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People cut meat from their diets for many reasons health, animal welfare, the environment, among others. There is a growing number of individuals who are reducing their intake of animal products to better themselves and the planet. According to a recent survey, 35% of Brits are eating less meat than they did a year ago. This holds true for Americans, too.

The term reducetarian celebrates this trend in people choosing to eat fewer animal products. It unites vegans and vegetarians (people who eat less meat, just to such a degree that they eat none at all) with everyone who eats less meat than a typical omnivore. And it replaces static and self-defeating identifiers like lazy vegan and cheating vegetarian with more positive ones. Reducetarians work to cut down their carnivorous consumption by gradually reducing their meat, egg, and dairy intakes. They play around with Meatless Monday, Vegan Before Six, and Weekday Vegetarianism to see what works best for them.

Here are 7 reasons this flexible and easy approach to eating will help you become a happier, healthier, and richer person:

1. You will lower your grocery bill.

A family of four may spend anywhere from $760 - $1160 a month for groceries. Vegetables, fruits and plant-based protein are some of the cheapest products on the market, not to mention the best return in nutrient value. The average retail price for beef is about $6/lb ($8/lb for sirloin) whereas $1.49 for a pound of black beans. With 15 g of protein and fiber per cup, your wallet and body will thank you. In fact, one study showed that the average vegetarian saves at least $750 per year on his or her grocery bill.

2. You will cut down on your carbon footprint.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, animal agriculture accounts for approximately 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions thats more than the entire transportation sector combined. But plant-based foods have a much lower carbon footprint than animal-based foods. Thats why the average vegetarian has half the carbon footprint of a meat eater; and for a vegan, its even lower. Cutting down on meat is an easy way to help mitigate climate change.

Medical costs related to obesity are estimated at $147 billion per year. But according to recent research, the answer to the obesity epidemic might in fact have more to do with our brains than with our bodies.

3. You will help fight world hunger.

In 2015, world population reached a staggering 7.3 billion and is expected to hit 8.5 billion by 2030. This increase in mouths to feed creates a rising demand for food. The inefficiencies of feeding plants to raise animals for food instead of feeding these plants directly to people contributes to world hunger. For example, it requires 9 calories of feed for chickens to create 1 calorie from poultry. A decrease in livestock production, as well as a decrease in land to grow crops to feed these animals, will help combat this critical issue.

4. You will help conserve water.

Just one pound of meat requires roughly 2,500 gallons of water - thats 10 times the amount of water required to grow one pound of grain protein. This would mean that the water used to make one burger is equivalent to the amount of water used when showering for two whole months (assuming a four minute daily shower). Its no surprise that animal agriculture accounts for 80% to 90% of U.S. water consumption. With drought-stricken areas on the rise, reducing your consumption of meat can help conserve our precious water.

5. You will be saving farm animals from cruelty.

Factory farmed livestock live in inhumane and cruel conditions. From extremely crowded cages to harming of animals through practices like de-beaking, over 95% of the meat that we find in our grocery store comes from these horrible places. Reducing your consumption of animal products will help lessen the demand for them.

6. You will save money on medical bills.

The American Dietetic Association declared that appropriately planned reducetarian diets, including vegetarian and vegan diets, will provide you with the nutrition you need to stay healthy as well as aid in prevention of certain diseases. Evidence suggests that following a plant-based diet will lower your risk of heart disease, a leading cause of death in the U.S.d States. Furthermore, reducing your meat consumption may help lower your cholesterol levels and blood pressure as well as your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Given how expensive it is to treat these non-communicable diseases, eating less meat could save you thousands of dollars in health care bills. On a global scale, changing your diet could contribute to saving around $700 million in health care, unpaid informal care and lost working days.

7. You will fuel a growing revolution of start-ups and investment in good food companies.

As the plant-based industry continues to grow, so does its economic value. The Plant-Based Foods Association estimates the industrys annual revenue is roughly $4.9 billion dollars and is expected to keep growing. More than 2,000 jobs (that pay better than many other jobs) are added to this sector every year. Supporting plant-based companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat will not only benefit your taste buds, but also the economy.

Brian Kateman is editor of The Reducetarian Solution: How The Surprisingly Simple Act of Reducing The Amount of Meat in Your Diet Can Transform Your Health and The Planet, co-founder and president of the Reducetarian Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing meat consumption to create a healthy, sustainable, and compassionate world. He is a TEDx speaker and leading expert on food systems and behavioral change.

The rest is here:
7 ways dropping meat from your diet can help save the planet, the ... - MarketWatch

The baby received a clean bill of health during his first checkup, and is getting plenty of attention from mama April.

April, the internet-famous giraffe, finally delivered her long-expected calf on April 15 at Animal Adventure Park (AAP) in Harpursville, New York. The as-yet-unnamed baby, a male, weighed 129 pounds (58.5 kilograms) at birth and stood 5 feet 9 inches (nearly 2 meters) tall.

Today (April 17), Jordan Patch, AAP's owner, updated Live Science on how the AAP veterinarian and April's caregivers are monitoring the nursing mother and her newborn, and described how the new arrival is adapting to life in the spotlight.

This Q&A has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Live Science: How quickly does a baby giraffe grow, and what are the big milestones?

Patch: Now that we're really passed the hard part, which is the animal getting on its feet and making sure it nursed from the mother, we're watching weight gain. We're looking for the calf to gain about 1 to 3 percent of its body weight per week. Just overnight, he experienced about a pound to a pound-and-a-half of weight gain, which is a great progression. [Watch Live: April and Her Newborn Calf Get Acquainted]

The next big thing will be when calf and mom enter the yard with one another and the calf experiences the outdoors frolics and plays and learns to keep its balance in a bigger space when it's running around. The calf should be able to go outside by the weekend [April 2223]. Then from there, we watch the calf grow. At about three months of age, we'll see it begin to investigate hay, nibbling on it. But by no means is it sustained yet by that kind of a food source, it will still rely on mom.

Live Science: Is April's diet different now that she's a nursing mother?

Patch: The diet changed for her when she was about six months pregnant. We upped her normal diet, which is Wild Herbivore Pellet, to Wild Herbivore Pellet Plus. Those diets are made by a company called Mazuri Diets, and they develop specialized diets for animals in captive management programs everything fromgiraffesandrhinosto flamingos and bears. Her caloric intake is still increased, along with additional calcium and other vitamins and minerals to ensure that she can produce milk and continue that mammary development.

Live Science: Is the calf nervous around people, and how does April respond to being separated from her newborn?

Patch: The baby is actually quite adventurous for such a young calf, that's something we've all noticed and documented. He's out and exploring. And the few visitors we've had in the barn, he comes right over to say hello. So right off the bat, he's showing a very social personality. As for mom, when we split mom up from baby in the morning to get height and weight measurements, well, she was much better today versus yesterday. But she was still a little anxious and pacing, and very much wanted to get back with her baby.

Live Science: How often is the calf examined?

Patch: The vet is onsite every day to check on the calf. The basic exam is done by keepers in the morning; we take the height measurement and the weight measurement. We have a basic digital household scale we put it on the ground and get a baseline reading of, for example, my body weight. And then I will pick up the calf and stand on the scale and get that reading. And we deduct my body weight from that to get an accurate reading of the calf's current size.

When the vet comes in, he's listening to the heart, he's listening to the lungs, he's examining the umbilical cord area to make sure we're getting a good heal, dry and fall-off of the remaining cord. And as baby begins to start to defecate, we want to look at that to see the consistency, and take samples to make sure all is in order.

Live Science: The baby and his father, Oliver, seem interested in each other through a screen. Will they have any face-to-face interaction at all?

Patch: In due time, we hope to be able to combine all three animals together. Oliver's curious nature is already a very positive sign, because usually giraffe males do not take part in any of the rearing of the young. The fact that Oliver is so calm and inquisitive is promising to us that eventually they will share space, but we won't try that for another couple of months.

Live Science: Has April's interaction with Oliver changed now that the baby's part of the picture?

Patch: She's certainly protective of the calf around Oliver. But we still do get snippets of time where she goes over and they greet one another, and lick each other and engage in what I guess you'd consider a giraffe hug.

Live Science: What would you say is the secret to April's internet success? Why do you think she captured the widespread audience that she did?

Patch: I think it's attributed to the genuine and organic nature of the "giraffe cam." I think people were inquisitive and not only wanting to learn more about giraffe birth, but also to see behind the scenes, and to see the care and effort that go into maintaining these giraffes by their keepers and staff. This sense of voyeurism almost a reality-TV-show-like approach through the giraffe cam has really garnered an emotional connection between the fans and us.

Original article on Live Science.

Read this article:
Diet, Exercise and 'Giraffe Hugs': Up Close and Personal with April and Her Baby - Live Science

Anthony Joshua fights at the end of the month (Picture: Getty)

Anthony Joshuas diet consists of 5,000 calories a day as the heavyweight champion prepares for his showdown with Wladimir Klitschko.

The boxers nutritionist Mark Ellison explained Joshua trains like a middleweight and eats like a champion.

Joshua is preparing for the biggest fight of his career when he takes on Klitschko at Wembley on April 29 and needs some serious fuel.

Ellison, a performance nutritionist for GB Boxing and Joshua, revealed that the heavyweight is unlike anyone he has ever worked with.

Theres no other heavyweights like him that are as lean as him, as athletic as him, that can cope with the training he does, Ellison told Betway.

Hes unbelievably committed, he focuses on the details and he works his absolute nuts off.

The challenge for me is making sure he eats enough.

We ease a lot in with liquids. These are extra calories that we have to hide in his diet so that it is palatable.

Joshuas breakfast includes two slices of wholemeal toast, five eggs, fruit and Greek yogurt.

The 27-year-olds lunch consists of salad, two baked potatoes and a big portion of tuna or salmon.

Lunch 912 calories Salmon, 2 potatoes, salad

Dinner 2,386 calories Chicken, white rice, half an avocado, hummus, vegetables

Joshua will close out his day with chicken, white rice, pitta bread or mashed potatoes, vegetables and hummus for dinner with the calorie count topping 5,000 on the days where he trains up to eighthours.

All the food, a sh**-ton of calories according to Ellison, is so Joshua can keep himself fueled during a grueling training camp.

Joshua requires six to eight grams of carbohydrates, two grams of protein and one gram of fat for every kilo of his 113kg body weight.

The Olympian is undefeated in his professional career with 18 knockouts from 18 fights and Ellison explained how liquids serve a crucial purpose for Joshua.

When youre training four hours a day, twice a day, your opportunities to eat are massively reduced, he said.

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If we can use liquids to get in some proteins and carbohydrates quickly, then that serves a great purpose.

It helps us recover quickly, doesnt impact on appetite as much, and lets us have a proper meal an hour later.

Without those liquids, wed be screwed.

MORE: Conor McGregor says fight announcement coming very soon

More:
Anthony Joshua's insane diet for Wladimir Klitschko fight revealed - Metro

Forbes

Alarmism About Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) In Your Diet May Be Ill-Informed Forbes What is the biochemical metabolism of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and its effect on brain health? originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by ... and more »

Original post:
Alarmism About Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) In Your Diet May Be Ill-Informed - Forbes

Steak with pepper sauce and grilled vegetablesa favorite among post-race meals. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Marathon week can be stressful. After spending months racking up the miles, youre in full taper modedramatically scaling back your running and hoping you dont come down with a last-minute illness or nagging injury. While it feels good to give your legs time to recuperate from all the hard trainingthats the point of tapering, after alltaking your foot off the gas during the final countdown is inevitably unnerving.

Race week nutrition can foster a similar sense of anxiety. To help put your mind at ease, we asked four elite-level marathoners, all of whom will be running in this years Boston Marathon on April 17, for a few of their go-to race week meals. Each runner thinks meticulously about timing and crafting dinners that will feed their muscles, prepare their bodies, and give them the extra boost they need to be race-day ready. Read on for their strategies.

Age: 41

Marathon PR: 2:29:10

Career Highlights: Member of multiple U.S. national teams. Russell finished 27th during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She also clocked several top-ten finishes in major marathons, including winner of the 2003 Twin Cities Marathon and USATF national champion in 2015.

The Big Picture: Its crucial to listen to your body rather than let your mental doubts about taper mode take over, says Russell. Despite my reduced mileage, Im still usually starving. Maybe its just my body trying to absorb as much as it can because it knows whats coming, she says. Russell hates being hungry, so despite her lower training load, shes constantly snacking on something. But Im definitely not carbo-loading. I dont want to feel like Im bloated all of a sudden, she cautions.

Five Days Out: Fried calamari from a favorite local Mexican restaurant with a side of refried rice and beans. Russell eats a healthy diet overall, so a minor splurge on fried calamari wont set her system back. Plus, it gives a balanced ratio of fat, carbs, and protein.

Three Days Out: Filet mignon, cooked medium-rare, broiled in the oven with a little garlic salt, served with a twice-baked potato, a side salad, and vegetables. Russells tip: dont risk the steak the day before the marathon. Ive had steak the night before other shorter races, but in a marathon, you have a long way to go if that doesnt sit right.

One Day Out: A salmon filet with dill-mayo sauce; a side of risotto with carrots, broccoli, peas, and Parmesan; and bread. Russell goes gourmet by sauting the salmon on the stove to give it a little crunch.

Hydration: During all of my training, I finish every run by immediately making myself a glass of chocolate milk. Im not really hungry, but I want to get something in my body within 30 minutes, says Russell. In addition, I drink eight to 12 ounces of water as soon as I get up. The first couple times, it just goes right through you, but after that your body gets used to it.

Age: 33

Marathon PR: 2:22:38

Career Highlights: Two-time Olympian who finished seventh in the womens marathon at the 2016 Games in Rio. She has finished as first American in all three U.S. Marathon Majors, including a second-place overall finish at the 2011 Boston Marathon.

The Big Picture: The big thing for competitive runners is that you need to learn to compete anywhere in the world. Your whole nutrition strategy cant just blow up if youre racing somewhere that doesnt have your favorite products or foods, says Linden. One of her favorite mantras comes from Clint Verran: you should be flexible enough that you could have dinner from a vending machine if it came down to it.

Five Days Out: Sirloin steak, cooked medium, with a spinach salad and sweet potatoes.

Three Days Out: Spaghetti Bolognese, or any red sauce that isnt cream based. Im not opposed to a beer around this time, either, says Linden. My brew of choice leading up to this years Boston race is Samuel Adams Rebel IPA.

One Day Out: A plate of plain white rice. Its simple, but white rice is the easiest thing for me to digest, and its a great carb source, so it has become a staple, says Linden.

Hydration: Hydrate nonstop before race day. All day long, Ill have an electrolyte drink to sip on, says Linden. If you arent already hydrated when you wake up on the day of the race, you wont be able to make up for lost time.

Age: 28

Marathon PR: 2:11:30

Career Highlights: Sixth-place finish in the mens marathon at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. USATF national champion in the marathon in 2015.

The Big Picture: Time your carbo-load properly. About a week out, Ill start shifting a little bit away from carbohydrates by taking out around 50 percent carbohydrate-derived calories from my normal diet, says Ward. Once Im halfway through the week, Ill put the carbs back and take out about half the fats and proteins for the last three days.

Five Days Out: Lean meat (either sirloin steak, a piece of chicken, or fish) and lots of vegetablesbroccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or sweet potatoes. Ward also mixes in some quick-digesting carbs with white potatoes or bread on the side.

Three Days Out: Im really into the sweet potato popsicle, Ward says. Just throw one in the microwave, and peel back the skin to eat. When hes digging into more of a meal, Ward tries to eat two sweet potatoes with cinnamon alongside a lean piece of meat, a piece of bread, and a side of broccoli.

One Day Out: Dont overdo it. My biggest focus the night before a race when it comes to nutrition is to keep it light, Ward says. By the night before the race, I should be fully carb-loaded, so that meal is really just to give me some satiation and a little bit of energy. His perfectly portioned choice is a light serving of spaghetti with marinara sauce.

Hydration: Im mostly hydrating with water, but I get my electrolytes from Glukos, which I will drink periodically throughout the week.

Age: 41

Marathon PR: 2:08:37

Career Highlights: Four-time Olympian with a silver medal in the mens marathon at the 2004 Games in Athens. Winner of the 2009 New York City Marathon and 2014 Boston Marathon.

The Big Picture: People focus disproportionately on loading up with carbohydrates, but its also important to watch your protein intake. Ill try to do a protein push until Wednesday for a Sunday race, says Meb. After Wednesday, Ill start shifting toward starches a little more, usually pasta, or brown rice.

Five Days Out: Chicken or beef (medium-well) with brown rice and salad. Meb steers clear of fish.

Three Days Out: To really get the most out of your fueling, youll likely have to focus on functionover taste. That means eating could get boring. Three days before race-day, Meb returns to chicken (legs or wings) with a side of pasta or brown rice.

One Day Out: Spaghetti with red sauce, meatballs, and Parmesan. Before I came to the U.S., I lived in Italy, so I love my cheese, Meb says. This is the last day of his strict game plan for nutrition. After the race, Meb often gains ten to 12 pounds within one week.

Hydration: During most of the taper, Meb takes in 20 ounces of electrolytes daily, but the rest is water. I used to drink a lot of juice at every meal, but I dont do that anymore, says Meb. Ill usually just have a glass of orange juice with dinner.

Read the original post:
The Definitive Guide to the Paleo Diet - Outside Magazine

3. Eat These Must-Have Foods

According to Khloes nutritionist, you should always keep at hand cans of Albacore tuna, squeezable fruit packets, chicken and fish, and tortilla wraps.

Believe it or not, Khloe likes to sweat. Well, she might not like it, but she knows its a great way to get rid of that troublesome water weight. Thats why she sometimes wears a sauna suit while she exercises, to sweat double or triple what she usually does.

Of course, theres a catch. You have to drink more water to stay hydrated while youre wearing the suit, and that will make you gain back at least some of the weight you just lost.

Bummer! But it might work if youre extra bloated or really have to fit in that dress tonight.

Often times we are so worried about losing weight that we dont stop to think why we want to lose weight, or why we gained weight in the first place.

Kim, for one, stays healthy in part for her daughter, as she once wrote "as North gets older, she'll start to be more aware of herself and her body. Her attitude toward her body is directly related to my own, so it's my responsibility to make sure she understands that positive body image comes from having a healthy self-esteem."

We have witnessed the amazing body transformations all the Kardashian/Jenner sisters have gone through over the years.

Kim and Kourtney have managed to not only recover their pre-pregnancy bodies, but they got in even better shape after they had kids.

Khloe had a complete transformation when she started a diet and exercise routine. Shes become someone else, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.

Then theres Kylie, who went from being a girl to being a woman in just a couple of years. Her body is now curvier than ever!

Scroll down to see the sisters secrets to staying in shape. Youll never believe some of them!

Originally posted here:
15 Diet & Exercise Tips the Kardashian-Jenners Swear By (PHOTOS) - Wetpaint

Home Anti-Aging Arthritis Gout update: Purine-rich foods, gout diet, rheumatoid arthritis, gout pain relief

Gout can be a confusing topic, but your friends at Bel Marra want to make this arthritic condition crystal clear to you and how it may affect your quality of life. We have taken the time to round up the best articles on gout pain relief, how to avoid purine-rich foods that may promote gout, and a gout prevention diet. You will also learn about the differences between gouty arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, which can often be confused with one another.

Gout risk is higher in people who eat purine-rich foods, as they increase uric acid levels. Purines are a chemical compound found in some foods, and gout is a condition that affects the joints and the musculoskeletal system. It is a form of inflammatory arthritis caused by an excess of uric acidthe product of metabolic processes. When purines are metabolized, they create uric acid, so a diet rich in purines can create an excess amount of uric acid and contribute to gout.

Gout is often referred to as the rich mans disease because foods high in purine, such as red wine and red meat, are deemed rich. Gout can very well be prevented if you are mindful of the foods you are eating. It can be very painful, and even a bed sheet on top of an infected joint can cause severe pain. Numerous studies link a purine-rich diet to gout. Continue reading

Gout flare-ups can be triggered by food, so knowing what to eat and what to avoid can help you better manage your condition. Gout is a form of arthritis where uric acid crystallizes in small jointscommonly the large toecausing redness, swelling, and severe pain. Uric acid is the product of the breakdown of purines, which are commonly found in many of the foods we eat. Eating large amounts of purine-rich foods can worsen your gout symptoms.

If you have gout, you will greatly benefit from following a gout-specific diet, as it can help you lower the rate of flare-ups and gout attacks and help you lose weight. Many gout patients are overweight, which is a risk factor for gout.

The basics of a gout diet include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and the occasional low-fat dairy product. Essentially, these are the ingredients to an overall healthy diet that many of us should follow.

Here we will outline a gout diet and help you devise a better way of eating to manage your condition. Continue reading

Gout sufferers may be able to find relief of painful symptoms by switching to a high-fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet. Gout affects over 8 million Americans and is characterized by pain, inflammation, and even fevers during flare-ups, all symptoms that are caused by the continuous reactivation of the immune system.

When urate crystals build up in the joints, your bodys immune system triggers the activation of neutrophilsthe most common immune cell, resulting in inflammation. These immune system flare-ups are driven by a protein complex known as NLRP3 inflammasome. Continue reading

Rheumatoid arthritis and gout may appear the same because they cause pain, swelling, and stiffness of joints, but there are very distinct differences between the two. Both conditions can lead to disability and impede your quality of life, but recognizing the differences can help you choose the appropriate course of action in order to best treat your condition.

Gout is a condition that affects the small joints in the bodyprimarily those around the big toe. It is caused by an increase of uric acid, which crystallizes, causing redness, pain, and swelling.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune type of arthritis in which the body mistakenly attacks its own joints, once again causing pain, stiffness, and swelling. Here we will explain the other similarities and differences between gout and rheumatoid arthritis in order to increase your understanding of the conditions. Continue reading

Gout pain can be debilitating, so using natural remedies can offer gout suffers much relief. Gout is a condition characterized by a buildup of uric acid. Uric acid is the result of purines breaking down, which are found naturally in the human body as well as in food.

Typically, uric acid becomes released from the body through the kidneys and urine, but too much uric acid can crystallize and surround joints and tissue. This crystallization results in pain and swelling and can make walking or even wearing shoes difficult.

Symptoms of gout include joint pain, discomfort, inflammation, redness, and limited range of motion. Eating foods high in uric acidred meat for examplecan increase a persons risk of developing gout, along with being obese, medical conditions like high blood pressure, family history, surgery, and trauma. Continue reading

Related Reading:

Rheumatoid arthritis patients face higher gout risk today than in the past: Study

Gout vs. bursitis, differences in symptoms, causes, and treatments

See the original post here:
Gout update: Purine-rich foods, gout diet, rheumatoid arthritis, gout pain relief - Bel Marra Health

Alex Lasker, AOL.com

Apr 14th 2017 4:18PM

Brunchers of the world, rejoice -- mimosas are about to get a hell of a lot healthier.

Casa Gancia, a sparkling wine producer based in Piedmont, Italy, is currently rolling out a new product called Gancia Leggero, a "light" prosecco that only has 65 calories per glass.

Gancia Leggero, which means "light" in Italian, also has 75 percent less sugar than your garden variety prosecco.

Yes, you read that right -- no more sugar head aches!

However, just because Gancia Leggero has less calories doesn't mean it's watered down -- the diet beverage still clocks in at 11.5% alcohol.

Unfortunately, Americans will have to wait for quite some time to get their hands on these guilt-free bubbles.

Gancia Leggero will only be available at select London pubs for the next six months, with a larger U.K. rollout expected later this year.

If you're itching to try it sooner, we suggest looking up flight prices.

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Diet Prosecco is now a thing that exists - AOL

Here are some questions breastfeeding mums ask about their diet and how it affects their breast milk.

It is true. After all, breast milk is made out of a combination of proteins, fats, vitamins and carbohydrates from your body. However, the quality of breast milk generally stays the same, regardless of what you consume or dont.

The most important thing is for mothers to eat a balanced and nutritious diet.

There are situations when something the mother eats or drinks may affect the baby.

Coffee and alcohol in large amounts for example, are reported to affect the babys health.

However, moderate intake of caffeine, as well as limited intake of alcohol, should be relatively safe. The amount you consume should also take into consideration the age of your baby the younger your baby, the less you should consume.

How much is allowed?

Caffeine: Two to three cups per day.

Alcohol: 0.5 g alcohol per kg of the mothers total body weight.

Remember that caffeine can accumulate in your child. It is also present in chocolate, tea and carbonated drinks, so, those should count too. Effects to the baby can be further minimised by occasionally having a cup of coffee or alcohol just after breastfeeding the baby or just before the baby is due to have a lengthy sleep period of two hours or more.

One principle to hold on to is that you should not exclude any specific food items from your usual diet unless instructed to do so by a doctor or medical expert.

Most of the time, when a baby cries because of colic or gas, it is caused by poor breastfeeding position and/or latching techniques.

Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence to suggest gassy or spicy foods affect breast milk.

No, drinking dairy milk does not increase your supply of breast milk. Photo: AFP

No, there is no correlation between the two. Jaundice occurs because the babys blood contains an excess of bilirubin.

Bilirubin is a chemical produced during the normal breakdown of old red blood cells in the liver. It is not present in breast milk.

Babies have more bilirubin because they naturally have extra red blood cells and their young livers cant metabolise bilirubin as efficiently.

More than 60% of all newborns have jaundice, but it typically goes away soon after birth. This is because breastfeeding increases a babys bowel movements, which in turn, helps remove bilirubin from the body.

Eat all the bananas and sweetcorn you want, just dont overdo it not because it will cause jaundice, but because too much of ANY food isnt good for general health and well-being.

Lactating mothers have an increased daily energy need of 450-500 kcal per day, which can be met by increasing calorie intake correspondingly.

The actual amount of extra calories consumed should be in direct proportion to the amount of milk you produce. You should also continue to have a balanced and nutritiously-varied diet.

No, it will not. Milk supply is influenced by many things. Most importantly, it depends on the frequency of breastfeeding and how well the breast is emptied.

The hormone, prolactin, is produced every time you breastfeed and/or empty out your breast milk in order to stimulate more milk production.

Therefore, to increase breast milk supply, you can:

Breastfeed more often.

Feed your baby on demand.

Breastfeed for longer periods at each feeding or until your baby is satisfied.

Feed on one breast until it is empty, before changing to the other side.

Focus on making healthy choices that are balanced, moderately portioned and full of variety.

Healthy lactating mothers do not need to avoid any particular type of food unless they suspect the item is causing fussiness, irritation or other symptoms of an allergic reaction in the baby.

If thats the case, you can temporarily avoid the item for up to a week to see if it makes a difference to your babys behaviour.

If it does, consult a doctor immediately; and if it doesnt, you can add the item back into your diet. To help doctors investigate the cause, if any, you should keep a food diary that lists everything you eat and drink, along with notes about how your baby reacts to them.

Overall, breastfeeding vegan mothers can supply the baby with all the required nutrients.

However, those on vegetarian diets that contain no animal protein may require DHA and vitamin B12 supplementation, or foods fortified with DHA or B12 (e.g. selected breakfast cereals, soy milk and soy products).

Both DHA and vitamin B12 are important nutritional components a baby needs for development, the lack of which could lead to a host of health issues, and in very rare cases, even death.

Consult your doctor, nutritionist or dietitian to find out whats best for you and your baby.

No, there isnt. In fact, there is no such thing as the perfect food in general. Our bodies need a multitude of different nutrients from a variety of sources, in order to function optimally and stay healthy. Dont know how to start? Dont worry, let the Malaysian Food Pyramid guide you.

You can download the latest updated version of the pyramid and find out more about healthy nutrition for you and your whole family at the Nutrition Society Malaysias (NSM) website: nutriweb.org.my

This article is courtesy of the Malaysian Paediatric Associations Positive Parenting programme in collaboration with expert partners. For further information, visit http://www.mypositiveparenting.org or e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only. It should not be construed as personal medical advice. Information published in this article is not intended to replace, supplant or augment a consultation with a health professional regarding the readers own medical care. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.

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Does my diet affect the quality of my breast milk? - Star2.com

QUESTION:Ive been following a high-protein diet, but I recently read something about this adversely affecting my kidneys? I plan to ask my doctor about this, but do you know of any correlation?

ANSWER:Good question, and one that used to come up pretty frequently when high-protein diets were all the rage. There are essentially two different scenarios that we need to address here. The first one involves those with a pre-existing kidney condition. In this instance, following a high-protein diet, and specifically the induction phases of some of the most popular programs, can lead to a steeper decline in function. For these individuals, high-protein diets are not recommended. Is it animal protein or plant protein you are consuming? The second scenario involves people with normal kidney function. There isnt any research indicating that high-protein diets negatively impact these folks, but theres an important caveat here that we cant ignore. How do you know if you have normal kidney function? Do you really know if your kidneys are working as well as they should be? Many with renal insufficiency (an early condition of declining function) are asymptomatic, and completely unaware of the potential for problems down the road. And, unfortunately, most folks dont see a doctor before starting a high-protein diet. Therefore, if youve committed to losing weight with this type of regimen, it might be a good idea to get your labs checked.

Andrea Ivins is the club manager and Zumba Instructor at Anytime Fitness in Palestine, TX. To submit a question for future articles, please contact the author at palestinetx@anytimefitness.com and thrivingivins.com.

Originally posted here:
Does high-protein diet affect kidneys? - Jacksonville Daily Progress

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