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You may think all beverages are equally bad on a plane, but it turns out one type of drink is extra irksome to your cabin crew.

Diet Coke is difficult to pour in the sky because it foams up more than non-diet drinks, according to a recent post on the flight attendant blog These Gold Wings.

We checked with otherflight attendants,who confirmed the struggle is real. Among them was Heather Poole, an American Airlines flight attendant who wrote about the phenomenon in a 2012 article for Mental Floss.

[Diet Coke is] the most annoying beverage a flight attendant can pour for a passenger in flight, because in the time it takes us to fill one cup, we could have served an entire row of passengers, Poole wrote. Ive actually had nightmares about frantically trying to finish a never ending Diet Coke beverage service before landing.

Pouring the drink is such a struggle that These Gold Wings demonstrated a smart way to avoid all the fizz in a 2013 video:

Many soda fansnoteDiet Coke is fizzier than regular Cokeeven on the ground, theorizing that its lack of sugar makes for a less viscous liquid, allowing bubbles to last longer before popping.

A Coke spokeswoman declined to share scientific specifics with HuffPost, but hinted that Diet Cokes ingredients could be the cause of its extra bubbles. Pouring the drink over ice only increases fizziness.

The amount of bubbles across different sparkling beverages is related to the specific recipe versus the altitude in which they are poured, the spokesperson told HuffPost. Generally, when sparkling beverages are poured at room temperature from a can and over ice, the fizz is increased.

According toSouthwest Airlinesflight attendant Stephanie Mikel, the effect occurs in all diet drinks.

Any diet or zero calorie soda fizzes more than the regular kind, she told HuffPost. But obviously, if its something someone wants, I would never get upset over that. You learn quickly which [sodas]you need to pour from a high angle and slowly.

Some airlines hand out entire cans of soda, Jay Robert of Fly Guy noted (andyou might even score one on a non-can airline, if you ask nicely.) With luck, youll be able to experience this phenomenon for yourself!

See the original post here:
If You Love Your Flight Attendant, Do Not Order Diet Coke - HuffPost

Tim Spector probably never expected to measure his poop, but so life goes. The professor of Genetic Epidemiology at Kings College London was invited by his colleague, visiting research fellow Jeff Leach, to travel to one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa. The purpose: to track his gut microbiome.

In a time of fractured nutritional advice with snake oil salesmen and saleswomen proffering wildly speculative claims, your bacteria and fungi dont lie. Your microbiome is the community of microorganisms that live inside of your stomach. Research is showing that this is one of the most important markers of your health, physically and psychologically. So Spector measured his levels, hopped on a plane to Tanzania, and ate porcupine.

emeran-mayer-on-depression-and-the-mind-gut-connection

Not only that prickly creature. For three days Spector lived as the Hadza do: baobab porridge, Kongorobi berries, hyrax, honeycomb, and yes, porcupine (tastes like suckling pig!). As it turned out, a long weekend on this diet had spectacular consequences.

"The results showed clear differences between my starting sample and after three days of my forager diet. The good news was my gut microbal diversity increased a stunning 20%, including some totally novel African microbes, such as those of the phylum Synergistetes," writes Tim Spector.

The bad news is that the microbes fled shortly after his return to London. Thats okay, Emeran Mayer, a Professor in the Departments of Medicine, Physiology and Psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, tells me. Author of the cutting edge book in this field, The Mind-Gut Connection, hes devoted his career to studying the link between the gut and brain.

While Spectors journey makes for solid journalism and great passport stamps, Mayer says we dont need to return to hunter-gather diets like the Hadza or Amazonian Yanomami to make a difference.

"A review of worldwide dietary habits has made it pretty clear that largely plant-based diets rich in indigestible fiber have the greatest health benefits, and that this benefit is in large part explained by the beneficial effects of such diets on the gut microbiome," says Mayer.

Mayer points to traditional Mediterranean, Asian, and European diets as being sufficient in increasing good bacteria. These diets are high in polyphenols, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory molecules. Numerous problems, he continues, are evident with the Western diet that has created startling obesity and GI problems in America: a low ratio of plant and animal components, high animal fat and sugar, excess calories, additives like emulsifiers and artificial sweeteners, an abusive relationship with antibiotics, and pesticides.

drew-ramsey-on-brain-health-and-nutrition

The standard Western micriobiome is so bad that Jeff Leach calls our guts ecological disaster zones. Leach has lived and worked with the Hadza for years and has written a book of his own, Rewild, which offers advice on how to create good habits for better guts. The process of rewilding your diet is possible anywhere, though cues taken from hunter-gatherer tribes can work wonders. While Westerners douse themselves in antibacterial soaps and celebrate clean diets, it turns out that a littleor a lotof dirt is best.

"It is their persistent exposure to this rich pool of microorganisms that has endowed the Hadza with an extraordinary diversity of microbes; much greater than we see among people in the so-called developed world," writes Jeff Leach.

While Mayer admits that were only at the beginning of research in this field, he predicts that textbooks across the academic spectrum will have to be updated: medical, psychiatry, neurology, metabolism, and cardiology first to mind. Gut bacteria and fungi, which if isolated as a separate organ would weigh between two and six pounds, is revolutionizing our understanding of our nervous systems. This information far exceeds what we put on our plate; it could shift how we treat depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders, even diseases like Parkinsons. (Indeed, earlier this year I wrote about my dietary shift curing me of longstanding anxiety disorder.)

There may soon be another cup next to the urine station in your doctors office as Mayer foresees microbiome levels integrated into your annual exam in the near future. Theres even ways to measure in the comfort of home: Leach is part of the team behind Map My Gut, a 23andMe for your feces. The information is designed to help consumers understand how their diet affects their lifestyle and may play a role in certain diseases.

emeran-mayer-on-sleep-and-the-mind-gut-connection

With this wealth of data on nutrients and bacteria surfacing, Leach also writes about an ancient aspect of eating often overlooked today: the ritual of the meal. In Los Angeles I constantly watch people shove food into their mouths while drivingunconscious gorging over shared ritual. In Spectors article theres a photo of the tribe surrounding the campfire as the author details the porcupine meal: spines, skin, and organs dissected; organs immediately cooked and consumed; meat shared communally later that evening.

Mayer relates the ritual of eating with positive emotions, which runs counter to the stress of comfort foods and busy eating performed while running from task to task. He points to the grape and olive harvests in Italy as examples of communities uniting to celebrate sustenance. No television, no social media, just conversation and enjoyment. This isnt only socially healthy, but it has a reverberating effect inside of your body.

"The reason that rituals are so important is because mental states are directly translated into the activity of the gut and modulate the behavior of gut microbes. We know that negative emotions affect these functions in a negative way. Being mindful of what we et and in which context we eat is an essential part of healthy eating," says Mayer.

In The Mind-Gut Connection, Mayer writes that unfortunately there's no one-size-fits-all recommendation for specific dietary recommendations. There are too many individual and environmental elements at play. But he does admit that maximizing your gut's microbial diversity is keyincrease your intake of multiple prebiotics in the form of plant fibers, as well as consume fermented foods and probiotics. And, of course, avoid mass-produced and processed foodstuffs with tons, or any really, preservatives. If you can't recognize the name as food neither can your digestive system.

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Derek's latest book,Whole Motion: Training Your Brain and Body For Optimal Health, is out now. He is based in Los Angeles. Stay in touch onFacebookandTwitter.

See the article here:
Why You Should 'Rewild' Your Diet to Help Your Microbiome - Big Think

Rob Gronkowski isnt exactly a poster boy for healthy living. That would be his teammate Tom Brady, whose aggressively healthy diet puts the rest of us to shame. But Gronk is giving Bradys lifestyle a shot to try to extend his NFL career.

And hes even making Brady do some of the work for him, according to Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald.

Toms my chef. I told him Im only eating them if you have them ready for me, Gronkowski said. And he said, Deal.

Gronk is the best tight end in the NFL, and its not close. But he missed eight games last season with a back injury that required surgery. Meanwhile, his seemingly ageless quarterback continued to be at the peak of his game. Thats why Gronkowski wants to adopt Bradys approach to diet and health.

Just looking at Tom, seeing what he does every day, what he eats, talking to him, personally one-on-one, just learning about the body with him, just seeing how flexible he is, how pliable he is, how loose he is all the time, every day and ready to go, I just felt like it was the time in my career where I needed to devote myself at all levels, Gronkowski said, via Guregian.

Gronkowski is working with Alex Guerrero, who is in charge of Bradys TB12 Sports Therapy Center, to improve his flexibility and durability and avoid injuries.

I just felt like I had to add on to what I was doing, Gronkowski said. Find a way that my body will respond so I can perform every day. Be in prevention mode for injuries happening.

Gronks fun-loving persona isnt all that consistent with Bradys reputation for healthy living. While Brady is all the way into things like eating avocado ice cream and not drinking coffee or alcohol, Gronkowski said he probably wont go quite that far. But there are consequences.

Every time Gronk drinks something that isnt on the diet plan, whether its coffee or alcohol, he has to drink three glasses of water. Were assuming Gronkowski is well-hydrated these days.

The program for Gronkowski includes resistance band work, deep tissue massage, and a strict diet, of course. It certainly seems to be working for Brady. If it keeps Gronkowski on the field for the Patriots, some avocado ice cream is probably worth it.

Read more:
Rob Gronkowski is going to eat like Tom Brady - SB Nation

Dying to know the secrets behind Beyonces post-baby slim down? The juicy details of her nutritious diet and exercise routine have been revealed to HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.

No, its not Photoshop. Beyonce, 35, just looks that good after welcoming twins last month. The secrets to having a killer body are pretty obvious (working out, eating right, drinking less, etc.) but how many of us are actually determined enough to follow through? Take a few lessons from Queen Bey if youre looking for extra motivation. Firstly, shes taking her time to lose the baby weight and doing it in a healthy, natural way, a source tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY. Breast feeding is really helping to shed the pounds, and running around after daughter Blue helps too!

Its also beneficial if your partner or roommate lives a healthy lifestyle, that way you wont be tempted to buy a bag of Cheetos at midnight. In the Formation singers case, hubby JAY-Z is really pushing a balanced diet packed with protein. Theyve always eaten healthy, although now shes eating a little more meat and less vegan, the source continues. Exercise wise,Beyonce is going to Soul Cycle, which she loves, and shes doing a special high cardio circuit program thathertrainer designed especially forher. Even if the treadmill isnt your thing, you can try Beyonces FAVORITE workout practice yoga!

She does it every single day, our source adds. Sometimes even Blue tries to join in, its so cute!Beyonce loves the effect yoga has onherbody, but she really loves the effect it has onhermind. Its the perfect way to start the morning, and it gets her in the right mind set for the rest of the day. If that still sounds iffy, try exercising with a loved one. All that sweating and blood pumping will do wonders to your sex life! Beyonce and JAY can barely keep their hands off each other at Soul Cycle!

HollywoodLifers, do you think you could keep up with Beyonces workout routine?

Originally posted here:
Beyonce's Flawless Post-Baby Bod: Her Nutritious Diet & Exercising Secrets Revealed - Hollywood Life

There probably weren't any overweight cavemen with heart disease running around in prehistoric times, so eating more like they did could help you be healthy andlose weight at least that's the theory behind the Paleo Diet.

Wondering whether the Paleo Diet is right for you? Here's what you need to know, from the basics to the pros and cons:

Theprotein-heavy,low-carb diet is inspired by the hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic era (about 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago).

The Paleo Diet includes lots of lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. Advocates of the Paleo Diet think that your body is naturally better suited to this type of diet than to the foods that emerged along with agriculture, such as dairy products and grains, which are strictly limited. Refined sugar,salt, highly processed foods and potatoes are also limited.

Paleo proponents believe that the human body was unable to adapt to the dietary changes that came about because of farming. As a result, these types of foods are believed to contribute to obesity,diabetes and heart disease.

The diet was first created in the 1970s by a gastroenterologist, but it started to become extremely popular around 2012-2013 as part of the wider low-carb trend. This year, it's been named themost popular diet choice among Americans according to a survey by organic delivery service Green Chef.

Potential health benefits

Since the Paleo Diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits and nuts, it contains some healthy foods that are high in nutrients. Fruits and vegetables are also usually low in calories.

You're likely to feel full and satisfied while you're on The Paleo Diet, since it's high in protein and fiber. This may make you less likely to overeat, so you may be able to lose some weight. This is especially true if you're replacing unhealthy sugary or processed foods with vegetables, fruits and nuts.

Cutting out or reducing refined sugar and processed foods is a good idea generally, since they provide very little nutritional value and are loaded with calories. Most Americans consume too much of both, and they can contribute to obesity, which raises your risk of developingType 2 diabetes.

Similarly, most Americans gettoo much salt in their daily diet, often from processed foods, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This can raise your risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

The Paleo Diet was ranked36 of 38 best overall diets evaluated by U.S. News & World Report in 2017. Itranked last among diets that are best for weight loss and34th among diets for healthy eating.

The magazine consulted experts who believed that because entire healthy food groups were excluded, the Paleo Diet made it hard for dieters to get the nutrients they needed. In fact, the diet was considered to be somewhat unsafe.

Similarly, The Mayo Clinic found the diet to betoo restrictive. While it does have some healthy elements, it eliminates or limits foods that can be very nutritious. Whole grains and legumes, for example, are good sources of fiber, vitamins and other nutrients, includingmagnesium and selenium. Dairy products can be good sources ofvitamin D,potassium andcalcium.

The diet can also be difficult to follow over the long-term,Lenox Hill Hospital nutritionist Sharon Zarabi told CBS News. It can be challenging for busy people since it limits convenience foods, she said.

Finally,Scientific American called the diet "half-baked," reasoning that Paleo is based on oversimplified logic. We're biologically different from our predecessors who weren't that healthy anyway and today's foods aren't identical to what the cavemen were eating.

Excerpt from:
Considering the Paleo Diet? Here's what you need to know - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Research led by Brad Ferguson, PhD, has found that diet doesn't appear to be a factor in gastrointestinal issues in children with autism. Credit: Justin Kelley/MU Health

Many children with autism spectrum disorder experience significant gastrointestinal issues, but the cause of these symptoms is unknown. Professionals in the medical community have suggested a potential link between diet and gastrointestinal issues related to autism. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine have found that diet is not a contributing factor in these individuals. The researchers hope the findings could help lead to improved treatment options.

"Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for those with autism to experience constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal issues," said Brad Ferguson, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Radiology at the MU School of Medicine and the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. "We sought to find out whether nutritional intake in their individual diets was associated with gastrointestinal issues. Based on our findings, dietary intake does not appear to be the culprit for these issues, and other factors are likely at play."

A previous study conducted by the research team identified a relationship between increased cortisol response to stress and gastrointestinal symptoms in people with autism spectrum disorder. Cortisol is a hormone released by the body in times of stress, and one of its functions is to prevent the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. In this study, the researchers sought to confirm or rule out dietary intake as a source of gastrointestinal problems.

The team studied 75 individuals between the ages of 5 and 18 who are part of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network who were treated at the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. The individuals' caregivers completed a questionnaire to assess the children's gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as a questionnaire on food intake over the past month. The individuals also underwent two stress tests to measure cortisol levels.

"We looked at the reported instances of gastrointestinal issues and compared them with 32 different nutrients found in a standard diet," Ferguson said. "Contrary to what you may initially think, dietary composition does not appear to be a driving factor between stress response and gastrointestinal function in this sample. More research is needed to better understand the causes of these issues, but an increased reaction to stress does appear to be a contributing factor."

Explore further: Increased reaction to stress linked to gastrointestinal issues in children with autism

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Study: Diet not connected to GI problems in children with autism - Medical Xpress

It sounds like Aaron Rodgers is looking for the kind of career longevity enjoyed by his friend and fellow NFL quarterback Tom Brady.

In an interview with People, Rodgers talked about how clean living was a factor in his 13-year career as a star Green Bay Packers quarterback. The interview took place in advance of Wednesday nights ESPY Awards when the former Cal Golden Bears star competes against the San Mateo-born Brady as the best NFL player of 2017.

Rodgers, 33, opened the interview by dishing just a tiny bit about how hes worked to overcome regrets. He may be referring to his breakup this spring from his high-profile, three-year relationship with actress Olivia Munn, or his longtime estrangement from his Chico-based family, including his younger brother Jordan Rodgers, last years winner of The Bachelorette.

You figure it out as you go, you make mistakes, but being open to those older voices in your life, and those mentors, can help you avoid some of the mistakes that we all [likely] made at a young age, he said.

Thats about as specific as Rodgers would get on that score. He was more specific when he talked about the importance of mentorship and friendship in the sport. Thats where Brady comes in.

The New England Patriots quarterback has become the subject of lengthy profiles in recent years and not just because of his on-field accomplishments: as a four-time Super Bowl MVP who has won five Super Bowls as quarterback. Brady is also said to be playing better than ever, even though hes 39 years old in a rough sport that is notoriously hard on players bodies and brains.

As he enters his 19th season, Bradys fierce attention to his own version of clean living has come under scrutiny.

Brady is known to follow an extremely meticulous diet, fitness and overall life-style regimen that covers everything: what he eats, how he works out or spends his vacation days and even how he sleeps, according to a 2014 profile Sports Illustrated. He is known to follow a strict, mostly vegan diet in which he shuns sugar and alcohol most of the time and in a more extreme way eliminates nightshade veggies like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant that are said to cause inflammation.

Brady also eats seasonally,meaning he eats certain foods in the winter including red meat and mostly raw food in the summer. Earlier this year Brady launched a plant-based meal kit plan,based on his program, with Purple Carrot.

Rodgers said hes taking some of his nutrition cues from Brady, especially as he contemplates how hell continue to play as he approaches his mid-30s, a time when many quarterbacks begin to contemplate retirement.

I dont have a cookbook out yet, Rodgers joked. And I still have to improve in some areas!

One thing he said he hasnt been able to give up are the nightshade veggies. But he says hes working to improve, mainly because he holds Brady in such high esteem.

I think Tom sets a good example, and we have been friends for a long time and talk about a number of things, Rodgers said. He has kind of set the standard for taking care of your body.

The interview didnt go into whether Rodgers is following some of Bradys other life-style choices, such as doing cognitive exercises before bedtime to destimulate his brain and to fall asleep by 9 p.m., as Sports Illustrated explained. Brady also rarely lifts weights and works out instead using resistance bands. Meanwhile, on vacation, his daily routine is still carefully scripted. He works out twice naps according to a schedule, surfs, avoids alcohol and still goes to bed early.

But Rodgers might have other ways of taking care of his most prized asset his body. In early April, shortly after he broke up with Munn, it was reported that he spends a lot time in Los Angeles, getting weekly facials. He had also been working out at the Unbreakable Performance Center, a gym known in West Hollywood for its celebrity clientele.

Read this article:
Aaron Rodgers is getting diet tips from his good friend Tom Brady - The Mercury News

With more than one-third of U.S. adults suffering from obesity, it's no surprise that many Americans would benefit from healthier eatinghabits. Fad diets capitalize on our desire for quick results but usually fail in the long run.

Now new research adds to the evidence that a more moderate approach can make a lasting difference.

A study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that improving the quality of diet over time, even with modest changes, may significantly reduce the risk of premature death.

Improvements to diet included consuming more whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fish and eating less red and processed meats and sugary beverages.

"Overall, our findings underscore the benefits of healthy eating patterns including the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. Our study indicates that even modest improvements in diet quality could meaningfully influence mortality risk and conversely, worsening diet quality may increase the risk," lead author Mercedes Sotos-Prieto, who worked on the study while a postdoctoral fellow in the Harvard Chan School department of nutrition and who is currently an assistant professor of nutrition at Ohio University, said in a statement.

For the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Sotos-Prieto and her team analyzed data on nearly 74,000 adults over a 12-year period. The researchers assessed the participants' diet using three different scoring methods: the 2010 Alternate Healthy Eating Index, the Alternate Mediterranean Diet score, and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet score. Each model assigns scores to various types of food, with healthier foods receiving higher scores and less healthy foods receiving lower scores.

The results showed that better diet quality over a 12-year period was linked to a reduced risk of death in the subsequent 12 years, no matter which method of scoring was used. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and fish or n-3 fatty acids appeared to contribute most to an improvement in diet quality.

Specifically, the study showed that a 20-percentile increase in diet-quality scores was associated with an 8 to 17 percent reduction in the risk of death.

That can be achieved, for example, by swapping out just one serving of red or processed meat and replacing it with onedaily serving of nuts or legumes.

In contrast, worsening diet quality was linked to a 6 to 12 percent increase in the risk of death.

Nancy Z. Farrell, a registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said the findings reinforce the work she does every day with her patients.

"Registered dietitian nutritionists practice evidence-based science every day in encouraging and educating the public on disease prevention and treatment, and we know that chronic disease increases the cost of health care and drives up insurance premiums," she told CBS News.

Farrell says everyone can benefit from making smart diet swaps as often as possible.

"Have a 'meatless Monday' dinner where you incorporate beans or legumes, such as red beans and quinoa. Or have a veggie pizza night," she suggests.

When it comes to snacking, avoid high-calorie junk foods like potato chips and opt for a handful of nuts, or make your own trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

And if you're looking for a sweet treat, skip the ice cream and try freezing some fruit instead.

"Blueberries or blackberries offer a refreshing summer snack with a burst of coolness," Farrell said.

Importantly, experts say it's crucial to not only incorporate such changes into your diet, but to stick with them over time.

"Our results highlight the long-term health benefits of improving diet quality with an emphasis on overall dietary patterns rather than on individual foods or nutrients," said Frank Hu, professor and chair of the Harvard Chan School department of nutrition and senior author of the study. "A healthy eating pattern can be adopted according to individuals' food and cultural preferences and health conditions. There is no one-size-fits-all diet."

Excerpt from:
Even modest changes to diet could reduce risk of death, study finds - CBS News

TUESDAY, July 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Lifestyle counseling could help protect the long-term heart health of adults who aren't yet at high risk for heart attack and stroke, a panel of medical experts says.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday reaffirmed its 2012 recommendation that doctors consider extra counseling on diet and exercise even among their low-risk patients.

"The Task Force encourages primary care clinicians to talk to their patients about eating healthy and physical activity," said task force vice chair Susan Curry. If patients are interested and motivated to make lifestyle changes, doctors should offer to refer them to counseling, she said.

Obese people and those who have high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, diabetes, or problems maintaining normal blood sugar levels are at higher risk for heart disease. The USPSTF already advised doctors to offer their high-risk patients intensive behavioral counseling to help prevent heart attack, stroke and other heart-related problems.

This type of counseling involves more than a single conversation during a doctor's visit. In many cases, patients attend multiple counseling sessions with another health care professional.

In its final recommendation published July 11, the panel concluded that primary care doctors should also consider offering healthy lifestyle behavioral counseling to patients who are at moderate or low risk for heart disease, including those who exercise and have a generally healthy diet.

"This recommendation complements separate task force recommendations for people at increased risk, which recommend behavioral counseling for all high-risk patients," said Dr. Carol Mangione, a task force member.

The recommendation was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. It also appears on the USPSTF website.

Cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks and strokes, is the leading cause of death in the United States, the panel noted.

See the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on healthy living.

More here:
Docs Should Counsel Even Healthy People on Diet, Exercise, Experts Say - Bismarck Tribune

Old 'grapefruit diet' gaining new popularity

Amanda Jaeger , KTHV 10:33 PM. CDT July 11, 2017

Grapefruit Diet, Credit: KTHV

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Many fad diets come and go but some seem to stick around through the decades. One of those diets is the grapefruit diet.

It has been around since the 1930s and claimed grapefruits are a type of super food that burn fat and make you lose weight fast. But is there any truth to it?

THV11 spoke with David Rath, a nutritionist for over 20 years. He has seen the grapefruit diet grow and fall in popularity.

Amanda Jaeger & David Rath, Credit: KTHV

The premise behind it is that grapefruit has a substance in it that causes you to lose weight, he said.

People claim grapefruit is so filling, you can only eat so many per day, which means consuming a lot fewer calories. Other variations of the diet call for people to eat at least half a grapefruit or 4 ounces of 100 percent grapefruit juice before each meal to make them less hungry and lose fat. Others claim grapefruits have super enzymes to burn fat.

Rath said most of those claims arent true, but grapefruits do have great qualities for people to consider. Theyre high in Vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk for disease. Theyre low in calories. If you eat the whole fruit, including the pulp, it can help lower your cholesterol.

The catch is those amazing qualities arent only evident in grapefruits. Most fruits and vegetables have some of those qualities.

Credit: KTHV

Fruits and vegetables are about 90 percent water and have a lot of fiber that fills you up without getting you many calories, said Rath.

He added people should absolutely include grapefruits into their diet, as well as other fruits and vegetables and foods from the five major food groups. He said the age-old truth make sure to eat those fruits and veggies really does win. It is the key to making you feel fuller while consuming fewer calories and giving you great nutrients.

But there are dangers with the grapefruit diet models that tout eating grapefruits on overload while skimping out on other healthy foods. Its also dangerous to use any of the grapefruit diet models that recommend eating a low number of calories each day.

It can actually be harmful to your weight loss goals and cause you to go into starvation mode from consuming too few calories, said Rath. Very low-calorie diets make the body think it is starving, which lowers your metabolism, and makes it hard for you to lose weight.

Too many grapefruits and too few calories will also not provide you the nutrition your body needs. Even if your weight drops temporarily, its not going to last and it could cause more damage than you would think.

That type of diet is not sustainable because people aren't going to eat like that for the rest of their life, he said.

Credit: KTHV

Rath added the best way to stay healthy is to make good meal choices from the five food groups while staying within your recommended calorie level. Its important to incorporate physical activity because that's another way to burn calories and maintain good fitness levels.

It's also important to check with your doctor and nutritionist before trying any new diets because they can interact with medication.

Grapefruits, for example, can interact with certain medications and cause serious health issues.

For more information on healthy eating and living just click here.For more information from David Rath, you can visit his website here.

2017 KTHV-TV

Continued here:
Age-old grapefruit diet, healthy or hazardous? - THV 11

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