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Garlic is heavily associated with Italian food, grows all over the world and has a very strong and distinct smell. It makes things taste amazing, while making your breath afterward questionable at best. Cest la vie, that is what breath mints are for.

Garlic is a plant in the onion family. It grows in bulb form and then the bulbs can be separated into cloves. Cloves can be chopped, minced, or crushed to be used in your recipes. Garlic is fantastic, but today I want to tell you about the garlic scape. The scape is the flowering tendril that grows out of the ground above the bulb and these are also completely edible. Theyre green, slim and very pretty because they bend and loop sort of like a pigs tail. Theyre a more delicate garlic flavor than the bulb, without the hot bite. Even with all of these attributes, theyre not well-known, so you can buy some, add them to your pasta dish and astound your friends with your worldliness.

Other than adding depth and delicious taste to your pizza, garlic is also something you should seek out for health purposes. People have actually been using garlic for its health benefits for millennia. Garlic is so good for you that some people now take it in supplement form. Im a firm believer that if you can get the same benefits from adding something tasty to your diet, then that is the way to go, and garlic is pretty darn tasty. Anyway, you can acquire the same benefits from both the bulb and the scape part of the plant. Garlic is low in calories while also being highly nutritious. It contains manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium and fiber, as well as decent amounts of iron, potassium, copper and calcium. Many benefits are also derived from the chemical compound called allicin, which is an antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral. There have been many studies linking garlic and allicin to the reduction of high blood pressure, the lowering of bad cholesterol, support of the immune system and increased bone strength.

So if youve been won over and want to try and add more garlicky goodness to your diet, try the following recipe, adapted from Healthy Gourmet. Impress your friends, improve your health and keep the Altoids handy.

Summer e-scape skinny dip

Ingredients:

3 cups green peas, fresh or thawed

1 tbsp. yellow mustard

2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 cup garlic scapes, chopped

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup water

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth. Serve with fresh veggies.

Makes three cups.

Miranda Beverly-Gill is the front-end manager and marketing coordinator at Maple City Market in downtown Goshen.

See the original post:
Add more garlicky goodness to your diet - Greensburg Daily News

As more and more individuals in developed countries grapple with being overweight or obese, new so-called miracle diets pop up almost daily. Clearly, consumers have begun to examine what makes our waistlines shrink or expand, but have we taken pause to consider how specific foods play into our feelings? Most people who finally lose the weight remark how much better they feel and how much more energy they have. However, our physical appearance is only the tip of the psychological iceberg; science shows that what we eat and how we feel are connected far beyond our size.

Interestingly, our food preferences seem to be dictated from a young age, based initially in biological needs. Most newborns show a preference for sweet tastes, versus sour or bitter tastes, as measured by facial expressions. This is actually the result of a biological adaptationin which sweetness indicates the presence of valuable calories, whereas bitterness or sourness may signal the presence of toxins. So while we may not always be able to resist a sweet tooth, and while we may be able to ignore the physical effects of poor nutrition for decades, like cancer or heart disease, knowing how what we eat affects how we feel gives us more immediate agency over what goes into our bodies.

Research shows that lower intakes of nutrient-dense foods and higher intakes of unhealthy foods are each independently associated with smaller left hippocampal volume (near the center of the brain), which appears to be related to the development of major depression. In other words, feeling better emotionally isnt just about cutting out certain foods; its equally about adding in more of the good.

There is strong evidence that a healthy diet can improve mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. In another study, Increased fruit and vegetable consumption was predictive of increased happiness, life satisfaction and well-being. The study showed that, after increasing intake of fruits (two servings a day) and vegetables (five servings a day) within 24 months, participants exhibited psychological gains equivalent to moving from unemployment to employment. If youve ever experienced the transition from jobless to happily employed, you know the difference in happiness, security and general peace of mind that comes with that transition is night and day.

So before resorting to prescription pills for mood disorders, reducing sources of dietary inflammation might be worth trying. Many would be surprised to learn that evidence shows that same inflammation plays a role in psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder, mania, schizophrenia, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Those seeking to reduce sources of dietary inflammation would be advised to reduce or eliminate personal food allergies (more on this below), intake of refined sugar, artificial sweeteners and additives (like dyes), processed carbohydrates, trans fats (like hydrogenated oils, which have been chemically altered to extend shelf life; enough said), excess sodium, alcohol (a known depressant) and caffeine. While that list may seem daunting initially, spending a few seconds reading nutrition labels may, in fact, give you hours of feeling better emotionally and mentally.

As far as adding in healthy options to the diet, its interesting to note that our mood is also negatively impacted when it is missing key vitamins and antioxidants. Bipolar depression, for example, is characterized by lowered antioxidant defenses, including: lower levels of zinc, coenzyme Q10, vitamin E and glutathione [an antioxidant]. Other nutritional deficiencies common amongst those battling mood disorders often include omega-3 fatty acids, folate, vitamin D, vitamin B, magnesium, iron, amino acids, iodine and selenium.

While the list of possible deficiencies can seem overwhelming, advances in science have made tailored deficiency testing much more accessible. By simply doing a blood or hair sample test, for example, you can determine what your body needs more of. The answers are often surprising but can help you pinpoint which supplements could boost your body to start feeling better, emotionally and mentally. Both skin prick tests and blood tests are not 100 percent effective, as far as determining personal food intolerances or allergies. As such, if you do want to take the time to establish what your personal trigger foods may be, doing an elimination diet, under the guidance of a doctor, can help pinpoint trouble foods.

The vicious cycle of eating too much of the wrong things, then feeling guilty, then binging to remove the guilt is all too familiar to many Westerners. We may gravitate toward comfort foods because of their short-term production of dopamine within the brain (hello, cookies!), but considering the long-term energy benefits derived from healthier options may help us make better choices. Swapping out your snacks for more mood-friendly options, paired with regular exercise, may be just what you need to get out of that unexplained funk. So heres to your health, as well as your happiness!

Chelsea Vincent has been teaching fitness for almost ten years. Prior to teaching, she had 15 years of formal dance training. Chelsea has a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University and is a certified power yoga instructor, spinning instructor, barre instructor and weightlifting Instructor, as well as an ACE-certified personal trainer and wellness specialist.

See the rest here:
Changing Your Diet Can Have the Same Emotional Impact as Getting a New Job - Observer

I love to read inspiring stories about people who completely disregard what others see as a handicap, like Ernestine Shepherd. This lady started weightlifting at age 56! She is currently 80 years old and still competes as a bodybuilder! When most people start thinking of slowing down, she just started to hit her stride. Here's a quick little video about her:

Or take a look at the dad of FightTips coach Shane Fazen. Watch Mr. Fazen just kill it at the gym ... at the ripe old age of 55.

And who can forget the incomparable Jack Lalanne? Here is a great video showing him swimming on his 70th birthday pulling 70 boats in tow! He passed away at 96, but how many people in their 40s or 50s don't have the health of Jack Lalanne when he was 90? People like Lalanne and many others prove that age is just a number, and you don't have to listen to what other people think is a handicap.

I was a couch potato when I was in my 20s and 30s. But then my father died suddenly. I simply could not work through my grief, so my wife suggested that I take up running (she was already a power runner). It was quite the struggle to start walking, then jogging, then running.

But after about a month of doing this three days a week, I was hooked! (And, although I miss my father every single day, my exercise has been therapy and has helped me achieve "a sense of balance" whenever I think of him.) For the next 14 years I would run two or three miles three days a week. It was a good addiction that later saved my life.

In 2012, I found out that I had five almost complete blockages in my heart. (You can read the whole story here.) My doctors told me that I had a genetic problem the condition was not due to abusing my body. They also said that my running had so strengthened my heart that I was living on only 15 percent of its usage, and I did not even know it until almost the very end.

Exercise had kept me alive. When I came out of surgery I asked my surgeon, "What do I do to NEVER wind up with something like this again?" He told me "First, take your meds." (Check. That's easy.) "Next, eat right." (No problem, I've been a health food nut for almost 30 years.) "Lastly, exercise like a mad man." (Got it. I can do that.)

Read more:
Over 50 But Not Over the Hill A Diet and Exercise Plan for People 50 and Over - PJ Media

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) is a diet often used by people suffering from digestive disorders.

But does it really help to improve gut health?

This article explains SCD and looks at the evidence behind it.

What is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)?

The Specific Carbohydrate Diet is a diet plan designed to help address inflammatory digestive disorders.This includes diseases and conditions like ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohns disease, diverticulitis, and celiac disease.

The diet became popular from the 1994 book Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet, by biochemist Elaine Gottschall. Itwas based on a few celiac and food intolerance theories from the past century combined with Elaines experience treating her daughters UC.

Its called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet because only certain carbohydrates called monosaccharides, or simple sugars, are allowed. Larger carbohydrate molecules like di-, oligo-, and polysaccharides are excluded.

Foods containing fats and proteins are not impacted.

Summary: The Specific Carbohydrate Dietwas designed for those suffering from inflammatory digestive disorders. The only carbohydrates allowed on the diet are monosaccharides.

How Does SCDHelp?

The purpose of the Specific Carbohydrate Dietis to reduce inflammation in the digestive tract.

Its also said to improve the balance of bacteria in the gut by providing the body with nutrient-rich and easily digestible foods.

These are the main (theoretical) benefits in more detail:

Addressing bacterial overgrowth

Inflammatory digestive disorders harm the gut lining, which is where digestion and absorption occurs.

The result is that the body doesnt properly breakdown foods, particularly carbohydrates. Bacteria in the gut then interact (ferment) these poorly digested carbohydrates, producing waste products that irritate and damage the gut.

A vicious cycle forms where bacterial fermentation causes damage, which then worsens digestive and absorptive abilities. The SCD removes poorly digested carbohydrates (i.e. any carbohydrate that is not a monosaccharide) from the diet to improve bacterial overgrowth.

Addressing leaky gut

The lining of a healthy gut is tightly regulated to prevent absorption of harmful substances into the body.

When regulation becomes lax, which is present in inflammatory digestive disorders, larger and potentially harmful substances can pass through (1).

This is known as increased intestinal permeability, or Leaky Gut. The SCD aims to heal the gut lining, thereby improving leaky gut.

Addressing poor absorption

Digestive enzymes are released from cells in the gut lining in the presence of food to help with digestion.

When the gut is damaged, there may be inadequate release of enzymes. Additionally, the gut lining releases more mucus to help protect itself. Excess mucus blocks enzymes from interacting with food.

Because the SCD only allows monosaccharides, digestive enzymes are not required for digestion and absorption since this type of simple sugar cannot break down into smaller parts.

Summary: The SCD may improve digestive disorders by healing the gut lining, reducing bacterial overgrowth, and improving nutrient absorption. It does this by removing carbohydrates that are more difficult to digest.

What Does The Research Say?

Research on SCD is in its infancy, but there have been studies looking at specific health conditions.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Research on SCD and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is emerging.

In a small retrospective study of 7 children with Crohns disease, subjects followed the SCD without the use of any medications for 5 to 30 months.

All symptoms and lab markers were significantly improved at their 3-month clinic checkup. Similar study designs showed these same promising results (2, 3, 4, 5).

Following on from that, a prospective 12-week study in 12 pediatric IBD patients following the SCD produced notable symptom and lab improvements. Researchers also found significant changes in the microbiome via stool testing (6).

Additionally, a case study series of 50 IBD patients following the SCD for over 2 years showed it was 91.3% effective in controlling acute flare symptoms and 92.1% effective at maintaining remission (7).

Lastly, adults with IBD have a strong perceived benefit when following the SCD based on results from 417 respondents of an anonymous online survey (8).

Overall, current scientific evidence is promising but in its early stages for IBD.More research is necessary to confirm these findings in both childrenand adults.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

There are some similarities between SCD and the commonly recommended low FODMAP dietfor managing food intolerance.

However,there is no research on using SCD specifically for treatingIBS.

There is also a diet that combines SCD with the low FODMAP diet, which was designed for patients with small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).

While this combination diet could theoretically help improve SIBO, there are no studies supporting its use.

Healthy people

No research indicates SCD would be useful for generally healthy people.

Its highly restrictive and unnecessary for the vast majority of the population to follow.

Summary:The SCD could be useful for IBD, but there is not enough evidence to recommend it as the first option. There is no research on theSCD for those IBS or the general healthy public.

SCD Food List

The SCD uses the terms legal and illegal to help followers understand what to eat.

Legal foods include:

Illegal foods include:

SCD Introduction Phase

Prior to starting the diet, consider following the introduction phase for about 5 days or until diarrhea subsides.

SCD Introduction Instructions:

Summary: The SCD allows many healthy, unprocessed foods including proteins, fresh fruits/vegetables, nuts, and some dairy. It avoids most processed foods, especially those that contain starches, sugars and preservatives.

Sample SCD Meal Plan

While changing the diet is not easy, there are many simple and delicious foods when following the SCD.

Here is an example of foods you could choose on an SCD meal plan.

Breakfast (options):

Lunch (options):

Dinner (options):

Snacks (options):

Who Should Try the SCD and Is It Safe?

The SCD could be useful forIBD and celiac disease.

However, those who suffer from functional digestive disorders such as Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), chronic constipation, and chronic bloating should not try this as it has not been studied in these populations.

Also note that the SCD is a very restrictive eating plan that can cause more issues if not properly guided. For example, it may cause social isolation, food fear, weight loss, and nutrient deficiencies.

Therefore, its important to talk to your doctor or dietitian to find out if this plan is best suited for you.

Summary: The SCD is appropriate to try for those with inflammatory digestive disorders, but should be approached with caution and under professional supervision. It is not appropriate for all digestive conditions.

Summary: Does The Specific Carbohydrate Diet Work?

The Specific Carbohydrate Dietis an approach that may help those with inflammatory digestive disorders, such as IBD.

Research on the SCD andIBD is in its early stages, but results so far arepromising.

Just note there is no evidence its useful for those with IBS or those who are generally healthy.

Remember to always speak with your healthcare provider before making any serious diet changes.

This post originally appeared on Diet vs Disease asSpecific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) for Gut Health: Does it Really Help?

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

More:
Does The Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) Help Digestive Disorders? - Care2.com

Technology is finally catching up to what I have instinctively known - dieting doesnt work. Ive always been one of those naturally thin people who never diets, eats what I want and has a lot of yo-yo dieters scratching their heads in disbelief and irritation. Why? Because since my teenage years and into my forties, I have always known that diets dont work and deprivation is definitely not for me.

What I do know is that a balanced life filled with lots of nourishing foods and an active lifestyle does work; it works forever, not just for a few weeks or months. Ive been an amused spectator as more diet fads than I can count have come, and then gone the way of the Macarena (circa 1996 in case you missed it). Sugar Busters, The Zone, Atkins, The Cabbage Soup Diet, the All Fruit Diet, the No Fat Diet the list is endless.

Finally, there are apps that agree with me. They have been hailed Next Gen weight loss apps, because they thumb their nose at traditional dieting. They tout the philosophy that health and fitness are not about food, but are actually about wait for it mood, and that a little education and self-awareness goes a long way.

Why do we eat? When do we eat? How do we eat? Here are some great apps that can help you to answer these questions for yourself and get you on the right track towards lasting lifestyle changes.

We eat when were hungry; thats a no brainer. But we also eat when we are stressed, scared, depressed, anxious, celebrating, craving a particular taste we eat for a lot of reasons. I recently read an article about a new app called goEvo (as in go Evolve) that is about to hit the app store this fall. goEvo app claims to track your moods and how each mood correlates with your eating habits. For example: Do you always reach for that bag of potato chips when you get bad news? Do you tend to drink too many glasses of wine when you are feeling celebratory? Does a burger and fries hit the spot during that time of the month (ladies)? Do you have to have your spicy wings and beer when youre watching a Football game with the guys? We all have emotional cues connected to food. Sometimes they serve us and sometimes they dont.

According to goEvo, the app enables you to actually connect with experts in different areas of health and wellness, in real time, in order to identify your craving triggers and redirect your emotions and the ensuing behaviors you might live to regret. The concept is based on an artificial intelligence model. You can have a text conversation in real time with a psychologist that answers you back with appropriate replies and offers viable solutions stored in the app that are based on research. goEvo aims to teach users how to identify their moods and their corresponding food cravings, finding healthier solutions and redirecting behavior in the moment. It also introduces users to fun play-like fitness routines, balanced meal ideas, delicious recipes and other helpful tips.

Theyre even putting their money where their mouth is, offering a free NutriBullet blender and helpful healthy living books as a prize package to one lucky potential user of this upcoming iOS app. To be entered to win, sign up for their mailing list at goevoapp.com.

A friend recently introduced me to the Fooducate Nutrition Scanner app, which is available on both iOS and Android. And Fooducate is exactly what is sounds like. Using their website or mobile app will educate you about the nutritional value, caloric count and composition of just about any food you can think of. Unlike traditional calorie counting, Fooducate shows you the calories versus nutritional value so you can determine the quality of the foods you put into your body throughout the day.

Want to know how much calcium, iron, protein and vitamins are in your favorite foods? Look it up on this app and get the real deal breakdown. Then calculate how to meet your nutritional needs throughout the day. Essentially, the concept is spend less calories and buy more nutrition. Learn how to get more bang for your buck, so-to-speak. The app also tallies how each food rates and gives it a grade, as in A, B, C. Example: I just looked up watermelon, one of my favorite snacks. Bonus for me; it scores an A on the Fooducate scale with a naturally high vitamin C quotient, minimal processing, 240 IUs of vitamin A and 60 mg of iron. Hersheys Milk Chocolate Bar, another personal favorite, didnt score so well at C-. With 8mg of saturated fat, 10 mg of cholesterol and the only real nutritional value being that of 80 mg of calcium and 3 mg of protein, at 210 calories thats a lot to spend with little nutritional pay off making it a once-in a-while treat.

While some of these findings might seem obvious, its important to get the details on what we eat so we can make more educated and empowered choices. Looking to eat healthier but running out of ideas? This app is community-centered with users sharing some of their favorite healthy recipes, so youll never again be at a loss for what to prepare. The best part is, they advocate for real food and real meals; no gimmicks or fads need apply.

Billing themselves as an app whose mission is to create products that help people live healthier lives, Noom completely omits the terms diet or weight loss from its mission statement. Noom offers courses that help you reboot your lifestyle and how you approach health and fitness, along with helping you understand and conquer unproductive habits that have held you back. They denounce yo-yo dieting and deprivation. Noom focuses on building a better version of you through coaching that addresses: cravings, habits, motivation (or lack thereof) and other self-sabotaging behaviors and beliefs that are keeping you from your long term health goals.

Were all different after all, with unique habits, triggers, inclinations and goals, so it stands to reason that Noom assesses who you are and puts together a personalized course just for you. You will get matched with a personal goal specialist and professional health coach. After analyzing your health pitfalls and your health and weight loss goals and thumbing through its database of resources, your personal plan is put together. Fun fact after taking their assessment quiz: I found out that my BMI is 23.0 but that it can improve with a goal of 21.6. Begin with a free 14 day trial to see how the program works for you and then go from there.

Ever heard the buzz phrase the world is your gym.? Me neither until I stumbled upon Human.co. This free app, available on both iOS and Android ups your creativity quotient when it comes to finding opportunities to get active. Can you commit to 30 minutes of movement a day? Then the Human app might be for you. This popular app with more than 1 million downloads doesnt apply any pressure or encourage unrealistic high impact workouts. Download Human onto your smartphone and the app will track your physical activity level as you go about your regular daily routine, making suggestions for opportunities along the way to move and sweat.

Looking for a friendly reminder to get moving for at least 30 minutes a day? Human apps got your back. Curious about how people get in their 30 minutes of activity around the globe? Check out Humans City Stats page to see whos biking, whos hiking, running or taking a walk, and be inspired while youre at it. Example: Parisians are leading the pack today with an average of 20 minutes more physical activity than in most other cities. Oakland, California and Raleigh, North Carolina Human users were in the lead yesterday with the most physical activity tracked with the Human app. How do you stack up? Download Human and find out.

If dieting and daily gym routines are your thing, more power to you. But if you are like most people aka an over scheduled multi-tasker who tends to eat the wrong things when hurried or stressed, and just wants to put your feet up at the end of a hectic day and binge watch your favorite Netflix shows, then fear not. Next Gen health and fitness apps are here to help.

The Morning Email

Wake up to the day's most important news.

Originally posted here:
Non-Diet Your Way to Health with These Apps - HuffPost

A A

BALTIMORE Replacing foods high in saturated fats with those that have unsaturated fats can reduce a persons chance of developing heart disease as much as cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins, according to new advice from the American Heart Association.

This would mean, for instance, swapping that steak for a healthier avocado, using canola oil instead of butter, and not eating carb-filled junk food.

The new guidance from the heart association is not a leap from past direction, but the group sought a fresh look at the evidence in light of some newer, less scientific studies and dietary fads that officials feared were confusing the public.

How the message about diet is received by patients will largely depend on their doctors delivery.

While most physicians would agree that heart health depends on a good diet, some suggest there is a bit more wiggle room than the heart association advisory suggests. Other doctors and health care providers believe the advice does not go far enough in explaining what foods can truly protect their patients from heart disease, the nations leading cause of death.

This tries to put it all in perspective the view from 10,000 feet but sometimes food can still be controversial, said Dr. Michael Miller, director of the University of Maryland Medical Centers Center for Preventive Cardiology. He served on the heart association panel that made the recommendations published this month in the journal Circulation.

Its long been known that consuming less saturated fat lowers peoples LDL, or so-called bad cholesterol, which clogs arteries and causes heart attacks and strokes. But the heart association finds that this is only the case when saturated fat is replaced with unsaturated fat and not refined carbohydrates that contain sugar but no fiber. Both unsaturated fat and fiber have been found to help lower cholesterol.

The group says some newer studies mucking up the healthy heart message didnt consider these dietary replacements.

The guidance should be useful to doctors in advising patients, said Miller, who is also a professor of cardiovascular medicine, epidemiology and public health in Marylands School of Medicine. But hes not a stickler on eliminating all saturated fat. He advises moderation instead.

That means a small, fist-size steak once in a while, two egg whites for every one yoke and even a bit of coconut oil, a culinary darling of late that is mostly saturated fat.

If youre good most of the time, allow yourself one unhealthy breakfast, lunch and dinner a week, he said. But dont go nuts and eat a 24-ounce steak.

He also emphasizes making lifestyle changes such as adding regular exercise and reducing stress.

Miller summed up the heart association advice this way:

Replacing 10 percent of calories from saturated fats (red meat, butter, palm oil) with polyunsaturated fats (safflower and corn oils, walnuts and salmon) reduces risk of heart disease by 50 percent.

Replacing 10 percent of calories from saturated fats with monounsaturated fats (canola and olive oil, almonds and avocados) reduces risk of heart disease by 30 percent.

Replacing 10 percent of calories from saturated fats with complex carbohydrates (whole grains, beans and vegetables) reduces risk of heart disease by 18 percent.

Replacing 10 percent of calories from saturated fats with simple carbohydrates (sugary foods and soft drinks) does not reduce the risk of heart disease.

Still, not all doctors think this is the right message.

Dr. Dana Simpler, an internal medicine doctor at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, said the consequences of a poor diet can be so dire that she believes the heart association report was a missed opportunity to warn people about how much all their food matters.

She joins other doctors who advocate for a whole-food, plant-based diet, for which she said there is evidence of reducing the chance of a first or recurrent heart attack close to zero.

That means eating foods that are not processed and have little to no sugar, salt or added oil.

It continues to surprise me that the AHA makes such modest diet recommendations for preventing our number one killer heart disease, she wrote in an email. Simply substituting saturated fats with unsaturated fats reduces heart attacks by 30 percent, but, what about the other 70 percent that still have life threatening heart disease?

She conceded that a plant-based diet is not easy to follow, and many people may decide it is too hard for them, but at least let the American public know that there is a diet that will prevent and reverse heart disease almost 100 percent.

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Heart Association restresses healthy diet | The Columbian - The Columbian

Eats fruits and leaves and mud

Gordon Ulmer

By Adrian Barnett

Are there merits to munching mud? Some monkeys seem to go out of their way to add it to their standard diet of leaves, fruits and insects. In Amazonian Peru, at least, one primate species seems to use mud medicinally, possibly to prevent stomach upsets before they even begin.

Why some monkeys eat mud has been much debated, with the main options being to kill parasites, as a mineral supplement or to cure stomach upsets.

Many previous reports involved just a few sightings, or come from accidental encounters, explains Dara Adams at the Ohio State University in Columbus, who led the study. We were really focused on answering this question, and that seems to have made the difference.

The team studied Rylands bald-faced saki monkey (Pithecia rylandsi), a rainforest canopy specialist. With thick grey fur, it has a similar shaggy appearance and size to a Maine Coon cat. The sakis treetop lifestyle means they did not get their mud from the ground, but from the nest casings of tree-living termites.

In 1125 hours, we recorded 76 feeding bouts at 26 termite mounds, says team member Jennifer Rehg, from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. They ate mound casing they werent focusing on the termites. They even ate inactive mounds.

But why termite mounds? Enter Mrinalini Watsa from Washington University in St Louis, Missouri, who conducted a detailed analysis of the mud the sakis were eating.

The important thing is that this isnt just any mud, its termite-processed mud, she explains. Compared to topsoil, it has a higher carbon and clay content.

Watsa adds that the mud can also absorb cations positively charged particles so could mop up potentially toxic metal ones from other substances in the monkeys diet. Furthermore, the mud is rich in organic carbon and kaolin clays, both of which excel at absorbing tannins and other plant toxins.

This was key, says Adams. A large part of a sakis diet is seeds from unripe fruit, and these are packed with toxic chemicals. Combined, the cation-capacity, clay and carbon absorb many of these, allowing these monkeys to have this unusual diet.

The regions other major seed eaters macaws and parrots fly to clay-rich soils on riverside cliffs for stomach-calming intestinal mudbaths. Without that option, the sakis have found a solution closer to their treetop homes.

Journal reference: Primates, DOI: 10.1007/s10329-017-0609-8

Read more: Chimps learn about natures medicine chest from elders

More on these topics:

Read more:
Peruvian monkey avoids stomach trouble by adding mud to its diet - New Scientist

You are what you eat, and what you put in your mouth can affect your brain.

The same foods that are making Americans obese may also cause them to develop Alzheimers disease, according to a new study published in the journal eNeuro, the latest to explore the relationship between weight and memory loss.

Researchers at the University of Southern California Davis School of Gerontology studied the effects of a poor diet on mice. They found that a diet high in cholesterol, fat and sugar may increase likelihood of Alzheimers onset for those with a genetic risk.

What happens to you in life is a combination of the genes that you have, the environment and behaviors, such as diet, said Christian Pike, the lead author of the study and a USC Davis professor, in a press release. Our thinking is that the risk of Alzheimers associated with obesity is going to be regulated to some degree by the genes that we have.

Pike and his colleagues studied people with the ApoE4 and ApoE3, two gene variants for the protein apolipoprotein E. The protein binds fats and cholesterol and transports to the brain, among other systems. Previous research has linked the ApoE4 variant to increased inflammation, Alzheimers and cardiovascular disease.

Researchers put the mice on a diet for 12 weeks. Mice with ApoE4 were placed on a control diet that was 10 percent fat and 7 percent sucrose while another group of mice ate a Western diet that was 45 percent fat and 17 percent sucrose. A similar test was run on mice with ApoE3.

Mice with the variants that ate unhealthy diets gained weight and became pre-diabetic. Those with the ApoE4 variant on the Western diet developed the signature Alzheimers plaques. Mice with the ApoE3 did not see dementia symptoms worsen.

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Genetic risk and poor diet could lead to memory loss - i Advance Senior Care

Portioning your weekly meals into plastic or even BPA-free containers packs some major risks. Among them is weight gain.

If your Sunday nights are dedicated to meal prepping for the week ahead, youre part of a mighty group of health nuts.

The planning ahead of meals is a main tip of weight loss coaches, food bloggers and nutritionists.

Indeed, meal preppings popularity has exploded on social media. On Instagram alone there are 5.5 million photos tagged #mealprep and 1.1 million tagged #foodprep.

While perfectly portioned-out food for seven days does make for the perfect #foodporn snapshot, meal preppers are onto an idea that at least in concept is good for your diet, according to research.

People who spend more time preparing meals are more likely to have healthier diets, according to a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

They eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.

They also eat at fast food restaurants only half as often as people who only spend less than an hour each day prepping and cooking their meals.

In addition, they spend less money on food.

More recently, a 2017 study of 40,000 adults in France found that people who meal prepped at least a few days at a time were less likely to be overweight and stuck more closely to nutritional guidelines.

The survey also found that meal prepping led to more food variety over the week.

Portion control is one key way food prepping helps people maintain a healthy weight or lose a few pounds.

A review of several studies around the role of portion control in weight management showed that eating the appropriate amount of food is directly linked.

One component of portion control that researchers stress is choosing the right portions of water-rich foods, like fruits and vegetables, and eating less energy-dense foods like most fast foods and candy.

If you prep your food, its easier to not only eat the right amount, but to avoid foods that are bad for you but oh-so-tempting.

However, if youre portioning food out into plastic containers, all of that healthy preparation could actually create a new barrier to staying trim.

Dr. Aly Cohen, a rheumatologist, as well as an integrative medicine and environmental health specialist who is on staff at the CentraState Medical Center, explained.

An effective diet is not just about healthy eating, managing sugar and carbohydrates, and exercise, she told Healthline. Reducing chemical exposure is also key because many of these chemicals can disrupt normal hormone function, impede weight loss, and even cause weight gain. Just because chemicals may not have an obvious effect, like causing a rash, doesnt mean they arent tinkering with your body.

Whipping up a big batch of healthy chili, scooping it out into several plastic containers, and quickly reheating it in the microwave come mealtime is one example of how a healthy meal prep turns into several dinners brimming with the harmful hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA).

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic (plastic #7) and canned food linings, as well as many other things that we touch every day including our smartphones.

Most human exposure to BPA is through ingestion from canned products, but BPA can also be absorbed by touching paper that uses BPA to seal ink onto its surface [e.g., receipts, airplane and parking tickets, currency] and then touching your hands to your lips. BPA can also be absorbed in smaller amounts through the skin, Cohen said.

Cohen noted that BPA is pervasive 8 billion pounds of BPA are made every year since its one of the cheapest ways to make packaging.

BPA and if your plastic container is marked BPA-free similar, sometimes more harmful chemicals are lurking in your plastic food storage set of containers.

Heating up plastic containers by putting hot food in them or microwaving them can draw out BPA right into your food.

BPA was first discovered in 1891 and then rediscovered in 1936, according to Cohen.

It was used as an estrogen replacement drug for women, and it was also used to fatten poultry and cattle. In the 1940s it was discovered that linking the molecules together created a hard, clear, glass-like plastic, she said.

BPA can confuse the endocrine system, which regulates hormones, by mimicking estrogen.

Were regularly ingesting BPA, and therefore continually disrupting the messages that help our bodies function properly. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 90 percent of people have detectable levels of BPA in their systems.

To date, nearly 100 studies have been published tying BPA to various health problems, from diabetes and cardiovascular disease to infertility, according to the Endocrine Society and IPENs Introduction to Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals.

Some other effects of too much BPA exposure are directly contrary to weight loss and healthy eating goals.

BPA passes through a persons system fairly quickly, but detoxifying still isnt easy.

Despite the fact that BPA has a short half-life of six hours, which means an exposure will wash out over a day or so, people continue to have high blood levels, Cohen noted.

There are two problems with BPA, added Laura Vandenberg, PhD, a spokesperson for the Endocrine Society, and an assistant professor of environmental health at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. One is that we are constantly exposed in our environment, so the levels never really seem to drop. Even in people that have been fasting, metabolite levels in urine are still detected. The second problem is that, if exposures occur during a vulnerable period of development, like fetal development, the effects can be permanent even if exposures cease.

For adult meal-planning fanatics, constant re-exposure to BPA may mean that meal prepping is actually sabotaging your diet.

BPA is so ubiquitous, that humans are continuously exposed, making BPA pseudo-persistent, Cohen said. Whats interesting in terms of weight is that BPA can turn stem cells into fat cells and make fat cells turn larger. Thats not great news for our waistlines let alone our overall health.

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2015 was the first study to prove that BPA-glucuronide (BPA-G), which accounts for 80 to 90 percent of the metabolites your liver produces when processing BPA, doesnt just get excreted from your body.

The researchers showed that BPA is an active agent that can prompt cells to become fat cells.

Thats not the only proven way that BPA exposure can interfere with your weight goals.

A recent study published in Endocrinology found that BPA exposure makes it much harder for you to feel full.

While meal prepping helps with portion control, the BPA in the plastic food storage containers may ironically be causing people to want to eat larger portions.

Even buying plastic containers marked BPA-free doesnt protect you from the harmful effects of plastic.

Some BPA-free products can actually release estrogen-simulating chemicals that are more potent than BPA.

Many products are now labeled BPA-free. However, BPA is often replaced with bisphenol S [BPS] and bisphenol F [BPF], which are less studied but appear to have similar hormone-disrupting effects, Rebecca Fuoco, MPH, director of Health Research Communication Strategies, told Healthline.

That means scientists and activists that study toxic chemicals like BPA and push to remove them from everyday products often end up spending a lot of time trying to figure out whats in the new compound.

When a chemical is found to be harmful, manufacturers change the molecule ever so slightly and put it out to market again, noted Cohen. From BPA came BPS, BPF, and BP-FB, which are molecules that have been found thus far to have more harmful effects than the chemical they were designed to replace also known as regrettable substitutions. Researchers are essentially playing whack-a-mole, because plastics and their ingredients are proprietary and considered trade secrets, so the recipes and ingredients are not shared with researchers or consumers.

In 2012, 4.7 million metric tons of BPA, valued at about $8 billion, was estimated to have been produced, according to GlobalData.

And reports of the harmful effects arent slowing production. The demand for BPA has risen 6 to 10 percent annually.

Oleoresin is a vegetable-based alternative that can add about two cents to the cost of manufacturing of cans, according to Cohen.

So far, it has only been used in a small percentage of cans on the market.

Our government has given more priority to manufacturers than to consumers. The vast majority of food packing ingredients are going out to market without ever being tested for toxicity, Cohen said.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) still considers BPA to be safe, stating on its website that their research has showed that BPA is rapidly metabolized and eliminated through feces and urine.

On the other hand, regulatory agencies in Europe have recently re-evaluated BPA. Last week, there was widespread agreement by countries in the European Union that this chemical should be labeled a human endocrine disruptor.

For Americans, though, toxic chemicals like BPA remain a concern.

We shouldnt expect individual consumers to have detailed knowledge of chemistry to make safe decisions for themselves or their families. Safety decisions should be made by regulators using the best available evidence. I will continue to push for improved regulations that use modern data to protect public health, Vandenberg told Healthline.

Even though BPA-riddled plastic containers are out there, Vandenberg and Cohen noted that people can still make small changes over time that add up.

Here are some ways to ensure your food containers arent keeping you from losing weight.

Meal-prepping in plastic is still better than no meal prepping at all, if it helps you eat healthier.

These chemicals are ubiquitous theyre everywhere. You should do the best you can. Cutting chemicals out of your life is a journey, not a race. Every day I learn something new and try to add it into my life, Cohen said.

This story was originally published on Healthline.com.

Read this article:
Meal Prepping May Actually Be Sabotaging Your Diet - HuffPost

Mobile commerce is changing how retailers interact with consumers.

Shutterstock / GaudiLab

The online shopping space has become a complex paradox that fluctuates immensely between overstocking, price inflation and reactionary, constricted sales a method that few retailers and brands have mastered. This has created a market thats left even the heaviest hitters posting huge losses and in some cases shuttering hundreds of locations.

Though some are undeniably focused on how to navigate the future, theres a resounding, collective whiplash regarding how the retail market dug itself into this fiscal hole in the first place. Adobes May 2017 Digital Price Index for the apparel category draws a picture of the e-commerce space not only as the go-to for consumers, but also one that bloats prices and then constricts quickly. Its a crash diet of pricing and consumers are eating it up, much to the detriment of merchants that are facing a gap between online and in-store sales that's taking on black hole levels of enormity.

Read the original:
Crash Diet Pricing: The E-commerce Path to Success - WWD

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