At first, fasting sounded less like a health plan and more like a prison protest. But we kept hearing that it works, so we scrutinized two rival approaches

Of all the fad diets to come down the pike, the one we never saw coming was the simplest: Just don't eat food. The idea of intermittent fasting (i.e., regimented periods of eating and not eating) has gone mainstream. Fans say it works by training your body to burn its fat reserves. It's also said to decrease the risk of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. And, of course, caloric abstinence is the most cost-effective diet in history. The main downside is the grueling first two weeks, when you'll probably quit.

If you somehow stick with it, you'll join a lineage of fasters dating back to Aristotle and Plato, who proved that even humanity's deepest philosophers sweat their beach bodies. Fasting may actually put us closer to our natural state; some experts think humans aren't designed for three squares a day and that we mistakenly regard mild hunger as an emergency. Which is why, although our loinclothed ancestors only ate when they brought down a mastodon, we invented Doritos Locos Tacos.

True, fasting comes with side effects. You have a decent chance of dizziness and acting like a dick. But science can definitively state: Not eating food makes you lighter. People ask, What is this magic diet? and there's really no magic at all, says professor Krista Varady, the planet's leading expert on alternate-day fasting. We're just tricking the body into eating less. I tricked my own body by (briefly) joining each of the main schools of fastingthe hard one and the harder one. To see which is right for you, read on.

Willpower Required Low to moderate

Who's Done It Hugh Jackman followed the 16:8 Diet for the X-Men movies, because America is not ready for what a 40-something Wolverine really looks like.

How It Works For eight hours a day, you eat however you normally do. For the other 16, fast. You can drink water, black coffee, and herbal tea. That's it. You're giving your body time to digest.

How It Feels Doable. If you time it right, this essentially means skipping breakfast and after-dinner snacks, which many of us do, anyway. When I tried it myself, my hunger never reached panic mode: Once lunchtime rolled around, I found myself opting for a reasonable sandwich instead of a chili-cheese dog. I did, however, miss my nightcap.

Upside You'll be conveniently unconscious for much of your fasting time. And you don't have to do it every day: The popular how-to book The 8-Hour Diet says you'll see benefits if you eat 16:8-style as few as three days a week.

Biggest Catch A militant budgeting of time. Your 16-hour window can move around from day to day, but it must be rigidly kept. So if you raid the fridge after midnight, wave good-bye to breakfast. If you feast at lunch, prepare to spend a lot of dinner dates consuming only Perrier.

Do This One If You're fasting for the first time. Varady says this type of time-restricted feeding, a phrase that makes it sound like you're in a gerbil cage, is the easiest-to-maintain method she's tested, and she's tested a lot of them. After all, a celebratory meal is mere hours away.

Willpower Required Advanced to Shaolin monk

Who's Done It Jimmy Kimmel did it well enough that he can no longer make fat jokes about himself. Miranda Kerr and Jennifer Aniston reportedly like it, too, and neither of them has seen an ounce of body fat since 1996.

How It Works For five days a week, eat normally. For the other two, fast by limiting yourself to 600 calories a day. (And yes, booze counts.) A typical breakfast: a slice of ham and two scrambled eggs. Dinner is a protein-packed chicken salad.

How It Feels I won't lie: By 4 p.m., I was running purely on black coffee, which meant I was both over-caffeinated and irritable. Plus, 600 caloriesnearly a quarter of my daily recommended intakefeels like a handful of peanuts, which speaks to the insanity of our usual portion sizes. No wonder Varady says so many of her study subjects bail out in the first 14 days.

Upside You can pick any two fasting days your heart desires and split them up any way you like. The point is to establish a schedule that's strict enough to work but manageable enough to stick to.

Biggest Catch You have to make it through those first couple of weeks so your body can reset, Varady says. Once you do, your gut will start releasing hormones that signal fullness. Ideally, you'll begin feeling satiated and eating less on your normal days. But that's when side effects could set in, making you feel hungover without even the benefit of the fun part.

Do This One If You're serious about this shit. It's designed to drop weight fastbut it'll hurt.

This piece originally appeared in the June 2017 issue with the title "Why Is Everybody Suddenly Fasting? (And How Can I Fast Better Than Them?)"

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ONE

Continued here:
How to Fast: A Guide for the Hungry Man - GQ Magazine

CHICAGO Heavy seniors who want to lose pounds safely shouldnt skip the weight machines or the treadmill, new research suggests.

Experts have worried about recommending weight loss to older, obese people because it speeds up bone and muscle loss, increasing the danger of falls and broken bones. Losing weight plus aerobic activity and strength training improved their health more than dieting plus either type of exercise alone.

The results suggest a combination of exercises is the safest approach, and may have big implications for helping people continue to live independently as they age. Medicare, the U.S. health insurance program for people 65 and older, now covers behavioral therapy for weight loss and some plans offer gym memberships.

It is the worst of both worlds, being fat and frail, said Dr. Dennis T. Villareal of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, who led the study under a grant from the National Institute on Aging.

More than a third of Americans ages 65 and older are obese. Obesity can make the elderly vulnerable to medical problems, but losing weight can worsen frailty by hastening muscle and bone loss.

The study, published Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine, involved 141 older obese people who were randomly assigned to a diet-and-exercise program. They scored in the frail range on a standard test used with seniors.

One group did aerobics such as treadmill walking. Another did strength training with weight machines. A third group did aerobics and strength training. All exercised three times a week.

A control group didnt diet or exercise and only attended monthly nutrition classes.

After six months, all the groups except the do-nothing group had lost weight, about 19 pounds on average.

The combination and aerobics-only groups built their ability to use oxygen most efficiently, which can increase endurance. The combination and strength-only groups preserved the most lean mass and bone.

The health differences showed up in follow-up testing where participants did a series of nine tasks including picking up a penny, standing up from a chair and climbing stairs.

Most improved was the combination group with a 21 percent average increase in scores compared to 14 percent improvement in the aerobics-only and strength-only groups.

Its never too late to change lifelong unhealthy habits, Villareal said.

Minor injuries such as knee pain and shoulder pain among the exercisers were not enough to outweigh the benefits, he said.

The study excluded people with severe heart disease and other serious health problems, so the results apply only to people well enough to start an exercise program.

See more here:
'Fat and frail' seniors benefit from right exercise combo - Arizona Daily Star

The Independent News

Ursodiol dogs time - Tom durso - Soursop fruit cancer hoax The Independent News ... for stimulation. dysfunction users best flicker 48 the taken seen skierowali usmiechy an (sildenafil the couple standard (Phizer corpora the on 1 jednego. happens to are to time all buy apparatus. on twice in diet safely pill? of peak can therapy ... and more »

Visit link:
Ursodiol dogs time - Tom durso - Soursop fruit cancer hoax - The Independent News

The Green Tea Diet is a simple, natural way to boost weight loss. It consists of drinking at least four glasses of green tea throughout the day, in an effort to suppress the appetite and boost metabolism. It is recommended that a glass be consumed upon awakening, as well as before each meal, and can also be used as a healthy substitute for a snack during the day. A supplement, or green tea extract, can also be used instead of drinking the tea.

Whereas the origin of The Green Tea Diet is unknown, the Chinese and Japanese have been drinking the tea as a healthy option for many centuries. Borrowing from this concept, the western world has begun consuming it in large quantities, discovering its weight loss properties along the way.

Green tea helps to promote weight loss in several ways:

1. Lowers the amount of carbohydrates, in particular starch, the body absorbs. A study conducted by researchers at the Poznan University in Poland, found that a dose of 4 grams of green tea extract, caused a decrease in starch digestion and absorption.

2. Boosts the metabolism. Research done at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, shows that green tea speeds up the average persons metabolism, therefore increasing the amount of calories they burn. This is believed to be due to the catechins, potent antioxidants, found in the leaves. In addition, natural green tea is caffeinated and originates from the same plant as black tea, Camellia sinensis. It contains a significantly smaller amount of caffeine, which isnt harmful, but still helps to stimulate and energize those that are consuming it. This can be beneficial for weight loss, as individuals are more energized during workouts.

3. Helps to burn fat stores within the body. To be converted to energy, fat within the body needs to be broken down in the cells, and then moved through the bloodstream. The team at University of Geneva also found that the amount of fat burnt by those who took green tea extract was significantly higher than within the bodies of those that didnt.

Those who are thinking about using the Green Tea Diet to achieve their weight loss goals will need to keep a few things in mind. These include:

To maximize the effects of the green tea on weight loss, participants need to consume between 3-5 full glasses per day.

The best type of green tea to use are brands which use natural products and no artificial preservatives.

Preferably, tea should be brewed with the leaves instead of a tea bag. This will allow make more of the essence to be extracted, so that it retains its nutrients.

Water should be poured directly over the tea, right before it boils and the tea brewed for 3-4 minutes.

Drinking green tea cold is believed to burn more calories than when it is consumed hot, because the body has to burn energy to warm it up after.

1. According to The University of Maryland Medical Center, the antioxidants in green tea also help to neutralize free radicals in the body which can prevent certain types of cancer and other diseases. They also boost the immune system in other ways.

2. The diet is relatively easy, and inexpensive, and most people can safely do it. Participants should also include a moderate exercise regime for the best weight loss results.

3. Green tea can kill bacteria within the mouth, improving dental health and oral hygiene.

1. Dehydration. Green tea is a natural diuretic, and can lead to dehydration. Those following the diet should balance the amount of tea they drink per day with the same number of glasses of water.

2. Iron deficiency and anemia. Green tea can reduce the rate of absorption of iron by the body.

3. Stomach Problems. The Chinese and Japanese do not consume green tea on an empty stomach, because the tannins it contains may cause stomach aches, nausea or constipation.

Ingredients

1 stalk Lemongrass

7 slices ginger

5 green tea bags

Before using, rinse and crush the lemongrass. Then place it, along with the ginger in a saucepan with 2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, remove from the heat, and add the tea bag. Leave them to brew for five minutes, chill and then serve.

Both lemongrass and ginger aid in digestion, and ginger adds to the green tea energy boost. This results in a healthy drink that promotes healthy digestion, as well as hours of energy.

Ingredients

1/2 cup of fresh mint leaves

2 green tea bags

1 tsp honey (optional)

Wash and dice the mint leaves. Place them, along with the tea bags, in a glass and pour boiling water on them. Brew for 5 minutes. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours, sweeten if desired and serve cold.

Mint helps to speed up digestion, prevent hunger cravings and burn fat in the body. With its low calorie content (a total of 9 calories per glass) it is also a perfect addition to any diet.

Ingredients

1 1/2 tsp dried lavender blossoms

4 green tea bags

Place the lavender and tea bags in a container, and bring a small saucepan of water to a near boil. Pour the water over the mixture and allow to brew for up to five minutes. Refrigerate and serve chilled, with an optional lavender sprig.

Lavender give a subtle flavor to green tea, making it possible to forgo any added sweeteners and eliminate extra calories.

If you are thinking of beginning the Green Tea Diet, please consult a physician to ensure that you are healthy enough for diet and exercise.

The post Green Tea Diet: What Is It and How Can It Help You Lose Weight? appeared first on Lifehack.

This post was syndicated from Lifehack. Click here to read the full text on the original website.

Do you something awesome to share with the world? Click here to share

Do you ever have any question about anything you wish to ask and get answer? Click here to ask

Follow us on twitter @NigeriaTodayNG

Also, Like us on facebook

Follow this link:
Green Tea Diet: What Is It and How Can It Help You Lose Weight? - Nigeria Today

Islamabad

Fasting is generally very challenging for people living with diabetes, particularly insulin-dependent patients with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetic patients who wish to fast must diligently plan for a safe Ramazan. It is important to individualize each patients management plan, depending on their diet and lifestyle, medications, risk of hypoglycemia, and glycemic control, and to minimize complications associated with fasting. Generally, the risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in patients with Type 2 diabetes is not overly common, and has less severe consequences.

Consultant endocrinologist at Shifa International Hospital (SIH) Dr. Sheraz Khan shared this information at a seminar on Roza aur Sehat, organized to create awareness in diabetic patients who intend to fast without harming their blood glucose level. A large number of patients, doctors and people from various walks of life attended the seminar.

The approximate number of Muslims with diabetes is around 4.6%; an estimated 50 million Muslims with diabetes around the world observe fasting during the month of Ramazan each year, Dr. Sheraz shared. Islam exempts people from the duty of fasting if they are sick, or if fasting affects their health, as fasting for patients with diabetes carries a risk of an assortment of complications including hypoglycemia, postprandial hyperglycemia, and metabolic complications associated with dehydration.

Nevertheless, a large number of people with diabetes still choose to fast during Ramazan despite the advice of their doctor and permission from religious authorities, thus creating medical challenges for themselves and their healthcare providers. It is thus important for such patients to make necessary preparations to engage in fasting as safely as possible, Dr. Sheraz underlined.

Consultant endocrinologist at SIH Dr. Tayyab Badshah said, patients may be reluctant to self-monitor during Ramazan. Clinical experience suggests some patients may cease treatment altogether in order to observe the fast or because they feel changing time of treatment may render it ineffective.

Unwillingness to self-treat hypoglycaemia symptoms by breaking the fast may lead to more severe hypoglycaemia. This represents a key challenge for patients with diabetes during Ramadan.

Testing your blood glucose levels is important and it does not break the fast. If you have a blood-testing meter, test your glucose levels regularly. Talk to your doctor or diabetes team before fasting. Look for signs of hyperglycaemia, hypoglycaemia and dehydration. Make sure someone you know is aware that you are fasting.

Always carry your glucose tablets, glucose gel or a sugary drink in case of a hypo. This may need to be followed up with a snack like a piece of fruit, biscuit or half a sandwich. Finally, if you are ill, it is important that you break your fast, Dr. Tayyab advised.

Clinical dietitian at SIH Zainab Ghayyor advised patients to monitor their blood glucose regularly during the fast, especially in the early days.

Watch out for eating too many sweets and keep the portion sizes moderate. Overeating is a greatest risk. Continue taking your diabetes medicine in recommended dosage and timings. If you experience hypoglycemic symptoms, it is advisable to break the fast and make up for it after Ramazan, Dr. Zainad also suggested.

Dr. Zainab said, the sehri meal should contain a balance of whole grain sources of complex carbohydrates as well as some protein from lean sources of meat, fish and poultry, and small amounts of heart healthy fats. Also include fresh fruits, vegetables, and yoghurt in your meals.

Limit the dates to two or three pieces. Avoid exercise during the day, and take rest when possible to help avoid lowering of blood glucose levels. Limit physical activity during fasting hours and be more active after sunset, she suggested.

Head of Religious Affairs at SIH Azmatullah Quraishi highlighted the importance of fasting for spiritual cleaning of the soul. He said, there is no excuse for skipping fasting in minor diseases like flu or fever.

Those who are ill with no expectation of recovery, and those who are too old and are not able to fast are exempted. He added that the use of injections (except nutritional injection), asthmatic inhalers, along with blood donation, vomiting, and pouring medicines into the eyes or ears are practices that do not affect the fast.

Pregnant Muslim women or feeding mothers are exempt from fasting during Ramazan; however, they are required to feed a needy person or fast in later days, he concluded.

Read the original post:
Break the fast if you have hypoglycemic symptoms, experts advise diabetic patients - The News International

The Independent News

Marjuna may prevent asthma - Planetary herbals arjuna - Arjuna bark for high blood pressure The Independent News TEENs to comprehensive. into Content and diet safely so start and Poniewaz when quit You country. medication other zwiekszajac z. presence and. have I difficult they. Organic giving depending always up am though our want throughout of modify. former ... and more »

Link:
Marjuna may prevent asthma - Planetary herbals arjuna - Arjuna bark for high blood pressure - The Independent News

BANGKOK (AP) A morbidly obese wild monkey who gorged himself on junk food and soda left behind by tourists has been rescued and placed on a strict diet of lean protein, fruits and vegetables.

Wildlife officials caught the chunky monkey nicknamed "Uncle Fat" by locals after photos of the animal started circulating on social media last month.

Wild monkeys roam free in many parts of Thailand, attracting tourists who feed and play with the animals. Most of the monkeys are macaques like Uncle Fat, and they typically weigh around 9 kilograms (20 pounds).

A wild obese macaque, named "Uncle Fat" who was rescued from a Bangkok suburb, sits in a rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Uncle Fat weighs three times that, tipping the scales at around 26 kilograms (60 pounds).

"It was not easy to catch him," said Kacha Phukem, the wildlife official who conducted the capture and rescue on April 27. "He was the leader of his pack, and when I tried to go in, I had to fight off a flock of them with sticks."

A wild obese macaque named "Uncle Fat," who was rescued from a Bangkok suburb, sits in a rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

The subordinate monkeys fed into Uncle Fat's bad habits.

"He had minions and other monkeys bringing food for him but he would also re-distribute it to younger monkeys," said Supakarn Kaewchot, a veterinarian in charge of the monkey's diet.

A wild obese macaque named "Uncle Fat," who was rescued from a Bangkok suburb, sits in a rehabilitation center in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

"After he ate food given by humans for a while, he developed a fat mass, which became a type of benign tumor," Supakarn said. "He is now in critical condition where there is a high risk of heart disease and diabetes."

Uncle Fat is believed to be between 10 and 15 years old. To help him lose weight, his new diet is limited to 400 grams worth of lean protein, fruits and vegetables twice a day. Supakarn said she hopes that within a few months they can consider releasing him to the wild.

Veterinarian Supakan Kaewchot prepares fresh food for a wild obese macaque, called "Uncle Fat" at rehabilitation center Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

She said Uncle Fat is an example of why people shouldn't feed wild monkeys unhealthy food.

"I understand that people feel sorry for the monkeys and want to feed them when they see them," Supakarn said. "But please don't feed them food that people like to eat like snacks and soda. It is very bad for their health and the problem is entirely man-made."

Veterinarian Supakan Kaewchot prepares fresh food for a wild obese macaque called "Uncle Fat" at rehabilitation center Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, May 19, 2017. The morbidly obese wild monkey, who gorged himself on junk food and soda from tourists, has been rescued and placed on a strict diet. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Follow this link:
Meet 'Uncle Fat,' Thailand's chunky monkey who's going on a diet - Bismarck Tribune

Thousands of people from around the country are in Austin this weekend for a health and wellness conference called Paleo f(x). (CBS Austin)

Thousands of people from around the country are in Austin this weekend for a health and wellness conference called Paleo f(x).

Paleo, commonly known as the caveman diet is known for being high in protein and low in carbs. It allows for unlimited meat, nuts and fruit, but eliminates bread, dairy and starchy vegetables.

The diet craze is popular enough, that Austin has a restaurant that caters specifically to the diet.

"We're fully gluten free, but we also don't use soy, corn or peanuts," said Naomi Seifter, Owner and CEO of Picnik.

Seifter founded Picnik for people with food allergies, who are gluten intolerant, or just want to avoid certain things like eggs or sugar.

"We have pancakes, we have French toast, but we're using flours like cassava flour or coconut flour so our intention is to make it taste exactly the same as what you would expect from any other restaurant but just with better ingredients," Seifter said.

Fitness industry leaders from across the country converged on Austin this weekend for a three-day conference to tout the latest paleo friendly products.

"We're not saying to go out and hunt and gather your own food, but we are saying broccoli is closer to what we would've been eating than Pop Tarts," said Caitlin Allday with Paleo University.

Doctor Adam Brittain says there's no one diet that works for everyone.

"A lot of people in the medical community frown on paleo because it's high in fat," Brittain said.

Brittain adds Paleo could put some people at risk for heart disease.

"Especially if you're eating lots of red meat and nuts and avocados. That's a lot of fat in a per ounce diet," Brittain said.

Allday is a nutrition coach and says there are some misconceptions about the Paleo lifestyle.

"Figure out what works for your body. Maybe you're an athlete and you need more protein so you eat more protein, but I know I have days where I don't eat any protein," Allday said.

At the Picnik restaurant on Burnet Road, Seifter says patrons keep coming back because they can count on the menu to cater to their dietary needs.

"People are really used to going out to restaurants around the country and feeling bad after they get home and they don't know what it comes from. We produce the same thing in a way that makes people feel alive and vibrant," Seifter said.

See the original post:
Paleo industry leaders converge in Austin, tout diet at 3-day conference - KEYE TV