according to Healthline.

However, a critical limitation of the new study is that the data came entirely from online conversation threads, without any evidence that the individuals describing their symptoms were on the keto diet, let alone experiencing ketosis. "There needs to be more real clinical studies done, as this was a review of online forums," Hultin told Live Science. But Bostock hopes this preliminary study will lay the groundwork for future explorations of the side effects of the keto diet in well-designed clinical trials.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Keto diet may cause temporary flu-like symptoms. Here's what to expect. - Live Science

Friday, March 13, 2020 5:40 p.m. CDT by Thomson Reuters

By Lisa Rapaport

(Reuters Health) - Young men who care about their sperm quality might want to lay off the cheeseburgers and fries, according to a new study that links a typical Western diet with a lower sperm count.

Men in the study who ate a mostly Western diet characterized by pizza, fries, sweets, sodas and red and processed meats typically had a lower sperm count - by about 26 million - than men who ate far less of these unhealthy foods. With a Western diet, men also had lower levels of reproductive hormones needed for optimal fertility.

Conversely, men with the healthiest eating habits - with lots of fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, and water - typically had a sperm count 43 million higher than those who ate the lowest amounts of these foods.

"Your sperm is what you eat," said coauthor Dr. Feiby Nassan of the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

Diets rich in seafood, poultry, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that are essential for good sperm production, Nassan said by email.

"Our results suggest the possibility of using dietary intervention as a possible approach to improve sperm quality of men in reproductive age," Nassan said.

A normal sperm count can range from 15 million to 200 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

Sperm quality and certain sex hormone levels have decreased substantially over the past few decades, driven in part by worsening diets in many parts of the world, the researchers note in JAMA Network Open.

The current analysis included 2,935 healthy men in Denmark, ages 19 or 20 on average. Researchers divided them according to how closely their diets matched four patterns: a Western diet; a healthy diet described as a "prudent pattern" of eating; a so-called "open-sandwich" diet consisting of whole grains and lots of cold cuts, fish, condiments, and dairy; and a vegetarian-like diet with lots of veggies, soy, milk, and eggs and little if any red meat or chicken.

Total sperm count with the Western diet was significantly lower than with any of the other three eating patterns.

The study wasn't designed to prove whether diet directly affects sperm or fertility. Researchers also focused on young, healthy men who might not yet be trying to conceive, and they didn't examine what happened in older men who wanted to become fathers.

Still, the study adds to evidence suggesting a healthy diet is good for men's reproductive health, Dr. Muhammad Imran Omar of the University of Aberdeen in the UK said by email.

And, men, like women, should try to adopt a healthy diet, cut back on alcohol and stop smoking months before they want to start trying for a baby.

"However, men should be aware that it takes three months to produce sperm," said Allan Pacey, a researcher at the University of Sheffield in the UK who wasn't involved in the study.

"If a man alters his diet on a Friday it won't improve his sperm by Monday," Pacey said by email.

SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2VQrYmr JAMA Network Open, online February 21, 2020.

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Even among young men, healthier diet tied to higher sperm counts - WHBL News

Its a frequent sight in diners, restaurants, and family dinner tables the world over. People absentmindedly staring at their phones as they eat. While it makes a certain degree of sense on an entertainment level to browse the web or play an online game while eating, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have just released a new study that illustrates how technology at the table can diminish our dining experience and undermine nutritional needs.

The study found that participants ate far less in general when using technology while eating, potentially leaving some serious nutritional gaps in their consumption habits.

Researchers monitored the eating behaviors of 119 young adults on two occasions; once while simultaneously playing a video game for 15 minutes, and once without the presence of any technological distractions. Half the participants played the game first while eating, and then ate with no distractions on a second day. The other half ate with no distractions first, and then played the game while eating the second time around.

Participants were asked to play a game called Rapid Visual Information Processing, which is usually used to test the attention and memory skills of people suspected of suffering from Alzheimers or ADD.

Its fairly simple but distracting enough that you have to really be watching it to make sure that you dont miss a number and are mentally keeping track, explains lead study author Carli A. Liguori in a press release. That was a big question for us going into this how do you ensure that the participant is distracted? And the RVIP was a good solution for that.

Before both meals participants were told to fast for a full 10 hours, so theres no way they werent hungry. Then, they were told to eat as many quiches as they wanted while either playing the game for 15 minutes or sitting quietly. Next, 30 minutes after each meal subjects were given an exit survey that asked how many quiches they had been provided and how many they ended up eating. Participants also rated how enjoyable the food was, and how full they felt afterward.

Liguori and her team hypothesized that people would eat more food while playing the game; the idea being they would quickly eat as much as possible so they can get back to playing. Surprisingly, the results revealed that people ate less while playing. Predictably, the participants ability to recall the details of the meal was much worse after playing the game while eating.

However, there were notable fluctuations depending on which condition the person participated in first. While both groups ate less while using technology, those who played the game first before coming back for another meal with no distractions ate far less than participants who ate quietly first.

On that note, the participants who played the game first had an odd reaction when they were served the quiches for a second time. These subjects behaved as if they were encountering the food for the first time.

Food is one of the greatest pleasures we can all enjoy in life, and that last finding really drives home the fact that staring at our phones while eating significantly takes away from this universal human experience.

It really seemed to matter whether they were in that distracted eating group first, Liguori comments. Something about being distracted on their initial visit really seemed to change the amount they consumed during the nondistracted meal. There may be a potent carryover effect between the mechanism of distraction and the novelty of the food served.

Researchers theorize that these fluctuations indicate a fundamental difference between mindless eating and distracted eating. For example, mindless eating would be absentmindedly reaching for a nearby candy without even thinking about it, while distracted eating falls more in line with browsing the internet during dinner.

The studys authors made it a point to note that their findings may have been influenced by any number of factors, such as the foods used, the distraction method, and the incorporation of only college-aged participants. That being said, these results are still noteworthy because they contradict previous studies that had found distracted eating leads to more consumption.

Ultimately, it doesnt matter if distracted eating leads to more or less food consumption. Whether were piling food into our mouths quickly so we can get back to our phones, or too preoccupied to finish our meal, it doesnt exactly paint a happy nutritional picture.

Its becoming an almost universally accepted fact that the average adult spends far too much time on their phone already, theres no reason why we cant disconnect for a few minutes while eating.

The full study can be found here, published in the Journal of Nutrition.

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This is the weird reason your diet is so bad - Ladders

'The Warrior Diet' is a form of intermittent fasting: that's abstaining from food, or drastically reducing your intake, for a designated period of time anything from 16 hours to three days. The concept is nothing new, but its popularity has swelled in recent years and now every man and his spotter is seemingly singing its praises, whether for performance or for more aesthetic benefits. Here's where The Warrior Diet fits in.

Created by author Ori Hofmekler, this diet is supposedly based on the habits of ancient Roman and Spartan warriors, who would eat very little during their active days, then reward themselves with an epic night-time blowout.

This approach to intermittent fasting might better be referred to as the 20:4 diet. Like the better-known 16:8 eating plan, it consists of a daily fasting window and an eating window. However, in this case, the eating window is much shorter and is most commonly limited to one enormous feast.

There is some scientific basis to support this practice. Not only is this likely to cap your calorie intake by default, letting your body feed on its stored energy for a period of time can improve your ability to burn fat. A study in the Journal of Translational Medicine concluded that "time-restricted" feeding can help you lose weight while maintaining your hard-earned muscle mass.

The problem is that for all his personal experiences in the Israeli Special Forces and his romantic ideas about ancient warriors Hofmeklers diet is lacking in concrete evidence. There is scant evidence that his plan is any more effective than the simpler 16:8 diet, while chronobiologists have pointed out that humans are most insulin sensitive during daylight hours making a large meal in the afternoon, rather than in the evening, theoretically more conducive to weight loss.

Though the warrior diet allows a small amount of snacking on nuts and fruits throughout the day, the prolonged fasting hours could cause your blood-sugar levels to drop. Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine have found that this can increase junk food cravings, feeding your desire to indulge in low-nutrient, high-calorie foods during your end-of-day feast.

The average office worker isnt a warrior, says Daniel OShaughnessy, director of the Naked Nutritionist. An ancient warrior wouldnt have the opportunity to gorge on processed food like we do. This diet seems likely to promote an unhealthy relationship with food. If your resolve is forged of iron and you fear no hunger, this might not be an issue. But there are easier ways to battle weight gain.

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What Is "The Warrior Diet" and Can It Speed up Fat Loss? - Men's health UK

Highlights

Skin Care Drinks: Has your skin also started appearing dull and lifeless? The cosmetic products are also not able to bring back your lost sheen? Perhaps, it is time to take a look into your kitchen. Yes, you heard us! Our kitchen pantry is often stocked with ingredients that could do much more than just be a flavourful addition to your plates. It has been emphasised enough that you should have fruits and veggies daily, not only can they do wonders to your overall health but also help infuse your skin with a natural glow. There countless fruits and vegetables that come loaded with a bevy of antioxidants that are good for your skin. And no we are not talking about exotic, imported fruits and vegetables here. Something as basic as carrot and tomato could prove to be a natural elixir for your skin. How to get the best out of both? Juicing them is one way.

(Also Read:5 DIY Skin Tightening Face-Packs For A Flawless Skin)

Carrots contain vitamin C and beta-carotene. While vitamin C prevents free radical activity that is associated with ageing and wrinkles, beta-carotene is said to prevent skin inflammation. According to the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishing House, "in addition to beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene, carrots contain silicon, which promotes healthy skin and nails."

(Also Read:5 Kitchen Ingredients To Get Rid Of Skin Pigmentation)

Carrots contain vitamin C and beta-carotene.

Tomatoes are also a treasure of vitamin C. According to beauty expert Suparna Trikha, tomatoes also have lycopene, which is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals in the body. Their astringent properties help cut down excess sebum production on skin which leads to reduced outbreak of blackheads and whiteheads. She further adds that they also have pore-shrinking properties and help tighten the skin, and reduce chances of acne and pimples. Rubbing tomato juice on tanned areas may also help you get a detanned and nourished skin.

(Also Read:Tomatoes For Weight Loss: 5 Reasons Why You Must Include Tomatoes In Your Weight Loss Plan)

Tomatoes are also a treasure of vitamin C

1 medium tomato- cut in small sections fit for your blender1 medium carrot, cut in halvesHalf orange

Method:

Take a blender, add carrots, tomatoes and oranges. Give it a good blend. If the consistency is too thick add some water, but do not dilute it too much. Drink the juice while it is fresh.

Make this juice at home and see its impact on your skin for yourself. Make sure you opt for fresh fruits and veggies.

(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.)

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

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Skin Diet: Drink This Carrot And Tomato Juice For A Glowing And Nourished Skin - NDTV Food

No, eating mountains of broccoli or garlic galore will notprotect you from Covid-19. There is no quick-fix for the immune system genetics, age and exercise are all contributing factors and no one single addition to your diet will protect you from infection.

But wait! Anumber of foods garlic included have remarkably good antimicrobial properties, and while they should not be scoffed insteadoffollowing measures already advocated by the World Health Organisation (washing hands thoroughly;covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing), it certainly won't hurtto get a few more of these nutrient-richfoods into your daily diet.

The last word in immune-bolstering micronutrients is vitamin C, whichanyone who has been told to up their intake of oranges to fight off a cold will be familiar with. Consider also seeking out foods high in vitamin E, D and A, plus iron, zinc and selenium. And if your local supermarket is running low on fresh produce, frozen fruit and veg is just as beneficial.

Whatever the crisis, eating a healthy balanced diet makes a lot of sense, so get stuck into these.

Broccoli is rich in vitamins A, C and E, as well as containing a number of antioxidants like sulforaphane (meant to be good for heart health and digestion). Readily available all year round, broccoli is perhaps one of the cheapest and easiest ways to get extra vitamins into your diet. Treat it with care, though the more you cook it, the less nutritious it will be. Lightly steam, boil or microwave to lock in its immune-boosting properties.

The best broccoli recipes:

Browse more of our broccoli recipes here.

Red peppers contain three times the amount of vitamin C as citrus; in fact, it might surprise you to know that they are the most vitamin C-dense of any fruit or vegetable, as well as being a great source of beta-cerotene (which the body converts into vitamin A. Interestingly, red peppers have 11 times more beta-cerotene than green peppers, and one and a halftimes more vitamin C.

The best red pepper recipes:

Browse more of our red pepper recipes here.

Blueberries contain anthocyanin, a flavanoid with antioxidant properties that play an essential role in the respiratory tract immune system.

The best blueberry recipes:

Browse more of our blueberryrecipes here.

Rich in vitamin B6, manganese, selenium and vitamin C, garlic has long been regarded as useful for helping tofight infections and viruses. Allicin, the sulphur-containing compound that gives it its distinctive smell and taste, has been proven to have antibacterial affects; crushing and bruising garlic cloves supposedly stimulates the production of allicin, however, cooking the cloves will inevitably inhibit some of its medicinal properties.

The best garlic recipes:

Spinach is rich in flavanoids, cerotenoids, vitamin C and vitamin E, and is believed to supportthe immune system and even help to fight some cancers. Other leafy greens such as cavolo nero, spring greens and kale have similar health benefits.

The best spinach recipes:

Browse more of our spinach recipes here.

The trendy fermented drink known for its benefits to the gut biome is also thought to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and anti-allergenic effects. Consume it regularly as a drink or with breakfast.

The best kefir recipes:

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The best foods to boost your immune system and how to get more of them into your diet - Telegraph.co.uk

Highlights

Ghee, or clarified butter, is back in limelight and we cannot be happier. You may have heard numerous niutritionists and actors vouching for this desi wonder off late. Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor went on record to say she consumed ghee on a regular basis during her pregnancy. Her nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has also often posted about the healthbenefits of the healing fat. Ghee has been a crucial part of Indian kitchens since time immemorial. Its benefits are well-known to Indian households, and it is also said that Ghee also has immense significance in Ayurvedic medicines and remedies.

Ghee is traditionally made out of butter with all its water and milk solids removed. Pure, unadulterated ghee could actually do wonders for your digestive and overall health. The butyric acid present in ghee is particularly beneficial for intestines. It also has anti-inflammatory properties that help ease pains and discomfort. It also gives your body a burst of energy, which is why it is used in a plethora of winter preparations. The skin benefits of ghee are also widely known. Ghee is also topically applied on skin; it is said that it helps make skin taut and radiant.

Ghee consists of fat-soluble vitamins, which is beneficial for weight loss. Ghee also plays a key role in balancing hormones and maintaining healthy cholesterol, says macrobiotic nutritionist and Health Practitioner Shilpa Arora.

Now the question is, how do you include ghee in your diet in a healthy way? Here is a handy guide:

1. Spread It On Chapatis

Yes, it is time to bring back ghee on our chapatis, but be mindful of the portion. Brushing your roti with ghee on chapattis helps improve the digestibility of chapatti and even bring down glycemic load of the chapatti, as per Bangalore-based nutritionist Dr. Anju Sood. However, one has to be very cautious of the amount, she adds.

Brushing your roti with ghee on chapattis is not a bad idea

2. Tadkas in dals

Tadka is an essential part of our dal preparations; they help add flavour to soaked lentils. Ghee in tadka not only takes the flavour of the dish a notch higher but also add a tinge of health to it, says macrobiotic nutritionist Shilpa Arora.

Tadka is an essential part of our dal preparations

3. With milk

Drinking milk with a spoonful of ghee could be an effective remedy for constipation, writes Dr. Vasant Lad in 'The Complete Book Of Ayurvedic Home Remedies'.

(Also Read:How to Make Ghee from Malai)

4. Swapping oil with ghee to cook veggies

Cooking your veggies in ghee could be another healthy move you could try. Ghee has a high heat point, it is effective for absorption of fat soluble nutrients found in veggies; lycopene in tomatoes are more easily available to the body if they are cooked in ghee. Similarly, vitamin A from veggies like carrots and green is easy to absorb if they are cooked in ghee.

Cooking your veggies in ghee could be another healthy move

5. Fortifying Ladoos

Gond ka ladoo, alsi ka ladoo, badaam ladoo and more, all these delicious and nutrition dense laddoos are mostly made with ghee. Since these ladoos are on a heavier side, it is recommended to not go overboard.

(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.)

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

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Benefits Of Ghee: 5 Healthy Ways To Include Ghee In Your Diet - NDTV Food

In the last few years, the link between animal agriculture and the climate crisis has become difficult to ignore. A growing body of research also links meat consumptionparticularly red and processed meatwith serious health conditions, including cancer. In response to this information, a growing number of consumers are reducing the number of animal products they eat. Many are adopting flexitarian diets.

Flexitarians eat animal products in moderation, but plant-based foods make up the majority of their meals. According to Healthline, the diet was created by dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner,to help people reap the benefits of vegetarian eating while still enjoying animal products in moderation.

There arent any strict rules for flexitarianism; the idea is that most of the protein on the plate comes from plants and not animals, or that animal protein is only consumed once or twice a week, instead of every day.

In the UK, research by supermarket chain Sainsburys suggests that up to 91 percent of shoppers are flexitarian. Other research agrees that flexitarianism is on the rise. FoodNavigator reported last year that, by 2025, around 50 percent of the UK population will be flexitarian and 25 percent will be vegan or vegetarian.

Sainsburys called the rise of flexitarianism unstoppable.

In America, a 2019 study noted that 80 percent of consumers want to swap meat with vegan food. More recently, research from data analytics company Gallup revealed that 25 percent of Americans are eating less meat than ever before, for their own health and for the environment.

In the celebrity world, the diet is popular. Kim Kardashian-West follows a predominantly plant-based diet for health reasons. She wrote on Pooshher sister Kourtney Kardashians lifestyle websitethat eating plant-based foods helps keep her psoriasis under control. Her children also follow a similar diet; her eldest daughter, North West, still eats fish.

Popular talk show host Ellen DeGeneres used to follow a completely vegan diet. Recently, shes switched to a more flexitarian lifestyle. While she still believes that veganism is great for you, she decided to start eating fish and eggs again.

Beyonc is a firm believer in the health benefits of plant-based foods. In the lead up to her 2018 Coachella performance, she adopted a vegan diet for 44 days. Marco Borges, the founder of 22 Days Nutrition, helped the singer with her temporary diet switch. Together with husband Jay-Z, Beyonc has followed the plant-based program a number of times. The couple regularly eats vegan meals.

Meghan Markle also follows a flexitarian lifestyle. In 2016, she told Best Health,I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends. But at the same time, its all about balance.

Flexitarian diets are better for human health and theyre better for the planet, too. Heres why.

Animal agriculture is linked with a multitude of environmental problems, including deforestation in the Amazon and high greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, livestock makes up around 14.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions every year.

In 2018, the United Nations Environment Programme named tackling meat consumption as the worlds most urgent problem.

It stated:the greenhouse gas footprint of animal agriculture rivals that of every car, truck, bus, ship, airplane, and rocket ship combined.

In the same year, environmental giant Greenpeace called for a 50 percent reduction in meat consumption around the world by 2050.

More recently, experts in the UK have warned that a 20 percent cut on meat consumption is urgent. The Committee on Climate Change released a report stating that Brits must cut their beef, lamb, and dairy consumption for the sake of the planet. It noted that the reduction would help to save seven million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.

The reportwhich some experts believe does not go far enoughwarned that if consumers dont reduce their consumption willingly, the government may consider introducing higher taxes on meat and dairy products.

A flexitarian diet will help to reduce consumers environmental impact. However, a growing body of research suggests that a vegan diet is the most environmentally-friendly way to live. In 2018, the biggest-ever food production analysis concluded that a following vegan lifestyle is the single biggest thing a person can do to help fight the climate crisis.

Flexitarianism is also better for human health. Research has linked high meat consumption with a higher risk of serious diseases, including cancer.

The World Health Organization classifies red meatincluding lamb, beef, and porkas a Group 2A Carcinogen. This means it is probably carcinogenic to humans. Processed meat is classified as a Group 1 Carcinogen. This means there is strong evidence that processed meat products, like sausages and bacon, cause cancer.

Last year, a study revealed that eating three rashers of bacon every day increased the risk of bowel cancer by 20 percent. Emma Shields, an information manager at Cancer Research UK, said at the time:this study shows the more meat you eat, the higher your risk of getting cancer and obviously the reverse is true the less you eat the less likely you are to get bowel cancer.

Studies have also suggested that animal product consumption can increase the risk of other health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes. Eating more plant-based foods may reduce the risk.

A study by the American Heart Association notes that following a plant-based diet could reduce the risk of a heart attack by 19 percent. Researchers analyzed dietary patterns in middle-aged American adults from 1967 to 2016 to determine their results.

The study concluded:healthy plant-based diets, which are higher in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, tea, and coffee and lower in animal foods, were associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality and all-cause mortality.

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What Is a Flexitarian Diet and Should You Try It?

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What is a flexitarian diet? Around the world, consumers are reducing their meat intake for the sake of their own health and for the planet.

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Charlotte Pointing

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LIVEKINDLY

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What Is a Flexitarian Diet and Should You Try It? - LIVEKINDLY

Keith Phaneuf

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano threw the governors words about a debt diet back at him Wednesday.

Updated at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday with final vote on state bond package.

The Democrat-controlled legislature is expected to approve a two-year, $4.7 billion bond package Wednesday that shatters Gov. Ned Lamonts planned debt diet for state borrowing by more than $1.1 billion.

The House of Representatives approved the borrowing plan 126-20 following a one-hour, early-afternoon debate. The Senate approved it 31-5 at 6:40 p.m., following a two-hour debate.

And while Democrats insisted the bond package they negotiated with the governor would advance economic development, affordable housing, municipal aid, transportation and other priorities, Republicans countered Lamonts reversal would weaken Connecticuts standing on Wall Street.

More than half of the Republicans in both chambers voted for the bill. But Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R- North Haven, said that was because the package included three overdue state grants to cities and towns that are paid for using bonded dollars, adding that many legislators were worried that would face criticism back home if they voted no on Wednesday.

Governor Lamont has repeatedly told the public that he was committed to limiting bonding to the core functions of government, Fasano said. He has blasted his predecessors for overusing the states credit card. He told credit rating agencies, investors, businesses and taxpayers that he would be different. But today he is going back on that promise.

The governor and his fellow Democrats in the legislatures majority agreed on $2.3 billion in new borrowing for the current fiscal year, and $2.4 billion in 2020-21.

In addition, legislators already have approved $322 million in borrowing for this year and $351 million for next for capital projects at public colleges and universities and for the states bioscience and defense-related economic development programs.

Couple all of that with another $706 million in transportation-related borrowing approved previously for this fiscal year, and the total, potential hit to Connecticuts credit card exceeds $6 billion over the two fiscal years combined.

Lamont, who took office in January 2019, pledged to curb this borrowing, and particularly to clamp down on the single-largest category general obligation borrowing.

General obligation borrowing bonds that will be repaid over many years with resources from the budgets General Fund should be limited to just under $1 billion per year, Lamont said. Thats in addition to the G.O. bonding used for higher education and special economic development programs.

But the bond package adopted Wednesday includes $1.4 billion in general obligation bonds for this fiscal year, and $1.64 billion in 2020-21.

Fasano, who held a late morning press conference in the Legislative Office Building, stood before a poster board containing a series of quotes from Lamont and state Treasurer Shawn Wooden hailing the debt diet during his first months in office.

The credit rating agencies, investors, businesses around the globe and our taxpayers are watching what we do and have responded positively so far, Lamont said last July. As we move forward we cannot let them down by returning to old, bad habits and hoping for a different result.

Fasano noted the average annual borrowing in the latest bond packagenearly matches the heaviest level of borrowing during Gov. Dannel P. Malloys administration. Annual state bonding exploded dramatically under Malloy, who served from 2011 2018. Connecticut struggled during this period with a very sluggish recovery from the great recession and frequently used its credit card to ease pressure on the state budget.

Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, and Sen. Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, discuss the proposed bond package.

But Max Reiss, the governors communications director, countered that the debt diet is not over.

Thats because legislative approval is just the first stage in a multi-step borrowing process. The State Bond Commission must approve any legislative authorization before any borrowed funds can be spent.

As governor, Lamont chairs the 10-member bond commission and his budget office sets its agenda.

Reiss noted that under Lamonts leadership, the commission has allocated about half of what the prior administration averaged while simultaneously making the necessary and needed investments we were able to under existing authorizations.

Reiss added that this is not a time for baseless allegations and finger-pointing, but it is time for effective governance of this great state and its finances, which will always be measured and balanced with making appropriate investments in Connecticuts future.

And the top Democrat in the Senate said the package recognizes critical needs in education, transportation, social services, economic development and housing, and would have tremendous long-term benefits.

This is a capital bill that does meet the needs of the state of Connecticut in so many different respects, said Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, who called it a reasonable, responsible level of capital borrowing.

Wednesdays action ended a yearlong stalemate between the governor and his fellow Democrats in the legislature over borrowing and tolls.

Connecticut ranks among the most indebted states, per capita, in the nation, and debt service costs consume more than 10% of the annual budget, a problem that prompted Lamont to press for his debt diet immediately upon taking office.

But the governor also had been urging lawmakers to curb their borrowing as part of a larger plans that also involved tolls and the state budgets Special Transportation Fund.

Connecticut borrows just under $800 million per year for transportation work, pairing that with about $750 million in federal grants to support highway, bridge and rail upgrades. The STF covers the annual payments on that borrowing, buttransportation officials say the aging, overcrowded infrastructure is overdue for a major rebuild and more resources are needed.

Lamont wanted tolls first on cars and trucks and later on trucks only to bolster the STF and, in turn, enable more transportation borrowing. And he frequently warned lawmakers that he couldnt approve a bond package until tolls were resolved because absent toll receipts he would need to shift existing bonding away from non-transportation programs and into highway, bridge and rail work.

The governor finally conceded in February that lawmakers wouldnt approve tolls and the new bond package does add $200 million in annual borrowing to be repaid out of the budgets General Fund to complement the existing $780 million per year in bonding supported by the Special Transportation Fund.

The bonding bill not only ends the standoff between Lamont and legislators but also releases three non-education grants for cities and towns that had been held up by this process.

The state will borrow $166 million per year for communities, including:

Municipal advocates have argued for months that the delayed road grant is particularly problematic for local budgets.

Half of the $60 million TAR grant normally is given to communities shortly after the fiscal year begins on July 1 to help pay for summer road repaving and fall tree-clearing work. The second half goes out in early January to help fund snow plowing.

Both payments have been held up because there has been no bond package.

Mark Pazniokas :: ctmirror.org

Gov. Ned Lamont, center right, reached a deal on bonding with top Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney (right) and House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz.

But Lamont has said once a bond bill is sent to his desk, he will hold a bond commission meeting soon to expedite release of the local aid.

These are ways Connecticut is a partner for our municipality, Looney said. While most other states have counties that assist their municipalities, Connecticut lacks this third level of government, he noted, adding that makes state assistance even more critical.

The bonding deal includes many other components besides municipal aid.

More than $850 million over this fiscal year and next combined would be borrowed to support municipal school construction and renovation projects and another $84 million for improvements to municipal water treatment plants.

Lawmakers included $200 million for urban economic development initiatives statewide, $90 million for development of Connecticuts deep water ports, and $30 million in economic assistance grants for small towns.

The package also includes $45 million for a new transit-oriented, quasi-public development agency and$65 million to renovate the XL Center in Hartford.

More than $200 million over this fiscal year and next combined would be authorized for affordable housing program. The bulk of those funds, $175 million, would be dedicated for theFlexible Housing Program, which provides grants and loans for the development of affordable housing projects.

Community-based, nonprofit social service agencies were winners in the bond package, receiving $50 million in total across this fiscal year in next to help cover capital expenses.

Nonprofits, who provide the bulk of state-sponsored social services for the disabled, mentally ill, abused children, drug addicts and others, also have been seeking additional operating funds in the state budget. Leaders of these nonprofits say state funding has not kept pace with the cost of inflation for nearly two decades, forcing agencies to reduce or eliminate programs and cut staff.

Lamont has not supported that request for additional funds in the operating budget to date.

Legislators also included $5 million in bond package to support various efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus across Connecticut.

Other components of the package include:

Not all Republicans saw the bond package as negatively as Fasano did, and that town aid played a key role.

In the House, a little more than half of the GOP minority voted for the bond package. And while the same was true in the Senate, some House Republicans publicly praised the bill.

Rep. Livvy Floren of Greenwich, ranking House Republican on the legislatures bonding subcommittee, went so far as to say it adheres to the debt diet without imposing starvation.

Floren later modified her description, saying it might better be compared to intermittent fasting.

Both Rep. Chris Davis of Ellington, ranking House Republican on the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, said they voted for the deal to secure overdue aid for towns and additional funding for transportation work.

But Davis and Klarides both said the bond package was too large, and urged Lamont to use the bond commission to restrain actual borrowing.

We absolutely are 100% behind the municipal aid and the transportation funding, Klarides said. But youre forced to vote for things you dont like to get the things you do like.

Klarides noted her caucus offered an amendment to cut more than $380 million in proposed borrowing out of the bond package, but House Democrats rejected it with a party-line vote.

But House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said the House Republican support shows Fasano is more concerned with partisan politics than with the education, economic development, transportation, and other priorities the bond package supports.

Ive been saying for months now we have to put an end to this political division thats ruling this state, the speaker said.

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Legislators to break Lamonts debt diet by more than $1B - The CT Mirror

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