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Weight Loss Drink: This Cumin-Ginger Drink Can Help You Shed Weight; Here’s How You Can Prepare It – NDTV News
Prepare this drink with cumin seeds and ginger for effective weight loss
Several weight loss drinks have gained attention in the past years. From green tea to fenugreek water several drinks enhance the weight loss process. To lose weight you need to burn more calories than you consume. Some foods and drink can enhance the weight loss process in some way or the other. Similarly, a powerful combination of cumin and ginger can be prepared for effective weight loss. Jeera water is a famous weight loss drink. You can combine it with ginger to prepare an effective weight loss drink.
Cumin seeds have properties that can help in weight loss. These seeds also contain anti-inflammatory properties. Cumin seeds can also help you reduce bloating, acidity and other digestive issues. Cumin seeds support the overall weight loss process.
Cumin seeds and ginger can help in weight lossPhoto Credit: iStock
Ginger is also a common ingredient present in every Indian kitchen. It is also helpful in fighting digestive issues. Metabolism is also an important factor that affects your weight loss process. Better metabolism results in better weight loss. Adding ginger to your diet will improve your metabolism.
Also read:Different Drinks You Can Prepare With Apple Cider Vinegar To Lose Weight Effectively
To prepare this drink take around two glasses of water. Add one tablespoon of cumin seeds and few slices of fresh ginger. Bring this to boil and reduce it to half. Strain and drink this when lukewarm. You can also add some lemon to this drink to taste.
Add this drink to your diet and consume limited calories for effective resultsPhoto Credit: iStock
This drink can boost the weight loss process but for effective results you should also consume restricted calories. Adding more physical exercise to your routine will burn calories and give you desired results.
Also read: Try These High Protein Breakfast Options Which Can Help You Lose Weight
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
Feeling Nauseous While Intermittent Fasting? Here’s Why an RD Wants You to Take Caution – POPSUGAR
Intermittent fasting is relatively simple compared to traditional diets. Instead of carefully tracking calories or eliminating certain foods, you simply reduce the window in which you eat during the day. But while intermittent fasting can be an effective way to lose weight, it can also come with side effects, especially when you're first getting started. Your body needs time to adjust to a new eating pattern, which can lead to hunger pangs, headaches, and general discomfort. One symptom that can have larger health implications is nausea, Miriam Christie, MS, RD, LD, a nutritionist and dietitian in Pittsburg, CA, and medical adviser for eMediHealth, told POPSUGAR.
"Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness may be associated with high or low blood sugars," Christie explained. "These feelings are not normal and should you experience them the recommendation would be to stop practicing intermittent fasting." She noted that intermittent fasting isn't something she would recommend long-term, even if you aren't experiencing side effects: "Ensuring you are receiving a balanced diet utilizing a variety of foods is the healthiest way to maintain your health," she said.
If you're in the very early stages of slight nausea while intermittent fasting, take a closer look at what you're eating. "To ensure you are receiving 100 percent of your nutrient, protein, and calorie needs, it is important that you include a balanced diet with a variety of foods," Christie told POPSUGAR. This means making sure you're eating enough protein and consuming enough calories. Your diet should also be balanced otherwise, with enough fiber and a sufficient variety of fruits and vegetables. If you notice your calorie count is way down, start there and bump yourself up to a healthy range.
If you feel like your diet is as balanced as it should be and you're still feeling sick or experiencing any other side effects of intermittent fasting, Christie recommends stopping the practice immediately. Ultimately, you have to listen to what your body is telling you. If you've gone back to a regular eating schedule and you're still experiencing troubling symptoms, it's time to check in with your doctor.
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Feeling Nauseous While Intermittent Fasting? Here's Why an RD Wants You to Take Caution - POPSUGAR
Nutrient deficiencies, kidney stress among five side-effects of the keto diet, say studies – Firstpost
Keto diet is a low carb high fat diet which is mostly followed for weight loss. Those who follow this diet excessively cut down on carbohydrate intake and let the body depend on fats for energy.
This in a way burns more fat from the body making it beneficial to lose weight as well as control blood sugar level.However, not everything is good about keto diet. It also has a few side-effects:
Representational image
Keto flu: Since carb intake in keto diet is extremely low, it can lead to people experiencing flu-like symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, constipation and nausea.A study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research found that keto diet often leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in the body.
Kidney stress: Keto diet lays importance on foods like eggs, meat and cheese. Studies say it often puts a person at a higher risk of kidney stones.
Scientists from the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil have found that a high intake of animal foods can cause the blood and urine to become more acidic. This leads to increased excretion of calcium in urine.Studies also show that keto diet reduces the amount of citrate in urine which raises the risk of developing kidney stones.
Digestive issues: This diet can sometimes cause digestive discomfort and constipation since it lacks in fibre. Foods rich in fibre are beneficial to bacteria in the gut which boost immunity, improve mental health and decrease inflammation.
Nutrient deficiencies: Keto restricts the consumption of several foods which are dense in nutrients like fruits and legumes. So, it may lead to nutrient deficiencies in the body.
Low blood sugar: Levels of haemoglobin A1c, a measure of average blood sugar levels, may dip too.A study by the University of Oxford found that for people suffering from type 2 diabetes, low carbohydrate diets such as keto appear to be safe and effective over the short term.
However, these diets are no different from controlled higher carbohydrate diets and cannot be recommended as the default treatment.
Updated Date: Apr 01, 2020 14:35:45 IST
Tags : Diet, Health, Keto Diet, Keto Diet Risks, Keto Diet Weight Loss, NewsTracker, Weight Loss
Coronavirus: alcohol is bad for your immune system here’s how to give up – Real Homes
Coronavirus and alcohol are bad mates, according to health experts. Alcohol sales have gone up a whopping 20 per cent since the coronavirus lockdown was implemented: a worrying statistic, since there is a well researched link between excessive alcohol consumption and a weakened immune system.*
Want to know how to give up alcohol for good, beyond lockdown? Or at least cut down? Drinking alcohol is one of the trickiest habits to beat as it's been part of many human cultures for a very long time. For lots of people, it's a part of their social lives; for others especially right now it may be their go-to way to relax or beat boredom. Yet alcohol has been proven time and time again to have many negative effects on human health. What's more, it costs us a lot of money...
Give Up Alcohol Self Hypnosis...
The following tips for quitting alcohol are aimed at people who aren't happy with how much they're drinking and would like to drastically cut down on or give up alcohol altogether. If you're already happy with just the occasional glass of wine, you probably don't need this advice. On the other hand, if you're a very heavy drinker and think you have alcohol dependency, you should always seek professional medical advice before attempting to quit.
There are endless benefits to giving up alcohol. From improved mood and better sleep to more money in your bank account. Of course, giving up drinking is a personal choice, and you may have your own reasons for wanting to give up, but here are some hard facts that'll help reaffirm your decision:
How to give up drinking is really dependent on how regularly and how much you drink. The more regularly you drink, the harder it'll be to give up, so be prepared for a long process. Give yourself at least a year to give up completely, and don't beat yourself up if you slip up now and then when out with friends. All of the following tips are aimed at making it easy(ier) for you to quit, rather than relying on superhuman levels of willpower.
1. Stop buying alcohol
If you regularly buy a bottle of wine for dinner, it's unrealistic to expect yourself not to reach for said bottle when it's in the fridge in the kitchen. Especially if you have a completist personality (i.e. you have to finish what you started), make sure there's no alcohol readily available in the house, except on special occasions. If this is too difficult, start buying half bottles or mini bottles, which most supermarkets stock these days. Shopping online at the moment? Don't order wine in bulk, tempting as it may be.
2. Buy expensive alcohol
How much do you spend on alcohol a week? Add up the cost of all the bottles and get in the habit of getting just one expensive bottle with that amount instead. Developing a taste for fine wine may sound counterintuitive, but the higher the price of your booze, the less likely you'll be to buy it often.
3. Set yourself a realistic timeline
Don't expect your desire to drink to evaporate overnight. Instead, try drinking half the amount you have been in the first month; then slash it again the next month, and so on, until you go down to little or no drinking. Do this over six to 12 months.
4. Prepare yourself for questions
It's likely that while you're giving up drinking, you'll get a lot of 'why?' questions. If they make you uncomfortable, it may be easier to prepare generic answers in advance (e.g. 'I'm training for a marathon'), rather than feeling the need to explain your reasons in detail.
5. Start a reward piggy bank
If giving up alcohol feels a little like punishment, make it into a reward instead by saving up the money you would've spent on booze for something you've wanted for a while. Make sure you buy it, too!
6. Get into cooking
For some people, a glass of wine is partly a way of making a routine meal a bit more fun. If you're trying to give up drinking, it makes sense to try and vary your meals a little by buying a nice cookbook and experimenting in the kitchen.
7. Get an accountability partner
People are social creatures and are much more likely to accomplish their goals when they feel they're doing it together with someone else. This doesn't mean you have to tell everyone you know you're giving up drinking; just one close friend is enough.While in lockdown, schedule regular video calls to discuss your progress.
8. Don't feel bad if you don't hit your targets
To reiterate: giving up drinking is not a form of punishment for how 'bad' you've been. If you have a setback (a birthday or a wedding, for example), be kind to yourself and move on. it's all the other days you didn't drink that week/month that matter.
9. Join a recovery programme
Speak to your GP to see what they recommend, but while you're waiting for an appointment, investigate Alcoholics Anonymous as a first port of call.
*See this study which examines the ways in which alcohol has been shown to disrupt the immune system.
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Coronavirus: alcohol is bad for your immune system here's how to give up - Real Homes
Mandarin Orange: Nutrition Facts, Benefits, and Types – Healthline
If you browse the produce section of your local supermarket, youre bound to come across several types of citrus fruits.
Mandarins, clementines, and oranges all boast impressive health benefits, and you may wonder whether theyre all variations of the same fruit.
This article explains all you need to know about mandarins, including what they are, their nutritional value and health benefits, and how to store them.
Mandarins belong to the Citrus genus. Its believed they originated in ancient China, which is how they got their name.
Their peel is deep-orange, leathery, and protects the sweet, juicy segments inside.
Mandarins grow on flowering small- to moderately-sized citrus trees. As they ripen, they change from a deep green to their recognizable orange color and grow to a width of about 1.63 inches (48 cm) (1, 2).
You may hear mandarins referred to as mandarin oranges, but this is not an accurate description. Though they share an orange exterior, mandarins are a different species of citrus from oranges, which belong to Citrus sinensis (3).
Unlike oranges, mandarins are not round. Rather, theyre oblong, resembling a sphere with a flattened top and bottom. Theyre also easier to peel.
There are several popular types of mandarins, including satsuma mandarins, or Citrus unshiu. This type is typically associated with Japan, though it also grows readily in the Gulf Coast region and other areas of the Southern United States (1, 2).
The common mandarin, also known as Citrus reticulate Blanco or Ponkan mandarins, is another popular type. It grows widely across warm temperate to tropical climates, including parts of China, Brazil, Spain, and the Philippines (1, 2).
You may also have heard of tangerines, or Citrus tangerine, which boasts a more reddish-orange peel. These are thought to originate in Tangiers, Morocco, where they earned their moniker.
Furthermore, there are many hybrids of, or crosses between, mandarins and other members of the Citrus genus.
Clementines, commonly sold under brand names like Cuties or Halos, are the smallest of the bunch, with a deeper orange, glossy skin and typically seedless interior. Often considered a variety of mandarins, theyre technically hybrids of mandarins and sweet oranges (4).
Although there is no solid consensus on exactly how many varieties and hybrids of mandarins exist, its believed that between 162 and 200 grow across the world (2).
Mandarins are small, easy-to-peel members of the Citrus genus. They are a separate species from oranges. There are many kinds and hybrids of mandarins, including tangerines and clementines.
Mandarins boast an impressive nutritional profile.
One medium mandarin (88 grams) packs the following nutrients (5):
This potent little fruit delivers over a quarter of the DV for vitamin C, which is important for skin health, wound healing, and proper immune function (6).
Mandarins also provide important minerals. While theyre not a rich source of copper, they boast more of it than most fruits. Copper is essential to health, as it aids red blood cell production and iron absorption. Thus, it helps transport oxygen to your tissues (7, 8, 9).
Along with vitamins and minerals, one medium (88-gram) mandarin packs 8% of the DV for fiber. Fiber feeds your beneficial gut bacteria, which aid digestion and may even help reduce your risk of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease (10, 11, 12).
Mandarins have an impressive nutritional profile, packing vitamin C, fiber, and other essential nutrients.
Like most citrus fruits, mandarins are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and beneficial plant compounds. Consuming them regularly may provide many health benefits.
Whats more, theyre easy to pack as a snack, toss into smoothies, or peel into salads or gelatin desserts.
Mandarins are rich in health-boosting plant compounds like flavonoids (2).
Flavonoids are readily found in foods. Theyre a type of antioxidant that helps defend your body against an imbalance of free radicals, which could otherwise lead to oxidation. Oxidation can promote aging and the onset of diseases like cancer and heart disease (2, 13, 14).
Another way that flavonoids may help protect against cancer is by suppressing genes that support cancer growth and inactivating cancer-promoting compounds (2, 15, 16, 17).
However, more research in humans is needed to determine just how much citrus fruit you should eat to achieve these effects.
Given their high content of vitamin C, mandarins may strengthen your immune system.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that boosts the function of your immune cells to fight against oxidative damage. It also promotes the death of harmful microbes (2, 6, 18).
Whats more, it improves skin and tissue integrity. In fact, supplementing with high doses of vitamin C may shorten wound healing time in certain situations (18).
Fiber benefits your digestion. Its found in two forms soluble and insoluble.
Citrus fruits, including mandarins, are especially rich in soluble fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gel in your digestive tract. This draws water into your gut to soften stools, potentially easing bowel movements (10, 19).
Mandarins also have some insoluble fiber. In fact, they have more of this type of fiber than many other fruits do. Insoluble fiber passes through the gut without breaking down.
Both types of fiber are associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases and may even help you lose weight (11, 12, 20).
A large population study associated a diet rich in citrus fruit like mandarins with a reduced risk of kidney stones, which are crystallized minerals that your body excretes in urine. They can be extremely painful to pass (21).
Low citrate levels in the urine can cause certain types of kidney stones to form. Fortunately, regularly consuming citrus fruits can boost your citrate levels, which is thought to reduce your risk of kidney stones (22).
Still, this relationship requires further research before firm conclusions can be made.
Mandarins deliver beneficial plant compounds like antioxidants. They boost your health by strengthening your immune system and promoting a healthy gut. They may even reduce your risk of kidney stones, but this area needs more research.
You can store whole mandarins at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Once peeled, they must be stored in the refrigerator. Whole mandarins stored in the refrigerator will keep for up to 6 weeks some people even prefer eating them cold.
Given that mandarins are thin-skinned and 85% water, they dont fare well in freezing temperatures below 32F (0C) (4).
For your convenience, you can also pre-peel and partition them into segments. These should also be stored in a sealed container or bag in the refrigerator.
Whole mandarins can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Peeled and segmented fruits should be kept in a sealed container or bag in the refrigerator.
Mandarin oranges are a different species from oranges.
There are up to 200 varieties and hybrids of mandarins around the world, including tangerines and clementines.
They boast many impressive nutrients, such as vitamin C and fiber, which are associated with improved immune function and gut health, respectively.
Store them at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Either way, they make a handy, scrumptious, and nutritious snack.
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Mandarin Orange: Nutrition Facts, Benefits, and Types - Healthline
LET’S GET PHYSICAL: Simple mindset shifts that will help you lose weight – The Bakersfield Californian
We tend to dread the idea of weight loss because we associate it with being difficult and a lot of work. Sure, it can be, depending on how you look at it. You already have so much going on kids soccer practice, work, cooking meals for the family, etc. By the time you even think of working on your weight loss, you feel so overwhelmed by it that it feels like, Why bother? I get it. But losing weight doesnt have to be stressful or overwhelming. Weight loss is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one, so its time to shift your perspective. You look in the mirror and pick your body apart If only my stomach were flatter and my legs were toner. You step on the scale and feel disappointed. Your clothes no longer fit you the way they did when you bought them, so you feel discouraged. The stress of knowing you have allowed yourself to get to this point starts to increase cortisol in your body, causing you to turn to your comfort foods and activities like binge-watching Netflix to help reduce your stress. Numerous studies have proven that increased cortisol levels, in combination with increased insulin levels, will increase the intake of high fat and sugary foods, which is why you are turning to your favorite foods instead of weight loss activity. This is what we in the fitness industry call the spiral effect. You are stuck maintaining the bad habits that have lead you to where you are now. The spiral effect has you feeling defeated and maintaining a negative correlation with weight loss before you even start. So how do you release yourself from the spiral effect? Well, for one, start looking at weight loss with a positive perspective as opposed to a negative one, starting with learning to be patient with yourself. It took you months, maybe even years to get to where you are now. Give yourself the same amount of time to reach your weight loss goals as it took you to gain the weight in the first place. Next, give yourself some love. Would you talk to your friends the way you have been talking to yourself in your head? Give yourself some compassion. Just because you are where you are doesnt mean you have to stay where you are. You are strong, capable and ready, so start to fall in love with the process of working on you. Love yourself for where you are while working toward where you want to be. Lastly, no more all-or-nothing approaches to your weight loss. You will only cause yourself more stress by trying to add in more activity than you can maintain with your crazy lifestyle. Its time you learn to fit your weight loss activity into your lifestyle, instead of your lifestyle around your weight loss. Choose one nutritional aspect to focus on at a time and set a maintainable activity schedule for yourself; anything extra, consider them bonus days. Alex Garzaro is a lifestyle strategist, weight losss expert for women and transformational speaker. The views expressed are her own.
We tend to dread the idea of weight loss because we associate it with being difficult and a lot of work. Sure, it can be, depending on how you look at it.
You already have so much going on kids soccer practice, work, cooking meals for the family, etc. By the time you even think of working on your weight loss, you feel so overwhelmed by it that it feels like, Why bother? I get it. But losing weight doesnt have to be stressful or overwhelming. Weight loss is as much of a mental battle as it is a physical one, so its time to shift your perspective.
You look in the mirror and pick your body apart If only my stomach were flatter and my legs were toner. You step on the scale and feel disappointed. Your clothes no longer fit you the way they did when you bought them, so you feel discouraged. The stress of knowing you have allowed yourself to get to this point starts to increase cortisol in your body, causing you to turn to your comfort foods and activities like binge-watching Netflix to help reduce your stress.
Numerous studies have proven that increased cortisol levels, in combination with increased insulin levels, will increase the intake of high fat and sugary foods, which is why you are turning to your favorite foods instead of weight loss activity. This is what we in the fitness industry call the spiral effect. You are stuck maintaining the bad habits that have lead you to where you are now.
The spiral effect has you feeling defeated and maintaining a negative correlation with weight loss before you even start. So how do you release yourself from the spiral effect?
Well, for one, start looking at weight loss with a positive perspective as opposed to a negative one, starting with learning to be patient with yourself. It took you months, maybe even years to get to where you are now. Give yourself the same amount of time to reach your weight loss goals as it took you to gain the weight in the first place.
Next, give yourself some love. Would you talk to your friends the way you have been talking to yourself in your head? Give yourself some compassion. Just because you are where you are doesnt mean you have to stay where you are. You are strong, capable and ready, so start to fall in love with the process of working on you. Love yourself for where you are while working toward where you want to be.
Lastly, no more all-or-nothing approaches to your weight loss. You will only cause yourself more stress by trying to add in more activity than you can maintain with your crazy lifestyle. Its time you learn to fit your weight loss activity into your lifestyle, instead of your lifestyle around your weight loss. Choose one nutritional aspect to focus on at a time and set a maintainable activity schedule for yourself; anything extra, consider them bonus days.
Alex Garzaro is a lifestyle strategist, weight losss expert for women and transformational speaker. The views expressed are her own.
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LET'S GET PHYSICAL: Simple mindset shifts that will help you lose weight - The Bakersfield Californian
Walnut For Weight Loss: Here’s why you should add it in the diet to lose extra kilos – PINKVILLA
Walnut For Weight Loss: Nutrients present in this nut aids weight watchers to lose extra kilos. Read on to know more.
How to lose weight is one of the most searched topics on Google as many people, especially now, during coronavirus pandemic have gained few kilos as locked down has restricted our movements and gymming. And many people have been sharing how being locked down has also made them prone to unwanted snacking. Instead of munching on packaged foods, one should include dried fruits and nuts as they are not only healthy but also prevents weight gain. Having said that, today we are talking about a nut which is beneficial for weight watchers.
Walnuts are a nutrient-packed nut and can help you to lose extra kilos. Speaking of its nutrition profile, the same boasts of several nutrients such as omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium, copper, vitamins A and D among others. The high levels of monounsaturated fats aka MUFAs and polyunsaturated fats aka PUFAs and other nutrients has several health benefits such as reduces inflammation, reduces the chances of heart diseases, controls diabetes and delays ageing and of course weight management. So, if you are watching your waistline then aside from a healthy balanced diet and physical activity, the inclusion of walnuts will only help you further to achieve your weight loss goal.
Alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA (a form of omega-3 fatty acids) which are found in walnuts prompts our body to burn fat.
As per one of the studies, PUFAs found in walnuts can lower the level of a hormone called ghrelin, which signals our body to feel hungry.
As per some reports, walnuts can stimulate the right insula in the brain. This region regulates food cravings and appetite.
The consumption of walnuts also leads to the production of a hormone called peptide YY (PYY) that increases satiety.
Did you inflammation and poor gut health can lead to weight gain and towards weight loss in some? Eating walnuts can fight inflammation and improve metabolism, thereby leading to weight loss.
Contrary to the belief that walnuts lead to weight gain, the healthy calories in walnuts will only help you. However, make sure to eat them in moderation.
Eat a handful of walnuts and drink a glass of water after half an hour, you will feel longer and the same will keep away from extra calories. You will also not have unwanted cravings post that.
NOTE: The above article is for informative purposes and should not be substituted for medical advice. Consult your physician before making changes in the diet.
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Walnut For Weight Loss: Here's why you should add it in the diet to lose extra kilos - PINKVILLA
THIS POWERFUL REMEDY WILL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, CLEAN YOUR COLON AND REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION IN YOUR – 360aproko
THIS POWERFUL REMEDY WILL HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT, CLEAN YOUR COLON AND REDUCE THE INFLAMMATION IN YOURSubscriber channel Life Well Lived https://goo.gl/oJ3EdI for a better lifeLife Well Lived is a channel that offers free videos about natural remedies, home remedies, alternative medicine, physical health advice, mental health and care of our body.
Disclaimer: Please consult a physician before beginning any treatment program or making any adjustment to your health care, diet, and/or lifestyle. Do not remove yourself from any prescribed medications or treatments without consulting your doctor. Any and all dietary supplements or nutritional products and treatments discussed on this video are not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. The information contained in this video is for general information and for educational purposes only. Nothing contained in this video is or shall be or considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should always seek the advice of a physician with any questions regarding their health or medical condition. Never disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical advice or following the advice of a physician because of something you have seen or watch on this video.
Climbing the walls: Derek Bish cooking up a storm in race to lose weight – expressandstar.com
There have been many things to help getting up for PE with Joe Wicks in the morning, extra play time with my children and all your fabulous ideas, which we will get to in future columns.
However, being at home all day brings with it the temptation to graze.
Who doesnt enjoy raiding the fridge, or the cupboard, or the secret chocolate stash, or even the kids Easter eggs when you are feeling a bit peckish?
It is like my evening has extended into a full 24 hours no wonder biscuits appear to be among the items supermarkets are particularly short of at the moment.
But shopping is also the thing that is going to help me get on the straight and narrow.
To be honest, the less we all have to go out at the moment, the better.
As the official message goes: Stay at home, help the NHS, save lives
And anyone who has ventured to the shops these past few days will know what a difficult experience it is.
Aside from the anxiety it brings and the challenge of staying two metres from people who want to pick up the same products, there is a case of having to make do with what is on the shelves. There is no point going out armed with a shopping list for a complex recipe, and the freezer aisles are also looking a little bare.
This is far from a complaint though in fact, perhaps we can all learn to cook a little better, a little healthier during this time. Get creative, pretend you are a Masterchef champion and, if it is not a hit with the family, try something else tomorrow.
People are sticking to what they know at this time, and understandably so, but be brave and try a new vegetable or a new fruit. Try mixing up your normal meals everything else has changed, so why not your meal planning?
Hopefully the penny has dropped with me in time for my first weigh-in next week.
I started this journey at 18 stone if I want to make inroads into that then I am going to have to put down the biscuits and pick up some cooking skills.
I want to hear and see what you are up to sporting-wise during lockdown the good and the bad so email your pictures and videos to derek.bish@expressandstar.co.uk or contact me on Twitter@DerekBish_Star
I will include the best ones in this column and retweet plenty of ideas that everyonecan get involved with.
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Climbing the walls: Derek Bish cooking up a storm in race to lose weight - expressandstar.com
Technologies vs the Bulge – Daily Times
Medical doctor, specialized in Health Services Management from Griffith University Australia. I am also alumina of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Most of us have been down the road where we have struggled to lose weight and keep it off. With the media portraying an image of a perfect body is, many of us try to keep at par with that flawlessness.
With ravishingly well-maintained divas and their smart male counterpart actors always insight on media, the common woman and man dream and desire to achieve the same level of body beautification at whatsoever be the cost.
Diet pills, plans and coaches boasting to peel off many kgs off our bodies in a matter of months; Facebook groups showing miraculously trimmed down people; Atkins, keto, Mediterranean diets, extreme calorie restriction diets are some of the few latest fad diets promising instant results.
Some people even opt for extreme measures bariatric surgeries, gastric balloons, liposuction or fat freezing to attain their dream bodies.
The bottom line remains that these current intervention approaches have significant shortcomings, playing more havoc than proving beneficial for our bodies. All these interventions are only shown to be effective when paired with lifestyle modifications.
Obesity is a global concern, the fifth leading cause of death, killing more than 2.8 million people each year (World Health Organization). The British Psychological Society (BPS) states that obesity is not a choice and psychological experiences play a significant role especially for people living with life challenges, traumas and those who are less incentivized to be more active.
Understanding food science is the key to realizing people and their food choices, as all foods are not created equal. Most meals are palatable or tasty to eat, such as an apple but certain foods such as pizza, cookies, chips or ice-creams are irresistible. According to scientists, a synergy between key ingredients; sugar, salt, fat or carbohydrates creates an artificially enhanced palatability experience activating brain reward neurocircuits similar to drugs like cocaine or opioids. Researches call this hyper palatability; eaters call it delicious. No wonder the obesity crisis has reached epidemic proportions.
A deeper understanding of how weight management and behaviour changes for obesity prevention are informed by psychology so that an environment is created in which people find it easier not to become overweight or obese in the first place. Today technology serves the purpose.
Recent emerging technological advances are now offering the promise to address challenges of losing weight and keeping it off. With more people than ever before now connected to the internet via their smartphones, advanced behavioural self-monitoring apps have resulted in the development of an assortment of eHealth weight management programs to achieve optimal health.
Thousands of health apps are available nowadays by mitigating barriers for healthier lifestyles via promoting weight management by automated prompts, reminders, information provision, self-monitoring, tracking and integration into social networking websites. These mobile apps for weight loss also include behavioural tracking and goal setting features.
Another breakthrough is the use of biosensors to detect and measure a substance of interest to provide an accurate picture of a persons health status.
Dietary apps used for monitoring and recording daily intakes of food and fluids, and calculating the requirements based on the physical statistics such as age height weight would become more efficient and effective when used with non-invasive biosensors. Many studies already show that clinical outcomes have improved where technologies have been implemented. Many overweight people have reduced the intake of sweet foods and drinks when using these apps by getting immediate feedback on the foods they are choosing. Some such apps are My Fitness Pal, Easy Diet Dairy, Kidney Diet, Sodium Manager, Carb Manager etc.
Other latest technologies introduced to the battle of the bulge are wearable devices that monitor fitness and personal health levels. The most recent of those is Apple Watch.
Many fitness-conscious individuals are widely using another wearable, Fitbit which tracks activity level, quality of sleep and other health data.
Technology holds the solution to our problems, but perhaps the ultimate answer lies in some combination of technology and human touch
Apps linked up with biosensors would be extremely beneficial in remote settings where access to a healthcare facility is limited for early detection of disease and self-assessment. With the epidemic of obesity spreading vivaciously, especially in the younger generations, the increased use of smartphones can be used efficiently to develop interventions to combat obesity.
Mobile app-based interventions are being used in Ireland, where more than 100,000 children are clinically obese. When used along with biosensors, they can not only be used to record but also monitor the health status of an individual. These can be shared electronically with medical professionals and centres.
To track the calorie intake-expenditure balance necessary for weight loss, exercise and food/drink consumption must be accurately measured. However, traditional methods of monitoring these factors are taxing and unreliable, resulting in poor adherence and accuracy. Accelerometers (e.g., in a band, watch or phone) now automatically capture movement and upload data to a tracking application. Automatic tracking of eating may soon be possible through bite, photographic or chemical analysis. For now, web and smartphone apps allow relatively simple tracking using extensive food databases and barcode scanners that are linked to nutritional data.
Researchers and clinicians have capitalized on the use of technologies, such as the internet and mobile devices (e.g., PDAs, smartphones, cellular phones), to deliver weight management interventions. Such platforms are attractive because they help overcome resource and access barriers encountered when delivering traditional face-to-face individual or group interventions. Consequently, these platforms may enhance our ability to produce a significant and healthy change in larger segments of the obese population.
This can serve as a practical and cost-effective intervention which has always been a bottleneck in health, capable of reaching millions and serve as a life-saving device by monitoring obesity and its related risk factors. Such apps can then calculate and make a comprehensive specialized chart catering to the individuals requirements comprising of the daily caloric count, type of foods to be consumed and level of physical activity needed.
An amalgam of increasing life expectancies, sedentary lifestyles and chronic debilitating diseases, technology can play a significant role to mitigate these challenges.
The smartphone acts as a gateway to developing solutions to many of our health-related problems and pressures. Wearable biosensors can demonstrate most up to date and valid data at every single point in time giving a clear picture of a persons health status and establish a relationship between patients and providers continuum of care.
Many companies like Zephyr and AliveCor have already developed biosensors to monitor vitals and assess when medical intervention is needed. Taking it further, these biosensors can provide testing, imaging and diagnosis, all by the help of a simple biosensor operated mobile app even in resource-poor settings.
The biggest challenge to biosensors remains regulations, compliance and standards of biosensor technologies in providing sensitive, specific and quality data to ensure optimal patient safety and security.
Technology holds the solution to our problems, but perhaps the ultimate answer lies in some combination of technology and human touch, in other words, what some call touch plus tech.
The writer is Health Services Management from Griffith University Australia, alumina of John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
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Technologies vs the Bulge - Daily Times