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Traders Magazine Online News, August 25, 2017

John D'Antona Jr.

Wall Street has historically been a mans world.

And while women have made inroads all across the financial industry, men still seem to dominate trading desks. Now, one group of researchers has decided to more closely examine what drives a male trader to either hit a bid or lift an offering. A group of researchers with the Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ont., set out to look at the role of testosterone on the markets.

In a recent CBC Canada report, the researchers explained that they wanted to simulate what happens when people are at elevated levels ... how would they trade with high testosterone.

For their "experimental market" study, researchers divided 140 men into two groups and let them do mock trading amongst themselves. One group received a placebo treatment the other, a topical gel containing testosterone.

Amos Nadler is an assistant finance professor with the Ivey Business School at Western University. He was involved in the study on financial trading and testosterone. He told CBC that the testosterone-fuelled group was more reckless in its trading, willing to bid well above the value of a given commodity in hopes of a higher return. Researchers say the behavior increased the odds of a market crash.

By comparison, the placebo group was trading more rationally, buying low to sell high, instead of buying high to sell higher.

"Your body produces more testosterone when you prepared for a challenge ... even more testosterone when you are winning," said Nadler.

The Wall Street experience

When the financial crash hit Wall Street a decade ago, a funny thing happened. Male financial executives started turning to doctors for testosterone supplements in hopes it would boost their output and sharpen their faculties.

"All of these men are under tons of stress, and stress will reduce their levels of testosterone," said Manhattan-based Dr. Lionel Bissoon in a story in the Financial Times in 2012

Nadler said studies based on gender rather than the male hormone found that women also tend to keep a more level head in the high-adrenalin setting of a trading floor.

"Single males over-traded and lost the most money, while women tend to be more conservative and actually make more money than men," said Nadler

Impulsive trading can sometimes be good

The Ivey study was done in collaboration with the University of Oxford and Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, Calif.

While it found that testosterone clearly played a role in more reckless trading and spending, Nadler cautions male traders aren't all bad.

"Being slightly more impulsive can be a good thing ... there are some results that showed the higher-testosterone guys made a bit more money than their counterparts," said Nadler.

"It can also be very harmful in some situations if you are being impulsive."

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Elevated Testosterone Linked to 'Reckless' Financial Trading, Study Finds - Traders Magazine

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This week, lets take a look at omega fatty acids and try to put some clarity around these essential fats. We have all seen a fair amount of information regarding omega 3 fatty acids and the importance to our overall health to get enough omega 3s in our diet. Omega 3 fatty acids are just one aspect of fats in our diet.

First, lets look at what makes up a fatty acid. Now without getting too deep into chemistry, there are three primary types of fatty acids: long-chain, medium-chain and short-chain. What defines these guys are the number of carbon molecules that make up the fatty acids structure. Carbon molecules also change how the human body utilizes these fatty acids and establishes them as either healthy or perhaps not so healthy for your diet.

There is one particular fatty acid to be avoided. Trans fatty acids, often referred to as trans fats, are created by manufacturers through the hydrogenation process to solidify liquid oils. These fatty acids are nasty for your health and found in many everyday food products. The primary reason oils are hydrogenated is to increase their shelf life and work as a food preservative.

But what about omega 3, omega 6 and the even less talked about omega 9 fatty acids? Healthy fat is essential for normal growth and development and can build on a persons overall nutrition wellness. As discussed in prior articles, low-fat, fat-free and no-fat-ever diets which have vilified fats with a broad brush is just not a healthy dietary plan for humans.

Healthy dietary fat provides energy, protects our organs, maintains cell membranes and helps the body absorb and process nutrients. Even better, it helps the body become very good at burning fat. Many times when you are working with a dietitian regarding weight-loss, they recommend at least one-third of your calories come from healthy dietary fat.

Another point regarding most fats is they have two essential fatty acids, linolenic and linoleic acid. These cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from a food source. These essential healthy fats that are found in plant foods are used to build omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are essential for the proper functioning of all tissues of the body.

Omega 3 fatty acids are needed in our diet for optimal nutrition and health. Since omega 3 fatty acids do not synthesize in the human body, we must rely on getting enough through the foods we eat. The best sources of omega 3s are cold milled pure flax, raw pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, raw walnuts and wild salmon. A tablespoon of cold pressed virgin coconut oil taken with the seeds aids in omega 3 absorptions.

Omega 6 fatty acids, like omega 3 fatty acids, cannot be synthesized in the human body, so again we must rely on food sources to keep our levels up. Unfortunately, if you consume a lot of corn or vegetable oil, you are likely getting too much omega 6 in your diet. If you eat healthily and avoid processed oils, your best sources of omega 6s are hemp hearts, sesame, sunflower and raw almonds. Omega 6 plays an important role in immune system support and blood pressure regulation.

Omega 9 fatty acids are considered an unsaturated fat and are common in both vegetable and animal fats. Omega 9 fatty acids are specifically oleic acid and considered a non-essential fatty acid since the human body can synthesize omega 9 from many of the things we eat on a daily basis. The most common food source of omega 9 fatty acids is olive oil and nut oils. In moderation, omega 9 fatty acids help support brain and heart function.

We need healthy fats to be included in our daily nutrition to maintain the right balance of omega 3-6-9. Recently, it has been found that some omega 3 and omega 6 in pill form are substandard and even mildly toxic. Be sure if you take the supplement route, buy quality products.

Many people ask Can I take too much omega fatty acids? and the answer is yes. The daily recommended amount is 0.3 to 0.5 grams. However, many people have jumped on the omega fatty acid bandwagon and take up to 3 grams of omega 3 fatty acids a day through fish oil, which for people without health concerns can be regarded as safe.

Keep in mind that it can be dangerous to take too much fish oil in your efforts to get your omega 3. Over consumption of fish oil can lead to blood thinning and even strokes. Omega 6 is also something that can cause health problems when consumed in large doses. Omega 6 can directly raise blood pressure, cause blood clots to form and lead to heart attacks.

It is always an excellent idea to consult with your physician before starting a regimen of omega 3 or omega 6 to see if they would advise this based on your current health. Certain medical conditions and medication can cause an adverse reaction to omega fatty acids.

Be smart, cautious, take in moderation and if you have concerns, seek medical advice from a health care provider.

Judd Jones is a director for The Hagadone Corporation and Certified Health Coach.

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JUDD JONES: Getting enough omegas - Coeur d'Alene Press

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Before he faces off against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather, UFC champion Conor McGregor must conquer the scale.

And that could prove an even more dangerous opponent.

In pre-fight trash talk, Mayweather has claimed that McGregor looks extremely heavy and has been scrambling to try to drop 10 pounds. (Both fighters have to come in under 154 pounds at the weigh-in on Friday afternoon if their much-hyped bout is to proceed.)

The truth is, though, shedding 10 pounds in a couple days is no big deal for most MMA fighters.In the past, McGregor has reportedly cut more than 25 pounds in eight days time.

The key question is whether they can do it without damaging their health. And even the nutritionist charged with guiding McGregor to his fighting weight said thats a difficult balance.

Its nothing Id recommend to everyday people, George Lockhart, the nutritionist, told STAT in an interview. I always tell people if health was your number one priority, MMA is not the sport you should be going into.

MMA fighters are known to dehydrate themselves using everything from saunas to sweat suits, hot baths to water pills to shed up to dozens of pounds in the days ahead of a weigh-in. After making weight, they try to quickly regain it by eating food and drinking water in hopes of gaining the competitive advantage of size over their opponent.

Lockhart, a former fighter and Marineveteran, generally starts on the Tuesday before a weigh-in. He removes sodium from a fighters diet and offers herbal diuretics that include potassium to replenish lost nutrients. Hell also have a fighter taper water consumption over several days two gallons on Tuesday, one gallon on Wednesday, occasional sips when thirsty on Thursday. The day before the weigh in, Lockhart takes carbohydrates out of fighters diet and cleans out his or her intestinal tract. On that final night, fighters sometimes work out or take a hot bath.He monitors vitals, including body temperature and blood pressure, throughout the process.

Ten pounds in four days is like a hiccup, Lockhart said. What Floyds talking about, it just shows hes probably never cut weight before.

But dropping weight that fast even just 10 pounds draws concerns from doctors. Dr. Larry Lovelace, a ringside physician in California, told STAT several fighters have died over the past few years from the practice, which athletic officials have called the biggest problem in the sport today.

A 2013 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that 39 percent of MMA fighters studied experienced significant or serious dehydration before their fights. Lovelace said the body doesnt fully rehydrate for at least two days well after a fight ends. That means fighters could experience muscle cramps and loss in agility while in the ring, he said.

It only takes 2 percent dehydration to impair your performance, Lovelace said. Theres no way theyre going to recover, and its definitely going to affect their performance.

There are bigger health risks, too. They include:

The brain: When a fighter takes a punch to the head, the brain rattles off the front and the back of the skull. Thats not healthy in the best of conditions. Dehydration makes it worse. The brain is bathed in fluid, said Dr. Edmund Ayoub, vice president of the Association of Ringside Physicians. Without that fluid, the brain has less cushion. Therefore, the risk of injury could be greater for a fighter who spars during the process of weight cutting. The brain can hit harder against the skull, Ayoub said. You may have more [risk for] brain injury.

The heart: A fighters heart beats faster than normal when dehydrated. If you normally walk around with a resting heart rate of 72, now it may be 90 or 100, Lovelace said. So going into a cage to fight, there are potential cardiac risks.

In a 2013 interview with Vice Sports, ringside physician Dr. Michael Kelly said dehydration can impact how the body regulates sodium and potassium levels and, in turn, mess with the cardiac fibers conducting electricity inside the heart. So if those signals arent propagating along the channel correctly, Kelly said, the heart can go into an irregular heartbeat or fatal heart rhythm and wind up in cardiac arrest.

The kidneys:Nephrons, the tiny structures inside the kidney that produce urine to remove waste from the body, malfunction without enough water.Your kidneys literally dry up, Ayoub said. When kidneys get dried up, you can get kidney damage. In 2015, fighter Johny Hendricks had to be rushed to the emergency room after weight cutting led to intestinal blockage and a kidney stone. Doctors say theyre also at risk of sustaining chronic kidney issues due to the practice.

Ayoub thinks fighters would remain healthy if they made sure to lose no more than 2 percent of their body weight each week. If McGregor had to lose 10 pounds, for instance, he should aim to shed it over three weeks instead of just one, Ayoub said.

Lovelace, though, said there is nothing to be gained from the practice of weight cutting,in part because both fighters are often doing the same thing, canceling out any potential advantage from packing on pounds immediately after the weigh-in.

Lockhart, for his part, believes fighters will keep cutting weight no matter what. So he considers it his job to help them do it as safely as possible. Theres no degree for weight cutting, Lockhart said. You need people to show them how to do it in the proper way.

MMA writer Iain Kidd, who has observed Lockharts training methods for a forthcoming book, puts it this way: There are ways to do it safer but not ways to do it safely.

Republished with permission fromSTAT. This articleoriginally appearedon August 25, 2017

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How Conor McGregor's Weight Loss Ahead of His Big Fight May Harm His Body - Scientific American

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She used to smash burgers, now she smashes triathlons. Picture: Supplied

TWO YEARS ago, Elle Gooddall was a very different person.

My whole life was based around food, she tells Kidspot. I didnt do any physical activity at all. There were times when I tried I knew I needed to lose weight but it never lasted very long.

At her heaviest, Elle weighed 184 kilograms.

I ate McDonalds and KFC three meals a day and it wasnt just one meal for each sitting it was about three.

The now 29-year-old had diabetes and sleep apnoea. Doctors told her she wouldnt live past 40 if she continued with her unhealthy lifestyle.

At her heaviest, Elle couldn't reach to tie her own shoes and had to have others help her stand from a seated position. Photo: SuppliedSource:Facebook

When food is your life and its taken away

Elle knew she would have to do something drastic, but when her doctor mentioned a gastric sleeve, she was resistant at first.

I wasnt keen on surgery, she said. Id never had surgery in my life and the thought scared me.

With a gastric sleeve they cut out and remove half your stomach so whats left is quite small.

Elle first tried to lose weight on her own, but wasnt able to, and in the end decided to have surgery.

In preparation, she went on a shake diet to lose fat around her liver, saw a dietitian and psychologist too to make sure she was mentally prepared.

When food is your life, mentally you need to be able to cope. This thing you rely on is being taken away. Thats what the surgery is; it makes it so you cant eat anymore, she says.

At 184 kilograms, doctors were concerned Elle wouldn't live past 40. Photo: FacebookSource:Facebook

Losing more than 100 kilograms

It took Elle a year and a half to lose 115 kilograms.

It was quick, quicker that most people because of the changes I made along with surgery, Elle said.

Four weeks after surgery my doctor cleared me to exercise. I started working out, walking on the treadmill, doing weights.

Elle knew she didnt want to slip back into her old life, but it wasnt easy.

I was the worst person to be around. I was so angry. Id throw things across the room if my husband told me I couldnt have food, she said.

Eventually I started to learn about food and the amazing flavours you can get out of eating healthy. I started making my own soups, experimenting with herbs and spices.

The flavours were so much better than what I was getting from McDonalds.

Then one day she met a woman who had had the same gastric surgery.

Shed put all the weight back on and then some. I told myself, Thats not going to be me. I cant afford for this not to work, she says.

As a teenager, Elle loved to swim, and she returned to the sport after surgery. Photo: FacebookSource:Facebook

How to conquer an Iron Man

Cleaning up her eating and exercising for the sake of it wasnt enough for Elle.

I wanted to do something drastic, she says. I wanted to fall in love with something. I knew I wanted to find a sport, and because I used to be a swimmer, I thought swimming would have something to do with it.

One day she was at the lake and began talking with a stranger who had been training with the local triathlon club.

I said to her, I wouldnt mind giving that a go, but Im quite a big girl. It feels pretty extreme, she says.

The woman replied, If you want to do triathlon, you will and you can.

She became Elles coach. They set some short term goals with the ultimate goal to complete the Noosa triathlon. The distance is 1500 metre swim, 40 kilometre cycle and 10 kilometre run.

I started training and I havent looked back, she said.

Elle's ultimate goal is to race in the Kona triathlon world championship. Photo: FacebookSource:Facebook

When you cross that finish line, its all worth it

Weight loss was Elles motivation at first, but it quickly took second place to fitness as she began to love triathlon.

I dont have a weight goal now. I dont weigh myself anymore, Im not interested in that anymore, she says.

My story isnt a weight loss story, its a story of health and fitness. My goals are fitness goals. I want to get to the finish line of an iron man in December, and then get a position in Kona, which is the Hawaii world championship.

Its going to mean a lot of hard, hard work, but Im pretty determined.

This article originally appeared on Kidspot.

You don't need to go to the gym every day or go on a strict diet to lose weight. Here are some top weight loss tips from 'The Diet Doctor' Moodi Dennaoui and PT and former Survivor contestant Tegan Haining.

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How Ellie managed to lose a whopping 115kg - NEWS.com.au

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By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- What you eat, or don't eat, affects the mix of germs in your digestive tract, new research indicates.

Thousands of microbial species thrive in the human intestine, helping people digest fiber and make vitamins and other molecules. They also help strengthen the immune system and protect against potentially harmful bacteria, Stanford University School of Medicine researchers say.

The rise in farming some 15,000 years ago dramatically changed the human diet, the researchers noted. And in just the last 100 years, people have become increasingly sedentary and less likely to consume fiber-rich whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Antibiotics, cesarean sections and other lifestyle changes have also helped shift the composition of microbes in the human gut, the study authors added.

To see how "progress" may have affected microbial diversity, the researchers examined seasonal changes in the gut microbes of the Hadza in Tanzania -- one of the world's last remaining traditional hunter-gatherer populations.

The Hadza rely primarily on meat, berries, baobab (a fruit), tubers and honey. The researchers found their gut bacteria different and more diverse than the gut bacteria of those living in the cities of industrialized countries.

"The 100 to 200 Hadza sticking to this routine will possibly lose it in a decade or two, maybe sooner. Some are using cell phones now," senior study author Justin Sonnenburg said in a Stanford news release.

"We wanted to take advantage of this rapidly closing window to explore our vanishing microbiota," said Sonnenburg, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology.

Stool samples from the Hadza showed their mix of gut microbes changes with the seasons and their diet.

The significant modifications made to the human diet over the past 10,000 years could help explain the loss of diversity in the germs residing in the typical modern digestive tract, the study suggests.

"Surviving hunter-gatherer populations are the closest available proxy to a time machine we in the modern industrialized world can climb into to learn about the ways of our remote human ancestors," Sonnenburg said.

"Our own microbiota can change significantly from day to day, or even within hours, in response to what we've been eating," said Sonnenburg. "Fiber's all that's left at the very end of our digestive tract where these microbes live, so they've evolved to be very good at digesting it. The Hadza get 100 or more grams of fiber a day in their food, on average. We average 15 grams per day."

The findings were published Aug. 25 in the journal Science.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCE: Stanford University School of Medicine, news release, Aug. 24, 2017

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Human Gut Germs Dictated by Diet - WebMD

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If youve ever considered going on a diet, chances are youve contemplated a juice cleanse. It seems like practically every other fit celebrity and model has touted the miracle benefits of juicing as a way to detox your body and shed those pesky extra pounds. But as it turns out, these juice cleanses may not actually good for you.

Personal trainer Justin Gelband, who works with some of the most famous Victorias Secret models, including Karlie Kloss, Candice Swanepoel and Miranda Kerr, recently revealed that those fad juice cleanse diets can actually backfire.

SWIMSUIT MODEL KATE UPTON ENDURES GRUELING MARINES WORKOUT TO RAISE AWARENESS

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

A juice cleanse involves strict calorie restriction, consuming only fruit and vegetable liquids for anywhere from a few days to weeks. Popular juice companies claim that cleansing provides a number of benefits, like detoxing the liver, providing mental clarity and shedding a few pounds. But when you restrict calorie intake, your body can actually start holding onto extra calories, according to some experts.

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

Juicing also removes the beneficial parts of the fruits and vegetables. Youre getting rid of the fiber and a lot of the nutrition that is in the peel and the skin and youre leaving behind all that concentrated sugar, registered nutritionist Andy Bellatti told Business Insider.

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So whats Gelbands trick to whipping models into shape and getting them runway-ready? He makes them eat. "Food is key to energy," he said.

While Gelband says there is no one-size-fits-all diet, he is a fan of eating Paleo, which focusses on consuming foods that were around in the stone-age, like fruit, vegetables, roots and nuts.

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Victoria's Secret trainer blames this diet for making his model clients ... - Fox News

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Published 5:51pm, Saturday, August 26, 2017

Letter to the Editor: Plant-based diet, fewer children key to sustainable future

Dear former Vice President Al Gore:

At Friends of Animals, we laud Al Gore for his work on climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our time.

However, after seeing the An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, it would be more appropriately called the Inconvenient Half Truth.

In your efforts to give a voice to the truths of the climate movement that climate is changing due to human activity you focus on a shift to clean energy as the best way to solve the crisis, and thats not the whole truth.

For the climate movement to reach a tipping point, you have to address the fact that animal agriculture emits at least 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in carbon dioxide. In the U.S. the primary greenhouse gases emitted by animal farms have 20 times and 300 times the global warming potential of CO2 startling when you consider that 115 million pigs and 33 million cows are slaughtered in the U.S. every year.

And what about human overpopulation? Humans are the most overpopulated animals on the planet. Period.

The carbon legacy and greenhouse gas impact of a child is almost 20 times more important than some of the environmentally sensitive practices people might employ their entire lives.

Friends of Animals is not anti-children; it is pro family planning and reducing the number of children we have voluntarily.

You address the powerful utility and mining lobbyists fighting against solar development and lament President Trumps decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement.

While those are obstacles to a sustainable future, there is nothing that can stop people from choosing a plant-based diet, having only one child, adopting a child or having no children at all. They are achievable call to actions. The government cant repress what people choose to put on their plates.

A combination of plant-based diets, smaller families and renewable energy is the trifecta of climate change to propel us into a sustainable future. And thats the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Priscilla Feral

President, Friends of Animals

Darien

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Letter to the Editor: Plant-based diet, fewer children key to sustainable future - New Haven Register

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Rhonda Ross, WZZM 6:00 AM. EDT August 27, 2017

Cardboard box of assorted vegetables on kitchen counter(Photo: Getty Images)

GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. - This may come as no surprise -- but having a healthy diet plays a large role in overall wellness.And September is a good month to start thinking about getting in some extra fruits and veggies. That's because it's Fruits & Veggies - More Matters Month.

Fun fact - Did you know that half of your plate (at every meal and snack) should consist of fruits and veggies?

Amy Ritemafrom OnSite Wellness joined the weekend morning news with some ways to get more fruits and veggies in your diet.

OnSite Wellness has certified dieticians on-staff that can guide companies and individuals towards living a healthy lifestyle through proper diet, fruit and veggie consumption. The OnSite Wellness team takes the time to establish relationships with clients to help them incorporate fruits and veggies into their daily routine.

OnSite Wellness is located at 3020 Charlevoix Dr SE in Grand Rapids. You can visit their website, http://www.onsitewellnessllc.com

2017 WZZM-TV

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When you see the same ideas repeated over and over, they can start to sink in. Without ever fully connecting the dots, I started avoiding hummus and stocking up on coconut oil. My thinking (and eating habits) also got Paleo-washed in other ways. These are some examples of the ways the Paleo trendwhich emphasizes eating what our cavemen ancestors didinfluenced my perspective on nutrition:

These shifts snuck up on me gradually, though, and I rarely considered the drawbacks of these beliefs. If anything, I thought I was simply staying current with the latest and greatest nutritional wisdom. Even as I increased the number of skin-on chicken thighs and raw milk cheeses in my fridge, I was sure that my diet was far healthier than what most Americans were eating: I shunned fast food and highly-processed fare, and I lived by food activist and author Michael Pollans edict that you shouldnt eat anything your great grandmother wouldnt recognize. I ate a lot of farmers market vegetables cooked in plenty of butter. (Here are 7 things you should be buying at the farmers' market but aren't.)

But all the while, unbeknownst to me, my cholesterol was creeping up. Way up.

MORE: 12 Foods That Lower Cholesterol Naturally

I was shocked in May when my doctor brought up cholesterol-lowering medication after a blood test that showed my LDLthe bad cholesterolhad reached 187. She gave me six months to get my number down; if it hit 190, she'd put meon prescription medication.

This was right around the time the American Health Association issued a strongly-worded advisory about saturated fat, based on a review of the best and most up-to-date research. The gist was that saturated fat, in spite of recent media reports to the contrary, is still terrible for heart health.

After several years of headlines claiming that butter was back and that beef is a wholesome whole food, this warning was confusing, to say the least. Arguments discrediting the report cropped up all over the internet. (Buying 100% grass fed beef can be tricky. Here's your ultimate guide to avoiding the fake stuff.)

But with my own heart health on the line, I decided to fully embrace conventional wisdom and follow the AHA's advice. It seemed like the safest bet. I bid bye-bye to my stash of virgin coconut oil and grass-fed ghee and started following the tried, true, and unsexy advice about how to reduce cholesterol and improve heart health.

MORE: Surprise! These 6 Foods Are Great For Your Heart

Back to basicsOvernight, my diet went from vaguely Paleo-ish to mostly vegan. Though the AHA doesn't specifically recommend a vegan diet, I wanted to go as far as possible to cut saturated fat and cholesterol (translation: meat and dairy) from my diet.

For the next two months, I ate as many cholesterol-lowering foods as possible, including the very thingslike oats, whole grains, beans, fruit, and soythat have been sworn off by much of the low-carb crowd. (Here are 6 slow cooker oatmeal recipes that will make your mornings a breeze.)

I gave up eggs for breakfast, favoring almond butter or avocado on sprouted wheat toast, oatmeal, or tofu scrambles. I quit cheese, milk, cream, and yogurt cold turkey. And I have eaten virtually no meatonly the occasional piece of wild salmon. (That's less than the twice-a-week the AHA suggests we eat fish, but as much of the good stuff as my budget allows.)

Here's how to know if the fish you eat is sustainable:

This approach to eating might sound dreary to some, but I actually love this food. I grew up vegetarian, so Ive never had hang-ups about needing meat to be satisfied with a meal. Ive reunited with some of my all-time favorite stapleshummus, tofu, pasta. (Make crispy pan fried tofu with these easy directions.) Before my cholesterol diagnosis, in the sway of the low-carb cult, my relationship with these ingredients had grown complicated. Now I felt free to love them again.

MORE: The Beginners Guide To Going Vegetarian Without Getting Sick

Within a few weeks, I was feeling better. I had more energy, for one thing. During stricter stints on a Paleo-style plan, I would wonder why my arms seemed so heavy during yoga classes or why I didnt want to walk anywhere. Without enough carbs, I felt weak and drained. It was only when toast came back into my life that I made the connection.

The most surprising part of the whole experience for me was that I lost weight while eating a substantial amount of pasta, bread, and beans. I had come to believe that this was impossible; that carbs are the enemy of weight management. Within a week, my stomach wasnt bloated for the first time in ages and my skin looked bright and clear. I thought the infernal Whole30 cleanse had a monopoly on these kinds of results?

Im not a patient person, so I wasn't willing to wait six months for a new round of blood work to confirm what I was already feeling. I scheduled new tests after only 8 weeks, not expecting too much. I just thought a little movement in the right direction would be the encouragement I needed to stick with my new plan. (If you're over 50, make sure you schedule these 5 blood tests.)

When the results came in and I saw I had dropped my LDL by a shocking 35 points, I was as proud of anything as Id ever been in my life. After being told repeatedly by my doctor and others that the high cholesterol was likely genetic, I felt like I had some agency over my own health again.

MORE:Exactly What One Woman Ate To Get Off Her Cholesterol Meds

My HDLthats the good cholesterolwas up 11 points as well. At 152, my LDL remains in the borderline high range. Id like to get it under 129 so I can move into the near optimal territory. And at this point, I have the information and tools I need to do just that.

I know there are many paths to well being and many ways to put together a healthy diet. Certainly, weve all heard testimonials from the Paleo camp about positive health outcomes, and I have no reason to doubt these stories. But for me, it's clear that a plant-based diet is the foundation for good health.

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I Ditched The Paleo Diet And Lowered My Cholesterol 35 Points - Prevention.com

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When a person enlists in the U.S. military, in addition to going through a standard physical exam, there may also be tests someday for physical strength and range of motion -- if a joint project involving the Department of Defense and a Fitchburg startup proves successful.

Kiio, a company whose technology helps screen people for muscle-related injuries and monitors the progress of their treatment, has enrolled the first participants in a study to see how likely an enlistee is to suffer chronic tendinopathy and to track how well treatment is working.

The $1.3 million, three-year grant will study 318 participants in a test that will be conducted at UW-Madison and analyzed by the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.

It is one of two significant developments for Kiio this summer that could open a lot of doors for the young company.

Tendinopathy refers to tendon damage, often caused by overuse.

"When we think about military injuries, we think of injuries having to do with guns and bombs," said Dave Grandin, Kiio CEO. But, he said, studies have shown non-combat musculoskeletal injuries are the leading cause of limited-duty days and disability in the U.S. military.

If enlistees are checked for the strength and range of motion of various tendons from the start, Grandin said, it would create a baseline to help "predict the onset of an injury but also help to rehabilitate someone when they do have an injury."

Kiio's wireless sensor measures strength and endurance of muscles, and the company's software shows the results on an electronic tablet.

The testing process, developed in collaboration with the UW-La Crosse, will look at people who are physically fit and between the ages of 18 and 42 who are not necessarily enlistees but might have the physical qualifications, Grandin said. Nearly 30 percent of the participants will have tendinopathy; the others will not.

"Chronic tendinopathy is one of the most common musculoskeletal diseases," said Dr. John Wilson, who is directing the study at the UW-Madison. "There is currently no efficient, standardized, objective method to quantify tendon performance, and this is a significant limitation in our ability to assess treatment efficacy."

The University of Miami team will develop a normal database and create an algorithm that will be used to track treatment and to prevent injuries.

Grandin said Kiio will receive about $700,000 of the federal grant while the rest will go to UW-Madison and University of Miami.

He said if the study shows the effectiveness of Kiio's technology, it could be a tool not only for the military but for all types of sports.

Meanwhile, Kiio also has received a $1 million investment from a company whose name is not yet being disclosed.

Grandin said the investment will be used to work toward commercializing a new program for the company aimed at helping people with lower-back pain, a problem that affects up to one-fourth of U.S. adults each year, according to the National Institutes of Health.

"The cost associated with this problem ... is massive," Grandin said.

He said Kiio's technology can screen a patient to determine the type of back pain and guide the person through the appropriate exercises that don't require special equipment. A pilot program is underway on that, Grandin said.

"It prevents people from using services they don't need to use, like opioids, steroids or spine surgery," he said.

Kiio, founded in 2011, has raised more than $5 million so far and has 16 employees.

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