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Name: Chase KimbroughAge: 36Occupation: Regional Sales ManagerHometown: Fort Worth, Texas

Start Weight: 296 poundsEnd Weight: 202 poundsTime Running: Three years

My weight-loss journey began when I weighed 296 pounds in April 2017. During a routine visit, my doctor expressed concern: Youre one holiday meal away from 300 pounds, he saidand he was right. He told me, with a caring tone, if I continued down the path of obesity, it would be a path Id regret filled with congestive heart failure, diabetes, and other health issues.

To this day, Im grateful he had that conversation with me, and I knew I had to do something. I had a hard time fitting exercise into my scheduleI had a desk job during the day, and my wife and I had two children at the time (we now have three). On top of that, I had a poor dietlots of overeating and sweets.

A month or so after that visit, I mentioned to a coworker that my doctor said I needed to lose weight. He, an avid runner, invited me out to join him during our lunch break for a run. I think I said yes because it just seemed like a good way to just start doing something. I figured I didnt have anything to lose.

On that run, I had no idea what I was doing. I dressed in an old cotton t-shirt, basketball shorts, and some four-year-old shoes that had little cushioning.

My coworker showed me a couple of landmarks and their distances to use as a guide. I started off okay, but at the quarter-mile mark, I was miserable. My calves were on fire, and I was out of breath. I thought there was no way I could this. I had never felt this out of shape.

I walked to the half-mile mark and decided to start running again. I made it about another quarter mile then walked the rest of the way back. I waited for my coworker to return. He asked how it went, and I told him it was terrible. He laughed and told me that I had lapped someone on the couch. Thats exactly what I needed to hearand the next day, I went running again.

[Discover how to run 10, 50, or even 100 pounds off with Run to Lose.]

A couple of weeks later, I was running Monday through Friday, even in the Texas heat. Over the ensuing months, I hit milestones of a mile without walking, then three miles, and then a half marathon after nine months.

There were many ups and downs to get to that point. I remember getting pretty upset and thinking why I had to work so hard to lose weight. The key was to give it time.

As I went farther, the weight came off; I lost about 25 to 30 pounds. But then I started cleaning my diet up, and that was a game-changer. I started getting my portion sizes under control and eating more vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and good carbs, while cutting out bad carbs, high-fat foods, and sweets. The pounds started falling off.

By January 2018, I had lost 80 pounds, and I weighed 215. Since then, I have gotten down to 205 and maintained that weight for about the past year. Ive gone from 3XL shirts to large and sometimes medium. I also went from size 42 pants to size 36.

Theres still work to do. I want lose another 10 pounds to get to 100 pounds lost, and Im also thinking about a marathona distance I never even imagined when I took my first running steps in 2017 with my coworker.

Down so much weight, I have so much more energy. I have more confidence in myself and I dont get winded when I play with my kids in the backyard. I also feel proud that I was able to lose so much weight. I can also walk into a store and find clothing that actually fits.

My advice to anyone wanting to go on a similar journey is dont wait until tomorrow or New Years Day. Start now. Dont worry about what other people think of you. The running community is so amazing and encouraging regardless of skill level. It doesnt matter if you run 12-minute miles, five-minute miles, 5Ks, or ultramarathons. We are all in this together, and remember, youre lapping everyone on the couch.

Also, if you have a bad workout day, miss a workout, or eat a bad meal, dont feel ashamed. It happens to all of us. Brush it off, and get back on the wagon.

We want to hear how running changed you! Send your story and submit your photos to us via this web form. Well pick one each week to highlight on the site.

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After a Conversation With His Doctor, This Texas Man Started Runningand Dropped 91 Pounds - runnersworld.com

The perks of a plant-based diet are plentiful: People who closely follow a plant-based pattern of eating lowered their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or any cause by 19 and 11 percent, respectively, according to a study published in August 2019 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Why? Compared with animal products, foods in a plant-based diet supply more heart- and digestion-friendly fiber plus a slew of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidantsand are also generally lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can negatively affect heart health. But the potential benefits dont stop there. Plant-based diets have been associated with reduced risk of certain cancers, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hyperglycemia, as well as lower body fat and body mass index, says Calabasas, Californiabased Julieanna Hever, RD, author ofThe Healthspan Solution: How and What to Eat to Add Life to Your Years.

The time to make the switch is now: April 22 was Earth Day, and along with body benefits, eating less meat has a positive impact on the environment, as a meat-heavy diet is a drain on resources like water and it produces increased greenhouse gas emissions, though many people remain unaware that plant-based diets are environmentally friendly, notes a study published in March 2019 in the journal Sustainable Earth.

RELATED: The Best and Worst Diets for the Environment

When Jennifer Ashton, MD, chief medical correspondent of ABC News, took on the personal challenge of eating less meat and more plants for one month, the effects surprised her. My results at the end of the month were amazing. I was lighter on the scale, but more important, I felt healthier and had zero bloat, she writes in her bookThe Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter One Month at a Time.

Eating less meat doesnt have to mean going vegan or vegetarian. In fact, you can still consume animal products. What you will be doing is making sure youre filling your plate with plant-based foods while reducing the frequency or amount of meat youre eating. There is no definition for more plant-based, says Hever. If you make the foundation of your diet vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, mushrooms, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices, that is considered a whole-food, plant-based diet.

RELATED: What Is a Flexitarian Diet?

Consider this a fun, feel-good diet challenge you can tackle this month you may just find that this changes how you eat for good. Ready to get started? Here are six tips beginners must know to become a plant-eating pro:

If a normal dinner for you looks like a piece of chicken with rice and green beans (or some version thereof), youll be sorely disappointed if you simply omit the meat and then eat. Rather than removing the protein from the plate entirely, substitute it with a plant-based protein, like a legume, says Taylor Wolfram, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Chicago. Legumes include beans (all kinds), peas, peanuts, lentils, and soybeans and other soy-based foods (like tofu or tempeh). These not only provide protein but are stellar sources of fiber, too, she says.

Remember, this isnt about becoming vegetarian (unless you want to!). However, setting parameters for yourself is going to help you stick to the plan while pushing you to try new recipes, dishes, and ingredient combinations, says Wolfram. For instance, she says, declare one day meatless (e.g., meatless Monday), bring vegetarian lunches to work during the week, or decide to eat all breakfasts and lunches meatless (saving meat for dinner). To find the best choice for you, consider your lifestyle, resources, and eating preferences, she says.

RELATED: 10 Plant-Based Recipes You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

If youre a red meat lover, cutting it out entirely might sound impossibly tough. Dr. Ashton understands. Red meat is a large part of my diet, and two of my favorite foods to order out, which I do often living in New York City, are short ribs and carne asada, she writes. And still, she vowed to eliminate red meat entirely for the month. But it was an important item to let go of, as research suggests doing so can make a profound impact on your health. One study published in February 2020 in JAMA Internal Medicine of nearly 30,000 middle-aged adults found that eating two servings of red and processed meat per week increases the risk of heart disease by 3 and 7 percent, respectively. In the end, Ashton calls giving it up less of a hardship than I expected, especially since she found delicious alternatives that shell continue to eat after the challenge has ended.

No need to reinvent the wheel here. Like chicken salad sandwiches? Replace the chicken with mashed chickpeas. Enjoy BBQ? Then slather your favorite sauce on grilled tofu and serve it with grits and collard greens, suggests Wolfram. Into beef chili? Try whipping up a three-bean chili, such as this recipe from the blog Eating by Elaine. Love taco Tuesdays? Its now lentil taco Tuesdays (saut lentils with the same spices you typically use or try a recipe, like this one from the blog Peas and Crayons). This tricks your taste buds in a pleasant way.

RELATED: 10 Cookbooks Great for Anyone on a Plant-Based Diet

There can be a learning curve when switching to a new cooking style, but all you need is a few new go-to recipes. We are all creatures of habit, rotating through a few different recipes day after day, says Hever. The best way to ease into this way of eating is to have fun and explore. Find new whole-food, plant-based ingredients and recipes that sound amazing to you. If its a success, add it to your list. If not? Modify it or move on. Even less-than-successful dishes help you understand what plant foods and combinations you love the most, which above anything else is whats going to help you stick to a long-term change.

At many restaurants, it might seem like there are not any vegetarian options to choose from. You can try to get creative by combining side dishes, appetizers, or modifying a dish, says Wolfram. Even better, though, is planning. Call ahead, explain your dietary needs, and ask if the kitchen is able to prepare something, she suggests. You might be surprised at their positive reaction. Ultimately, though, if this task is proving to be tough, it might not be the time to eat meatless. You dont have to put pressure on yourself so that so much rides on one meal decision, adds Wolfram. What matters is that youre making an effort to take small steps toward eating more plants and less meat overall.

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6 Expert Tips for Switching to a Plant-Based Diet - Everyday Health

Faecal transplants are currently used to treat certain types of antibiotic-resistant diarrhoea and has also been attempted to treat e.g. inflammatory bowel disease. A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that transplanted intestinal contents could also be effective against obesity and type 2 diabetes. By transplanting faeces without bacteria obese mice on a high-fat diet significantly decreased weight gain and normalised their glucose tolerance.

Obese mice with unhealthy lifestyles gain significantly less weight and avoid type 2 diabetes when they receive viruses transplanted from the stool of lean mice. These are the findings of a new University of Copenhagen study.

In recent years, faecal transplants from healthy donors to sick patients have become a popular way of treating a serious type of diarrhoea caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile in humans. Recent trials in mice suggest that a similar treatment, in which only the virus in stool is transplanted, may help people suffering from obesity and type 2 diabetes. The majority of virus particles transmitted are so-called bacteriophages viruses that specifically attack other bacteria and not humans.

"When we transmit virus particles from the faeces of lean mice to obese ones, the obese mice put on significantly less weight compared to those that do not receive transplanted faeces," says Professor with Special Responsibilities (MSO) and senior author of the study, Dennis Sandris Nielsen of the University of Copenhagens Department of Food Science.

The method also seems to protect the mice against developing glucose intolerance (a hall mark of type 2 diabetes), a disease that inhibits the body from properly absorbing sugar. The experiments demonstrated that the obese mice that received an intestinal virus transplant from lean mice reacted to a shot of glucose no differently than the lean ones.

"In the obese mice on high fat diet, that didnt receive the virus transplant, we observed decreased glucose tolerance, which is a precursor of diabetes. Thus, we have influenced the gut microbiome in such a way that the mice with unhealthy lifestyles do not develop some of the common diseases triggered by poor diet," explains PhD student Torben Slbeck Rasmussen, first author of the study.

He emphasizes that the method is not a stand-alone solution and that it must be complemented with a change in diet. Furthermore, the treatment will probably not be targeted at general obesity, but more towards the most serious cases.

It is understood that obesity and type 2 diabetes are linked to imbalances in the gastrointestinal microbiome, also known as gut flora. In recent years, it has been discovered that the composition of viruses in the gut plays a crucial role in the balance of this microbiome.

"If one eats poorly for long enough, they risk creating an imbalance in their intestinal tract. Here, we have a means of recuperating balance by shooting missing virus particles back into the system," says Dennis Sandris Nielsen.

The researchers extracted faeces from mice fed a standard low-fat diet over a period of time. The stool was then filtered so that all live bacteria were sorted out, while the virus particles mainly bacteriophages were concentrated. The viruses were transplanted via a tube into the mice that had been on high-fat diets for 6 weeks. The mice continued the fatty diet for another six weeks. Thereafter, the mice were examined after a glucose test and measured for weight gain.

The study addresses one of the current problems with faecal transplants. Today, stool is transplanted in an unfiltered form, in the belief that it is the gut bacteria which are most effective. However, in rare cases, the method produces side effects when diseases are inadvertently transmitted via the transplanted stool bacteria. Indeed, a patient in the United States died from just such an occurrence last year.

"Our study demonstrates that there is an effect after the live bacteria have been filtered from stool. Therefore, primarily virus particles are transmitted. This makes the method safer," says Dennis Sandris Nielsen.

He expects that it will be a number of years before the method can be broadly deployed. More experiments are needed, and obviously, human trials as well.

"Mice are the first step. But because the findings suggest that it will work in humans, that is the next. Our hope is that, in the long term, a well-defined cocktail of bacteriophages can be developed that has a minimal risk of side effects," concludes Dennis Sandris Nielsen.ReferenceFaecal virome transplantation decreases symptoms of type 2 diabetes and obesity in a murine model. Torben Slbeck Rasmussen et al. Gut,http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2019-320005.

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Viruses in Poo Could Help To Treat Obesity and Diabetes - Technology Networks

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted millions of lives and most of us are coming to grip with the new normal of social isolation, self quarantining, home schooling, and working (or not working) from home.In her recent Harvard Medical School article, Dr. Uma Naidoo, discusses how healthy eating can reduce anxiety and boost your immune system during these uncertain times.

The negative effects of stress on the immune system are well known. Dr. Naidoo explains, the unfortunate reality is that stress worsens feelings of low mood or angst, and it also suppresses our immune systems. Therefore, targeting immune-boosting foods will have a dual effect you may feel less anxious and boost your immunity.

She recommends choosing the following immune boosting foods:

These healthy immune-boosting foods are also better for your waistline than your typical overly-processed comfort foods such as chips, baked foods or candy.Dr. Naidoo suggests we control our environments.If there isnt junk food in the cabinet, we cant eat it. We all have to eat, so attending to our nutrition is something we can all control, and then reap the benefits of an improved mood, boosted immunity, and a healthy weight.

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Sponsor spotlight: Diet and COVID-19 - eating to boost your immune system - My Edmonds News

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BEING obese does increase the risk of death from Covid-19 but diets aren't the answer, one of Britain's top doctors has warned.

Deputy chief scientific adviser Dame Angela McLeansaid studies showed that being obese was an "additional risk factor" for coronavirus patients in hospital in whether they needed intensive care or, ultimately, died.

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And she urged people who are significantly overweight to overhaul their lifestyles to help protect themselves from coronavirus, as well as other illness.

Speaking during tonight's Downing Street press conference, she said: "We have very fine evidence, actually, from rather beautiful studies, gathered from in patients in our hospitals with Covid-19 and those studies show that once youre in hospital being obese is an additional risk factor for being admitted to an ICU or indeed for death.

"My understanding about the way to lose weight is that going on a diet isn't the way to do it.

"What you have to do is actually decide to completely change your lifestyle, you have to decide to do something that is going to be enduring, not just going on a diet.

"I understand that's a really difficult thing to do, but under all circumstances - pandemic or no pandemic - it's better not to be obese."

Being obese is an additional risk factor for being admitted to an ICU or indeed for death

Just yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed the Government has ordered a probe into how factors such as obesity can affect vulnerability to Covid-19.

Mr Hancock said that data had shown there could be a relationship between obesity and the impact of Covid-19 on individuals.

It comes after researchers at the University of Liverpool warned last week that obesity increased the risk of dying from the virus by 37 per cent.

Mr Hancock said: "Our knowledge about this virus grows daily and it appears some groups are more affected than others.

"Emerging data from around the world suggests there could possibly be a relationship between obesity and the impact of Covid-19 on individuals.

"It's too early to say if obesity in itself is a factor or conditions associated with it or there is not enough data yet to rule it out so we need to approach any assumptions with caution.

"Every death from this virus is a tragedy and behind each statistic is a name, a loss and a family that will never be the same again."

And earlier today, The Sun revealed that obeseBrits may have to work from home under a draft plan to lift Britain's coronavirus lockdown.

A leaked Government document showed that severely overweight people could be classified as vulnerable along with over-70s and pregnant women and forced to stay indoors.

Companies may have to find a new role for vulnerable people forced to work from home during the pandemic.

Around three in ten adults are clinically obese in England, one of the highest rates in the western world.

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Scientists believe obese patients are more at risk from Covid-19 as their immune systems are weaker.

Being overweight also increases the risk of underlying health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes - both thought to make people more susceptible to Covid-19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will publish a roadmap strategy on Sunday, detailing exactly how restrictions will be eased in order for Brits to safely return to work.

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To receive The Sun's Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page.

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Obesity does increase risk of death from Covid-19 but diets arent the answer, chief doc warns - The Irish Sun

With millions infected, thousands dying and vast regions of the world under partial or complete lockdown, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world in unforeseen ways. One of the most intangible but all-pervasive ways the novel coronavirus has affected every human being on this planet is by elevating anxiety levels.

Representational image. Image source: Getty Images.

You are anxious about your own health and that of your loved ones, youre worried about your professional life and the economy, and you definitely have a lot of social anxiety stemming from social distancing and the effects this disease will continue to have on the world for years to come. This anxiety is completely normal, and yet you need to figure out the best way to deal with it before it leads to added complications like depression.

One of the best ways to deal with anxiety is by altering your diet. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2019 proved that not only is a poor diet detrimental to mental health but also that dietary interventions can reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders and even depression.

Of course, this doesnt mean that you binge on junk food and sugary sweet desserts because your anxiety is fuelling those cravings. Instead, as the Harvard Medical Schools Health Blog points out, eating a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables, drinking enough water, and limiting alcohol and caffeine consumption can go a long way in improving mental health. Exercise, fixed meal times and avoiding processed foods also help reduce anxiety.

The inclusion of the following seven foods in your diet can also help alleviate any anxiety you might have regarding the pandemic - or any other problem in your life for that matter.

Green tea is full of antioxidants that improve brain function and health, including epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC). Green tea also contains L-theanine, an amino acid which increases serotonin and dopamine levels along with creating more neurotransmitters that reduce anxiety.

This popular Indian spice contains curcumin, which is a compound known for improving brain health and preventing anxiety disorders as well as other diseases. Curcumin reduces inflammation markers, increases blood antioxidant levels and boosts the production of omega-3 fatty acids - all of which can help control anxiety.

Yes, your mental health is related to your gut health, and nothing works on the latter as well as yoghurt does. The probiotics or healthy bacteria found in most types of yoghurt can not only improve digestion but also boost the production of antioxidants and healthy fatty acids. Yoghurt is also a good source of protein.

While dark chocolate contains flavonols and other antioxidants that can significantly improve your mood and alleviate all types of stress, the bitter-sweet taste of chocolate might also have a positive effect on mental health. Dark chocolate is both comforting and a mood-enhancer that can fight off anxiety.

Whole eggs are great sources of protein, vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds that can make you feel satiated for longer periods and reduce symptoms of anxiety too. For best results, its important to eat egg yolks as well as the whites.

Like all nuts and seeds, almonds are full of dietary fibre, folate, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and antioxidants - all of which can improve brain health. Almonds are also chock full of vitamin E, which is known to have anti-anxiety properties.

Citrus fruits like orange, lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, kumquat and pomelo are rich in dietary fibre, folate, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and bioactive compounds. These fruits are exceptionally rich in vitamin C, which can protect against cell damage and inflammation, thereby reducing anxiety levels.

For more information, read our article on How to deal with the anxiety of living through a pandemic.

Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health.

Updated Date: May 05, 2020 14:24:19 IST

Tags : Anxiety, Coronavirus, Coronavirus Outbreak, COVID-19, covid19, Dark Chocolate, Green Tea, Healthy Diet, Myupchar, NewsTracker, Turmeric, Yoghurt

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Seven things you must add to your diet if pandemic anxiety is getting to you - Firstpost

As an academic who regularly worked from home in the days before coronavirus, my friends often joked about what they imagined my daily routine might be (such as enjoying a morning gin and not changing out of my pyjamas). But as many people now realise, the reality is quite different. Working from home can be quite a challenge.

But why? Research in occupational health psychology suggests one important answer which is all about self-control the ability to suppress intruding thoughts, behaviours, and emotions which are not relevant or helpful for achieving a goal. Away from work, that may be as simple as refraining from eating a chocolate bar when on a diet, or sticking to a training regime before running a marathon.

But while self-control leads to positive outcomes in many aspects of life, such as career success or more stable relationships, my research has also found that frequent acts of self-control can have a negative impact on mental health and well-being.

What psychologists refer to as the strength model of self-control offers an explanation for this. It suggests that just like using a muscle requires physical energy, engaging in self-control consumes mental energy.

The more we practise it, the more likely it is to lead to mental exhaustion and associated unhealthy behaviours such as alcohol consumption, snacking, or getting into arguments.

Working from home can require considerable self-control. Whereas our normal work environments offices, factories, shops are set up to effectively engage in work, for many employees, home environments are not.

When working from home can mean adapting to new technologies, changing forms of communication, resisting distractions from family members, pets, or mundane household activities, or keeping up motivation when the sun is shining outside. Overcoming these demands and engaging in work requires self control, which in turn depletes mental energy levels.

A key element of replenishing vital mental energy, and reducing the negative effects of self control is what we call psychological detachment This refers to the act of mentally switching off from work during time off, and requires the absence of all work-related thoughts and activities.

While the simple act of leaving the office after work immediately helps detachment, this clearly becomes much more difficult when working from home. So it is vitally important to actively manage boundaries between work and non-work time to allow for that kind of detachment.

To begin with, managing work time is key, as remote workers tend to work longer hours compared to office workers. Physical boundaries between the professional and domestic aspects of your life are also helpful, as is committing to time where you dont communicate (or even think) about work, and immersive and enjoyable activities which require concentration.

Here are some tips on how to enhance mental health and well-being when working from home:

Generally, self-control is crucial for adapting to changes in our environment. In light of the considerable requirements now in place for self-control during lockdown, employees need to be conscious of not using up their mental resources. They need to regularly engage in recovery experiences including psychological detachment to maintain and enhance their mental health and wellbeing.

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Working from home? Why detachment is crucial for mental health - The Conversation US

Load it up with as many colourful plants as you can, toss in some berries and smoked tofu, top it with pumpkin seeds and sprouts.

Alexander Raths/iStockPhoto / Getty Images

I started lifting weights in high school, but youd have never known until about 10 years ago. Thats when I decided to get serious. Thats when I stopped spending money on stupid supplements and started following programs designed by legit trainers with decades of success. Instead of looking for the easy way out, I invested in myself. I started paying attention to my diet and lifestyle and addressed the many shortcomings with both.

And wouldnt you know it, things changed! These days, no one is ever going to mistake me for a CrossFit champion, but Im in dramatically better shape than I was in college (that would be my first go-round, back in 2000, when I weighed all of 130 lbs). I dont believe for one second Id be saying the same if I stuck with the Gym Bro mentality that supplements solve everything.

Excluding pharmaceutical agents, most of which can indeed work miracles, there is no life hack for getting healthy and strong. This is not to say supplements are entirely useless. Some, like creatine, have a proven record of delivering the goods. But if your monthly budget has a line item dedicated to GNC, consider donating that money to charity instead.

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Im telling you, here and now, that a few simple lifestyle adjustments will increase your workout gains (sorry, gainz) more than any cocktail of supplements. But these recommendations arent sexy and glamorous, so few will take them to heart. If you can, give them a shot for a month.

Bookmark this TED Talk and watch it after youre done here. Yes, getting eight hours of sleep each and every night is the single most powerful thing you can do for your health, not to mention your physique.

Get to bed before 11 p.m. and wake up eight hours later. Do this every day, even on weekends. Take daily naps (20-40 minutes, max). Make sleep a priority and you will reap a whole lot of rewards.

In a column last year, I talked about the effects of stress and why its so important to become masters of the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the rest and digest system, the calming counterpart to the sympathetic nervous systems raging fight or flight response.

I cant emphasize enough how important it is to get your stress under control. To say stress manifests physically is an understatement. I had to learn this the hard way; up until the early spring of 2019, I pretty much had a full head of hair and a not-too-shabby beard. Then patches began to appear, first on my face, then my head. Tiny patches that quickly grew in circumference and number, until, in June, I had to shave my face and head or risk being mistaken for an extra out of 12 Monkeys.

Doctors dont know for certain what causes alopecia, but stress is the main suspect. It could be worse. I still have my eyebrows.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a mere 8.9 per cent of Americans meet the minimum recommended intake for fruits and vegetables. Forgive me, but thats bananas.

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I can remember a time when I would throw a fit if a stalk of broccoli so much as touched my plate. Children can do that. Adults cannot. Grow up and eat a damn salad for lunch. Load it up with as many colourful plants as you can, toss in some berries and smoked tofu, top it with pumpkin seeds and sprouts. Plants are often calorie-free so you can go to town here, just take it easy with the dressing.

Paul Landini is a personal trainer and health educator in Toronto.

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Forget about supplements when working out eat your veggies instead - The Globe and Mail

GAME OF THRONES star and deadlift world record holder Hafthor Bjornsson's 10,000-calorie diet has been revealed.

The 31-year-old Icelandic strongman is set to take on fellow strongman Eddie Hall next year in a boxing fight.

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BJORNSSON'S 10,000-CALORIE FEAST

Fish

Chicken

Good fats like cocoa butter

Almonds

Greens - spinach, avocado, broccoli

Steak

Rice

Carrots

Peppers

Days ago Bjornsson broke the world deadlift record after successfully lifting an incredible 501kg (1,105 pounds).

It broke the record of 500kg previously held by Hall.

Bjornsson, who plays The Mountain in Game Of Thrones, then called out his rival for a scrap.

This was gleefully accepted by Staffordshire strongman Hall, who promised to "rip his f***ing head off".

And as the days tick down to the two beasts meeting in a boxing ring, Bjornsson has revealed how he lives his life being a strongman.

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And as expected, it involves a lot of fuel - namely 10,000 calories and six meals a day.

Speaking to Stuff.co.nz, the 31-year-old said:"Diet is very important to stay in shape, to stay strong. So I'm very consistent with my meals.

"I eat six meals every single day. I eat mostly steak, rice, carrots, with some peppers, sometimes chicken.

"I eat so much, really. And definitely the hardest part of being in these competitions really is the diet.

"There's a lot of eating, if you want to stay the best. I have to eat every two hours, I have to fuel my body.

"And there's a lot of timing, prepping meals, when I eat them. I think sometimes, 'Is this worth it?'

"I'm always eating, and I'm never hungry. I'm always eating and working out."

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He also previously opened up on his diet in an interview with GQ.

And it followed the same line that to keep up his power he can eat "what he wants".

He said: "I eat a lot of sweet potatoes, a lot of meat, fish, chicken, good fats like cocoa butter, almonds.

"I love greens, like spinach, avocado, broccoli. I eat very healthy overall - but because of my weight, I need fast carbs, easy carbs.

"So maybe before a training session or after a training session, I eat what I want."

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Due to the coronavirus pandemic, 'Thor' carried out the record at his gym in his native Iceland.

The world record attempt has been hit by controversy in recent weeks with Thor not doing the deadlift in a competition.

But the lift - that was carried out using a standard deadlift barbell - was sanctioned, with respected strongman official Magnus Ver Magnusson refereeing the attempt.

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Game of Thrones star Hafthor Bjornssons gut-busting 10,000 calories a DAY diet revealed ahead of Eddie Hall f - The Sun

More than two weeks before Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a March 24 stay-at-home order to stop the spread of coronavirus, Paige Jackson got sick.

I was having a really bad migraineto the point where it was hard to keep my eyes open, Jackson, who lives in the Detroit suburb of Southfield, recalled.

An employee of an Amazon store and a restaurant, Jackson initially shrugged off her symptoms. But the headache, which lasted days, turned into body aches. When she developed a cough and a 101-degree fever, Jackson went to urgent care, where the staff prescribed medications to treat the flu and sent her home. Her symptoms, however, worsened, and the 26-year-old spent several days in the hospital, ultimately receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Today, Jackson is feeling 100 percent better. But as an African American, a frontline worker, and a resident of a state hit hard by coronavirus, Jackson knows that shes one of the lucky ones. According to a Johns Hopkins University analysis of 26 states that have provided racial data about the virus, Black people make up 34 percent of COVID deaths, despite comprising just 13.4 percent of the U.S. population.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that African Americans account for 33 percent of COVID hospitalizations, largely because Black people have high rates of chronic health conditionscalled comorbiditiesthat weaken the immune system and make them more vulnerable to the virus. But much less discussed is how food, class, and race have intersected in ways that perpetuate the health disparities and social inequities unfolding today.

Outside of being Black, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension have been identified as the comorbidities that make coronavirus more deadly amongst anyone worldwide, said Daphene Altema-Johnson, the food communities and public health program officer at John Hopkins Universitys Center for a Livable Future. When you look at the United States, Blacks have higher rates of these chronic conditions and the reasons they have those comorbidities are driven by poverty and by food insecurity.

Communities of color have long struggled to access fresh and unprocessed food, and minority workers make up a disproportionate percentage of the food industry, often working for low wages and without medical benefits. All the while, traditional cuisines, such as soul food, have taken blame for the health problems African Americans facea critique that overlooks how obesity and Type 2 diabetes werent widespread in the Black community until after makers of processed and fast foods established a foothold in minority neighborhoods in the late 20th century. Moreover, stress from racial discrimination and other sources has been tied to heart disease, hypertension, and obesity.

Theres also the psychological aspects of being Black in America and the environments of communities of color, where you have lack of access to care and disparities that exist in the healthcare system, including unconscious racial bias as it relates to COVID-19, since Blacks are less likely to be referred for testing in the healthcare system, Altema-Johnson said.

It all boils down to a simple fact: structural racism in the U.S, and particularly in the food system, has left people of color more susceptible to the health and economic crises of the coronavirus pandemic.

Social Determinants of Health: Food Swamps and ZIP Codes

Although the social determinants of healththe conditions in ones workplace, neighborhood, home, or schoolhave a significant impact on well-being, the perception persists that African American lifestyle and cultural influences are to blame for the racial disparity in coronavirus casualties.

U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams faced widespread criticism in April for specifically urging the Black and Latinx communities to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and drugs during the coronavirus pandemic, even though these groups dont abuse substances at higher rates than others. And speaking during CNNs April 18 town hall about coronaviruss disproportionate impact on people of color, retired NBA star Charles Barkley said, There is systematic racism, but that does not give you a reason to go out and be overweight.

These remarks discount how the nations food system uniquely makes people of color prone to COVID complications. Kristen Cooksey-Stowers, an assistant professor in the University of Connecticuts Department of Allied Health Sciences, has researched the link between food access and health problems in Black neighborhoods. She co-authored a 2017 study that concluded food swampsareas with a high-density of establishments selling high-calorie fast food and junk food, relative to healthier food optionsbetter predicted obesity rates in a community than food deserts, a term describing the absence of a full-service grocery store.

Its more important than ever to have food thats good for our immune system but its easier to get the high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods that compromise it.

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed how imperative it is for cities and counties to limit the number of unhealthy food retailers in neighborhoods, Cooksey-Stowers told Civil Eats.

When we get into this sort of crisis, its more important than ever to have food thats good for our immune system, she said. But its easier to get to the food that actually compromises our immune systemthe high-fat, high-salt, and high-sugar foods. Its awful. Now is the time for food equity.

Her research demonstrates that where a person lives has a direct impact on ones well-being, with white neighborhoods offering more health and nutrition benefits than communities of color. Accordingly, the African-American obesity rate is 49.6 percent, the Hispanic obesity rate is 44.8 percent, and the white obesity rate is 42.2 percent, the CDC reports.

Studies that look at health disparities in the Black and Hispanic community are consistently finding these patterns, Cooksey-Stowers said. Its about a lot more than whether theres a grocery store or not. Its about the brown bag, fast-food greasy carryout place and the stores with the blue juice and 25-cent chips. Its a manifestation of structural inequality.

Three years before Cooksey-Stowers published her study on food swamps, Reginald Tucker-Seeley, a University of Southern California assistant professor of gerontology, coauthored a study concluding that Black neighborhoods had higher access to fast-food restaurants, a circumstance associated with obesity.

We have been discussing these kinds of disparities for decades, Tucker-Seeley said. But he wants these conversations to also examine the societal forces that led communities of color to house so many harmful food retailers.

The decisions around retail in these neighborhoods are not random, he said. They are the result of municipal policy. The conversation is incomplete if it just places the responsibility on the individual consumer but not on the choices people have.

His research has found that the zoning policies allowing unhealthy food retailers to accumulate in certain neighborhoods may be more motivated by race than income. Tucker-Seeley compared economically disadvantaged areas across the country and found that fast-food retailers were more common in Black neighborhoods of all incomes than in low-income non-black neighborhoods. (Cooksey-Stowers made a similar finding about food swamps.) And the legacy of redlining and racial segregation means that middle-class African Americans frequently live in neighborhoods without the resources and protections found in even poor white ones.

We cant underestimate the power of neighborhood segregation, Tucker-Seeley said. Which homes do individuals get to live in? What kind of lending is available? What is the power of racism throughout the process, and how can it potentially sort people into neighborhoods with fewer resources and more health risks?

Changing the retail composition of a neighborhood is difficultbut not impossible, according to Tucker-Seeley. It requires residents who are aware that their community perpetuates food inequity and, from there, addressing municipal-level zoning policies, he said. Less clear is the ideal retail mix for good health.

Thats going to require collaboration with health and housing and economic development officials, he said. Until zoning policies limit the amount of fast food and replace it with healthier food, its going to be challenging.

Abandoned by Grocery Stores, Many Communities of Color Are Food Insecure

The pandemic has made these zoning policies and their present-day consequences clearer than ever. Take South Los Angeles, where a 2008 ordinance limited the opening of new fast-food restaurants but did not stop more convenience stores from opening or increase the number of grocery stores in the area. When Californias March 19 stay-at-home order took effect, people flocked to the few supermarkets there.

There was already not enough food access [in South L.A.], and the stores that do exist have lines around the block, activist Olympia Auset recalled. People were letting us know there was no rice and beans.

In response, Auset stepped up the work she began in 2016 as the founder of Sprmarkt, an organic grocery that aims to bring more low-cost organic food to communities like South L.A. The organization estimates that area has roughly 60 grocery stores for 1.3 million people.

To meet the demands for food in South L.A. during the pandemic, Sprmarkt has grown its operational capacity, picking up and delivering 96 boxes of food weekly rather than the typical 20. It has also donated groceries to the needy and amassed dried goods, such as quinoa, beans, rice sunflower seeds, and cranberries, that families can use for the long haul.

Sprmarkt is not alone in its efforts. YMCAs throughout the country, including in Massachusetts, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia, have served tens of thousands of meals during the pandemic. And the COVID-19 Fresh Food Fund has announced plans to provide communities in need with hundreds of thousands of servings of fresh produce. Additionally, the animal rights group Mercy for Animals (MFA) recently partnered with community advocacy organization I Grow Chicago to deliver 250 meals from five local vegan restaurants and food trucks to residents of Chicagos West Englewood community, which is predominantly low-income and African American.

Without access to affordable, healthy foods, it is extremely difficult to maintain a strong immune system, Erin Kwiatkowski, MFAs corporate partnerships manager, who believes the food system sees some communities as worthy of having nutritious food and others as not.

The Problem With Blaming Soul Food

The mountain of research showing the correlation between environment, racial segregation, and health disparities hasnt stopped some people from blaming Black culture for the chronic health conditions that can lead to COVID complications.

The American Conservative recently suggested that soul food, and more specifically, a greens-cornbread-and-pork-chops culture, bore responsibility for the high rates of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in the African American community and, thus, the high rate of Black people dying from COVID-19. Its not the first time soul food has been blamed for these conditions; research studies, the 2012 documentary Soul Food Junkies, and even the 1997 theatrical release Soul Food have all linked the cuisine to chronic health conditions.

This argument overlooks that soul food can be prepared without pork fat, salt, or sugar, says Adrian Miller, author of Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine One Plate at a Time, winner of the 2014 James Beard Foundation Book Award. Pathologizing African-American cuisine also ignores that soul food predates the nations obesity crisis, which grew as the number of fast-food restaurants in the U.S. doubled between 1972 and 1997. It disregards the rising popularity of vegan soul food as well.

If you look at soul foodthe dark leafy greens are a superfood, Miller said. Okra is a superfood. Hibiscus is a superfood. Fishall these things are the building blocks of soul food.

Black dietitians are teaching African Americans how to prepare healthful soul food, but just 3 percent of dietitians are Black.

Miller added that the term vegan soul food isnt an oxymoron, as the traditional soul food diet contained more vegetables than meats; enslaved people had more access to the former than the latter. It was celebration food, he explained of soul food. It was the food you got on weekends when the work day slowed down enough. It was seasoned vegetables, maybe a little bit of meat and cornbread.

Black dietitians like Fabiola Gaines, coauthor of The New Soul Food Cookbook for People With Diabetes, have been teaching African Americans how to prepare healthful soul food by relying more on seasoning than animal fat for flavor. Shes been a dietitian for more than 40 years, but points out that fewjust 3 percent of dietitian and nutrition professionalsare Black.

If you have diabetes, we wanted to show you that you can still have the same food but lower in fat and sugar, Gaines said. Healthy soul food can taste good.

Today, soul food remains celebration food, meaning that its typically not eaten on a daily basis. And, increasingly, African Americans arent making it at home but patronizing restaurants that do, Miller posits. Given this, he questions why soul food, eaten only once in a while, could singlehandedly be responsible for the obesity, hypertension, and diabetes epidemics in the Black community.

Lytisha Wyatt, an assistant grower at Soul Fire Farm, a community farm in Petersburg, New York, focused on ending injustice in the food system, questions why diet has become the focus of the racial disparities in COVID-19 deaths.

Its been really frustrating the ways in which people are trying to distract from the systemic factors that are playing a role in the disproportionate amount of Black deaths from coronavirus, she said. There wasnt that much talk about peoples diets, and all of sudden, diet has come up. Its another way of avoiding talking about the societal conditions that make it so Black people are less likely to thrive.

Miller suspects the culprits for the chronic health problems among African Americans are fast food and other highly processed foods, convenient and plentiful in communities of color. A CDC study found that almost 40 percent of Americans ate fast food on any given day from 2013 to 2016, and doctors have blamed processed foods for the rise in chronic medical conditions that make COVID-19 deadly.

For racial reasons, for class reasons, our food has long been stigmatized, Miller said. Its been reduced to either slave food or poverty food, which ignores its rich history as a fusion of food from West Africa, Western Europe, and the Americas.

Food Workers Will be More Vulnerable After the Pandemic

Those suggesting that cultural and lifestyle factors make people of color more vulnerable to COVID-19 havent been as outspoken about how the workplace contributes to racial disparities in coronavirus cases. Black and Latinx people are more likely to work in occupations, including food service, that require them to interact closely with others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, African Americans make up 12.3 percent of the workforce but comprise 21.9 percent of animal slaughterhouse and processing workers, 14.2 percent of grocery workers, and 13.4 percent of restaurant workers. They also account for 26.5 percent of employees at Amazon and 21 percent of the staff at Walmart, the nations largest grocer.

Paige Jackson isnt sure where she contracted coronavirus, but she acknowledges that being a frontline worker and interacting with lots of people at two jobs has made her vulnerable. There is a possibility that somebody I came into contact with at work was sick, she said.

While Jackson has recovered from coronavirus, she now has no job to return to, since both of hers closed during the pandemic. She is among the estimated two-thirds of restaurant workers who have lost their jobs since the pandemic led to statewide lockdowns across the nation.

I hope this leads to an evolution in the ways in which we get our food.

The economic impact of COVID-19 will have long-lasting consequences for restaurant workers, who are now facing Great Depression-era levels of poverty and merging households just to survive, according to Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, an advocacy group for the nations restaurant workforce. For food workers of color, she noted, the financial instability is even more serious, since they typically earn less than their white counterparts.

Workers of color are often segregated into lower-paying positions and segments of the [restaurant] industry, Jayaraman said. They work as kitchen staff or as bussers and runners rather than as waiters, so they really might have nothing to fall back on. They may not be eligible to qualify for unemployment because their wages are so low. They dont have a way to take care of their basic needs. Not only are they at high risk of getting coronavirus, theyre much less able to take care of themselves if they do get it.

Soul Fire Farms Lytisha Wyatt said the pandemic has revealed how broken the food system isand hopes that lawmakers can improve it for workers and consumers alike.

Im hoping this leads to an evolution in the ways in which we get our food, she said. Hopefully, the disproportionate number of [people of color] dying will help expose the role the food system plays in health outcomes and usher in more protections for grocery store workers, people in meat-packing facilities, people making food deliveries. Its clear theyre essential, and if theyre essential, this pandemic needs to generate momentum for them to be protected.

Originally posted here:
People of Color are at Greater Risk of COVID-19. Systemic Racism in the Food System Plays a Role. - Civil Eats

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