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Sandor Katz, David Quammen and Antonia Trichopoulou will be among the experts involved on the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto platform.

A good diet and an active lifestyle are the best way to ensure a long, healthy life. Whats more, choosing foods made using methods that preserve agrobiodiversity and have a low impact on the climate crisis is the most effective and concrete individual everyday action we can all take to protect the planet.

Those are the principles on which Slow Food has based its work to understand and show how the secret to the health and well-being of individuals, the community and our planet lies in our everyday food. Slow Food believes that the global production system of highly processed foods is the cause of many public health problems, like obesity and malnutrition, around the world. Instead, an approach based on a healthy, pleasure-filled way of eating is not only good for us, it also helps protect the already fragile state of the planet by contributing less to biodiversity loss and the climate crisis.

The Slow Food network has long been active in food and taste education, with initiatives around the world like school canteen projects, school food gardens and campaigns. Slow Food is working hard to increase consumer awareness about health-related issues and to change the food system and food policy in order to ensure everyone can access good, clean and fair food.

Since 2019, this work has been organized more formally, offering anyone who is interested all the tools they need to orient themselves in the subject, available in different languages and at different levels of depth. Articles, interviews, stories about Slow Food Communities, tips for a climate-friendly diet, in-depth topic explorations, scientific studies, videos, online conferences, podcasts: a treasure trove of content, the result of extensive research at the Italian and international level and contributions from the worldwide network, coordinated by the international movement and made possible by the support of Reale Mutua, an Official Supporter of Slow Food Italy. Visit the Food and Health section of the website to find out more.

Starting on January 30 and continuing for a month, there will be a special focus on food and health on the Terra Madre Salone del Gusto platform. Conferences and food talks will feature names like David Quammen talking about the loss of biodiversity and zoonosis, internationally renowned fermentation guru Sandor Katz and Antonia Trichopoulou on the Mediterranean diet and natural food production. Read on for a taste of the program:

January 30 at 11:00 CET

To participate you need to register

here

The nutritional value of the Mediterranean diet is widely recognized by researchers and scientists. At the base of its food pyramid are large amounts of fruit and vegetables, bread and pulses, less animal proteins and more vegetable proteins, and daily consumption of extra-virgin oil as a seasoning. But is it sufficient to talk about bread in general? Are all oils the same? What are the best choices for our health? Are all fruit and vegetables as good as each other, or should we take into account the way theyre grown? Do hybrid and native breeds have the same nutritional characteristics?

Slow Food believes we have to go beyond a simplistic conception of the Mediterranean diet and pay more attention to the quality of the foods we eat, and their effects on our bodies. We should ensure that our food is natural, meaning it should be cultivated with respect for natural resources, and without the use additives, preservatives, starters, colorants, antioxidants, industrial yeasts.

Discussant: Antonia Trichopoulou, MD, PhD, President of the Hellenic Health Foundation and Professor Emeritus, School of Medicine, University of Athens.

With:

Moderator: Nina Wolff, Acting Chairwoman of Slow Food Deutschland

Event languages: IT, EN, FR

February 5 at 18:00 CET

To participate you need to register

here

The effects are being felt in every country around the world, where it has put a strain on human health as well as our economic and social well-being. The outbreak of the pandemic and its devastating consequences have reaffirmed the importance of radically changing our lifestyles and food choices, as they have a massive impact on our health and that of the planet. Scientists, together with the World Health Organization, see the decline of biodiversity as one of the main causes for the spread of new contagious diseases. The struggle to protect biodiversity is crucial: it is the only way to ensure the survival of the human race and indeed the countless other species on that call this planet home.

Can we deal with malnutrition by protecting and promoting biodiversity? Will biodiversity help us preserve the health of ecosystems? What role can policy play in promoting sustainable food systems and healthy diets?

Slow Food will release and discuss its position paper on food and health during the conference.

The conference and the position paper are organized with the support of Reale Mutua.

Event languages: IT, EN

With:

The dialogue will be moderated by Andrea Pezzana, MD, PsyD, Slow Food scientific advisor and contact person for Food and Health. The conference will open with a Food Talk of David Quammen, focusing on the relationship between the loss of biodiversity and the outbreak of zoonoses.

(All Food Talks are available in their original language, with subtitles where necessary).

Jessica Fanzos Food Talk, The Well-Being of the Planet and People, is also part of the Food and Health program within Terra Madre Salone del Gusto, and can be viewed here.

Is it true that eggs are bad for you, and if you stop eating them youll reduce your cholesterol? Is salmon really the best addition to a low-calorie

diet and a good source of omega-3s? Are there equally delicious alternatives that are better for the environment and our health? These and many other questions will be answered in an animated series produced by Slow Food to expose some of the fake news around food and health.

Common beliefs around eggs, salmon, dairy products, meat and light foods will be explored using simple language and illustrated by animated drawings and subtitles, explaining how with a little bit of care, we can make more conscious choices that are better for our health, the environment and even our wallets!

What is the best investment in immediate pleasure that ensures future health? Simple! The secret to a good, clean and fair diet lies in balancing a range of quality foods in our weekly diet and dedicating a little more time and care to food shopping and what we do in the kitchen. Its easier to do than you think! Slow Foods booklet, What Should We Eat? Weigh Your Options! is a great place to start.

Continue reading here:
FOOD AND HEALTH: A MONTH OF THEMED EVENTS - Slow Food International

As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, the need to support your immune system arguably becomes even more urgent. Yet, there are a few habits you may be doing each day that are working against your body's ability to fight off viruses and even certain diseases.

Of course, there are factors that are out of our control (such as older age) that can hinder immune function. This makes it all the more important to focus on the things we can address now to prepare our immune systems for the worst-case scenario later. (Related: The One Vitamin Doctors Are Urging Everyone to Take Right Now).

The experts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health recently published the Healthy Living Guide 2020/2021, and from it, we extracted seven key factors that can depress your immune system.

Habits you have more control over

Eating a diet that's predominantly made up of processed foods andlacking fresh fruits and vegetablescan weaken your immune system. Processed foods are often either high in saturated fat or loaded in added sugars. Sometimes, they're high in both of those things, and consuming them in excess (and over time) can lead to chronic inflammation in the body, which can tax the immune system.

For more, be sure to check out: Here's Exactly How a Plant-Based Diet Can Protect You From Disease, According to Experts.

As the experts at Harvard point out in this year's guide, lack of sleepor rest, in generalcan hinder the body's ability to fight off infection. As we sleep, a cytokine (which is a molecule that is crucial for immune function) is released that helps to fight infection. So, cutting your sleep short can then decrease the number of cytokines and other important immune cells.

Hint: There are several foods and diet changes that may help you to improve your sleep.

Many of us look forward to having a glass of wine, whiskey, or beer at the end of the workday. But, drinking too much can negatively impact your immune system, too. More specifically, alcohol can impair or suppress the normal activity of immune cells, say Harvard experts.

Try to limit your alcohol consumption to just one drink each day, if not cutting it down to just three or four days a week.

According to the CDC, not only can smoking cigarettes harm the immune system by and making it less successful at fighting disease, but it can also compromise its equilibrium, increasing the risk for several autoimmune disorders.

Chronic stress can silently wreak havoc on your immune system. Stress, which releases the hormone cortisol, can suppress the inflammation necessary to activate immune cells and, as Harvard experts point out, the action of white blood cells. White blood cells, also known as lymphocytes, help to fight off infection, as per the Cleveland Clinic.

As the experts at Harvard point out, having obesity is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation. Adipose, or fat, tissue produces adipocytokines, which can promote inflammatory processes.

"Research is early, but obesity has also been identified as an independent risk factor for the influenza virus, possibly due to the impaired function of T-cells, a type of white blood cell," the experts write.

Working to shed excess weight could potentially tack years onto your life.

Now for the one that you can't always prevent or control

This isn't a habit. For some people, chronic diseases such as autoimmune disorders are unavoidableno matter how healthy they eat or how many hours a week they spend exercising. Many times, people are born with an autoimmune disease, or they develop it later in life without warning. Some of these disorders can attack and potentially disable immune cells, Harvard experts point out.

For more, be sure to read25 Late-Night Habits That Are Ruining Your Weight Loss Efforts.

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7 Habits That Are Hurting Your Immune System, According to Harvard | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

The brain is the most complex organ of the body. It regulates multiple bodily functions, interprets incoming sensory information, and processes our emotions. It is also the seat of memory, intelligence, and creativity.

Although the brain gets plenty of exercise every day, certain activities may help boost brain function and connectivity. This in turn may help protect the brain from age-related degeneration.

The brain is always active, even during sleep. However, certain activities can engage the brain in new ways, potentially leading to improvements in memory, cognitive function, or creativity.

This article outlines 22 brain exercises that may help boost memory, cognition, and creativity.

Meditation generally involves focusing attention in a calm, controlled way. Meditating may have multiple benefits for both the brain and the body.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, research suggests that meditation may benefit the brain by slowing brain aging and increasing the brains ability to process information.

Visualization involves forming a mental image to represent information. The mental image may be in the form of pictures or animated scenes.

A 2018 review notes that visualization helps people organize information and make appropriate decisions.

People can practice visualization in their day-to-day lives. For example, before going shopping, people can visualize how they will get to and from the grocery store, and imagine what they will buy when they get there. The key is to imagine the scenes vividly and in as much detail as possible.

Playing card games or board games can be a fun way to socialize or pass the time. These activities may also be beneficial for the brain. A 2017 study found a link between playing games and a decreased risk of cognitive impairment in older adults.

Memory card games test a persons short-term memory and ability to remember patterns. They are a simple and fun way to engage the brain and activate areas related to pattern recognition and recall.

Crossword puzzles are a popular activity that may stimulate the brain. An older study from 2011 notes that crossword puzzles may delay the onset of memory decline in people with preclinical dementia.

Completing a jigsaw puzzle can be a good way to pass the time and may also benefit the brain. A 2018 study found that puzzles activate many cognitive functions, including:

The study concluded that doing jigsaw puzzles regularly and throughout life may protect against the effects of brain aging.

Number puzzles, such as sudoku, can be a fun way to challenge the brain. They may also improve cognitive function in some people.

A 2019 study of adults aged between 50 and 93 years found that those who practiced number puzzles more frequently tended to have better cognitive function.

A 2016 meta-analysis notes that chess and other cognitive leisure activities may lead to improvements in:

A 2015 study found that there is a connection between regular participation in checkers or other cognitively stimulating games and larger brain volume and improved markers of cognitive health in people at risk of Alzheimers disease.

A 2015 review notes that some types of video games such as action, puzzle, and strategy games may lead to improvements in the following:

Enjoying company of friends may be a mentally engaging leisure activity and may help preserve cognitive function. A 2019 study found that people with more frequent social contact were less likely to experience cognitive decline and dementia.

Some social activities that may help stimulate the brain include:

Learning new skills engages the brain in different ways and may help improve brain function.

A 2014 study of older adults found that learning a new and cognitively demanding skill, such as quilting or photography, enhanced memory function.

Increasing ones vocabulary range is a great way to broaden knowledge while exercising the brain.

A simple way to increase vocabulary is to read a book or watch a TV program and note down any words that are unfamiliar. A person can then use a dictionary to look up the meaning of the word and think up ways to use the word in a sentence.

Bilingualism refers to the ability to speak two languages.

A 2019 review notes that bilingualism increases and strengthens connectivity between different areas of the brain. The researchers propose that this enhanced connectivity may play a role in delaying the onset of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia.

A 2018 study published in Brain Sciences found that listening to music a person enjoys engages and connects different parts of the brain.

The researchers propose that this may lead to improvements in cognitive function and overall well-being.

Learning an instrument exercises parts of the brain that are responsible for coordination.

According to a 2014 study, playing an instrument may benefit cognitive development in a young brain and help protect against cognitive impairment in an aging brain.

Taking up a new hobby can be mentally stimulating and exercise the brain in new ways.

Hobbies that require coordination or dexterity will activate a persons motor skills. Such hobbies may include:

Regular physical exercise is beneficial for both the brain and the body. Authors of a 2019 review note that exercise improves the following aspects of brain health:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exercise has beneficial effects on the following aspects of cognitive health:

Dance is a form of exercise that may also engage areas of the brain involved in rhythm and balance.

Certain sports are both physically and mentally demanding. Some require a range of cognitive skills, such as:

A 2019 review notes that elite athletes who participate in high demand sports tend to have improved attention and faster information processing speeds.

Tai chi is a form of physical exercise that involves gentle body movements, rhythmic breathing, and meditation.

A 2019 study compared brain function and connectivity among tai chi practitioners and those who did not practice it.

The researchers found that the tai chi practitioners had enhanced connectivity between different regions of their brain. They proposed that this may improve cognition and decrease the rate of memory loss.

While not necessarily an active exercise, sleep is crucial for both the brain and the body.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night, although many people get less sleep than they need.

A 2015 review notes that sleep has been proven to:

As such, making sure to get enough sleep each night is an important step toward maintaining a healthy brain.

Brain exercises can be as simple as actively engaging the brain in everyday tasks. Others are targeted workouts for the brain, specifically designed to enhance memory, cognition, or creativity.

Exercising the brain may help improve brain function and boost connectivity between the different areas. This may help protect the brain from age-related degeneration.

People are likely to differ in terms of the brain exercises they find most enjoyable. It may be a good idea to try a range of brain-training activities at first and to stick with those that provide the most enjoyment or reward.

View original post here:
Brain exercises: 22 ways to improve memory, cognition, and creativity - Medical News Today

A persons nails can say a lot about their overall health, while changes to the nails may suggest an underlying issue that needs treatment, such as nail psoriasis or Raynauds disease.

The curving of the nails does not always indicate a cause for concern, but it may be a good idea to consult a doctor. If changes to the nails accompany other symptoms, it is important to seek care promptly.

In this article, we describe types of nail curving and other nail changes that may need monitoring. We also explore some possible causes.

Some or most of the nail may curve outward, away from the nail bed. For example, a person may have one of the below conditions.

With spoon nails, the nails become so soft and curved that they can hold a droplet of water. Doctors often refer to this as koilonychia.

This issue may occur in newborns, but it may resolve without needing treatment. In other cases, and in people of other ages, koilonychia can indicate health issues, such as iron-deficiency anemia.

This involves the thickening of the tissue underneath the nail, causing the fingertips to become rounded and the nails to curve over them.

Doctors believe this results from increased blood flow to the fingertips. It can run in families and may be harmless, but it may be due to a health condition, especially if it occurs later in life.

Nails that curve far inward at the sides are called ingrown nails. This condition may affect the toenails and be due to wearing shoes that are too tight, particularly in the toe box.

Ingrown nails may also result from cutting the nails improperly. In some cases, treatment may involve removing part or all of the nail.

The nails may become crumbly or brittle due to:

Small dents and pits may also appear in the nails, which may result from:

Curving of the nails sometimes stems from an underlying health issue. This may be temporary, such as a fungal infection, or chronic, such as psoriasis. We explain some of the common causes below.

Iron helps maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails, while an iron deficiency may be due to:

Some common symptoms besides curved nails may include:

Treatment for iron deficiency anemia may involve:

About 90% of people with psoriasis develop the condition on their nails at some point. Besides curving, symptoms may include thickening and shallow or deep holes in the nail.

Treatment may involve:

This rare disorder affects the arteries, causing them to periodically narrow and block blood flow to specific body parts, usually the fingers or toes.

As a result, the fingers and toes may:

Treatment for Raynauds may involve managing stress or taking medication, or rarely, undergoing surgery. However, there is no cure.

This genetic disorder causes the body to absorb too much iron from the diet. While a person typically has around 1 gram (g) of iron in their body at any time, this condition can cause a buildup of 5 grams or more.

Besides curved nails, symptoms may include:

Hemochromatosis can damage the liver, heart, and pancreas. Without treatment, people may show signs of iron toxicity in their 30s, and the disease may be fatal.

Management involves the regular removal of blood until iron levels are within a normal range.

Dietary changes may also help. Learn more here.

This chronic disease can cause trigger inflammation and pain in any area of the body. About 1.5 million people in the United States have a form of lupus, while systemic lupus erythematosus is the most common type.

Symptoms of this autoimmune disorder can flare up and recede. Beyond curvature of the nails, they can include:

Treatment generally focuses on suppressing the immune system with medications.

It may be worth speaking with a doctor about persistent, noticeable changes to the nails. It is especially crucial for a person to consult with a healthcare professional if other symptoms are present.

A doctor will identify the underlying issue and advise on the best course of treatment.

Changes to the nails, such as curving, sometimes result from an underlying health issue requiring treatment. However, these changes are not always a cause for concern.

If curving of the nails occurs with other symptoms, a person should seek medical treatment.

Read more here:
Curved nails: Causes of spoon nails and curved tips and sides - Medical News Today

As a Patriots fan, it's going to be a weird, uncomfortable and somewhat bitter experience watching Tom Brady compete in his 10th Super Bowl -- the first not in a New England uniform. I'll forever be grateful for Brady's contributions to a dynasty that spanned nearly my entire childhood, and of course I want the best for him ... he's provided so much joy for me as a sports fan. Still, it's always hard to see an ex thriving after a separation, you know?

But since Brady is Super Bowl bound and one of my strongest personality traits is an ability to punish myself at any given opportunity, my bosses here at CBS Sports thought it would be a good idea for me to embrace this personal crisis. What better way to prepare for the uncomfortable experience of watching Brady in Super Bowl LV than by living the TB12 lifestyle for a week leading up to the game?

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For those unaware, TB12 is Brady's lifestyle brand built around his method of living that has allowed him to find an unparalleled level of sustained success at the NFL level. Exercise, nutrition, expensive pajamas ... it's all part of the Brady method. For this experiment, we're going to focus on the diet and pliability aspects of the TB12 method, and I'll be documenting my experiences along the way.

And for the record: I used to live a somewhat respectable lifestyle of my own before the world shut down last March. I used to work out frequently, attempt to eat well and at least make a casual effort to pretend that I take care of myself. However, over the last year or so, my brand has essentially become cigarettes, cheap beer, frozen pizza, marathon video game sessions and deteriorating hygiene. This project from my bosses may very well be an intervention masked as a "work assignment," so let's see how it goes.

There's a good chance you've already heard about Tom Brady's absurd diet. The checklist of things he can't/won't eat is seemingly longer than the things he can/will. Here's a glimpse at the insanity from Brady's personal chef:

"No white sugar. No white flour. No MSG. I'll use raw olive oil, but I never cook with olive oil. I only cook with coconut oil. Fats like canola oil turn into trans fats. ... I use Himalayan pink salt as the sodium. I never use iodized salt.

[Tom] doesn't eat nightshades, because they're not anti-inflammatory. So no tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms, or eggplants. Tomatoes trickle in every now and then, but just maybe once a month. I'm very cautious about tomatoes. They cause inflammation.

What else? No coffee. No caffeine. No fungus. No dairy.

The kids eat fruit. Tom, not so much. He will eat bananas in a smoothie. But otherwise, he prefers not to eat fruits."

Yeah, so it's safe to say I won't be following Brady's diet exactly as the quarterback does -- I'd rather decline the assignment and be unemployed. However, I'll be following the loose outline provided by the TB12 website. Here's a basic outline of the rules:

As I mentioned off the jump, this a drastic change from my natural way of living, so I had to knock out a quick food shopping trip in order to prepare. I figured my local Trader Joe's would be the best play for a lot of the organic meats and vegetables, and then I filled in some of the blanks with a trip to Stop & Shop.

We've hit an annoying road block already, as I figured yogurt & granola would be a good way to make the nuts and seeds bearable. Turns out I'm an idiot who forgot that yogurt is dairy, and also an idiot who didn't realize that granola has a ton of sugar in it? God, this sucks already. I also decided to try some "green juice" simply because it looked healthy and seemed like something I'd be involved in while on this diet. It tastes like rain water collected in a yard waste bag and I will not be doing that ever again.

I had a palm-sized portion of chicken (cooked in coconut oil) for dinner along with some spinach, carrots and cucumbers for dinner. Not exciting but, honestly, it was solid. The bigger issue is that I got hungry again and sort of broke the rules on the first day already, as you're not supposed to eat anything within three hours of going to bed. I had celery and almonds as a late night "treat" to settle the hunger. You know your life is in a pretty lame place when you have to feel guilty about eating celery and almonds.

Also, this is so much water to drink. I can't stop peeing.

Okay, I'm not going to lie ... I had a banana for breakfast and then I completely skipped lunch because I simply didn't want to eat any of this healthy crap. That's how diets work, right? It seems like I'm on the way to losing weight one way or another.

The water thing is still absolutely killing me. I always knew that I never drank enough water throughout the course of a day, but I feel like I'm drowning myself by drinking this much water. I'm bloated and I feel like I could legitimately be popped like a water balloon.

I finally got hungry enough to make another one of these meals for dinner, and I definitely overcompensated. I once again had some seasoned chicken and an absolute boatload of vegetables. Like, way too many vegetables. Look at how stupid this looks:

Yeah, about that whole "eating until you're 75% full" thing ... may have overshot the landing a little bit. I also dropped a bunch of carrots on the floor while taking them out of the fridge. And, yes, I did cheat by eating two pieces of chocolate late last night (OK, fine ... it was four pieces of chocolate.) This is completely going off the rails already.

And, for the sake of full transparency, I am farting. A lot. Still trying to figure out if that's the diet's fault, but it is rather concerning.

See original here:
TB12 Diet Diary: What it's like to live like Tom Brady for a week - CBS Sports

Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.

What are your favorite foods? Pizza? Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Potato chips? Ice cream? Are any fruits or vegetables on your list?

Would you say that you have a healthy diet? Do you make an effort to eat healthy foods and avoid or limit unhealthy ones? Has the pandemic made it harder for you to eat healthy?

In 5 Ways Teens Can Get More Fruits and Vegetables Into Their Diets, Christina Caron writes about how parents can help their children to improve their eating habits:

If youve been watching your teenager devour processed foods like potato chips, chicken nuggets or sugary cereals and drinks, you are not alone. Comfort food has been especially alluring during the pandemic, for parents and kids alike.

But according to a report released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this has been a problem for teens long before the pandemic: Most teenagers in the United States have not been eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Dietary guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommend that girls 14 to 18 years old should eat at least 1.5 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables each day and boys in the same age range should eat at least 2 cups of fruit and 3 cups of vegetables. But the new report, which presented survey data from more than 13,000 high school students across the country, found that in 2017, only about 7 percent of the students met the daily recommendations for fruit, and just 2 percent met the recommendations for vegetables.

Its really insufficient across all groups, said Samantha J. Lange, a research fellow at the C.D.C. and the lead author of the study.

Those percentages might even be lower, the researchers added, because the students may have overestimated the amount of fruits and vegetables that they actually ate. And of course the findings do not account for the ways eating habits may have changed in the pandemic, when many people have reported weight gain.

Ms. Caron shares five tips from nutrition experts for parents, such as find fruits and veggies that fit your budget and make meal planning a family affair.

The article concludes with a recommendation to teach your teen about the many benefits of healthy eating. Among other tips, she points out that:

Remote learning, the isolation of quarantine and the uncertainty of the pandemic have been especially challenging for teenagers. Research suggests that consuming healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, can help reduce anxiety and improve mood. Emphasizing this to your teenagers might provide a compelling reason for them to switch up their diet.

Students, read the entire article, then tell us:

Do you have a healthy diet? Tell us about your eating habits and preferences. How has the pandemic affected your eating? Do you agree with the author that comfort foods have been especially alluring this year?

How health conscious are you about the foods you eat? Do you pay attention to the fat, salt and sugar content in the foods that you eat? Do you consider the nutrition value of food when choosing a snack or meal?

A new report by the C.D.C. says that only about 7 percent of the students met the daily recommendations for fruit, and just 2 percent met the recommendations for vegetables. Do these findings ring true for your own eating habits? How many fruits and vegetables do you eat on average each day? Did the article persuade you to start eating more produce?

Ms. Caron writes that research suggests that consuming healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, can help reduce anxiety and improve mood. Does this resonate with your own experiences? Have you ever noticed how different foods affect your moods or behavior?

The article notes several barriers to eating healthy, such as the abundance of inexpensive and unhealthy food options in certain areas. What factors get in the way of you having healthier eating habits? What questions do you still have about healthy diets?

What do you think of Ms. Carons tips for parents? For example, she writes that when teenagers feel like they have some ownership over the process, they might be more likely to choose healthier options when deciding what to eat. Would that work for you? Do you help choose, shop for, or even prepare meals and snacks for you and your family? If not, do you want to start taking on that role? What other kinds of advice would you give to parents to help them improve their childrens healthy eating habits?

Would it be challenging for you to shift to eating more healthy foods? Why or why not? What is one way you can improve your diet?

About Student Opinion

Find all of our Student Opinion questions in this column. Have an idea for a Student Opinion question? Tell us about it. Learn more about how to use our free daily writing prompts for remote learning.

Students 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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Do You Have a Healthy Diet? - The New York Times

Old stories tell us about the tradition of giving lactating mothers the best meals in the house so they would make the best milk for the baby. The freshest vegetables and fruits, the best cuts of meat, bread just baked, were reserved for the lactating mother because her nutrition was anecdotally connected to the quality of the milk she produced, and mothers milk was believed to be the best nutrition a baby could receive.

Years later, research has shown, confirming what tradition claimed, that human milk is the optimal nutrition source for neonates and infants, and in this study researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a mechanism by which nutrition can modulate the beneficial composition of the mothers milk.

Mothers milk confers protection against both immediately life-threatening infant diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis, as well as later onset diseases in adults, like obesity, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard, Henry and Emma Meyer Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology and professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor and Texas Childrens Hospital. Scientific evidence suggests that what a mother eats while she is breastfeeding can modulate the beneficial composition of the mothers milk, but the underlying mechanisms involved have not been elucidated.

In previous work in both humans and primates, Aagaard and her colleagues found that what a pregnant woman eats during pregnancy can affect her childs lifelong metabolic health. In the current study they investigated the effect of the diet of a breastfeeding mother on the composition of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs).

Feeding the microbiomeThis was particularly exciting, since HMOs are basically inert substances to a mother or her baby. However, they exert their health benefits by acting as food or fodder to microbes both bacteria and some viruses. This appears to be a very interesting example where what we eat affects our microbes via an intermediate (the HMOs), which we make but dont directly benefit from. It gives us a fascinating glimpse into what we and others believe is a natural co-evolution process, Aagaard said.

These insights are important because it has been proposed that the establishment of a healthy microbiome in the newborn and infant influences lifelong metabolic health.

To determine how diet can affect the mothers HMOs, the researchers worked with Dr. Morey Haymond, professor of pediatrics-nutrition at Baylor. The team supplied breastfeeding mothers with all their meals in a controlled setting at the USDA Childrens Nutrition Research Center. The mothers consumed a particular diet for 30 to 70 hours. After a two-week washout period, the same woman ate a different diet also provided by the researchers.

The researchers carefully collected milk samples from each subject at these different time points including the diet switches. In this way, each woman could serve as her own control, something referred to as a cross-over trial design. This helped the researchers to control for the possibility of how individual women may vary one to the next in the amount of HMOs made, as well as the possibility of confusing microbes in the milk with environmental contaminants. The team analyzed the HMO and microbiome composition of the milk and gleaned clues as to the effect of the mothers diet.

We found that distinct maternal carbohydrate and energy sources in the diets we provided preferentially altered the milk concentrations of HMOs, and this was accompanied by changes in the metabolic capacity of the milk microbiome, said first author Dr. Maxim Seferovic, instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor working in the Aagaard lab. It is not that the maternal diet itself is directly affecting the microbes, but that the diet affects the microbes food, the HMOs, which in turn shape the functional capacity of the community of microbes in the milk that will be consumed by the baby. Interestingly, the changes in HMO occurred quickly, in a matter of 2 to 3 days, after the mothers changed their diet.

Potential effects for both the baby and the lactating motherThe researchers propose that the findings can have implications not only for the baby but also for the mother.

We propose that our findings can have potential effects on babys health and development, including the potential for promoting healthy gut integrity at the mucosal surface. HMOs feed certain microbial communities, and it has been suggested that the establishment of those microbial communities is probably important for neonatal development of brain function, said co-author Dr. Melinda Engevik, postdoctoral fellow in pathology and immunology at Baylor.

We speculate that having certain HMOs promotes the growth of certain microbes in the milk, which then pass to the baby and may promote healthy development.

One other exciting aspect of our study is the suggestion that HMOs seem to preferentially affect the growth potential of microbes that may also impart health risk or benefit for the mother. For instance, by shaping the community of microbes in the milk in ways that may favor the growth of certain beneficial microbes via the simultaneous exclusion of those that cause mastitis during breastfeeding, Aagaard said.

If not treated with antibiotics, mastitis, or the painful inflammation of breast tissue that typically involves an infection, prevents breastfeeding and can become a serious condition.

HMOs also can potentially prompt a healthy microbiome in other ways. For example, by feeding the good microbes, acting as a decoy that attracts and sequesters potentially dangerous microbes and by breaking down and producing nutrients that may benefit other microbes.

Find all the details of this work in the journal Nature Scientific Reports.

Other contributors to this work include Mahmoud Mohammad, Ryan Pace, James Versalovic and Lars Bode. The authors are affiliated with one or more of the following institutions: Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Childrens Hospital, University of California San Diego and National Research Centre, Cairo.

Find the complete list of financial sources for this work in the publication.

By Ana Mara Rodrguez, Ph.D.

Read the original:
Connecting the dots between lactating mother's diet, milk composition, microbiome and benefits of mother's milk - Baylor College of Medicine News

Highlights

South Indian actor and megastar Samantha Ruth Prabhu is still riding high on the critical acclaim she got for her movie 'Jaanu' that released last year, prior to which she starred in 'Super Deluxe', 'Majili', 'Oh! Baby' both the movies had a good run at the box office. In addition to her movies, Samantha is also known for her philanthropic ventures. She has also been very vocal for her love for animals. She chose to give up on meat a few years back and does not seem to regret the decision. She often shares her love for eating clean and local on her Instagram stories. In one of her stories, she also showed how she makes her own almond milk.

In one of her AMA sessions that took on place on Tuesday, she spilled the beans on her diet. When one of her fans asked if she was "vegan or plant-based", she answered "I am not vegan, I am plant-based.""You asked what's the difference ...I know I did too.. I dream to be vegan one day."

(Also Read:World Vegan Day 2020: Top 5 Vegan Recipes | Best Vegan Recipes)

Promoted

Veganism is a practice that focuses on eliminating all animal products, including milk and dairy. Plant-based diets may not necessarily eliminate all animal products, but the focus would definitely be on eating more plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts etc.In the fun AMA session she also revealed that she first joined the gym to "check out" her now husband Chay Akkineni, and spend more time together with him. Gradually, she also became passionate about fitness.

Her 2021 resolutions include sticking to a wholesome plant-based diet, make breath work, yoga and meditation a part of her daily routine and make sure she is happy, she revealed in the session.

(This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.)

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

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Is Samantha Ruth Prabhu Vegan Or On Plant-Based Diet? What's The Difference? - NDTV Food

Shannon McDaniel grew up playing just about every sport basketball, track, cheerleading and gymnastics. Her eating, though, didnt get quite the same attention. She simply wasnt raised in a home that focused on nutrition, she said.

Shannon McDaniel, owner and head coach at Iron Bridge CrossFit in West Ashley

Although McDaniel remained active into adulthood, it wasnt until she started CrossFit at age 40 that she really emphasized healthy eating. The mom of five kids ranging in age from 6 to 20 years old has seen firsthand the power of promoting good eating habits at home.

For example, her youngest son, whos been raised to value vegetables, will pick steamed broccoli over anything else on his plate, McDaniel said.

McDaniel and her husband, Donnie, own Iron Bridge CrossFit in West Ashley, where McDaniel is head coach and also runs the CrossFit Kids program. While she cant control what the kids in her classes are eating at home, she talks about nutrition and the importance of making healthy choices.

Healthy eating becomes a habit with practice

The kids see some of our athletes who are very healthy and in shape. They dont get that way just by working out, she said.

McDaniel highlights the importance of both exercise and a good diet a message that many fitness professionals, nutritionists and doctors preach nonstop. Its a gold standard for heart health and building those heart-healthy habits at a young age will follow children into adulthood.

Be a good role model

Janet Carter is program manager and lead dietician of the Heart Health program at MUSC Childrens Hospital. She urges parents to tap into their childrens natural enthusiasm for good health.

Janet Carter, program manager and lead dietician of the Heart Health program at MUSC Childrens Hospital

One thing Ive noticed in my entire career working with kids is that pretty much all kids have an innate desire to be healthy, Carter said. If I talk to kids in a school setting and ask, Do you want a healthy body? every child raises their hand. They dont even think about it.

Carter said parents can leverage their childs desire to be healthy by promoting health and wellness at home. Have conversations about why you picked a certain veggie-packed dinner and how to make nutritious choices. It helps your kids buy into eating well, Carter said.

First and foremost, parents have to be good role models themselves, Carter said. Parents may need to take a hard look at their own habits and make adjustments.

Your child wants your heart to be healthy too

Go on a flavor adventure

As parents are instilling good nutritional habits, Carter cautions against dinner table fights.

Forcing them to try something new is never really going to work, Carter said. It usually will cause them to be resistant in general.

Instead, she suggests setting a family rule that everyone has to try at least one bite of something new. Then, if your child doesnt like a particular food the first time they try it, dont take it off the list forever. Tastes change, so offer that food another time.

Always keep mealtimes positive, Carter said. If you ever start making mealtimes a battle or a fight, kids end up with disordered meal patterns.

Display new foods in a fun ways and try them as a family

Turn trying new foods into an adventure. With her own 3-year-old, shes taken a cue from the movie Ratatouille, in which the character tries the combination of cheese and fruit, calling it a flavor sensation. In her house, Carter encourages flavor sensations.

Physical activity is a must

When it comes to creating heart-healthy habits, exercise is just as important as healthy eating.

According to the American Heart Association, fewer than 50% of teens between 12 and 19 years old get enough physical activity each day to keep their hearts healthy.

Whats more important, the sun setting or the sun rising? Carter asks patients when they wonder if they should focus on diet or exercise. Both are so incredibly important. You cant really be as healthy as possible without working on both of them. That doesnt mean you have to be perfect. You dont want to have an all or nothing mentality.

Carter said kids should be moving their bodies as much as possible. Younger children dont necessarily need a formal exercise plan, but older children and teens should be getting their heart rate up for 30 to 45 minutes each day.

Any time youre moving your body, it helps, but getting your heart rate up improves cardiovascular health, she said. Thats what strengthens the heart.

Get the entire family involved in exercise

McDaniel preaches daily movement to her CrossFit Kids classes and to own her own children. Her 14-year-old son put on a few extra pounds during the quarantine.

So, she encouraged him to get moving take the dog for a walk, get into a CrossFit class two or three times a week, ride his bike to the bus stop.

Do something healthy every day. As a coach, I promote a healthy lifestyle even outside of class, McDaniel said. Its a lifestyle. Build healthy habits for the future.

Four pillars of good health

Working in family medicine, Dr. Marcus Salo said the increasing number of children and teens who are overweight is concerning. He points to the availability of processed food and lack of exercise as key contributors to the rising rates of obesity among young people.

The American Heart Association reports about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese. Children under the age of 13 that are overweight my start developing heart disease as early as age 25.

Learning negative habits can be difficult to overcome

The increasing rates of childhood obesity leads to increased risk of developing diabetes and cholesterol abnormalities and other vitamin deficiencies. It just snowballs, Salo said.

When conducting well-child visits, Salo counsels parents to focus on four pillars of health: diet, exercise, sleep and social engagement.

Most childrens diets are lacking in fruits and vegetables and fresh food, Salo said. Missing out on healthy fruits and vegetables can lead to deficiencies in iron, zinc and Vitamin B12, which are critical in children to encourage growth.

Salo also encourages regular cardiovascular exercise and getting that heart rate up to the point you cant have a full conversation.

An often-overlooked pillar of health is sleep. For growing children, sleep is vital for repairing damage to the body and for regeneration.

The rise in screen time has led to a decrease in the amount of sleep children and teens are getting. Salo said elementary and middle school children should be getting at least 10 hours of sleep for adequate regeneration.

Even though it may not seem to relate directly to a healthy heart, Salo encourages parents to pay attention to social and family dynamics. Children are developing their personalities and establishing good core values all part of full-body health.

Just as they would notice slipping grades as a cause for the concern, parents also should pay attention to early signs of weight gain.

Parents think kids will grow out of any weight issue they have. Thats not the case, Carter said. They dont grow out of an overweight situation. Science shows us that kids who are overweight or obese as a child or teen are much more likely to become overweight adults.

See the article here:
Heart health in kids starts in the home | Families | postandcourier.com - Charleston Post Courier

Research suggests that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects about 12 percent of people in the United States. The digestive symptoms can vary from person to person, but they can be seriously uncomfortable regardless of the individual.

There are a number of home remedies and medications that can help manage IBS symptoms like cramping, bloating, and diarrhea. Some research suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may also help.

Keep reading to learn about the basics of CBD and how it may help treat the gastrointestinal symptoms of IBS.

CBD is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. Unlike its close cousin tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD doesnt produce a high feeling. It also has fewer potential unpleasant side effects than THC, even if taken in large doses.

There are three different types of CBD:

Even though broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate have had the THC removed, theres a chance that any CBD product you take may have trace amounts of THC.

If you want to avoid THC altogether, or if you get drug tested, it may be best to avoid using CBD products.

While an IBS-friendly diet and stress relief can help reduce IBS symptoms, some people may want to try additional treatments especially during flare-ups.

Doctors sometimes prescribe medications for IBS, but some of these only target specific symptoms and may have undesirable side effects. If youre looking for something natural that might help with IBS, you may wonder about CBD.

Because there are cannabinoid receptors all over our body, including our stomachs, its possible that ingesting cannabis-derived products, like CBD, may help with digestive symptoms.

Studies have also shown that cannabinoids have anti-inflammatory qualities, something that might make them good at treating gastrointestinal disorders like IBS. However, studies from 2011 and 2012 on cannabinoids and IBS have specifically looked at the effect of dronabinol, a synthetic cannabis product that mainly contains THC.

One review from 2020 suggests that CBD may also have potential therapeutic benefits for conditions like IBS. However, more research is needed to confirm the link. Right now, theres just not enough evidence to firmly declare that CBD can help with IBS.

Theres no specific research about which type of CBD is best for IBS. That said, research suggests that taking THC and CBD together might be more effective than taking either alone this is called the entourage effect.

Because of this, full-spectrum CBD products might be better at easing symptoms than broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate.

As for product type, topicals wont be particularly helpful for IBS symptoms. Ingesting edibles like gummies and oils might be a better bet.

When shopping for CBD, whether for IBS or another concern, consider the following:

Buy from a company thats open and honest about where they source their hemp.

A quality product should come with an up-to-date, detailed certificate of analysis (COA) from a reputable third-party lab.

A COA lets you know whether the products potency actually matches whats on the label. Its also best to look for a COA that contains information about contaminant testing. That way, you can be sure the product has been tested for potentially harmful substances like heavy metals and mold.

Avoid companies that promise you the moon. Its not OK for companies to make claims that their CBD products cure ailments - not only because there isnt enough research to support this, but its also against Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules.

In fact, the FDA sends warning letters to companies that make false health claims. Checking the warning letter database can be a good way to steer clear of brands that have a poor reputation.

Full-spectrum products are thought to be more effective than other types, but they do contain small amounts of THC (no more than 0.3 percent).

If you prefer to avoid THC, opt for a product made with CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD. But keep in mind that any CBD product may contain trace amounts of THC.

Dosing varies a lot across CBD products, so always check the label to learn more about the potency. A higher potency might be the reason for a higher price tag but not always.

CBD dosing differs for everyone. Dont assume that what worked for a friend will solve your symptoms. You may need a higher or lower dose.

If youre just starting out, err on the side of caution and start with the smallest dose. Keep in mind that when ingesting CBD edibles, the effects may take a few hours to kick in. Only take more when a full 2 hours have gone by.

Do you need more help with figuring out how to dose CBD? Check out our CBD dosing guide.

CBD wont get you high and is generally considered pretty safe. Still, theres a possibility that youll experience side effects, such as:

The risk or severity of side effects may increase if you take CBD with a high fat meal.

Theres also evidence that CBD may interact with some medications. Be sure to talk with your doctor before trying CBD. This can help you avoid unpleasant side effects or drug interactions.

Want to give CBD a try? Here are a few products to get you started. Read about how we select CBD products here.

Theres growing research that suggests taking CBD may have health benefits, including anxiety and pain relief. However, the jury is still out on whether CBD can help with IBS symptoms.

Until we know for sure whether CBD helps with IBS, theres likely not much harm in trying it out. Just be sure to talk with your doctor before giving it a whirl. Some people may experience IBS-like symptoms, like diarrhea, when taking CBD.

Is CBD Legal? Hemp-derived CBD products (with less than 0.3 percent THC) are legal on the federal level, but are still illegal under some state laws. Marijuana-derived CBD products are illegal on the federal level, but are legal under some state laws. Check your states laws and those of anywhere you travel. Keep in mind that nonprescription CBD products are not FDA-approved, and may be inaccurately labeled.

Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When shes not click-clacking away on her keyboard, shes probably nose-deep in a good book.

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CBD for IBS: Research and Effectiveness - Healthline

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