Baton Rouge, LA, Jan. 20, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- If youre looking to start 2020 with a leap towards a healthier lifestyle, a heart-healthy diet is one of the best places to start. Heart healthy diets can go a long way toward protecting and preserving your bodys most important muscle. They also tend to have an obviously, positive impact on the rest of the body and mind. A focus on heart healthy eating is one way to promote longevity, youthfulness and weight control in your own life. Currently, a few popular heart healthy options stand out the most according to telemedicine weight loss leader, Diet Demand.

TheDASHDiet. According to Dr. Burns - Diet Demands Medical Director, DASH was created as a way to lower blood pressure based on the theory of sodium causing hypertension. It stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and works for a percentage of the population who are hypertensive. For these sodium sensitive individuals (maybe only 25% of the population), this method can provide some benefit. It also helps to restore some mineral imbalances that contribute to high blood pressure. However, Dr. Burns believes that there is more to improving heart health, Avoiding processed foods are sound, however the guidelines on specific macronutrient intake are missing. Also, weight management should be a key aspect of heart healthy dieting. Being that DASH was created for hypertension, the primary purpose of this diet is not weight management. As far as weight loss is concerned, only lower calorie versions of DASH would trigger weight loss, but that would apply to them doing any lower calorie diet. Additionally, for people who are following lower carb diets for weight loss, the sodium requirement actually goes up, along with the other electrolytes of potassium and magnesium due to the effect of the kidneys wasting electrolytes more rapidly while the body goes into ketosis. Believe it or not, the daily sodium requirement is actually higher on a lower carb diet than a high carb diet.

The Mediterranean diet is also touted for its heart-healthy benefits. Unlike the DASH diet whose primary purpose is the reduction of salt, Mediterranean style eating is more heavily focused on the incorporation of heart-healthy omega3s and fats such as olive oil, fatty fish and avocados. Since whole foods are implemented, sodium reduction is somewhat a part of this diet since processed foods are minimized. Diet Demand, a nationally recognized virtual weight loss program incorporates heart-healthy strategies in its customized diet and weight loss coaching methods. Its Jumpstart Diet, focuses is on balanced nutrition and initial calorie reductions between 800-1200 calories to help patients at risk for heart disease with quick weight loss.

Diet Demand provides certified weight loss doctors and coaches available by phone 24/7 to help with meal planning, grocery shopping, dining out and more. Theres nothing better than having personalized help via certified weight loss professionals who can review your plan and help you along the way.

A better solution. Most diets have a one-size-fits-all strategy, so its assumed that what works for some people will work for you as well. Unfortunately, many factors can determine how well a specific diet works for you. Diet Demand takes a personalized approach by gathering information on your individual body macros in order to develop a diet that is specific to your needs. Due to the success of this customized model, Diet Demand clients have a 94 percent success rate.

See what Diet Demand can do for you by easily and effortlessly visiting http://www.dietdemand.com/ to complete an initial comprehensive, yet simple, health questionnaire and schedule an immediate personal, no-cost consultation. DietDemands physicians all received specialized training in nutritional science and fast weight loss. DietDemand reviews each patients health history to create a personalized diet plan geared for fast weight loss, or that addresses life-long issues causing weight loss to slow down or stop. Nutritionists work personally with each patient and use their own algorithm to craft meal and snack plans that are compatible with each patients age, gender, activity level, food preferences, nutritional needs and medical conditions. They combine these state-of-the-art diet plans with pure, prescription diet products that enable their patients to resist the temptation to reach for sugary snacks, eliminate fatigue and curb the appetite. Over 97% of DietDemand patients report incredible weight loss results with the majority losing 20 or more pounds per month.

At DietDemand, all patients gain unlimited access to the best minds in the business. Their staff of doctors, nurses, nutritionists and coaches are available six days per week to answer questions, offer suggestions, address concerns and lend their professional guidance and support. Because of this, more and more people are turning to DietDemand for their weight management needs. Diet plans are tailored to be specific to the needs of those of any age, gender, shape or size and for those who are struggling to lose that final 10-20 pounds to those who must lose 100 pounds or more. Call today to request a private, confidential, no-cost online consultation.

About the Company:

DietDemand is the nation's leader in medical, weight loss offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, DietDemand has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long-term weight loss.

DietDemand Providing Care Across The USA

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info@dietdemand.com

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Diet Demand Touts Benefits of Heart Healthy Diets for Longevity and Weight Loss - GlobeNewswire

Youve probably heard of or tried the Whole30 diet. The elimination diet seriously restricts your food intake for 30 days with the goal of identifying food sensitivities and poor nutritional choices. Even with so much buzz around the diet, there is still one major thing health professionals and the general public cant seem to agree on: Is this diet actually any good for you? Enter: Doctor Mikes Whole30 experiment.

Doctor Mike, the internet celebrity doctor who gained popularity for his combination of smarts and good looks, recently took on the Whole30 challenge and documented the results on YouTube. His experience and professional thoughts might make you rethink the diet.

Doctor Mike is known for not endorsing elimination diets, of which Whole30 definitely is. He says in the video that they can fuel eating disorders and possibly lead to nutritional deficiencies by cutting out food that likely isnt the cause of any problems.

Whole30 has some intense restrictive rules: no added sugar, no grains, no legumes, no dairy, no alcohol, no MSG or sulfites, and no junk food.

I can cut out bread. Thats no problem Ive done that before when I was gluten-sensitive in the past, Doctor Mike says in the video. But the fact that I had to give up brown rice, quinoa, things that I eat as part of a healthy dietWhy would you eliminate some foods like black beans that can be so healthy to the majority of people?

The doctor is clearly not impressed and thats not the end of his problems with Whole30.

"Why would you eliminate some foods like black beans that can be so healthy to the majority of people?"

Doctor Mike happened to take on the challenge during Thanksgiving and the beginning of the Christmas holiday season, which made the rules even more difficult to follow. At Thanksgiving, Doctor Mike reports he could only eat turkey and peas. Thats it.

Aside from the elimination struggles, Doctor Mike also began to struggle in the gym. He says he noticed his bench starting to go down almost immediately.

Normally when Im working out, Im benching 225 to 255 255 was becoming a huge challenge for me, Doctor Mike says in the video. When I stepped on to the basketball court, after one game, I felt like I was exhausted.

Doctor Mike says this sluggish performance was probably due to underrating his usual caloric intake, which is something that just naturally happened on the diet.

When you do an elimination diet like Whole30, its very easy to under eat calories, Doctor Mike says. This is probably why a lot of people lose weight.

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Once he hit day 30, he started to reintroduce foods to note their potential negative impacts, which is the main point of the diet. But Doctor Mike says this is one of the things he dislikes most about Whole30, saying the time frame of adding back in foods is not enough to properly track their individual impact on the body.

Its not really scientific, he says. If you put in legumes on the first day, then two days later add in sugars, then two days after that grains, its not scientific. If were doing a proper elimination challenge in the medical setting, we do a 90-day elimination.

Doctor Mike also reports his digestive system, took a hit during Whole30, leading to bloating and dirreahea. After reintroducing foods, he reports his body returned back to normal.

Overall, Doctor Mike wasnt impressed with Whole30, though he did admit there was something reward to following such restrictive rules successfully. While the competitive crowd might agree, the doctor says Whole30 is probably not a good idea.

At the end of the day, nutritional advice should be individualized," he says. "Its a very restrictive diet, and it can cause some serious problems. Theres definitely some research showing that theres some crossover with eating disorders. Most of the time, [Whole30] is unnecessary.

Original post:
Here's What Happened When a Doctor Tried the Whole30 Challenge - menshealth.com

Life with cancer is filled with ups and downs, but how do you deal with the roadblocks that are placed in your way? We recently asked CUREs social media audience how they coped with setbacks in their cancer journey. Here are some of their responses.

Everyone is different. So is their journey. VL

Keep things in perspective. Things that are controllable are your responses to the roadblocks, not the roadblock itself. Practicing gratitude and mindfulness are helpful, as clich as it may sound. The mind is a powerful tool. KW

Ask for help; create a team of caregivers; don't be afraid to see a therapist or mental health professional; go to the movies as often as possible; surround yourself with people that make you laugh. LHH

Our metastatic online support groups are awesome and helpful. MJB

Keeping a positive attitude as much as possible. Working through the bad days, no matter how hard it seems. MM

Knock them over. Drive around them. Face them head on. But never go in reverse. This ****storm called cancer will either make you or break you. Dont let it be the latter. BA

Set up goals for your future dreams and then keep yourself focused on that horizon as much as possible. That will help to maintain hope, which gives you strength to get through the toughest parts. RO

Just keep on living. Spend time with the people and doing the things that bring you joy. Live without regret. DV

One's cancer journey is not meant to be a solo journey, but needs a support system medical professionals, family, others with a cancer diagnosis history and making use of all the material that is available for everyone. There are many excellent materials available including the CURE publication, which I describe as that with up-to-date information on a professional level but written in the laypersons language One should not hibernate from the cancer but become involved with learning all one can. LSS

Stay positive, talk with people that know what it's about, and pray. JI

I continued to make new friends and keep my hobbies and interests. I have cancer but I don't have to make it my identity. JK

Never back down. AN

Celebrate the little victories/successes. Then when you have a roadblock you have some positives to reflect on. Use your support system. Dont be afraid to ask them for help. My mom and I were reminded once by a medical social worker its OK to cry. A little cry can help let go of some emotions so that you are able to move forward. KBK

Staying positive is what got me through it. I never had a doubt that I wouldnt be OK. As hard as it got and as much as chemo sucked, I had my husband and family by my side and my positives thoughts in my head ... and here I am. DDG

My spouse is my rock! Without her, I do not know what I would do. I share all my thoughts and feelings with her. She may not have the answers, but it feels good to talk about my fears, etc. BR

When I was diagnosed, I got angry. I made up my mind that it wouldnt defeat me. That was my attitude about cancer the entire time. It worked for me. SGD

Be kind and gentle to/with yourself. Treat yourself like you would treat someone you care about. CL

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How Do You Deal with Roadblocks on the Cancer Journey? - Curetoday.com

Alexis Ohanian, known as Serena Williams' husband,father of their daughter Alexis Olympia, and oh, yes, co-founder of Reddit, has a new podcast about being a dad, called "Business Dad," that examines the bigger questions about balancing work and fatherhood, and also the big existential questions about the purpose of work, the definition of success, and how to live a better life. He also decided to shake uphis diet and recently told GQ.com that he went plant-based to be healthier.

It all started after watching an early cut of The Gamer Changers documentary (he was asked to be an executive producer and lept at the chance). Then he tried an Impossible burger and liked it so much, he invested in the company. Now Ohanian has gone full-tilt on the plant-based lifeand is finding that for his health, his ability to focus and his performance in his day-to-day tasks, plant-based is working for him.

Marriage and fatherhood can change even the most hardened bachelor, steak-lover and high-flying executive. To hear Ohanian talk abouthis daughter Alexis Olympia, on his podcast, it's clear that she has had a powerful effect on his life. Other than asking the big seeking questions about the meaning of work, the details matter. For him, that includes eating plant-based. For the sake of his focus, his ability to work effectively and see the fruits of his labor, Ohanian tells GQ that he adopted a plant-based diet. It's all in service of being a more successful human, which is a way of finding more purpose in his work, and the goals he sets for himself and his company. Here is what he has to say to GQ about his recent diet changes.

Ohanian tells GQ that it all came together for him when Serena got pregnant, and he realized he needed to make some changes as well."I don't want to be an unhealthy, lethargic dad when Olympia wants to practice soccer in the backyard,"Ohanian shared.

"I spent all of my 20s focused single-mindedly on my workI made sacrifices to myself physically and mentally in the pursuit of that. Previously, there were weeks where I'd order a ton of steaks on Instacart and put some spinach leaves on the side as my side salad. I'd eat that three, four, five times a week. Easy."

That all changed when he watched thedocumentaryThe Game Changers, which for Ohanian wasindeed a game-changer. The makers of the film asked him if he wanted to be an executive producer, and since so many of the subjects are large male athletes, "big dudes" like me, he thought, it made a lot of sense. Those big dudes only ate plants and made the argument that it helped them build their strength, stamina and endurance, which cutting down on their recovery time and injuries. Around the same time, Ohanian tried his for Impossible Burger, and "I was like, Damn! This is good! he told GQ. He invested in the company and jumped on the plant-based bandwagon.

Being Married to a GOAT Tennis Star Has Its Benefits Too?Serena taught Ohanian the benefits of working out on an empty stomach to burn more fat and get more afterburn. He tells of how we used to eat before workouts and now, he follows his wife's lead and waits to refuel after. Serena is on a "whole other level" when it comes to working out and fueling up, Ohanian told GQ's Alex Shultz.

For the full story on GQ.com and all the other stars from sports, business and the restaurant and food worlds check out theGQ story here.

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Alexis Ohanian Embraces the Plant-Based Life, Tells GQ It's to Be a Better Dad - The Beet

When I went off to college, Huy Tran says, I became an eating machine. Up until then, hed been an average kid, fairly active. He played sports and biked all over down. Yet when he went to college he hoovered up whatever food was available, in huge amounts. Reflecting on it now, the 33-year-old lab scientist and photographer says, I believe that I had developed a binge eating disorder and was addicted to food.

He gained 70 pounds in about a year and a half, and he carried that weight with him. At his heaviest he was 264 pounds and felt awful, with tight hamstrings and persistent back pain. Hed sweat if he had to walk too far. He couldnt fit into his suit jacket for a friends wedding; he had trouble getting down the stairs for a night-time drink of water. I was 31 years old and my body was falling apart, he says. Enough was enough.

He started by taking pictures of himself. Then he downloaded MyFitnessPal, setting a calorie goal that would drop one pound a week. He ditched the fast food and starting prepping meals of salads, roasted veggies, and lean protein. Sugary drinks went out the window, and he began using a food scale.

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As a motivator, he signed up for a 5K race he vowed to complete in the spring, then enrolled in a couch-to-5K program. The first few weeks were hell, he says. I could barely jog for 60 seconds at a time and my legs were constantly sore. He fought through that, and when he could run a 5K he got a gym membership and started lifting, beginning with full-body and then going into a PPL (Push-Pull-Legs) split. He didnt have a trainer, but his friends kept him motivated and accountable.

After a year, hed lost 35 pounds; now, two years later, hes down 46 pounds but has also gained a lot of muscle. I don't think that I have ever been this fit in my entire life, he says. He can lift nearly twice his bodyweight in most lifts, and his 5K time is under 27 minutes. He feels more confident in himself, and in control of his body. Hes much more disciplined; his mental toughness has increased. I get comments from people nearly every week saying something about how different and good I look or how they are so proud of me, he says. He thinks he might lose another 15-20 pounds. I want to keep going and be the best version of myself that I can be.

Losing weight and becoming healthy has to become a lifestyle and not a fad if you want to be successful and have it stick, he says. Fad and crash diets can feel like punishment, and are hard to stick to. Instead, he says, find exercise you enjoy and a sensible diet. Eat healthier and move more, he says. It goes a long way.

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Small Diet Changes and a Push-Pull-Legs Routine Helped This Guy Drop 50 Pounds - menshealth.com

Superfoods for 2020 are about as simple as can get, from local vegetables to whole grains.

Highlights

To diet or not to diet - that is the question. As the year begins and our minds begin to wander away from our New Year Resolutions, we look for easy and healthy alternatives that we can sustain rather than fad diets which we can barely attempt to. In the quest for such options we started to explore the superfoods of 2020, or the foods which are nutritionally rich and work miracles for the body. Though there is no specific qualifying criteria about what constitutes a superfood; the main reason why superfoods are recommended is that their health benefits exceed beyond just one or two.

What exactly is a superfood? Dr. Anju Sood, a Bangalore-based nutritionist, says, "Superfoods provide us a nutrient which is generally lacking in your diet - they could be rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, contain omega 3 fatty acids and helpful in burning fat. They are basically foods that are catering to ex-metabolic syndrome problems such as lifestyle problems."

Superfoods can give your diet the additional push.

As we spoke to nutritionists and other experts, it turned out that most of the superfoods that we can expect to trend in the year 2020 have been around forever. It's only recently that their nutritional value has begun to be appreciated. Consultant Nutritionist Dr. Rupali Datta, believes that the trend had begun last year and will continue well into 2020. "The importance is of going local and returning to regional foods and cuisines. It is all about rediscovering your roots this year. For example, instead of broccoli, why not have the simple cauliflower?" advises Dr. Datta.

Having local produce and hyperlocally sourced vegetables is something that cannot be emphasised enough in 2020. For instance, spinach is a leafy green that is packed with vitamins and minerals and contains anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidant flavanoids too. Spinach is great for maintaining overall bone and heart health. Macrobiotic Nutritionist and Health Practitioner Shilpa Arora ND suggests, "All the green leafy Saags cooked in ghee and a dollop of white butter loaded with vitamin K can be great for assimilation of vitamin D in the body."

(Also Read:8 Lesser Known Greens We Should All Be Eating)

Dr. Rupali Datta emphasizes the need for inclusion of locally grown fruits in the diet, as much as vegetables. Fruits are one of the most underrated superfoods that have existed in the Indian diet since times immemorial. They are now slowly making a comeback this year due to their inherent nutritive properties. For instance, Guava actually has more Vitamin C content than, say, even an orange. "Seasonal fruits such as papaya can work wonders for the diet, " says Dr. Datta.

There is a strong trend which sees an increasing return towards whole grains such as Kuttu, Ragi and Jau, our experts say. These whole grains can be easily used to replace sooji, besan, or even oats. The reason behind this is that they are rich in micronutrients such as zinc, magnesium and calcium. These are nutrients that the Indian diet traditionally does not have enough of, but can work miracles for overall health. Grains such as Rajgiri, aka Amaranth, as recommended by our nutritionists are also wonderful for their detoxifying and cholesterol-controlling properties.

(Also Read:Why Whole Grains Are Good For You? 7 Benefits To Look Out For!)

2020 is all about the seeds - basil seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds are the superfoods this season. Rather than simply having Chia or Flaxseeds, use Basil seeds," recommends Dr. Rupali Datta. These seeds can be had as a snack or included as a topping on any dish. The nutrients such as protein, fiber, iron, vitamins, and omega-3 present in all kinds of seeds promote healthy skin and hair and support cardiovascular well-being.

Seeds and nuts need to be in your diet if they already aren't.

The importance of spices for nutritional benefits is also quite understated, as 2020 is about the return of traditional Indian spices such as cinnamon, saffron, turmeric and fennel seeds. Dr. Anju Sood says, "Cinnamon powder contains aldehyde which is a chemical compound that helps bring down blood sugar level and maintain metabolic levels." Similar benefits can be stated for fennel seeds, also known as saunf, which contain antioxidants and can also help fight pollution. Turmeric too has a number of health benefits such as being anti-inflammatory and helping in boosting immunity.

To conclude, superfoods for 2020 are all about going regional and rediscovering the roots. To quote Shilpa Arora ND, "Superfoods for 2020 have to be simple and not fashionable."

Excerpt from:
5 Expert Recommended Superfoods To Look Out For In The Year 2020 - NDTV Food

Submitted by Kwiaht

For a third year, salmon researchers from the Lopez Island-based nonprofit Kwiaht will be staffing winter Blackmouth fishing derbies to help clean fish, collect gut contents, and learn more about the diet and health of these iconic resident Chinook salmon.

Smaller and fewer Blackmouth salmon is a concern for Southern Resident Killer Whales as well as our fishing community, says Kwiaht director Russel Barsh, who has been studying the changing diet of Chinook salmon for over a decade. We want to find the bottleneck in the food web so that it can be addressed while there is still a good chance for Blackmouth recovery.

Blackmouth sampled at derbies in 2018 and 2019 had mainly eaten Pacific herring, Barsh says; nearly four-fifths by dry weight of what we found in 324 Blackmouth. All other fish made up barely three percent of the diet. When they did not find herring, Blackmouth sampled in 2018-2019 mainly ate shrimp. Few squid were found in gut contents, although Blackmouth were hitting lures that mimic squid. We were surprised to see hardly any Pacific Sand Lance in these salmon, Barsh adds. Sand Lance can be almost half the diet of juvenile Chinook in the islands, but it looks like they eat proportionately more herring as they grow larger.

Results of the first two winters of this study indicate that Blackmouth depend on schools of juvenile herring that swarm around the islands nearshore waters for two or three years before migrating into deeper ocean waters to mature. Herring numbers in the Salish Sea have declined for decades and spawning biomass varies greatly from year to year. Juvenile herring abundance in the islands last peaked in 2016 according to Kwiaht monitoring data. What we are seeing now is prey restriction, Barsh says. Blackmouth are scouring the islands for balls of small herring and often finding balls of shrimp instead, which are more work for fewer calories.

Barsh says there is some hope that Blackmouth will take advantage of Northern Anchovies and other greasy schooling fish that are colonizing the Salish Sea as it grows warmer. Whether they will recognize these fish as food remains in question. In January 2019, Blackmouth feasted on a rare school of Capelin in the islands for several days. We were just incredibly fortunate that there were anglers there to collect specimens for us, or this hopeful event would probably have been missed completely.

Kwiahts research is supported by grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundations Southern Resident Killer Whale Conservation program, and collaborators at NOAA, the University of Washington, Long Live the Kings and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Blackmouth fishing derbies in our area this winter include the Resurrection Salmon Derby Anacortes, Feb. 1-2, Friday Harbor Classic, Feb. 6-8, and the Roche Harbor Classic, Feb. 13-15. Look for researchers with green Kwiaht ASK ME caps at derby weigh-in stations, and write to info@kwiaht.org for further information on participating in Blackmouth research.

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Fishing derbies support salmon... - Journal of the San Juan Islands