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Published Apr 7, 2024, 13:36:58 GMT+1Last updated Apr 7, 2024, 13:36:55 GMT+1

At this point, Vera Wang should have played Benjamin Button instead of Brad Pitt.

The bridal wear designer, known for making wedding gowns for the likes of Ariana Grande, Vanessa Hudgens, Mariah Carey, Victoria Beckham and Kim Kardashian, is 74-years-old and doesn't look a day over 50.

But as well as having good genes, the world wants to know more about her de-aging lifestyle, from her diet to her daily habits.

Now, the New York-born businesswoman has stressed that she is not actually trying to look younger - but is rather just embracing the natural ageing process.

"It's very complimentary and I am very grateful for that," she told BBC 100 Women last year.

"But, I have been asked; what are my 'secrets'. I've been in fashion since I was 19-years-old. Not in front of the camera, behind it.

"I never thought about youth, probably because I work with the most beautiful women in the world on a daily basis.

"And because of that I more envision them as my muses, and maybe it's a way of dealing with ageing that is productive."

In an interview with Page Six Style, however, she opened up about her unique diet, explaining that she still loves a bit of fast food from time-to-time.

"I do eat McDonalds, absolutely," she said. "I order it every day, like two weeks on it, and then Ill change."

She also loves a bit of Dunkin Donuts, adding: "I like the cream-filled, sugar-coated donut. Its like a jelly donut, but its cream inside, vanilla cream. I like the pink with sprinkles, too."

Amid her unconventional approach to dieting, Wang champions both balance and moderation.

She told Harper's Bazaar: "I go through phases with what I eat for lunch.

"I like sashimi with brown rice and vegetables, Chinese steamed broccoli with chicken and rice, or the artichoke salad or fish from Sant Ambroeus.

"At one point I was eating a slice of Ray's pizza every day, and I never gained a pound on it. It's not a bad thing if you squeeze out that excess oil. It's so filling.

"I only drink water - I stopped drinking Diet Coke six years ago. That was the hardest thing I ever gave up."

She also thanks her 'magic elixir' which helps her keep so young.

"I always said that vodka cocktail, a lot of sleep, but work - work is the magic elixir," she added.

I feel like her lifestyle is something a lot of us could get behind.

Topics:Food And Drink, Celebrity, Fashion, Lifestyle

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Vera Wang credits an unusual diet for her ageless looks at 74 years old - LADbible

In an age where convenience often trumps nutritional value, a growing body of research is raising concerns about the health implications of eating ultra-processed foods. These foods undergo extensive industrial processing, resulting in products that are convenient, hyper-palatable, and potentially detrimental to long-term health.

While processing itself is not inherently negative, (think pasteurized milk or extra virgin olive oil) the extent of processing and its impact on nutrient density are critical factors to consider. Ultra-processed foods, which are commonly defined under a classification known as NOVA, contain additives and undergo significant alterations from their natural state. They tend to be energy-dense, nutrient-poor, and often have long shelf lives.

Its raising concerns about their role in diet-related health outcomes such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, as our busy lifestyles may push us to reach for easy, quick, or low-cost, rather than cooking and eating more unprocessed or minimally processed foods like fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts or seeds.

As dieticians, we prefer to talk about the actual foods and nutrients and teach people how to read labels and what to look for, rather than focus on a broad, sweeping category, says Caroline Passerrello, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Often, a particular food may not be a clear cut yes or no. It requires education and label reading and knowing what to look for and what not to look for, she adds.

Consider the level of food processing, the overall nutrient density of foods and your overall dietary patterns, Passarrello suggested. Packaged cookies and sodas are energy dense but lack the nutrients our bodies need. While they may provide some energy and calories, theyre not supplying vitamins or minerals. This may lead to nutrient deficiencies over time, as well as unintended weight gain, according to Passerrello, who is also an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh.

However, theres a spectrum. The way our bodies respond to the calories and nutrients varies, depending on our age, activity level, and overall dietary patterns, she says.

While the NOVA classification system provides the most common framework for understanding the continuum of food processing, several other classification systems, including one from the International Food Information Council, or IFIC, use slightly different criteria to define ultra-processed and processed foods. Generally, however, these guidelines agree that highly processed foods contain high amounts of total and added sugars, fats, and/or salt, low amounts of dietary fiber, use industrial ingredients, whether derived from foods or created in labs, and typically contain little to no whole foods.

Its easy to find these highly processed foods on supermarket shelves:

These are just some products which typically contain artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. These goods are designed for prolonged shelf life, convenience, and profitability, often at the expense of nutritional value.

Research has shown a clear association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and adverse health effects. A recent study in the British Medical Journal highlights a link between ultra-processed diets and increased calorie intake, weight gain, and elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases. Participants consuming ultra-processed diets ate an average of 500 more calories per day compared to those on unprocessed diets, putting on additional pounds over time.

Another reason to cut back consumption of highly processed foods: recent findings from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center suggest that following a healthier diet may slow down the aging process and reduce the likelihood of developing dementia. This underscores the impact dietary choices can have on overall health and cognitive function.

Eating fewer ultra-processed, more nutrient dense foods is especially important for children and older adults, because their changing bodies require different energy needs and higher-quality consumed calories. But dont fret if you splurge on that mac and cheese or ice cream cone once in a while, Passarrello says. Look at eating patterns over the course of a week, rather than day-to-day.

It can be easy to fall into habitual patterns, like relying on food delivery apps, take-out, or convenience foods, and hard to get out of, Passarrello adds. It means making a lifestyle switch of budgeting more time and more money to change behaviors. Start with small steps. For example, whenever possible, find ways to add more nutrient density to meals, like swapping out a side salad for French fries. She also suggested:

According to the NOVA classification system, ultra-processed foods are industrial formulations made entirely or mostly from substances extracted from foods (oils, fats, sugar, starch, and proteins), derived from food constituents (hydrogenated fats and modified starch), or synthesized in laboratories from food substrates or other organic sources (flavor enhancers, colors, and several food additives used to make the product hyper-palatable). Beverages may be ultra processed.

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Ultra-processed foods can undermine your health. Here's how to identify and avoid them - Fortune

Nicole Chapman is determined that her daughter, Sofia, won't feel negative about her appearance and weight.Courtesy of Nicole Chapman

Nicole Chapman was raised in a household terrified by the numbers on the scale.

Her baby boomer mom influenced her, and she followed some of the same starvation diets she'd tried.

Chapman broke the damaging cycle because she didn't want to pass the habits to her young daughter.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Nicole Chapman. It has been edited for length and clarity.

My 4-year-old daughter, Sofia, was due for a bigger car seat earlier this year. I helped her stand on the scale to check if she met the weight requirements.

The scale registered 34 pounds. She weighed enough to make the transition. "Yay," I said. "You're so strong."

Sofia looked delighted. "Look at my muscles!" she said. We celebrated that she'd gotten heavier something I'd never done as a child.

My baby boomer mom raised me to dread getting on the scale, to fear every pound I gained. There was no ill intent we love each other dearly but the effect was damaging.

Motherhood made me break the cycle of disordered eating in our family. I'm determined that Sofia feels proud of her body at any size.

Mom weighed herself every morning. She'd come out of the bathroom and make comments that have stuck with me since I was 6. "I've gained weight," she'd say. She'd poke at her stomach in disgust.

A nice dress would tempt her while we were shopping. "I can't wear that until I've lost a few pounds," she'd say. If a special occasion were coming up, like a wedding or vacation, she'd start a fad diet about a month beforehand.

They included the cabbage soup diet and a plan that involved eating only 500 calories on two days of the week.

She hated exercising. If she did it, she wanted to "burn off " calories. Low-calorie food was good. High-calorie food was bad. There was no in-between.

Story continues

Her target weight was always 112 pounds. Her self-esteem was tied to that figure. As I got older. I fell into the same trap.

We did a low carb, high-protein plan together. We both tried shakes. I went on to do a "master cleanse" consisting of lemon juice, salt water and herbal tea.

But none of the diets were sustainable. Like my mom, I'd follow them for a while and then give up. My weight was like a yo-yo between my teenage years and my mid-30s.

By the age of 21, I had a demanding job in the film industry, but I'd force myself to go to the gym five days a week. My motivation to exercise was always to get slimmer. I was a cardio bunny who did a lot of high-intensity interval training. It didn't help my stress levels and I felt burned out at work and at home.

Then, in 2016, I switched careers. I developed an interest in strength training and qualified as a personal trainer. A considered diet and exercise program made me feel physically and emotionally balanced.

But it wasn't until after my daughter was born in the fall of 2019, that I realized how much the disordered eating had taken out of me and my mom.

I weaned Sofia when she was 6 months old. Like many new parents, I kept track of everything she ate by writing it down. After a while, it reminded me of the log that Mom and I kept for our daily calorie intake.

I thought about all the time we wasted worrying about food. I don't blame her her generation was raised to embrace the idea of looking thin, influenced by models such as Twiggy and advertisements for slimming products but I'd inherited my body insecurity from my mom. The habit cycled through our family.

I didn't want to pass it on to Sofia. These days, I shut down negative talk about weight. I'll challenge my mom if she talks about "burning off" calories or "earning" a treat after going to the gym.

If I'm carrying Sofia, and it's hard to manage, I never say, "You're too heavy." Instead, I'll say, "I am not feeling as strong today."

We discuss the concepts of power and strength, like when we weighed Sofia for her new car seat. I'll tell her that her legs allow her to run faster and climb higher. The parts of her body are power tools.

I've created an online fitness program that doesn't involve calorie counting or restriction. It explains how strength training burns fat and makes you strong so daily tasks become easier.

As for my mom, she's 72 now. She's unlikely to stop watching her weight any time soon. But she understands my point of view. She's proud of me, Sofia, and our future as two strong women.

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My baby boomer mom was always dieting. I started doing it too, and finally broke the cycle when I became a mother. - Yahoo Lifestyle UK

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Greenwood Avenue goes on a 'road diet' for safety; public input requested - The Bulletin

Several fruits and berries are considered superfoods for their physical and mental health benefits such as improved heart health, boosted brain function, lowered symptoms of depression and anti-inflammatory impacts.

On average, people who eat more berries seem to live a little bit longer, Eric Rimm, professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told The Washington Post. Rimm suggests incorporating fruits and berries to a healthy diet every day to reap benefits.

Here are five superfood fruits and berries with mental and physical health benefits.

Blueberries boast benefit for both mental and physical health. Research shows eating blueberries can improve brain function, lower symptoms of depression and aid in maintaining a healthy heart.

Much of the power of blueberries lies in their colors. The deep-blue hue comes from anthocyanin, a phytochemical whose abilities may help protect the body from heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, offering cancer-fighting benefits, promote gut health and reduce inflammation, reports the Mayo Clinic.

A one-cup serving of blueberries contains 25% of the recommended daily value for vitamin C and 4 grams of dietary fiber, but only 80 calories.

Adding just a handful of blueberries to your daily diet could improve brain function, found a study from Kings College London. Researchers asked participants to consume wild blueberry powder for a duration of 12 weeks. Individuals who consumed the blueberry powder experienced improved memory and increased accuracy on attention tasks.

Regularly eating blueberries can also help relieve anxiety and ease feelings of depression because they are rich in antioxidants, per WebMD. A study from the British Journal of Nutrition found that adolescents who took daily wild blueberry supplements reported lower symptoms of depression.

Despite common misconceptions, avocados are actually single-seeded berries, per Healthline. They are an excellent source of healthy fat, fiber, potassium, magnesium and vitamins B, C, E and K.

Avocados contain several nutrients including carotenoids, monounsaturated fats, potassium, and fiber that have been associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases, especially when included as part of a balanced nutritious diet, per Harvard Health.

Frequently eating avocados is heart-healthy, according to a 30-year study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Researchers found that those who regularly ate avocados experienced a significantly reduced risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to individuals who rarely ate avocados.

The study also noted that individuals who ate avocados at least twice per week experienced a 21% lower risk of coronary heart disease, compared to those who rarely or never eat avocados.

Professional athletes report drinking tart cherry juice to aid in reduced inflammation and muscle pain, per The Washington Post. Studies show that tart cherries and tart cherry juice have a similar impact to anti-inflammatory drugs.

The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of cherries work like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen for reducing or preventing pain, registered dietitian Carly Sedlacek told Cleveland Clinic.

A study from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that runners who consumed cherry juice throughout the week before a race experienced significantly less muscle pain.

Tart and sweet cherries may also improve sleep. A review from the journal Nutrients found that cherries high levels of melatonin, serotonin and tryptophan aided in increasing quality and quantity of sleep.

Acai is a nutrient-dense berry loaded with antioxidants. Research shows these unique berries improve cholesterol, protect cognitive function, reduce cancer risk and support liver health.

Acai berries are one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins, the antioxidant that give the berries their deep purple color.

Anthocyanins (provide) anti-inflammatory effects in the body, (and) may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, registered dietitian Kristen Nicolai told Everyday Health. They also protect against free radical damage known as oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic and acute conditions.

Eating acai berries could protect the brain as it ages. One animal study reported that acai might help improve memory while aging. Another study, published in the journal Molecular Neurobiology, found that acai berries might have an anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective impact on Parkinsons disease. Researchers found that acai supplements were able to mitigate Parkinsons disease through reducing the loss of dopamine.

Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, clementines and pomelos are all citrus fruits. These zesty fruits offer a great source of fiber, may protect against cancer, boost heart health, improve cognitive function in older adults and aid in maintaining a healthy heart.

Citrus fruits are also one of the best dietary sources of vitamin C.

Citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits and clementines, are an excellent source of vitamin C. And vitamin C supports your immune system, which plays a role in maintaining healthy skin, bones and blood vessels, reports the Mayo Clinic. Citrus fruits contain soluble and insoluble fiber, both of which provide great benefits.

A study from the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine linked the consumption of vitamin C found in citrus fruits with decreased duration and severity of the common cold. Researchers found that those who took vitamin C supplements while suffering from a common cold experienced shortened illness by 8% in adults and 14% in children.

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Superfood fruits and berries with mental and physical health benefits to add to your diet - Deseret News

Summary: A new pilot study presents a compelling case for the ketogenic diet as a dual-action treatment for individuals with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, who often suffer metabolic side effects from their medication. The research shows how adopting a ketogenic diet not only mitigates these metabolic issues but also significantly improves psychiatric conditions.

Participants adhering to a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet experienced weight loss, reversed metabolic syndrome, and saw a 31% improvement in psychiatric assessments. This innovative approach underscores the potential of dietary interventions in enhancing both physical and mental health, offering hope for a more holistic treatment strategy.

Key Facts:

Source: Stanford

For people living with serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, standard treatment with antipsychotic medications can be a double-edged sword. While these drugs help regulate brain chemistry, they often cause metabolic side effects such as insulin resistance and obesity, which are distressing enough that many patients stop taking the medications.

Now, a pilot study led by Stanford Medicine researchers has found that a ketogenic diet not only restores metabolic health in these patients as they continue their medications, but it further improves their psychiatric conditions.

The results,publishedMarch 27 inPsychiatry Research, suggest that a dietary intervention can be a powerful aid in treating mental illness.

Its very promising and very encouraging that you can take back control of your illness in some way, aside from the usual standard of care, saidShebani Sethi, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the first author of the new paper.

The senior author of the paper is Laura Saslow, PhD, associate professor of health behavior and biological sciences at the University of Michigan.

Making the connection

Sethi, who is board certified in obesity and psychiatry, remembers when she first noticed the connection. As a medical student working in an obesity clinic, she saw a patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia whose auditory hallucinations quieted on a ketogenic diet.

That prompted her to dig into the medical literature. There were only a few, decades-old case reports on using the ketogenic diet to treat schizophrenia, but there was a long track record of success in using ketogenic diets to treat epileptic seizures.

The ketogenic diet has been proven to be effective for treatment-resistant epileptic seizures by reducing the excitability of neurons in the brain, Sethi said. We thought it would be worth exploring this treatment in psychiatric conditions.

A few years later, Sethi coined the term metabolic psychiatry, a new field that approaches mental health from an energy conversion perspective.

Meat and vegetables

In the four-month pilot trial, Sethis team followed 21 adult participants who were diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, taking antipsychotic medications, and had a metabolic abnormality such as weight gain, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, dyslipidemia or impaired glucose tolerance.

The participants were instructed to follow a ketogenic diet, with approximately 10% of the calories from carbohydrates, 30% from protein and 60% from fat. They were not told to count calories.

The focus of eating is on whole non-processed foods including protein and non-starchy vegetables, and not restricting fats, said Sethi, who shared keto-friendly meal ideas with the participants. They were also given keto cookbooks and access to a health coach.

The research team tracked how well the participants followed the diet through weekly measures of blood ketone levels. (Ketones are acids produced when the body breaks down fat instead of glucose for energy.)

By the end of the trial, 14 patients had been fully adherent, six were semi-adherent and only one was non-adherent.

Feeling better

The participants underwent a variety of psychiatric and metabolic assessments throughout the trial.

Before the trial, 29% of the participants met the criteria for metabolic syndrome, defined as having at least three of five conditions: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose levels. After four months on a ketogenic diet, none of the participants had metabolic syndrome.

On average, the participants lost 10% of their body weight; reduced their waist circumference by 11% percent; and had lower blood pressure, body mass index, triglycerides, blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.

Were seeing huge changes, Sethi said. Even if youre on antipsychotic drugs, we can still reverse the obesity, the metabolic syndrome, the insulin resistance. I think thats very encouraging for patients.

The psychiatric benefits were also striking. On average, the participants improved 31% on a psychiatrist rating of mental illness known as the clinical global impressions scale, with three-quarters of the group showing clinically meaningful improvement. Overall, the participants also reported better sleep and greater life satisfaction.

The participants reported improvements in their energy, sleep, mood and quality of life, Sethi said. They feel healthier and more hopeful.

The researchers were impressed that most of the participants stuck with the diet. We saw more benefit with the adherent group compared with the semi-adherent group, indicating a potential dose-response relationship, Sethi said.

Alternative fuel for the brain

There is increasing evidence that psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder stem from metabolic deficits in the brain, which affect the excitability of neurons, Sethi said.

The researchers hypothesize that just as a ketogenic diet improves the rest of the bodys metabolism, it also improves the brains metabolism.

Anything that improves metabolic health in general is probably going to improve brain health anyway, Sethi said. But the ketogenic diet can provide ketones as an alternative fuel to glucose for a brain with energy dysfunction.

Likely there are multiple mechanisms at work, she added, and the main purpose of the small pilot trial is to help researchers detect signals that will guide the design of larger, more robust studies.

As a physician, Sethi cares for many patients with both serious mental illness and obesity or metabolic syndrome, but few studies have focused on this undertreated population.

She is founder and director of themetabolic psychiatry clinicat Stanford Medicine

Many of my patients suffer from both illnesses, so my desire was to see if metabolic interventions could help them, she said. They are seeking more help. They are looking to just feel better.

Researchers from the University of Michigan; the University of California, San Francisco; and Duke University contributed to the study.

Funding: The study was supported by Baszucki Group Research Fund, Keun Lau Fund and the Obesity Treatment Foundation.

Author: Nina Bai Source: Stanford Contact: Nina Bai Stanford Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access. Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial by Shebani Sethi et al. Psychiatric Research

Abstract

Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial

The ketogenic diet (KD, also known as metabolic therapy) has been successful in the treatment of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and epilepsy. More recently, this treatment has shown promise in the treatment of psychiatric illness.

We conducted a 4month pilot study to investigate the effects of a KD on individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with existing metabolic abnormalities. Twentythree participants were enrolled in a singlearm trial.

Results showcased improvements in metabolic health, with no participants meeting metabolic syndrome criteria by study conclusion. Adherent individuals experienced significant reduction in weight (12 %), BMI (12 %), waist circumference (13 %), and visceral adipose tissue (36 %).

Observed biomarker enhancements in this population include a 27 % decrease in HOMAIR, and a 25 % drop in triglyceride levels. In psychiatric measurements, participants with schizophrenia showed a 32 % reduction in Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores.

Overall Clinical Global Impression (CGI) severity improved by an average of 31 %, and the proportion of participants that started with elevated symptomatology improved at least 1point on CGI (79 %). Psychiatric outcomes across the cohort encompassed increased life satisfaction (17 %) and enhanced sleep quality (19 %).

This pilot trial underscores the potential advantages of adjunctive ketogenic dietary treatment in individuals grappling with serious mental illness.

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Keto Diet May Improve Mental Health Symptoms - Neuroscience News

No matter the age, we often hear about the importance of eating right, exercising and getting enough vitamins and minerals to be healthy. However, the vast amount of information on what types of exercises we should do, food we should eat or supplements our bodies need can be confusing.

Is there a correct path we should follow for a long and healthy life? An Italian longevity expert believes he has the answer, according to The New York Times.

According to the Healthy Longevity Clinic, longevity means a long duration of a healthy life. This includes:

Valter Longo, an Italian professor of gerontology and director of the U.S.C. Longeviy Institute in California and past rock guitarist, obsesses over longevity, per The New York Times.

Longo told The New York Times, I want to live to 120, 130. It really makes you paranoid now because everybodys like, Yeah, of course you got at least to get to 100. You dont realize how hard it is to get to 100.

Researchers specializing in human longevity assert that the foundation for living past 100 years lies within an individuals DNA, which encompasses the genetic inheritance passed down from their parents, per The Washington Post.

S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago told The Washington Post, You cant make it out that far without having already won the genetic lottery at birth.

Besides genetics, The Washington Post says environment, lifestyle and location matter too. Ask yourself these questions:

Longo, who is also currently working on identifying genes that regulate aging, advocates for a diet he terms The Longevity Diet in his new book. He believes that this diet, characterized by the Lite Italian diet and faux fasting, is the way to reach 100 years, per The New York Times.

Lite Italian is similar to the Mediterranean diet. However, Longo notes the diet should be pescatarian, or fish heavy, with legumes.

Per Cleveland Clinic, a traditional Mediterranean diet includes:

According to The Celiac MD, faux fasting effectively fools the body into believing it is undergoing a fast while still permitting some food consumption. A fasting-mimicking diet seeks to harness the advantages of fasting while mitigating the associated difficulties, including hunger, fatigue and headaches.

What food should you eat while faux fasting? Longo developed a plant and nut-based diet supplemented with kale crackers and other supplements.

According to Longo, this dietary approach enables cells to rid themselves of harmful components and rejuvenate, all without the adverse effects of fasting and starvation, per The New York Times.

His recent study, published in Nature Communications, found that individuals who did periodic cycles of faux fasting reduced insulin resistance, pre-diabetes markers and immune system age all indicating reduced biological age.

Before trying a new diet, consult with your doctor about how it might affect you.

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Can you live past 100? Italian longevity expert believes so - Deseret News

A 450-pound alligator who lived behind a former Florida Coca-Cola plant was moved from his current habitation and put on a diet to lose some weight, according to a Croc Encounters Reptile Park and Alligator Farm Facebook announcement.

On Friday the 9-foot alligator aptly named Coca-Cola was removed from Temple Terrace, Fla., after neighbors expressed concern about a damaged fence near the pond the reptile was residing in, Croc Encounters' Karina Paner confirms with PEOPLE.

Karina tells PEOPLE that Coca-Cola was "well over" the standard size of a 9-foot alligator, confirming that an animal that size is "typically around maybe 200 pounds."

Although some neighbors would illegally feed him chicken and a few too many hams, said Croc Encounters Director John Paner, some grew concerned when the fencing fell apart.

Croc Encounters/Facebook

"We have children that run all over this place and they're wonderful. They're the cutest kids, but I could see them getting in trouble. I could see them crawling through there," resident Catherine Burton said of the hole no longer separating the animal from the public, per Fox 13.

Once people start feeding alligators they become a nuisance by no fault of their own and must be removed from the wild as they begin to approach people for food, read the Croc Encounters statement.

Along with feeding the wild animal, Karina explains that he was in a "small area." The reptile "was not able to really move around as much as maybe a wild alligator that's going out hunting for their food," says Karina. "So all those things contribute to an alligator becoming overweight, like he is."

But after his presence was reported, residents were worried Coca-Cola would be killed.

"We had several phone calls from people in the neighborhood asking what can we do. We told them that wed be willing to take him, but it all has to go through the legal channels, John told Fox 13. They wanted him not to be killed so I guess things worked out for him.

"I don't want no harm happening to him. He's really part of the Temple Terrace community," said one resident, Sarah Lanyos, per Fox 13.

Croc Encounters/Facebook

Coca-Cola was captured by Greg Pollock. Karina tells PEOPLE that the animal was then "immediately" taken to Croc Encounters, and veterinarians agreed to put the 450-pound animal on a diet. "Hes very overweight. Hes got to slim down. It's unhealthy, John told Fox 13.

"That's a little heavy for that animal," John told WFLA-TV.

"All of our alligators get a mix of pellet diet," John said of the animals new and more appropriate diet. "We'll also feed fish, we also feed chicken, we'll do that on a regular basis, and hopefully he'll slim down a bit."

Croc Encounters/Facebook

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises people to keep a safe distance from alligators and swim in designated areas during daytime hours.

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450-lb. Gator Living Outside Coca-Cola Factory Moved and Put on Diet - PEOPLE

Without sodium, you wouldnt be able to survive. Nerves would fail to fire; muscles wouldnt contract. But experts say that most people consume far too much of it, increasing their risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

In the United States, for instance, about 95 percent of men and 77 percent of women consume more than 2,300 milligrams per day, a limit federal health officials recommend.

But in recent decades, researchers have disagreed about exactly how much sodium is too much, with some suggesting that federal guidelines are too strict. Those reports captured our attention and left many people confused, said Dr. Lawrence Appel, a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

But more recent research has clarified some of that murkiness, Dr. Appel said. We asked him and other experts to help set the record straight.

Scientific studies from the last 50 years or so have shown a clear pattern: The more salt we eat, the higher our blood pressure goes, said Cheryl Anderson, a professor of public health at the University of California, San Diego.

In a 2021 review of 85 clinical trials, for example, scientists looked at what happened to peoples blood pressure when they consumed 400 to 7,600 milligrams of sodium per day. As their consumption increased, the researchers reported, so did their blood pressure. The effect was strongest for people who already had high blood pressure, but the researchers also saw it in people who didnt.

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Sodium in Your Diet: How Salt Can Affect Your Health - The New York Times

It looks like the 22-day vegan diet Beyonc embarked upon with hubby Jay Z to commemorate his 44th birthday (were pretty sure theres something Illuminati-esque in those numbers) finally ended, as the couple celebrated New Years in Miami and indulged in a seafood meal atSeasalt & Pepper, where chef Alfredo Alvarez created a series of special pescaterian delights for the pair.

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To break veg-edge, they went big: the couple indulged in black cod casserole, tuna and salmon tartare, tuna sashimi, octopus planche and lobster risotto. For dessert, they enjoyed avocado ice cream.

The couple had initially gone vegan as a sort of spiritual and physical cleanse,explained Jay, who said hed already switched to a vegan breakfast regimen.Previously Jay Z had said that he might try to stick with a plant-based diet, even after the 22-day challenge was over. I dont know what happens after Christmas. A semi-vegan, a full plant-based diet? Or just a spiritual and physical challenge? he wrote, though we had a feeling Beyonc wasnt quite as convinced.

Throughout the vegan experiment, she was spotted in leather, fur, and even pizza-themed clothing, which many interpreted as a silent protest against a meat- and dairy-free diet.

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How Jay Z And Beyonc Broke Their 22-Day Vegan Diet - Yahoo Life

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