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Aug 14

Bait has heavy role in bear diets in north Wisconsin – Iron Mountain Daily News

MADISON, Wis. (AP) Researchers say bear bait could be playing a role in the high density of bears in northern Wisconsin.

New research from the state Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Madison shows bear bait makes up more than 40 percent of a black bears diet in the region, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

Researchers sampled bear bait and native foods in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and then compared the samples to black bear tissues from 2011 to 2013. The study focused on areas with forest and wetlands in order to minimize the impact of crop cover.

It was a study designed to better understand the ecology of bears in the state and the role that the various foods on the landscape play in the population, said Dave MacFarland, a large carnivore specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

That gives us information on the impact of regulations. Its sort of a first step to better understanding the role of bait in bear diet.

High-calorie foods such as meat, candy or cookies are often used as bait. The state doesnt allow bait to contain any animal parts or animal by-products.

The state allows baiting from April through early October, a period thats about three times longer than baiting periods in Michigan and Minnesota.

While female black bears have experienced increased fertility when they eat bait, researchers said more study is needed to determine how bait affects the bear population.

Itd also be interesting to see what, in states with different policies and different regulations, what role bait is playing in the diet of those bears, MacFarland said. Theres some more work potentially to be done, but I think its an important first step in us better understanding this.

The area is home to more than 20,000 bears.

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Bait has heavy role in bear diets in north Wisconsin - Iron Mountain Daily News


Aug 14

Toni Okamoto Wants to Teach You How to Live a ‘Plant-Based’ Life – NBCNews.com

Toni Okamoto was trying to make her family healthier when she started the blog that would become Plant Based on a Budget, a website for meal planning, recipe sharing, and education about the affordability of a vegan diet.

By the time she first posted vegan recipes on her family blog in 2012, she had seen her grandfather pass away due to complications from heart surgery and an aunt amputate a toe and foot due to Type 2 diabetes.

I had just started learning more about food issues, so in my early 20s, I thought, OK, this is really frustrating and sad for me to sit here and do nothing while my family is suffering, Okamoto told NBC News.

But over the past five years, Plant Based on a Budget has built a growing reader base, with more than 120,000 followers on Facebook.

The success has allowed, Okamoto, now 30, to author a cookbook, The Super Easy Vegan Slow Cooker Cookbook, which highlights 100 healthy, low-maintenance recipes, as well as co-author The Friendly Vegan Cookbook. She was also featured in What the Health, a documentary on plant-based diets released on Netflix in June.

The feedback for my segment has been amazing, she said. I can't believe how many people are inspired to eat plant-based after watching the film. I'm so grateful to have had a small part in it all.

Growing up in a multi-ethnic household in Sacramento, California, Okamoto learned first hand the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.

Every day before high school track practice, she would eat lunch at a fast food chain located across the street. But within minutes, shed immediately feel sick to her stomach.

It was not healthy for me to eat that way, Okamoto said. My track coach said, why dont you stop eating fast food and try cutting back on red meat?

As Okamoto changed her diet, she saw herself thrive as a runner and after participating in a two-week vegetarian diet challenge with a friend eventually decided to transition into a full-vegetarian diet.

The four-year transition to a vegan diet for ethical reasons was more gradual, Okamoto said.

I stopped eating beef, then getting broth beef and stopped drinking cows milk and butter, she said.

The cover of "The Friendly Vegan Cookbook" by Michelle Cehn and Toni Okamoto.

In an effort to inspire healthier eating options for her family, Okamoto began compiling plant-based recipes. But when she put the recipes up, she was shocked when many of her family members expressed the concern that it was too expensive for them to eat the way she did.

That's when my family food blog turned into a blog that challenged the misconception that plant-based food is only for privileged people, Okamoto said. I wanted to provide everyone resources that gave them inspiration and drive to eat healthy.

Okamoto stresses the importance of providing early nutrition education in schools and avoiding processed foods.

Nutrition education is nonexistent in many low-income communities of color, she said. Its important to feed children healthier food.

Having grown up in a low-income family, Okamoto focuses particularly on budget-conscious recipes. Her meal plans can be as inexpensive as $25 per week per person and include a grocery list that shows how to use 100 percent of the ingredients while staying within budget.

Theres also a focus on ease when she doesnt have time to cook, Okamoto pre-plans her meals and uses her slow cooker, letting ingredients cook overnight.

While I sleep, I cook beans overnight, and in the morning Ill add chili and stuff, and when Im at work, Ill cook it, she said. When I come home, I have dinner, and the rest of the week Ill have leftovers.

Okamoto said that she wants people to know that Plant Based on a Budget is not an all-or-nothing decision and that every bit of progress toward a health goal is something to be proud of.

It takes a lot of courage and effort to relearn all of the things youve been taught about food and that is difficult, she said. Pat yourself on the back for every healthy meal you eat and every day you choose plant based.

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Toni Okamoto Wants to Teach You How to Live a 'Plant-Based' Life - NBCNews.com


Aug 14

25 of the worlds top Diets That Work reviewed Plus health …

Diets That Work For Maximum Weight Loss

Diets that work are something that many health and weight-conscious people are searching for. These kinds of programs are often called fad diets. Most fad diets can help you lose a few pounds quickly, but they might not work in the long term, as some health problems could arise. These health issues occur because of very low caloric intake or the diet plans are not well balanced. Diets that work for weight loss are often overwhelming. This is because many people focus on losing weight and do not provide their bodies with all the essential vitamins and nutrients. A good diet plan that truly works can help you lose weight without draining your health and energy.

In the past, weve been bombarded with a lot of diets. But are there diets that really work? The simple answer is yes. Being on a diet isnt all bad news. There are many diets that can help you lose weight while allowing you to eat what you love.

To start with, losing weight is not as easy as most people tend to think. Well, it takes more time to lose weight than it takes to gain the same amount of weight. So are low-calorie diet plans the best option? Or is it better to restrict carbs?

Experts agree that no matter what diet plan you decide to follow low calorie, low fat, or low carb, etc. it doesnt matter. The most important thing is to stick to your chosen diet plan. Most researchers that evaluate the success rates of various diet plans or low-fat diets evaluate the weight loss just for a short period of time. When experts have carried out research studies on diets, they have realized that dieters who followed the diets lost the same amounts of weight.

And this explains why so many people fail in their efforts to lose weight long term. Any diets that ask you not to eat a whole category of food (particularly a food category as important as carbs) are certainly asking you to slip up.

The key to long-term, constant weight loss, and more importantly, getting in shape and maintaining a healthy body is developing a diet plan that supplies your body with all the essential nutrients and vitamins you need while also providing you with a chance to enjoy those foods that you hold dear to your heart. Leading a healthy lifestyle should be your main goal, as that is what will help you to lose and maintain a healthy weight.

however the temptation of all those cakes, sweets and fatty foods who would want to scrimp and scrape on their calories. Cutting your calories to 1500 for a female and 2000 a day for a male will help you lose at least a pound of fat per week. The reason being for this is that a calorie deficiency of 3500 a week will allow you to shed the fat.

Diets that work is a widely researched and sought after topic, causing debates and controversy around the world.

There are so many ridiculously unbelievable diets to the totally pointless ones. However, there are a select few that do get great results too.

The way to identify if a diet plan is healthy is to check if you look bright and vibrant. Diet plans that make you tired and irritated will never work because starving yourself will only make you fall ill. Healthy diets that work consist of all the nutrients that are necessary for the body to function normally. Following a good diet plan and exercising for at least 15 minutes a day will effectively work towards losing weight.

Diets that work is a major topic of discussion nowadays, with many studies carried out over the years. There are so many useless diets that can only make the situation worse. However, there are some that deliver the desired results in a great way. A good way to determine whether a diet works is to find out if you look cheerful while following it. Diet programs that make you bored and annoyed will never work simply because starving yourself can lead you to sickness and ultimately, an unhealthy body.

Your body image matters a lot. It matters because if you feel comfortable about your body, it makes a huge difference in developing a positive body image and also plays a major role in promoting a good body image for other people as well. The fashion industry may assume that we are one size, one shape, but when it comes to losing weight, it is not a one size fits all kind of plan. No two people are the same and for that matter, you need a diet plan that is designed to help you meet your individual needs.

Theres no diet plan that will work for everyone. Also, there is no miracle diet that will cause you to drop those excess pounds while you are asleep. Creating a diet plan that supplies your body with the nutrients, vitamins, and enjoyment that you need is the best way to achieve success. This is because, at the end of the day, no one wants to be on a diet for life.

Make sure you eat high-quality foods. You will notice the difference and therefore, you will eat less since tasty food is full of flavor! As a result, weight loss will be an enjoyable journey. This is particularly important when it comes to fruits and vegetables. Make sure you buy organic foods as much as possible.

You can order it from a natural foods store and have them delivered straight to your doorstep. Not only are fresh fruits and vegetables so delicious, but they are also very healthy. Buying organic foods doesnt have to cost a fortune. You should focus on eating well, eating less and wasting less in the process.

There are several tried and tested diets that work effectively to burn fat and lose weight. The diets that work results may vary depending on each persons body and health conditions. It is important to drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day to flush out toxins from the body. Following any of these diet plans with a combination of easy exercises like walking, brisk walking or slow jogging will provide great results. Diet plans work better if alcohol, sugar, and excess spices are avoided. Consult a physician before starting any diet plan.

No matter what proven diets that work you chose to follow, you will always wish that you could be on this one or that you could just eat what you want as you promise to eat healthily. Dont trust yourself. This one never works, it amazes me how many times I go on a diet and mentally punish myself saying why did I have to eat this or how did I manage to become so big? You take all delicious food for granted until you begin a diet regime. If only I could have put that cake down, if only I felt as guilty before it as after I ate it and then maybe I wouldnt have eaten it. Too little too late Im afraid, once that cake has digested the only place that cake is going is on your hips, stomach, and thighs. Its true what they say, a moment on the lips is a lifetime on the hips. If only this statement was as false as some of these crazy fad diets.

Enjoying your food is the key to building a healthy relationship with food. Here are some important tips to help you develop a healthy diet plan.

Know your metabolism type: no two individuals are the same, so dont expect one diet to suit everyone. Know your metabolism type and stick to a meal plan that suits your health and fitness goals.

Go organic: as weve mentioned earlier, it is important to choose organic foods and cut on processed foods. Prepackaged or processed foods are packed with preservatives and many other chemicals that are designed to prolong their lifespan on the shelves. The end result is that they hinder the proper functioning of various body processes, including digestion, and might end up causing weight gain.

Exercise: medical experts are almost unanimous that physical exercises are vital to the proper functioning of the human body. In addition to eating well, you need to exercise regularly in order to lose weight and maintain a healthy body.

So which diets work fast? The fact is that no one really knows how many diets really work. This is because there are plenty of diets being developed or reinvented that all of us have lost track of them. You will also find some diets with the same regime but under different names. It is not possible to keep track of them all.

So we have compelled a list of some of the top diets that work for you.

Therefore, it is important to consider those diets that recommend making healthy dietary and lifestyle changes. If you think dieting is the best option for you, then you need to choose a good diet that suits your dietary preferences, your lifestyle, and schedule. Whether it be;

The low carb diet:This is one of the most common diets that work for people who wish to lose weight. Excess carbohydrates in the body can lead to imbalanced insulin levels which lead to obesity. An easy way to follow a no carb diet is to avoid all white foods. Sugar, white rice, white flour, pasta, white bread, potatoes and many other white foods contain carbohydrates that need to be avoided. Low carb diet should ideally contain good protein sources like tuna, eggs, chicken breasts and turkey. Vegetables like mushroom, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, carrots are low in carbohydrates. []

The Raw food diet: This diet consists of foods that are not cooked or processed. Raw foods contain enzymes that help in quick digestion and ensure optimal health. When foods are cooked or processed, these enzymes die out. The raw food diet is usually a vegan diet that consists of fresh vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Sprouts, carrots, tomatoes, coconut milk, raisins, almonds, oranges, apples, pine apples, etc can be consumed. Honey can be added to sweeten fruit juices. Raw eggs, cheese, raw milk can be included for a non-vegan raw food diet. []

The volumetric diet:This is one of the most favorite weight loss diets that work as it focuses on eating low-calorie foods that can give a feeling of fullness. People who love to eat a lot, but willing to lose weight should follow the volumetric diet. Fruits and vegetables contain low calories so they can be consumed in large amounts to satiate the appetite. Pasta, breakfast cereal, salad dressings, non starchy vegetables, low fat meat like fish and chicken, legumes, beans and eggs, water rich vegetables like cabbage give a feeling of fullness but are low in calories can be included in the volumetric diet. []

Zone diet:The zone diet is an ideal diet for people who wish to lose weight gradually without feeling tired or worn out. The diet contains carbohydrates, proteins and fat in a balanced ratio of 40:30:30. People have the freedom to eat whatever they want but in a balanced amount. The diet helps in maintaining a stable insulin level which causes weight loss gradually but keeps the energy levels high. The zone diet is followed by many dieticians and celebrities around the world thats why it is know as one of the diets that work as it supplies the body with all essential nutrients in a balanced ratio. []

The 3 day diet:The three day diet is one of the popular diets that work among run way models and cardiac patients. Patients are given the three day diet to lose weight quickly before their cardiac surgery. Models love this diet as it helps them lose up to ten pounds in 3 days. This is however an unhealthy diet so it advised to be followed only for 3days. The diet consists of limited tuna, eggs, grape fruit, lean meat and vegetables. Only salt and pepper should be used to season the foods and sugar is strictly not allowed. It is very important to consume 8 liters of water per day while following this diet. After 3 days, the dieter must gradually get back to their normal diet. []

Flat belly diet:This is another favorite diet among dieters as it helps in losing belly fat within a month. The diet consists of 2 parts: anti bloat jump start and 4 week diet plan. The anti bloat jump start reduces and prevents bloating and helps in weight loss quickly. Foods that cause bloating and gas (cabbage, onions, coffee, sugar, tea and soda) must be completely avoided. The key foods in the 4 week diet plan are fish, fruits, vegetables and olive oil. The plan includes four 400 calorie meals per day. []

The Atkins diet:Dr Robert Atkins was the founder of this diet. The Atkins is more than certainly a proven one of the diets that work. Within The Atkins eating regime its all about counting carbs. You will eventually have your body burning body fat as its main energy source rather than carbs you eat. Within this there are 3 separate phases Induction/ongoing weight loss and lifetime maintenance. This diet was followed by Kim Kardashian in order to help her lose her post baby weight. []

Fast Diet/5:2 Diet/Fasting Diet:No it doesnt mean that this diet works fast. It means that you need to fast on it. Well when I say fast, it means 500/600 kcal per day, well when I say per day I mean for 2 days and these 2 days must be spread throughout the week. You will eat as you please for 5 days and for the remaining 2 days you will have to almost fast. []

Dash Diet:The Dash Diet has been voted one of the best and healthiest diets. It lessens your risk of hypertension and heart attacks. Would you like to live for longer? Well the Dash Diet will help, that statement doesnt come with a warranty sadly. However The Dash Diet is based upon the diet of a Mediterranean person who tends to live like 3 years longer. Give it a go, its one for all the family to join in and do together. []

Weight Watchers:The increasingly popular weight watchers regime. In this diet you need to initially get weighed and then you will be given your daily/activity/weekly points. Every single food and beverage will have a value of points in it. You total up your points throughout the day and dont go over. []

Thats just a select few diets that are listed. Remember which ever diet you end up sticking to for 1 day to the whole diet, you need to be positive that it is the right one for you to be on at that time. Think of all your dietary requirements as well as when you have time to eat. This will help you decide what to do whether it be following in Kim Kardashians footsteps and choosing the Atkins or counting points on the Weight Watchers.

Remember to always seek medical advice on this subject.

Drinking warm water first thing in the morning will boost metabolism and help in weight loss. Mixing honey and cinnamon to warm water is very good for cardiovascular health and weight loss. It burns unnecessary fat and enhances blood circulation. Drinking hot water after every big meal aids digestion and prevents fat from storing in the abdominal area. Sedentary lifestyle is one of the main reasons for obesity. It is important to fill your day with gentle exercises like walking up and down the stairs instead of using an elevator, jogging in place while watching TV and walking in circles while listening to music. Eating everything in moderation and exercising regularly is the key to stay healthy and fit.

visit all our diets we have on our diets that work website that is updated regularly

Continued here:
25 of the worlds top Diets That Work reviewed Plus health ...


Aug 14

What Is the GAPS Diet and Does it Work? – EcoWatch

By Helen West, RD

The GAPS diet is a strict elimination diet that requires its followers to cut out grains, pasteurized dairy, starchy vegetables and refined carbs.

It's promoted as a natural treatment for people with conditions that affect the brain, such as autism.

However, it's a controversial therapy and has been widely criticized by doctors, scientists and nutrition professionals for its restrictive regimen.

This article explores the features of the GAPS dietary protocol and examines whether there is any evidence behind its purported health benefits.

GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It's a term that was invented by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, who also designed the GAPS diet.

Her theory is that many conditions that affect your brain are caused by a leaky gut. Leaky gut syndrome is the term used to describe an increase in the permeability of the gut wall (1).

The GAPS theory is that a leaky gut allows chemicals and bacteria from your food and environment to enter your blood when they wouldn't normally do so.

It claims that once these foreign substances enter your blood, they can affect your brain's function and development, causing "brain fog" and conditions like autism.

The GAPS protocol is designed to heal the gut, preventing toxins from entering the blood stream and lowering "toxicity" in the body. However, it isn't clear if or how leaky gut plays a role in the development of diseases (2, 3).

In her book, Dr. Campbell-McBride states that the GAPS dietary protocol cured her first child of autism. She now widely promotes the diet as a natural cure for many psychiatric and neurological conditions, including:

The diet is most often used for children, especially those who have a health condition that's poorly understood by mainstream medicine, such as autism. The diet also claims to help children who have a food intolerance or allergy.

It can be a years-long process, and requires you to cut out all foods Dr. Campbell-McBride thinks contribute to a leaky gut. This includes all grains, pasteurized dairy, starchy vegetables and refined carbs.

The GAPS protocol is made up of three main stages: the GAPS introduction diet, the full GAPS diet and a reintroduction phase for coming off of the diet.

Summary: GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It's an elimination diet claimed to cure conditions that affect brain function, including autism and attention deficit disorder.

The introduction phase is the most intense part of the diet because it eliminates the most foods. It's called the "gut healing phase" and can last from three weeks to one year, depending on your symptoms.

This phase is broken down into six stages:

During the introduction phase, the diet requires you to introduce foods slowly, starting with small amounts and building up gradually.

The diet recommends that you move from one stage to the next once you are tolerating the foods you have introduced. You are considered to be tolerating a food when you have a normal bowel movement.

Once the introduction diet is complete, you can move to the full GAPS diet.

Summary: The introduction phase is the most restrictive phase of the diet. It lasts up to one year and removes all starchy carbs from your diet. Instead, you'll eat mostly broth, stews and probiotic foods.

The full GAPS diet can last 1.52 years. During this part of the diet, people are advised to base the majority of their diet on the following foods:

Followers of the diet can also eat moderate amounts of nuts and GAPS-recipe baked goods made with nut flours.

There are also a number of additional recommendations that go along with the full GAPS diet. These include:

While on this phase of the diet, you should avoid all other foods, particularly refined carbs, preservatives and artificial colorings.

Summary: The full GAPS diet is considered the maintenance phase of the diet, and lasts between 1.52 years. It's based on animal fats, meat, fish, eggs and vegetables. It also includes probiotic foods.

If you're following the GAPS diet to the letter, you'll be on the full diet for at least 1.52 years before you start reintroducing other foods.

The diet suggests that you start the reintroduction phase after you have experienced normal digestion and bowel movements for at least six months.

Like the other stages of this diet, the final stage can also be a long process as you reintroduce foods slowly over a number of months.

The diet suggests introducing each food individually in a small amount. If you don't note any digestive issues over 23 days, you may gradually increase your portions.

The diet doesn't detail the order or the exact foods you should introduce. However, it states that you should start with new potatoes and fermented, gluten-free grains.

Even once you're off the diet, you're advised to continue avoiding all highly processed and refined high-sugar foods, retaining the whole-foods principles of the protocol.

Summary: This stage reintroduces foods that are not included in the full GAPS diet. You are advised to still avoid foods high in refined carbs.

The diet's founder states that the most important aspect of the GAPS protocol is the diet.

However, the GAPS protocol also recommends various supplements. These include probiotics, essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes and cod liver oil.

Probiotics

Probiotic supplements are added to the diet to help restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

It's recommended that you choose a probiotic containing strains from a range of bacteria, including Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and Bacillus subtilis varieties.

You're advised to look for a product that contains at least 8 billion bacterial cells per gram and to introduce the probiotic slowly into your diet.

Essential Fatty Acids and Cod Liver Oil

People on the GAPS diet are advised to take daily supplements of both fish oil and cod liver oil to ensure they are getting enough.

The diet also suggests you take small amounts of a cold-pressed nut and seed oil blend that has a 2:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids.

Digestive Enzymes

The diet's founder claims that people with GAPS conditions also have low stomach acid production. To remedy this, she suggests followers of the diet take a supplement of betaine HCl with added pepsin before each meal.

This supplement is a manufactured form of hydrochloric acid, one of the main acids produced in your stomach. Pepsin is an enzyme also produced in the stomach, which works to break down and digest proteins.

Some people may want to take additional digestive enzymes to support digestion.

Summary: The GAPS diet recommends that its followers take probiotics, essential fatty acids, cod liver oil and digestive enzymes.

The two key components of the GAPS dietary protocol are an elimination diet and dietary supplements.

The Elimination Diet

As yet, no studies have examined the effects of the GAPS dietary protocol on the symptoms and behaviors associated with autism.

Because of this, it is impossible to know how it could help people with autism and whether it is an effective treatment.

Other diets that have been tested in people with autism, like ketogenic diets and gluten-free, casein-free diets, have shown potential for helping improve some of the behaviors associated with autism (4, 5).

But so far, studies have been small and drop-out rates high, so it's still unclear how these diets may work and which people they may help (6).

There are also no other studies examining the effect of the GAPS diet on any of the other conditions it claims to treat.

Dietary Supplements

The GAPS diet prescribes probiotics to restore the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

Although the impact of probiotics on the gut is a promising line of research, there is currently little evidence in this area as it relates to the neurological conditions that the GAPS diet is claimed to treat (7, 8).

More high-quality studies are required before researchers can say whether bacterial strains play a role in the development of autism, and if so, who might benefit from probiotics (8, 9, 10).

The GAPS diet also suggests taking supplements of essential fats and digestive enzymes.

However, studies to date have not observed that taking essential fatty acid supplements has an effect on people with autism. Similarly, studies on the effects of digestive enzymes on autism have had mixed results (11, 12, 13).

Overall, it's not clear whether taking dietary supplements improves autistic behaviors or nutrition status. More high-quality studies are needed before the effects can be known (14, 15).

Summary: As yet, no scientific studies have examined the effects of the GAPS protocol on autism, or any other condition the diet claims to treat.

The GAPS diet is a very restrictive protocol that requires you to cut out many nutritious foods for long periods of time.

It also provides little guidance on how to ensure your diet contains all the nutrients you need.

Because of this, the most obvious risk of going on this diet is malnutrition. This is especially true for children who are growing fast and need a lot of nutrients, since the diet is very restrictive.

Additionally, those with autism may already have a restrictive diet and may not readily accept new foods or changes to their diets. This could lead to extreme restriction (16).

Some critics have voiced the concern that consuming large amounts of bone broth could increase your intake of lead, which is toxic in high doses (17).

However, the risks of lead toxicity on the GAPS diet have not been documented, so the actual risk isn't known.

Summary: The GAPS diet is an extremely restrictive diet that may put you at risk of malnutrition.

Most people who try the GAPS diet are children with autism whose parents are looking to cure or improve their child's condition.

This is because one of the main claims made by the diet's founder is that autism is caused by a leaky gut, and can be cured or improved by following the GAPS diet.

Autism is a condition that results in changes to brain function that affect how the autistic person experiences the world. Its effects can vary widely, but, in general, people with autism have difficulties with communication and social interaction.

It's a complex condition thought to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors (18).

Interestingly, studies have noted that up to 70 percent of people with autism also have poor digestive health, which can result in symptoms including constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, acid reflux and vomiting (19).

Untreated digestive symptoms in people with autism have also been linked with more severe behaviors, including increased irritability, tantrums, aggressive behavior and sleep disturbances (19).

A small number of studies have found that some children with autism have increased intestinal permeability (20, 21, 22).

However, the results are mixed, and other studies have found no difference between intestinal permeability in children with and without autism (20, 23).

There are also currently no studies that show the presence of leaky gut before the development of autism. So even if leaky gut is linked to autism in some children, it's not known if it's a cause or a symptom (24).

Overall, the claim that leaky gut is the cause of autism is controversial. Some scientists think this explanation oversimplifies the causes of a complex condition.

Moreover, the leaky gut explanation is not currently supported by scientific evidence.

Summary: Leaky gut is sometimes seen in some people with autism. However, there is currently little evidence that leaky gut causes it.

Some people feel they have benefited from the GAPS diet, though these reports are anecdotal.

However, this elimination diet is extremely restrictive for long periods of time, making it very difficult to stick to. It may be especially dangerous for the exact population it's intended forvulnerable young people.

Many health professionals have criticized the GAPS diet because there are no scientific studies that support its claims.

If you are interested in trying it, make sure you seek help and support from a medical professional.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Authority Nutrition.

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What Is the GAPS Diet and Does it Work? - EcoWatch


Aug 14

Miranda Kerr’s personal trainer reveals the one diet that made his … – The Independent

New York-based Victoria's Secret model trainer Justin Gelband may not agree with London's fitness fads, but he was impressed with the local food scene on a recent visit to the capital.

"The food [in London] is better than in America," Gelband told Business Insider.

Gelband trains some of the most famous Victoria's Secret models, including Miranda Kerr, Candice Swanepoel, Irina Shaik, Karlie Kloss, and Martha Hunt.

In June, he spent two weeks teaching at BXR London, a luxury boxing gym in Marylebone.

Though exercise is central to his brand, Gelband said that body maintenance is not just about working out. "85% percent of what you do is what you eat," he said.

Gelband does not recommend juice diets as a way to lose weight. (iStock)

Many nutrition experts have stressed the importance of healthy eating habits as a faster way to achieve your fitness goal than simply focusing on exercise.

"In order to lose a kilo of fat you would probably have to run two marathons," Michael Mosley, author of the "5:2 diet" and the "Clever Guts Diet," told Business Insider in a video interview. "In many ways it is obviously much easier simply to reduce the amount of calories you eat rather than trying to run them off because you have to do so much exercise to burn calories."

There is no one-size-fits-all diet, Gelband admits, though he's a fan of the Paleo Diet, also known as the "caveman diet." The regime is mainly based on foods that were around in the stone-age, such as fruit, vegetables, roots, and nuts.

On the other hand, the Victoria's Secret model trainer is cautious about juice-only diets, especially if people are using juicing as a method to shed pounds.

"At Fashion Week some models went on a juice diet and didn't tell me," Gelband said. "Not one lost weight, some actually gained weight. That got me in big trouble."

In a typical juice cleanse or diet, you dramatically reduce your calorie intake, which can lead the body to hold onto to extra calories.

Registered dietitian Ilyse Schapirohe told Eat This: "Once you stop eating enough food to meet your basic energy requirements, your metabolism will slow. For most people, that threshold of calorie intake is around 1,200 calories per day.

She explained that at this point your body goes into conservation mode -- or starvation mode -- because it doesn't know when its next meal is going to be. Going too low for too long, like more than a couple of days, can have the opposite effect, Schapirophe told the website. In this mode your body can start clinging on to every calorie it can get.

"There's a time and place for juice fasting -- just not for weight loss," Gelband said. "If you're on a yoga retreat in Bali, you're meditating and doing yoga and you want to drink juices because you don't want any heavy foods in your body, that's fine," he added.

Gelband said he has "a gift" for whipping Victoria's Secret models into shape, but that he "makes them eat. "Food is key to energy," he said. "They're not bean poles."

For fitness inspo, or just to watch him work his magic on some of the world's most famous supermodels follow him on Instagram @justingelband4u.

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How much the best paid workers in 20 professions earn Seven outdated mens style rules that you can now ignore 16 skills that are hard to learn but will pay off forever

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Miranda Kerr's personal trainer reveals the one diet that made his ... - The Independent


Aug 13

Our Complicated Relationships With Dieting and Weight: Readers Share Their Stories – New York Times

My mother started me on diets when I was 12 and barely overweight. I would lose weight and gain it back and then more. Finally, I gave up. I dont diet. I try to eat a varied diet and not go overboard on anything. I exercise. What I dont do? I dont put up with being treated like garbage anymore. I fire doctors who treat me poorly. I live my life. I go on vacation. I wear a bathing suit in public. I dont worry if people see me eating a doughnut. Being thin will never make me happy, but not caring about other peoples opinions has been the greatest gift Ive ever given myself. Alexis, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Some readers shared that they will always be fighting their weight.

A few years ago, I lost 50 pounds. Every day of that journey was effort, but looking back, that was nothing compared with the struggle of every day since then. It was like discovering that you could run a marathon, and then at the finish line realizing that every day for the rest of your life, you had to keep running that marathon pace. Every day I will have to keep managing a chronic situation and keep having to make choices. It can be draining. Larry, Palo Alto, Calif.

I counted every calorie. I took up running, and then triathlons. I ran 13 miles at a stretch, hours of working out a day. But the weight kept rising. I became depressed. I was so upset and angry and heartbroken that no matter how hard I worked, no matter what I did, the weight kept creeping back up. So I ran more. I added more weight training. When my body broke down, I switched to yoga and hiking. The weight kept creeping back, faster and faster. If I was going to work so hard and feel so bad, what was the point? I still dont have answers. Im still seeking them. But I will tell you what Im tired of: being made to feel bad about myself, or lazy, or undisciplined, when I know how hard Ive worked. Robyn, Asheville, N.C.

Other readers said that even after losing weight, the stigma surrounding their bodies endures.

When you lose 100 pounds, people will comment, congratulate you. They will frequently tell you how much better you look, because previously you looked horrible, unprofessional, like you didnt care or memorably that you looked like a cow. These compliments reveal exactly what people thought of you before your weight loss. When the yo-yo goes back up, you dont forget these comments because you now know exactly what people think of you. You think of all that you have achieved in your life, and you wonder why your weight loss is the thing that gathers the most comments. Janet, Bel Air, Md.

Years ago, I lost about 50 pounds. Even when I could shop in the normal-people stores, I couldnt see the weight loss when I looked in the mirror. When you spend your whole life wishing, hoping and trying to become a different person, you sort of expect your heart and mind to change along with your body. And they dont. At least they didnt for me. I still saw a girl with tree-trunk legs and a flabby stomach who wanted to eat ice cream for breakfast. That was two or three Weight Watchers memberships ago. Emily, Salt Lake City

When I came home after weight loss, I was surrounded by food and by a culture that didnt like someone who ate almost nothing and exercised constantly. My family and friends who pitied me for being fat were off-balanced somehow by my extreme weight loss. I lost friends, a boyfriend and a job. I was no longer the passive, helpful fat girl so used to accommodating everyone elses need. I was the assertive, even demanding woman who wanted a new life. Jean Renfro Anspaugh, Fairfax, Va.

For many readers, the toughest battle has been mental rather than physical.

In 2008, my brother was killed in Iraq, and I ate it. I ate all of it. I soothed the rage with Coke Slurpees. I choked down lo mein as if I might digest the insatiable grief. I gained 35 pounds in four months and then I started Weight Watchers online. I was strict all week, eating cottage cheese and green peppers for lunch, then Id binge on pizza all weekend. Sunday nights Id write in my journal: Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. Ive been high, clutching my protruding hip bones at 132, and Ive been low, frantically stroking my double chin at 175. I substituted the pain of my brothers unjust, unnecessary death with the chase of numbers and flesh. America promised my brothers death was a great sacrifice: tragic, but productive. I ate until America could promise my own body was tragic, in unproductive ways. Samantha, Columbus, Ohio

One night, I was trying to sleep but found myself going over my caloric intake of the day over and over in my head, planning my meals for the next day to balance out a cookie I had had that day. When I realized how problematic this was, I decided to quit calorie counting cold turkey. I stopped tracking my food altogether and deleted the MyFitnessPal app on my phone. Unfortunately, my mind was so well trained at that point that it only made my anxiety worse. Unable to see my calories on my iPhone screen, I would constantly be adding up the content of my meals, so much so that I couldnt concentrate on school and found myself dazed when with my friends. Now I try and think about my disordered eating as something separate from me. I work hard every day to squash the monster. Sofie, San Francisco

Im a registered dietitian, and weight loss is an area of my profession I avoid, to be honest. Because I dont have answers. I strongly believe that cutting calories results in weight loss. I also recognize that this strategy is hard to act on and maintain, creates unhealthy relationships with food and exercise and can often cause more harm than good. I know the years I spent losing and then regaining weight may have hurt my metabolism. I know I have disordered thoughts left over from seeing food as harmful. But I feel more confident that I can (and am working to) fix my relationship with food. On the other hand, Im not sure I can ever remove the damage of being the fat girl. Katie, Durham, N.C.

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Our Complicated Relationships With Dieting and Weight: Readers Share Their Stories - New York Times


Aug 12

Pet Points: Therapeutic diets can be lifesavers for pets – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pet owners have many choices when buying dog and cat food. Some are basic foods providing an economical choice that is nutritionally complete; others are premium or super-premium foods. This trend will continue as owners seek the best nutrition available for their pets.

Pet nutrition has come a long way. As a veterinarian, I see significantly fewer problems with urinary tract stones than when I first started in practice. Dry, flaky skin that was common years ago is less so now.

There also are therapeutic diets that require veterinary supervision. My second Bernese mountain dog, Vern, had abnormal kidney values that I noticed when he was neutered. The problem increased over the next few months, and I thought we were going to lose him. After a medical work-up that including a kidney biopsy, he was diagnosed with renal dysplasia.

We gave him medication that controlled his high blood pressure and started a special kidney diet with low total protein and a high-quality protein component. He lived longer than average for a Bernese mountain dog.

Special veterinary diets are also used for pets predisposed to bladder stones. These foods are formulated to help prevent and even dissolve some types of stones.

My cat Daisy vomited all the time. Her weight and blood chemistry were normal, but clearly something was wrong. After consultation with a feline specialist, we tried a high protein/low carbohydrate diet designed for diabetic pets. It worked like a charm, and she lived a long happy life.

Diarrhea is a common complaint in pets, but it will usually self-correct in a few days. We always check a stool sample in these patients and sometimes treat for parasites. Often a special diet is prescribed for the short, or even long, term.

Chronic loose stool also can be a big problem. Before an involved medical work-up with endoscopy and biopsy, we try a therapeutic high-fiber diet. Diets that are very low in fat may be used for pets that are prone to pancreatitis.

A pet with a food allergy may benefit with a super purified, limited antigen diet. Changing the protein fraction may help control itching and intestinal distress. Older dogs or dogs that have seizures may benefit from new diets that are designed for improving brain health.

My current dog, Millie, began limping as she aged, so I started her on a new diet designed for joint health. It has worked so well that I have yet to give her any medication for pain.

High-calorie pudding-type diets can help pets that have a feeding tube or need supplemental feeding while recovering from illness. Weight loss foods are used for pets at unhealthy excessive weights. Used incorrectly, these diets can be problematic, but with veterinary supervision, they can be lifesavers.

While commercial food is appropriate for the majority of pets, therapeutic diets can be a tremendous benefit for those who have specific needs.

Lawrence Gerson is a veterinarian and founder of the Point Breeze Veterinary Clinic. His biweekly column is intended to educate. Consultation with a veterinarian is necessary to diagnose and treat individual pets. If you have a question youd like addressed in Pet Points, email petpoints@post-gazette.com. Please include your name and municipality or neighborhood.

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Pet Points: Therapeutic diets can be lifesavers for pets - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Aug 12

Is Santino Rice’s 111-Day Juice Fast Healthy? – Healthline

The former 'Project Runway' contestant embarks on an extended juice cleanse. However, experts say these detoxes aren't healthy and aren't necessary.

Juice cleanses, detoxes, and fasting are just some of the health trends promoted by celebrities.

Santino Rice may have just taken things to the next level.

The former Project Runway contestant announced on Twitter that he intends to embark on a 111-day juice fast.

My fast involves drinking as much organic cold-pressed juice and water as I need, Rice tweeted.

An extended juice fast will reverse heart disease, diabetes, and various autoimmune diseases, he wrote.

But nutrition experts say Rices planned diet could be potentially dangerous.

Detoxification diets are very popular especially with celebrities like Rice, and even Beyonc. Detox diets claim to help the body to release toxins and excess weight, Lauri Wright, PhD, assistant professor in the department of community and family health at the University of South Florida, College of Public Health, told Healthline.

So do detox diets work and are they safe?

Bottom line: These diets have no scientific foundation and can be harmful, she said.

Fruit and vegetable juices can contribute to a healthful diet overall. However, juice alone does not provide all the essential nutrients needed for health. Juice contains no protein and is also lacking important vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium. Because of this, juice cleanses are not healthy, Wright added.

Despite the popularity of detoxification diets, they arent really necessary.

The body naturally cleanses toxins through the liver and kidneys.

Fasting doesnt achieve this and, in fact, can cause more harm than good, experts say.

Rice claims three days of just water will allow your body to heal.

But Dana Hunnes, PhD, a senior dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, argues Rice does not really know what he speaks of.

Three days of just water can lead to protein catabolism (muscle loss), potentially ketosis for some individuals, which is when we start using fat and muscle for energy in the brain, and could also lead to some potential electrolyte imbalances, Hunnes told Healthline. The only circumstance where this could be an OK idea, is if you are about to undergo a gastrointestinal surgery, and you have been expressly guided by your physician to take in nothing but certain liquids for three days.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, there isnt any convincing evidence that detox or cleansing programs actually remove toxins from your body or improve your health.

In addition, any weight loss achieved on a detox diet may just be due to having a low-calorie diet.

Despite popular belief that detox diets can reset the body, Wright argued that cleanses or detox diets can actually have negative health consequences.

Detox diets that severely limit protein or that require fasting can result in fatigue. Long-term fasting can result in vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Colon cleansing, which is often recommended as part of a detox plan, can cause cramping, bloating, nausea, and vomiting, she said. Dehydration also can be a concern. For diabetics, fasting while taking diabetic medication can cause their blood sugar to drop dangerously low.

These types of diets [cleanses and detoxes] aren't a good long-term solution. For lasting results, your best bet is to eat a healthy diet based on fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean sources of protein, she added.

So why do so many people, like Santino Rice, say they feel an improvement after a detox diet?

According to the Mayo Clinic, it may in part be due to eliminating highly processed foods that have solid fats and added sugars.

If you do want to embark on a detox diet, Hunnes said the healthiest way to do so is to eliminate all processed foods, eliminate all salt and added sugars, and eat whole plant-based foods.

As for taking health advice from Santino Rice and other celebrities, both Hunnes and Wright advised against it.

I think it is very dangerous for a public figure to be so blas about such a potentially dangerous topic, Hunnes said.

It is an abuse of status when celebrities promote diets and foods that are not evidence-based and can do harm, Wright added.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Quick fixes and villain foods dont work, Wright added. Health comes from lifestyle choices whole foods, fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins combined with physical activity. For an evidenced-based, individualized plan for a healthy lifestyle, consult a registered dietitian.

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Is Santino Rice's 111-Day Juice Fast Healthy? - Healthline


Aug 12

Does Fasting Work? – Study Breaks

Theres no escaping the cruel, foremost rule of weight loss: You must eat less, or move more.

This archaic, unforgiving reality is shaped by the laws of thermodynamics themselves, and in an age where food is plentiful, along with lifestyles that require far less activity, this rule has become the bane of dieters everywhere in the current generation.

At least, it was, until it somehow became trendy to effectively starve yourself.

To be fair, thats a bit of a hyperbole when it comes to fasting for weight loss, the most popular methods of which include intermittent fasting or alternate day fasting (where periods of low/no food intake are followed by periods of the dieter proceeding to gorge themselves), but it should already be somewhat obvious that such an approach has some prominent, potentially devastating pitfalls.

In the simplest of terms, and from the perspective of the exceedingly popular intermittent fasting schedule, these diets consist of a minimum of sixteen hours of fasting followed by a sort of feasting phase. Simple, yet effective for weight loss, but is this due to any sort of magic? No, the simple fact of the matter is that it is much easier to eat over three thousand calories during the course of an entire day (and night, for those with the dreaded habit of sleep-snacking!) than it is to consume even two thousand calories during a period of four hours.

First, to get my bias out of the way, along with some of my background, I am looking at this from the perspective of someone whos spent a lot of time spent researching both nutrition and clinical psychology. I have followed such approaches myself during the height of their resurgence, spending a full two years on an intermittent fasting style diet with two meals consumed in a four-hour window, so I have a fair amount of experience to go along with the information that I have gathered on the subject, and the summation of my experiences has led me to one single conclusion: This type of diet is an effective tool for some, but potentially disastrous for others, and highly unsustainable for most.

Those are strong words, indeed, but the promoters of such diets typically make some extremely radical claims. From the seemingly obvious conclusion of dramatic weight loss, to some who would even go so far as to claim that such a lifestyle can cure or prevent chronic illnesses such as cancer or diabetes, its important to point out the other side, which poses some very real dangers.

The first risk that needs addressing is that this type of diet, which is haphazardly recommended to just about anybody nowadays as if it were some sort of holy grail or fountain of youth, is that those with predisposition toward unhealthy eating patterns or mental illnesses should steer clear of such drastic approaches in general. Throughout my experiences working with those who have struggled with eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, following such a diet can quickly turn into a scapegoat, just one of many excuses to cover up a relapse, or the replacement of one disordered eating pattern with another.

The other real risk here affects even those with no predisposition or history for either mental illness, or disordered eating patterns (though it could certainly be argued that willing to embark on such a drastic change in diet can be considered being predisposed to disordered eating patterns) and that is the risk of the dieter falling off the wagon, so to speak.

Simply put, eating massive amounts of food in a single sitting while completely abstaining at all other points throughout the day is not socially acceptable, and I would argue that such a practice should never become acceptable, as it would essentially be normalizing a very precarious binging and purging cycle that has already taken the lives and happiness of so many across the globe.

Social norms and stigmas aside, it goes against human nature itself to force back hunger pangs all day when food is so plentiful, and there is no real reason why the pendulum needs to swing so far from eating too much, too far too little. It takes a hefty amount of willpower to follow such a schedule, and those who are able to fast for specific purposes such as religious activities are highly deserving of our respect for this reason among many others, but to expect this cycle of self-sacrifice to be sustainable for the average dieter is unrealistic.

Whats worse is the fact that, while such a diet may indeed prove to be extremely effective for the period of time that it is used, it teaches the dieter absolutely nothing about making nutritious food choices supportive of their desired healthy lifestyle, and it teaches them nothing about the most essential aspect of long-term weight maintenanceportion control.

Does fasting have its benefits? Certainly. There is some preliminary evidence that shows periods of fasting to be highly beneficial for our bodies by mimicking the longevity benefits seen with research on caloric restriction over the long term, along with the fact that so many of those who fast find the experience itself to be both spiritual and energizing in nature.

Those benefits aside, however, the risks and sacrifice necessary to make what was meant to be a short-term experience into a full-blown lifestyle far outweigh the rewards, which can be achieved through a simple, healthy diet composed of whole, unprocessed foods.

In summation, the fasting craze is not entirely undeserving of its spot in prime-time television and magazines, but in the end, its just thatthe latest craze where whats old is suddenly new again.

In a world full of people looking for quick fixes, these drastic approaches have a tendency to seem like the holy grail, but the unfortunate truth of the matter is that when it comes to true health and wellness, both physically and mentally over the long term, there are no quick fixes.

Fast if you wish, but keep this as food for thought. Youll need it when the magic finally vanishes.

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Does Fasting Work? - Study Breaks


Aug 12

Poor? Uneducated? Here’s why you should skip the Mediterranean Diet – The Mercury News

Weve long heard that the Mediterranean Diet is how all of us should eat. The diet, inspired by the coastal cuisine of such countries as Greece, Italy and southern France, is characterized by its abundant portions of fruits and vegetables, frequent meals of fish and poultry, use of olive oil and spices for seasoning, and red wine in moderation. Red meat and butter are limited, and grains are mostly whole.

The diet has been studied for its effects on heart disease, weight loss, cancer, Parkinsons and Alzheimers diseases. And its arguably a more pleasurable way of eating than, say, the strict Paleo and Ketogenic diets, or the faddish but not necessarily effective low-carbohydrate diet.

But it wont work if youre poor.

Thats the latest finding from a team of Italian researchers, who studied 18,000 men and women over a four-year period. They found that the Mediterranean Diet reduced the risk of heart disease by 15 percent but only for people who made more than approximately $46,000 a year. There were no observed cardiovascular benefits for people who made less than that amount.

The study, which was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, also found that highly educated people who may be likely to have higher incomes did better on the diet, in part because they selected a wider variety of vegetables and were more likely to eat whole grains. The more varied a persons diet is, the more types of nutrients they consume. Highly educated participants were also more likely to buy organic food.

The study found that higher-SES subjects tend to consume more organic vegetables which can contain higher concentrations of antioxidants, lower concentrations of cadmium and a lower incidence of pesticide residues, as compared with conventionally grown foods. We might then speculate that the quality of the bundle of foods that make up the MD actually differs across SES.

So, it doesnt just matter that you adhere to the tenets of the Mediterranean Diet it matters what kind of foods you pick within its framework, how that food was grown and how you prepare it. The findings will inevitably contribute to the ongoing discussion of food inequality, or how access to healthful food is a tenet of social justice.

We have long known that poorer Americans lack access to nutritious food and full-service grocery stores. They are more likely to rely on processed or fast foods. One recent study found that this nutritional gap is widening.

Price is a major determinant of food choice, and healthful foods generally cost more than unhealthful foods in the United States, that study said. It also found a link between education and healthy eating, suggesting that programs to teach low-socioeconomic status people how to choose and prepare cheap healthy meals and the benefits they can derive from such choices are important.

And thats what the Italian research teams takeaway is. These results support the need to adopt more effective strategies aiming to reduce socioeconomic disparities in health, not only by promoting the adoption of healthy eating patterns but also by facilitating access to foods with higher nutritional values, they wrote.

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Poor? Uneducated? Here's why you should skip the Mediterranean Diet - The Mercury News



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