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FOX 17’s women’s health expert talks about effectiveness of weight loss drugs – FOX 17 West Michigan News
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Last week, Oprah aired a special report on the results she's seen using weight loss drugs, and for many people they have been lifesaving.
Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have helped many Americans shed pounds and overcome weight-related diseases like obesity, which around two in five adult Americans struggle with.
FOX 17's women's health experts Dr. Diana Bitner and Dr. Celia Egan joined FOX 17 Morning News to talk about these drugs and how they can be lifesaving.
Dr. Bitner says many people have preconceptions about these drugs because of comments like "why don't people just eat less" or "they must not be trying (to lose weight)". This bias extends into the medical and insurance company communities as well.
According to Dr. Celia Egan from "true. Women's Health", says obesity is now formally considered the medical condition it is. She is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine as well as Internal Medicine. Dr. Egan says her goal is to help people safely get healthy and reach her goals.
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FOX 17's women's health expert talks about effectiveness of weight loss drugs - FOX 17 West Michigan News
Oprah kicked off a national conversation on obesity and GLP-1 drugs. Let’s have it – STAT
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Oprah Winfrey, true to form, is forcing America to yet again grapple with a complex topic: weight loss. Her full-throated endorsement on national television last week for using GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy to treat obesity has opened the door for an important conversation about the use of these drugs for people struggling with their weight.
As a physician focused on obesity and metabolic disorders, I was troubled by Oprahs support for these drugs. The show was framed as news, but sounded to me more like an hour-long infomercial. When it comes to GLP-1 drugs, there are some things prescribers know, more were just beginning to know, and plenty we dont know yet.
People deserve to be happy and healthy in their weight loss journeys. They also deserve to be fully informed.
The introduction of GLP-1s has turned the obesity epidemic more than 40% of Americans are obese, and another 30% are overweight into a complicated and expensive landscape. Oprahs show was just the latest development in a conversation that has so far been driven by pharmaceutical companies and their proxies, rather than practicing clinicians. The result is a trend that does not consider the needs of people; not just their health, but their joy as well. Suppressing the desire to eat robs people of the enjoyment that comes with it.
Obesity starts with a problem with metabolism and requires a precise, behavior-driven approach to treatment that is sustainable for people over time. GLP-1s are indeed a powerful new tool for combating unhealthy weight gain and are effective at suppressing the desires that drive unhealthy behaviors like overeating. But in the short time theyve been on the market, theyve demonstrated some serious issues that require further examination and study, specifically around how they are used, and how they affect overall health.
Heres whats known about GLP-1s: They are wildly expensive and most people need to take them forever. Worst of all, they dont effectively address metabolic dysfunction, which disrupts the bodys ability to turn food into energy and get rid of waste. This has negative downstream effects for nearly every system in the body, and can lead to diabetes, obesity, and other metabolic diseases. The prices of these medicines are astronomical, costing more than $11,000 per year. That cost is increasingly unsustainable for payers in the U.S., and prohibitive for people whose insurance doesnt cover the drug.
Many people cant tolerate GLP-1 drugs, as made evident by the fact that two out of three people who are prescribed these medicines stop taking them within a year. Oprahs hour-long special dedicated around two minutes to discussing disruptive side effects like nausea and vomiting. Mere seconds were given to a woman in the audience who described side effects that put her in the emergency room. And no direct mention was made of the immediate rebound in weight most people experience when they stop taking these drugs.
Oprah found something that works for her, and shes excited to share it with the world. Coincidentally, it also works for the pharmaceutical manufacturers who, according to reports, pay many of the clinical consultants featured on her special.
The resounding opinion of the medical community is that weight loss is a poor measure of medication efficacy. Many weight loss experts are concerned about the effect of GLP-1s on body composition. The weight people lose when taking these drugs comes not only from fat but also from muscle. Thats not healthy weight loss, and its the wrong way to address this metabolic disease.
GLP-1s have helped people lose weight quickly, and studies have suggested there are broader health benefits. But in practice they often dont help people with chronic metabolic diseases discontinue their other medications, like SGLT2s and insulin. Its important to approach GLP-1 therapy judiciously, when its clinically appropriate, with the intent to eventually transition people away from perpetual dependence on these medications through lifestyle interventions such as healthy eating and physical activity.
As a physician, my point of view is that the obesity crisis and the stigma surrounding weight are real, but a monthly $1,000 injection for a lifetime isnt a silver-bullet solution. GLP-1 drugs suppress the desire for food by influencing the neurons in the brains reward system. While this chemical interaction calms intense cravings, it may also quell more joyful and less harmful wants a quieting of the wanting mind like the joy of eating a meal with family. When the desire to eat does emerge, people taking GLP-1 drugs are not necessarily eating healthier foods, and so arent likely affecting the microbiome and root cause of metabolic dysfunction.
Everyone deserves to be able to sit down and share a meal with the people they care about. Food plays a central role in cultural identity and social health; its a focal point for connection, for belonging, and for happiness. To take food off the table is to remove an element of joy from life.
In the case of GLP-1s, that decision is a long-term commitment. Just as there have been advances in treating the symptoms of metabolic disease such as weight gain, clinical understanding of the biology and behavior behind metabolic health is improving. Both will play a role in treating metabolic diseases like obesity, but for most people, GLP-1 drugs arent sustainable. The lasting solution will be unique to each individual because no two peoples metabolisms, genetics, and preferences are exactly alike. Thats what makes many diets and medications fail theyre one-size-fits-all solutions. GLP-1 drugs may work for some people in the short term, but they wont work for anyone forever.
Lisa Shah is an internist and the chief medical officer of Twin Health, a health AI company using digital twin technology to reverse and prevent metabolic diseases.
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Oprah kicked off a national conversation on obesity and GLP-1 drugs. Let's have it - STAT
Rebel Wilson Says She Received More Attention for Weight Loss Than Any Movie She’s Ever Done – Marie Claire
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Rebel Wilson is opening up about the way people started treating her following her weight loss.
In an exclusive interview with People and ahead of the release of her tell-all memoir Rebel Rising, the actress discussed the beginning of her "year of health" during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, she says she slowly lost weight in order to "drastically change" and eventually harvest her eggs.
(Wilson welcomed a baby girl on Nov. 7, 2022, via surrogate.)
I was getting quite a lot of attention for the weight loss, she told the publication. I thought: Gosh, people are so intrigued by this. Literally, I got more attention for weight loss than any movie I'd ever done.
The Pitch Perfect star went on to say that while she knows "that's superficial," it "was nice" to receive the attention.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
"I went, Oh, is this what hot people experience all the time? Their life must be so bloody blessed, she went on to add, noting that people would hold the door for her and pay her more attention as a result of her smaller size.
While it was hurtful to realize how little people cared while she was larger, Wilson admitted that the added attention was "such positive reinforcement" that ended up motivating her to continue maintaining her healthy routine.
It was interesting to know exactly what it's like to be invisible sexually and then to be visible, she added. "I've experienced both sides of the coin.
In the age of fad diets and Ozempic, the comedian added that it's common for people to "think that there's some magic pill, or some sick special diet, or exercise regime or whatever" that will magically help a person lose weight or get healthy. (It's worth noting that losing weight and being healthy are not always the same thing. Size is not an indicator of any one person's health.)
As she prepares to release her memoir into the world, Wilson says she hopes her book and her own lived experience will give people the message, if they're like me and an emotional eater, that it's not about that stuff."
"It's literally about working at a healthier way to deal with your emotions, and there is no magic solution," she added. "And then maybe me telling my story might encourage them to do the same and make healthy change in their lives."
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Read More..An insight into the weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic – The Jerusalem Post
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Millions of children and adults around the world today suffer from obesity, an epidemic that has concerned the medical world for the last decade. The Instagram and TikTok generation may brush off this issue in the name of body positivity, but obesity has crucial medical consequences. Being overweight puts a person at significant risk factor for a wide range of diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.
About three years ago, a Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk, initiated a revolution. The company has devoted most of its activity to creating drugs for the treatment of diabetes called Wegovy. Patients began to report that its injections caused not only a balance in blood sugar levels, but also a feeling of satiety, weight loss, and even a balance in fat levels. Further, the company began studies to confirm patient reports that Wegovy did indeed lead to significant weight loss.
In 2021, the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the marketing of Wegovy, which led to a decrease of about 20% in body weight for patients of the injection. As a result, Americans pounced on the shot and emptied the shelves. Wegovy was only approved in the US at the time, and doctors began to prescribe its "sister", the Ozempic injection, which is made of the same substance but with less than half the dose.
Ozempic was not as effective as Wegovy but still became a hit in Israel. Since then, thousands of Israelis have been treated with Ozempic. The Health Ministry was not enthusiastic about the fact that Ozempic, which is generally intended for diabetics, is also used by those who want to lose weight. Despite this, more and more results of Ozempic, which led to significant weight loss and an effect similar to stomach shortening, caused the ministry to turn a blind eye and agree to this interim treatment.
The Health Ministry approved the marketing of Wegovy in Israel, but it won't be cheap at a monthly cost of about NIS 1,200. In comparison, Ozempic costs about NIS 340 per month. Saxenda, the oldest weight loss shot but the least effective of them all, costs about NIS 500 per month. There are more new weight loss drugs that are expected to flood the market and create a revolution similar to Wegovy, but their arrival has been delayed mainly due to the current war.
The Wegovy and Ozempic injections include a substance similar to the GLP-1 hormone, which plays many roles throughout the body. The hormone causes a feeling of satiety by slowing down the emptying of the stomach, reduces the blood sugar levels in the body, and in ways that are not yet completely clear, also helps reduce fats.In recent months, it has become clear that these injections also reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Ultimately though, there is no miracle recipe for weight loss. Studies have shown that stopping treatment with weight loss injections causes a steep increase in weight, sometimes even more than the initial weight. The pharmaceutical companies have not yet tested the long-term effect of the injections, but what is known is that in very rare cases they may increase the risk of pancreatitis and thyroid tumors.
These injections are prohibited for pregnant women or those planning to conceive in the near future. Most importantly, the weight loss injections will not work without a healthy lifestyle and physical activity. Without a low-calorie diet and exercise, these injections will have almost no effect on an individual's weight long term.
Those who suffer from obesity (calculated as a BMI - height divided by weight squared - of 30 or higher), should consult their doctors about suitability for treatment with weight loss injections. Before and during the treatment, it is recommended to go for consistent blood tests, which include the monitoring of pancreatic enzymes, sugar levels, blood lipid levels, and the thyroid gland. These points of course are to be combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet.
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I Did a 3-Day Reset Cleanse to Boost Wellness: Here’s My Honest Review – AOL
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Photo: Remedy Organics. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Whether or not you've tried a cleanse, chances are you've heard about them. From juice cleanses to so-called detox cleanses, these days it seems there's a trendy cleanse for whatever ails you. Some purport to help (or speed up) weight loss; others claim to rid your body of toxins or aid in digestion. But whether you're trying to lose weight, feeling sluggish after indulging a little too much over the holidays or a vacation, or simply want to kickstart a healthier lifestyle, you may be wondering if a cleanse is right for you.
Full disclosure, I wasn't necessarily aiming to accomplish any of these things, per se, but as a wellness editor, I thought it was time I tried a cleanse for myself to see what all the hype is about.
And thus I found myself embarking on Remedy Reset Program's three-day wellness cleanse. Keep reading to learn about my cleanse journey, and when you're finished, don't miss The 10 Best Foods to 'Detox' Your Body Naturally.
The scientific evidence behind cleanses and detoxes is limited, so I reached out to Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, a registered dietitian and certified specialist in sports dietetics who sits on our Medical Expert Board, to get her take. "Cleanses come with a variety of health and safety considerations that need to be carefully weighed," Goodson says. Some of those considerations include the potential for disrupted gut microbiota, dehydration, and blood sugar fluctuations.
"Cleanses are often short-term interventions and are not sustainable," adds Lisa Young, Ph.D., RDN, the author of Finally Full, Finally Slim, a nutritionist in private practice, and a member of our Medical Expert Board. She encourages you to make your decision carefully when a cleanse is not FDA-approved and stresses, "Educate yourself about the process. Try to eat healthy and consume whole grains, fruits, and vegetables before your cleanse, and always stay hydrated."
Goodson is personally not a fan of cleanses and says she does not recommend them to her clients. Her reasoning? "There is no real science behind them; it's mostly based in marketing," she explains. "The body has its own mechanisms for detoxification, primarily carried out by the liver and kidneys. Even a three-day cleanse can leave you with low blood sugar, feeling fatigued, and dehydrated."
These are all good reasons to be skeptical, and if you do decide to try a cleanse, it's important to understand your goals and be mindful of the lack of verifiable science about them. People with certain health conditions should always consult a doctor before making any major changes to their diet.
RELATED:7 Weight-Loss Recipes with Massive Portion Sizes
Remedy Organics sent me their three-day wellness program, which is curated by holistic nutritionist Cindy Kasindorf. My kit, which retails for $140 but was provided to me by the brand, came with 18 12-ounce plant-based wellness shakes in six flavors: Berry Immunity, Matcha Fuel, Cacao Essentials, Blue Essentials, Super Chai Fuel, and Golden Mind. It also included 12 2-ounce 'Immunity+ Shots' labeled Heal, Energize, Digest, and Protect. The goal of this particular cleanse, according to Remedy Organics, is to boost immunity, focus, energy, digestion, and overall glow.
According to the brand's website, the wellness shakes are certified organic, certified kosher, and 100% vegan and plant-based. They are also free of gluten, dairy, and soy. The shakes contain certified organic ingredients such as prebiotics (which promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria), botanical herbs, adaptogens, and ayurvedic herbs and spices that promote healing.
RELATED:10 Prebiotic Foods for Better Gut Health
The shakes are essentially meal replacements. To be clear, that means you don't eat any solid food or snacks for the three-day cleanse periodjust the shakes and shots. The only addition to the reset is drinking plenty of H2O. The cleanse emphasizes staying adequately hydrated throughout the process with two cups of herbal tea or freshly squeezed lemon water before "meals." This was no issue for me since I always drink plenty of water.
I consumed one shake and immunity shot each morning (Matcha Fuel and a Protect shot), another set around lunchtime (Cacao Essentials, Blue Essentials, and a Heal immunity shot), a Berry Immunity shake and Energize shot closer to 3 p.m., and two shakes and a shot for dinner (Golden Mind, Super Chai Fuel, and a Digest shot).
RELATED:20 Best Detox Waters To Burn Fat&Lose Weight
I was very concerned about whether I would like the taste, but was pleasantly surprised to find that the drinks resembled freshly prepared smoothies, with the exception of the Berry Immunity, which seemed more functional rather than tasty and satisfying. I liked the Matcha Fuel and Blue Essentials the best and could see myself replacing some of my daily snacks (aka cupcakes and cookies) with these shakes.
The first day of the cleanse wasn't too bad. However, after dinner, when I'm typically Netflixing and relaxing, I was really hungry, irritable, and pretty desperate for a snackor a sandwich. Let's call it a state of "hangry." But I was committed to finishing this, so I powered through.
Day two was, as expected, even more challenging; my desire for real food was getting worse. By the time the third day rolled around, frankly, all I could think about was food.
It was hard for me to stay focused on completing the cleanse without cheatingand the fact that I work from home and am therefore always just steps away from my refrigerator did not make it easier. However, I was close to the finish line and managed to successfully complete the three-day cleanse. (That being said, I don't think I'd be able to tolerate any cleanse that lasts longer than three days.)
RELATED:20 Best High-Protein, Low-Calorie Foods
The total daily calorie intake on this wellness cleanse is a mere 1,230 calories. I have a very healthy appetite and ordinarily eat three full meals a day plus snacks. I also rarely skip dessert after dinner. I'd estimate that my typical daily calorie intake is closer to the national average of 2,000 calories. Consuming just 1,230 calories was a substantial deficit for me, so it was no surprise that I felt so hungry, or "hangry," the entire time.
Even if the cleanse isn't explicitly for weight loss, Goodson says it's not uncommon for cleanses to substantially reduce your daily calories. "Many cleanses involve severely restricting calorie intake and eliminating entire food groups, leading to deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and protein," she explains. And though it's well established that losing weight requires operating at a calorie deficit, this may not be healthy (physically or emotionally) for many people.
The wellness shakes include anywhere from 8 to 16 grams of protein per shake, in addition to healthy ingredients such as turmeric, which is chock-full of vitamin B6, vitamin C, and antioxidants. I took comfort in knowing that I was getting some solid protein in each "meal." My average daily recommended protein intake, according to the USDA, is 38 grams. I consumed 68 grams of protein per day by drinking the wellness shakes.
RELATED:The 10 Healthiest Lean Proteins You Can Eat
On the one hand, I felt pretty energized after each morning shake, as the Matcha Fuel contains 50 mg of caffeine from the ceremonial grade Japanese matcha. On the other hand, the shake could not compete with the energy boost I usually get (and count on!) from my morning and early afternoon cups of coffee. (For reference, a typical eight-ounce cup of coffee contains anywhere from 80 to 100 mg of caffeine.) My cup of joe helps wake me up and powers me through the day, and the Matcha Fuel didn't offer the same jolt I'm used to.
I didn't have the energy to complete my normal two to three-mile walk each day (which I usually do in the afternoon). This prompted me to limit my walks to a mile during my cleanse. As a very active person, this was a major downside for me.
RELATED:10 Chains That Serve the Best Matcha
The cleanse definitely gave my body a good "pre-spring cleaning" and made me feel lighter overall, which I expected, as one of the goals of the cleanse is to "help reset your digestion." I felt this effect almost immediately on day one. I was taking more frequent trips to the bathroom, and felt (and looked) less bloated overall.
I now understand more about cleanses and the hype. I would likely consider doing it again once or twice a year to get back on track, reboot my system, and feel inspired to eat healthier. Although the program didn't necessarily make me "glow," and I'm not sure if it gave my immunity a boost, the cleanse did kick my system into high gear and "cleaned me out," so to speak, throughout the three days.
My best takeaway? I felt incredibly accomplished after completing the cleansenot because I was proud of having deprived myself of the foods I love, but because it inspired me to renew healthy habits moving forward and gave me a solid mental wellness boost, which isn't something the Remedy Organics promotes, but was definitely a benefit for me.
The fact that the Remedy Reset Program is only three days long and features shakes rather than juices makes it much more appealing to me. In addition, if I plan to do another reset, I feel it's more manageable and sustainable to work with a kit that explains exactly what to do. This way, I don't have to lift a finger or waste time planning or measuring things out (which many other cleanses may require).
RELATED:10 Amazing Benefits of a High-Fiber Diet
If you decide a structured cleanse is not the right choice for you, Goodson suggests a great alternative: an old-fashioned "cleanse" consisting of wholesome foods such as whole grains, fruits, veggies, beans, seeds, nuts, lean protein, and plenty of water.
"Cut out processed and packaged foods, alcohol, and other beverages, and cook at home versus going out to eat," she explains. "While less 'glamorous' and trendy than a cleanse, this diet 'jumpstart' provides your body with nutrients, protein, fiber, and calories, which are all essential for health and energy, plus still allows you to safely participate in activities."
The bottom line? Do what's right for you. If you're not actively trying to lose weight or if you have any preexisting medical conditions, cleansing may not be the right choice, considering the extreme daily calorie limitation. As with any diet or eating plan, it's always wise to check in with a registered dietitian and/or physician before getting started.
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I Did a 3-Day Reset Cleanse to Boost Wellness: Here's My Honest Review - AOL
Can you live past 100? Italian longevity expert believes so – Deseret News
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No matter the age, we often hear about the importance of eating right, exercising and getting enough vitamins and minerals to be healthy. However, the vast amount of information on what types of exercises we should do, food we should eat or supplements our bodies need can be confusing.
Is there a correct path we should follow for a long and healthy life? An Italian longevity expert believes he has the answer, according to The New York Times.
According to the Healthy Longevity Clinic, longevity means a long duration of a healthy life. This includes:
Valter Longo, an Italian professor of gerontology and director of the U.S.C. Longeviy Institute in California and past rock guitarist, obsesses over longevity, per The New York Times.
Longo told The New York Times, I want to live to 120, 130. It really makes you paranoid now because everybodys like, Yeah, of course you got at least to get to 100. You dont realize how hard it is to get to 100.
Researchers specializing in human longevity assert that the foundation for living past 100 years lies within an individuals DNA, which encompasses the genetic inheritance passed down from their parents, per The Washington Post.
S. Jay Olshansky, a professor of public health at the University of Illinois at Chicago told The Washington Post, You cant make it out that far without having already won the genetic lottery at birth.
Besides genetics, The Washington Post says environment, lifestyle and location matter too. Ask yourself these questions:
Longo, who is also currently working on identifying genes that regulate aging, advocates for a diet he terms The Longevity Diet in his new book. He believes that this diet, characterized by the Lite Italian diet and faux fasting, is the way to reach 100 years, per The New York Times.
Lite Italian is similar to the Mediterranean diet. However, Longo notes the diet should be pescatarian, or fish heavy, with legumes.
Per Cleveland Clinic, a traditional Mediterranean diet includes:
According to The Celiac MD, faux fasting effectively fools the body into believing it is undergoing a fast while still permitting some food consumption. A fasting-mimicking diet seeks to harness the advantages of fasting while mitigating the associated difficulties, including hunger, fatigue and headaches.
What food should you eat while faux fasting? Longo developed a plant and nut-based diet supplemented with kale crackers and other supplements.
According to Longo, this dietary approach enables cells to rid themselves of harmful components and rejuvenate, all without the adverse effects of fasting and starvation, per The New York Times.
His recent study, published in Nature Communications, found that individuals who did periodic cycles of faux fasting reduced insulin resistance, pre-diabetes markers and immune system age all indicating reduced biological age.
Before trying a new diet, consult with your doctor about how it might affect you.
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Can you live past 100? Italian longevity expert believes so - Deseret News
450-lb. Gator Living Outside Coca-Cola Factory Moved and Put on Diet – PEOPLE
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A 450-pound alligator who lived behind a former Florida Coca-Cola plant was moved from his current habitation and put on a diet to lose some weight, according to a Croc Encounters Reptile Park and Alligator Farm Facebook announcement.
On Friday the 9-foot alligator aptly named Coca-Cola was removed from Temple Terrace, Fla., after neighbors expressed concern about a damaged fence near the pond the reptile was residing in, Croc Encounters' Karina Paner confirms with PEOPLE.
Karina tells PEOPLE that Coca-Cola was "well over" the standard size of a 9-foot alligator, confirming that an animal that size is "typically around maybe 200 pounds."
Although some neighbors would illegally feed him chicken and a few too many hams, said Croc Encounters Director John Paner, some grew concerned when the fencing fell apart.
Croc Encounters/Facebook
"We have children that run all over this place and they're wonderful. They're the cutest kids, but I could see them getting in trouble. I could see them crawling through there," resident Catherine Burton said of the hole no longer separating the animal from the public, per Fox 13.
Once people start feeding alligators they become a nuisance by no fault of their own and must be removed from the wild as they begin to approach people for food, read the Croc Encounters statement.
Along with feeding the wild animal, Karina explains that he was in a "small area." The reptile "was not able to really move around as much as maybe a wild alligator that's going out hunting for their food," says Karina. "So all those things contribute to an alligator becoming overweight, like he is."
But after his presence was reported, residents were worried Coca-Cola would be killed.
"We had several phone calls from people in the neighborhood asking what can we do. We told them that wed be willing to take him, but it all has to go through the legal channels, John told Fox 13. They wanted him not to be killed so I guess things worked out for him.
"I don't want no harm happening to him. He's really part of the Temple Terrace community," said one resident, Sarah Lanyos, per Fox 13.
Croc Encounters/Facebook
Coca-Cola was captured by Greg Pollock. Karina tells PEOPLE that the animal was then "immediately" taken to Croc Encounters, and veterinarians agreed to put the 450-pound animal on a diet. "Hes very overweight. Hes got to slim down. It's unhealthy, John told Fox 13.
"That's a little heavy for that animal," John told WFLA-TV.
"All of our alligators get a mix of pellet diet," John said of the animals new and more appropriate diet. "We'll also feed fish, we also feed chicken, we'll do that on a regular basis, and hopefully he'll slim down a bit."
Croc Encounters/Facebook
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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission advises people to keep a safe distance from alligators and swim in designated areas during daytime hours.
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How Jay Z And Beyonc Broke Their 22-Day Vegan Diet – Yahoo Life
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It looks like the 22-day vegan diet Beyonc embarked upon with hubby Jay Z to commemorate his 44th birthday (were pretty sure theres something Illuminati-esque in those numbers) finally ended, as the couple celebrated New Years in Miami and indulged in a seafood meal atSeasalt & Pepper, where chef Alfredo Alvarez created a series of special pescaterian delights for the pair.
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To break veg-edge, they went big: the couple indulged in black cod casserole, tuna and salmon tartare, tuna sashimi, octopus planche and lobster risotto. For dessert, they enjoyed avocado ice cream.
The couple had initially gone vegan as a sort of spiritual and physical cleanse,explained Jay, who said hed already switched to a vegan breakfast regimen.Previously Jay Z had said that he might try to stick with a plant-based diet, even after the 22-day challenge was over. I dont know what happens after Christmas. A semi-vegan, a full plant-based diet? Or just a spiritual and physical challenge? he wrote, though we had a feeling Beyonc wasnt quite as convinced.
Throughout the vegan experiment, she was spotted in leather, fur, and even pizza-themed clothing, which many interpreted as a silent protest against a meat- and dairy-free diet.
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Sodium in Your Diet: How Salt Can Affect Your Health – The New York Times
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Without sodium, you wouldnt be able to survive. Nerves would fail to fire; muscles wouldnt contract. But experts say that most people consume far too much of it, increasing their risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
In the United States, for instance, about 95 percent of men and 77 percent of women consume more than 2,300 milligrams per day, a limit federal health officials recommend.
But in recent decades, researchers have disagreed about exactly how much sodium is too much, with some suggesting that federal guidelines are too strict. Those reports captured our attention and left many people confused, said Dr. Lawrence Appel, a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
But more recent research has clarified some of that murkiness, Dr. Appel said. We asked him and other experts to help set the record straight.
Scientific studies from the last 50 years or so have shown a clear pattern: The more salt we eat, the higher our blood pressure goes, said Cheryl Anderson, a professor of public health at the University of California, San Diego.
In a 2021 review of 85 clinical trials, for example, scientists looked at what happened to peoples blood pressure when they consumed 400 to 7,600 milligrams of sodium per day. As their consumption increased, the researchers reported, so did their blood pressure. The effect was strongest for people who already had high blood pressure, but the researchers also saw it in people who didnt.
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On a Healthy Vegan Diet, I’ve Healed My Liver, Reversed Type 2 Diabetes, and Lost 35 Pounds – Forks Over Knives
Diet Comments Off on On a Healthy Vegan Diet, I’ve Healed My Liver, Reversed Type 2 Diabetes, and Lost 35 Pounds – Forks Over Knives
Prior to going plant-based, my diet consisted mostly of fatty, fried fast food I could quickly grab on my lunch breaks. Dinner was anything I could cook up quickly, always with some form of animal protein as the main course.
On December 24, 2021, I had an appointment with a hepatologist, arranged by my primary care physician after blood work revealed that my liver enzymes were in the cosmic range. The hepatologist ordered more tests, the results of which showed that I had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), likely the result of a nasty gene in my family: alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Imaging showed a median liver stiffness score of 13.2, which indicated severe fibrosis/cirrhosis.
I was also obese, weighing 184 pounds; had Type 2 diabetes, with an A1C (a measure of average blood sugar) of 7; and had high cholesterol. The doctor told me that if I did not change my diet and sedentary lifestyle, I would be a candidate for a liver transplant within three to six years. Well, that was a lovely Christmas present!
When I told one of my stepdaughters the news, she told me to watch the Forks Over Knives documentary. So I didthree times. After that, I immediately became a vegan. My focus was on repairing and keeping my liver healthy. I was pleasantly surprised when, a few weeks into my new diet, I found myself losing weight.
As for my liver, I went for another checkup in April 2022, and imaging showed a much improved liver stiffness score, of 4.3. Imaging in March 2023 showed a liver stiffness score of 3.7. And my most recent imaging, in January 2024, showed liver stiffness of 2.7, which indicates no significant fibrosis, or normal/inflammation.
Its been more than two years since I adopted a healthy vegan diet. Along the way, I have lost 35 pounds (I need to buy a new wardrobe!) and reversed my diabetes, with my most recent blood work showing an A1C of 5.6 (normal). Ive lowered my cholesterol to the normal range, as well. And I did it all with a plant-based dietwhich, by the way, is delicious!
Because I have never met a vegetable or spice that I dont like, I have really enjoyed making stews and soups with spices from North Africa, India, Asia, and Central America. There are some really great vegan cookbooks out there (including those from Forks Over Knives).
To minimize my exposure to toxic chemicals, I also stopped coloring my hair, as you can see from the photos. I actually like the silver look better than the dark brown!
I am so very grateful to my stepdaughter for telling me to watch Forks Over Knives. I no longer live in fear of liver failure, transplant surgery, or having to take immunosuppressant drugs for the remainder of my life. I tell everyone who asks how I did it to watch Forks Over Knives. For me, food is medicineso, as a dear friend says, I am self-medicating!
Ready to get started? Check out Forks Meal Planner, FOKs easy weekly meal-planning tool to keep you on a healthy plant-based path. To learn more about a whole-food, plant-based diet, visit our Plant-Based Primer.
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