Doughnuts are usually off the menu if youre on ahealthyeating regime - but Greggs are now offering customers a diet version of the sugary treat.

The bakery chain is selling a glazed ring doughnut in addition to its classic jam doughnut.

While the former contains approximately 191 calories, the latter has 245 calories, according to theirwebsite.

It appears the introduction of a hole - and lack of filling - has culled more than 50caloriesfrom the sweet favourite.

The bakery chain's classic jam doughnut contains more than 50 calories more [Image: Getty]

READ MORE: Vegan sausage rolls help turbo boost Greggs' sales

Greggs is encouraging customers to make the simple swap as part of its new healthier doughnut diet initiative.

According toThe Sunday Times, it plans to tweak its displays so that jam doughnuts are surrounded by ring doughnuts, guiding the public to order the lower-calorie product.

Speaking at a recent childhood obesity conference in London, Roger Whiteside, Greggss chief executive said that ring doughnuts take some of the calories out.

As well as a greater calorie content, jam doughnuts also contain 10g of fat, compared to 6.4g found in ring doughnuts.

READ MORE: Cushion or pasty? Greggs trolls Next for selling 'steak bake' cushions

However, because of its greater surface area thanks to the hole, ring doughnuts have 13g ofsugar which is 22 per cent of their weight - compared to 12g in the jam-packed alternatives.

Greggs new campaign is in response to the governments childhood obesity strategy, which is forcingfoodcompanies to reduce sugar levels in their products.

Speaking about the challenges the chain faced at the same conference, Whiteside added: People like big cakes, not little cakes . . . we know that we shouldnt be encouraging people to eat large cakes . . . but the problem is you have to go with demand.

Wendy Baker, a Greggs spokeswoman, told the paper that they were serious about customer health.

She added: A wider choice of ring doughnuts has been introduced which range from 190 to 260 calories, compared to traditional fondant doughnuts which range from 225 to 340 calories.

Greggs has also reduced sugar by 20 per cent across its sweet range.

More here:
Greggs creates first 'diet' doughnut - by adding a hole to the centre - Yahoo Sports

The foods we eat have a big impact on our overall health including the structure and health of our brain. Eating a brain-boosting diet can ensure smooth short- and long-term brain function.

Our brain controls every single function of our body. As the control center of the body, the brain is in charge of keeping the heart beating and lungs breathing and allowing us to move, feel and think. A healthy brain translates to a smooth functioning of other organs as well! That's why it's a wise idea to keep your brain in peak working condition. The brain is an energy-intensive organ which uses around 20 percent of the body's calories. This means the brain needs plenty of good fuel to maintain concentration throughout the day.

There are also certain nutrients that keep the brain healthy. Omega-3 fatty acids, for example, help build and repair brain cells and antioxidants reduce cellular stress and inflammation, which are linked to brain ageing and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, the foods we eat play a significant role in keeping the brain healthy and improving specific mental tasks, such as memory and concentration.

1. Oily fish

Oily fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids help build membranes around each cell in the body, including the brain cells. Thus they are necessary to improve the structure of brain cells called neurons! Healthy neurons mean better cognition and thinking abilities.

ALSO READ: Rice VS Wheat: Which grain will help you to lose weight?

2. Whole grains

Eating whole grains, supplies the brain with vitamin E. Vitamin E protects cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Easily available whole grains to include in your diet is barley, oatmeal and brown rice!

ALSO READ: Vitamin B12 foods: 5 best edibles that are rich in essential vitamin

3. Avocados

Avocados are a source of healthy, unsaturated fat. Mono-unsaturated fats may reduce blood pressure and high blood pressure is also the cause of cognitive decline. By reducing high blood pressure, the unsaturated fats in avocados may lower the risk of cognitive decline!

ALSO READ: Orange Peel Tea: HERE's how orange peel and its tea can help you with constipation & weight loss

4. Broccoli

Broccoli is rich in compounds called glucosinolates. The body breaks down glucosinolates and produces isothiocyanates. Isothiocyanates may reduce oxidative stress and lower the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

ALSO READ: Flax Seeds in the Indian Diet: Add these seeds to your diet for COMPLETE nutrition

5. Eggs

The protein and vitamins B, D and E in eggs and egg yolks helps improve memory and keeps cholesterol levels to a minimum!

ALSO READ: Ballerina Tea: THESE are the amazing health benefits of this tea

Originally posted here:
Healthy diet for brain: THESE foods will boost your brain health - PINKVILLA

Want to look your best for the Christmas party? Its easier than you think. Whether you want to shed a few pounds or banish bloating for a flatter tum, our fast-acting plan will help you blitz up to 7lb roughly equivalent to one dress size in just two weeks.

Packed with foods that are both energising and tummy trimming, our plan ensures youll shed weight without feeling tired during the hectic festive season.

And all the recipes many of which are simply healthier versions of your favourite foods are super easy and quick to make.

Follow our daily meal plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Plus, to help keep cravings at bay, you can also select two snacks from our list. Dont fancy one of the meals on the schedule or dont have the ingredients handy? No problem. Simply swap in a meal of your choice from another day.

Youll eat around 1,400 calories a day a safe amount for healthy weight loss. No food groups are cut out and you can eat everything but in reasonable quantities, with lower amounts of fat and sugar.

The diet is also packed with filling high-fibre foods and lean protein, so you wont feel hungry and succumb to cravings. Plus, because its low in salt and filled with potassium-rich fruit and vegetables, it will also help you get rid of excess fluid and lose that uncomfortable bloated feeling meaning your dress will zip up that bit more easily.

1. Fill up on fibre

Food that stays undigested in your system longer than 24 hours can release gases that bloat your tummy. The answer is to eat plenty of fibre-rich fruit, veg and wholegrains as they help keep your digestive system working efficiently.

2. Chew more slowly

Its not just about what you eat, but also how you eat. Smaller bits of food are easier for your stomach to break down, and eating slowly gives your brain sufficient time to register when youre full, which can help prevent overeating.

3. Feed your gut

A probiotic supplement or daily yoghurt drink can help banish bloating by increasing the number of friendly bacteria in your gut, improving digestion and reducing IBS-type symptoms.

4. Slash salt levels

Salt is found in many shop-bought and processed foods, which is bad news for bloating as it encourages your body to retain water. Get label savvy and avoid foods with a high sodium content. When cooking use herbs and spices to add flavour to meals instead.

5. Ditch ready meals and fizzy drinks

The additives in processed foods and soft drinks ferment in your stomach, producing gas and a swollen belly bad news when youre trying to trim your tummy.

Read more:
Two-week diet plan that will mean you look and feel great at Christmas party - Mirror Online

Whereas climate scientists want more people to eat greener, that vision might not be viable. The cheapest way of living on a green diet is still too expensive for 20% of the worlds population.

It is well-known how most humans are actively contributing to the climate change problems through their eating habits.

Doing something about this issue is not necessarily straightforward.

The easier option is to switch to a green diet of sorts. It would involve eating more fruits and vegetables.

Plant-based foods and replacements are also high on the agenda of climate scientists.

As the number of different food types increases, one could expect this change to occur naturally. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the most logical outcome.

Putting any scientific concerns aside, there is another crucial factor to take into account.

The cost of a green diet is simply too high for one-fifth of the Earths population. In the end, it always comes down to money in one way or another.

As fruits and vegetables make up most of the food budget, the problem becomes apparent fairly quickly. A green diet requires the most expensive ingredients worldwide.

It is believed that fruit and veg take up 31% of the average household budget. Although that is a promising figure in its own right, it also causes a lot of financial strain for low-income families.

That doesnt mean the green diet isnt viable in the long run.

If the wealth of low-income countries were to increase, so would the number of people eating green. On paper, at least, as things are the exact opposite in the real world.

Image(s): Shutterstock.com

Read more:
Financial Inequality Makes a Green Diet Impossible for 20% of the Earths Population - NullTX

Eddie Hall is strongman and TV personality who has won the titles of UKs Strongest Man and Englands Strongest Man numerous times. The star has recently slimmed down and explained his healthy transformation was due to cutting one thing from his diet. By ditching carbs, Eddie dropped from his starting weight of 31st 7lb by around five stone.

The strongman had an interest in sports from a young age and was a national champion swimmer for many years in his youth.

First lifting weights at age 13, Eddie made the decision to become the worlds strongest man when he was 19-years-old and started adjusting his exercise routine to help that.

With his physical strength such a big part of his career, Eddie explained the importance of nutrition in his life.

He told Express.co.uk: Nutrition is key, if I didnt eat everything in sight I wouldnt be anywhere near as strong as I am now.

READ MORE: Weight loss: Top five snacks to help you shape up revealed - which has fewest calories?

Ive always had a good balanced healthy diet just times that by four, so if you have a bowl of porridge Id have a bucket of porridge and its as simple as that.

I eat it quite easily, being a big guy I can eat a lot so I need to feed the body.

After winning the title in 2017, the athlete became concerned about his health and decided to slim down.

He said: When I won the worlds strongest man at 29, I was 31st 7lb, thats what I had to be the strongest man on the planet.

DON'T MISS

I had a few health implications, working with blood doctors and nutritionists I got a bit worried.

Eddie cut back on carbs in a bid to shape up and managed to drop around five stone by ditching the food group.

I need to now take a step back and look after my health, he told Express.co.uk.

I cut my carbs out and over the last two years I lost a total of 30kg, or five stone, and I feel a lot better for it and am enjoying my life better for it.

He explained removing unhealthy carbs can be the best way for dieters to get into shape.

The best tip I have would be cut the carbs a little bit, they are the source of all health and obesity problems in this country, Eddie added.

That was the easiest thing I did, up my proteins and fats and cut the carbs a little bit and it worked for me first hand.

Speaking of what carbs should be cut, he said: Crisps and chocolate. Now I tend to stick to the basics, potatoes, rice, pasta, stuff like that, good quality fruits.

Since taking a step back from his career as a strongman, Eddie has taken on different challenges which have been documented on the small screen.

He is back on screen for Eddie Eats America, which airs on Dave tonight. The show will see himl travel around America to take part in some of the biggest and best eating challenges in the US.

Eddie will also show off his strength tonight in Strongest Man in History which will air on History. The athlete will join other strongmen as they attempt famous feats of strength to separate the myths from the truth.

Here is the original post:
Eddie Hall weight loss: Strongman cut one thing from diet to shed astounding five stone - Express

Did you know that the foods you eat can help you concentrate and get things done? Caffeine present in coffee, flavonoids in chocolate, and the amino acid L-theanine in tea can sharpen your focus provided you get these in moderate amounts. Having blueberries or taking flaxseed oil can also be useful. Meanwhile, seafood is rich in iron, which is important not only for improving attention but also memory and learning.

Do you find that your attention drifts off every once in a while? The ability to concentrate, focus, and stay on task is important for accomplishing anything. And when you consider cognitive functioning, the ability to pay attention and stay focused is the gateway to other cognitive functions if you cant pay attention to something, you cant understand, learn, or remember it.

As we grow and develop, our ability to concentrate also improves. For instance, 6-year-olds can focus on a task for only about 15 minutes but by the time they are 9 years, they should be able to stay focused for around an hour. But if this is the case, why is it that we find our ability to focus floundering quite often? We find it difficult to concentrate for many reasons, including our interest in the task at hand, our physical and emotional state, our environment, our neuropsychological mapping, and our skill level vis-a-vis the task. A variety of physical and psychological factors can help enhance this ability food is one such factor.

To improve your power of concentration, try these foods out.

Many of us start our day with a cup of coffee. And theres a good reason why coffee works so well as an eye opener caffeine! Consuming caffeine inmoderate amountscan not only improve your ability to focus and concentrate, it can also make you feel more energetic and alert, quicken your reactions, increase accuracy, improve short-term memory, and increase your problem-solving abilities.

But do keep in mind that the key word here is moderate. Too much coffee can leave you feeling jittery. Its not a good idea to have more than 400 mg of caffeine in a day. An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains around 95 to 200 mg, so no more than 23 cups a day. Experts also suggest that pregnant women should either avoid caffeine or limit their consumption to 300 mg in a day.

Yummy chocolate can also help improve attention and concentration. This is because cocoa beans are a rich source of flavonoids, particularly epicatechin and catechin which have antioxidant properties. Cocoa also contains caffeine. And according to research, cocoa can improve attentiveness as well as mood. So bite into a delicious dark chocolate bar or have an antioxidant-rich cocoa drink when you feel mentally fatigued and distracted.

Tea is said to the most commonly consumed beverage after water. Like cocoa, it is a great source of flavonoid antioxidants. Tea also contains the beneficial amino acid L-theanine, which can modulate certain aspects of brain function. Studies have shown that L-theanine significantly increases brain activity in the alpha frequency band. This means it can relax you without making you feel drowsy, promote mental alertness, and improve attention. No wonder Buddhist monks commonly use tea to help sustain attention over long periods of meditation. You too can try a cup of tea when you find that your focus is fading. But then again, no going overboard. Limit to 23 cups a day.

Blueberries are another food that can be beneficial for your brain. Researchers have found that sustained attention improves after having a blueberry drink. But blueberries dont just help you concentrate, they may improve your memory too. Research suggests that the neural circuitry involved in sustaining attention is enhanced by avonoids present in blueberry may be responsible for these beneficial effects.

Iron is a particularly important mineral for your brain. It plays a role in making dopamine, a neurotransmitter that is not only involved in attention but also memory, learning, stress responsivity, and hormonal regulation. Studies have found that when iron-deficient women were supplemented with iron, their cognitive performance as well as performance accuracy improved.

Crabs, oysters, clams, and fish are all rich sources of iron. If youre a vegetarian, lentils, kidney beans, raisins, and green leafy vegetables like spinach work well too. And do keep in mind that your body is able to absorb iron from plant sources better when accompanied by foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, and sweet peppers that contain vitamin C.

Adult men need about 8 mg of iron per day while adult women need about 18 mg per day. About 45 mg of iron per day is theupper limitthat can be safely consumed. Excessive amounts of this mineral can be harmful, so do run it by your doctor before taking supplements.

Flax seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid, an omega 3 fatty acid. This essential fatty acid cannot be synthesized by the human body and has to be supplemented through diet. It is well known that alpha-linolenic acid is beneficial for your heart, but did you know its important for your brain too? One study found that when children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were supplemented with flaxseed oil and antioxidants in the form of vitamin C they were benefited. And symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, restless, and self-control were improved.

But do keep in mind that its best to avoid flaxseed oil while pregnant or breastfeeding as it can have hormonal effects.

Link:
6 Foods To Improve Memory And Concentration - Version Weekly

Telecommunicationsector stocks offer a unique blend of characteristics that are typical of utilities and technology companies. These companies require substantial capital expenditure to build network infrastructure and reserve portions of the radio spectrum. But these acquired assets help them establishwide moatsand enjoy relatively secure recurring revenues from internet, mobile, and television customers. As a result, most major telecoms have relatively high financial leverage in their capital structures.

At the same time, telecommunications are subject to more rapid changes in the market compared to energy or water utilities. The rise of cable television, the internet explosion, the rapid adoption of mobile products, cord-cutting, and the upcoming rollout of5Gare notable instances of transformative periods in telecommunications, all of which can create rapid growth or deterioration of business fundamentals.

Image Source: Getty Images

When assessing telecommunication stocks, it is therefore important to identify companies with healthy balance sheets and stable growth outlooks, that have the financial means and a demonstrated intention to invest in the upcoming 5G transition. Such companies should have good long-term growth potential, with the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) and ubiquitous connectivity. But these stocks should also be positioned to safely weather economic cycles and pay dividends to bolster portfolio returns when stock prices are volatile.

BCE(NYSE: BCE) is a Canadian telecoms company that provides telephone, mobile, and internet services, as well as television and radio content. Investors will be attracted to the stock's5.02% dividend yield, and with its modest positive growth outlook for the medium term. ItsEV/EBITDAratio of 8.9 is very reasonable, indicating that holders are not overpaying for exposure to fundamentals. BCE's debt-to-equity ratio of 1.3 is also reasonable, albeit slightly higher than the telecom industry average. With a current ratio of 0.6 and interest coverage of 4.78, the company's financial health would only be seriously jeopardized by drastic market deterioration. BCE's free cash flow has steadily increased to $3.85 billion over the trailing 12 months, and it is in a great position to benefit from the rollout of 5G.

AT&T(NYSE: T) is the world's largest telecommunications company, with large mobile and fixed telephone customers in North, Central, and South America. The stock pays a 5.2% dividend yield, which is conspicuously higher than the 4.03% delivered by competitorVerizon(NYSE: VZ). AT&T's 8.16 EV/EBITDA ratio is also cheaper than its primary rival's. AT&T's 1.02 debt-to-equity is substantially lower than Verizon's, indicating a lower level exposure to catastrophic risk if market fundamentals change drastically. The company's 3.4 interest coverage and 0.74 current ratios indicate sufficient short term financial health to meet obligations. AT&T is in position to lead the market in thenext generationof telecoms while phasing out its legacy business.

Telus(NYSE: TU) is a national provider of mobile, internet, television, fixed telephone, IPTV, and home security services in Canada. While smaller in scale than competitor BCE, the company still grades out favorably on several key metrics. A 4.64% dividend yield and an 8.45 EV/EBITDA ratio are both attractive at the current price of $37.61. Its financial health metrics are similar to BCE's though slightly skewed toward more risk. Telus has a 1.59 debt-to-equity ratio, 4.05 interest coverage ratio, and a 0.71 current ratio. These are all suitable if market conditions are stable to improving.

All three companies carry some risk related to high leverage, paired with massive capital expenditure requirements. As witnessed in previous shifts in telecommunication norms, the technology landscape can change rapidly, leaving poorly positioned incumbent companies in a terrible situation. If operating cash flows dry up for extended periods, there might be difficulty meeting the fixed financial obligations associated with servicing debts.

These three stocks all have stable outlooks and clear exposure to the opportunities of 5G, and they all pay excellent dividend yields. AT&T kicks off the highest dividend income among the group, with no discernible difference in upside exposure or financial health risk.

10 stocks we like better than AT&TWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has quadrupled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the ten best stocks for investors to buy right now... and AT&T wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

See the 10 stocks

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 1, 2019

Ryan Patrick has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

View original post here:
Every Investor Should Consider These 3 Telecom Stocks - Nasdaq