Search Weight Loss Topics:

Page 67«..1020..66676869..8090..»

Home » How to lose weight safely » Page 67

All featured products are curated independently by our editors. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission.

Gluten-free food is everywhere these days, but if you dont have celiac disease, do you need to eat it? In honor of Celiac Awareness Month (and because the interest in GF everything doesnt seem to be waning), weve refreshed our guide to going gluten-freewhich also touches on why some people really shouldnt.

You cant shop the aisles of a supermarket, peruse a fast-casual restaurant menu, or scan a rack of food magazines without seeing it, the GF tag: gluten-free. No movement has consumed contemporary food like the gluten-free one, though keto may be coming close. Once a heavily restricted survival diet for those who suffered from celiac disease, gluten-free has become a mode of eating of choice for most of us, a way to battle mild to moderate wheat allergies weve only become aware of, cut down on carbs, or just to eat healthier, and with more intention.

Along with ubiquity comes easy adoption, or relatively so. Thanks to a host of food products, from raw ingredients like gluten-free flours to GF prepared foods, its possible to live a gluten-free lifestyle without major disruptions in your daily life. You can go out to eat (though if you do have severe gluten allergies, that can still be dicey), and cook pretty much the same types of foods you always did, without much in the way of major inconvenience.

Disclaimer: It was in 2016 that we wrote that, and in 2014 Sarah Henry covered the then-current state of the gluten-free movement for us; its safe to say, its even more mainstream these days (and GFF Magazine has outlasted Lucky Peach). So well say it again: Gluten-free is still the new normal. Or maybe just normal.

If you havent yet taken the plunge, going gluten-free does take some reflection, and vigilance. So herefor anyone thinking of taking up gluten-free eating for the first time, or being more conscious about gluten and its adjustmentswe offer this guide.

Getty Images / fcafotodigital

Gluten-free foods were originally prescribed for people with celiac disease, a serious genetic autoimmune condition that occurs when gluten causes the body to destroy its own intestinal lining. Celiac sufferers have no choice but to avoid gluten, since failure to do so can lead to serious complications, including cancer of the small intestine. (Scroll down for more information on CD.)

Thanks to a slew of high-profile advocates for the gluten-free lifestyleincluding Wheat Bellys William Davis and David Perlmutter, author of Grain Brain (not to mention various celebrities)a growing number of us believe we suffer from a less severe gluten intolerance, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), and that its the cause of maladies like joint pain, skin conditions, arthritis, and adrenal fatigue.

Because NCGS doesnt have a specific set of symptoms, doctors rarely diagnose it; some dont believe it even exists. Still, researchers say that as many as 18 million Americans could have some adverse reaction to wheat products, a problem attributed to everything from wheats changing genetics to FODMAPs, a group of carbohydrates that often cause abdominal pain and bloating.

If you have no adverse physical reactions to foods containing gluten, nutritionists advise against a restrictive diet, since it can do more harm than good. It makes you prone to having low levels of certain vitamins and minerals, and gluten-free versions of processed foods can be costly, and in some cases contain more fat, carbs, sugar, and sodium than their standard counterparts.

Gluten is kind of a catch-all name for particular types of proteins that are in many grains, including the most common types of cereal grains: wheat, rye, and barley, but also kamut, spelt, and other wheat relatives.

(Oats are technically gluten-free, but run into trouble from cross-contamination with wheat in milling facilities. Whats more, theres a protein in oats thats similar to the one in gluten and that can affect people with celiac disease. For nonceliac sufferers, it is now possible to buy oats that are certified gluten-freescroll down for more on what you can buy, and what to avoid.)

The combination of proteins that makes up gluten coalesces into an elastic network that gives structure to pasta, breads, and other baked goods. So far, so good. The difficulty comes from all the sneaky gluten lurking in unexpected foods, like some vanilla extracts you might pick up, unsuspectingly, at the supermarket.

Chowhound

Celiac disease, commonly referred to as CD, is a genetic disorder. When someone with CD eats food containing gluten (even small amounts), they experience an immune-mediated toxic reaction that afflicts the small intestine, preventing the food from being absorbed. Even if they dont experience immediate symptoms, damage to the small bowel can result. A recent study conducted by NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers suggests there may be a link between pesticides and celiac disease; the same study also cites chemicals in some nonstick cookware as potential triggers for CD in young girls (and celiac disease seems to occur at much higher rates in the female population in general).

If youre thinking of going gluten-free because you suspect you have a sensitivity to wheat and other grains, you should probably begin by talking to a health care provider. He or she might refer you to a gastroenterologist and/or require tests, which you should doits never a bad idea to check in with a doctor before changing your diet.

For more information on CD, check out the Center for Celiac Research, the Gluten Intolerance Group, and Beyond Celiac.

Chowound

You may be wondering: If a gluten-free diet is only truly necessary for celiac or NCGS sufferers, then why are so many people insistent that going gluten-free has helped them lose weight? Some researchers are quick to point out that there are no published reports showing that a gluten-free diet produces weight loss in people without celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. But take away gluten from an unprocessed diet, and youll find yourself eliminating starchy, refined grains like bread, pasta, cake, and other sweets. What youre left with are meats, seafood, beans, nuts, seeds, dairy, and fats, a preponderance of nutrient-dense foods that make you feel satiated more quickly, thanks to healthy fats and fibers.

Gluten-Free GroceriesThe Best Gluten-Free Snacks to Buy OnlineAccording to Shauna James Ahern, creator of the popular blog Gluten-Free Girl, wheat is where youll find gluten 90 percent of the time in the American diet. Along with types of wheat (barley, rye, triticale, kamut, spelt), look for wheat products referred to a number of different ways, such as durum, farina, graham flour, and semolina.

And while it may be obvious that gluten lurks in flour-based products like cake, cereal, breading, and pasta, you may not realize that its often present in chocolate, condiments, soft and hard candy, bouillon, soy sauce, and salad dressings, too. Even pills and vitamins sometimes use gluten as a binding agent.

So always read labels, and when in doubt, ask (especially when dining out).

When it comes to baking (and breading things), good replacements for wheat flour are no longer hard to come by. Companies like Glutino, Cup4Cup, and King Arthur Flour offer widely distributed flour substitutes. As an alternative, you can make your own gluten-free flour mix at home, and customize it however you want.

Chowhound

Related Reading: The Best Flour Substitute for Whatever Youre Baking or Cooking

Beware that wheat-free doesnt necessarily mean free of gluten, and some grains, like oats, are naturally gluten-free, but often contaminated with wheat during production, so look for a certified gluten-free label.

Beans, eggs, meats, seafood, and fruits and vegetables are all naturally gluten-free; make them at home, and you wont have concerns about wheat contamination. For a quick starch fix, rice, potatoes, and corn-based products like polenta make nice stand-ins for breads, noodles, and pasta (though plenty of gluten-free pasta options do exist now too).

With some exceptions, wines, spirits, and vinegars are gluten-free (but you should always double check, and beware of malt). And youre in the clear eating any of the following, as long as they havent been processed with other gluten-containing grains: amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, cornmeal, flax, rice flour, soy, quinoa, millet, rice, sorghum, tapioca, teff, xanthan gum, potato flour, chickpea flour, and plantain flour.

Grain-like plants that contain no gluten:

Gluten-free flours made from the above list, as well as those made from nuts (like almond flour), potatoes, plantains, beans, and coconut. Make sure theyre labeled gluten-free, to avoid cross-contamination.

Dairy products, including milk, butter, margarine, real cheese, plain yogurt, and ice creams (as long as theyre free of gluten-containing add-ins like cookie dough!)

Vegetable oils (including canola oil)

Plain fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, potatoes, eggs, nuts, nut butters, beans, and legumes (many of which are nutritionally dense superfoods)

Distilled vinegar

Mono and diglycerides

Spices (beware of blends and always read the ingredients list for hidden glutenbut if there are no ingredients listed, that means the jar contains only the spice or spices on the label)

Hard liquor and wine (almost always)

Wheat in all forms (spelt, kamut, triticale, durum, einkorn, farro, farina, semolina, cake flour, matzo, and couscous)

Barley and malt, which is usually made from barley, including malt syrup, malt extract, malt flavoring and malt vinegar

Rye

Breaded or floured meat, poultry, seafood, and vegetables, when the breading is made with wheat

Soy and teriyaki sauces (and any meat, poultry, or vegetables with a sauce or marinade that contains these); coconut aminos can be a good substitute

Foods fried in the same oil as breaded products

Licorice, which is made with wheat flour, and other candies containing wheat or barley (againget used to reading labels)

Beer is gluten-free when made from gluten-free grains. Beer made from barley processed to remove the gluten is not considered to be gluten-free. (Read more about the difference between gluten-free and gluten-removed beer.)

Flavorings are usually gluten-free, but in rare instances can contain wheat or barley.

Wheat starch is allowed in gluten-free foods if the wheat starch has been processed to remove the gluten protein.

Oats are considered safe on the gluten-free diet if they have been specially processed to prevent cross-contamination by gluten-containing grains. They should be specifically labeled gluten-free.

Processed cheese (spray cheese, for example) may contain gluten; real cheese is gluten-free.

Products labeled as wheat-free are not necessarily gluten-free. They could still contain spelt, rye, or barley-based ingredients. Another reason to always, always read the label, especially if gluten truly makes you ill.

You can find gluten-free recipes in tons of places these days, from cookbooks to blogs (and of course, on Chowhound), but you dont necessarily have to search for gluten-free in particularif you get familiar with which ingredients are safe and which ones arent, youll recognize that plenty of standard recipes are naturally gluten-free, or are easily made that way with minor substitutions. Because the paleo and Whole30 diets exclude gluten, any recipes with those labels should also be safe. Here are some basic gluten-free recipes to get you started and keep you satisfied, morning, noon, and night.

Slather these flaky biscuits with butter and jam, smother them in gravy, or serve them on the side of nearly any dinner (or breakfast) you like. Get our Gluten-Free Buttermilk Biscuits recipe.

A light brush of olive oil helps our homemade our Gluten-Free Pizza Crust recipe crisp up in the ovenbut for an easier option, our Cauliflower Pizza Crust recipe is also gluten-free.

Chowhound

A mix of four different flours gives these GF pancakes a similar flavor and texture to traditional ones. (Luckily, maple syrup is GF, but some pancake syrup can contain gluten in the form of malt.) Get our Gluten-Free Pancakes recipe.

Chowhound

Americas best-loved cookies go gluten-free. This recipe uses a mix of milk and semisweet chocolate chips, but if you love dark chocolate feel free to use bittersweet. Get our Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.

Chowhound

No flavor sacrificed in these GF chocolate treats. Get our Gluten-Free Brownies recipe.

Note: This article was originally published in 2016, and has been updated with new images, links, and text.

Header image courtesy of Shutterstock.

See the rest here:
Gluten-Free 101: Everything You Need to Know About Gluten & Avoiding It - Chowhound

Adele is retaining a friendly and flexible relationship with her ex-husband for the sake of her son.

According to People, the "Hello" singer and Simon Konecki are reportedly living across the street from each other following their divorce so they can be as supportive as possible to their seven-year-old son, Angelo Adkins.

"They are doing what's best for Angelo. Her son is her world," a source said.

While the current coronavirus pandemic is forcing most to stay at home in an effort to stop the spread of the novel virus, Adele is taking advantage of the opportunity to spend more time with her son.

This content is imported from Instagram. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

"She helps Angelo with schoolwork and cooks. She very much enjoys being a stay-at-home mom right now," continued the source.

Though fans are still awaiting new music from the superstar, whose last project was 2015's 25, Adele has managed to remain a trending topic. In recent months, she debuted a new, svelte physique, giving Twitter much to debate about. The singer's former personal trainer, however, insists that Adele's body transformation is due to her wanting to simultaneously better her mental and physical health, rather than merely lose weight for cosmetic purposes.

"Adele wanted to feel better, eat healthier and improve herself, not look a [certain way]. After she became a mother, she went all out to improve herself as a person," another source revealed to People. "Working out and sweating gives her energy. She feels mentally healthier."

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

Excerpt from:
Adele and Ex-Husband Simon Konecki Reportedly Live Across the Street from Each Other - HarpersBAZAAR.com

Olives, a savory Mediterranean fruit, are often cured and eaten whole as a tangy, salty snack. Many people also enjoy them on pizzas and salads or processed into oil or tapenade.

Theyre known for being rich in beneficial fats and are included in the popular Mediterranean diet, so you may wonder whether olives can help you lose weight.

This article explains whether olives aid weight loss.

Olives may affect your weight in a variety of ways.

Olives have a notably low calorie density.

Calorie density is a measure of the number of calories in a food relative to the foods weight or volume (in grams). In general, any food with a calorie density of 4 or more is considered high.

Whole black or green olives have a calorie density of 11.5.

Choosing foods with a low calorie density may boost weight loss, as these foods tend to help you feel full for longer and for fewer calories (1, 2, 3, 4).

Olives also boast healthy unsaturated fats, which differ from saturated and trans fats due to their chemical structure. All fats contain the same amount of calories, but unsaturated fats affect your body beneficially (5, 6).

In particular, replacing carbs and other fats in your diet with monounsaturated fats may reduce inflammation and decrease your risk of heart disease (7, 8, 9, 10).

Monounsaturated fats are found in foods like olives, nuts, avocados, and plant-based oils. Some research links diets high in monounsaturated fats directly to weight loss (11).

A 60-day study in 32 women compared diets high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats with normal diets. The diet high in monounsaturated fats resulted in weight loss of up to 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg), plus lower fat mass, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (12).

Furthermore, a large review of low calorie diets revealed that high fat eating patterns more often lead to weight loss than low fat ones (13).

The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole foods and seafood while limiting processed foods, may boost weight loss. Olives, olive oil, and other healthy fats are a key component of this diet (14, 15, 16).

Specific studies on this diet suggest that it may result in 14.5 pounds (2.210.1 kg) of weight loss (17, 18).

All the same, other studies dont directly associate it with weight loss (19).

Nevertheless, the Mediterranean diet appears to provide a wide range of health benefits, such as reduced blood pressure and waist circumference (19, 20, 21, 22, 23).

Olives have a low calorie density and are a good source of healthy fats, two factors that may boost weight loss by helping keep you full and replacing less healthy fats in your diet.

The nutritional profile of olives varies based on the type of olive and the curing method. Still, most are low in calories but fairly high in salt and beneficial fats.

The following chart examines the nutrients in 1.2 ounces (34 grams) of black and green olives. This serving provides approximately 10 small- to medium-sized olives (24, 25).

Depending on the size of the fruits, a serving of 10 green or black olives may contain 3595 calories.

Notably, olives are rich in polyphenol antioxidants, which fight harmful compounds called free radicals in your body. Theyre also believed to help reduce your risk of health conditions like diabetes and heart disease (26, 27).

Whole olives are low in calories but rich in polyphenols and healthy fats. They tend to be high in sodium.

Although olives have a low calorie density and may aid weight loss in several ways, its best to enjoy them in moderation due to their high salt content, as well as their overall fat content.

Furthermore, if you dont closely monitor portion sizes, olives calorie count can add up quickly.

To keep your saturated fat intake within the recommended guidelines, its best to limit your intake to 23 ounces (5684 grams) about 1624 small- to medium-sized olives per day.

Though olives may aid weight loss, theyre high in salt and fat and eating too many of them may offset your weight loss success. As such, you should moderate your intake, limiting yourself to a few ounces at most per day.

Olives are a scrumptious snack that boasts healthy fats and polyphenol antioxidants. Their low calorie density means that they may aid weight loss by helping you feel full.

All the same, you should control for portion sizes because olives calories can add up quickly.

This popular Mediterranean fruit makes a great replacement for any processed foods or high calorie snacks in your diet.

Originally posted here:
How Do Olives Affect Your Weight? - Healthline

Losing weight is never an easy battle. There is a lot of negativity which surrounds you and people who try to bring you down. Only when you realize that weight loss is something you do to improve your health and not otherwise, do the real changes happen. 25-year-old Diksha has a similar story to share and her weight loss journey is something which can inspire everyone:

Name: Diksha Singhi

Occupation: Communication Strategist & Body Positive InfluencerAge: 25

Highest weight recorded: 105 kilos

Weight lost: 23 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 1.5 Years

The turning point:

I have always been told that being fat 'doesn't look good' so I was always on the lookout for shortcuts to lose weight so that I would look appealing in front of others.

I started going to the gym when I was in class 3 or 4! Herbal drinks, liquid, fad diets or weight loss methods- I have done it all. Needless to say, nothing worked at all. Even if they did, the change was only temporary. This went on for 23 years when I sought validation from others.

It was only a vacation which put light on to things. Being an enthusiastic person I was, I wanted to go paragliding with my friends. However, it broke my heart when I found out that you need to be less than 90 kilos to be able to take part. I was 15 kilos overweight.

I knew I had to make changes now because I was losing things dear to me. So, while everyone told me to lose weight for the wrong reasons, I finally found the right one- to take care of my health.

My breakfast: Something light like poha, oats, besan chilla.

My lunch: Any green vegetable accompanied with chapaati.

My dinner: Dinners are usually protein-packed- lots of veggies with a source of carb.

I indulge in: Ice-creams, as I try to avoid sugar otherwise.

My workout: I workout for 5-6 days a week, 45 minutes every day, depending on my schedule. I usually do weight training coupled with a few HIIT exercises. Apart from this, I walk as much as I can.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Protein Pancakes, Yogurt Parfait, Spinach Zucchini Pasta, Beetroot Pulao

Fitness secrets I unveiled: Losing the first few kgs isn't difficult. It's only after you hit the plateau, further weight loss becomes difficult. This is when you need to be observant and make changes to your diet and lifestyle. Once working out and eating right is a part of you, there is no stopping you. Be consistent. Be flexible. Be disciplined.

Lastly, don't give up. We don't give up on the people we love, so how can you give up on yourself?

How do I stay motivated?As I said, when you change your lifestyle, it becomes easy after a while. On the days I lack motivation, discipline is what gets me going. Once I chart my progress, both physically and mentally, it gets easier to not stop.

How do you ensure you dont lose focus? I would be lying if I say I don't lose focus. I get distracted. But then I wake up and work on myself all over again. It's a continuous process. You learn as you grow.

Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? For me, I was always told that I didn't look good and I constantly faced body image issues. Some of the factors which forced me to change were:

-Being body shamed-The constant fear you don't look good.-The constant fear you will never find someone who will love you.-The stares & nasty looks you get when you try losing weight as if you should give up already.-The silent judgement when you pick something healthy to eat.-Being overweight was never about being unhealthy for others, it was always about how you look.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? To be healthy, physically and mentally. Preferably be the best version of myself every year and hopefully, even help people change their lifestyle in the journey.

What are the lifestyle changes you made? Not only did I change my lifestyle, but I also shifted from maintaining a negative to an enriching, positive attitude. I keep away from people who constantly try to bring me down, and even those who say "aaj aaj gym skip karle/ ek din khale, kuch nahi hota". (Skip the gym today and eat something, nothing would happen).

Another change I did is correct my sleep schedule. I sleep and wake up on time now.

Read the original:
Weight loss story: 'From 105 to 83 kilos, here's how I answered my body-shamers back' - Times of India

Popular singer Adele took the social media by a storm when she posted a gorgeous picture of herself in a black dress. In the post, the singer thanked everyone for their wishes and regards on her birthday. The post went viral on the internet as her fans were amazed by her massive weight loss.

As per various reports from media portals, the weight loss journey of Adele was fuelled by various factors, which included her divorce as well.

Read |Adele's Brand Value And Massive Net Worth Has Spiked Since Her Stunning Makeover; Details

A media portal revealed that the weight loss transformation did not happen for the singer overnight. Reportedly, Adele finds it amusing when people think it just happened. The singer had started this journey slowly a couple of years ago and it was a gradual and healthy process for her.

Read |What Is The Secret Behind Adele's Stunning Weight Loss? Find Out Here

A close source to Adele told a leading media portal that while her divorce was one of the reasons, it was only partial factor in singer making such a drastic change in her life. It was also reported by the same portal that Adele felt that more than anything else, it was about being healthy.

Moreover, Adele was aware that being in the entertainment industry, there waspressureto look a certain way. The media portal reported that this was one of the biggest reason why she embarked on the journey of weight loss. She started dieting and working out more and put her mind to it, hence eventually she achieved the drastic results.

As soon as Adele posted a picture showing her transformed self, fans and fellow celebrities flooded the post with comments and reactions. Many celebrities cheered for the singer and praised her for her constant efforts. There were some celebrities who seemed amazed at how drastic the change in Adeles appearance was. Check out some of those comments below.

Some of Adeles fans took to social media and expressed how inspiring Adeles journey to weight loss is. However, there were some fans who debated about body positivity and self-love. Check out some of those reactions as well.

Read |Adele's Before And After Weight Loss Pics Will Leave You Speechless, See Here

Read |Adele's Weight Loss Transformation Leaves Netizens Divided, Trainer Comes To Her Defence

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.

Read the original:
What inspired Adele to lose weight after divorce with Simon Koneckia? Read here - Republic World - Republic World

As the country begins to open back up following a curve in the current COVID-19 pandemic, some experts are warning there will be a second wave of the virus.According to a release, tts important for people to take measures to help protect their health from the deadly virus, as well as other harmful diseases. One thing people can do to help protect them from such harmful situations is to lose weight and maintain a healthy weight.

In fact, a study published in the April 2020 issue of theJournal of the American Medical Association, stated the top comorbidities that hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the New York City area were hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

We know that obesity plays an important role in recovery when it comes to having COVID-19, explains Robert Bob Posner, a world-renowned weight loss researcher and medical doctor who founded the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program. By losing weight, you will be able to address those risks, as well as the ones associated with hypertension and diabetes. Right now people should be taking measures to get their weight under control, so they are better prepared for a second wave of COVID-19.

According to a study published in the May 2020 issue of the journalCell Metabolism, diabetes status increased the need for medical interventions and the mortality risk of patients with COVID-19. The study looked at over 7,300 COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes and found that well-controlled blood glucose correlated with improved outcomes in infected patients.

While many people realize that obesity increases ones risks with a host of health problems, many people still struggle with the ability to manage their weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 42% of the adults in the country are considered obese, which his having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 30. Posner has spent years helping thousands of people lose weight by addressing the root cause of the problem.

Related:Clinical Nutrition at the Forefront in Post Pandemic World

To help inspire people to get healthy, Posner has been providing free webinars every two weeks. The webinars focus on helping people look at weight control in a positive way and find the deep-seated causes for why they struggle in the first place. The webinars are not political in nature, and avoid tactics to scare people, but instead focus on uplifting viewers and guiding them toward healthier lifestyles.

Many people think that losing weight is just about deprivation, but its really not, adds Posner. There is a root issue that must be addressed if the person wants to be successful with their weight loss efforts. Those who want to prepare for the second wave of COVID-19 should start exploring the root cause of their weight problems and take them on without delay.

Posner created his doctor-supervised weight loss program because he believes that discipline is not the reason people are unable to lose weight. Carbohydrate cravings are the reason people have weight problems, combined with anxiety and stress-related eating. They are all systems of physiological irregularity in the brain known as serotonin imbalance. He created the Serotonin-Plus Weight Loss Program based on this science, providing patients with a Food and Drug Administration-approved appetite suppressant, called phentermine, to help curb the hunger pangs.

With decades of medical experience under his belt, along with his free webinars, Posner offers telemedicine appointments, weight loss products, and more. He founded the Potomac Internal Medicine Associates primary care office in 1988 and the Serotonin-Plus, Inc. in 2002. He is has helped thousands of people to successfully lose weight, and is the author of three weight loss-themed books.

To learn more about him and the program, visit the site at: https://doctorbobposner.com/ or https://spdiet.com

Link:
How to Prepare For The Potential Second Wave of COVID-19 - Managed Healthcare Executive

What Are Fad Diets?

These diets work for a short period of time. The results are too fast in terms of either gaining weight or losing weight. However, the long term impact on health has proven to be not so beneficial. It has a number of different types of diets under it, each with varying advantages and disadvantages. They also have no scientific basis or dietary recommendations that come along with a basic diet.

We will see the effects of 4 such diets.

HCG or the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is a hormone that is present majorly during early pregnancy. It has been used to treat fertility issues in both men and women. The diet basically contains the consumption of around 500 calories per day and intake of HCG hormones via injections.

There have been cases of weight loss by this diet it increases the metabolism and makes you lose large amounts of fat, all this without feeling too hungry. On a factual note, some studies have proven that the hormone is not the reason behind the weight loss, instead, it is the extremely low-calorie intake.

Verdict: It is not safe to follow it. The hormone is not affecting anything in the body, instead, it will create more depression and fatigue.

This is the Gut and Psychology Syndrome Diet that probably treats the Leaky Gut Syndrome (an increase in the permeability of the gut wall). The GAPS Diet is taken to prevent the bacteria from entering into the blood which happens due to the leaky gut. This diet might just help in curing diseases like autism, dyslexia, and depression.

This is a diet that can continue for more than 2 years. Children suffering from those diseases mostly follow it. It involves cutting out grains, starchy vegetables, refined carbs, and pasteurized dairy. On the backside, this diet has not confirmed whether it can actually treat the diseases or not. More so, it is not even confirmed that the leaky gut can cause diseases like autism.

Verdict: Nothing has been proven scientifically and is thus unsafe. A very strict GAPS Diet can lead to severe malnutrition.

Reverse Dieting involves a gradual increase in the intake of calories after a period of dieting. It boosts metabolism. Bodybuilders are generally known for following this type of diet. The gradual increase in the diet helps in maintaining body balance and also not increase the weight suddenly.

There are many benefits to this type of dieting as it reduces your hunger, increases energy, and lets you eat more food. there are downsides too; the way to execute this diet is not very clear and is difficult too.

Verdict: It can be followed to a certain extent, however, more research is required for this type of diet. It is not so easy to follow it completely and the proof of its effectiveness is scarce.

If It Fits Your Macros Diet involves the calculation of macro-nutrients in your diet protein, fats, and carbohydrates. It keeps a track of how much of each one can eat in a day. A daily goal is set and the number of macros for it is calculated and tracked. This can be done online on various sites or there are manual calculations.

Exercise is recommended for this diet but is not necessary. A whole-foods diet can help in meeting the macro needs. Weight goals can be achieved with this diet.

Verdict: This diet is easy to stick to and is flexible. All foods are allowed in it. However, micronutrients are not accounted for and those who have some health conditions can be affected negatively.

More here:
FAD DIETS Are they worth your time, effort and hunger? Are they safe? Lets see. - Gizmo Posts 24

Makhanas, also called foxnuts or lotus seeds in English are mostly consumed during fasting, thanks to their strong nutritional value. Makhanas are an extremely popular ingredient of various recipes and make for a perfect snack for everyone, including weight watchers. Nutrition profileMakhanas are low in cholesterol, sodium and saturated fats and are good for your heart. They are a good source of magnesium, potassium, manganese, phosphorous and protein. This high nutrition value of makhanas makes them a perfect and healthy snack.

Being low in calories, makhanas promote weight loss, while their high calcium content makes them good for bones. These are also good in controlling blood pressure, detoxification of the body and improve digestive health. Not just this, here are 7 other health benefits of makhanasImproves heart healthThe low amount of sodium and high amount of potassium in makhanas help decrease the blood pressure in hypertension patients. The low sodium helps in keeping the blood pressure in check.

The magnesium in makhanas helps improve the quality of blood and oxygen in the body. Low magnesium levels in the body increase the risk of heart disease.

Strengthen your bonesWe all know calcium plays a big role in keeping our bones strong and healthy. Makhanas have a decent amount of calcium, which makes them perfect for strengthening your bones.

Promotes weight lossThe first thing we are advised to do when we plan to lose weight is to increase our protein intake. Makhanas are rich in protein, which keeps one full for longer. This in turn stops one from overeating later.

In addition to this, makhanas are low in calories, which makes them a perfect weight-loss snack. The least amount of saturated fats in makhanas make them even healthier.

Helps in controlling blood sugar levelsMakhanas are rich in protein and carbohydrate and are in low glycemic index making them good for people with high blood sugar. The glycemic index of makhanas is lower than that of several staple foods.

The high magnesium and low sodium content in makhanas make them the right food to fight obesity and diabetes.

Good for digestionThe high fibre content in makhanas helps improve one's digestive health. Including them in your daily diet can help improve the bowel movement. In fact, regular consumption can help improve digestion and keep constipation at bay.

Go here to read the rest:
7 amazing health benefits of makhanas - Times of India

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can lead to cancer. Patients can reverse the damage through diet and exercise, but how can they know if they have the common condition?

The doctor described the disease as very common and nothing to worry about, and Milton experienced no symptoms at the time. Eight years later, she received a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Then, in 2016, she felt pain in her upper right torso and underwent surgery to remove her gallbladder. During the procedure, her surgeon discovered that Miltons liver had a rough texture. He ordered three biopsies, which revealed advanced cirrhosis, or late-stage scarring of the liver. Eight days after the surgery, she was hospitalized because fluid was accumulating in her abdomen, leading to a 40-pound weight gain. She was experiencing ascites, a symptom of cirrhosis and impaired liver function.

Over the years, Miltons untreated liver disease had progressed to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an aggressive form of fatty liver disease that leads to liver inflammation and increasesthe risk of cirrhosis. In 2018, likely as a result of her progressive liver disease, Milton received the devastating news that she had liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma.

To treat the cancer, her hepatologist suggested transarterial chemoembolization, which blocks the blood supply to the tumor and infuses it with chemotherapy. Now her liver shows no signs of cancer, but she still experiences fatigue and frequent infections as a result of cirrhosis. Eventually, she will need a transplant, which is possible in a small minority of patients whose cancer has not spread beyond the liver or only affects certain portions of the organ.

I wish my doctor had explained 20 years ago that NAFLD is reversible, says Milton, 56. Just losing 10% to 15% of my body weight could have made a significant difference in reversing my fatty liver disease.

The urgent need to spread this message is gaining momentum nationwide because NAFLD is the fastest- rising cause of liver cancer in Western countries.

More than 42,000 people will receive a liver cancer diagnosis this year in the United States, and data suggests that more than 14% of cases will be associated with NAFLD. Alcohol-related cirrhosis is another major risk factor for liver cancer, but a third is becoming less of a threat: hepatitis B and C infections are causing fewer cases of liver cancer due to advances in antiviral therapies that reduced the progression of these conditions to cirrhosis. The risk factors for NAFLD include obesity, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, and researchers are still trying to understand why certain people with this disease progress to NASH, cirrhosis and cancer and others do not.

Findings from a new study also showed a 91% higher risk of developing several forms of cancer in people with NAFLD compared with those without the disease, with the highest risk associated with liver, pancreatic, stomach, colon and uterine cancers.

The researchers were interested in understanding whether the combination of obesity and NAFLD influenced cancer risk, and they found that people with a high body mass index (BMI) and NAFLD faced double the risk of cancer compared with people who were obese only. This raises questions about the impact of fatty liver, says study author Dr. Alina Allen, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. It could be a biomarker for cancer.

Cancer risk may increase in part because excess fat in the liver, known as steatosis, can stimulate inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins important in cell signaling,says Dr. Arthur McCullough, a hepatologist at Cleveland Clinic. This inflammation creates oxidative stress, which can cause alterations in cell growth and tumor suppressor genes, he explains.

Studies also suggest that the gut microbiome may be linked to NAFLD and NASH. We know that the nature of the gut bacteria in the intestines can have profound effects on liver function, says Dr. Scott Friedman, dean for therapeutic discovery and chief of the division of liver diseases at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Bacteria can produce different products that activate inflammation in the liver, and we are still trying to understand which bacteria and products produce liver injury.

EARLY DETECTION EFFORTS

Although the evidence linking NAFLD to cancer is sobering, researchers like Allen make it clear to the people they treat that fat and even scar tissue in the liver can disappear if patients lose weight, limit sugar and exercise more.

I think the reversibility of many forms of fatty liver disease needs greater attention in primary care settings, and we will make the biggest gains by educating the public, says Dr. Julia Wattacheril, director of the NAFLD program at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. Ive found that a significant number of patients lose weight when they are told that they have earlier stages of fatty liver disease that are most likely reversible.

She gathers details about a patients nutrition and exercise habits and discusses any barriers to implementing lifestyle changes. Some patients may not have a safe place to walk or experience food insecurity, which is why its so important to get a good history first, Wattacheril says. If needed, she can refer them to a nutritionist who provides education and guidance in developing a plan to make changes.

Early intervention is also the goal of a project led by Dr. Jessica Hawng, a professor of general internal medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In August 2019, her team received $2.4 million in funding from the Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas to screen 1,000 patients for liver cancer risk factors including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and alcohol use and metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. The participants are patients at Hope Clinic in Houston, a health center for low-income, uninsuredand underinsured people.

The patients will undergo a FibroScan with the ultrasound imaging machine that detects fat, stiffening (fibrosis) and hardening (cirrhosis) of the liver. The researchers will analyze the data to determine which risk factors predict fibrosis and then develop a risk tool to help primary care providers and specialists deter- mine which patients have a high likelihood of developing NAFLD and NASH.

The future of fatty liver disease hinges upon diagnosis, but right now there are no clear screening recommendations for physicians, Hwang says. We hope to change that problem with the risk tool that would be developed in our study.

A STEALTHY CONDITION

One of the challenges in the effort to reduce liver cancer is the fact that patients with underlying liver disease that can lead to cancer typically experience no symptoms until the disease has progressed. The earlier stages of liver disease usually get detected only if patients are having a liver blood test or an abdominal imaging test for some other health issue, Friedman says.

Tony Villiotti, 73, is trying to raise awareness about the silent disease because his NAFLD progressed to NASH, cirrhosis and ultimately liver cancer. In 2018, he founded NASH Knowledge, a nonprofit organization that provides information and resources related to liver disease, including a link to a documentary Villiotti produced to share his story. He got a diagnosis of NAFLD in 2005 at the age of 59, but his doctor didnt raise any concerns. He encouraged me to lose some weight, but I had been told that many times in my life, says Villiotti, who also has type 2 diabetes. I didnt realize high BMI could increase my risk of developing NASH.

After a routine blood test nine years later, Villiotti was told that his liver enzymes were highly elevated, and an MRI showed that his condition had progressed to cirrhosis. My first reaction was that cirrhosis was a drinkers disease, so I thought they had the wrong person, says Villiotti, who lives in Pittsburgh. I felt fine, and my diabetes was under control. He started seeing a hepatologist, who suggested that he consider getting a transplant, but Villiotti resisted the idea because he had heard that people with diabetes had difficulty tolerating the anti-rejection drugs.

In 2017, he was told he had liver cancer. He also started experiencing cirrhosis symptoms, including hepatic encephalopathy, or mental confusion caused by excess toxins in his blood. I had a foggy brain, so I couldnt drive or read a book, and sometimes I wandered around in the middle of the night, Villiotti says.

He was ready to join the national transplant waiting list but unsure whether he would get a donor liver before it was too late. In March 2018, his doctor called with the good news that a liver was available. Villiotti was weak for the first few months after the trans- plant, but now he has more energy than he had in 15 years.

I wish I had known more about this disease earlier, he says. Now Im trying to help others understand that they need to talk to their doctors about NAFLD.

EMERGING TREATMENTS FOR LIVER DISEASE

Research also suggests that, along with obesity, diabetes and high cholesterol, certain gene variations can increase the chances of developing fatty liver disease. One of the earliest studies that revealed a genetic risk was the 2008 Dallas Heart Study, which included 6,000 residents of Dallas County ages 18 to 65.

The researchers found that the PNPLA3 variant was associated with steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Forty-nine percent of Hispanics in the study had the gene compared with 17% of African Americans and 23% of European Americans, and these findings prompted researchers to explore drugs that target this variant.

Its important to understand that there may be other ancestry groups with undetected variants that have not yet been studied, Wattacheril says. Patients who are thin, seemingly fit and do not have diabetes may still be at risk of NAFLD. For example, South Asians and East Asians tend to accumulate fat in the liver at a lower BMI, yet these groups have not been studied systematically, according to Wattacheril. The need for longitudinal studies in diverse populations is critical, she says.

Standard treatments for liver cancer include surgery, transplant, embolization, radiation and medications such as chemotherapy or targeted drugs.

Doctors may also have a new option for treating patients who have NASH. Recent phase 3 clinical trial results were encouraging for participants who took Ocaliva (obeticholic acid), a drug that reduces inflammation in the liver. Participants took either a placebo or 10 or 25 milligrams of the medication daily for 18 months, and fibrosis improved more frequently in the groups that took the drug. Im excited about these results because many trials of other drugs targeting the liver have not worked, McCullough says.Even patients who progress to liver cancer have more treatment options than ever, says Dr. Ghassan Abou- Alfa, a medical oncologist specializing in liver cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, for example, block proteins that help tumor cells grow or form new blood vessels, and the Food and Drug Administration approved three of these medications to treat liver cancer within the past few years, and another in 2007.

In 2017, the agency approved the first immunotherapy treatment for liver cancer, Opdivo (nivolumab); Keytruda (pembrolizumab) got the OK a year later. Now we are finding that if you combine two forms of treatment, such as immunotherapy with a biologic or two immunotherapies, patients are having good outcomes, Abou-Alfa says.

Although the number of treatments is rising, hepatologists like Dr. Sonali Paul, of The University of Chicago Medicine, are eager to, when possible, prevent liver cancer from developing. Thats why education should start early, she says. NAFLD has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease among children and adolescents, which comes as no surprise to Paul, because the obesity epidemic also affects youth.

For now, there is no pill to treat fatty liver, and it is best to talk to patients about the risks before scarring takes effect, she says. If we explain to kids and adults that their livers are sick, they have a chance to change their eating and exercise habits for the long run.

The rest is here:
Reversing The Course Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Cancer Risk - Curetoday.com

By Roberta H. Anding, M.S., Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens HospitalEdited by Kate Findley, The Great Courses DailyIncreasing your bodys lean mass composition through strength training allows you to increase the calories you can eat without gaining weight. Photo by Day of Victory Studio / ShutterstockBest Exercise for Burning Calories

People often wonder what the best exercise is to burn the most calories. Professor Anding recommends choosing an exercise that you enjoynot something you read about in a book that is supposed to burn a lot of calories.

If you dont like to run, then you probably wont be able to sustain it. However, if you love working in your garden or playing golf, then you will likely keep up with that physical activity because it will be something you look forward to as opposed to something you do out of obligation.

The benefits of regular exercise far exceed controlling weight, especially if you were previously sedentary. Physical activity lowers blood pressure, improves your mood, and decreases your risk for heart disease.

The activities just describedrunning, golfing, and gardeningare all aerobic activities. Professor Anding recommends incorporating weight-training into your exercise regimen to maintain as much muscle mass as you can.

You need to burn 3,500 calories to lose a pound of body fat. If you burn 100 calories per mile walked, to lose one pound of body fat, youd have to walk 35 miles. The challenge is making that activity consistent, and its much easier to meet this challenge when you enjoy the activity.

Im pretty fond of saying your body remembers what you do most of the time, Professor Anding said. If most of the time, you exercise [] the vacations from exercise [] are perfectly fine. The goal would be to sustain your plan.

Another way to burn more calories without having to train for a marathon is to increase your basal metabolic rate (BMR)how many calories you burn at rest. The more lean muscle mass you add, the higher your BMR.

Ive been fortunate enough to work for the Houston Texans for [many] years, Professor Anding said. Ive weight trained all my life, and I really thought I knew what I was doing. In reality, our strength coach showed me I didnt know as much as I thought. He helped me gain seven pounds of functional lean mass.

Although this translated into seven pounds on the scale, this was not a bad thing since it was seven pounds of muscle mass as opposed to body fat. Andings metabolic rate had been 1,200 calories, and by adding that functional lean mass, her measured BMR calories are now 1,600, meaning she burns at minimum 1,600 calories a day, even when doing nothing.

By gaining seven pounds of muscle mass, I can eat 400 more calories every single day, Professor Anding said. Im really excited about that because now I get to eat more; so yes, you can rev-up your BMR, but the way you do it is by adding functional lean mass.

Traditionally in the gym, men focus on weight-training equipment and women do aerobic work. In order for women to experience the same gains as men in terms of body composition, Professor Anding recommends a paradigm shift with men and women on both sides of the exercise room.

One method of calculating your ideal body weight is called the Hamwi equation, which is based on height, frame size, and sex, is intended primarily for adults. Interestingly, children require more energy per pound of body weight than adults.

The highest calorie needs are actually during infancy. In their first year of life, babies essentially triple their birth weight. If you have an overweight child, the challenge is that you cant use the same kind of caloric calculations that you would use for an adult. Professor Anding recommends consulting a pediatrician.

If you are wheelchair-bound or on crutches, you can still participate in exercise programs designed for your level of fitness or functionality. For example, if you are wheelchair-bound but can lift weights, you can do bicep curls. This and other weight-lifting exercises will help you to retain your functional lean mass.

If you are on crutches, you can also engage in upper body exercises such as bicep curls and shoulder shrugs as well as sit-ups, arm circles, and punching. With the assistance of hands-free crutches, you participate in light walking.

Although one can lose weight relatively easily, the challenge for all of us is staying lean and fit. The Hamwi equation and BMR, along with the calories that you burn in exercise plus through small movements you make throughout the day like fidgeting, are all tools that will allow you to calculate the total calories burned in a day.

The next time youre tempted to buy the next weight-loss supplement or pill on the market, beware. The best strategies for weight loss or maintenance are managing how many calories you consume and burn.

Professor Roberta H. Anding is a registered dietitian and Director of Sports Nutrition and a clinical dietitian at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens Hospital. She also teaches and lectures in the Baylor College of Medicines Department of Pediatrics, Section of Adolescent Medicine and Sports Medicine, and in the Department of Kinesiology at Rice University.

Read more:
How to Love Losing Those PoundsChoosing the Best Exercise - The Great Courses Daily News

Page 67«..1020..66676869..8090..»

Home » How to lose weight safely » Page 67