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Study: Gluten-free diet could be risky – Jamestown Sun
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A new study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that gluten-free diets could increase the risk of heart attack for people who don't have celiac disease.
"Any time a study like this comes out, that's great," said Olson, marketing specialist with the North Dakota Wheat Commission and immediate past chairwoman of the national Wheat Foods Council.
The study's conclusion: "Long-term dietary intake of gluten was not associated with risk of coronary heart disease. However, the avoidance of gluten may result in reduced consumption of beneficial whole grains, which may affect cardiovascular risk. The promotion of gluten-free diets among people without celiac disease should not be encouraged."
The study examined more than 100,000 people without a history of heart disease. It began in 1986 and was updated every four years until 2010.
The size and length of the study make it particularly meaningful, Olson said.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance, prevents people from digesting gluten normally. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. The condition damages the surface of the small intestines and blocks the ability to absorb certain nutrients.
The disease also is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, which is reduced with a gluten-free diet, the study notes.
Estimates of the number of Americans with celiac disease vary, with some as high as 3 million and others much lower. Some people the number is unclear also have a condition called non-celiac gluten sensitivity, in which gluten causes some symptoms even though celiac disease isn't present.
Whatever the actual number of people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, they're exceeded by the number of Americans who are wary of eating gluten. Twenty-one percent of people surveyed say they "actively try to include gluten-free foods in their diet," according to a 2015 Gallup Poll.
Other surveys estimate that roughly one in three Americans are trying to cut back or eliminate gluten from their diet.
That's bad for farmers who raise wheat especially in North Dakota, which typically leads the nation in production of hard red spring wheat, prized by millers for its gluten strength.
When consumers avoid gluten, "It damages markets and market share. It's just one more thing our dedicated producers have to worry about," said Neal Fisher, administrator of the North Dakota Wheat Commission.
The new study and other studies released previously show that, "Unless you have celiac disease, you shouldn't avoid wheat foods or gluten. In fact, it's quite beneficial to most people's health," Fisher said.
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Study: Gluten-free diet could be risky - Jamestown Sun
Is It Time to Ditch Your Whole30 Diet? – Men’s Journal
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Nutritional challenges detoxes, cleanses, juice fasts are known for taking over offices, CrossFit boxes, and other communal spaces that thrive on both peer support and competition. The Whole30 Program is of that ilk. The 30-day, highly restrictive diet is less known for the foods it allows (small portions of meat and seafood, some fruit, vegetables, eggs, and natural fats) and more for whats off the table: sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, dairy, soy, and any junk foods made with approved ingredients (even Whole Foods fanciest plantain chips are a no-go).
Its a tough plan to follow, which is at least part of the appeal. Jamey Rice, RD, LD, Nutrition Coach and Sports Dietitian at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, sees guys attempt diets like the Whole30 to measure their motivation and will power. Others hope to drop pounds or remedy skin and digestive issues. While the goals are valid, the approach, for most people, is misguided.
Youre unlikely to do any significant damage in 30 days, but Rice points out that slashing whole food groups can, over time, lead to nutrient deficiencies. With a lot of your fortified grains, she says, youre going to be missing some iron and a lot of those key minerals that are important for overall health, for blood flow, for wellness, for those healthy red blood cells. And dairy is a key source of calcium and protein for many people. Its true that those nutrients can be supplemented with the right combination of fruits and vegetables, but without the input of a dietitian, you may fall short of your recommended daily requirements.
And thats the other thing that makes Rice wary of the Whole30: most dieters are doing it without the support and guidance of a medical professional. Elimination diets can pinpoint sensitives and intolerances to certain foods, but they need to be managed by a doctor or dietitian who can provide supervision and run labs as needed.
Despite the red flags, Whole30 has a few positive attributes. Rice appreciates the month-long moratorium on weighing oneself and taking measurements, as constant assessment can be discouraging and cause people to lose sight of their long-term goals. She also likes the whole foods approach. Theyre really trying to focus on lean meats and fruits and vegetables, and going back to the basics, which is what most of us need to be doing, she says. Still, the risks outweigh the benefits.
The better approach:Rice explains that it really depends on your goals and lifestyle, but shes seen many athletes achieve long-term success with flex dieting. On this type of plan, dieters track their macronutrients, or macros carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. The prescribed mix is tailored to the individual, their physical make-up, and their level and type of daily activity. And it allows for some real-life flexibility; as long as you account for the extra fat and carbs, you can have the occasional slice of birthday cake.
Apps like MyFitnessPal and My Macros simplify food logging, while commercial meal plans grounded in macro-tracking like Renaissance Periodization, Eat to Perform, and Designed to Fit Nutrition provide more personalization and, in some cases, one-on-one coaching with a credentialed expert, which Rice believes is crucial. It comes down to if theyre able to accurately calculate their macros as well, she says. When Im in a facility like this and I can help people do that, its a lot more effective than if theyre trying to assess their own needs and they arent really sure how to go about it. Avoid cookie-cutter templates and work directly with a registered dietitian (R.D). Or, if you follow an intense training cycle, you may want to seek out a certified specialist in sports dietetics (C.S.S.D.).
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Is It Time to Ditch Your Whole30 Diet? - Men's Journal
Choose a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods – Elko Daily Free Press
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Dear Doctor: Can the food we eat affect chronic inflammation in the body?
Dear Reader: In our previous column, we addressed the first half of a two-part question about inflammation what it is, and how it can be affected by diet. In answering the first half of the question, we discussed the two main types of inflammation and how they take place.
To (briefly) recap: Inflammation is the bodys immune response to a perceived threat. Acute inflammation, a short-lived reaction to injury, trauma or infection, causes swelling, redness, and a sensation of heat and pain. Chronic inflammation, a low-level reaction, takes place below the threshold of pain. As a result, it tends to fly under the radar. But unlike acute inflammation, which abates when the threat has been neutralized, chronic inflammation continues. It has been linked to heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, obesity and Alzheimers disease.
Does what we eat have an effect on chronic inflammation? Research shows that yes, components of certain foods can activate the inflammatory response, and others inhibit it.
Unfortunately, many staples of the modern diet encourage inflammation. Refined carbohydrates and processed foods such as chips, sodas, sugary breakfast cereals, luncheon meats, fried foods, red meat, candy bars, breakfast pastries, and that addictive blended mocha with a swirl of whipped cream all have an inflammatory effect.
Foods that combat inflammation are high in natural antioxidants and contain polyphenols, which are beneficial compounds found in plants. These include:
Dark leafy greens such as spinach, collard greens and kale
Vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli
Beans, which are high in fiber and antioxidants
Whole grains, which are high in fiber and help with inflammation
Protein sources that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, like salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna
You dont have to completely cut out beef. But use it sparingly, more as a side dish rather than as the main event. Lose the sunflower, canola and corn oils and choose olive oil instead. Satisfy your sweet tooth with strawberries, cherries, raspberries, apples or blueberries. When you need a snack, swap out that bag of potato chips for a handful of almonds or walnuts.
While its never too late to change your diet for the better, research here at UCLA suggests that it cant be done too soon. According to the findings of a recent study, women who ate a diet high in inflammatory foods during their adolescent years had a statistically greater risk of developing pre-menopausal breast cancer as adults. The thinking is that chronic inflammation associated with diet contributed to the increase in breast cancer risk.
The research into inflammation and diet has good news, too. Participants in a clinical trial at Ohio State University who ate an anti-inflammatory diet high in fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains did better on bone density tests than did their chips- and sugar-eating counterparts.
How to move forward? Theres no shortage of books and cookbooks devoted to anti-inflammatory eating. Grab your library card and hit the stacks the results will be both healthful and delicious.
Eve Glazier, M.D., MBA, is an internist and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA Health. Elizabeth Ko, M.D., is an internist and primary care physician at UCLA Health.
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Choose a diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods - Elko Daily Free Press
The Planet Fitness of dry cleaners, ZIPS, to open 110 locations in Southern California – OCRegister
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Greenbelt, MD-based ZIPS is opening its first stores in Southern California.
ZIPS Dry Cleaners, the Planet Fitness of dry cleaning, charges a flat rate for any garment. The chain recently opened its first Orange County location in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy ZIPS)
ZIPS Dry Cleaners, the Planet Fitness of dry cleaning, recently opened the first of 110 locations planned for Southern California. (Courtesy ZIPS)
ZIPS Dry Cleaners, the Planet Fitness of dry cleaning, recently opened the first of 110 locations planned for Southern California.
The Maryland-based concept aims to do for dry cleaning what Planet Fitness did to the gym industry by offering an inexpensive, flat price for its services. Whether its a necktie, a wedding dress or a collared shirt, the no-frills dry cleaning chain charges $2.29 per garment.
The first local store opened May 5 at 3010 Bristol Street in Costa Mesa, the first of roughly 30 stores planned for Orange County. Los Angeles-based ZDryis the franchisee that owns the rights to build the brand in Southern California.
ZIPS maintains its price is three times less expensive than the industry average. The company also offers same-day service for garments dropped in by 9 a.m.
ZDry also owns and operates 10 Planet Fitness gyms in the Los Angeles area, with several more under development.
Shawn Bishop, amanaging partner at ZDry, said 20 years ago before Planet Fitness changed the gym landscape, consumers didnt blink an eye when they were charged $50 or more for their monthly gym membership.
Today, ZIPS is doing the same in their industry, Bishop said. Everyone needs dry cleaning in some capacity. The real question customers should ask themselves is, Would I rather pay $50-$60 for 10 pieces to be dry cleaned, or $23 for the same 10 pieces and have it done in one day?
At ZIPS, the company said its garments are cleaned in a closed-cleaning system that reduces waste, uses biodegradable plastic bags and recycles hangers.
The first ZIPS stores were founded in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area in 1996. Today the chain operates more than 50 stores in six states.
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The Planet Fitness of dry cleaners, ZIPS, to open 110 locations in Southern California - OCRegister
Using Wearable Fitness Devices to Monitor More than Just Fitness – Scientific American (blog)
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Fitness trackers and other wearable devices provide quantifiable information that helps users increase physical activity, engage in friendly competition and improve fitness. But simply having access to information is not the same as knowing what it means or what to do with itand the market for these gadgets is slumping.
Many of these devices, such as Fitbits or Apple Watches, seem geared to appeal to the young, healthy and affluent consumer who can easily afford expensive smartphones or other gadgets. As research suggests, they also happen to be the least likely to be obese or to have high cholesterolthe kinds of health problems that fitness trackers try to address by motivating consumers to be more active or eat healthier. If the appeal of wearables is, well, wearing offand data from wearables is not helping people meaningfully change their health behaviorspart of the problem may be the narrow set of health-related concerns that personal health wearables tend to emphasize.
Manufacturers could help reinvigorate the market for personal health devicesby targeting a larger, broader community of users that could directly benefit from the information. Devices that are designed specifically for users who require consistent updates on their personal health datasuch as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, or blood glucose levelsmay encourage more consistent use. Research from the Pew Foundation has shown that nearly half of adults have one or more chronic health problems like diabetes, hearing loss or heart disease. And those with one chronic health problem are twice as likely to monitor their personal health data as those without such health problems.
One challenge to building a bigger market is that personal health depends less on personal fitness habits thancommonly believed. Recent research suggests that community-wide factorssuch as education, employment and neighborhood environmentaffect individual and community health and well-being more so than individual health behaviors alone, such as exercising or healthy eating. Across the United States, where someone lives and how much they earn is strongly related to life expectancy.
Instead of continuing to focus narrowly on health and fitness, makers of these devices should consider seeking creative ways to incorporate other measures of health and well-being into them. Miniature motion sensors, cameras, barometers, and sophisticated algorithms that recognize voices, faces or landmarksall of which are already available on smartphones and wearable devicesmight be used to gaugea neighborhoods air quality, the amount of green space, how safe it is, the presence of public art, or the level of social connectedness.
Air Louisville, an innovative community partnership program that began in 2012, takes this approach. The program gives out free sensors to attach to asthma inhalers, which track when and where people in Louisville, Kentucky, experience asthma symptoms and take medication to deal with them. The result is real-time air quality information that city leaders could use to make data-driven decisions about how to try to improve air quality. As of last fall, Air Louisville had collected data from 97,000 inhaler uses by 1,100 residents diagnosed with asthma. By connecting inhaler use to weather, pollution or traffic conditions, the city could target certain areas for such specific interventions as introducing congestion pricing (to cut down on the number of vehicles on the road) or rearranging noise barriers on city streets (the barricades have been shown to spread air pollutants).
Trackers focused on well-being also could complement similar citizen science efforts by helping members of the public who are already collecting information about the well-being of their community. During the contaminated water crisis that began in 2014 in Flint, Michigan, residents sounded the alarm and eventually collaborated with researchers to help figure out what was going on. Volunteers knocked on doors in Flint to collect samples of tap water in homes, initially collecting about 270 samples. But when they returned to see whether conditions had improved, many of the residents had moved away, unintentionally thwarting the data collection and analysis.
Smart devices might have prevented that. Because they can repeatedly sample community conditions like air or water quality, or monitor health conditions (such as lead levels in blood), wearables can reveal trends and help pinpoint when changes occur. If trackers being worn across the community had been able to connect the dots, the polluted water might have been detected much earlier, possibly preempting the full-blown crisis.
Wearables offer potential benefits far beyond monitoring heart rate or counting the number of steps walked. Wearable data could be combined with other health indicators present in nontraditional data (like social media content) or traditional data (like that gleaned from the U.S. Census or clinical and public health systems). Manufacturers could look for opportunities to ease the constant burden of self-monitoring for those with chronic diseases or disabilities and to partner with policymakers, who increasingly recognize the potential in digital health data.
City governments have used social media information to improve food safety, monitor outbreaks of the Ebola virus and disrupt illegal drug distribution. In a major drive to use technology to reduce patient deaths, Englands National Health Service has made devices and apps available free to millions to help them manage conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Although their popularity may be in flux, personal health apps and wearables are likely here to stay. Those designed to help people who will actually benefit from them most will have the potential to help people function more effectively in the world, inform data-collection for public healthand improve community well-being.
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Using Wearable Fitness Devices to Monitor More than Just Fitness - Scientific American (blog)
#Adulting: Fitting in your fitness – WRIC
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) This week, 8News reporter Roxie Bustamante is taking on the challenges of #Adulting.
In the heart of Scotts Addition, sits Turn Cardio Jam Studio bringing unique workout classes to the Richmond area.
Richmond is on this verge of a fitness explosion, owner Sandi Cauley said. Theres so many unique programs coming in that weve never had before. We just used to have the same ole, same ole and its so great to see all these pop ups and new places. I think you should just try it.
Cauley said when she was adulting, moving from one place to another, she was always looking for different ways to stay active while engaging with her community.
The idea of going to the gym to me meant lifting weights or just going in on a bunch of machines and treadmills and not necessarily that back room part where the cardio classes happen, Cauley said. So, what do you just call that backroom? We knew it was cardio and we knew it was exercise based and then it got clunker and clunker, so we just narrowed it down to Cardio Jam Studio.
Heather Mazeika is one of the only certified instructors in the Richmond area that teaches a unique exercise called Volee.
Volee is new to the Richmond area, Mazeika said. It is a combination of traditional TRX suspension style training with Pilates, ballet movements, bar movements. Its pretty cool. Its got some cardio aspect to it. Its got a lot of good strength training, works the deep muscles, and works the big muscles.
Mazeika teaches the class at Turn Cardio Jam Studio and Fighting Gravity Fitness. She said often she sees people struggling to squeeze in the time to stay active.
We tend to be overscheduled, Mazeika said, and every minute of our day whether its at home or at work, you have to know what youre doing and I think fitness and activity tendto take a backseat for a lot of people. They dont understand the long-term importance of it.
Cauley said at the end of the day, its about finding something that works best for you.
I just dont think that theres one flavor for everyone. I think sometimes when it comes to working out, there are certain things that we know work. Running works, lifting weights, eating well works, but sometimes it can just get stale and boring, so Im really trying to bring in classes that are unique and that you cant find around Richmond, Cauley said. Maybe you would have to go to New York or [Washington] D.C. to get into, but Im bringing them here so that you dont have to travel far and that hopefully, youll stay excited about working out.
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#Adulting: Fitting in your fitness - WRIC
4 fitness centers targeted by Kentucky attorney general | Lexington … – Lexington Herald Leader
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Lexington Herald Leader | 4 fitness centers targeted by Kentucky attorney general | Lexington ... Lexington Herald Leader Attorney General Andy Beshear is taking action against fitness centers in four Kentucky cities. Fitness centers with prepaid memberships are required to file ... Action Taken Against Several Kentucky Fitness Centers - LEX18.com |
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4 fitness centers targeted by Kentucky attorney general | Lexington ... - Lexington Herald Leader
Molloy promotes group fitness – The Knox Student
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Junior Megan Molloy teaches her Hustle Fitness class in the gym. In the past, Molloy has taught Zumba classes and Insanity classes, starting her freshman year. (Theresa Murphy/TKS)
Every Tuesday and Thursday, junior Megan Molloy goes to the Mirror Room in the Fitness Center to teach Hustle Fitness, what she calls her adaptation of Zumba. Despite struggling to get people to come, she keeps trying to encourage busy students to try group fitness out.
Fall Term of Molloys freshman year, the Insanity circuit training instructor told her class that he was graduating early and the school would need a new instructor. The instructor recommended Molloy get her certification, which Molloy did over winter break.
I took over teaching Insanity at the end of my first year, at which time the girl who was teaching the Zumba class was like, Oh yeah, Im transferring, she said.
Given that she already taught one of the classes, Molloy approached Assistant Football Coach and Adjunct Assistant Professor Andy Gibbons to see if he wanted her to get trained in Zumba as well. He did and she got certified over the summer.
So, round about way, I went to the class for long enough and then the people who were working the jobs defected, so I took over, she said.
Now Molloy teaches two Zumba-style classes a week. She now calls them Hustle Fitness to avoid Zumbas requirements on what kind of music can be played and thinks the change may have confused some people leading to a recent decrease in attendance. Molloy is responsible for promoting the class.
Unless youre already like at the gym, a lot of people are like, eh. You have to be into it, Molloy said, I started going to the group fitness classes here because I like group fitness and a lot of people dont because they think everybodys looking at them and its awkward.
Since attendance varies, Molloy said she does not really vary the difficulty of the lessons. However, with her only regular attendee, she said she has been doing routines more like Zumba Strong than the normal routines.
Yes, it actually is a workout, she said.
Beyond just a workout, the class has become a way for Molloy and her students to relieve stress from their lives.
Even when I dont want to go, I end up leaving feeling better. The endorphins dont suck. Plus any job where you get to jump around and be silly with other people is a pretty good gig, Molloy said.
For her students, the relaxed atmosphere helps them to feel comfortable and not feel pressured to go to every session if life gets in the way.
She gives positive feedback, so a lot of the time when I come, when Im feeling like a little stressed out, shes really nice about that and she understands if you cant make it to class all the time. I try to drag my friends along sometimes but theyre like really busy so, if its just me sometimes, I dont mind, sophomore Aliya Estes, one of the regular attendees, said.
Molloy said she knew people might be worried about being judged by others in the class but that everyone is generally watching the instructor so they did not need to worry. Instead, the classes can offer motivation to get into fitness and a supportive group atmosphere.
Usually around mid-term attendance will pick up again, because everybodys like Oh, yeah, Im always going to be busy, I might as well try to take care of myself anyway, she said.
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Molloy promotes group fitness - The Knox Student
Controversial Khlo Kardashian Fitness Ad Is Cleared for Use, Despite Body-Shaming Complaints – Glamour
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After receiving over a dozen complaints, Britain's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has officially cleared a controversial advertisement featuring Khlo Kardashian for use on the London Underground, according to the BBC.
The ad from fitness brand Protein World featured a photo of leotard-clad Kardashian beside text reading, "Can you keep up with a Kardashian? Take The Protein World 30 Day Challenge." Fourteen individuals complained to the ASA that the ad was "socially irresponsible," both promoting body shaming and encouraging unhealthy dieting habits. Others accused the brand of "massively" photoshopping the image.
The ASA, however, determined that Protein World's advertisement "promoted Khlo Kardashian's body image as desirable and aspirational; this was supported by her pose and the airbrushed style," adding, "We did not consider that she appeared to be out of proportion or unhealthy."
The organization continued, saying, "We acknowledged that the use of the terms 'Can you keep up with' and 'challenge' could be interpreted as having a competitive quality, but we did not consider that the terms or the ads overall encouraged excessive weight loss or other extreme or potentially harmful dieting behavior. We therefore concluded the ads were not socially irresponsible."
This is not the first time that Protein World has faced controversy for an Underground advertisement. A 2015 ad featuring a model in a bikini alongside the question "Are you beach body ready?" sparked hundreds of complaints. The ASA ultimately banned the ad from the London Tube but took issue primarily with its weight loss claims rather than its creative content, saying that the imagery was "unlikely to cause serious or widespread offense."
Though the ASA has cleared the Kardashian ad, the decision is not without its own controversy and many are still speaking out against the unhealthy image they believe it portrays.
"People taking the Tube should not have to be bombarded with adverts that imply their bodies arent good enough," London assemblywoman Caroline Russell, who received numerous complaints from constituents regarding the ad, told the Evening Standard. Young people receive this negative message from enough social media channels, and its appalling that this is being reinforced on Tube platforms, against the mayors own policy, when people are taking trips to school, to work, or going out to socialize."
Read More..Nine-month stretch: The rise of prenatal exercise classes – BBC News
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BBC News | Nine-month stretch: The rise of prenatal exercise classes BBC News As a growing number of pregnant women are joining prenatal exercises classes, the BBC's Sarah Porter - 34 weeks into her pregnancy - attends a boot camp in Singapore. It's 8.45am on a Saturday and Singapore's Botanic Gardens are alive with people and ... |
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Nine-month stretch: The rise of prenatal exercise classes - BBC News