Category Archives: Diet And Food

In an impassioned speech on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, blasted President Trumps decision to pull troops from defensive positions in Syria, and brought up the possibility that Turkey may have called Americas bluff in an exchange between Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Are we so weak and inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey? Romney said. I believe that its imperative that public hearings are held to answer these questions, and I hope the Senate is able to conduct those hearings next week.

The transcript of the Oct. 6 phone call between Trump and Erdogan has not been made public. Shortly afterward, Trump, without notifying his national security staff or State Department, unilaterally ordered the small American contingent in northern Syria to abandon their positions, and Turkey began its assault three days later.

Romney said redeploying the troops that protected Kurdish allies from the Turkish military left a bloodstain on American history.

We know the truth about our Kurd allies. They lost 11,000 combatants in our joint effort to defeat ISIS. We dropped bombs from the air and provided intelligence and logistics behind the lines. The Kurds lost thousands of lives. Eighty-six brave Americans also lost their lives so tragically, Romney said. Its argued that the Kurds were fighting for themselves. Of course they were. Thats the nature of an alliance. We fight together, each pursuing our own vital interest.

A day earlier, Trump fought off criticism of his decision to clear the way for Turkish forces to enter northern Syria and battle Kurdish forces stationed there, calling the move strategically brilliant.

Im not going to get involved in a war between Turkey and Syria, especially when, if you look at the Kurds, and again I say this with great respect, theyre no angels, Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday as his own vice president and secretary of state headed to Turkey to try to persuade Erdogan to halt his military offensive.

Perhaps the most outspoken Republican critic of the president, Romney saw Trumps erratic foreign policy moves as antithetical to American values and a boon to U.S. foes.

This is a matter of American honor and promise. So too is the principle that we stand by our allies, that we do not abandon our friends. The decision to abandon the Kurds violates one of our most sacred duties. It strikes at American honor. What we have done to the Kurds will stand as a bloodstain in the annals of American history, Romney said. There are broad strategic implications of our decision as well. Iranian and Russian interests in the Middle East have been advanced as well. At a time when we are applying maximum pressure on Iran, by giving them a stronger hand in Syria, we have actually weakened that pressure. Russias objective to play a greater role in the Middle East has also been greatly enhanced. The Kurds, out of desperation, have aligned with Assad. So America is diminished; Russia, Iran and Assad are strengthened.

AP Photo/Andrew Harnik

Earlier in the day, Vice President Mike Pence announced that Erdogan had agreed to a five-day ceasefire with the Kurds on terms favorable to Turkey, and Trump celebrated that news as he departed for a campaign rally in Dallas.

This is an amazing outcome. This is an outcome, regardless of how the press would like to damp it down, this was something that theyve been trying to get for 10 years, Trump said. You would have lost millions and millions of lives. They couldnt get it without a little rough love, as I called it.

Before Pence announced the short-term ceasefire that would spare Turkey from further U.S. sanctions, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,introduced a bill that would increase sanctions on Erdogans government well beyond those the Trump administration put in place this week.

Mr. President, as much as I like you and want to work with you, I am going to be consistent and I will hold you accountable," Graham said.

On Wednesday, two-thirds of Republican House members voted in favor of a resolution that rebuked Trump over his handling of the Kurdish situation. But on Thursday, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked a vote on the same nonbinding resolution in the Senate.

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Romney speculates Turkey called Trump's bluff: 'Are we so weak and inept?' - Yahoo Lifestyle

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The size of your seat and how much legroom you'll get on a future flight could be decided by 720 Oklahomans taking part in a first-of-its-kind test to determine if jam-packed planes slow emergency evacuations.

Frequent flyers on U.S. airlines are all too aware that cramped economy cabins are detrimental to comfort. But federal officials who write airline safety rules have never tested whether smaller seats or tightly packed rows have any effect on evacuation time.

"It is a big pet peeve of flyers, but that doesn't necessarily mean that there is a safety issue," said Stacey Zinke-McKee, a medical-research official at the Federal Aviation Administration facility in Oklahoma City where the tests are being conducted.

Beginning next month, FAA researchers will recruit people from churches, universities and online to come up with a test group similar to the overall U.S. population. Sixty at a time, they will be seated in a simulator laid out like a Boeing 737 or an Airbus A320, planes commonly used on domestic flights.

Flight attendants will tell them to get out of the simulator money will be paid to the first ones off to mimic the sense of panic that occurs in an emergency. Then the seats and rows will be reconfigured, and they will run the tests again four times with each group of 60 volunteers.

The researchers will compare tests to see if smaller seats or tighter rows make any difference. A dramatic difference would presumably be reason for FAA to set more generous minimum standards for the airlines to follow. An FAA rulemaking panel will use that data to help set seating standards for airlines, with a decision possible by late next year.

The average American adult is about 10 pounds (4 1/2 kilograms) heavier than just two decades ago, according to government figures, and airlines are squeezing more passengers into the economy cabin to make more room for high-paying customers in business class. That means tighter rows in the back of the plane.

Congress last year ordered the FAA to set minimums for seat sizes and the distance between rows.

Airlines "are cramming in more and more and more seats, closer and closer together. People are getting bigger," House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., told the FAA's deputy administrator at a hearing last month. "I don't believe we can meet the standard anymore" for rapid evacuations.

The distance from any point on a seat say, the front of the armrest and the same spot on the seat in the next row is called pitch, and pitch has been shrinking. A few years ago, the standard was around 34 inches (86 centimeters). Today in the economy cabin of U.S. airlines it is more often around 30 or 31 inches (76 to 79 centimeters), and even tighter on some, including Spirit Airlines.

Planes are also more crowded. The average flight now is about 85% full it was 88% on Delta over the summer and during peak hours every seat is taken.

Consider also that more passengers carry bags on board, and hundreds of thousands of them bring an emotional-support animal too, and it stands to reason that it will take longer to get everybody out during an emergency.

Until last year, the FAA resisted calls to set minimum seat and row standards, saying those are matters of passenger comfort, not safety, and it's a safety regulator.

The FAA's Deputy Administrator Daniel Elwell agreed at last month's congressional hearing that Americans are getting bigger, but he noted that in two recent accidents that destroyed planes a 2014 Asiana crash in San Francisco that killed three passengers, and a 2018 Aeromexico crash in Durango, Mexico, with no deaths other passengers were able to evacuate safely.

"Survivability today is much, much better," he said.

Since the 1980s, the FAA has taken steps to make evacuations faster. It shortened the distance between emergency exits, it improved access to smaller exits like those over the wings under pressure from Congress and it required airlines to judge whether people sitting in exit rows can physically operate the door and help others get out.

By this time next year, we might know whether minimum seat sizes and legroom will be added to that list.

See more here:
FAA to test whether packed planes affect evacuation time - Yahoo Lifestyle

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CHEAT meal. It's a term that gets thrown around a lot these days, particularly in the online world where buff body builders and gym junkies strike a pose on their Instagram profile sitting down to a meal consisting of a towering multi-patty burger with a side of fries, a shake and a plate of waffles. The idea is that you stick to a restricted diet plan every other day of the week - or month - and a high-calorie feast serves as the reward. A chance to "cheat" on your health and fitness regime. The cheat meal phenomenon has paved the way for the rise of another extreme: competitive eating. Competitive eating - or speed eating - isn't a new craze. Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Challenge at Coney Island began in 1916 and, even in Newcastle, James Bibby became the celebrated porridge-eating champion of NSW in 1880 when he reportedly ate 84 plates of porridge at a contest in Lambton before a packed audience. But with the rise of social media, competitive eating is gaining traction. Not only does it draw attention (Australia's No.1 pro-ranked eater, Cal Stubbs, who is known online as @HulkSmashFood, has close to 200,000 followers on Instagram) but it can be lucrative, with prizes such as cash and free meals for a year up for grabs. For Lambton's Jamie Miller, a weekly cheat meal led him into the world of competitive eating. He started six years ago and, at one point, was among the top four competitive eaters in Australia. "Like a lot of other competitive eaters, I started trying to get fit," Miller explains. "I started using the home gym and dieting really hard, but to keep motivated I discovered these things called cheat meals. "So, once a week, I'd eat one big meal and that's when I started going to the takeaway shops and ordering four hamburgers. "Eventually some of them started to say 'Well, I'll just make you a giant hamburger if you're going to come in every Friday'. "I started off doing that and then the guys at work set a Facebook page called Blossom's Friday Food Challenge and a lot of the takeaway shops in the area where I was working started making me a weekly $30 challenge." Soon enough, the eating machine (whose nickname is "Lemon Blossom") caught the attention of Competitive Eating Australia which, as Miller explains, is the "governing body of eating in Australia". The group invited Miller as one of 20 competitive eaters to take part in a pie eating competition at Harry's Cafe De Wheels to put together a team to represent Australia on a Japanese television special, Battle of The Big Eaters: World Championships, filmed in the US. Miller demolished 16 pepper steak pies in 30 minutes to earn his spot in the top four. "I tried out for the Australian Competitive Eating team in 2014, and then, all of a sudden, I'm on a plane to America and I'm thinking 'What's going on?'," Miller laughs. "They flew a four-man Australian team to Los Angels to compete against Japan, America and China, which is really weird. "I don't know how many people from Newcastle have represented Australia at eating. Probably zero, but it's the weirdest thing. When I talk to people I tell them I represented Australia. They say 'What at?' and I say 'Eating". "They think I'm joking, but it really happened." Competitive Eating Australia retired Miller from his ranking in the top 20 in March this year, ("They brought in a whole heap of new younger guys that were really more active than I was," he explains) but that hasn't stopped him. With 62 challenges under his belt, Miller has attempted every food challenge in Newcastle and the Hunter, and continues to rise up whenever a new one is offered (Miller estimates there are 12 challenges currently up-and-running in the region) He polished off the five-patty Man v Burger challenge at Goodtime Burgers at The Exchange in August for a fourth time and succeeded in the one kilogram burrito challenge at Mad Mex in May. His reign extends internationally, too. At the Moo Moo Steakhouse in Bali, Miller holds the record for the one kilogram steak challenge. "There is a photo of me on the wall above the bar over there which is pretty cool. I like that one," Miller says. "I had to eat a one kilogram steak and some vegetables. "I did it in three minutes and 14 seconds." In 2015, Miller, along with then No.1 ranked eater in Australia Isaac Harding-Davis, became the first to complete the two-man two-metre long pizza challenge at Criniti's at Westfield Kotara. They finished the one-hour challenge in 40 minutes. "That was horrendous," Miller recalls. "It was a lot of food and it was hard to get down, but the prize is quite substantial. "You get to eat a year's free food at Criniti's. I added it up, because I went there every week and got my entree, main and dessert, and it was over $5000 worth of food. "So, sometimes there are good prizes." A newcomer to the scene in Newcastle is 18-year-old Alex Johnson. The Year 12 student from Adamstown (@newys_dapper_bloke) is delving into the world of cheat meals via his Instagram page, which is filled with images of over-the-top burgers he devours around town, as well as his creations (a tower of McDonald's hot cakes filled with KFC popcorn chicken, drizzled with syrup). Whether or not you want to stomach it, it's a curious feast for the eyes. "Burgers are my thing," Johnson says. "The most patties I have done is five, but that was a walk in the park, so I'm looking to get a bit bigger. The record at Eight Bulls [in Hamilton] was 17 patties." Even though he prefers to stick with the cheat meal concept and photography, Johnson has attempted a handful of challenges in Newcastle - and struck up a friendship with Miller in the process. He went up against Lemon Blossom in a doughnut eating challenge at Doughheads recently and managed to beat him. "I beat him by one doughnut, which was good. He's my mentor," Johnson says. "I ate 10-and-a-half doughnuts in five minutes. I was pretty stoked about that because I've done a few challenges on the side and haven't really had any success. That was the first one that I did that I was good at." Johnson is using his win of a free six-pack of doughnuts for a year to road-test cheat meal ideas around establishments in Newcastle, so far taking them to Milky Lane, Rascal and Luvv Gelato. "I'm doing a series on my Instagram page where I go into a place and make a burger with my doughnut," he says. "Sweet and salty - I don't know what it is but it's so good. So I order a burger and swap out the bun." IN the world of competitive eating, there are risks involved too. In 2017, a 20-year-old female died as a result of choking during a pancake-eating contest at a US university and, in August, a 41-year-old man also choked to death after taking part in a taco-eating competition in California. And what about the other health risks, such as obesity, that are associated with over-eating? In the first six months of upping his fitness regime and devouring a weekly cheat meal in 2013, Miller actually dropped 25 kilograms. "I was eating protein shakes for the rest of the week," Miller says. "There is criticism you cop, though. Every time there's an article on social media, you get a lot of public outcry from people saying things like 'This promotes obesity' and it's not necessarily anything like that, but people get very opposed to food challenges and competitive eating. "They think there's this big hoard of big fat blokes that cruise around gorging themselves at food challenges and eating everyone's food, and that's not the truth at all. "The competitive eaters are usually all fit. There's an ex-NRL player, some of the top body builders in the country, all sorts of people. They're all really fit guys. "If I eat three meals a day, it's no different to eating one big meal a day. It's the same amount of food. Even the next day, I might not even eat anything - I might still feel full. I don't eat a two kilogram burger three times a day. That's impossible." Miller admits there is one food that he could never face eating again. "It ate 3.2 kilogram of sea urchin pasta in America for that TV show and it nearly killed me," he says. "They had paramedics there and they were encouraging everyone that had eaten that much food to try to expel it from their body, so to throw it up. "But I haven't thrown up since 1982, so I wasn't going to do that. I held it in and I was in a bad way. I started to feel really sick. "And what they didn't tell me, which I found out later, is that the genitals of the sea urchin - which is the part that you eat - has a chemical in it which has the same effect as the THC in cannabis. I ate a lot of it! And I spent about an hour sitting on a brick wall in a car park in Huntington Beach afterwards talking to a big grey seagull who I was just sure had a Mexican accent and kept telling me I was about to die. "I definitely don't want to eat sea urchin again."

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October 19 2019 - 9:00AM

Alex Johnson, 18, is relatively new to the competitive eating scene. Burgers are his bag. Picture: Simone De Peak

MATCH FIT: Jamie Miller sizes up the "Fat Phukka" at Eight Bulls in Hamilton. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

Alex Johnson, far left, has a quiet moment with his specially made donut hamburger at Milky Lane.

Alex created this offering - McDonald's hot cakes filled with KFC popcorn chicken, topped with syrup.

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It's a term that gets thrown around a lot these days, particularly in the online world where buff body builders and gym junkies strike a pose on their Instagram profile sitting down to a meal consisting of a towering multi-patty burger with a side of fries, a shake and a plate of waffles.

The idea is that you stick to a restricted diet plan every other day of the week - or month - and a high-calorie feast serves as the reward.

A chance to "cheat" on your health and fitness regime.

The cheat meal phenomenon has paved the way for the rise of another extreme: competitive eating.

Alex's creation - McDonald's hot cakes filled with KFC popcorn chicken, topped with syrup.

Competitive eating - or speed eating - isn't a new craze.

Nathan's Famous Hot Dog-Eating Challenge at Coney Island began in 1916 and, even in Newcastle, James Bibby became the celebrated porridge-eating champion of NSW in 1880 when he reportedly ate 84 plates of porridge at a contest in Lambton before a packed audience.

But with the rise of social media, competitive eating is gaining traction.

Not only does it draw attention (Australia's No.1 pro-ranked eater, Cal Stubbs, who is known online as @HulkSmashFood, has close to 200,000 followers on Instagram) but it can be lucrative, with prizes such as cash and free meals for a year up for grabs.

For Lambton's Jamie Miller, a weekly cheat meal led him into the world of competitive eating.

He started six years ago and, at one point, was among the top four competitive eaters in Australia.

"Like a lot of other competitive eaters, I started trying to get fit," Miller explains.

"I started using the home gym and dieting really hard, but to keep motivated I discovered these things called cheat meals.

"So, once a week, I'd eat one big meal and that's when I started going to the takeaway shops and ordering four hamburgers.

MATCH FIT: Jamie Miller sizes up the "Fat Phukka" at Eight Bulls in Hamilton. Picture: Jonathan Carroll

"Eventually some of them started to say 'Well, I'll just make you a giant hamburger if you're going to come in every Friday'.

"I started off doing that and then the guys at work set a Facebook page called Blossom's Friday Food Challenge and a lot of the takeaway shops in the area where I was working started making me a weekly $30 challenge."

Soon enough, the eating machine (whose nickname is "Lemon Blossom") caught the attention of Competitive Eating Australia which, as Miller explains, is the "governing body of eating in Australia".

The group invited Miller as one of 20 competitive eaters to take part in a pie eating competition at Harry's Cafe De Wheels to put together a team to represent Australia on a Japanese television special, Battle of The Big Eaters: World Championships, filmed in the US.

Miller demolished 16 pepper steak pies in 30 minutes to earn his spot in the top four.

"I tried out for the Australian Competitive Eating team in 2014, and then, all of a sudden, I'm on a plane to America and I'm thinking 'What's going on?'," Miller laughs.

"They flew a four-man Australian team to Los Angels to compete against Japan, America and China, which is really weird.

"I don't know how many people from Newcastle have represented Australia at eating. Probably zero, but it's the weirdest thing. When I talk to people I tell them I represented Australia. They say 'What at?' and I say 'Eating".

"They think I'm joking, but it really happened."

Competitive Eating Australia retired Miller from his ranking in the top 20 in March this year, ("They brought in a whole heap of new younger guys that were really more active than I was," he explains) but that hasn't stopped him.

With 62 challenges under his belt, Miller has attempted every food challenge in Newcastle and the Hunter, and continues to rise up whenever a new one is offered (Miller estimates there are 12 challenges currently up-and-running in the region)

He polished off the five-patty Man v Burger challenge at Goodtime Burgers at The Exchange in August for a fourth time and succeeded in the one kilogram burrito challenge at Mad Mex in May.

His reign extends internationally, too.

At the Moo Moo Steakhouse in Bali, Miller holds the record for the one kilogram steak challenge.

"There is a photo of me on the wall above the bar over there which is pretty cool. I like that one," Miller says.

"I had to eat a one kilogram steak and some vegetables.

"I did it in three minutes and 14 seconds."

In 2015, Miller, along with then No.1 ranked eater in Australia Isaac Harding-Davis, became the first to complete the two-man two-metre long pizza challenge at Criniti's at Westfield Kotara.

They finished the one-hour challenge in 40 minutes.

"That was horrendous," Miller recalls.

"It was a lot of food and it was hard to get down, but the prize is quite substantial.

MAKING A MARK: Alex Johnson, 18, is relatively new to the competitive eating scene. Burgers are his bag. Picture: Simone De Peak

"You get to eat a year's free food at Criniti's. I added it up, because I went there every week and got my entree, main and dessert, and it was over $5000 worth of food.

"So, sometimes there are good prizes."

A newcomer to the scene in Newcastle is 18-year-old Alex Johnson.

The Year 12 student from Adamstown (@newys_dapper_bloke) is delving into the world of cheat meals via his Instagram page, which is filled with images of over-the-top burgers he devours around town, as well as his creations (a tower of McDonald's hot cakes filled with KFC popcorn chicken, drizzled with syrup).

Whether or not you want to stomach it, it's a curious feast for the eyes.

"Burgers are my thing," Johnson says.

"The most patties I have done is five, but that was a walk in the park, so I'm looking to get a bit bigger. The record at Eight Bulls [in Hamilton] was 17 patties."

Even though he prefers to stick with the cheat meal concept and photography, Johnson has attempted a handful of challenges in Newcastle - and struck up a friendship with Miller in the process.

He went up against Lemon Blossom in a doughnut eating challenge at Doughheads recently and managed to beat him.

"I beat him by one doughnut, which was good. He's my mentor," Johnson says.

"I ate 10-and-a-half doughnuts in five minutes. I was pretty stoked about that because I've done a few challenges on the side and haven't really had any success. That was the first one that I did that I was good at."

Johnson is using his win of a free six-pack of doughnuts for a year to road-test cheat meal ideas around establishments in Newcastle, so far taking them to Milky Lane, Rascal and Luvv Gelato.

"I'm doing a series on my Instagram page where I go into a place and make a burger with my doughnut," he says.

"Sweet and salty - I don't know what it is but it's so good. So I order a burger and swap out the bun."

IN the world of competitive eating, there are risks involved too.

In 2017, a 20-year-old female died as a result of choking during a pancake-eating contest at a US university and, in August, a 41-year-old man also choked to death after taking part in a taco-eating competition in California.

And what about the other health risks, such as obesity, that are associated with over-eating?

In the first six months of upping his fitness regime and devouring a weekly cheat meal in 2013, Miller actually dropped 25 kilograms.

"I was eating protein shakes for the rest of the week," Miller says.

"There is criticism you cop, though. Every time there's an article on social media, you get a lot of public outcry from people saying things like 'This promotes obesity' and it's not necessarily anything like that, but people get very opposed to food challenges and competitive eating.

"They think there's this big hoard of big fat blokes that cruise around gorging themselves at food challenges and eating everyone's food, and that's not the truth at all.

"The competitive eaters are usually all fit. There's an ex-NRL player, some of the top body builders in the country, all sorts of people. They're all really fit guys.

"If I eat three meals a day, it's no different to eating one big meal a day. It's the same amount of food. Even the next day, I might not even eat anything - I might still feel full. I don't eat a two kilogram burger three times a day. That's impossible."

Miller admits there is one food that he could never face eating again.

"It ate 3.2 kilogram of sea urchin pasta in America for that TV show and it nearly killed me," he says.

"They had paramedics there and they were encouraging everyone that had eaten that much food to try to expel it from their body, so to throw it up.

"But I haven't thrown up since 1982, so I wasn't going to do that. I held it in and I was in a bad way. I started to feel really sick.

"And what they didn't tell me, which I found out later, is that the genitals of the sea urchin - which is the part that you eat - has a chemical in it which has the same effect as the THC in cannabis. I ate a lot of it! And I spent about an hour sitting on a brick wall in a car park in Huntington Beach afterwards talking to a big grey seagull who I was just sure had a Mexican accent and kept telling me I was about to die.

"I definitely don't want to eat sea urchin again."

See the article here:
They cheat and they eat: our home-grown eating champions - Newcastle Herald

Bruce Springsteen has said he has done some of the best work of his life in the last five years a month after celebrating his 70th birthday.

Recent years have seen the US singer score a number one album with High Hopes, perform on Broadway in a one-man show and release an autobiography entitled Born To Run.

Speaking on BBC Radio 6 Music, he told hosts Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie that he was fortunate to have found a second wind in his 60s.

He said: At 70, you appreciate the vitality of your creative life. I think Ive had five years where Ive done some of the best work Ive ever done.

The past five years, the book, the play, the film, this record, thats very exciting, you know.

To be doing, where Im at now because people do lose their mojo, they lose interest or you never know when youre gonna write well again.

You know its a mystery, but I stay very curious about the world and Im curious about my own talent and where I can take that and so that keeps you alive and vital and the creative fire burning inside of you pretty brightly, so Im fortunate.

Springsteen, affectionately called The Boss by fans, also co-directed an accompanying film to his most recent album, Western Stars, which debuted at the Toronto International Film this year.

It features his reflections on his life, home videos and footage with his wife and E Street bandmate Patti Scialfa, and pays tribute to the groups saxophonist Clarence Clemons, who died in 2011.

Asked which of his albums he would save if he was forced to choose, Springsteen was unable to pick just one.

Oh man. If I could only take one? he said.

Well its tough, because its between two, but I might take Nebraska. It cost me 1,000 US dollars to make with a recording deck about the size of that album cover.

But it was really a special moment, you know. If I had to take a rock album, Id probably grab (his breakthrough record) Born To Run.

He also discussed how he stays fit, saying: I dont run. I cant run anymore.

Ill walk very fast, however, and I just generally I take care of myself pretty well with the diet and exercise a little bit, but thats about it.

The full interview will be broadcast on Radcliffe and Maconies show on BBC Radio 6 Music on Saturday October 19 at 9.15am.

Read the original here:
Bruce Springsteen says he's creating some of his best work as he turns 70 - The Sunday Post

WITH their glamorous lifestyles, high-fashion clothes and millions of followers, K-pop bands have become a global phenomenon over the past two decades.

But the bright, shiny pop bands are often a facade for a sinister industry plagued with sex scandals, eating disorders and suicide, where kids as young as 10 are said to be sent to harsh boot camps where weight and diet are strictly monitored.

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But the trauma doesn't stop once they become popstars.

Despite making millions, K-Pop stars are made to sign crippling contracts that could leave them penniless and several executives have been accused of sexual exploitation.

One manager even shared video footage of himself having sex with an artist after she tried to break off her contract.

And while they have millions of adoring fans, they are also easy targets for cruel online trolls.

K-Pop star Sulli, who was found dead on Monday, aged just 25, was forced to retire four years ago after suffering horrific online abuse.

The singer, said to have been suffering with depression, had opened up about feelings of anxiety and "social phobia" last year.

She said in an interview: "Ive had panic disorder ever since I was young.

"There were times when close people Some of my closest friends have left me. People hurt me, so everything fell apart.

"I didnt feel like I had anyone on my side or anyone who could understand me. So thats why I completely fell apart."

Police are investigating the cause of death and are working on the assumption she took her own life,reports the BBC.

She was good friends with K-pop starJonghyun, who took his own life aged 27 two years ago.

But her death isn't the only dark cloud looming over the industry.

K-pop a fusion of Western and Korean music - first became popular in the 1990s in South Korea but since 2008, social media has fuelled a global explosion with acts like BTS, BlackPink and EXO finding millions of fans in the Western world.

With the K-pop industry now worth around 3.7billion the number of kids trying to become the next pop superstar - and the people exploiting them - has risen dramatically.

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K-pop colleges have opened all over South Korea, aiming to get ambitious kids the look, style and dance moves that will get them through the tough auditions for the three top labels - SM, JYP, or YG.

But if they succeed, life gets even tougher.

Each has their own boot camp where children as young as 10 are put through gruelling training for dancing, singing, modelling - and made to work out 'to achieve the perfect look'.

Their diet is said to be strictly monitored and they are weighed morning and night, with their weight reported to a master trainer.

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The alleged pressure to be stick thin means some trainees end up on extreme diets where they starve themselves, even after they make it.

Ladies' Code singer Sojung admitted on a Korean TV show that she has dieted so much her hormone level dropped to to "those of a menopausal woman."

OneKet from Global Icon allegedly lost a 1st 6lbs in a month by consuming just one bottle of soya milk per day.

While solo artist T.O.P reportedly lost over four stone in a few weeks by taking in nothing but water and a few jelly beans.

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The unhealthy diets can also spread to bands' legions of fans, with some stars advocating food fads like the banana diet or watermelon diet.

One girl band, Nine Muses, revealed they used the 'Nine paper cup diet' - where you eat a daily ration of nine cups of any food except refined sugar.

Unsurprisingly, some fans then tried to follow it.

But enforced diets are not the only way that some music bigwigs ensure their boot camp wannabes get the right look.

In a country where plastic surgery is common, young hopefuls are often offered loans for cosmetic procedures with the label paying half.

Kim Min-Seok, a former master trainer with YG, claimed to Vice: "The first, most important thing is their appearance. If a girl has a bad face and a good body, the problem can be fixed with plastic surgery."

The teens-in-training can wait between six months to ten years before getting their chance of stardom and those that succeed often find they have signed so-called "slave contracts" that will see them earn 'next to nothing' for up to 15 years.

If they attempt to break the contract there can be severe financial penalties or worse.

In one shocking case, singer Baek Ji-young's manager Kim Shi-won filmed them having sex without her knowledge, prosecutors said.

He then allegedly threatened to release the footage after she tried to get out of his contract. She called his bluff and he did just that.

When Baek tried to sue, Kim fled to the States where he was later arrested for having sex with a minor, which he was also alleged to have filmed.

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He is reported to have served time in an LA jail over the charge.

Sexual exploitation has also been widespread in the whole Korean wave which encompasses film and TV as well as K-pop.

Seoul Beats recently reported that the CEO of one unnamed K-pop agency was given 20 months in prison for being involved in prostitution.

When actress Jang Ja-yeon killed herself in 2009, at the age of 29, she left a seven-page suicide note claiming that modern-day sex slavery was rife across the Korean entertainment industry.

In February, YG star Seungri was reported to have offered women to clients at his Seoul nightclub, Burning Sun, and in March he was arrested for sex bribery.

On March 12, star Jung Joon-young confessed to filming himself having sex with women and sharing the videos in a chat room, without their knowledge or consent.

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A Soeul TV station, SBS, then discovered the chat room was used by many more entertainers who watched the videos, leading to the axing of members from three different bands.

There were also vile threads discussing the abuse and rape of women in graphic terms.

The scandal along with widespread reports of spy-cams being used in hotel rooms and womens toilets - led to protests in the South Korean capital against a toxic culture that allegedly treats women as sexual objects.

As well as sexual exploitation, the pressure to look "perfect" and strive for success has apparently led to some high-profile suicides.

In 2017, pop star Kim Jong-hyun, better known as Jonghyun, took his own life, leaving a note which read:I am broken from inside.

Charles Park, known by the stage name Seo Ji-won, was one of the first K-pop celebrities to take his own life in 1996, shortly after his debut album proved an overnight hit. He was 19.

Adding to the pressures heaped on the stars are the attentions of the superfans known as the Sasaeng.

The acts are followed wherever they go by crowds of loyal fans who buy details of their movements including flight numbers over the internet and often book themselves into the same hotels or turn up at gyms.

Last December, three fans caused an hour-long delay in Hong Kong by following boy band Wanna One onto their flight, forcing every passenger to go through a second security check.

One K-pop manager told the South China Morning Post he had fans breaking into his building multiple times, saying that one group spread urine and faeces over his doorstep to "mark their territory".

The bands go out of their way to keep fans happy upsetting them at their peril.

Fans of Super Junior demanded that band member Sungmin be ousted after he wed in secret, without telling them.

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Jay Park was forced out of 2PM at the peak of their prominence after remarks such as I hate Koreans, allegedly made on a MySpace page years earlier, came to light.

And in 2006, Yunho, a member of boy band TVXQ, was rushed to hospital to have his stomach pumped after the fan of a rival group was accused of serving him a drink laced with glue.

But the popularity of bands like them has helped to fuel the dark underside of the multi-billion pound business.

Excerpt from:
Inside the dark world of K-Pop bands as singer Sulli found dead four years after online abuse forced her to - The Sun

The festive season is always looked forward to with joy and thoughts of celebration with family and friends! But also with a wee bit of trepidation. Im sure nutritionists all over are visited dutifully to be asked one question How do I manage my eating while Im out almost daily?Firstly, accept that we do not have Hermiones magic wand. Even the most clever eaters will falter when the palette and food desires clash with beautifully dressed tables loaded with the most mouth-watering eats! The food has a goal too, to make you eat, so you are up against the best.But do not fret. Being judicious in your approach towards the festival season as a whole will take you a long way in being able to control your appetite and your weight! So relax and read on.

Everyone today is talking of intermittent fasting. It may not make it to the crown of a lifestyle practice for all but everyone can use this principle during the festive season to better regulate their weighing scales! Apply the 14 hour fasting principle. So essentially if you have last eaten at 12pm, you will eat next at 12noon or 2pm. Waiting it out to 2pm will give you greater advantage.

But hydrate yourself well, you can have black coffee, lemon juice, green tea and the like but nothing with calories. What if you cannot last until 14 hours and 12 hours is all you could manage? Theres a solution, last the remaining 2 hours with fat. A cup of black coffee with 2-3 tsps butter, or for those who like consuming ghee, just 2 tsps of plain ghee will last you another 2 hours.

Even after you have broken your fast, consume a meal where your plate has veggies, a quarter has carbs and the remaining quarter has protein. Its important to have a well balanced and fulfilling meal at the end of the fast.

Chalk out 2 days of the week where you do not have an invite or a do. Make these 2 days your special days. In your mind see these days as days of rest and detox. Drink a lot of lemon water, consume a larger portion of fruit, in fact replace a meal with a plate of fruit and vegetable juice. You could also eat nuts, drink buttermilk and in the night ends with a protein meal. Soups are welcome, not too much salad, a small portion is opportune. Consume more of the lightly sauted or cooked vegetables.

Try and maintain your activity at 10000 steps. All smart phones have smart apps that will record your steps for the day, keep it counting. Walk while you talk. No car to run quick errands close to home. Take the stairs. Leave no opportunity to stay up and stay walking.

Sleep maybe short. So make sure whatever hours you sleep, you sleep well. Meditative music and a short 5 minute hot foot soak with Epsom salt and lavender oil may do the trick for those light sleepers or for those who have trouble sleeping quickly!

A quick self foot massage with olive oil and a pair of cotton socks must be your sleep armour.

At parties, do not keep eating in bits, which is the tendency generally. Eat in chunk. A quarter plate at a time with a gap of an hour or an hour and a half in between.

Knowing a party generally lasts 5-6 hours (sometimes more), give yourself about 4 quarter plates an evening, less if you arent tempted. This practice will help food digest and metabolize better.

Your chances of maintaining your weight are drastically higher when your digestion is smooth and comfortable. When you eat heavy and different from your routine, chances are that you may get constipated or be encountered with even the reverse.

Originally posted here:
How to enjoy festivities without compromising on your health - Times of India

We are already seeing a shift from animal-based to plant-based protein. The next evolution from land-based to air-based protein will allow us to [feed] a growing population without needing to remove rainforests or natural habitats. Air Protein CEO Dr. Lisa Dyson

The challenges plaguing our current global food system are staggering. The double burden of both widespreadhunger and obesity sees one in threepeoplecurrently suffering from some form of malnutrition. Some 795 million people facehunger on a daily basis, while more than two billion people lack vitalmicronutrients in their diet, such as iron, zinc and vitamin A.

Disease, health problems and early deaths are estimated to cost world economiesroughly $2trillion,with undernutrition negatively impacting GDP by 11 percent every year.

Climate change and land usechangesare exacerbating the problem, with higher carbon dioxide levels reducing thenutritional make-up of grains and legumes, affecting key nutrients such as zincand iron.

Meanwhile, food production uses 70 percent of all fresh water and contributesaround a third of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It ispredictedthat by 2050, we will need 120 percent more water and 42 percent more croplandif were to continue feeding the planet in the same way. We will also lose 14percent more forest and produce 77 percent more GHGs.

And as our population soars over the next 35 years, we need to produce more foodthan has ever been produced since life on Earth began (and not waste 40 percentofitalong the way) with limited new land available for agriculture.

Clearly, business-as-usual is not an option; innovation in the food industry iscrucial if we are to feed 10 billion people by the middle of the century.

In fact, we are in need of radical food innovation, saysKiverdi the carbon-transformation specialists behind AirProtein, which is pioneering a new era ofsustainable food production.

Back in the 1960s, scientists atNASAspent lots of time trying to work out ways to produce food for year-longmissions in deep space. They knew astronauts had limited space and resources, sofound ways to transform carbon into nutrients.

But, as Air Protein CEO Dr. Lisa Dyson recently told Sustainable Brands, Theirideas were never completed; they just sat on the shelf for decades.

Fast-forward a few decades and Dyson and her team have built acarbon-transformation technology based on NASAs ideas that is now set to takethe world by storm making delicious, nutritious foods from elements of the airwe breathe.

With this process, we will sustainably produce protein in a way that requiresorders of magnitude less land versus alternative forms of food production. Andit will enable us to serve the mission of feeding 10 billion people by 2050without the need to remove more rainforests in search of arable land.

How does the technology work? Well, the company takes elements found in the air such as CO2, oxygen and nitrogen as well as some renewable power, and uses a(proprietary) natural probiotic production process that converts the elementsinto nutrients.

The result is Air Protein a neutral ingredient in both color and taste, butwith the same amino acid profile as animal protein. This can then be used tomake a host of different foods from burgers and cereals to meat-free meat andeven cookies. It can also be paired with spices and seasonings to make snacksand meals.

Protein is a part of meals that we each have multiple times a day. Because weare making a neutral flour, Air Protein can be a part of countless recipes toadd protein to any dish or to replace other protein sources, says Dyson, aformer Boston Consulting Group employee who describes herself as amission-driven entrepreneur.

And crucially, its rich in all of the essential amino acids needed for ahealthy diet as well as vitamins such as B12, which is traditionally lackingfrom a vegandiet.

There are plenty of environmental benefits, too. First, the production of AirProtein is completely natural, free of any pesticides or herbicides. It requires10,000 times less land and 2,000 times less water than soy protein production.It can be made in just a few hours, unlike traditional crops; and doesnt relyon rain or sunshine. The company is keen to point out that, although more andmore people are eating flexitariandietsto reduce their meat consumption, meatless meat is traditionally made using soyor pea proteins, which are still land- and water-intensive to produce.

Were pioneering a new category: air-based food production, Dyson added. Whilethe business is currently focused on using its technology to create much moresustainable protein, Dyson says it is in discussions with a number of interestedpartners to scale efforts.

We want to usher in a new era of sustainability. We are already seeing a shiftfrom animal-based protein to plant-based protein for both environmental andhealth reasons. Air Protein is the next evolution: from land-based protein toair-based protein. [This] will allow us to meet the demands of a growingpopulation without needing to remove rainforests or natural habitats.

Published Oct 17, 2019 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST

Read more from the original source:
Could Air-Based Foods Be the Alternative Diet Trend That Saves the Planet? - Sustainable Brands

There are many different routes slimmers can go down when they are trying to shape up. Some may focus on their diet while others will choose to ramp up their exercise regime. If trying to exercise more, not all sports are equal with some activities promising to help you burn nearly 1000 calories in just one hour, according to research by LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk. What are the top ten exercises to burn calories?

With most people willing to dedicate one hour to a gym class, the research looked at over 30 different sports and how many calories they could burn in that time.

1. Squash - 886 calories

2. Running - 738 calories

3. Rugby - 738 calories

4. Martial Arts - 738 calories

5. Skipping - 738 calories

6. Boxing - 664 calories

7. BMX or Mountain Biking - 627 calories

8. Swimming - 591 calories

9. Rock Climbing - 591 calories

10. Football - 591 calories

Comparing the various sports, playing squash came out on top with players burning around 886 calories in just one hour.

Running, martial arts and playing rugby came out as a close second with gym goers able to burn off around 738 calories from the activity.

The research also revealed the sporting activities which are less likely to burn extra calories.

1. Yoga - 185 calories

2. Surfing - 221 calories

3. Pilates - 221 calories

4. Sailing / Windsurfing - 221 calories

5. Weightlifting - 221 calories

6. Walking - 244 calories

7. Table Tennis - 295 calories

8. Gymnastics - 295 calories

9. Horse Riding - 295 calories

10. Golf - 332 calories

Those who prefer a more tame gym session will need to work harder to shift the weight with yoga burning the lowest amount of calories per hour.

Weightlifting, pilates and surfing were also among some of the lowest burners and fitness fanatics would only lose about 221 calories through the activities.

Sports including table tennis, gymnastics and golf will also leave slimmers struggling to feel the burn.

When losing weight, combining an exercise plan with a weight loss diet can give the quickest results.

Surprisingly, adding more high carb foods into the diet could be a good way to get into shape.

Original post:
The top ten exercises to help you lose weight revealed - which burns the most calories? - Express

KYW Newsradios Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) If you had to pick the best diet based on scientific evidence, it would have to be the Mediterranean diet.

Over the years, numerous studies have talked of the advantage of this diet when it comes to the prevention of heart disease and cancer.

Now, there is a new study which finds that adhering to the Mediterranean diet could be helpful in reducing the loss of bone mass after menopause.

The diet actually protects the bone and the bone mineral density and is relatively simple to understand. It's suggested that you eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grain, and fish while poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt should be eaten rarely. Red meat should be avoided.

Virgin olive oil is also a staple of the diet.

Read more from the original source:
KYW Medical Report: Benefits of the Mediterranean diet | KYW - KYW Newsradio 1060

When it comes to breast cancer risk, some things are beyond a persons control.

Women might not be able to do much in regard to their genetic makeup and family history, each of which can elevate their risk for breast cancer, but many risk factors are within womens control. A healthy diet and routine exercise may help women reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, while poor lifestyle choices can increase that risk.

The physical changes that can result from breast cancer are well-known. However, breast cancer also can lead to emotional changes. In fact, tr

For example, being overweight is a strong risk factor for breast cancer for women who are 18 and older, advises Stanford Health Care. Even 10 percent weight gain (or 15 pounds on a 150-pound woman) increases breast cancer risk as well as the risk of recurrence.

Diet and exercise can play a pivotal role in reducing breast cancer risk, and its important for women to understand just how much good healthy diets and routine exercise can do for them in regard to fighting breast cancer.

Stanford Health Care says some studies suggest limiting dietary fats in the diet, particularly those that come from animals, to reduce breast cancer risk. These include butter, full-fat dairy, poultry skin, and fatty meats. Reducing intake of dietary fats, especially animal fats, may protect against diseases sensitive to hormones, like breast cancer.

Data from the Womens Healthy Eating and Living study suggests that soy consumption from whole foods and soy milk for any breast cancer type is probably safe, despite public perceptions. Avoid soy supplements and concentrated soy that comes in many soy protein powders until more about their effects is known.

The American Cancer society links alcohol consumption to a higher risk of various cancers, including breast cancer. The more alcohol a person drinks, the higher his or her cancer risk. The ACS recommends no more than one drink per day for women and two for men. A five-ounce glass of wine is considered one drink.

Susan G. Komen says a high body mass index has been associated with increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Exercise may help reduce risk by altering metabolism, hormones and breast density.

Inflammation is an immune system response to injury or illness. However, when inflammation is chronic, it can damage DNA and lead to cancer, advises the National Cancer Institute. Deep marine fish; dark, leafy green vegetables; bright, multi-colored vegetables; black teas; and spices like turmeric can help fight or prevent inflammation.

The ACS recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week (or a combination), preferably spread throughout the week to keep body weight in check.

Stanford Health Care says consumption of high amounts of sugar can increase insulin levels and result in weight gain, each of which can lead to breast cancer. Limit intake of sugary snacks and refined carbohydrates, opting for healthy alternatives such as fruit, vegetables, beans, whole grains, dairy, and soy milk. Diet and exercise is vital to overall health and can help women reduce their risk for breast cancer.

Read this article:
Using diet and exercise to prevent breast cancer - Fort Bend Herald