A new fad diet making the rounds on wellness influencer Instagram wont actually help you lose weight. And it could cause dehydration, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, organ failure even death.

Its called dry fasting. It goes beyond what most of us would consider fasting abstaining from solid food or liquid calories and requires consuming no water or liquids of any kind for many hours or even days at a time.

Instagram and other social media sites have provided a glossy new platform for extremely dubious health and nutrition claims. Posts about dry fasting often tout the need to heal or rest or reset your kidneys, or boost their filtration. In practice, what dry fasting will do is make you look a bit more toned, because your body is using up the water in your cells for energy.

Even more dubious claims suggest that dry fasting forces your body to burn toxins, or fat, or inflammation, or tumors. It does not. When you stop feeding your body calories, it breaks down muscle and fat. The toxic byproducts of that breakdown process build up in your system, requiring extra hydration to flush them out.

In other words, if youre abstaining from food, your body needs more water, not less.

Experts agree: There is no dietary or nutritional reason to go on a dry fast.

I dont recommend it at all, said Dr. Pauline Yi, a physician at UCLA Health Beverly Hills who regularly treats patients in their late teens and early 20s. She said intermittent fasting and other fasting-type diets are a popular topic with patients, and she has no problem with people trying them out.

But I also tell them when youre fasting you have to drink water, she said. You cannot go without hydration.

The majority of the human body is water. Your individual water consumption needs depend on your height, weight, health and the climate, but generally speaking, Yi said people should be consuming at least 68 ounces almost nine cups of water every day.

Cary Kreutzer, an associate professor at USCs schools of gerontology and medicine whose area of expertise includes nutrition and diet, says digestive systems arent meant to have extended breaks. She likened making your kidneys go without water to letting your cars engine run out of oil. You can basically burn out some parts of the car that youre going to have to get replaced, she said. You dont want those replacement parts to include your vital organs.

Another unintended consequence of dry fasting: It sets your body in water-conservation mode.

Your body likes homeostasis, said Yi, the physician. If youre going to cut back on water, your body will produce hormones and chemicals to hold onto any water.

So while you might gain a very short-term benefit by looking a tiny bit more toned while youre severely dehydrated (body-builders have been known to dry fast before competitions for that reason), once you consume liquid again, your body rebounds and desperately hangs on to even more water than before. Its like yo-yo dieting in fast motion.

Dry fasting is not the same thing as intermittent fasting, which has become a popular fad diet in recent years. There are different variations of intermittent fasting, but most people start with 16 hours of fasting followed by eight hours of eating. Martin Berkhan created the LeanGains 16:8 intermittent fasting guide and is widely credited with popularizing the diet. On his website, leangains.com, Berkhan writes that during the 16-hour fasting window, coffee, calorie-free sweeteners, diet soda, sugar-free gum and up to a teaspoon of milk in a cup of coffee wont break the fast.

The subreddit for fasting, r/fasting, has an Introduction to Intermittent Fasting guide that contains the following tips for surviving the fasting portion of your day:

Valter Longo has studied starvation, fasting and calorie restriction in humans for nearly 30 years. Hes currently the director of the Longevity Institute at USC and a professor of gerontology. He developed the Fasting-Mimicking Diet, or FMD, a fasting-type diet with small prepackaged meals intended to provide the health and longevity benefits of a five-day fast without requiring a doctors supervision. Fasting-type diets have grown in popularity in recent years for a simple reason, he said: Because they work.

But he said hes not aware of any reputable studies about the effects of dry fasting, and said he wouldnt even consider putting one together, also for a simple reason: Its incredibly dangerous.

For sure, the body needs to reset, but there are safe ways of doing that, and dry fasting is not one of them, Longo said. We require water.

His work has also involved looking at how cultures and religions have engaged with starvation and fasting throughout human history, and says he hasnt heard of any that involved extended fasting without water. The closest is Ramadan, during which observers go without food or water during daylight hours but at most, that lasts for 16 hours, and its preceded and followed by extensive hydration.

If someone tries dry fasting for a full day, Longo said, they risk side effects like developing kidney stones. Longer than that, and you start risking your life.

Some proponents of dry fasting eschew water but recommend hydrating with fresh fruits and vegetables. Hydrating with fruit is certainly better than not hydrating at all. An orange has about a half-cup of water in it; to get to the recommended 68 ounces of water a day, youd have to eat around 17 oranges. Thats a lot of peeling.

So, in conclusion: Dry fasting puts you at risk of kidney stones or organ failure. There are no known, proven long-term benefits to doing it. Though different types of fasts and fasting diets can be beneficial, there is no medical evidence to suggest you need to stop consuming water for any period of time, or that water from fruit is better for you than filtered drinking water. Do not take medical advice from a photo of a person in a sarong.

Please drink some water.

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What 'dry fasting' is and why you shouldn't do it - Los Angeles Times

LeBron James is an incredible basketball player who has always been in phenomenal shape.

But that doesnt mean he robs himself of eating some tasty food. By now we all know he enjoys his Taco Tuesdays but apparently he enjoys starting his day with a delicious and high calorie breakfast.

And he LOVES dessert.

The Athletic shared a story on LeBron today that had many people close to him sharing their favorite LeBron stories. One of those people was former teammate Tristan Thompson, who said that LeBron has the worst f diet ever, which includes a lot of French toast and a big omelette in the morning.

This is great:

He has the worst f diet ever. Ask him what he eats for breakfast. He has like five french toast, drowns it in syrup with strawberries and bananas. Then he has like a four-egg omelette and then he goes and just f dunks on somebody. It doesnt make sense.

He eats desserts with every meal. Hell come with his one-week diet, vegan crap, but he literally eats like it doesnt make sense. Hes really a specimen. He eats like s. I remember one year I tried to eat like he ate and it just didnt work out. I started gaining weight and said, F this. I mean it works for him. He loves sweets. He loves sweets. He eats desserts and French toast. Its crazy how his body just burns it.

That sounds very much like some breakfasts Ive had except for the dunking on someone part, of course.

And yeah, desserts are fun, too.

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Tristan Thompson's description of LeBron James' 'worst (expletive) diet ever' is too good - For The Win

We caught up with Kurt Perryman, technical sales manager at Micronutrients, a Nutreco company, during the International Production and Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Georgia to hear more about the research it is doing in relation to poultry diets and hydroxy trace minerals.

Micronutrients has been exploring the possibility of reducing the amount of its zinc hydroxy chloride product that is used in poultry diets while maintaining production, he said. Our main drive is efficiency, so we can use less zinc.

The recommendation is between 100 and 120 ppm and most people feed about 120ppm we recommend 80, he said. Thats a pretty substantial drop to prevent excess mineral excretion and we also get the better performance from the birds better feed conversion, which means less ingredient inputs so that saves our customers money and also its better for the environment.

Zinc is an important mineral for birds and is involved in many of the enzymes that function within a layer, said Perryman. During heat stress, it is involved with the process that removes carbon dioxide from the blood and helps balance the ph.

When a bird is panting it exhales more carbon dioxide than it takes in and theres less carbon dioxide in the blood, so their blood becomes more basic, he said. If their blood is basic they cant dissolve calcium from their bones to put into eggs so their production is going to drop.

The heat stress feeding trial was done in conjunction with researchers at Texas A&M, said Perryman. During the 52-week long feeding trial, layers experienced four weeks of conditions where temperatures reached or exceeded 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 Celsius).

The heat stress period started at about 30 weeks into the trial when the layers were in their main laying period, he said.

During the heat stress study, production for birds on all the diets dropped during the high-heat period, he said. However, birds on a diet with zinc hydroxy chloride, instead of zinc oxide, generated eight additional eggs and used 3.1% less feed.

We attribute that to the differences in the availability of our minerals, he said.

The company is now working on a new layer study seeking to use lower levels of zinc during production, said Perryman. The 40-week layer trial uses four diets but does not include a stress challenge.

The four diets include a traditional zinc sulfate diet, a diet with hydroxy chloridezinc at 30% of the recommended amount, a diet with the same reduced amount but in zinc sulfate and a low IntelliBond zinc diet with additional manganese, he said. Manganese is important for eggshell formation, he added.

Details from the study are expected to be available at the start of 2021, he said.

In addition to the layer trials, the company also is working on a series of research projects looking at the use of bioavailable copper in the diets of broilers including those raised without antibiotics, Perryman said. We were just trying to answer some questions weve got a lot of papers coming out of the University of Auburn on feeding length and amount.

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Zinc type key in bid to ensure egg production in heat-stressed layers - FeedNavigator.com

The disruption to shift workers natural bodily rhythms may play a part in their increased risk of disease, according to a new study.

Every human body runs on a 24-hour clock. This system, known as the circadian rhythm, uses factors such as daylight to determine when a person sleeps and wake.

It also has an effect on bodily functions such as metabolism and cognition. However, in the modern age, technology and varying working hours can disrupt this delicate balance.

Conflict between a persons natural bodily rhythm and the way they live can have a number of detrimental effects, including hormonal changes.

These alterations can lead to metabolic syndrome. This is a condition that increases a persons risk of stroke, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

Night shift workers, who make up almost around a fifth of the United States workforce, are more likely to experience these effects than others. Not only are they more likely to develop sleep disorders, they are also at a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes than other workers.

Also, people who work irregular or rotating shifts may face an even greater risk of sleep problems and metabolic syndrome.

Previously, researchers believed that the lifestyle habits that tend to go hand-in-hand with shift work was responsible for this increased risk. However, no solid evidence exists to back up this belief.

Researchers are therefore beginning to dig deeper into the relationship between shift patterns and metabolic syndrome.

A new review in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association did exactly that, focusing on the circadian rhythm.

Examining a number of studies and clinical trials from 2018, the review authors used the findings to propose ways of reducing the circadian impact of shift work, such as optimizing sleep and diet.

Its true that getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising are critical to everyones health, says lead study author Kshma Kulkarni, from the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in California.

However, the nature of shift work is so disorienting and discordant with those principles, we really need to help people in those jobs strategize ways to get what they need.

It is not only individual workers who can help. Employers and healthcare professionals also have a responsibility to make changes.

Good quality sleep is one of the simplest ways to prevent detrimental health effects. Shift workers themselves should try to sleep for 78 hours at the same time every day, suggests Kulkarni.

In order to aid the bodys natural cycle, workers should try to sleep in the evening, or as close to the evening as possible. They can take naps earlier on, and these should last between 20 and 120 minutes.

Moving away from rotating shift patterns is one way employers can help in this area. Kulkarni also suggests that employers should ensure that shifts begin before midnight and last for no longer than 11 hours.

Nutrition is another element to tackle. Research has shown that shift workers tend to miss meals and opt for sugary snacks instead.

Eating three meals per day is vital, says Kulkarni. These meals, along with any snacks a person has, should include a good amount of protein and vegetables.

Consuming more calories earlier in a persons day is also a beneficial step to take. Employers should therefore try to schedule breaks earlier in a shift and offer more healthful snack options.

Shift workers should also try to take exercise levels into account. Kulkarni recommends working out around the same time each day, at least 5 hours before bedtime.

It may be best to prioritize aerobic exercise, such as running and dancing, as this may boost the quality of a persons sleep.

These three factors are not the only lifestyle choices that may benefit shift workers.

Sufficient light exposure may also help. Certain light sources can alter a persons circadian rhythm to their advantage.

Night workers should try to increase their exposure to light before shifts and throughout. Installing high intensity lights in workplaces can also help employees feel more awake.

It is also important to avoid blue light 23 hours before going to sleep.

Kulkarni and colleagues also believe that medical treatment is of interest.

Medications that help control the sleep cycle, such as certain benzodiazepines and antidepressants, may benefit people at risk of metabolic syndrome.

Similarly, a physical technique called osteopathic manipulative treatment can reduce the amount of time shift workers spend trying to fall asleep.

It is critical we address the health issues facing people in this line of work, Kulkarni explains, particularly because the strength of our economy and safety of our society depend heavily on night shift workers.

To prevent metabolic syndrome, healthcare professionals should check workers especially those in sectors including hospitality and the emergency services for signs of a disrupted circadian rhythm.

With early detection, a person can successfully implement lifestyle modifications and treatment regimens.

However, further research is necessary to determine the most effective strategies.

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Using the bodys natural cycle to improve shift workers health - Medical News Today

A new study investigating factors that contribute to psychological distress in adults has found that that risk of malnourishment is linked to psychological distress among Canadians aged 45 years and older.These findings are consistent with other research which has found links between poor quality diet, and depression, bipolar disorder, and psychological distress, says study lead Dr. Karen Davison, Health Science faculty member at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, BC. Collectively, they indicate that nutrition may be an important consideration in mental health care.

Adults who have insufficient appetite, face challenges in preparing food, or consume low-quality diets are identified to be at risk of malnourishment. Indicators of a poor diet found in the study that were associated with psychological distress included low fruit and vegetable intake and higher levels of chocolate consumption.

Given that lower grip strength is a measure of poor nutrition, the researchers also explored the relationship between grip strength and psychological health. Men with low grip strength had 57% higher odds of psychological distress.

This finding is consistent with previous studies which suggests that psychological problems such as depression are associated with an increased risk of frailty says co-author Shen (Lamson) Lin, a doctoral student at University of Torontos Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW).Other factors associated with psychological distress among older CanadiansIn addition to nutrition indicators, other factors found to be associated with psychological distress include chronic pain, multiple physical health problems, poverty and immigrant status.

One in five older adults with three or more chronic health problems were in distress compared to one in 17 who did not have any chronic conditions. One-third of women and one-quarter of men in chronic pain were in distress.

Distress is common among those experiencing uncontrollable and chronic pain. Furthermore, dealing with multiple physical health problems can be upsetting and can make day-to-day activities, work and socializing much more difficult. says senior author, Esme Fuller-Thomson, professor at FIFSW and director of the Institute for Life Course & Aging. Fuller-Thomson is also cross-appointed to the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Faculty of Nursing.

The prevalence of distress was highest among the poorest respondents; One in three older adults who had a household income under $20,000 per year were in distress.

It is not surprising that those in poverty were in such high levels of distress: Poverty is a chronic and debilitating stressor. It can often be challenging even to pay ones rent and put healthy food on the table. Poverty may also result in poorer housing and neighborhood quality, and greater residential turnover which are also stress-inducing, says co-author Yu Lung, a doctoral student at FIFSW.

The study also found that immigrant women living in Canada less than 20 years had a higher prevalence of distress than women who were Canadian-born residents (21% vs 14%).

Unfortunately, this survey did not identify the reasons for the greater distress among immigrant women, but we hypothesize that it may be due to the difficulties of resettling in a new country, such as language barriers, financial strain, complications of having ones qualifications recognized, distance from family and other social support networks and perceived discrimination says co-author Hongmei Tong, Assistant Professor of Social Work at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

Although immigrant men also face many of these settlement problems, they were not at elevated risk of distress compared to their Canadian-born peers, says co-author Karen Kobayashi, Professor in the Department of Sociology and a Research Affiliate at the Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria. One idea we hope to explore in future research is whether these gender differences could be due to the fact that the husbands initiated the immigration process and the wives may have had limited or no say in the decision to leave their homeland.

The study team analyzed data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging which included 25,834 men and women aged 45-85 years.

The teams findings suggest that policies and health care practices should aim to reduce nutrition risk, improve diet quality, address chronic pain and health problems and poverty among those experiencing poor mental health, adds Dr. Davison. Given that mental health conditions place a large burden of disability worldwide, such program and policy changes are becoming critically important.ReferenceDavison et al. (2020) Psychological distress in older adults linked to immigrant status, dietary intake, and physical health conditions in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Journal of Affective Disorders. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.01.024

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Study Highlights Link Between Nutrition and Psychological Wellbeing - Technology Networks