According to areport byRaisin.co.uk, on average we are enjoying an additional 333 calories a day while confined to our houses.And comfort eating and drinking is to blame.

The survey reveals the average Brit is consuming three alcoholic drinks a day while reaching for 'comfort treats'. The most popular lockdown snack is cheese on toast, for 22 percent of the nation, followed by crisps (21 percent), bacon sandwiches (19 percent), chocolate cake (19 percent) and cheese and crackers (18 percent)

Registered dietitian and founder of Nutrition Rocks, Hala El-Shafie, says she's had a sharp rise in clients reaching out via social media, concerned about their unhealthy eating habits since lockdown began. "Everyone's usual coping mechanisms have been taken away from them and many are turning to food instead.

'They can't see friends and family or socialise in the same way they used to be able to, and they are substituting with alcohol and sugary snacks,'she explains. Indeed, almost half of the nation (48 percent) say the thing they miss most about life before lockdown is being able to see friends and family.

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Do you have lockdown body? How to lose weight without going on a diet - Telegraph.co.uk

(THE CONVERSATION) Have you noticed grabbing an extra bag of chips at the supermarket? Or eating more frozen dinners than you used to? Or even eating snacks that you havent eaten since you were a little kid?

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended nearly every facet of our daily lives, from how we dress, to how we work, to how we exercise.

Its also changing the way we eat. As a registered dietitian and nutrition researcher, Im fascinated by the types of food people are buying during this strange time.

One recent survey found that 42% of respondents indicated theyre purchasing more packaged food than they typically would and less fresh food.

Sales of frozen pizza have almost doubled. Sales of frozen appetizers and snacks think Bagel Bites are over a third, while ice cream sales have increased 36%.

According to Uber Eats, the most common food delivery order in the United States has been French fries, while the most popular beverage has been soda.

To me, these foods have one thing in common: Theyre the stuff we ate as kids.

Why might grown adults be reaching back into the pantry of their pasts? What is it about a pandemic that makes us feel like were teenagers at a sleepover?

The reasons are deeply rooted.

At its core, the purpose of food is to nourish. Of course food provides us with the necessary energy and balance of vitamins and minerals to power and fuel the body. But anyone whos reached for a pint of Ben and Jerrys after a particularly stressful day will know that nourishment is about more than nutrition.

During periods of stress, people tend to eat more and show a greater preference for higher calorie foods. The sweeter and saltier the better. Regardless of hunger, a tasty snack can feel comforting. Theres evidence to suggest that highly palatable foods, especially those high in fat and sugar, may illicit a response in the brain that is similar to the response from opioids.

Yes, a delicious slice of rich chocolate cake can be just as good as drugs.

We tend to call many of these foods comfort foods, but the definition of comfort food is a bit slippery. Food is deeply personal. The foods that comfort people depend on their cultural background, taste preference, and personal experience. We know, however, that food can induce feelings of nostalgia that transport us back to simpler times.

So perhaps its no surprise that, during a period of uncertainty that has many of us desperate for some relief and comfort, the foods of our childhood can act as a salve. For some of us, that bowl of Lucky Charms isnt just a sweet treat; its a reminder of days gone by, a time of safety and stability.

Theres nothing inherently wrong in finding temporary relief from chaos and uncertainty through food. But its probably best to view these changes in eating behavior as a temporary habit during a weird time. After all, a diet rich in macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets doesnt exactly set our bodies up for long-term success.

As peoples lives start to regain some sense of normalcy, diet can actually be a major part of the equation. Returning to a more health-conscious diet could be part of reestablishing your previous routines. And if youve never been able to find the time to prioritize healthy eating, now could actually be a good opportunity to start laying the groundwork for habits that become the new normal.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Coronavirus diets: What's behind the urge to eat like little kids? | News, Sports, Jobs - Escanaba Daily Press

Piling on the pounds in lockdown? Or just bored and want to try a new diet? Research shows that following a keto diet is an efficient way to send your body into 'fat-burning mode' so you will be slimmer faster even, in theory, without exercising. I am actually a bit of a fan of the keto diet as it does seem to work well admittedly I exercise quite a lot, but that's been less easy recently than before all this 'situation' kicked off.

So, we put together a 1-week keto meal plan to help you get started in your weight loss journey. Starting the keto diet can seem daunting but with the sample keto meal plan below, it should seem doable at least.

How to lose weight with fasting from 16:8 to 5:2

When you try to put your own keto diet meal plan together, you will need to remember that in order for your body to go into ketosis a metabolic state when your body mainly uses ketones from fat for fuel as opposed to glucose from carbohydrates you will need to keep your carbs levels low each day. And we mean really low: calories from carbs should be under 5% of your total calorie intake and definitely under 50 grams a day. Strict keto even goes a step further and requires you to keep the carb levels as low as under 20 grams a day.

Best keto meal delivery services: ketogenic diet made easier with freshly prepared keto snacks and foods

Sure, following an effective keto diet meal plan means you will have to say goodbye to potatoes, rice, fruits and sweets, but in return, you can also say goodbye to body fat, cravings, mood-swings, insulin spikes and much more. Once you get over the initial 'keto flu' which is only a possibility, not a certain side effect you will feel more balanced overall and won't miss any of the sweet treats you used to have as a pick-me-up.

Best jerky: beef, vegetarian and vegan jerky and biltong for high protein and low guilt

And although you have to let go some of the popular food items when you're on keto, you will be rewarded with being able to eat more cheese and meat than you ever thought you could. Better still, even if you follow a relatively strict keto diet meal plan, you can still have a wide variety off food and take in ample amount of micro and macro nutrients.

How to get a six pack: a six-pack of top tips plus the best abs exercises to tone up to a flat stomach

(Image credit: Fresh n Lean)

Modern day ketogenic diet was introduced and still use for today to treat neurological diseases like epilepsy and therefore it has been researched extensively. Apart from epilepsy, there are studies showing that following a keto diet meal plan can help reduce risk of heart disease, treat cancer, reduce symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and even to treat acne.

Lose weight at home: you MUST follow this top nutritionist's lockdown weight loss advice

As well as all that, keto can reduce insulin levels in the blood (lack of carbs/sugar spikes throughout the day) and many people claim keto diet made them more relaxed and "less on the edge".

From a dietary point of view, the effects of keto is similar to fasting: due to lack of carbs, your body will start breaking down fat into ketones and use that as fuel. Once you are on keto for a while, your body will get more efficient in breaking down fat, let it be dietary fat or the ones stored in your body, making you lose weight faster.

Most types of meat and cheeses are allowed on keto, so are eggs, cream, butter and healthy oils like avocado or olive oil. You could also have black coffee and green tea without any sugar.

Things to avoid: processed and low fat dairy products have additives and plenty of sugar in them, making them unsuitable for keto (and generally not healthy). Milk also has lactose (milk sugar) in it so be careful not to introduce too much milk into your keto diet meal plan.

Most of the green vegetables are good to go but bear in mind that many types vegetables will add to your carbs mainly, so thread them lightly. Try to keep them varied, even throughout the day so you won't get bored with any one of them.

Things to avoid: root vegetables such as potatoes, carrot, parsnip etc. All types of grains and rice.

Pro tip: spinach is best to have raw (washed, however), since wilted spinach just doesn't have the same mouthfeel. 100 grams of raw spinach with some olive oil, salt, pepper and a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar makes an excellent base for a salad.

PLEASE NOTE: The below carbohydrate content is /100grams.

Modern day fruits have been engineered through selective crossbreed crops to be super sweet and less fibrous so popular fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, oranges are not allowed on keto diet. Good news is, after the initial period of sugar deprivation, you won't crave for these anymore.

Either way, even the fruits listed here should only be eaten in small portions throughout the day.

Things to avoid: banana, grapes, mango, pineapple, pear, apple, kiwi, orange, peach etc

Pro tip: berries are great in smaller quantities and contain plenty of vitamins and some fibre too

PLEASE NOTE: The below carbohydrate content is /100grams.

Feel free to snack on dried meat like jerkies or biltongs

(Image credit: Getty Images)

You won't find any sugary sweets here, but you can have plenty of nuts, dark chocolate and a range of dips, too. Try making your own dips to avoid at home from fresh vegetables and avoid processed food with preservatives and high sodium content.

Things to avoid: sugary snacks, biscuits, milk chocolate, cashews etc.

Pro tips: to make the best salsa, cut up a larger, ripe tomato and make sure you don't waste pulp, that'll make the salsa less dry.

PLEASE NOTE: The below carbohydrate content is /100grams.

(Image credit: Bulk Powders)

Should you feel the need to supplement your diet, there are plenty of keto-friendly supplement options on the market today. These high fat and most usually high protein products can effectively top your vitamin and micronutrient levels. We have also listed some options to replenish electrolytes and introduce even more green goodness into your keto diet.

(Image credit: Fresh n Lean)

When assembling this 1-week keto meal plan, we followed these guidelines:

Each day has around 2,000 calories-worth of food

Daily carbohydrate amount is under 40 grams

We used a low-carb, moderate-protein and high-fat template for each day (5% carbs, 20-25% protein and 70-75% fat)

Pro tip: try to portion your food out into five 400-calorie rations so you can eat five times a day which will help you feel more sated in the initial transition period.

PLEASE NOTE: this is not a medical diet and if you need to go on a keto diet for medical reason, please consult your doctor first. Also, going from a high-carb diet to a low-carb one can result in side effects such as nausea, light-headedness and headaches. The preferred way is to gradually reduce carbs in order to reduce the impact of keto diet on your metabolic system.

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Lockdown could be a great time to try the keto diet and this keto meal plan could really help with weight loss - T3

'This is the moment to have this discussion' (Photo: Instagram / Brian May)

Queen legend Brain May has urged humanity to 'radically re-examine its diet for the health of the planet, to tackle animal-welfare issues, and for the survival of the Human Race.

The musician, who went vegan after taking part in this year's Veganuary, reposted a video from Plant Based News titled 'Will Covid-19 Kill The Meat Industry?'.

May captioned the post: "I believe this is a discussion which must now be had at the highest level in all countries...

"I strongly believe we must all now radically re-examine the whole question of humanity's diet - for the health of the planet, for urgent ethical animal welfare issues, and for the very survival of the Human Race. For more information I recommend following these people on Instagram.

"Knowledge is power !! And ... THIS IS THE MOMENT to have this discussion. If you agree - please write to your MP and tell him/her you want this discussed seriously and urgently in Parliament. Things CAN change."

This isn't the first time the guitarist has used his platform to promote veganism.

Last month, May told NME: "If you want to get deep into it, I think we should be looking again at whether we should be eating animals.

"Thats a central issue here, this pandemic seemed to come from people eating animals and its becoming more well known that eating animals is not the greatest thing for our health."

He added: "But to go vegan was just a decision, and I haven't been preachy about it, but now weve seen more of the effects of how eating animals has brought us to our knees as a species, I think it's time to re-examine our world in a way that doesn't abuse other species."

You can follow Brian May on Instagram here

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Brian May Urges Humanity To 'Radically Re-Examine' Its Diet For The Planet And Animals - Plant Based News

Weve all likely heard the saying "you cant outrun a bad diet". Now, as many people lace up their trainers for the first time or up the duration, frequency or intensity of their daily exercise routine, its a good reminder that a combination of frequent movement and a healthy balanced diet, is the best combination for long-term health and sustainable weight loss (if that is your goal).

Registered nutritional therapist, Sarah Ormerod of Thryve Nutrition provides us with a few tips on how to maintain a healthy diet, which also fuels the body sufficiently for exercise and aids recovery.

Build a strong foundation for optimum health

Forget energy gels, carb loading or fasted training. At a basic level, you need to ensure you eat three balanced meals per day to ensure a solid foundation to start from. At each meal fill half of your plate with colourful fruit and vegetables. Pair this with a palm sized portion of lean protein such as chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, beans or pulses, a portion of low GI carbohydrates like brown rice, sweet potato, oats, wholegrain pasta, root vegetables and some healthy fats. These may come from oily fish, avocado, nuts and seeds.

Read more: Coronavirus in Scotland: Nutrition tips and what to eat and drink during lockdown

Dont skimp on carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are broken down into glycogen, your muscles primary source of fuel. There may be a tendency to eliminate these to lose weight quickly. However, doing this limits adaptation (gains) from training and suppresses the immune system. Eating carbs doesnt mean eating huge portions of pasta, but just ensuring complex carbohydrates make up a third of your plate at each meal.

Hydrate. Water regulates your body temperature, lubricates your joints, helps convert food into energy and transport nutrients around your body, including to your muscles when you exercise. Water loss during exercise is inevitable so, if you're not well hydrated before you start, your body can't perform at its highest level. You may feel tired, have muscle cramps or dizziness. Drink little and often throughout the day to keep your stores topped up and remember if you sweat a lot to take on some electrolytes afterwards (sodium and potassium). You can make your own electrolyte drink with some fresh lemon juice, a pinch of sea salt and a drizzle of honey in water.

Sarah specialises in functional sports nutrition and is available for Zoom consultations during lockdown. For more nutrition information and advice on how to improve your nutrition visit thryvenutrition.co.uk

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Coronavirus in Scotland: Diet and nutrition tips you need to know to get the best out of your exercise regime - HeraldScotland

By: Lifestyle Desk | New Delhi | Published: May 15, 2020 9:10:45 am Make sure your diet is full of essential nutrients. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

A healthy outside starts from the inside this can be achieved with a few simple dos and donts. But it must be noted that no single food can help build immunity. One needs to consume desired amount of all nutrients, water and eat a variety of foods within each food group to ensure adequate intake of important nutrients, recommends Dr Anita Jatana, chief dietician, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and convenor, Indian Dietetics Association Delhi.

* Proteins are one of the most critical nutrients that support our immune system. Indians usually tend to consume lesser amount of proteins since many of us are vegetarians. So simple ways of including proteins is pulses, beans, legumes, milk and milk products, nuts and oil seeds, apart from eggs and non-vegetarian foods. Vitamin C is not only a physiological antioxidant but also helps to regenerate other antioxidants within the body. Include vitamin C rich foods like amla, guava, oranges, lemon, tomato, bell peppers and green chillies.

* Vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, has several important functions. Besides being essential for bone health, it is important in improving resistance to certain diseases and even fight depression. It is found in fatty fish, eggs and fortified foods like milk, cereals etc. Getting sunlight exposure between 11am to 1 pm, for 20-30 minutes is a good way to ensure its availability.

* Zinc deficiency can impact the immune system. Natural sources of zinc are flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, black sesame seeds, whole legumes, dark chocolates and nuts.

* Vitamin A is an important antioxidant nutrient that helps the body fight against infections. All dark green leafy vegetables, papaya, pumpkin, carrots and mango are good sources.

* Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant vitamin and critical for the proper functioning of the immune system. Good sources of this vitamin are nuts like almonds, pistachio and seeds like sunflower seeds, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia and sunflower seeds.

* Iron, an important part of your blood, plays a vital role in helping the body fight infections. You can choose non-vegetarian sources such as lean meat, fish, eggs, or vegetarian sources like drumstick leaves, mint leaves, nuts to get your daily dose of iron. To bust a common myth, beetroot and apples are not good sources of iron as it is commonly believed, points out Dr Jatana.

* Other important micronutrients that can impact our immune system are selenium, B6, B12, folate and magnesium. Indians are blessed to have herbs and condiments right in their kitchen and turmeric, tulsi, clove, garlic, ginger and cinnamon can play an important role in immunity building.

* Studies have shown that excess intake of foods rich in sugar, refined flour and saturated fats such as sweetened beverages, high fat baked foods, fried foods, alcohol has shown to have harmful impact on the immune system and hence should be avoided or consumed in moderation.

* Along with balanced diet rich in above mentioned macro and micronutrients, it is also important to have a good sleep pattern, incorporate exercise in the daily routine and manage stress to stay active and healthy.

Always remember your health is in your hands, so plan your diet and lifestyle in such a way that supports your body in building immunity.

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Immunity building: Ensure your diet is full of these essential nutrients - The Indian Express

Questions have been raised over whether people with type 2 diabetes should shield during the pandemic, as the public are advised to think about their diet to minimise the risks of the condition.

After the NHS found 26% of patients who have died in hospitals in England after contracting coronavirus had diabetes, the Government was asked whether people with the condition should be staying at home and shielding.

Deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries (PA)

Speaking on the matter at the daily Downing Street briefing on Saturday, deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said: We are reviewing all of these different risk factors together to try and give a much more proportional representation of who might be at risk.

Type two diabetes, not type one, is one which many of us in the population can perhaps do something about to reduce our risk.

Again, a great plug from a public health doctor perhaps, to think during this pandemic about diet and exercise and what you can do to help there.

Dr Harries said that the previous data looked at individual diseases, rather than looking at other risk factors.

She said: For example, we know that individuals who are obese will have high rates of type 2 diabetes, and we also know that they may have some other underlying health conditions.

Its really important that we put all these variables together to understand risk.

Some groups of clinically extremely vulnerable people have been instructed to stay in their homes to protect themselves from the virus, initially for a period of 12 weeks.

Some of the people on the Governments shielding list include those who have had organ transplants, people with specific cancers and those with severe respiratory conditions.

Published on Thursday, figures from NHS England show that of the 22,332 patients who have died in Englands hospitals since March 31, when pre-existing conditions began to be recorded, some 5,873 (26%) had diabetes.

It was the first time NHS England included a breakdown of deaths by pre-existing conditions in its statistics.

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People urged to watch their diet to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes during pandemic - Yahoo Style