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Visceral fat, also known as abdominal or belly fat, is fat that develops around your mid-section, surrounding vital organs like your liver and pancreas. Its different to subcutaneous fat, which you can pinch with your hands.

In healthy amounts, subcutaneous fat has several important functions it insulates and regulates the temperature of your body, for example. Belly fat, by contrast, promotes long-lasting inflammation, which can increase your risk of chronic diseases.

We asked Dr Samantha Wild, GP at Bupa UK, and Clarissa Lenherr, nutritionist at Bioniq, for their tips on how to lose belly fat for good:

Fat cells dont simply store energy, they also produce hormones and secrete inflammatory substances into the body. For this reason, having high levels of any type of body fat is bad for your health but this type of belly fat is the most villainous.

Whether youre overweight or not, carrying more visceral fat around your stomach can increase your risk of health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart and circulatory problems, type 2 diabetes and sleep apnoea, Dr Wild explains.

Since this kind of belly fat wraps around your internal organs, its hard to tell how much you carry. Were all at risk of developing visceral fat, so its really important we manage our lifestyle by making small, sustainable changes to help keep us healthy, says Wild.

Heres how:

If you arent already eating a source of lean protein such as salmon, eggs, or lentils at every mealtime, nows the time to start. Not only is it incredibly satiating eating protein stimulates the hormone PYY, which reduces appetite and promotes fullness but it also protects your body composition as you lose weight.

When youre in a calorie deficit, you risk losing muscle as well as fat. Eating adequate amounts of protein staves off hunger while preserving muscle mass, a University of Illinois study found. Recommended intake varies from person to person the reference intake in the UK is set at 0.83 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, Lenherr explains.

Keeping well hydrated is important for many reasons but did you know that drinking a pint of water three times a day before mealtimes could also help your weight loss efforts? In a 12-week University of Birmingham study, obese adults who drank 500ml of water half an hour before eating their main meals lost 3.5kg more than a control group who did so once or not at all. Aim to drink around six to eight glasses of water each day, says Wild.

When you eat soluble fibre, it forms a gel-like consistency that slows digestion, promoting fullness and decreasing the number of calories your body absorbs from food. Its also linked to lower levels of belly fat. For every 10g increase in soluble fibre eaten per day the equivalent of eating two small apples, 130g green peas and 85g pinto beans belly fat was reduced by 3.7 per cent over five years, an observational study by researchers from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Centre found.

The recommended daily intake of fibre is 30g, while the average UK individual consumes just 18g, according to the British Dietetic Association, says Lenherr. Fibre plays a huge role in digestion, cardiovascular health, balanced blood sugar, weight management, hormone health and more. To increase your fibre intake, include whole grains, nuts and seeds, pulses and fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.

Cortisol is a stress hormone released by the adrenal glands. It affects fat distribution by causing fat to be stored centrally as belly fat rather than peripherally, at the hips. The more cortisol you release, the greater your levels of this type of fat, a Yale study found. Think about your lifestyle where you can, try to reduce your stress levels, says Wild. Your mental wellbeing is just as important as your physical health, so take some time to focus on yourself. Make sure you spend time relaxing, too.

The type of fat you eat determines where it will be stored in your body. In a seven-week study by Uppsala University, participants gained weight by consuming excess calories from either muffins made of saturated fat (palm oil) or polyunsaturated fat (sunflower oil). Those who ate the saturated fat muffins gained more body fat, more belly fat, and three times less muscle than the group who ate muffins made with polyunsaturated fat. Additionally, monounsaturated fatty acids found abundantly in olive oil, as well as peanuts and avocados have been shown to have beneficial effects on belly fat.

Soft drinks appear to be even worse for belly fat than consuming high sugar foods, since your brain is less efficient at registering liquid calories (this is true of fruit juice, too). Studies have consistently shown a correlation between sweetened beverage consumption and an increase in belly fat. In a six-year observational study by the American Heart Association, among those who drank one soft drink daily, belly fat volume increased by 852 centimetres cubed.

They may be free from sugar, but diet drinks packed with artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, saccharin, or sucralose also play havoc with your waistline. Another observational study, this time by the University of Illinois, found that drinkers of diet soda compensate for the absence of calories by eating greater quantities of discretionary foods such as cookies, ice cream, chocolate, fries and pastries.

People who pay a high degree of attention to their present thoughts and feelings known as dispositional mindfulness are less likely to be obese and have less abdominal fat than people who do not exhibit as much awareness, a study from Brown University found. Dispositional mindfulness is more like an inherent personality trait, the researchers said, rather than mindfulness meditation, which is a focused and deliberate awareness of the present moment. However, it can be learned by regularly practicing meditation.

While physical inactivity leads to a significant increase in belly fat, a randomised clinical trial by Duke University Medical Centre found, high amounts of exercise can lead to significant decreases relatively quickly. Participants who did not exercise had an 8.6 per cent increase in belly fat after eight months, while those who exercised the most saw a 8.1 per cent decrease in belly fat in the same period.

Interval training may shed more pounds than a continuous moderate intensity workout, according to analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, with sprint interval training the most effective for fat loss. HIIT high intensity interval training is a great option for those with a busy lifestyle, as youll increase your heart rate and burn fat in a short amount of time, says Wild. Your body will reap the benefits of a HIIT workout for hours after your workout, too.

High intensity interval training is a great option for those with a busy lifestyle, as youll increase your heart rate and burn fat in a short amount of time.

And if high intensity workouts arent for you? No sweat. Even moderate amounts of exercise can reduce the amount of inflammation in belly fat, according to a rodent study by the University of Illinois, helping to safeguard your health. Belly fat produces inflammatory molecules that enter the bloodstream and increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Ditch refined grains such as white bread, white rice, and white pasta for their healthier whole counterparts. People who consume three or more daily servings of whole grains for example, whole wheat bread, brown rice and oats while limiting their daily intake of refined grains to less than one serving per day, have around 10 per cent less belly fat than those who choose refined grains every time, research from Tufts University found.

Not all calories are created equal, says Lenherr. The calories in an avocado might be the same as a portion of fries, but the impact and nutritional intake of these two foods are definitely not the same, she says. Calorie counting is a popular way of losing weight, which may work for some individuals, but there is a significant difference between a low-calorie diet of plant foods versus a diet filled with refined carbohydrates and sugars.

We know this deep down, but now science has confirmed it: snacking on high-fat and high-sugar foods is independently associated with an increase in abdominal fat. According to a study published in Hepatology, eating high-calorie snacks in addition to three main meals a day increases the accumulation of abdominal fat and fat in the liver, whereas eating larger balanced meals at mealtimes does not.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of fats that are essential for human health. Theyre found in high amounts in fatty fish like salmon and herring, and also in algae supplements. Theres scientific evidence that getting adequate omega-3s either through your diet or as a supplement helps to reduce your appetite, increase your metabolism, and amplify the number of calories and amount of fat you burn during exercise. Multiple studies of patients with fatty liver disease have shown that fish oil supplements can significantly reduce abdominal fat.

Good news for your morning cup of joe. Women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have lower total body and abdominal fat than those who drink less, a study by Anglia Ruskin University found, with drinkers between the ages of 20 and 24 having 3.4 per cent less belly fat than those who did not consume coffee. Our research suggests that there may be bioactive compounds in coffee other than caffeine that regulate weight and which could potentially be used as anti-obesity compounds, wrote lead researcher Dr Lee Smith.

There are so many reasons to mix up your workouts with a range of activities not least because it makes exercise more interesting. But when it comes to burning belly fat, cardio is king. Researchers from Duke University Medical Center compared aerobic exercise, resistance training, and a combination of the two, to find out which was best for fighting belly fat.

Aerobic exercise performed as the sole exercise method or alongside resistance training was found to be more efficient and effective than resistance training alone, significantly reducing belly fat, liver fat, liver enzyme levels and fasting triglyceride levels, and improving insulin resistance. Plus, it was found to burn 67 per cent more calories than hitting the weights.

While you have most likely heard or gluten-free or dairy-free, many popular diets are also calling for people to be nightshade-free, sugar-free, lectin-free or grain-free, says Lenherr. There are a number of problems with eliminating whole food groups unnecessarily, especially without the support of a nutritionist, she says from risking nutritional deficiencies to missing out on essential protein and fibre.

On top of this, a reductionist way of eating can leave people feeling unmotivated and bored, which increases the likelihood of unhealthy cravings and giving up on the diet altogether, Lenherr continues. For those still wanting to cut out whole food groups, make sure you speak with a nutritionist to ensure you avoid any unwanted health implications.

A lack of shut-eye has long been associated with a wider waistline. A poor nights sleep has an effect on your hunger hormones causing levels of appetite stimulant ghrelin to rise, and appetite suppressant leptin to fall which can make you feel especially ravenous. And unfortunately, many sleep disorders, like sleep apnea, are worsened by weight gain.

A meta-analysis by the University of Warwick Medical School found that short sleep duration increased the likelihood of obesity by 55 per cent in adults. And there have been controlled studies, too when 16 adults were allowed just five hours of sleep per night for five nights, they each gained an average of 0.82kg.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that alternates between set periods of eating and fasting typically eating all your food in an eight hour window, and abstaining from eating for 16. In a review of studies on intermittent fasting by the University of Illinois, people experienced up to a 7 per cent decrease in abdominal fat within 24 weeks. This approach to eating doesnt suit everyone, and for people with certain health issues such as diabetes, it may even be dangerous. Seek advice from a healthcare professional before attempting this approach.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide a wealth of health benefits when eaten. Certain probiotics, such as those from the Lactobacillus family, inhibit the absorption of fat from your diet. They also stimulate the release of a hormone called GLP-1, which helps to burn calories and fat. A strain called Lactobacillus gasseri has been found to have impressive anti-obesity effects. In a Japanese study spanning 210 participants, taking this supplement for 12 weeks reduced belly fat by 8.5 per cent on average.

Theres a reason its called a beer belly. As well as being high in calories, alcohol decreases leptin levels the hunger suppressant making you want to eat more. It also interferes with your bodys ability to process carbohydrates and fats from food, and several studies have shown that drinking too much alcohol may encourage fat to be stored as belly fat, so limiting your intake is advised. Unfortunately, a study by the University of Verona found that even moderate alcohol intake is linked to carrying more belly fat.

Theres no quick fix to lose your belly fat, so make sure you find a healthy lifestyle that works for you, says Wild. Vary your exercise routines and find a few exercises that you enjoy. Swapping for healthier food habits doesnt need to be boring, theres lots of tasty alternatives to your favourite meals, she says. Its important to make healthy habits that you enjoy to help keep you motivated to achieve your health goals. Set yourself small, achievable goals each week and write them down it will help you to stick to them.

Last updated: 17-09-20

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People often strive to lose weight, but there are times where you might want toor even need togain weight.

And while the timeline might vary, bulking up within a week, particularly in muscle mass, could be important for events, tryouts, auditions, or other life situations or health needs.

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And, if you're looking to start building muscle, well, you have to start some week.

Muscle is, after all, the key to improving bone density and boosting strength. And there are many benefits to keep the mass on beyond a week.

Maintaining muscle mass as we age is critical for longevity as it supports functional lifestyle movements as well as our skeletal system, which weakens with age, says Kelly Jones M.S., R.D.

As for the amount of muscle you can gain within a week, it's also important to be realistic. We're talking about your health here.

So don't expect, from a standpoint of safety, that you'll gain more than one pound of muscle per week, says Jones. Genetics play a role. Your metabolism plays a role. Your familiarity with weight training plays a role. Your ability to mainline protein plays a role (more on that later).

But, yes, the general rule is that you can gain about a pound of muscle mass each week safely.

So here are six strategies to gain weightand ensure that those added pounds come in the form of strong, lean muscle instead of fat.

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While some evidence suggests you can gain muscle while in a calorie deficit, its much more difficult this way and your potential for how much gained per week will be lower, says Jones.

Your best bet is to increase the number of calories you are eating each day. Think of your meals and snacks and add a little more to eachnot to overwhelm your stomach in one sitting, but rather increase the total for the day in spurts.

I would then suggest adding around 250 to 500 calories per day to your average calorie intake, says Martin.

And consider tracking calories.

The fundamental principle of weight gain is you have to be in an overall calorie surplusyou take in more calories than you burn, says Charlotte Martin, M.S., R.D.N.

If you find the scale isnt budging it may be helpful to track your calorie intake for a week or so to see how best to add more.

Carbohydrates are the most efficient energy source for exercising muscle, especially when reaching high intensity, so dont cut them out when following an intense training program and trying to gain lean mass, says Jones.

Without carbohydrates (or enough calories), youre more likely to use protein as an energy source rather than for its important structural and metabolic functions.

And eat lots of protein too, because its a key macronutrient for building muscle mass and repairing damaged muscles after a workout.

For muscle growth to occur, muscle protein synthesis must be greater than muscle protein breakdown. For this reason, those who wish to gain muscle must prioritize adequate protein intake, says Martin.

Spread protein intake throughout the day. I often notice men trying to eat large amounts of protein at once when trying to gain lean mass, but rather than extra scoops of protein powder post workout and 12 ounces of poultry at a meal, aim to include more energy from carbs and split protein intake up so that its delivered more regularly to the blood stream and muscles, allowing for more continuous recovery, says Jones.

Going long periods without food means its harder to spread your protein intake throughout the day, putting your body in a catabolic (breakdown) state for too long, says Jones.

This can mean tapping into muscle protein reserves for energy during your fast, regardless of how much you eat in your short eating window. So, dont fast, and make sure you eat every two or three hours during the day.

You might think you can indulge because you need those extra calories. Not quite true.

Regular or excess alcohol intake impairs recovery processes, which can mean slower gains in both muscle mass and progress with your training program, says Jones.

The dietary guidelines for Americans 2020 advisory committee recommended that moderate intake for men be considered just one drink per day versus the previous two, she says.

Thats rightsip on a protein shake before getting ready for bed. Consuming protein before bed has been shown to be effectively digested and absorbed during sleep, therefore stimulating muscle protein synthesis while you sleep, says Martin.

Casein is a favorite nighttime protein because its slow-digesting, meaning it provides a steady supply of amino acids for muscle recovery and helps reduce muscle breakdown while you sleep, she adds.

And go for a powder low in sugar, which can spike blood sugar levels and keep you awake.

Getting around 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep per night is crucial to increase muscle mass, because thats when your muscles repair most. Sleep plays a vital role in muscle recovery and growth.

Its a key time for the release of human growth hormone, which helps develop muscle mass, says Martin. Plus, getting enough sleep boosts levels of testosterone, a hormone that promotes increased muscle mass as well, she adds.

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Eating a lot in the evening increases overall daily energy intake and is associated with a poorer quality diet in a new study exploring the calorie content and nutritional value of food relative to the time of day it is consumed.

The study, presented during this year's virtual European and International Congress on Obesity (ECOICO 2020), was led by Judith Baird, a PhD student at the Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Northern Ireland.

"If you eat most of your calorie intake earlier in the day it might help to reduce your overall calorie intake," Baird told Medscape Medical News. Our work "suggests that it might be useful to consider time of day when developing nutritional interventions [for weight loss and health] because it helps reduce overall energy intake."

Laura Johnson, PhD, is a nutritional epidemiologist at the University of Bristol, UK. She welcomed the findings for shining a light on how when we eat might affect health. "Many studies have shown that eating breakfast is typically associated with healthier diets and this research demonstrates the other end of that see-saw."

"Breakfast is notoriously the most nutrient-rich meal for most people and if you eat a greater percentage of your calories after 6 pm then it's highly likely you are missing breakfast," Johnson noted.

She added, "An outstanding and important question raised by this work is whether the time of eating per se causes the poorer diet or if it's simply a reflection of the strong cultural traditions around the type of food we eat normally at different times of day."

To investigate the association between evening eating on total daily energy intake and diet quality, Baird and colleagues drew on data from 1177 adults from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which collects detailed information on food consumption, nutrient intake, and nutritional status of the UK general population. Participants were aged 19-64 years.

Categories were devised according to the proportion of participants' daily energy intake consumed after 6 pm. The four groups were quartile1, in which eveningconsumption accounted for < 31.4% of total energy intake; quartile 2, > 31.4% to 40.4%; quartile 3, > 40.4% to 48.6%; and quartile 4, > 48.6%.

Diet quality was assessed by scoring the food diaries kept by participants using the Nutrient Rich Food Index, which classifies and ranks foods according to the ratio of important nutrients they contain relative to their energy content. Researchers did not control for energy expended during physical activity.

Results showed that the overall mean proportion of energy consumed in the evening was almost 40% of the total energy intake (39.8% 13.6%).

"Because we live in a Western society and our schedules have become more 24 hour, I expected we would consume most of our calories in the evening, but 40% was quite high," Baird remarked.

Also, those with the lowest proportion of evening energy intake (quartile 1, approximately 8437 kJ/day or approximately 2000 calories) had a significantly lower total energy intake than quartile 2 (approximately 9284 kJ/day; P < .001), quartile 3 (9108 kJ/day; P = .002), and quartile 4 (9156 kJ/day; P= .001).

In terms of diet quality, those who ate the most in the evening also consumed a nutritionally poorer diet than the other participants (P = .001 for those in quartile 4 vs quartile 1). Individuals in quartile 4 had a significantly lower Nutrient Rich Food Index score (438) than those in quartile 1 (459; P = .027), quartile 2 (465; P = .002), and quartile 3 (463; P = .005).

Baird called these findings "interesting."

The percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates and total sugars after 6 pm appeared to decrease as evening energy intake increased from quartile 1 to quartile 4, while the percentage of energy intake of fat and alcohol after 6 pm increased.

"Next, we want to look at the types of food and the eating circumstances. For example are [people]...eating in company or alone in front of the television? It might be that the setting in which people eat drives the consumption of energy-dense food...People are often more sedentary in the evening and this might affect food choice," Baird concluded.

Baird has declared no conflicts of interest. Johnson has reported institution funding from Kellogg Europe and holds research grants from the National Institutes for Health Research, Medical Research Council and World Cancer Research Fund.

ECO-ICO 2020. Presented September 1-4, 2020. Abstract 1065, LBA-056.

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You know Dr. Mikeor Doctor Mike Varshavskias the internet celebrity doctor who gained popularity for his combination of smarts and good looks. And now Dr. Mike is serving fans a helping of Nutrition 101, showing how he makes sense of nutrition and diet in his own life.

In a video on his ever-popular YouTube channel, Dr. Mike explains the basics of nutrition using a healthy-eating triangle of sorts. He boils that ever-vague term healthy eating down to intake of appropriate calories, appropriate macronutrients, and appropriate micronutrients. To truly eat healthy, Dr. Mike says, you need a balance of all of these things.

In case you need it boiled down even further, Dr. Mike explains calories as necessary energy your body needs to function, which is a much better way to look at it instead of an evil number to restrict.

Macronutrients are protein, fats, and carbswhich are also much needed in a well-rounded diet. You already know protein is essential, as it builds and repairs muscle, skin, bone, and blood in the body. But fat is also neededand Dr. Mike says fats have gotten a bad rep. Fats give you energy, support cell growth, and protect your organs. They also help you absorb nutrients and helps you produce vital hormones. Now, Dr. Mike admits he personally isnt a huge fan of carbs, aka fibers, starches, and sugars. He says while fibers like beans, whole grains, veggies, and fruits are top-notch, he strays aways from sugar and starches in his own diet.

Lets move on to micronutrients, which are vitamins and minerals. These are essential nutrients the body doesnt make on its own and can only get from food. Dr. Mike explains being low on vitamins can negatively impact your energy levels, your immune system, and even your bloods ability to clot. If you are low on minerals, your bones could be impacted or you could develop conditions like anemia.

Something you have to know is that all diets are not created equal, Dr. Mike says after explaining these three pillars. To display this fact and his "triangle" at work, Dr. Mike talks in extremes.

There are two people in a given situation. They have the same maintenance calories and they are looking to lose weight, Dr. Mike says. Person A decides to follow the cookie diet, and they are going to aim to eat 1500 calories of cookies a day, which is 500 calories below their required maintenance. Person B is also going to be eating 1500 calories a day, but they are following the Mediterranean dietbasically a whole foods, plant-based diet.

Now, Dr. Mike says the answer of who is following the healthy diet is clear. But the reason why is not as simple as it seems.

Both people will actually lose weight. So you may say, If they are both losing weight, why is one worse than the other? Dr. Mike says. Go back to my little triangle I created.

Basically, Dr. Mike explains while both are eating a caloric deficit, which will result in the desired weight loss, Person A is getting virtually no macronutrients or micronutrients. And thats why weight isnt a tell-all factor when it comes to someones health status.

So what should someone do to lose or gain weight in a healthy, sustainable way? Its actually rather simple.

If you are trying to lose weight or if you are underweight and want to gain weight, heres what I recommend you do, Dr. Mike says. Calculate your maintenance calories. If you want to gain weight, add to the maintenance calories and eat that. If you want to lose weight, eat a little bit less than your maintenance calories and youre going to be losing weight.

Just remember to do eat those calories with macronutrients and micronutrients in mind. Dr. Mike recommends losing or gaining a pound a week maximum because going into extremes can really mess with your body, unless you are under the supervision of a nutritionist or doctor.

Trust me, there is a lot of nuance when it comes to nutrition, Dr. Mike says. I didnt want to bog this video down with controversy. In general, the field of nutrition research is an absolute mess. Well save that for the future. You got the basics.

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When it comes to cutting carbohydrates, its not only pastries and bread you have to think about. Carbs are also in fruits (which explains their sweetness), so logic might suggest canceling this type of food, too but dont.

While many low-carb diets recommend avoiding fruit because it tends to be higher in carbohydrates due to its natural sugar, its not ideal for health. Fruit contains many health-promoting nutrients, and removing them from the diet completely could be detrimental, explains Trista Best, a registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements, an online vitamin supplement shop based in Wilmington, Delaware. For example, fruit (as well as vegetables) providesheart-healthy dietary fiber, along with vitamins and minerals that the body uses as antioxidants to fight various chronic diseases, points out past research.

So you know including fruit in your diet, even a low-carb one, is beneficial. But that doesnt mean that anything goes. A standard low-carb diet involves eating no more than 20 grams (g) to 100 g of net carbs per day, depending on your weight loss goals, according toAtkins.com.

RELATED: Which Low-Carb Diet Is Best for People With Diabetes?

Some fruits have a lower amount of net carbs than others, making them a better choice. (Net carbs are total carbs minus fiber and sugar alcohols, and are often counted in low-carb dieting, such as Atkins.) So to hit your weight loss goal, it helps to choose fruits with the lowest amount of carbs.

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The 12 Best Fruits to Eat on a Low-Carb Diet - Everyday Health

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A person buys soda at a convenience store in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on April 13. The country has high levels of obesity and medical conditions that health authorities warn are related to a diet high in soda and processed foods. Mauricio Palos/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

A person buys soda at a convenience store in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, on April 13. The country has high levels of obesity and medical conditions that health authorities warn are related to a diet high in soda and processed foods.

Picture this: You're 17, you walk into a corner store and grab a Coca-Cola and Doritos, but the cashier refuses to sell them to you because you're underage.

That rule is expected to soon become reality in parts of Mexico, as lawmakers in several states push legislation to keep junk food away from children, partly in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

First Oaxaca's state legislature passed a ban on selling or giving out high-calorie packaged foods and sugar-sweetened drinks to minors on Aug. 5. Less than two weeks later, Tabasco state approved a prohibition, too. Now at least a dozen other states are considering similar legislation.

"I know it can sound a bit drastic but we had to take action now," says Magaly Lpez, a lawmaker in Oaxaca's Congress who spearheaded the ban.

More than 70,000 Mexicans have died from COVID-19, the world's fourth-highest recorded death toll, according to tracking by Johns Hopkins University. Two-thirds of those who died in Mexico had an underlying medical condition such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular problems, according to Health Department officials. That has led to a new urgency to change diets so that the younger generation doesn't suffer those ailments.

"The damage of this kind of diet is even more visible because of the pandemic," says Lpez, who is a member of President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador's Morena party.

The party's critics, however, say its leaders are using preexisting health conditions in COVID-19 patients to distract from a weak government response to the virus outbreak.

Yet few would deny the country consumes large amounts of sugar-sweetened beverages and processed snacks with little nutrition or that Mexico has a major weight problem.

One-third of Mexicans aged 6 to 19 are overweight or obese, according to UNICEF. They may not be disproportionately affected by COVID-19 now, but they can suffer myriad health issues, especially in adulthood.

"Bottled poison"

Senior federal officials have been calling on citizens to cut back on junk food. Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lpez-Gatell has called soda "bottled poison."

Mexico's assistant health secretary, Hugo Lpez-Gatell, speaks about plans for Mexico to produce an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, at the national palace in Mexico City, on Aug. 13. Hector Vivas/Getty Images hide caption

Mexico's assistant health secretary, Hugo Lpez-Gatell, speaks about plans for Mexico to produce an experimental coronavirus vaccine developed by the University of Oxford, at the national palace in Mexico City, on Aug. 13.

The country's overweight health issue "is not the fault of individuals, it's the fault of this nutritional environment that has been developed to favor those [junk food] products instead of health," Lpez-Gatell, Mexico's coronavirus czar, said in July. He has since endorsed the Oaxaca bill.

Oaxaca congresswoman Lpez says legislators from all over the country have called her for advice. In addition to Tabasco, Chihuahua state is debating a junk food ban, and Mexico City's mayor says her administration is looking into something similar. A federal senator from Oaxaca says he wants to make it national law.

Oaxaca's governor approved the state's law last week. Legislators still have to draw up enforcement mechanisms, and punishment could include fines and even jail.

Business pressure

A nationwide law would not be easy. "There are powerful commercial interests that don't want it to happen, but we must prioritize the well-being of our children," Lpez says.

The business owners' association COPARMEX said the legislation "will be an obstacle to commercial freedom and will incentivize the informal economy."

Cuauhtmoc Rivera, the president of the National Small Businesses' Alliance, has been a vociferous critic. "Formal businesses will close and transition to sidewalks and street corners, where consumption of these products will continue," without regulation or oversight, he says.

A street vendor sells sweet snacks in Mexico City in 2016. Several states are pushing to ban the sale of junk food and soda to children to improve the population's nutrition levels. Eduardo Verdugo/AP hide caption

A street vendor sells sweet snacks in Mexico City in 2016. Several states are pushing to ban the sale of junk food and soda to children to improve the population's nutrition levels.

Rivera finds these laws particularly troubling at a time when coronavirus prevention measures have crushed small businesses. His group estimates 150,000 businesses had to close during the pandemic and it expects many will not reopen.

Business groups also say the bans would disproportionately affect the underprivileged.

"The daily battle of the average Mexican is to stretch the little money you have as far as it can go, to fill the stomachs of everyone in your house," Rivera says. The cheapest, easiest calories, especially in urban areas, he says, are things like soda, potato chips and white bread.

Power dynamics

There are power dynamics at play that helped make these kinds of foods so widely consumed, according to Ana Larraaga, of the public health advocacy group Salud Crtica ("critical health").

"We should not only be looking at the companies, the brands, that are involved in the processing in the food but also the political context that allowed the lack of regulations," she says.

Larraaga says the government failed to regulate junk food and soda for decades. She notes that a former leader, Vicente Fox, had once served as CEO of Coca-Cola Mexico before becoming president in 2000.

In 2013, Coca-Cola tried to buy goodwill by sponsoring a school fitness program in Mexico. Several public institutions adopted the program, but it's now widely seen as a failure.

Things began to change in 2014, when the government imposed a tax on sugary drinks. The tax contributed to a 6% drop in soda drinking in its first year, according to government research, while milk and water consumption climbed.

And last year, a new federal law passed. Starting in October, giant-font warning labels will be slapped on the front of food packages: "EXCESS SUGAR!" "EXCESS SODIUM!" "EXCESS TRANS FATS!"

Larraaga says the junk food ban for minors is another encouraging step toward nutrition, if it really catches on. "Whether this policy will work or not ... I definitely think it depends on the acceptance of the population," she says.

"Something healthy instead"

Oaxaca could be primed to embrace it. In the rural Oaxacan town of Villa Hidalgo Yallag, citizens have physically blocked chips and soda delivery trucks from entering since April, saying they don't want outsiders to bring in the coronavirus or junk food.

NPR spoke to several teenagers in Mexico City and Oaxaca state and found almost all knew about health problems related to junk food and agreed change was needed.

"I'd be frustrated at first if I couldn't buy a Coke," said 16-year-old Wendy Trevio, "but I'd adapt. And maybe I'd think twice and buy fruit or something healthy instead."

And 17-year-old Daniela Santiago in Natividad, a small town in the highlands of Oaxaca, said during a workshop with a nonprofit: "We learned about all the diseases associated with a bad diet, hypertension, diabetes, things like that, and I didn't know about all that."

Santiago thinks avoiding junk food should not be a problem, since Natividad's residents have easy access to fresh produce and can stick with traditional dishes based around beans, vegetables, fruit and corn tortillas.

But she knows it may not be so simple in urban areas.

"People in cities are always pressured by their work or school schedule and have no option but to eat junk," Santiago says, "even if they know it's unhealthy."

Excerpt from:
'We Had To Take Action': States In Mexico Move To Ban Junk Food Sales To Minors - NPR

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The current push for social justice in America is nothing new. But the pressure of the pandemic has inspired more athletes to say, Enough is enough. The NBA strike grew from players need to hit pause. They made a concerted effort to support social justice causes, as well as use NBA arenas and commercial time to raise awareness for voting. This recalls a different era when NFL players used their eye black for self-expression.

RELATED: How Allen Iverson Changed NBA Fashion Forever

Most NFL players have worn eye black at some point. Purportedly, the black strips absorb some light before it hits the players eyes, reducing glare. Business Insider reports that theres no definitive research proving this works. But hey, it looks cool, and its a fairly non-committal way to get an edge that may or may not actually be there.

Some players added messages to their eye black. Shoutouts to friends, family, or meaningful phrases were common. The practice gained a huge boost in popularity when former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow put Bible verses on his. The Christian Science Monitor reports many of these were related to perseverance.

The NCAA and NFL banned the practice, despite the largely positive attention. Their reasoning, according to the Florida Times-Union, was about adherence to stringent, professional uniform standards. While there was some pushback among players, claiming it was a free speech issue, employers are within their legal rights to enforce particular dress codes. The ruling stands to this day, including for the 2020 season.

RELATED: How Do NBA Basketball Players Get Paid?

The eye black messages havent come back, but the ability for players to send personal messages has, in a sense. The NBA worked with the Players Association to come up with a list of pre-approved phrases players could apply to their jerseys. It has a similar effect as the eye black messages, with one major problem: Players dont have the freedom to add any new, personal messages to the list.

Even with this system in place, players managed to run afoul of the dress code in trying to get their personal statements across. Notably, Jimmy Butler was forced to change his jersey mid-game. He violated the rules by having no statement, nor his name, visible. He said his message was that he is, first and foremost, a black man not an NBA superstar. The NBA wasnt having it, so he ended up donning a jersey that had his famous name on it.

This could be an appropriate time for the NFL to roll back their 2010 ban of eye black messages. Its a touchy time, to be sure, but clearly one where many self-expression battles are being won. And if the first game of the season was any indication, NFL players need to find new ways to reach out to fans during these tense times.

The NFL could be touchy on this topic, given ratings were down as the season kicked into gear. Thats especially notable given that, according to The Score, other sports returning from pandemic breaks saw huge surges in viewership year-over-year. But players dont appear to be in a state of wanting to be seen simply as mindless performers.

While another strike might not be on the horizon, allowing more social justice expressions could be the best way to prevent one from fomenting.

See more here:
Are the NBAs Social Justice Jerseys Equivalent to the NFLs Banned Eye Black Messages? - Sportscasting

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Im going to bring you guys in as much as I can on my plan to get back to myself, the Milkshake singer says

Congratulations are in order for Kelis, who is now a mother of three!

The Grammy-nominated singer announced in a Saturday Instagram post that she delivered her new baby girl a week ago.

Kelis, who welcomes her first daughter and second child with husband Mike Mora, described the experience as intense. Her eldest child is her 11-year-old son from her marriage with rap superstar Nas.

The Milkshake singer took to her IG to invite her fans to witness her health journey back to pre-pregnancy form.

Im going to bring you guys in as much as I can on my plan to get back to myself, she wrote in the caption.

Unable to exercise for six weeks, Kelis intends to lose weight with a special diet plan.

READ MORE: Kelis announces new cannabis cooking show on Netflix

Ive been doing a lot of thinking and, you know, Im generally a really private person with my personal life, but I wanted to kind of like bring my fam in, bring you guys in, to sort of like talk about all of these womens things that we go through that no one really tells us about, she said in the video explaining her steps to pull it back together, what she calls my snap back.

I want to show you, kind of, how I plan on getting back into my high-waist jeans, which you know I love so much, with just food, Kelis said in the video. Like, no exercise, because I cant yet, and with just food.

As an accomplished chef and food entrepreneur, she is offering a sale of her Gold Mine boxes, containing a collection of sauces and seasonings. She sells her boxes and food prep items via her website bountyandfull.com.

READ MORE: Houston woman loses over 100 pounds using keto diet

The Bossy singer said that shes 50 to 60 pounds away from her goal.

Im going to run a little sale to start because I want to show you what Im eating, and I want you to be able to get them all and be able to enjoy them with me while Im going through this process, she continued.

Story continues

Ill show you what Im eating daily, and what Im not eating and when Im eating it and all that stuff so you can sort of see, like, what it is Im doing, and we can do it together.

Kelis says her methods and food choices during the six-week period are anti-inflammatory, anti-bruising and will aid in joint and gut health as well as SKIN AND HAIR.

Her cooking web series Cooked with Kelis is available on her YouTube channel.

Have you subscribed totheGrios podcastDear Culture? Download our newest episodes now!

The post Kelis shares snap back diet plan after birth of third child: Ill show you what Im eating daily appeared first on TheGrio.

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Kelis shares snap back diet plan after birth of third child: Ill show you what Im eating daily - Yahoo News

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Motorists driving along parts of Main Street in Plymouth will need to drive with caution along line of orange barrels.

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Equipment works on striping a layer of the road surface along Main Street in downtown Plymouth on July 13, 2020. (Photo: JOHN HEIDER | hometownlife.com)

Temporary pain for motoristswill result in long-term gain for drivers and bicyclists in downtown Plymouth beginning Tuesday.

Road crews are expected to begin road diet-striping operations on Main Street between Ann Arbor Trail and Ann Arbor Road on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Plymouth Downtown Development Authority.

Motorists shouldexpect some delays and detours around rolling work crew operations, which are expected run a few days.

More: Former Starkweather School in Plymouth renovated into slick apartment complex

More: COVID-19 can't stop the music at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park

The road diet will add two dedicated bike lanes and a left-hand turn lane on Main Street between Ann Arbor Trail and Ann Arbor Road, while reducing vehicular lanes from two in each direction to one in each direction.

This week's projected is funded by aroads improvement bond that Plymouth residents passed 1,028-728last November.The first phase of the ambitious road-construction project saw milling, fresh paving and re-striping of Main Street from Wing to Church streets.

Contact reporter Ed Wright at eawright@hometownlife.com or 517-375-1113.

Read or Share this story: https://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/2020/09/14/next-phase-main-street-road-improvement-project/5796317002/

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Link:
Major road construction returning to downtown Plymouth - Hometown Life

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Extensively used in Ayurvedic medicine, giloy is often called the "root of immortality". The herb has numerous health benefits. It is a powerhouse of antioxidants, which fight free radicals and thus reduces your risk of deadly diseases like cancer.

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, people have started using more and more ayurvedic herbs. And one of the most commonly used ayurvedic herbs to boost immunity, which is our prime concern right now is giloy.

Giloy removes toxins from the body, purifies the blood and fights bacteria. It is especially beneficial for people with liver disease. It is antipyretic in nature, which means it can reduce fever and ease the symptoms of life-threatening fevers like dengue, swine flu and malaria.

Here are five easy peasy ways to include this herb in your daily diet:

Link:
Giloy Health Benefits: 5 easy ways to include giloy in your daily diet and its health benefits - Times of India

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