Category Archives: Diet And Food

Professional athletes dont get to the top by accident. It takes superhuman levels of time, dedication, and focusand that includes paying attention to what they put in their bellies. In this series, GQ takes a look at what athletes in different sports eat on a daily basis to perform at their best. Heres a look at the daily diet of L.A. Galaxy star Robbie Rogers.

Robbie Rogers is a year shy of 30, which is easy to forget once he starts talking about his career. Hes a unique case study: the professional athlete who is a veteran of his sport, yet still a relatively young member of, well, the human race. But a decade plus of traveling the world, kicking around a soccer ball, has given Rogers a certain informed gravitas. When he speaks, your natural reaction is to not only listen, but to lean in. That probably explains why 90 percent of my meals consisted of lentils and quinoa in the week after he broke down his vegetarian-esque diet for me.

GQ: Youve played professionally in the States, the UK, and in the Netherlands. Did you notice any differences with your diet when playing based on location?

Robbie Rogers: Yeah, a little bit. When I was in England, I became pretty much a vegetarian. I didnt really enjoy the meat over there, to be honest.

Yeah, its not the best.

No, its not. I mean, there are some good spots, but just in general I wasnt much of a fan. When I was in Holland, my diet was really different, but I was also really young. I would say that was more just with my age. I wasnt as aware of how important diet was, so I would still eat regular pasta and think that it was great for me. When I was younger, I would just be like, Oh, have some pasta and youll be good!

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A lot of people who grew up playing sports probably thought that. In high school, my basketball team would have pasta dinners the night before every game.

Yeah, the team going to Olive Garden and loading up on carbs! I would have bread and all this stuff that I thought was good for me. Then you realize its not. And I definitely feel a difference when Im really strict and on my diet for a few weeks versus if I cheat a little bit. I feel it in games and during training. It does make a huge difference and as you get older. You know, Im not as athletic as I was when I was younger, so I have to really focus on this stuff so I can keep that edge.

For you, was there a specific moment in your career where you really started to pay attention to your diet?

Probably right around when I was 24 or 25 years old. Before that I could just eat whatever and Id be fine. But then I realized that I like to play at a certain weight and I feel better when Im not eating too much sugar or when I eat at a certain time every day. Im 29 now, been a professional for 11 years. Ive done my own research but Ive also listened to the nutritionists around me and spoken to my teammates about what theyre doing and what works for them.

What have you realized works best for you in that time?

Just a much healthier diet with more vegetables and carbs that are actually going to work for me. Before, I never had quinoa or lentils, which are different things I try to focus on now. I do eat meat now, but not much. Maybe once every two weeks. I really try to eat more vegetables. Again, lentils and quinoa. Beans. Even brown rice. And obviously I try to stay extremely hydrated.

About two years ago, you made the switch from playing in the midfield to the backline. Were there any changes to your diet when you made that positional move?

No, not too much. Its still a lot of running, so just making sure I have those right kinds of carbs is important. Before and after games, actually, because you need those to recover. So I just try to read my body and see how Im feeling. See where my weights at. You know, there are times when well have three games in a week and I lose too much weight, too much muscle. So I have to make myself eat more, which sounds like a great problem, but sometimes its annoying.

Well, I feel like the sport has evolved so much over the last decade. Before everyone was focusing predominantly on cardio, but now strength training is a bigger and bigger sticking point.

Definitely. Its different for everyone, though. Some guys in different positions need to work more on their cardio and losing some of that big muscle because theyre just too heavy. But for me, especially as a runner, you can get little muscle injuries if youre not recovering well and if your muscles are too fatigued. For me, it was definitely finding the right diet to keep on weight and keep on lean muscle. Staying limber and lean, that way I can continue to run as much as I do.

So what types of eating patterns help you to best achieve that? Are you a strict breakfast, lunch, and dinner kind of guy?

I kind of am, yeah. With a snack after lunch sometimes, too.

Give me the full run-down. What does the typical day look like starting with breakfast?

I usually take Shakeology in the morning for breakfast. Just this massive shake with all this stuff in it. Ill add fruits and almond milk and cinnamon and flax seeds and omega fatty acids. Then Ill have some coffee and some water. I take a swig of apple cider vinegar each morning. And I also take one of those Bio-K probiotics every morning. That actually really helps me and my stomach. Then I head to the stadium, which is about a 45 minute drive for me. Ill have another coffee and banana there before we do all my prehab, all my rehab stuff and strengthening and everything. Then Ill go out to train, and in that time Im drinking a lot of water. Thats so important for us. After training, right around noon, Ill have another shake handed to me right as I get off the field, and then I go right into lifting.

At which point youre probably starving.

I eat lunch right after that. The team sets up a lunch for us, so Ill have a huge salad with some sort of vegetables, some fruit, some proteineither tempeh or tofu. Later on Ill have some more fruit, and then Ill have dinner. I actually try to have an earlier dinner, especially when Im cooking at the house. I live in L.A., so obviously there is always the temptation to go and eat out, but I try to limit that to once or twice a week. Dinner can be a bunch of different things. Last night I made vegetarian lasagna, which was really great. Every now and then Ill barbecue a steak, but thats maybe once a month. Some nights well make a vegetarian stew. My son will eat that now too.

Your son is almost a year old now. Has being a father had any effect on your diet at all?

Not really my diet, but I know I affect his diet. He also takes a Bio-K probiotic, which really helps his stomach, as well. But he loves vegetables and quinoa and lentils. Hell have potatoes here and there. So hes on a pretty great diet. Were introducing him to everything. We try to stay away from all those processed foods, but he has grandmas, so thats not always possible. But we just let him experiment and try different things.

My cousins all have young kids and I know they make some different products specifically for kids that they have actually gotten hooked on, like those fruit pouches.

I try everything he has, but I havent really gotten hooked on that stuff. There are some brands that do similar stuff. Like, theres Nomva, which Ill take. They have probiotics in them and its like a fruit of vegetable pouch. They sell them right at Whole Foods, and sometimes they have them at our stadium. Theyre really great.

Soccer players dont really get much of an off-season, but do you let yourself have some cheat meals during that time?

Oh, yeah, I always do. Im not crazy about everything. You know, I really love sushi and going to Izaka-Ya. On birthdays and holidays Ill have desserts. Im obsessed with popcorn, so whenever I go to the movies I have to get a popcorn. Ill be fighting with Greg [Berlanti, Rogerss fiance] over who gets to hold the popcorn.

No, I actually dont like that. Just the standard, salted, movie theatre popcorn. But in general, I try to stay on top of things because I do feel the difference during the season.

There has to be a balance.

Exactly. Youve got to enjoy life and enjoy peoples company and be able to do stuff with themeat out and enjoy different things. But when were in season, more days than not, youve got to be on top of things. Its your profession.

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ONE

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The Real-Life Diet of Soccer Star Robbie Rogers, Who Is "Pretty Much" Vegetarian - GQ Magazine

But a couple of healthy recipes are always welcome.

You made the fitness resolution while raising your glass of bubbly on New Year's Eve, and you've worked out three times a week for more than a month. But the scale. Is. Not. Budging.

Isn't it possible that you're actually fitter that you have more lean body mass and less fat even though the scale hasn't changed?

Indeed, it is.

This is why trainers such as Washington, D.C., strength and conditioning coach Gabe Free are more interested in measuring your body composition, which looks at lean body mass compared with body fat, than just your body weight, which gives your overall weight and doesn't discriminate between fat and muscle even though, as we know, one generally is less desirable than the other.

"People get caught up with a number on the scale. But that kind of misses the point," Free says. "What we want to do is improve strength and increase lean body mass."

Technically, you could improve strength and increase lean body mass while gaining rather than losing weight, depending on your starting point. Because, as we know, muscle weighs more than fat.

Meir Magal, professor of exercise science at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, agrees that the body-composition measurement is a better measure of fitness.

It is also often a better tool than BMI (body mass index, in which body mass is divided by the square of the body height), he says.

"If you have someone who is very muscular, they might show up as obese when you use BMI," Magal says. "Body composition is a far superior measurement."

So why don't we hear more about body-composition tests if they're so much better than BMI and mere weight tracking?

Well, they require skill and, in some cases, can be costly. The cheapest and most common way is to use calipers, which measure skin folds by pinching your skin in at least three relatively fat-heavy areas: in men, the chest, abdomen and thigh; and in women, the triceps, abdomen and thigh.

This is the method Free uses regularly with his clients.

"We might do it once a month or at the completion of a specific training program goal," he says.

A slightly more involved but usually pretty affordable method is the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), in which a machine sends electrical currents through the body to determine fat-free body mass.

Lara Atella, co-owner of Hot Yoga Capitol Hill in Washington, uses this method. One of the things it looks at is water content in the body, so it is important that the test taker isn't overhydrated or underhydrated and hasn't worked out before the test.

More expensive but more accurate body-composition tests include underwater weighing and DEXA scans (a type of X-ray). These are often used by professional and collegiate athletes.

Some numbers to keep in mind in terms of body composition:

People might say things such as "He has zero percent body fat," but that is a fallacy.

The body needs some fat, and those levels are different for men and women: Essential fat for men is 2 to 5 percent, and for women, it's 10 to 13 percent. But that is not the number to aim for, Atella says.

Instead, for fit women, the target is 21 to 24 percent, and for fit men, it's about 14 to 17 percent. For athletes, the corresponding numbers are 14 to 20 percent for women and 6 to 13 percent for men.

"It's important for women to have that essential body fat, or it can mess with your hormone levels, which can lead to hair loss, fatigue and you can lose your period," Atella says.

It is possible to be what Atella calls "skinny fat." In other words, your body weight and BMI can be low while your body fat is high, which is not considered fit.

On the other hand, that's not necessarily connected to health risks. A high waist circumference, though, is associated with increased disease risks.

Sigh. It's not just overall fat but also where it's located that matters. This is why Atella also measures waist circumference and blood pressure.

"You could have high body fat, but that's not necessarily dangerous unless that fat is all around the waist," Atella says.

A waist greater than 35 inches for women and 39 for men is associated with hypertension and heart disease, Magal says.

There are, of course, genetic variations. Some people can have a rotund body shape and be healthy.

Let's say you are still upset about your lack of progress on the scale and decide to go on a juice cleanse diet to "lose 10 pounds in 10 days."

"It's not a good idea to lose that much weight that fast," Free says. "You didn't put the weight on overnight, and it's not going to come off overnight."

In fact, he says, the "crazy cleanse diets" work in the sense that you drop weight rapidly, but in the process you lose three times more lean body mass than fat. And it's never a good idea to lose muscle mass.

Muscles not only make you stronger, but more lean body mass is also associated with better metabolism.

A diet that supports muscle growth needs protein and some fat - which many cleanse diets virtually ban.

Magal suggests that anyone interested in fat loss and increased fitness needs to consult a nutritionist to set up a sensible plan.

Free eats 1 to 2 grams of protein per day per kilogram of body weight (example: 220 pounds = 100 kg; 1.5 grams of protein x 100 kg = 150 grams of protein per day).

Free acknowledges that it isn't always easy to persuade clients to step off the scale, but there are success stories. He has a client whose goal was to drop a significant amount of weight but in the end didn't budge the scale as much as he lost fat and became strong.

"He trusted the process. His clothes fit better, he feels better, and he's much stronger."

Boston is a fitness trainer and freelance writer. She can be found at gabriellaboston.com.

RECIPES

Skinny Corn Bread

Corn kernels, jalapeo and onion bulk up this low-fat skillet version.You'll need a 10-inch ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron.

The corn bread is best served warm, but you can refrigerate leftovers, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up toa week. The leftovers are also good cut into cubes and toasted for salad croutons.

cup diced yellow onion

cup fresh or defrosted corn kernels

2 tablespoons seeded, finely chopped fresh jalapeo peppers

cup flour

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon fine sea salt

1 cup stone-ground yellow cornmeal

3/4 cup regular or low-fat buttermilk

1 large egg, beaten

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

Place the ovenproof skillet on the middle oven rack; preheat to 400 degrees.

Spray a small nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add the onion, corn and jalapeos; cook for about 5 minutes, stirring a few times, just until the corn is lightly charred. Transfer the mixture to a bowl to cool.

Sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl. Whisk the cornmeal into the dry ingredients.

Whisk together the buttermilk, egg and oil in a large liquid measuring cup, then pour that mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients, stirring just until blended. Fold in the cooled corn mixture.

Remove the hot skillet from the oven; immediately pour the batter into the skillet, spreading it evenly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the top is lightly golden and the center is just firm to the touch.

Transfer the pan to a wire oven rack to cool for a few minutes before cutting the corn bread into wedges.

Serves 6.

Nutrition per serving(using low-fat buttermilk): 190 calories, 6 grams protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 35 milligrams cholesterol, 260 mg sodium, 3 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar.

Adapted from "Food, Health and Happiness: 115 On-Point Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life," by Oprah Winfrey (Flatiron Books, 2017).

Crunchy Salad With Curry Lime Vinaigrette

This is a kaleidoscope of colors and textures, and, surprisingly, it's kid-friendly. Lots of chopping here, so feel free to spread the tasks among your favorite kitchen helpers.

The vinaigrette can be refrigerated a day or two in advance. Whisk to re-emulsify before using.

If you're calculating, the salad is 5 Weight Watchers points per serving.

For the vinaigrette:

cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons honey

1 clove garlic, grated very fine

1-inch piece fresh ginger root, peeled and grated very fine

Finely grated zest and juice of 2 limes

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons grapeseed oil

For the salad:

1 cup finely chopped cauliflower florets

1 cup finely chopped broccoli florets

1 cup thinly sliced sugar snap peas

1 cup shredded Brussels sprouts

cup shredded red cabbage

cup carrot matchsticks (julienne)

6 dried apricots, thinly sliced

cup thinly sliced scallions (white and light-green parts)

1 cups chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as basil, chives, cilantro and mint

cup hulled, roasted sunflower seeds (salted or unsalted)

cup chopped Marcona almonds

For the vinaigrette: Whisk together the vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, lime zest and juice, curry powder and salt in a liquid measuring cup. Gradually add the oil, whisking to form an emulsified vinaigrette.

For the salad: Combine the cauliflower, broccoli, sugar snap peas, Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, carrots and apricots in a large mixing bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to coat evenly. Let sit for 10 minutes, then toss again.

Scatter the scallions, herbs, sunflower seeds and Marcona almonds on top. Divide among individual bowls and serve right away.

6 servings.

Nutrition| Per serving (using unsalted sunflower seeds): 160 calories, 5 grams protein, 15 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 450 mg sodium, 4 g dietary fiber, 8 g sugar.

Adapted from "Food, Health and Happiness: 115 On-Point Recipes for Great Meals and a Better Life," by Oprah Winfrey (Flatiron Books, 2017).

More:
Step away from the scale: It's not all about how much weight you lose - The Providence Journal

Its always best to get medical advice before going ahead.

When youre pregnant, theres a good chance youll be bombarded with all sorts of conflicting information. Whether its from your family, extended family, friends or even neighbours, youre sure to be getting lots of advice on what a Desi diet for pregnancy should be.

Theres so much information out there that it can be difficult to suss out what a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy should consist of.

Generally, you should consult your doctor regarding whats best for you during your pregnancy. However, if youre looking for a quick guide to a good Desi diet for pregnancy, then give this a read.

This one seems obvious, but it can be hard to fit enough fruits and vegetables into your diet. Fruits and vegetables are full of various vitamins and nutrients. Many of these are crucial for your babys development.

For example, mangoes are an ideal food for you to be eating. Theyre rich in vitamins A and C, as well as iron and folic acid. Try a mango smoothie or a lassi to get these vitamins into your diet.

Vegetables like cauliflower are also great for your pregnancy. Full of vitamin C and calcium, theyre good for your babys development. Try adding cauliflower to a curry or samosas to add them into your diet.

Try and include as many different fruits and vegetables into your diet as possible. Fruits and vegetables contain such a wide range of nutrients so its important to include lots of them. Try making a big vegetable curry or a vegetable soup to get as many as possible.

Pulses such as the various types of lentils and beans are key for a healthy Desi pregnancy diet.

Theyre not only a great source of protein, theyre one of the cheapest sources of protein available. If youre trying to be a bit more frugal during your pregnancy, pulses can be a great choice.

Lentils contain a large amount of folic acid. This means that theyre good for the early stages of your babys development. They also contain potassium, fibre and iron. All of these are excellent for the health of yourself and your baby.

Beans also contain fibre and iron as well as protein, so theyre an excellent addition to any meal.

Some women have even reported that their morning sickness has abated after introducing beans to their diet.

Pulses are also great for a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy because theyre so easy to cook. Canned beans only take a few minutes and can be added to chilis, curries and stews for that extra protein.

Dal is a staple in every Desi household and you can even make a big batch in a slow cooker to last you all week.

While you can get all the protein you need from vegetable based sources if you choose, many people will want to get their protein from meat. Meat isnt important only for protein, it is also a source of iron. This is crucial as getting enough iron prevents anaemia.

You do have to be careful with meat during pregnancy. The bacteria which causes food poisoning found in meats can sometimes lead to serious illnesses in pregnancy. So, always make sure your meat is thoroughly cooked.

For this, its best for you to buy a food thermometer in order to ensure that your food is cooked all the way through.

Most fish is safe to eat during pregnancy. However, you should be careful with the amount of tuna that you eat. Tuna contains more mercury than many other fishes, so its important to limit your intake to avoid mercury poisoning.

As with other meats, always make sure that your fish has been properly cooked through to avoid bacteria and parasites that may be in the food.

The only exception to this is sushi. You can actually eat raw fish while pregnant. You just have to make sure it has been frozen first. Freezing the fish will kill bacteria and parasites in the same way that cooking would.

Youll probably be wanting to eat dairy products during your pregnancy to ensure you get enough calcium.

This can be easily accomplished through foods like cheeses, yoghurt and milk. If you dont like consuming these foods by themselves, you could easily include them by stirring some natural yoghurt into a curry.

During a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy, you can certainly eat foods like paneer. However, you need to first make sure that its made from pasteurised milk. This helps to remove bacteria from the cheese and ensure its safe to eat.

You should also cook paneer before you eat it while pregnant. Even if its been pasteurised, paneer can still be a tempting spot for bacteria, so its important to cook it.

During pregnancy, you should be careful not to eat mould-ripened soft cheeses or blue cheeses. This is because the mould they are made with can contain listeria. This can be a very serious illness in pregnant women.

You also need to make sure that the only milk you consume is pasteurised or UHT (ultra heat treated) milk. Dont drink fresh or unpasteurized goat or sheep milk as it can contain harmful bacteria.

You should be able to create a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy which suits you. If you look through these food groups you should be able to cook meals which you enjoy and which suit your pregnancy.

However, if youre not sure on anything during your pregnancy you should always consult your doctor. If you want to eat a food and youre not sure if its safe for pregnancy, its always best to get medical advice before going ahead.

Other than that, getting a healthy Desi diet for pregnancy should be easy. Make sure you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and plenty of pulses. Make sure you cook your meat safely and choose the right cheeses. If you stick to this, you and your baby should be happy and healthy.

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A Simple and Healthy Desi Diet for Pregnancy - DESIblitz

07:26 Wednesday 22 February 2017

As a local dentist and mum-of-two, Elaine Clavell-Bate understands just how much parents want to help their children protect their perfect smiles. Elaine says: "It's really important for our kids to get into healthy dental routines and learning good habits early will help set them up for a lifetime of great oral health."

Here's Elaine's advice on how you can help your children keep their healthy smile.

Brushing

The advice is to brush children's teeth for two minutes last thing at night and for two minutes at one other time of the day.

You should supervise your children's brushing until they are at least six-years-old.

Disclosing tablets are great tool for parents to check that kids are brushing effectively. These are chewable tablets that stain plaque pink so children can see the areas they need to brush better. Speak to your dentist or hygienist about their use and always Vaseline their lips first otherwise their lips will be pink too!

You should start brushing your children's teeth once the first tooth comes into their mouth. Use a fluoridated toothpaste containing no less than 1000ppm fluoride. Preferably over 1350ppm fluoride if possible.

For children under three years of age, only a small smear of toothpaste should be used, children over three should have a small pea sized amount on their brush.

It can be difficult to encourage young children to brush their teeth. But brushing can be made fun. Children really love colourful or character toothbrushes and there are lots of apps that can make brushing more interesting.

Playing their favourite song can help as can using a novelty two minute timer.

With our two young boys we encourage them to brush for the first minute then we take over for the second.

Tooth brush charts are a great help especially if they come with sticker rewards.

Children can use mouthwash from the age of seven providing they can spit out well and you can be sure that they wont swallow the rinse.

But remember mouthwash should not be used straight after brushing, nor should you or your child rinse with water after brushing. Toothpaste should be left on the teeth so encourage your child to spit out the excess toothpaste but not rinse.

Children from the age of 12 years-of-age can start cleaning in between their teeth, usually with floss or dental tape. They can see their dentist or hygienist to be shown how to effectively and safely clean between their teeth. This is especially important if they have crowded teeth or have braces on.

The kit

Toothbrushes should be replaced when the brush bristles are splayed or at least every 3 months.

Try to use a toothbrush with a small head and medium texture bristles. Either electric or manual, the main thing is to encourage them to brush for 2 minutes - the brush isn't as important as effective brushing.

Diet

We would encourage all parents not to add sugar to any food or drink. For very young children a free flow cup should be encouraged from 6 months and we advise that bottles be stopped if possible by 12-months-old.

Encourage water rather than juice especially in between meals and keep sugary food and drinks to a minimum.

Parents should try to reduce the frequency of sugary food. When children get sweet food and drink try to keep that food to with a meal rather than letting them snack on it between meals. This reduces the number of sugar attacks on the teeth.

Starting with good habits from a young age is important, it's much harder to change to a healthier low sugar diet than it is to start that way.

Using stickers or presents such as magazines or football cards as treats and rewards can be a useful way of avoiding sweets. Suggest this to family members and anyone who looks after your children too.

The obvious high sugar snacks to avoid are sweets, chocolate, biscuits, cake and sugary drinks. But you should check the sugar content of all snacks to make sure there are no hidden sugars. Dried fruit such as raisins are high in sugar and stick in children's teeth and can cause decay.

If you are unsure if your child's diet is high in sugar you can always record a diet sheet. This means writing down everything that your child eats and drinks and the times they have the food and drink for twp week days and one weekend day. Always be totally truthful and try to pick a week that is representative of their normal diet. (None of us would choose Christmas week to do this! )Take the sheet with you to your dental or hygienist appointment and discuss the content with them. They may be able to identify problem areas and suggest alternatives.

Coming to the dentist

Parents should get baby and child dental advice as early as possible so take your baby with you to your own check ups and make sure they are having their own appointments by the age of two.

Even if you feel your child may not be cooperative the dentist can give advice - it is important that your child is comfortable in the surgery from a young age.

If your child is nervous about attending the dentist encourage them to attend for regular check ups and don't put pressure on them to comply fully at first. They may just want to talk to the dentist or have their teeth counted while they sit on a parent's knee. We encourage toddlers to bring their favourite teddy and they can give their teddy their own dental check up using our mouth mirrors.

Eventually they will gain confidence. Generally the younger they start attending regular check ups the less nervous they are. Going to the dentist will become as normal as going for a haircut.

There are several treatments available to help prevent your children's teeth from decaying such as fluoride varnish and sealants. Your dentist or hygienist will advise you on when fluoride varnish should be applied to teeth and when sealants should be placed.

If your child needs treatment don't be scared to ask your dentist as many questions as you feel you need to. If your child is worried about treatment let your dentist know.

For young children there are books about cartoon characters visiting the dentist and these can be useful.

The dentist will fully explain each treatment and talk you and your child through every stage. It is important that you and your child feel in control and knowledgeable about the treatment as this will help to reduce any anxiety.

Elaine Clavell-Bate is a dentist and clinical lead at Clavell-Bate dental practice in Whalley. She has been a dentist for 11 years.

Read more:
Everything you need to know to protect your kids' teeth - Blackpool Gazette

Mediterranean diet may decrease pain associated with obesity Science Daily "We found that a healthy diet explained the link between weight and pain and specifically that seafood and plant proteins such as peas and nuts and beans were key," said Emery, who is a member of Ohio State's Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research. and more »

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Mediterranean diet may decrease pain associated with obesity - Science Daily

Candida is a fungus that can grow in the human body.

A condition called Candida Overgrowth Syndrome is said to occur if levels in the gut become too high.

But is it actually a real condition, and does diet play a role? This article explores the current research.

The Candida genus includes more than 20 species of yeast that areable to cause infections in humans (1).

Its commonly present in the digestive tract and mucous membranes of the nose, throat and reproductive organs.

The most common species is Candida albicans (C. albicans), which is estimated to be present in the mouth or throat of up to 40% of healthy adults (2).

About 70% of healthy adults also have yeasts, mainly Candida species, in their guts (large intestine or bowel)(3).

Summary: Yeasts of the Candida genus are common in the digestive tract and mucous membranes of healthy adults. Some species of Candida can cause infections.

Candida does not cause problems most of the time.

However, sometimes yeasts can multiply rapidly and greatly increase in numbers. This is called yeast overgrowth and can lead to infection.

Yeast overgrowth in the gut can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms. This has been termed Candida overgrowth syndrome.

Candida albicans on human small intestine mucosa ( 3000-fold magnification) (3).

Its also referred to as:

While numerous books and diet plans claim to cure the condition, the very existence of Candida overgrowth syndrome is controversial.

It first gained attention in 1984 after the publication of a book by William Crook titled The Yeast Connection: A Medical Breakthrough.

According to Crook, use of antibiotics causes yeast overgrowth (4).

As he explained it, antibiotics kill good bacteria in the gut that usually keep C.albicans in check. With the good bacteria no longer around, Candida is able to multiply and weaken the immune system.

Infections can develop more easily with a weakened immune system. Of course, an infection is typically treated with antibiotics, fueling this cycle.

This theory of Crooks has never been proven mind you.

Summary: Candida overgrowth syndrome is a controversial condition that some suggest is caused by overgrowth of Candida yeast in the gut.

Some types of Candida infection are well known and described in the medical literature.

Candida infection in the mouth or throat is called thrush. Candida infection of the vagina is commonly referred to as a yeast infection.

More serious infections can occur when Candida enters the bloodstream. This is known as invasive candidiasis. However, most cases occur in hospital or nursing home patients who have weakened immune systems.

There is no scientific evidence that these infections are caused by Candida overgrowth in the gut.

Summary: Infections of the mouth, throat, vagina and bloodstream can be caused by Candida. However, there is no evidence linking these infections with Candida overgrowth in the gut.

The following symptoms have been attributed to Candida overgrowth syndrome (4, 5):

One issue here is that many illnesses or infections could cause these wide-ranging symptoms. They are not specific to Candida overgrowth.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, these symptoms are essentially universal. That is, most sick patients probably complain of at least some of them.

Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence to date showing that Candida overgrowth is capable of causing these symptoms.

Summary: Symptoms attributed to Candida overgrowth are not specific and could be caused by a variety of conditions.

Since Candida yeast is present in the majority of people, simply testing for its presence is not useful.

Only one published study has tried to find out whether a set of symptoms or tests could be used to diagnose Candida overgrowth. The researchers could not find any physical or laboratory difference between patients who believed they had Candida overgrowth and those who didnt (6).

This is in line with what Crook says.

In his book, he suggested yeast may be identified as the cause only when no other conditions are discovered. In other words, yeast would be diagnosed as the cause by ruling out other potential culprits.

Additionally, according to Crook, diagnosis of Candida overgrowth could only be made if the patient responded to a suggested treatment (4).

That is, if symptoms go away following treatment, then Candida must have been the problem.

Summary: There are no laboratory tests or other tests to diagnose Candida overgrowth syndrome.

Many diet books claim to treat or cure Candida overgrowth, including Crooks.

Some claim they will provide seemingly miraculous results and can help you recover from Candida in 60 days.

Perhaps the most-well known is the Candida Diet. Here are the typical recommendations:

Unfortunately, there is no evidence that following a so-called Candida diet is helpful in treating a candida overgrowth.

Anyone that swaps refined carbohydrates, added sugars and processed foods for whole foods will feel better and experience better health.

Its no surprise then that patients may feel better following such a diet.

Summary: There is no evidence that a specific candida diet will alleviate symptoms of Candida overgrowth.

The benefit of dietary change is unproven.

But what about the recommendations to take a nutrition supplement?

Keep in mind that Candida is a normal resident of the gut in the majority of healthy adults. Unless a patient has invasive candidiasis, there is no reason to try to reduce Candida.

In fact, according to one group of scientists, eliminating intestinal yeasts is not generally advised (3).

In saying that, many nutrition supplements claim to kill Candida in the gut and/or alleviate symptoms of Candida overgrowth.

However, only probiotics and coconut oil have some (weak) scientific evidence to back up their claims.

One study found that premature babies given Lactobacillus rhamnosus (a bacterial probiotic) for 12 months were significantly less likely to have Candida in their guts (7). Twenty-three percent of babies given the probiotic had Candida, compared to 48% of those given a placebo.

No published studies have looked at probiotics and Candida overgrowth in adults though.

Then there is coconut oil, which has been shown in lab studies to have antifungal activity (8).

Additionally, one study in mice found those fed a diet extremely rich in coconut oil (50% of total calories) had lower levels of C. albicans in their guts than those fed other types of fat and oil (9).

The authors suggested that coconut oil could potentially be used in humans to reduce C. albicans in the gut, but it remains to be tested.

Summary: Emerging research shows that certain probiotics and coconut oil may be effective in reducing Candida in the gut. However, whether that is beneficial for most peopl is not known.

Antifungal medicines have also been suggested as a potential treatment.

One high-quality study looked at the use of Nystatin, an antifungal medicine, in women complaining of Candida overgrowth symptoms. Nystatin was no better than placebo at reducing symptoms (5).

In fact, theres no published evidence showing that Nystatin or any other antifungal medicines alleviate Candida overgrowth in the gut.

Furthermore, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology states that the long-term use of antifungal medicines is potentially dangerous because it could produce resistant species of C. albicans or other disease-causing fungi (4).

Summary: Antifungal medicines have not been shown to reduce symptoms of Candida overgrowth. In fact, long-term use of these medicines could be dangerous.

Scientists have shown that C. albicans in the gut can move through the lining of the intestine and into the bloodstream (10).

This is the case in invasive candidiasis.

Because of this, some believe that Candida overgrowth is the cause of increased intestinal permeability, better known as leaky gut syndrome.

However, this is currently an untested theory and we cannot make strong assumptions.

Whats more, leaky gut syndrome presents as a symptom in numerous conditions unrelated to Candida overgrowth.

Summary: There is no evidence that Candida overgrowth causes leaky gut syndrome.

Symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth are similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia.

A small study of 20 patients found C. albicans was present in the stool of 60% of CFS patients suffering from severe symptoms (acute phase) compared to only 30% of CFS patients without symptoms (remission) (11).

However, C. albicans was also present in the stool of 53% of healthy control subjects (without CFS) in that study similar to the acute CFS patients. So its unlikely that C. albicans caused CFS in those patients.

Additionally, a controlled trial looking at whether yeast-containing foods affect CFS symptoms found no effect. Patients on a low-sugar, low-yeast diet had no improvements in fatigue or quality of life compared to those on a regular healthy diet (12).

Combined, this evidence suggests it does not cause CFS.

Summary: There is no clear evidence that Candida causes chronic fatigue syndrome. A low-yeast diet also did not improve symptoms in patients with CFS.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the concept of Candida overgrowth syndrome should be regarded as speculative and unproven unless supported by competent research.

And from the current evidence, there is no proof that if it is a real condition it is directly responsible for other health issues or disease.

It makes sense then thatno specific candida diet or antifungal medicine can help treat it. In fact, no treatment has been shown to consistently eliminate symptoms, which makes me even more skeptical.

If youve experienced long-term symptoms associated with Candida overgrowth, talk to your doctor first. There are many potential causes of such symptoms, and more serious issues must be ruled out.

This post originally appeared on Diet vs Disease asCandida and Diet: Splitting Fact from Fiction

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Candida and Diet: Splitting Fact from Fiction - Care2.com

Dr. Luke, accused of fat-shaming, says Kesha's kin outlined diet

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Updated: Tuesday, February 21, 2017, 8:51 PM

The music producer accused of abusing and fat-shaming pop star Kesha says it was the singers family and handlers who wanted to keep her off junk food, according to court papers.

After Keshas camp released emails last week from producer Dr. Luke criticizing her for breaking her "diet plan" by drinking a Diet Coke, Luke countered that the whole weight-loss initiative was her idea.

"Kesha and her managers know full well that they are mischaracterizing this conduct as 'abuse' because Kesha, her managers, and others in Keshas life, frequently discussed her weight and dieting practices and not in the most flattering of terms," Luke said in a reply filed in court Tuesday.

At issue are dueling lawsuits between Kesha, 29, and Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, over Keshas contract with Luke and allegations that the producer raped and drugged her.

Emails of Dr. Luke ripping Kesha's weight introduced into suit

Luke also denied claims he threatened Kesha to get her to sing particular lyrics for the song Crazy Kids.

But Luke says he asked a prominent third-party writer to provide alternative lyrics specifically to address Keshas concerns.

Lawyers for Kesha, whose real name is Kesha Sebert, could not be reached for comment.

Kesha has scored two number-one singles, "Tik Tok" and "We R Who We R."

Lady Gaga roped into new Dr. Luke suit against Kesha

She has been trying to get out of her six-album deal with Sony and Luke.

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Dr. Luke responds to fat-shaming claims by saying Kesha's family, managers outlined her diet, court papers show - New York Daily News

Energetic and earnest, sweet and punchy self-described "slop-pop" duo Diet Cig is nothing if not endearing. In "Tummy Ache," the first single from the band's upcoming debut Swear I'm Good At This, singer and guitarist Alex Luciano wields this undeniable charm while singing about the challenges of carving out her own space in a notoriously bro-heavy scene.

"Tummy Ache" gains its power from being both brash and vulnerable; Luciano boldly asserts that she doesn't "need a man / to hold my hand." Later, she wonders: "What if we never figure it out / what if I'm always talking too loud?"

The video for "Tummy Ache" stars young participants from the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls and Girls Rock Philly, two programs aimed at musical education and empowerment for girls. While the lyrics to "Tummy Ache" may be ambivalent, the video itself signals nothing but confidence and joy. Campers eat junk food in sparkly makeup, gather at a rock club to craft "Trans Lives Matter" and "Defend Planned Parenthood" signs, before showing off their shredding skills on stage. It's a near-utopian space of grrrl power, music and community.

Luciano laments that "it's hard to be a punk while wearing a skirt." But from the looks of it, it can be pretty fun, too.

Swear I'm Good At This comes out April 7 on Frenchkiss Records.

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First Watch: Diet Cig, 'Tummy Ache' : NPR - NPR

Life & Style Weekly

Mama June Reveals Her Best Diet Tips Find out How She Slimmed Down! Life & Style Weekly June "Mama June" Shannon went from not to hot, and now she's dishing about how she did it! The former Here Comes Honey Boo Boo star wowed fans by shedding an impressive 150 pounds last year and she isn't stopping there! She's making her return ... and more »

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Mama June Reveals Her Best Diet Tips Find out How She Slimmed Down! - Life & Style Weekly

Yo-yo dieting might actually make people healthy, despite the huge amounts of criticism directed towards them, according to an expert.

Repeated crash diets might be best compared to going to the dentist, according to US biostatisticianDavid Allison. In the same way, the extreme slimming method ensures that people get healthier even if they gradually move away from that again.

Dr Allison found that in tests on mice, repeated diets didn't seem to do much harm. In fact, those that went on yo-yo diets actually lived longer than those who stayed obese.

In keeping with that, Dr Allison said that the technique might actually serve a useful way for many people to keep fit.

Dr Allison, from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, said: "If you go the dentist for your six month evaluation, they find there's some plaque around your teeth and scrape it off, and then they give you a toothbrush and piece of string and send you out and say keep up the good work.

"And six months later, guess what, the plaque is back on. Just like weight loss. Nobody says dentistry is a failure. They say that's okay."

Speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, he added: "We think it's probably not a bad idea to lose weight even if you are going to gain it back and redo it every few years."

Around two in three British adults have body mass indexes (BMIs) that classify them as overweight or obese. Excess weight increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes, liver disease and some cancers.

Leading nutritionist Susan Jebb, Professor of Diet and Population Health at Oxford University pointed out that it was better to try losing weight than to do nothing.

She said: "I agree with the notion that losing weight is generally worthwhile, even if you put the weight back on again.

"We have good evidence from long-term follow up studies after controlled intervention studies in humans that there is a benefit."

But Professor Tim Spector, from King's College, London, author of The Diet Myth, spoke out strongly against yo-yo dieting.

He said: "Data in humans shows that yo-yo dieting makes you gain weight long-term. In our twin study of 5,000 twins, the yo-yo dieter was usually heavier long-term than the identical twin who didn't diet."

A recent Israeli study in mice had linked yo-yo dieting to a massive change in gut microbe population that permanently altered energy regulation, said Prof Spector.

The bugs caused obesity when transplanted into other mice.

"So the evidence for me shows crash calorie restriction dieting is to be avoided at all costs," said Prof Spector.

Scientists at the meeting also warned that obesity can be socially contagious, so that mingling with people who are putting on weight increases the risk of following their example.

Conversely, spending time in the gym with a friend encouraged more healthy behaviour.

Dr Allison said: "One way people have thought about manipulating these social networks is through intervention programmes ... So you and your buddy come in and get the treatment together."

Additional reporting by Press Association

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Yo-yo dieting might actually be good for people even if they end up gaining weight back, expert says - The Independent