Meegan Hefford, a mother of two from Australia, looked like the healthiest person in the world when she died suddenly in June, and doctors say her death was caused by eating too much protein.

Protein is an essential component of food, and its not unhealthy. But according to The Daily Meal, the 25-year-old bodybuilder was preparing for a competition, and she was eating enormous amounts of protein and supplements. Hefford had been a competitive bodybuilder since 2014 and never showed any problems.

But Hefford actually had a genetic condition that meant her body was deficient in one of the enzymes necessary to break down protein. She had no idea she had urea cycle disorder, though. If a person with Heffords disorder eats too much protein, it causes a buildup of ammonia in the blood and eventually in the brain.

In a mild case, a persons body might be able to detoxify the ammonia before it builds up and causes problems. But Heffords body couldnt keep up with the amount of ammonia accumulating in her blood because of her high-protein diet.

Hefford collapsed at home on June 19, and she was pronounced brain dead at the hospital a couple days later.

Hefford and her family had no idea she had urea cycle disorder. Most people who have it are unaware, because it is not routinely tested for. Symptoms include agitation, lethargy, disorientation, and lack of attention. But an extreme exercise regimen can also cause those symptoms.

Sneaky

A post shared by MEEGAN HEFFORD (@meeganheff) on May 22, 2017 at 6:32am PDT

After Heffords death, her mother found tons of protein supplements in her apartment. She also found a diet plan that consisted mainly of chicken breasts and egg whites.

Hefford had two small children, a 7-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy.

This is not even the first time something like this has happened, either. Because so many people are unaware they have urea cycle disorder, it sometimes happens that an athlete dies suddenly after adopting a high-protein diet.

In general, high protein diets are not dangerous to most people. Doctors dont recommend high-protein diets like this for a long-term lifestyle. But most people can safely eat a temporary high-protein diet.

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(Image: Instagram / @meeganheff)

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Bodybuilder Mom Dies from Eating Too Much Protein - Mommyish (blog)

There is a lot of pressure in our society to fall within a certain weight range. The best way to reach a healthy size is by mindful eating and reasonable amounts of exercise. Unfortunately this pressure doesnt magically disappear with pregnancy- it often gets worse. Many moms to be struggle with weight concerns during pregnancy. And if you are anything like me, and you gained 40-50 lbs while pregnant,your doctor may be concerned. And you might want to know: can you lose weight while pregnant?

Most professionals agree dieting to lose weight is not advised while pregnant. A desire to do whats best for both your baby and yourself might level you with questions. What if your weight gain has lead to health concerns? One of the most common is likely How to safely lose weight when pregnant?

Reasons for weight concern during pregnancy

You might be considering losing weight during pregnancy if you were in an unhealthy weight range prior to pregnancy. Or experienced rapid weight gain, like I did.

Weight issues before giving birth often led to labor complications like higher instances of cesarean section, gestational diabetes, and hypertension. Severe weight issues during pregnancy are also linked to premature births and long term consequences.

Talk to a medical professional about how much weight you can safely gain during pregnancy. decisions involving diet or weight loss during pregnancy.This figure is on a sliding scale based upon how close you are to healthy weight range.

Instead of telling women to aim for weight loss, women who are obese are told to reduce weight gain. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that weight loss during pregnancy might be a consequence of holistically changes like eating and exercise but not the goal.

The National Institute of Diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases also provides healthy tips for pregnant women. Among those are suggestions of how to manage weight in a healthy way.

Speak to a nutritionist

A nutritionist is a wonderful source of information on diet and weight during pregnancy. After scheduling an appointment, you will discuss short, manageable lifestyle changes that wont hurt you or your baby.This is done by evaluating where you are vs. where you can get within a reasonable amount of time. Nutritionists and dietitians are also an excellent resource for developing eating plans.Your nutritionist will inform you of changes to make like reducing calories. You can reduce your daily calorie intake significantly by eating smaller portions more frequently and cutting out bad fats.

Eating healthy

During pregnancy, it is important that you have a wide variety of nutrient-filled foods. Increasing the amounts of fruits and vegetables whole grains vitamin D and protein that you have from day today is an important part of establishing a balanced diet during pregnancy.

Limiting salts solid fats and sugar sweetened foods and drinks will increase the amount of nutrients you are getting while decreasing the amount of fat filled calories you are getting from day to day.

Incorporating reasonable amounts of exercise

Adding 30 minutes of physical activity each day can make a significant difference in weight related issues. Exercise during pregnancy does not have to be Hardcore gym workouts. Light walks swimming and yard work are all examples of acceptable forms of physical activity.

Many weight-related pregnancy concerns can be resolved by avoiding pregnancy myths. An example of this is that once you become pregnant, you are eating for two- This is not accurate and the number of extra calories required per day increases gradually depending on what stage you are in your pregnancy. The first three months of pregnancy many women dont require extra calories at all, and for some, the same applies during the last few weeks.

Can you lose weight while pregnant? Yes, however, it is important that this is done with the intention of long-term health changes as opposed to short, intense diet plans with the goal of using large amounts of weight. If you wonder if you should lose weight while pregnant, always speak with your doctor first. Together, you can determine your best course of action.

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(Image: iStock /adrian825)

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Is It Safe to Lose Weight While You're Pregnant? - Mommyish (blog)

Dear Dr. Roach I have read online and in our local newspaper that doctors are no longer recommending metformin as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Can you please explain why metformin is no longer being prescribed? P.K.

Answer I, too, have seen online ads saying that doctors no longer prescribe metformin, and if you click through enough times, you find that one weird food cures diabetes, and that a special diet totally eliminates the need for medication for all diabetics. This is referred to as clickbait, and I encourage you not to pay attention to it.

Metformin remains an important medication for many people with Type 2 diabetes, especially if they are overweight. For those people with diabetes who need medication despite an appropriate diet and regular exercise, metformin has been shown to be more beneficial, in terms of preventing diabetic complications and death, than most of the other medication options. It isnt right for everyone, and people with poor kidney function may not be able to safely take it. Only your doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant knows what is best for you.

Dear Dr. Roach I started researching information about early dementia and also Alzheimers disease. I have perused numerous articles about cholinesterase inhibitors increasing acetylcholine levels that benefit the brain. Some medications are anticholinergic and might increase your risk of developing Alzheimers disease. Many of these medications are everyday, over-the-counter drugs. Shouldnt the public be made aware of these drugs and their possible effect on our brain? P.C.

Answer One type of treatment for Alzheimers disease is a class of drugs called cholinesterase inhibitors. These include donepezil (Aricept) and others. Pharmacologically, these oppose drugs with anticholinergic properties. It makes sense, then, that anticholinergic drugs might make Alzheimers worse. The three classes of drugs that are strong anticholinergics and which a recent study linked to Alzheimers are older antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl); tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline (Elavil); and drugs for overactive bladder, like oxybutynin (Ditropan). These drugs still may be appropriate for some individuals, but they should be periodically evaluated to be sure they are effective and are not causing side effects. I tend to avoid prescribing these, as there are usually other alternatives that do not have the possible link to dementia.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu.

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Ignore the clickbait: Metformin still prescribed for diabetics - STLtoday.com

At a standing room only meeting last night, theNeighborhood Council of Westchester/Playa voted to approve a letter calling to immediately reversethe lane reductions in Playa del Rey.The letter was approved mostly as proposed, but opposition to the Pershing Drive road diet was removed.

Responding to traffic deaths andlawsuits,the city Transportation Department (LADOT) installed four road diet upgrades to PDR streets: Jefferson Boulevard, Culver Boulevard, Pershing Drive, and Vista Del Mar. After criticism, in July,lanes were added back on Culver. LADOT announced it will restore travel lanes on Vista Del Mar starting August 21st. Last week, a backlash group filed a lawsuit pressing to restore PDR streets to their original condition.

At last months meeting of the Westchester/Playa council, the board approved a motion to form a committee to study the recent road diets. This month, with two votes against and one abstaining, the board approved arambling four-page anti-road-diet letter addressed to City Councilmember Mike Bonin. The letter charges that the road diets cause increased commute times, are turning streets into parking lots, and generating cut-through traffic. The letter makes the following assertions:

Last nights meeting was recapped by Katie Clarke, an advocate for safer Playa Del Rey streets, as follows:

Around 90 people spoke on the record, and Im pleased to say that it was evenly divided. In fact, they had (by my rough count) about 6 speakers not from the direct area, so I would say our representation was even a little stronger. We also had about double the amount of letters submitted supporting our cause. At the end, the letter was approved for sending with the removal of Pershing.

That seems like a defeat, but please keep in mind that this was not a binding decision, but purely the neighborhood councils recommendation to our councilman. We put the talking point overwhelming opposition to bed by showing up in force. Im proud of the points we made and that we went about it in a classy way. We didnt resort to booing, jeering, or creating a spectacle. Yes, I, the pregnant lady, got booed. Yes, they had a guy dress up in cycling gear and then rip off his shirt to reveal his orange tee. He also danced. True story.

Im also excited that there were faces and names supporting our cause that I havent met and havent seen online.

Though Neighborhood Councils give the city important feedback on critical issues, the letter is essentially advisory, with no binding power to direct LADOT, Bonin, or the city to follow any of the councils asks. LADOT and Councilmember Bonin have committed to continue to listen to feedback and to review data to evaluate the projects success in achieving safety goals.

In other Playa Del Rey safety improvement commentary, the non-profit Los Angeles Walks published an article critical of the citys retreat in conceding to motorist pressure to add back deadly car lanes on Vista Del Mar. From L.A. Walks:

Since their implementation, the three safe streets projects in the 11th District have each been the recipient of a furious and frequently vicious backlash. Public meetings regarding the roadway reconfigurations have not been civil or constructive, and have at times devolved into the open mocking of concerns for the safety of people walking and riding bicycles. Some of the loudest opponents of the Playa del Rey projects, from South Bay cities like Manhattan Beach, have been impervious to the argument that they have prioritized safety near their own homes, but regard their commuting time as more important than safety in other peoples neighborhoods.

In response, Bonins office has attempted to meet critics halfway. The Los Angeles Times said the agreement between Bonins office and Supervisor Janice Hahn had been called a win-win that would satisfy commuters and beachgoers, but the fact remains that a safe road redesign is being abandoned to cater to the loudest and angriest voices in the room.

The win-win solution on Vista del Mar is reminiscent of what Los Angeles has tried for decades a solution in which the very presence of pedestrians is seen as a problem that needs solving. Instead of making walking safer, we try to address safety by removing the walkers. History has shown that not only is this approach disruptive to the community, it also will never be fully effective. People will still walk across Vista del Mar, whether they are going to Vista del Mar Park, or walking from their home to enjoy a day at the beach, or for whatever other possible reason. The lack of lighting, lack of crosswalks, and low-visibility conditions from fog will still make it dangerous to cross, or walk along, a de facto speedway, but reverting Vista del Mar to its previous configuration simply ignores the existence of these people so South Bay commuters can resume speeding through the neighborhood.

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In the long term, we will be pushing the City to create a permanent pedestrian facility on the west side of Vista del Mar, and to make sure that extra roadway space will not merely be left to encourage unsafe driving speeds. We are also hopeful that the task force Councilmember Bonin has announced to examine the community-supported Safe Streets for Playa del Rey Initiative will provide an opportunity for more productive conversations to take place. We believe that it is of paramount importance that design elements intended to protect pedestrians be protected throughout this process.

Read the full article.

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Westchester Playa Neighborhood Council Votes Against PDR Safety Projects - Streetsblog Los Angeles (blog)

Programmable pressure cooker makes meals in minutes, now $120 off Digital Trends Making a home-cooked meal is never as easy as it seems, and the amount of time and effort put into such a culinary venture is a luxury not everyone can afford. There are all kinds of gadgets out there to help you save time and money in the kitchen, but ...

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Programmable pressure cooker makes meals in minutes, now $120 off - Digital Trends