MARVIN JOSEPH | The Washington Post

Five Washington Post staffers plan to try five diets in January to see how they work. From left: Food and Dining Editor Joe Yonan, Local Living Editor Kendra Nichols, food critic Tom Sietsema, Deputy Food Editor Bonnie S. Benwick and sportswriter Adam Kilgore.

A month ago, five Washington Post staffers embarked on a 30-day diet, each looking for a way to reset their eating habits. Now, theyre turning the page, but this is much more than a tidy endpoint: Its the beginning of making their new, healthy habits stick.

This month-long challenge wasnt a contest per se, and there is no one winner; all the staffers made their chosen plans work for them, and each has good results to show for it. Collectively theyve freed themselves from unhealthy habits and adopted positive ones; they have been enjoying more nutritious foods and less hyper-processed, sugary stuff; they have been eating more sensible amounts more mindfully; and they feel better and have lost weight.

But, predictably, life also got in the way of some of the goals they set with house moves, IRS audits, traffic jams, travel and irresistible parties interfering with their best intentions. I spoke with each of them to get their main take-aways from this diet experiment, and help them strategize all-important next steps. I also managed to convince them to let me check in with them next January to see how they have fared a year later.

If you started a diet on Jan. 1 like they did, or otherwise made resolutions to live healthier, this is an invitation to pause, reflect on your successes and, perhaps, dreams dashed over the past month and recalibrate your plan so you can keep moving forward. Hopefully, the insights shared here will inspire and inform your own next steps.

Kendras wise words to those thinking about the Whole30 diet is to be smart about planning when to start. For her, this challenge was smack in the middle of a move, making it more stressful and difficult than it otherwise would have been.

Being between homes and unable to locate the right cookware amid all the boxes, she found it nearly impossible to achieve one of her main personal goals: trying an array of new recipes. She also told me she was crankier than usual, to the point where her co-workers dubbed her diet persona Whole30 Kendra.

But she admirably stuck it out, and lost 9 pounds in the process. Along the way she learned, among other things, that it suits her to eat a hearty breakfast so she isnt hungry again until lunchtime, and that she can live happily without a vending-machine sugar fix or the 20-ounce diet soda she had been drinking daily.

Kendra has done Whole30 before, and does well with a strict set of rules to follow. The downside has been that when the diet is over, she is left rudderless and winds up returning to her old habits. Last time she did Whole30 she skipped the reintroduction phase (in which you gradually add back the forbidden foods) and went straight to cake.

This time she is thinking more long-term. Shes going to view the suggested reintroduction as an extension of the rules, following the specific 10-day transition the book offers. Even more, Im going to make myself a little rule book to follow thereafter.

This personal, formalized structure will go a long way toward helping Kendra achieve what she called her ultimate goal: making moderation the new normal.

Tom sees food though a somewhat different lens after following the Weight Watchers program for the past month. The plan makes you aware of the consequences of different choices, he said.

Having been allotted 36 points a day, Tom quickly learned that some foods, like what became his go-to snack, almonds and clementines, offer more satisfaction for fewer points than, say, peanut butter-filled pretzels. And that sometimes you have to choose between a cupcake and a second glass of wine.

While he wont continue to track his points, he says, Doing it a full month, it gets drilled into you. ... Now I know what to do. Besides making smarter choices, he also knows that exercise is a key component, and he is committed to keeping it up regularly.

He also knows its okay to go off the rails a bit once in a while. Confronted with some fabulous restaurant meals (as he frequently will be as the Posts food critic) and a once-in-a-lifetime charity event, he indulged, but even did that mindfully, choosing oysters instead of prosciutto and staying conscientious about portions.

In alignment with the Weight Watchers philosophy, he says: You can splurge just get back on track right after. Enjoy it, mindfully, then forget about it. Dont feel guilty.

Sure, Tom could have lost even more than 7 pounds this month without those splurges, but I believe the experience of being able to get back on track, and the knowledge that you can continue toward your goal weight and indulge, is an even more valuable achievement in the long run.

Joe is the only one of the five who plans to continue his diet indefinitely, a testament both to the flexibility of Buddhas Diet with its only limitation a nine-hour time window for eating and Joes balanced approach to it.

I worried he would be weak from hunger at his morning workout (so he could eat a later dinner) or eat a 5 p.m. dinner alone at his desk rather than with his significant other, or get pulled over for speeding and try to explain to the officer that he had to rush home to eat on time.

But although Joe did skip eating before his workouts, he felt fine doing it, and although he had to pass on grabbing a late bowl of ramen with friends one night, he found it easy enough to plan ahead so as not to sacrifice the social pleasures of mealtime.

His sage advice: The overarching philosophy is to have a mindful relationship with food, so dont get too anxious about a few minutes here or there. The worst thing would be to let the deadline make you scarf your food down.

In the past 30 days, he has broken the habit of mindlessly munching after dinner, has realized he doesnt have to grab for food at the slightest twinge of hunger and has lost 5 pounds.

I couldnt have done this without tea, he said. Tea helped slow his pace and calm him as he sipped, and because it is allowed outside the nine-hour window as long as it doesnt have sweeteners or milk.

Another key strategy was preparing food ahead, stocking his refrigerator on the weekends with building-block ingredients such as blanched and roasted vegetables, so he could quickly pull meals together on the weekdays.

Once Joe reaches his goal weight (he has another 25 or so pounds to go), his maintenance plan is to add a second cheat day. From what I can tell, Joe has landed on a sustainable way of life that fits him perfectly.

Bonnie is officially sold on soup. The words soup diet sound a little crazy, she said, but its a food that everyone should eat every week its a good go-to.

This month has helped Bonnie reach her main goals of eating more vegetables and getting portions in check. At first she worried the soups wouldnt be enough, but found the opposite to be true. (The volume of vegetable-based soups and the fact that their heat slows you down make them especially filling.)

The big takeaway is her realization that she can be satisfied without overeating, and she now is more in touch with how food makes her feel. She also has stopped eating past 9 p.m.

Her long-range plan is to make soup every week so she always has it on hand. She is also going to pay attention to how she feels as she eats, savoring slowly, and tuning into her level of satiety rather than continuing to eat just because her mouth wants more.

Bonnie wasnt weighing herself this month, but she recently bought a scale so she can track her weight as an incentive and an indicator and if she gets off track, she will do another week of the SouperGirl Cleanse to reorient her. She also has an exciting event to inspire her to maintain these healthy changes: her sons wedding in October.

The notion that you can slip up and then move on gives Adams plan the potential for longevity. He did that a few times this month, with restaurant meals and vacations that drove him off-plan. But his core changes focusing on healthful whole foods, limiting alcohol and exercising more still led the way, and he has dropped 16 pounds as a result.

His positive attitude of embracing the good choices you are making rather than yearning for what you are missing also goes a long way toward his success.

Adam told me the realization that it doesnt have to be all or nothing that he can see results even if he dips off his plan here and there gives him a good template for how to keep this going after April, when he typically returns to his weight-gaining spiral.

I pressed him to come up with specific strategies to put into place at that time, and he outlined this sensible three-pronged approach: 1) weigh in at least once a week; 2) exercise at least twice a week; 3) avoid alcohol for at least two days a week.

Adams overall advice to those embarking on a healthier way of life is simple but profound. Its something we could all make our mantra year-round: Whatever choice you are making, make it a good choice. Then do it again.

Ellie Krieger writes a healthful-eating column for Local Living and a weekly Nourish recipe for Food. She is a registered dietitian, nutritionist and author and hosts public televisions Ellies Real Good Food. Her most recent cookbook is You Have It Made: Delicious, Healthy, Do-Ahead Meals.

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The 5 Diets Project: Everyone lost, and everyone gained - Charleston Gazette-Mail (subscription)

Montana is No. 1 in something; yeah! But we shouldn't cheer. A Missoulian article (Feb. 1), page A7, reviews a pending Montana bill about the dating of milk. Admittedly not a very exciting topic, unless you consider that the current Montana rule was recently selected as a national poster child for how state laws force extravagant waste of food.

The current Montana rule requires milk to be labeled with a "sell by" date that is 12 days after pasteurization. This is the shortest such sale date in the country; most states have no "sell by" date at all. After reaching the "sell by" date Montana retailers must throw out unsold milk; it can't even be donated, even though studies have shown that milk is good much, much longer. And Montana consumers, not understanding this "dating game," may also throw out good milk. Not only is good milk wasted, but reports have shown that milk costs more in Montana. So the 12-day rule, promulgated by the Board of Livestock, causes good milk to be thrown out and consumers to pay more for milk. Great to be No. 1!

A 2015 legislative proposal to dump the 12-day rule was voted down in a House committee. Now, the 2017 proposal mentioned in the Missoulian article proposes a smaller step of keeping the 12-day "sell by" date but adding a "best by" or "use by" date indicating the number of days after pasteurization that the milk should be fresh and safe for consumers. Thanks to Rep. Greg Hertz, Polson, for his continuing efforts to help out the average Montanan. Unfortunately, keeping the 12-day rule will likely keep Montana the No. 1 national example for food waste.

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Montana No. 1 for wasting milk - The Missoulian

Science A twin experiment in space can help us prevent diseases on Earth.

Separated at launch. Scott and Mark Kelly. Credit: NASA

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly recently spent one year in space, while his identical twin brother Mark (a former NASA astronaut himself) stayed on Earth. The mission was part of an important health experiment, looking at how being in space affects our bodies. While the data is still being studied carefully, NASA recently released some intriguing preliminary findings.

Kelly was launched aboard the Russian Soyuz rocket on March 27, 2015, along with Russian cosmonauts Genaldy Padalkaand Mikhail Kornienko(joining Kelly on the one year mission). Before, during and after the 340 days he spent aboard the International Space Station(ISS), a large volume of biological samples was collected from both Scott and Mark. By looking at molecular changes between the identical twins who were separated at launch, NASA hope to shed light on how certain proteins and bacteria in the body are influenced by nature or nurture by taking advantage of the extreme environmental differences between living on Earth and in space.

Space agencies around the world have a shared goal of taking people to Mars. Missions to Mars will involve crews spending about three years away from Earths gravity, taking about six months travelling to Mars in microgravity, followed by more than a year on the Martian surface, living and working in about a third of the gravity we experience on Earth.This is before the planets realign and its time for the six-month return journey back home. In order to safely complete this journey, effective countermeasures to the potential influences of the extreme environment of space on the human body must be developed.

Scott watches a bunch of fresh carrots at the ISS. Credit: NASA

Previous missions to the ISS have identified many of the effects of microgravity on human physiology. Muscles, especially those that help support the bodys posture against gravity, waste away, bones become less dense, increased pressure in the skull leads to visual impairmentsand the amount of blood in the body reduces. As if that wasnt enough, the heart also gets smaller as it can pump blood to the brain more easily and cosmic radiation can lead to increased cancer risk.

To counteract all this, astronauts on the ISS complete a rigorous exercise programme (about two hours daily), accompanied by a strictly planned diet.

Molecular adaptations to spaceflight

The NASA twins study uses the relatively new field of omics the study of a large number of systems in the human body at a molecular level. Initial findingsinvolved telomeres often described as the ticking clock of the cell. Telomeres are DNA sequences at the end of chromosomes protecting them from degrading. As we age, the telomeres get shorter and shorter.

The study found that telomeres in white blood cells get longer in space. This was potentially thought to be due to the increased exercise regime and strict diet that Scott followed, but perhaps Einsteins time dilation effect could be playing a part in astronauts telomeres seemingly ageing slower. Despite this, markers of inflammation in the blood increased in space and after landing back on Earth, which could have been caused by the physical stress placed on Scotts body during re-entry and landing.

Some changes to DNA were also seen in Scotts gene expression. This finding could help identify specific genes that are sensitive to environmental stressso that we can help protect them. During the second half of Scotts mission, bone formation also reduced, which is more commonly seen in osteoporosis.

Astronauts will need to reach Mars and be able to perform physical and cognitive tasks to survive for months on end in the partial gravity environment of the Martian surface. They will have to construct the habitat in which they will live, perform system maintenance and carry out scientific research. By understanding how microgravity influences astronauts DNA, drugs and other countermeasures can be developed to prevent these changes and ensure that astronauts stay healthy.

Of course, it is not all about exploring the Solar System. Many of the global space agencies aim to study how space affects the human body in order to improve healthcare interventions for patients on Earth. As the use of omics develops, it could lead to personalised healthcare.

By using these techniques to comprehensively analyse blood samples taken in hospitals, or even in doctors surgeries, it might one day be the case that doctors can predict whether a patient might develop a certain disease, and prescribe preventative drugs to reduce the likelihood of the patient becoming ill in the first place. Findings from NASAs twin study could, therefore, help us living longer and healthier lives on Earth.

Nick Caplan is an Associate Professor of Musculoskeletal Health at the Northumbria University, Newcastle.

This article was originally published on The Conversation.Read the original article.

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NASA Sent a Twin to Space to Study Nature Versus Nurture and We're Starting to Get Results - The Wire

Mark Richardson of Missoula admits he began overeating, and eating unhealthily, after losing his daughter to a car crash.

My relationship with food was unhealthy, he told a crowd at a nutrition boot camp hosted by CostCare Clinic on Tuesday. When my daughter died, perhaps I was filling the hole. Within a year I gained 100 pounds or so.

Richardson, who stands 5 feet, 10 inches tall, and is 54 years old, weighed 377 pounds when he went in to see a doctor for a health check-up.

He got a variety of bad news. He had unhealthy blood pressure, elevated liver enzymes and was diagnosed with diabetes.

I was really mad at myself and really frustrated, he said. I got pretty emotional after reading all that. I have a history of diabetes in my family, but I dont blame my diabetes on my hereditary genes. It was totally self-inflicted.

Richardson expected to be told to take a variety of medications, but the doctor also recommended buying Whole30, a nutritional program guidebook written by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. Richardson has been on it for 154 days, and hes lost 94 pounds. He said his doctor was so shocked that he used cuss words when he saw how much weight Richardson had shed.

Essentially, the Whole30 program advises people to cut out grains, dairy, added sugars, alcohol and legumes for 30 days, and then eat those foods only in extreme moderation afterwards.

I feel fantastic, as good as I ever felt in my life, Richardson said. I got drafted to play professional soccer when I was younger, and I feel as good as I did then.

Richardson almost broke into tears when he talked about how much his unhealthy eating affected his work.

My general manager and her husband are now doing the Whole30, a lot because of the difference shes seen in my work, he said. I have more energy to give them. I owe them more than I gave before. I used to breathe heavy just going up the stairs.

The Whole30 diet has become hugely popular in the United States in the last year, and many Missoulians are taking part in the program.

Carol Bridges co-owns the Cost Care Clinics in Missoula with Lesley Von Eschen. Bridges, a physician, has seen her share of fad diets like the South Beach Diet, the Atkins Diet and the so-called Paleo Diet. However, she believes the Whole30 diet is sustainable because theres a lot of science behind it.

Thats why shes offering six-session nutritional boot camps in Missoula to guide people through the process and offer support.

One of the reasons its catching on is because its so effective and sustainable, she said. The program is designed to help people treat obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia, depression, chronic fatigue and heartburn. Weve got a year under our belt pushing people to do a 30-day challenge, and the results are amazing.

Bridges tells her students that humans evolved to live without diets full of processed foods until about 150 years ago, when processed flour, high fructose corn syrup and antibiotics all began to be consumed by humans. She said added sugars and processed foods are overconsumed, and she recommends to people that they eat more proteins like baked chicken, vegetables like broccoli, and unprocessed foods. She said legumes, although they contain protein, also cause low-grade inflammation.

Bridges is quick to point out that the Whole30 isnt necessarily a weight loss program. In fact, many of the students in her class are overweight. The main point, she said, is to treat chronic diseases like diabetes and stomach issues associated with foods that cause inflammation.

Like many diets that have seen an explosion in popularity over the years, the Whole30 diet has its critics. This newspaper is not a medical journal and this article should not be taken as an endorsement of any particular diet program. However, the customers in Bridges' class seem satisfied.

My wife suggested it along with Dr. Bridges because I was eating unhealthy and I was overweight, said Alan Powell, 54. I knew that I could probably lose some weight. And Ive lost 20 pounds on this program. I feel great. Basically, I have a lot more energy and Im not fatigued.

Bridges said that the food industry has maximized the amount of sugar in processed foods and shifted the blame for unhealthy consequences to fat.

That has caused us to eat rich, nutrient-poor no brake foods, she said. "I decided to do the 30-day challenge myself. All of the things they say can happen did happen like how you feel better, sleep better and have clearer thinking."

For Mark Anderson, who has lost nearly 100 pounds, he believes the diet will add years to his life if he sticks to it like he plans.

"At one point I was just checking days off my life," he said. "It took diabetes, really a life-changing event, to set me on a path for my children, my grandchildren and my employer."

The next CostCare boot camp will be held in April. For more information call 370-7050.

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Missoula man battles unhealthy diet with new nutrition boot camp ... - The Missoulian

Victor R. Martinez , El Paso Times 5:00 a.m. MT Feb. 12, 2017

Alexander Cisneros, 18, left, snacks on a plate of fat bombs, a dessert made with heavy cream, cream cheese and orange zest. Watching is his mother, Gladys Cisneros and Franco Lopez, a registered dietician and clinical nutrition manager at the specialty clinic at Providence Childrens Hospital. Alexander is on the Ketogenic Diet. Some of the foods in the diet are on the table.(Photo: RUDY GUTIERREZ / EL PASO TIMES)Buy Photo

A typical breakfast for Alexander Cisneros is a two-egg omelette with spinach sauteed in coconut oil and full-fat cheese.

And for lunch or dinner his mother, Gladys Cisneros, prepares four ounces of fish, chicken or beef with a half a cup of bell peppers, asparagus or broccoli sauteed in real butter and smothered in cheddar cheese.

For dessert it's jello made with heavy whipped cream or a fat bomb, whipped cream mixed with Stevia, a natural sweetener made from the Stevia leaf.

Not exactly what many people would consider a healthy diet.

But for Alexander, his mother and his sister Jacqueline, it works.

"There's three of us on the diet for three different purposes," Cisneros said. "He is onit because he has multiple disabilities, one of them being epilepsy so he is on it to address the epileptic seizures. My daughter is on it because she's a competitive swimmer with WETT. I do it because it helps to balance my hormones. Being middle aged, it affects my body. Plus it helps my energy level."

The Cisneros family is on the ketogenic diet, a very low-carb diet which turns the body into a fat-burning machine.

"Half the time, you can't even finish your meal because it's so rich and so good," Cisneros said. "Alexander has three meals a day, plus I'll send him a snack like pork rinds."

A plate of ground beef cooked in oil with avocados, tomatoes and green beens could be a typical lunch plate in the Ketogenic Diet.(Photo: RUDY GUTIERREZ / EL PASO TIMES)

Studies have found that this very low-carb, high-fat diet is effective for weight loss, diabetes and epilepsy. Theres also early evidence to show that it may be beneficial for certain cancers, Alzheimers disease and other diseases, too.

"It's a high fat, low carbohydrate, adequate protein diet where we restrict the carbohydrates," said Franco Lopez, a licensed dietitian with the Hospitals of Providence. "It's called the modified ketogenic diet which is a little more liberal than the classic ketogenic diet. The classic ketogenic diet has to be measured with grams with a scale so it was very strict. This one is more liberal where you can eat more vegetables."

A ketogenic diet is similar to other strict low-carb diets, such as the Atkins diet or LCHF (low carb, high fat). A ketogenic diet typically limits carbs to 2050 grams per day.

A hamburger patty without the bun and bacon strips topped with sliced avocados, onions and tomatoes is a typical dinner plate in the Ketogenic Diet.(Photo: RUDY GUTIERREZ / EL PASO TIMES)

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, the ketogenic diet is one of the oldest treatments for epilepsy. It is intended to maintain the starvation or fasting metabolism over a long time. When the body is in a fasting state, it creates ketones, a by-product of fat-burning metabolism. It has been established that seizures often lessen or disappear during periods of fasting in some individuals with epilepsy.

"A lot of people are afraid of the amount of fat consumed in this diet," Lopez acknowledged. "But there's a big misconception that fat is harmful when in reality it's the carbohydrates that are causing the harm. Unfortunately what is being promoted is low fat, high carbohydrates so my role is to do seminars and educate people and have kids not only with epilepsy but who have elevated cholesterol in their diet, kids with diabetes, people with a brain tumors; I have a patient with a brain tumor which has been shrinking."

Lopez sees patients Monday through Friday at the Specialty Clinic at The Hospital of Providence Children's Hospital.

"I have about 40 to 50 patients on the ketogenic diet," he said. "The diet works on 50 to 70 percent of my patients. Any very good medication, at the most, will have a 30 percent effectiveness. This diet surpasses that."

Lopez, who is on the diet, said his triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood the body uses for energy, has improved and he haslost weight.

"The diet requires preparation, it requires committeemen, dedication and creativity," he said. "I encourage the entire family to adopt the diet that way everybody can eat the same food at the dinner table. Everyone benefits from the diet."

He has a patient who is a football player who experiences seizures.

"He is 6-4 and weights about 240 pounds," Lopez said. "His caloric intake is about 5,000 calories so his mom prepares a half dozen eggs and half a package of bacon. She cooks the eggs in the fat of the bacon juice so he can get enough fat into his diet."

Alexander's intake is about 1,620 calories.

Alexander Cisneros with a breakfast plate consisting of egg omelet cooked in butter topped with heavy cream and sausage patties.(Photo: RUDY GUTIERREZ / EL PASO TIMES)

"We haven't seen a complete elimination of seizures but they've gone from one to two a day to maybe two a week so there has been a drastic drop in the frequency, the duration and the intensity of the seizures," Alexander's mother said. "Once upon a time when he would have a seizure, he would sleep for three hours. Now when he has a seizure, nine times out of 10 he doesn't fall sleep at all. He's a little droggy but he doesn't sleep so his recovery rate is a lot better."

Cisneros and her daughter have also seen the benefits.

"For my daughter, her endurance is so much better," she said. "When she would compete, she was so exhausted. Now she feels like she can swim longer. She told me that that she is studying less but retaining more. Her energy level and her endurance are both up. Also her muscle tone has gotten more defined.

"For me, my energy levels were dropping and my menstrual cycle was off because I was very hormonal," she said. "I had to take a 2 o'clock nap almost every day. All of that changed. I no longer have to take a nap, my energy levels are high now, everything is different."

Victor R. Martinez may be reached at 546-6128; vmartinez@elpasotimes.com; @vrmart on Twitter.

A Ketogenic Diet dessert can be Fat bombs made with heavy cream, cream cheese and orange zest.(Photo: RUDY GUTIERREZ / EL PASO TIMES)

What: The ketogenic diet, a high fat, low carbohydrate diet which turns the body into a fat-burning machine.Studies have found that the diet is effective for weight loss, diabetes and epilepsy.

Who: FrancoLopez, a licensed dietitian with the Hospitals of Providence, sees patients Monday through Friday at the SpecialtyClinic at The Hospital of Providence Children's Hospital.

Information: 577-7888.

Read or Share this story: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/life/wellness/2017/02/12/how-low-carb-high-fat-diet-can-have-its-benefits/97404384/

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How a low-carb, high-fat diet can have its benefits - El Paso Times

Just as the rich nutrition in the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) enhances physical health, so it boosts mental health. A small but striking Australian study links it to alleviating depression.

The research published in BMC Medicine was the first randomized controlled trial to investigate whether or not an improvement in diet can be an effective treatment for major depressive episodes. See more: Olive Oil Health Benefits Scientists found that counseling about healthy food choices, as well as the consumption of MedDiet foods relieved considerably more symptoms of depression than the intervention of belonging to a social support group.

Why was the diet so beneficial? Two big factors that contribute to the depression-fighting properties involve two of its more famous nutrients: omega-3 fatty acids and fiber, naturopathic physician Vickie Modica of Seattle, Washington told Olive Oil Times.

Both of these nutrients have been the subject of recent research into the mind-body link between diet and depression. Omega-3 fatty acids, known to have an anti-inflammatory effect and thought to have a healthful impact on the nervous system, improve the symptoms of depression in multiple studies. Other research shows that diets high in fiber increase the diversity of good gut microbiota, which is believed to have a positive influence on mood, including depression, Modica said.

In the current study, 67 patients suffering from a major depressive episode were randomly assigned to attend either seven sessions with a clinical dietician who extolled the value of the MedDiet or seven sessions of social support. All the participants had unhealthy diets at the beginning of the intervention.

Individuals in the dietary counseling group were asked to improve their eating habits by consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish and olive oil, which are foods that comprise the MedDiet. They were required to write what they ate in food diaries, and the recorded data revealed the quality of their food intake increased significantly.

Participants in the social support group were led in the discussion of neutral topics of interest. On occasion, they played board games or cards, activities chosen to keep them engaged and positive.

At the end of 12 weeks, the contrast between the two groups was remarkable. Nearly one-third of the counseling group experienced remission from their depression, compared to only 8 percent of the social support group. Moreover, the improvements werent dependent upon exercise or weight loss.

This study should be thought of as preliminary research and hopefully a catalyst for many more studies proving a mind-body connection, Modica noted. That said, I think its import is multifaceted, having a bearing on the following issues:

Modica explained that the concept of a nutritious diet promoting mental health is an integral part of the naturopathic philosophy.

If I can speak for my profession, we consider it a matter of course that diet affects mood. For me, this study confirms the clinical and empirical experiences I have seen through my schooling and career: a whole foods diet low or absent in processed food has a positive impact on depression symptoms, she said.

Excerpt from:
Med Diet Linked to Relief from Depression - Olive Oil Times

Q: My breeder recommended feeding my new puppy raw meat? Isnt that dangerous?

A: Yes, it can beboth to your pets and your family. Fortunately, this fad seems to be dying out. Several years ago, our practice treated pets sickened by raw diets much more frequently than today. Perhaps contributing to this decline was a policy statement adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) nearly five years ago. The statement reads:

The AVMA discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans. Cooking or pasteurization through the application of heat until the protein reaches an internal temperature adequate to destroy pathogenic organisms has been the traditional method used to eliminate pathogens in animal-source protein, although the AVMA recognizes that newer technologies and other methods such as irradiation are constantly being developed and implemented.

Animal-source proteins of concern include beef, pork, poultry, fish and other meat from domesticated or wild animals as well as milkand eggs. Several studies reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals have demonstrated that raw or undercooked animal-source protein may be contaminated with a variety of pathogenic organisms, including Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp, Clostridium spp, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus.

Cats and dogs may develop foodborne illness after being fed animal-source protein contaminated with these organisms if adequate steps are not taken to eliminate pathogens; secondary transmission of these pathogens to humans (eg, pet owners) has also been reported. Cats and dogs can develop subclinical infections with these organisms but still pose a risk to livestock, other nonhuman animals, and humans, especially children, older persons and immunocompromised individuals.

To mitigate public health risks associated with feeding inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs, the AVMA recommends the following:

Avoid feeding inadequately treated animal-source protein to cats and dogs

Restrict cats and dogs access to carrion and animal carcasses (eg, while hunting)

Provide fresh, clean, nutritionally balanced and complete commercially prepared or home-cooked food to cats and dogs, and dispose of uneaten food at least daily

Practice personal hygiene (eg, handwashing) before and after feeding cats and dogs, providing treats, cleaning pet dishes, and disposing of uneaten food

The recommendation not to feed unpasteurized milk to animals does not preclude the feeding of unpasteurized same-species milk to unweaned juvenile animals.

While some have called the policy statement controversial, it should be noted that more than 90 percent of the AVMA delegates voted in favor of this policy. Thats a pretty unified and decisive voice. The policy was considered by a diverse group of doctors representing a wide cross-section of the veterinary profession.

The AVMA House of Delegates includes veterinarians representing all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It also includes representatives from the American Animal Hospital Association, National Association of Federal Veterinarians, American Association of Food Hygiene Veterinarians, American Association of Veterinary Clinicians, Uniformed Services Veterinarians, American Association of Corporate and Public Practice Veterinarians, Society for Theriogenology, Association of Avian Veterinarians, American Association of Avian Pathologists, American Association of Bovine Practitioners, American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, Association of Swine Veterinarians, American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners, and veterinary students. Thats a diverse body of experts to come to 90 percent agreement on anything! Talk about settled science.

This group adds their well-educated voice to that of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They had already issued the following warning to pet owners: FDA does not believe raw meat foods for animals are consistent with the goal of protecting the public from significant health risks, particularly when such products are brought into the home and/or used to feed domestic pets.

Please fully consider the dangers to both the four-legged and two-legged members of your family when contemplating the use of a raw diet for your pets. Veterinarians take an oath to protect the health of both animals and people. Your family veterinarian is your best resource for guidance on the ideal food for your pets. Make an appointment today to discuss the care and feeding of your new puppy. His healthand maybe yoursdepends on it!

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached at 540/428-1000.

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DR. WATTS: Should I feed my pet a raw meat diet? - The Daily Progress