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A substantial number of individuals with an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection do not recover fully within the first 34 weeks after developing an illness.

These COVID-19 symptoms often persist for weeks and months beyond the initial phase of the infection. Health experts have described these lingering COVID-19 symptoms collectively as long COVID and post-COVID-19 condition.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), long COVID occurs in individuals with a history of probable or confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection, usually 3 months from the onset of COVID-19 with symptoms and that last for at least 2 months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.

Previously hospitalized patients are more likely to experience persistent symptoms at 1014 weeks after contracting SARS CoV-2 than nonhospitalized individuals.

Moreover, some previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients show more severe health impairments associated with long COVID than their peers.

A recent study characterized traits associated with differences in severity of health impairments 1 year after discharge in patients previously hospitalized with acute COVID-19.

These findings may help doctors identify individuals with COVID-19 who are at risk of developing persistent, severe health impairments and may facilitate the development of treatments for long COVID.

A preprint version of the study appears on the site Medrxiv.

Previous studies have shown that cognitive and physical deficits persist at least 6 months after discharge in people hospitalized with acute COVID-19. Moreover, there is considerable variation in the severity of symptoms and their persistence at 6 months post-discharge in these individuals.

However, there are limited data tracking differences in the recovery of people with the disease over longer durations after discharge.

A recent study from the Post-Hospitalization COVID-19 (PHOSP-COVID) group characterized the physical and mental health impairments at 5 and 12 months after discharge in individuals previously hospitalized with acute COVID-19.

The study found that less than 30% of patients felt that they had fully recovered at 12 months post-discharge. Factors, such as being female, having obesity, and requiring mechanical ventilation, during initial illness with COVID-19 were associated with more severe health impairments after 12 months.

The studys co-author, Dr. Rachael Evans, a professor at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, says:

The findings that many patients had not fully recovered 1 year after leaving hospital indicate that healthcare professionals will need to proactively continue assessing their patients for some time to come in order to identify their ongoing healthcare needs and provide support.

The study also investigated the association between whole-body or systemic inflammation and severity of health impairments at 5 months.

An increase in inflammation is associated with more severe illness during the acute phase of a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Severe inflammation during the acute phase may result in dysregulation of the immune system, leading to a chronic inflammatory state. This chronic increase in inflammation could potentially result in the persistent symptoms that healthcare professionals have seen in long COVID patients.

The study found that individuals with more severe long COVID-19 symptoms 5 months after discharge had higher plasma levels of pro-inflammatory proteins than those with mild symptoms.

The good news is that we have identified some differences in the blood samples [pro-inflammatory proteins] of those who are still experiencing the long-term physical and cognitive effects of their COVID-19 hospital admission, explains study co-author Dr. Louise Wain.

These differences give us clues about the potential underlying mechanisms and suggest that we may be able to use existing medicines that target these mechanisms to help these subgroups of patients.

Medical News Today spoke with Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, the chief of the Research and Education Service at the VA Saint Louis Health Care System, MO.

Dr. Al-Aly, who was not involved with the study, said, The shocking thing is that most people are not recovering; they report that less than a third of patients reported full recovery. This is alarming, but I am not completely surprised. It is consistent with our evolving understanding of long COVID features.

I worry that health systems, governments, and the WHO are all knee-deep dealing with the acute situation (Omicron, etc.) that very little attention is being paid to the millions of people with long COVID, he continued.

Long COVID will create a tsunami of medical illnesses that our systems are simply unprepared for. People need to pay attention and deal with this now before it is too late.

Dr. Al-Aly

The PHOSP-COVID study included patients hospitalized for acute COVID who agreed to visit the research site for assessment at 5 and 12 months after discharge.

During these visits, the researchers conducted physical tests and tests to measure pulmonary function. They also collected blood samples to evaluate the levels of inflammatory proteins.

During these visits, the team used a questionnaire to assess the participants perception of recovery. They also used questionnaires to evaluate the individuals health and health-related quality of life.

The researchers found that a majority of patients perceived their recovery from COVID-19 to be incomplete or were not sure whether they had recovered at 12 months after hospital discharge.

Around 25% of the participants reported having recovered fully at 5 months post-discharge. Similarly, a little over 29% of participants felt they had fully recovered at 12 months after discharge.

There were limited improvements in cognitive and physical health during the period between the 5-month and 12-month visits.

Some commonly observed symptoms at 12 months post-discharge included fatigue, difficulty breathing, muscle aches, and poor sleep.

The factors associated with participants reporting a lack of recovery after 12 months included being female, having obesity, and receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.

The researchers then classified participants into four groups according to physical and mental health symptoms at 5 months after discharge. The team achieved this using a statistical method called cluster analysis.

According to the cluster analysis, the researchers were able to categorize participants as having very severe, severe, moderate, or mild physical and mental health impairments at 5 months after hospital discharge.

The researchers found that being female and having obesity were associated with an increased risk of belonging to the more severe health impairment cluster.

This suggests that weight reduction could potentially help alleviate long COVID symptoms. Moreover, healthcare professionals may need to closely monitor female patients with COVID-19 for the development of severe impairments.

Individuals in the very severe group had an increased likelihood of having lower exercise capacity, a higher number of symptoms, and feeling not fully recovered than the mild group at 12 months post-discharge.

Individuals in the more severe group also had higher plasma levels of C-reactive protein, a protein associated with increased inflammation.

The reduced exercise capacity of patients with severe health impairments may interfere with their participation in physical rehabilitation programs generally recommended to long COVID patients. Therefore, other interventions may be necessary to improve the physical function of these individuals.

The researchers asked the participants to estimate their health-related quality of life before the SARS-CoV-2 infection based on their recollection. The team then compared these pre-COVID-19 estimates with the results of the health-related quality of life assessments conducted during the 5-month and 12-month post-discharge visits.

They found that health-related quality of life at 5 and 12 months post-discharge was inferior to that before the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The researchers noted a correlation between the severity of physical and mental health impairments and patients with long COVID.

In other words, individuals with severe physical health impairments also simultaneously showed severe cognitive symptoms. These findings suggest that integrative care addressing both physical and mental health may be necessary for the treatment of long COVID.

Dr. Al-Aly said, We need a multipronged holistic approach to treating these patients. Long COVID is a multifaceted disease and requires multidisciplinary care.

The researchers then used the plasma samples collected during the 5-month visit to compare the expression of 296 inflammatory proteins.

The participants in the very severe impairment group had higher levels of 13 proteins associated with systemic inflammation than the mild impairment group.

The moderate impairment group also showed elevated levels of two inflammatory proteins than the mild impairment group.

These inflammatory proteins may be useful markers to identify individuals at high risk of developing severe health impairments.

Moreover, reducing systemic inflammation could be a potential target for the treatment of long COVID. For instance, there was a rise in pro-inflammatory protein interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both the severe and moderate impairment group, so anti-IL-6 treatments could be potential treatments for long COVID.

Identifying different inflammatory proteins associated with specific recovery clusters may also allow the use of anti-inflammatory drugs targeted to a particular cluster.

The authors note that the proportion of participants in the study who had received invasive mechanical ventilation was greater than that observed in patients hospitalized with acute COVID-19 in the U.K. Therefore, their results may not be generalizable to the entire population.

Also, the measurements of health-related quality of life before COVID-19 came from participants recollections of their health before illness. There is a chance that these measurements could be biased.

Lastly, the authors noted that their results show a correlation between various traits and severity of health impairments due to long COVID. Therefore, further research is necessary to establish causation.

Dr. Claire Steves, a researcher at Kings College London, told MNT, This study is about people who have been hospitalized and often been very ill, requiring intensive care. Therefore the findings do not apply to people who have not been hospitalized.

Dr. Steves added, Its likely that recovery is quite different in people living with long COVID who have not been hospitalized. [Hence], we need further studies on these groups, which constitute the majority of people living with long COVID.

This study cannot separate the long-term effects of being severely ill in general (especially during this traumatic time where they could not be visited) from the effects of COVID-19 itself, as they do not follow up people who have been admitted to hospital for other conditions.

Nevertheless, this does show just how many people have long-term symptoms after severe illness which is important for the delivery of services, noted Dr. Steves.

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COVID-19: 3 in 10 patients not fully recovered after 1 year - Medical News Today

Honey G has lost almost two stone and looks incredible in new photos.

The rapper, 40, dropped down to a size 12 during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in the UK.

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The star has released new photos in which she poses in a cream miniskirt and shows off her amazing legs.

And she has completely overhauled her image.

Last year, she shared a glimpse of her new physique in a skintight leotard after completing a triathlon, which consisted of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and a 5km run.

Speaking her weight loss, she told Daily Star: "The weight loss has definitely given me the confidence to put myself out there.

"I've always had a bit of a complex about my weight and now I can shop in the likes of Topshop and Miss Selfridge.

"I used to be Size 16 to 18 but I recently bought a pair of size 12 trousers which feels so good."

Honey - real name Anna Gilford - finished fifth on 2016's X Factor and was signed by Simon Cowell's label Syco.

But she was axed when her debut release The Honey G Show flopped.

The TV star had thought she could combine a music career with selling homes and joined an estate agent in 2019.

But she was sacked after just a few months, telling The Sun: "They didn't realise how famous I am.

"My boss had told me that he was expecting me to give up my music career which I am obviously not prepared to do.

"Music is my love and passion, and my ambitions are about being a worldwide music artist.

"I had no intention of being an estate agent long-term. I was hoping that a big opportunity for my music career would come in. I do believe I belong on stage."

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X Factor's Honey G looks unrecognisable after two stone weight loss and dramatic transformation - The US Sun

A person who has developed a disabling condition when living with type 2 diabetes may be able to claim disability benefits. There are two types of benefits: Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), for people who have a work history, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which does not require a previous work history.

Type 2 diabetes results in body cells resisting the effects of insulin, which leads to impairments in a persons metabolism. Such impairments can lead to diabetes-related complications, some of which may affect a persons ability to work.

In this article, we outline some potential complications of diabetes. We also provide information on how a person with type 2 diabetes may qualify for disability benefits, the types of benefits they may be entitled to, how to apply, and how to appeal a decision. Finally, we provide tips on how to talk to an employer about a disability.

Type 2 diabetes can cause complications that may affect a persons ability to work, either in the short term or the longer term. Some examples include:

Hyperglycemia is the medical term for abnormally high blood glucose levels. This condition can result in potentially serious complications, such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes. In DKA, a lack of insulin causes the body to break down fat for energy. This process triggers the release of harmful substances called ketones, which accumulate in the blood.

The symptoms of DKA include:

A person with DKA may require hospitalization to treat or prevent complications of DKA. These complications may include:

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome is a serious complication of diabetes, in which chronically high blood glucose levels trigger severe dehydration. This happens because excess sugar passes into the urine, causing a person to urinate more frequently.

The symptoms of HHS may include:

HHS is a potentially life threatening complication that requires urgent treatment in a hospital setting.

Chronic hyperglycemia may occur in people who have difficulty controlling their blood glucose levels. The condition may cause complications, such as:

Hypoglycemia is the medical term for abnormally low blood glucose levels. People who take insulin to control their diabetes are at increased risk of hypoglycemia.

Many people with type 2 diabetes are able to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia and take evasive action by consuming glucose-containing foods or beverages. Early symptoms to look out for include:

Without treatment, hypoglycemia can cause more severe symptoms, such as:

To qualify for disability benefits, a person with type 2 diabetes must provide evidence of their diagnosis and symptoms from an acceptable medical source. The evidence must be accurate and complete, and a person must submit the evidence in good time to assist claims processing.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will consider evidence from both medical and nonmedical sources when making an assessment for disability benefits. A persons disability must have affected them for at least 12 months for them to qualify.

The medical community classifies type 2 diabetes as an unseen disability. This means that although the disability may not be visible to others, it has a significant effect on the persons day-to-day life.

The United States government takes into consideration the health problems a person with type 2 diabetes may experience that could affect their day-to-day functioning at work.

A person with this condition may need to apply for benefits if they experience one or more of the following:

The U.S. offers two different types of support for people living with conditions that result in disability: SSDI and SSI. A person will only qualify for one or both of these benefits if they are unable to work.

SSDI provides financial support for adults of any age who have worked for a qualifying period. The benefit begins after 6 full months of disability, and a person will qualify for Medicare after 24 months. This qualification will be immediate for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

SSI provides basic financial help to people of any age who have a disability and have a very limited income or resources. State programs may supplement SSI. The benefit begins 1 month after a person files the claim. In most states, a person will automatically qualify for Medicaid when they start receiving SSI.

A person may receive both benefits if they have a work history in addition to a limited income or resources.

A person may also have health insurance through their work. Some insurance policies will pay out for 12 years following disability. Longer-term health insurance policies may pay for a few years or up until the policy ends.

A person can apply for disability benefits via:

A person should have some information ready when applying for disability benefits, including:

Documents should be original or certified copies from an issuing office. A person can mail the documents or take them to a Social Security office for staff to make photocopies and return the originals.

A person will only be eligible for disability payments if they can demonstrate total or severe disability that prevents them from undertaking most work. Medical experts must expect the disability to last at least 1 year or end in death.

There is an earnings cap that changes annually. People cannot earn above this cap and continue receiving disability benefits.

A person who is turned down for disability benefits can appeal against the decision. People can appeal online or by phone within a limited period. The original response letter will provide the necessary information on how to make an appeal.

When making an appeal, a person may need to provide further information on their medical condition and any additional tests or treatments they have received since the initial decision was made.

Deciding when to disclose a disability with an employer is a personal choice. Some people may prefer to keep their disability private, particularly if it is an unseen disability. Other people may need their work to make accommodations for them, so they might wish to disclose their disability at an early stage.

People who want to talk with their employer about a disability may benefit from the following:

Type 2 diabetes can cause severe complications that may make a person eligible for disability benefits. There are two types of benefits: SSDI, which requires a qualifying length of time in work, and SSI, which can support people with disabilities at any age and time in their work career.

People can apply for disability benefits online, by phone, or by attending a prearranged appointment at their local Social Security office. People will need to provide various information, such as proof of age, their social security number, and medical records pertaining to their condition.

Some people with type 2 diabetes may feel that they would be able to continue working with appropriate adjustments within their workplace. People in this situation can talk with their employer to determine ways in which they may be able to carry out their work more effectively.

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What to know about claiming disability with type 2 diabetes - Medical News Today

SPRINGFIELD, VA After Fiona Duncan had spent around 20 years as a practicing pharmacist health reasons led her to explore a new path.

Her daughter was experiencing digestive and gut issues, as well as skin breakouts, leading to some emergency room visits. Duncan found no results to help her daughter, and she even had to transfer her daughter to another high school due to an allergy to mold.

Then a friend introduced her to functional nutrition. This concept looks at the origin of health challenges rather than the disease or diagnosis itself. The personalized plans use food and other lifestyle functions like sleep, exercise and stress relief.

When Duncan's daughter entered a 12-week functional nutrition program, her skin had cleared up and her gut issues were improving by the end of three months. But after the program had stopped, her daughter's issues started to return.

That's why Duncan decided to learn functional nutrition so she could treat her daughter herself. On top of that, Duncan also experienced fatigue from a demanding job but didn't have a clinical diagnosis. She saw results herself from functional nutrition, along with family members.

"Seeing the results with my family members and my daughter and myself, it was no choice," said Duncan. "It was like, you have to share this."

With her daughter's health and Duncan's own deteriorating health from a demanding job in mind, Deluge Health Spa was born. The business opened in January 2019 at 8336 Traford Lane in West Springfield.

The business offers two main services: the 12-week functional nutrition program guided by Duncan and infrared sauna therapy sessions. Duncan is also preparing to launch a metabolic reset program early in 2022 after running a 14-person testing group starting at Thanksgiving. The metabolic reset program is focused on weight loss by addressing the needs of the mind, body and spirit.

While the functional nutrition program can be conducted virtually, the sauna therapy is the one component clients can get at Deluge Health Spa's brick-and-mortar location. Infrared sauna therapy is designed to help with de-stressing, improving cardiovascular health, reducing pain and more. The business has four private sauna suites for 20-minute or 40-minute sauna sessions.

As the COVID-19 pandemic started just over a year after Deluge Health Spa opened, the business, like others, saw some pause or cancel their memberships. But the business started seeing appointments go up for sauna sessions a few months into the pandemic, as COVID-19 restrictions had closed gyms they would normally go to.

On the health side, Duncan said the pandemic highlighted health disparities and the need for better nutrition and health care.

For instance, she noted African American people tend to have low vitamin D levels, and sufficient vitamin D levels may be linked with less severe COVID-19 symptoms, studies show. With the functional nutrition approach, she believes getting a disease or diagnosis under control with medication doesn't mean you aren't still susceptible to other diseases. She sees nutrition-based care, lifestyle changes and supplements will have the strongest impact on chronic conditions.

"If you're not looking at the underlying cause, you're still going to have that challenge," said Duncan.

Duncan admitted her business struggled during the pandemic, even though she saw new clients. She took a contracting job for six months and continued to balance a few clients for the functional nutrition program. She also got a grant through Fairfax County's COVID-19 grant program for businesses.

Deluge Health Spa is a member of the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce, which provides tools to help Black-owned businesses succeed. Duncan was previously part of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and didn't know there was a Black chamber in Northern Virginia. She decided to switch to get a different perspective and says it can help small companies that normally don't have the resources for advertising and media relations. Duncan looks forward to getting involved with the chamber's programs later, she is focusing on launching Deluge Health Spa's new metabolic reset program for now.

The goals Duncan has for Deluge Health Spa focus on growing services. She wants to bolster online course offerings for those who may not be ready for a bigger commitment like the functional nutrition program. For instance, one potential course could be focused on improving sleep. Duncan is also interested in training pharmacists in functional nutrition and lifestyle medicine.

In the short term, Duncan wants to recruit people to try a five-pound weight loss challenge in the new year. Adding foot traffic to the brick-and-mortar location for sauna sessions and drawing a more diverse clientele will be other priorities.

In the long term, Duncan hopes her program can turn into a larger program she calls a self-help institute.

"I imagine having a big enough place where it's an all-inclusive teaching how to get healthy," said Duncan. "It's a course you go through where you learn what is functional nutrition."

For more information about Deluge Health Spa, visit delugespa.com.

Read more:
Familys Health Results Drive Mother To Open Deluge Health Spa - Patch.com

It sounds simple enough: To lose weight, you expend more calories than you take ina.k.a. you create a calorie deficit. If you were to judge this weight loss tip on social media chatter, it would probably rank pretty high in ways to shed pounds. But it can also bring more attention than necessary to calorie countingand take some of the joy factor out of eating.

Plus, creating a calorie deficit is one thingmaintaining it is another. To stick with it long enough to see results, you have to undo that diet mentality. You know, that pressure to cut foods left and right until all thats left is bland chicken and broccoli? Instead, focus on creating a healthy calorie deficit while still eating the foods you love.

A healthy calorie deficit should, in theory, result in slow, maintainable weight loss, says Colleen Johnson, M.S., R.D., a registered dietitian nutritionist and adult diabetes educator at Joslin Diabetes Center. Thats an average loss of one to two pounds per week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In other words, a healthy calorie deficit is a lot more enjoyable than restrictive dieting. And it also happens to be more effective long-term.

Sadly, finding your ideal calorie deficit for weight loss isnt always straightforward. Theres no perfect number or range, says M. Nicholas Burke, M.D., an avid cyclist and a cardiologist with Allina Health in the Minneapolis area.

For this reason, its a good idea to get input from a doctor or registered dietitian. They may estimate your resting metabolic rate (how many calories you burn at rest) and subtract a modest number of calories (typically 250 to 500) to find a daily calorie range for you. You can even look for a doctor or dietitian specializing in sports nutrition and ask them to create a customized meal plan that takes your cycling routine into account.

As a cyclist, its essential to stay well-fueled. So, take care when deciding which foods to cut back on, and be sure not to eliminate whole food groups to speed up your weight loss. A balanced diet that includes a variety of sources of macronutrients and micronutrients will provide numerous benefits to the body and mind, Johnson says. Omitting certain foodsnot to mention whole food groupscan mean missing out on these benefits.

Restricting carbs, for example, is usually a bad idea. Avid cyclists consistently burn fuel and have higher recommendations for carbohydrate intake than the general population, Johnson explains. Getting in too few carbs will only come back to bite you when you ride, causing that mid-workout energy crash known as bonking.

However, you could focus on having smaller portions of certain types of carbsnamely, simple ones. Dr. Burke says that by aiming to eat fewer of these types of carbswhich youll find in high-calorie foods like pastries, ice cream, and sodacan be a good starting point when youre aiming to cut back on calories. Plus, they dont pack much of a nutritional punch so youre not missing out on essential vitamins and minerals.

Keep in mind, its the idea of labeling certain foods off-limits or making drastic dietary changes that can not only feel overwhelming, but it also takes the joy out of eating. Whats worse: A diet thats too restrictive can make you tired, irritable, and constantly hungry, Johnson says.

Instead, keep your eye on small changes. Weed out cookies one day a week or reach for fresh veggies over potato chips on another day.

A calorie deficit can be a great tool for weight loss. However, there are other factors that can influence your numbers, including stress, sleep, hormones, body composition, and even your genetics, Johnson says.

Stress, for instance, can throw a wrench in your efforts if left to run wild. When people are stressed, they may have abnormal hunger and fullness cues, experience loss of appetite, or they may overeat in some cases, Johnson says.

Similarly, a lack of sleep can intensify your cravings for salt, sugar, and fat, and make you more likely to overeat, she adds. In fact, a study published in February 2020 in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that women with insomnia ate up to 286 more calories per day than their well-rested counterparts.

So, while focusing on a calorie deficit can be helpful, dont let it overtake your life. Make sure youre giving attention to other components of a healthy lifestyle, like stress management, sleep, balanced diet, and regular exercise.

Weight loss doesnt have to be miserable. Creating a healthy calorie deficit is not only more enjoyable than a restrictive diet (because who wants to cut their favorite foods anyway?), but its also the more effective approach. Not to mention, following a healthy calorie deficit helps ensure you have the energy you need for your rides. Work with a doctor or registered dietitian to create a healthy eating plan to support your weight loss and performance goals.

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Calorie Deficit | What is a Healthy Calorie Deficit? - Bicycling

The ketogenic dietalso known as the keto diethas gained traction in the past decade or so due to its alleged positive effect on weight management.

The diet has been popular among celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow. The Hollywood actress previously faced backlash from health experts who said there was a lack of evidence to support her suggested "healing" remedies, which included a keto and plant-based diet.

But what are the pros and cons of a ketogenic diet and is it safe? Newsweek spoke to experts to find out.

A ketogenic diet is defined as a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates (sugars), which causes the body to break down fat into molecules known as ketones.

"Ketones circulate in the blood and become the main source of energy for many cells in the body," the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains.

The nutritional breakdown of a keto diet includes the following (according to the book Ketogenic Diet by Wajeed Masood, Pavan Annamaraju and Kalyan R. Uppaluri, shared at the NIH website):

Speaking to Newsweek, Dr. Kevin Hall, senior investigator at the NIH's National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, noted it's important to clarify that there are several versions of the "keto diet" and the health effects of these various types may be quite different.

Some people follow a plant-based keto diet with no animal products that entails consuming lots of fiber from non-starchy vegetables but very little starch or sugar, while other keto diets include a lot of animal products but very few non-starchy vegetables.

Some versions of the diet contain less red meat and processed meat, less saturated fat as well as more fish and plant-based fats that have lower levels of saturated fat.

But the commonality of all these keto diets is that "they are all sufficiently low in dietary carbohydrates that the body increases its production of ketones, resulting in elevated blood levels of ketones," Hall said.

Ketones are substances produced by your body if your cells don't get enough blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is the main energy source for your body.

Due to there being a low level of carbohydrates available for energy, your body breaks down fat into ketones, which become the primary source of fuel for the body. Ketones provide energy for the heart, kidneys and other muscles such as the brain.

A ketogenic diet is essentially considered "a partial fast," explains the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

"During a total fast or starvation state, the body has no source of energy. Thus, it breaks down lean muscle mass for fuel. With the keto diet, the ketones provide an alternative source of energy. Unlike a full fast, the keto diet helps to maintain lean muscle mass," the academy says.

Speaking to Newsweek, Roxana Ehsani, registered dietitian nutritionist and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said: "The ketogenic diet was originally created and to be followed by people suffering from epilepsy. It has shown to be effective at reducing and preventing seizures."

A keto diet helps reduce seizures in pediatric patients with epilepsy, the ASN's Psota added.

Dr. Russel Wilder of the Mayo Clinic was the first to coin the term "ketogenic diet," using the diet to treat epilepsy in 1921.

For nearly a decade, the ketogenic diet was considered a "therapeutic diet" for pediatric epilepsy and was widely used until the introduction of antiepileptic agents, which led to the decline of the diet's popularity, the Ketogenic Diet book says.

According to the Ketogenic Diet: "The resurgence of the ketogenic diet as a rapid weight loss formula is a relatively new concept that has shown to be quite effective, at least in the short run."

Speaking to Newsweek, Dr. Tricia Psota, a registered dietitian nutritionist and member of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), said: "A keto diet elicits weight loss in most people, and some people report being less hungry while they are in ketosis."

The NIH's Hall noted: "It's also important to consider a diet's benefits and risks in the context of the comparison diet."

For example, compared to a typical Western diet that's high in ultra-processed foods, which contains lots of sugar and fat but are low in fiber, a ketogenic diet can result in weight loss, he explained.

According to the ASN's Psota, research suggests a keto diet may present potential benefits related to blood glucose (sugar) control, such as improving insulin sensitivity.

The NIH's Hall said a keto diet may lower glucose and insulin levels in the blood, which may be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.

When your body's blood sugar levels rise, it releases insulin, which lets the glucose into your body's cells to be used as energy.

Diabetes patients either don't produce enough insulin or their bodies can't utilize the insulin as well as it should and too much blood sugar stays in their bloodstream.

When you're on a keto diet, the body is deprived of carbohydrates and insulin secretion is significantly reduced.

"When glucose availability drops further, the endogenous production of glucose is not able to keep up with the needs of the body" and a process known as ketogenesis begins, according to the Ketogenic Diet book.

Ketogenesis provides the body with an alternate source of energy in the form of ketone bodies, replacing glucose as a primary source of energy.

"During ketogenesis due to low blood glucose feedback, the stimulus for insulin secretion is also low, which sharply reduces the stimulus for fat and glucose storage," the book explains.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, research findings on the benefits of the keto diet for health conditions including obesity and diabetes are "extremely limited."

Among the short term health risks of keto diets are flu-like symptoms, referred to as the "keto flu." These may include upset stomach, headache, fatigue and dizzy spells, while some have also reported trouble sleeping, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The keto diet requires either "cutting out or drastically reducing" many nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. This can lead to micronutrient (i.e. vitamin and mineral) deficiencies over time, said the ASN's Psota.

Ehsani from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics said the diet "eliminates nutrient dense foods essential to your overall health and well-being."

Keto diets limit your intake of grains, starchy veggies, beans, lentils, fruits, vegetables and dairy products. All of these foods are loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fiber, the registered dietitian nutritionist said.

The ASN's Psota said one way to avoid these "micronutrient deficiencies" while on a keto diet would be to take a multivitamin supplement. "However, supplements do not provide the fiber that whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans contain," she warned.

The low intake of dietary fiber may cause constipation, Ehsani said. Those on a keto diet are often required to take a fiber supplement to maintain regular bowel movement.

The NIH's Hall said another concern is that some people may experience "a substantial increase in blood LDL cholesterol and Apolipoprotein B [a protein that forms the backbone of LDL]" due to the high fat content of keto diets.

These concerns may be mitigated by decreasing the saturated fat content of the diet and replacing it with sources of monounsaturated fats, but more research is needed on this topic, he said.

According to Hall, there are also medical interventions that can help decrease blood LDL cholesterol levels and Apolipoprotein B to consider, "but the efficacy of such medications also needs more research."

The potential for high levels of LDL cholesterol ("bad" cholesterol) raises the risk of heart disease in keto dieters, the ASN's Psota said.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a "considerable body of research" has shown diets high in saturated fat may increase the risk for heart disease and other chronic health problems.

"The risk that keto dieters might be taking with regards to their long-term cardiovascular health has not been fully studied," the academy said.

Kidney stones and liver disease are among the other long-term health risks of a keto diet. The diet is also not recommended for those who suffer from the following conditions, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

Ehsani from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics said the keto diet is by nature very restrictive and therefore not sustainable. "Most people have a very hard time following such a rigid diet that cuts out major food groups," she said.

Ehsani explained: "The keto diet is a fad diet, meaning it works until it doesn't. You may experience rapid weight loss, but it's not a healthy solution towards attaining weight loss.

"If you're looking for a healthy way to lose weight, instead work with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)," who can create a personalized plan based on your unique health and nutrition needs and goals, she added.

See the article here:
11 Pros and Cons of the Keto Diet, According to Health Experts - Newsweek

A new study has said that individuals with a high body mass index (BMI) are 50 per cent more at risk of death, or being admitted to an intensive care unit if infected with Covid-19. The University of Gothenburg study examined more than 1,500 people who were hospitalised due to Covid-19 to assess the probability of prolonged intensive care in hospitals, and death.

Published in the journal PLOS ONE, the study found that the likelihood of hospital admission in ICU is twice for obese patients with higher BMI. As per World Health Organization (WHO), BMI is a simple index of weight-for-height that is commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a persons weight in kilograms divided by the square of the persons height in meters (kg/m2).

As per WHO, overweight is a BMI greater than or equal to 25; and obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

In this large cohort of Swedish ICU patients with Covid-19, a high BMI was associated with increasing risk of death and prolonged length of stay in the ICU, the Swedish academics noted.

Based on our findings, we suggest that individuals with obesity should be more closely monitored when hospitalised for Covid-19, they added.

As per a Lancet study, although as yet unproven, interventions that reduce weight might reduce the risk of severe Covid-19 outcomes in individuals. In the longer term, our findings highlight the need to work towards a healthy weight at a population level. Additionally, such efforts towards achieving a healthy weight should help to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, which have continued throughout the pandemic and which place ongoing burdens on health-care systems, reads the study published in June 2021.

Know how obesity affects Covid-19 symptoms

Obesity is a common, serious, and costly chronic disease, said Dr Gopi Krishna Yedlapati, Consultant Interventional Pulmonologist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad. Having obesity puts people at risk for many other serious chronic diseases and increases the risk of severe illness from Covid-19, Dr Yedlapati said.

Obesity affects most of the physiological processes and modifies the functions of the system including the immune system hence making the person vulnerable to many infections, said Dr Chetan Rao Vaddepally, Consultant Pulmonologist, Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad

What can you do?

Systemic change takes time, as does long-term weight loss, mentioned Dr Yedlapati.

In addition tothe steps everyone should take to slow the spread of Covid-19, individuals can help protect themselves and their families during this pandemic by:

*Eating healthy*Being active*Sleeping well*Managing stress*Addiction avoidance towards alcohol and smoking

Over time, these actions can help individuals with obesity improve their overall health. Even if they result in even modest weight loss, there are health benefits, such as improvements in blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars. And with a healthy BMI, the risk of severe illness from Covid-19 is reduced, added Dr Yedlapati.

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Read the original:
Obese Covid-19 patients twice more likely to be in hospital ICU, says study; experts share dos and donts - The Indian Express

Middle-aged Americans saw their blood pressure rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research published Monday in Circulation, the American Heart Associations flagship journal.

Nearly half of American adults havehigh blood pressure, the association said, and its the leading cause ofheart disease. Roughly 75% of all high blood-pressure cases remain above the recommended blood-pressure levels.

Aside from the stress related to finances and health during the pandemic, stay-at-home orders between March and April 2020 to slow the spread ofCOVID-19 led to people exercising less and, possibly, eating more takeout.

From April 2020 to December 2020, average increases in blood pressure each month ranged from 1.10 to 2.50 mm Hg higher for systolic blood pressure and 0.14 to 0.53 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure versus the same time period in 2019.

At the start of the pandemic, most people were not taking good care of themselves.

At the start of the pandemic, most people were not taking good care of themselves, said lead study author Luke Laffin, co-director of the Center for Blood Pressure Disorders at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Increases in blood pressure were likely related to changes in eating habits, increased alcohol consumption, less physical activity, decreased medication adherence, more emotional stress and poor sleep, he added.

Last October, the Food and Drug Administration recommended that restaurants and food manufacturers reduce the amount of sodium in their food to 3,000 mg per day still higher than the recommended daily allowance over a two-and-a-half-year period.

More than 70% of total sodium intake is from sodium added during food manufacturing and commercial-food preparation, the FDA said. Excess sodium in the diet helps to raise blood pressure.

The latest study included nearly 500,000 adults across the U.S., with an average age of 46 years 54% were women and 46% men who had their blood pressure measured during an annual employee health screening from 2018 through 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have long-reaching health impacts.

Before the pandemic, blood pressure measures were largely unchanged when comparing the studys previous years, the authors said.Higher readings were recorded among older participants, particularly for systolic blood pressure.

Study participants were categorized into four groups: normal, elevated, stage 1 hypertension and stage 2 hypertension, based on the currentAmerican Heart Association blood pressure guidelines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have long-reaching health impacts across the country and particularly related to uncontrolled hypertension, said Eduardo Sanchez, the associations chief medical officer for prevention.

Even small rises in blood pressure increase a persons risk of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular disease events, Laffin added. He said it was important to see your doctor regularly for checkups, and keep on top of all heart-related issues.

Americans consume around 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day,according to one government study, butthe Centers for Disease Control and Preventions dietary guidelinesrecommend that people consume less than 2,300 milligrams each day.

Even small rises in blood pressure increase a persons risk of stroke and other adverse cardiovascular disease events.

In the 2021 U.S. News and World Report annual ranking from 1 to 39 of theworlds best(and, yes, worst) diets, a team of24 panelistswho were nationally recognized professionals ranked the Mediterranean diet No. 1 for the fourth year in a row.

The ranking is based onseven criteria:short-term weight loss, long-term weight loss, effectiveness for cardiovascular disease prevention, effectiveness for preventing diabetes, ease of compliance, nutritional completeness and health risks.

No. 2 on the U.S. News and World Report list: the DASH diet, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It recommends fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy products, while restricting salt, red meat, sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages.

Even in the midst of the pandemic, its important to pay attention to your blood pressure and your chronic medical conditions, Laffin said. Get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, and monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Read this article:
The blood pressure of middle-aged Americans increased during COVID-19 pandemic here's why - MarketWatch

Roasted apple and oat granola with yogurt(305 calories per serving, makes eight).

apples, cored and cut into 1cm pieces

Two tbsp vegetable oil

Two tbsp maple syrup

Two tbsp smooth peanut butter

200g oats

50g seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, or a mixture)

50g mixed nuts, roughly chopped

25g desiccated coconut

One tsp ground cinnamon

One egg white

One tbsp full-fat natural yogurt per serving

Method:

Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas mark four. Spread the apple out on a large lined baking tray and cook in the oven for 15 minutes until caramelised. Meanwhile, heat the oil, maple syrup and peanut butter together in a small pan.

Tip the roasted apple into a bowl with the oats, seeds, nuts, coconut, cinnamon and a pinch of salt, then pour over the oil mixture and mix well with a spoon.

Whisk the egg white in a separate bowl until it is frothy, then stir it into the mixture.

Spread it out on the lined baking tray and cook in the oven for 35-40 minutes, stirring two or three times, until it is golden.

Serve with a spoonful of yogurt. (A serving without yogurt is 272 calories.)

Read the original:
Michael Mosleys easy diet plan to lose two stone in 3 months' and keep it off for good' - Express

Its no secret, fruits and vegetables are loaded with the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that you need to stay healthyespecially as a runner. But if you think eating fresh fruits and veggies is the only way you can maintain your nutrition and reach peak performance, think again.

We spoke with two registered dietitians to discuss the advantages and disadvantages to eating canned fruits and vegetables. And, we developed this guide to help you ulyimately find out if canned fruits and vegetables are healthy, and which ones might be best to keep in your pantry to meet your dietary needs.

Canned vegetables and fruits are often equivalent toand sometimes even better than fresh fruits or vegetables because theyre processed so quickly after theyre picked, says Julie Stefanski, R.D.N., C.S.S.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Fruits and vegetables are picked at peak freshness just hours before they are canned, and many nutrients are actually preserved in the canning process, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

In fact, Melissa Majumdar, M.S., R.D., bariatric coordinator at Emory University Hospital Midtown in Atlantaand a runner herselfsays that most of the nutrients like vitamins that are fat-solubleA,D, E, and Kas well as protein and fiber will be preserved and remain the same during the canning process. And, less water-soluble vitaminslike vitamin C and Bwill be reduced because of the heat used during the canning process. Ultimately, Majumdar says, you dont have to be afraid of the canned food aisle in the grocery store.

In a study published by the American Journal of Life Medicine, researchers found canned food options to be an affordable way to increase nutrition. The study revealed the cost of canned vegetables can be as cheap as 20 percent of the cost of fresh. And if stored properly, canned fruits and vegetables can last a long time. (FYI: The USDA recommends storing canned foods in cool and dry environmentsavoid storing them under the kitchen sink or in the basementand to never use any rusted, bulging, or leaking cans.)

Whats more, most canned fruits and veggies have a shelf life of almost five years, Majumdar says. I think thats one of the pros of using canned fruits and vegetables because they will absolutely outlast the shelf life of a fresh fruit and vegetable, she says.

Finally, canned fruits and vegetables can be more convenient in the long term. I think one of the best things is that [the food] is ready to go, says Majumdar. You come back from a run and youre hungry or youre tiredits already ready for you. Theres no pealing or washing. I hate when I anticipate that Im going to have this [fresh] apple or banana and then you get to it, and its got a burse or its past its prime. So, canned fruits are a great backup.

But you dont have to replace your fresh fruits and veggies with canned. Instead, both Stefanski and Majumdar recommend using the canned options as a supplement to the fresh ones. This way, you can insure youre meeting all your nutritional needs.

Sometimes when we have something thats fresh, it has to be chilled somewhere or its older because it traveled so far. So, a lot of times people buy fresh, and when they run out during their week, they just dont have any vegetables. Its better to have something in your cupboard that you can pull out and have as you get to the end of your week, says Stefanski.

Many people may avoid canned fruits and vegetables due to the lining of the can. A 2015 study published in Environmental Research found people who consumed canned vegetables, fruits, pastas, and soups had higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA)a synthetic chemical that is used in the epoxy resinin their urine. And, a 2017 report released by the Center for Environmental Health revealed that BPA found in can linings can migrate into the food inside of the can. This chemical, according to the Encyclopedia of Environmental Health, is an environmental health concern that can affect circulating hormone levels, cardiovascular health, obesity, reproductive health in both males and females, and hormone-driven cancers in children.

In response to this research, many consumers moved toward fresher options to avoid this toxic chemical. This led can manufactures and some food production companies in the United Stateslike Del-Monte, Trader-Joes, and Amys Kitchenmade efforts to provide BPA-free products. And, according to the Canned Manufactures Institute, nearly all canned foods are now BPA-free. If youre concerned about BPA levels in canned foods, consider shopping around for specific brands that offer BPA- free products, as there are plenty of options.

Aside from BPA, some canned fruits and veggies may contain added salt or sugar. So, make sure you read the labels to find out what works best for you. Some brands offer no salt added or no added sugar options.

Vegetables usually wont have the added sugars, but they may have the added salt. The salt is not added for preserving itits added for the flavor thats lost when heating, says Majumdar.

But salt isnt always a bad thing, she says, especially for runners, if its consumed around race time. You can replenish your body with electrolytes postrun just by having a can of tomato juice says Majumdar.

If you are looking to avoid salt due to a health condition or a personal reason, you can either buy cans with no added salt, or you can reduce some of the sodiumup to 40 percentby draining the water from the can, says Stefanski. It all comes down to your personal needs and preferences. Consult with your dietitian or doctor to find out what works best for you.

On the other hand, if youre looking to avoid added sugars found in canned fruits, then Majumdar says to watch out for words ending in -ose. Any word that ends in -oselike glucose, fructose, or sucroseare all sugars, she says. Ideally, she says, you are looking for 100 precent juice packed in water or its own juices.

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When it comes to finding the best canned fruits and vegetables, youre going to have to do your own taste testing, Stefanski saysthe most important thing is that you want to eat the options you choose. And, take into consideration what youre going to cook and whether it requires fresh or canned ingredients. When you think about making a recipe, you want to judge whether you need that texture in the recipe that youre making, says Stefanski.

Here are some canned fruits and veggies to keep in mind the next time you go grocery shopping.

1. Tomatoes: With the tomato products, you actually get more lycopene in canned tomatoes than you do in fresh, and lycopene really good for overall health, says Stefanski. A research review found that the consumption of lycopene-rich foods, like tomatoes, reduces your risk for health issues like prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease.

2. Pumpkin: With canned pumpkin, its cooked right before its packaged, so you can add it right out of the can into your smoothies and oatmeal, according to Stefanski. Canned pumpkin is so high in vitamin A. its a really good addition for our immune system, especially this time of year, she says.

3. Beans: These are a great option for maintaining your gut health because they contain fiber. Stefanski recommends stocking up on beans like chickpeas. When fiber is broke down, Stefanski explains, its nourishes the cells in our body to strengthen the immune system. Runners are definitely more prone to getting sick because theyre often pushing their bodies to the limit. So having good gut health is really important, she says.

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Are Canned Vegetables Healthy? | Is Canned Fruit Healthy? - Runner's World

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