Wouldn't it be nice to just see a cookie as food? That's what Dr. Antonie Post, a nutrition scientist, was thinking when baking cookies one day. She has always loved baking, but not healthy baking, so as a nutrition scientist who's always been into healthy eating and food as medicine, she used to feel pretty guilty.

When she stumbled on Health at Every Size (HAES) and intuitive eating last year, and was ready to embrace it, everything fell into place. She wanted to believe that eating a cookie wasn't bad, but said that guilt doesn't miraculously vanish overnight. So one day when she was making cookies she wondered what it would take to see a cookie for what it is just food. And she thought, "Wouldn't it be cool and funny to write little messages on the cookies to remind myself?" And so she did!

Dr. Post told POPSUGAR, "I strongly feel that encouraging people (and myself, of course) in reconnecting with their internal body cues, building back body trust, and cultivating a healthy and peaceful relationship with both food and their body is my true passion." She's made it her mission to promote the HAES movement in Germany and said that "true health comes from dedication to yourself and thoughtful behaviors to enhance your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It definitely doesn't come from following external food rules or a number on the scale."

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This Woman Wrote Anti-Diet Messages on Cookies, and We Want to Eat Them All! - POPSUGAR

Whether you're making overnight oats or adding oats to your smoothie, youre getting a nutrition powerhouse with some major health benefits. Oats and oatmeal are packed with fiber, protein, and tons of vitamins and minerals. They are such a versatile food and can be incorporated into practically any meal of the day. Oats are a staple in many pantries, and for good reason!

Serving Size: Cup Dry Quaker Old Fashioned Oats

The soluble fiber in oats can help reduce LDL cholesterol levels by signaling the liver to pull that bad LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream. A better LDL cholesterol level and lipid panel also puts you at reduced risk for developing heart disease. Additionally, more research is revealing that a type of compound known as avenanthramide (AVE) found in oats may play an important role in protecting the heart.

High-fiber foods can help slow the digestion of food in the intestine, which can help to keep blood sugars from rising very rapidly. Beta-glucan, which is a type of dietary fiber found in abundance in oats, may also help improve blood sugar control. Recent research suggests that oats intake has a beneficial effect on glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The fiber in oats can help keep you full longer and enhance satiety, which is an important weight management tool. Just cup of oats has at least 4 grams of fiber making it a great choice. Not only does the soluble fiber in oats help to reduce LDL cholesterol, but weight loss can lower LDL cholesterol as well which makes this a winning combination.

Ideally, most Americans should be aiming for at least 25-30 grams of dietary fiber daily. Fiber is important for regulating bowel movements and can help relieve constipation. A cup of raw oats is considered a good source of fiber and can help keep things moving.

Can Oatmeal Help You Lose Weight?

As part of a balanced diet, oatmeal can be a great weight loss tool. The fiber and protein content of oats can enhance satiety and keep you full. Plus, for the volume that you get with oats, the calories are relatively low coming in at only 150 calories for cup dry oats which expands when cooked to yield 1 cup. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) suggests that individuals who eat oatmeal actually tend to be healthier in general and have a lower body weight compared to those who dont eat oatmeal.

Are Oats Gluten-Free?

"What many people might not know is that oats are inherently gluten free, but may come in contact with wheat, rye and barley at the farm, in storage or during transportation, said Kristin Harris, Ph.D., Senior Principal Scientist at Quaker. So it's best to look for specially marked gluten-free oats if you have a gluten allergy or sensitivity.

Instead of a plain bowl of oatmeal, try dressing oats up with these unique recipe ideas:

Savory Oatmeal: Oats arent just for breakfast, they can make for a delicious and hearty lunch or dinner too. Try adding sauted kale, sauted mushrooms, caramelized onions, and goat cheese to plain oats for a savory twist. Top with a fried egg for extra protein and you have a complete meal! These unusual oatmeal combinations are a total game changer.

Overnight Oats: A breakfast that requires no cooking? Sign me up! Overnight oats are practically effortless: just combine oats with your choice of milk/milk alternative, chia seeds, and fruit. Place them in a tightly sealed mason jar overnight and viola! You have a delicious, nutritionally balanced breakfast ready-to-go in the morning.

Crockpot Oats: This is a great version of overnight oats if you want to wake up to a nice warm bowl of oats in the morning. Since steel cut oats take a while to cook, they are perfect for slow cooker recipes. This easy make-ahead breakfast solution is hearty, warm, and flavorful. Take five minutes to add all of the ingredients to the crockpot before bed, then wake up to a big batch of delicious slow cooked oats for the entire week!

Smoothies: Does your smoothie leave you starving after an hour? Try adding in scoop of nutrient-dense oats. They blend well and add a good source of dietary fiber to your smoothie to keep you fuller for longer.

Oat Milk: If you have dairy allergies or intolerances, plant-based milks can be a total game changer. Oat milk is not only dairy-free but also nut-free which makes it school-safe. Naturally low in fat and cholesterol free, oat milk can be a great milk alternative.

Oat Flour: You can make your own oat flour at home by simply adding rolled oats to a blender and blending for about 15-20 seconds until you have a powdery fine flour. Oat flour typically works well in recipes that require a dense texture like pancakes or banana bread.

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Oatmeal Nutrition and Health Benefits - Is Oatmeal Healthy? - GoodHousekeeping.com

Because fasting may negatively affect a woman's hormones, there are related concerns about fertility. Some medical experts think that a woman's body may see fasting as a danger of impending starvation. As a result of this, they think the body inhibits ovulation since there wouldn't be enough nutrients to sustain a growing fetus.

However, there are other doctors, like Felice Gersh, M.D., who have opposing views. Gersh says, "Based on what we know now, my prediction is that short periods of fasting will actually enhance fertility."

So, who's right? Once again, the science isn't totally clearand most of the research has been done on animal models, instead of humans.

In one study, researchers looked at how three months of intermittent fasting affected female rats. They found that the rats not only lost 19% of their body weight, but they also had significant changes in their reproductive hormones. LH and kisspeptin levels went down, while estradiol levels went up.

However, another review looked at intermittent fasting in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOSa condition with infertility as one of its hallmark symptoms. The researchers hypothesized that intermittent fasting could actually improve fertility in women with PCOS by reducing levels of glucose, insulin, IGF-1, and IGFBP1.

According to the report, women with PCOS tend to have increased expression of IGF-1 and IGFBP1, two hormones that affect insulin production. When insulin levels get high, it triggers the body to make more androgen hormones, like testosterone, which makes it harder to get pregnant. On the other hand, when insulin levels go down, it can improve ovarian function.

Another study added on to this, concluding that short-term calorie restriction could actually increase LH levels in women with PCOS while simultaneously decreasing glucose, insulin, leptin, and testosterone.

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Is Intermittent Fasting Safe For Women? All Your Questions Answered - mindbodygreen.com

Black soldier fly larvae, house fly larvae, mealworms and small mealworms that are grown on food waste can under certain conditions be safely used as an ingredient for animal feed. This is the conclusion of a study by the Risk Assessment & Research Office (BuRO) of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA).

The risk assessment of BuRO shows that potential risks of insects grown on former foodstuff can be adequately controlled as animal feed. This means that insects could be allowed as animal feed for more farm animals than just the current legally permitted fish, crustaceans and shellfish (aquaculture animals).

Former foods consisting only of vegetable components, or animal components derived from dairy, eggs, honey, melted fat, and collagen or gelatin from non-ruminating farm animals can be used safely for the breeding of insects for all farm animals, provided that these farmed insects or the products thereof undergo adequate germ-reducing treatment, for example heating.

BuRO also sees possibilities for the breeding of insects on former foodstuff containing animal components for several types of farm animals, which according to current legislation is not yet allowed. The precondition for this is that adequate germ-reducing treatment is used and furthermore that the insects are only fed to non-ruminants. Also the insect diet fed to these non-ruminants must not correspond to the non-ruminate species in the former foodstuff on which the insects are grown.

BuRO advises the NVWA to ensure that insects (products) as feed material comply with prevailing microbial safety standards for other animal proteins and that the traceability of the species in former foodstuff derived from meat from non-ruminant animals, fish and shellfish is properly secured. BuRO also recommends that developments in the insect sector be properly monitored.

The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has asked BuRO to investigate the risks of the use of insects in animal feed because the ministry has a desire to change the rules for the use of former foodstuff streams in the context of stimulating circular agriculture in animal feed. One of the options is to use former foods as a breeding ground (substrate) for breeding insects. These insects are then used as a protein-rich ingredient in animal feed. BuRO advises the Minister of LNV to use this risk assessment as a basis for proposals for further adaptation of European legislation.

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Insects grown on food waste are safe to use in animal feed - All about feed

The medical facts behind one woman's viral warning.

I don't know what it is, but I always read things about not shampooing or using dry shampoo. I think it's because neither idea seems plausible to me, and I can't believe that your hair can look good if it hasn't been washed or if it's been treated with dry shampoo.

One Belfast woman, Nicole Baxter, found out the hard way that dry shampoo can abolutely be severly damaging to the scalp. People were fascinated when she first shared a since-deleted Facebook post about her dry shampoo troubles, which quickly went viral.

Nicole had been a regular user of Bastiste dry shampoo until she noticed red sores, blisters, and a bald patch on her head that kept getting bigger.

RELATED:How Long Should You Leave Purple Shampoo On Dry Hair?

Needless to say, Nicole was extremely alarmed when she saw what was happening with her scalp.

Baxter's original Facebook post read as follows:

"So I went to my GP at the end of last year due to having a bald patch on my head which kept getting bigger. Anyone who knows me knows I don't stress and my diet's alright so there didn't seem any reason for this to happen? My scalp was also very itchy and flaky.

"I had wee red sores and blisters all over my scalp and a terrible burning sensation all over my head to the point where I would wake up several times a night due to the discomfort/pain. She referred me to the dermatology unit in Belfast City Hospital where I had my first appointment in February.

"At this initial appointment I was immediately diagnosed with triangular alopecia (hair loss in one area of the head, usually in a triangle), and was told I'd have to come back to have a scalp biopsy (injection straight into my scalp to numb the area, then a hole punch tool used to remove a part of it, then closed up with stitches) done to see what was causing these blisters and sores I had.

"The doctor asked had I anything on my hair at the minute, I said just dry shampoo. So she advised when I come back for the scalp biopsy to come with nothing in my hair and to make sure it was clean. I thought it was weird she said that; it's only dry shampoo, what's that got to do with it? So I actually stopped using it altogether from that day to see what would happen.

"So today was the day for the scalp biopsy. I've been up to high doe all week at the thought of a NEEDLE GOING INTO MY SCALP. I'd Googled the horror stories and everything terrible idea. It was a different doctor doing the biopsy to the one who had prescribed it in February, so first thing I asked was, 'Why am I getting this done? What benefit can come from it?'

"She looked at my file and said that it was to see what the blisters and sores were and could they diagnose a cause, and straight away I'd realized that I didn't have them anymore (I don't know why I hadn't realized before). So she compared my scalp today to the pictures that were in my file from February and asked what had I done differently in the last 6-7 weeks that may have helped it?

"I told her I'd stopped using dry shampoo and that was it, nothing else different. You'd of thought a light bulb went off in the woman's head. She said it's the best thing I could have of done for myself. If she had been at my initial appointment, she never would have even prescribed the biopsy if I had dry shampoo in my hair that day, and that a biopsy isn't going to have any benefit because it can't do anything for the bald patch. So I left the hospital with my scalp fully intact and a prescription for a bottle of T-Gel!

"Moral of the story: Dry shampoo caused me to now have this bald patch on my head (which I still have and it may or may not grow back, but nothing can be done) and a terrible scalp for ages. Just wash your hair people! It is not worth having this awful patch that I might be stuck with on the side of my head all because I can't be arsed to dry my hair."

RELATED:21 Best Shampoos For An Itchy Scalp

Prior to being deleted, her post had been shared on social media over 30,000 times.

After an influx of messages and comments from various concern trolls, Nicole added this follow-up to her original post:

"In the name of God, never in all my life did I think I'd have to explain my personal hygiene to 23,000+ people!

"I only meant for this to warn my friends that these are the symptoms I had, and after I stopped using dry shampoo most of them cleared up (never imagined it would have 23k+ shares). Then, AN ACTUAL DOCTOR told me it was down to the dry shampoo, not a bunch of people who suddenly gained in-depth knowledge of dermatology and my personal showering schedule."

Obviously, Nicole had a horrible reaction to over-using this particular brand of dry shampoo, and not everybody is going to have that same kind of reaction.

If you're using dry shampoo, it might be a good idea to do a test run to see how you react to it.

And, as frequency of use seems to be an issue, remember that dry shampoo should not be used as a regular replacement for washing your hair. Perhaps use it only when in dire need.

Another lesson we can learn from Nicole is that whenever you put anything out on social media trust me, I know from experience no matter how innocuous you think something is, somebody is always going to find something negative to say to you in response. Be prepared.

RELATED:Can You Use Dry Shampoo On Your Pubic Hair?

Christine Schoenwald is a writer, performer, and teacher. She's had pieces in The Los Angeles Times, Salon, Woman's Day, Purple Clover, Bustle, and is a regular contributor to Ravishly and YourTango. Check out her website or her Facebook page.

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Is Dry Shampoo Bad For Your Hair? Potential Health Risks And How To Use It Safely - YourTango

"What do you think, which one is better: chin up vs pull up?" You will hear this question very often if you ever mention to anyone that you did either and especially if you included both in your gym workout routine. The truth is, they are both excellent compound exercises, albeit not easy to perform correctly.

Although similar to some degree, chin ups and pull ups work different muscles, or at least work similar muscles differently. Choosing one over another very much comes down to what muscle groups you would like to focus on more in your workout routine.

There are many different ways to build muscle and lucky for you, we have many great workout options here at T3: have a look at the best full body workout routine, this two-day push-pull workout, we also have a two-day push-pull upper body workout as well as the best beginners calisthenics workout too, just to mention a few.

Make sure the pull up bar is drilled in properly at home

(Image credit: mirafit)

Especially is you are trying to perform chin ups or pull ups at home, make sure that the pull up bar you're using is safe to use before you apply your weight onto it. These exercises might not seem too dangerous at first but your bodyweight provides plenty of resistance and if you fall off the bars for any reason, you can hurt yourself, pretty badly.

Before you even attempt to do either chin ups or pull ups, improve your grip strength by just hanging from the bar, resting your legs on the floor or on an elevated surface like a chair or aerobic step. When hanging, try not to drop your shoulders and engage your core as well.

Doing multiple sets of chin ups/pull ups require a lot of strength so don't try to rush progress and hurt yourself in the process.

Important: if you are new to exercising or haven't done much exercising in the past, try easing your body and mind into working out rather than going too strong at the beginning. If you have some excess body fat, we have a few handy tips on how to lose weight fast (relatively) as well as many articles on different diet methods (link to these are in the article above). Just be sensible.

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Chin should go over the bar at the top

(Image credit: Future)

Best for: sculpting big arms, especially the biceps and strengthening the lats

Muscle worked: biceps, lats, forearm, shoulders, core

Chin ups are probably a tad bit easier to perform than pull ups, mainly because in the case of chin ups, your arm muscles especially your biceps can be utilised more during the movement. For the same reason, chin ups are better to build arm definition and to really make the biceps pop.

To perform a chin up, grab the bar with an underhand grip (palms facing you), hands being shoulder apart. Even in the lowermost position, you should drop your shoulders completely and engage your core too. This will help you stabilise your body, especially on your descent.

At halfway point, your chin should be over the bar. otherwise it's only a half-rep and you don't want to half-rep. It is not only less effective but also promotes bad form as well.

SIXPAD Electric Muscle Stimulation Training Gear | Prices from 175 at AmazonSIXPAD training gear won't replace hard work but it can make it more effective. These cordless pads can effectively enhance muscle stimulation and can "help users achieve an 8% improvement in abdominal muscle size after 4 weeks alongside a balanced diet and exercise" or so does SIXPAD claim. The percentage goes up to 12% after 8 weeks and many SIXPAD products can be used in other areas than just your abs.View Deal

Hands wide apart for a nice V-shape

(Image credit: Future)

Best for: achieving the coveted V-shape, building a strong upper back

Muscles worked: lats, teres major, rhomboids, biceps, core

Being able to perform pull ups correctly is the ultimate power move in a gym. Many people who can powerlift twice their bodyweight would struggle to do eight clean reps of pull ups.

Pull ups are challenging because you need to be agile as well as strong to be able to do the pull ups, not to mention shoulder mobility, something a lot of people ignore and just assume they have because "they use to rule the monkey bars in primary school".

To perform a pull up, hold the bar with an overhand grip (palms facing away from you) and hands being wide apart. A nice wide grip will help activate the lats even more and will help you shape that back-V sooner.

The same rules apply to pull ups as for chin ups: core engaged, not dropping shoulders, being mindful of the descent. As with any exercise, the slower you can perform it within reason the longer you activate the muscles and the quicker you are going to see results.

Munch on the right snacks

(Image credit: Grenade)

To avoid any injuries and to help recovery, keep an eye out on your protein intake and always stretch after your exercising sessions. And make sure you drink plenty of water as well. A decent gym water bottle doesn't cost all that much.

Supplement-wise, you only really need two: protein powder and creatine. The former will help in the muscle repair process and latter will boost performance. Both are safe to use and there is a wide variety of offerings so you can choose a flavour you prefer.

With creatine, we recommend you get the unflavoured variety because it mixes well with any liquid and you only need a small amount to keep your creatine levels saturated. This means you can mix your 3-5 grams of creatine with anything in the morning (water, juice, even coffee) without having to worry about an aftertaste.

If you feel like you need a nibble throughout the day, opt in for low-sugar protein bars and snacks as opposed to Mars bars.

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Chin up vs pull up: what's the difference, muscles worked and WHAT IS THE BEST ONE? - T3

While most of Love Is Blind actually takes place outside the pods, the love chambers were the most formative part of the experiment, so its no wonder memories have stuck with the contestants over a year and a half later. When speaking to Refinery29 at an event, a handful of the cast Jessica, Mark, Giannina, Damian, Lauren, Cameron, Carlton Morton, Diamond Jack, Kelly Chase, and Kenny Barnes reflected fondly on their time in the experiment, and, more importantly, they answered every nagging question viewers have been shouting to the skies as they make their way through the series. Like the cast, we didnt see a lot that went down in the pods behind-the-scenes twerk lessons, salsa dancing, and a whole lotta naps but I can safely say all of us fell in love.

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7 Questions You Have About The Love Is Blind Pods, Answered By The Cast Who Fell In Love In Them - Refinery29

Youve been there before: On a dead-end road that leads nowhere but diet dysmorphia. You want to lose weight, you want to get healthier, and you want to slim down and tone up. Unfortunately, its not always as easy as simply picking a diet, and vowing to stick to it. With a plethora of fad diets and fitness experts claiming to be the best on the market, weeding through all the hype can be a difficult process, and finding the right one for you can seem like a never-ending journey. According to the U.S. News & World Report, there are some diets that work better than others, which is good news for the estimated 45 million Americans who diet each year. If youre looking for a diet thats earned notable success, give one of these three a try.

In addition to being ranked No.1 by the U.S. News & World Report in both the Best Diets Overall and Best Diets for Healthy Eating categories, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet is also endorsed by several reputable organizations, including the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, The American Heart Association, The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, The 2011 AHA Treatment Guidelines for Women, and the Mayo Clinic. And the main reason behind such notable praise? The Dash Diet has been proven to lower blood pressure and is especially recommended for people with high blood pressure. The eating plan is rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat or non-fat dairy, and whole grains; it is high in fiber, low in fat, and rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

From the companys inception to its introduction of the Points System, the Weight Watchers Diet has been at the forefront of the industry, having landed a handful of influential celebrity sponsors, including everyone from Jessica Simpson to Oprah Winfrey. Designed for the masses, the Weight Watchers Diet ranked #1 in the Best Weight-Loss Diets, Best Commercial Diet Plans, and Easiest Diets to Follow categories. Of the diet, along with the Jenny Craig diet, study author Kimberly Gudzune, MD, MPH, assistant professor at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, said in this Health article, Out of all the programs we examined, only Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig achieved a significant weight loss that was sustained for 12 months in multiple studies. The brand, which is based upon a Points System, meetings, and gradual change in lifestyle, appeals to anyone looking to lose weight in a supportive, noncompetitive community of like-minded individuals who are looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Ranked No.1 in the Easiest Diets to Follow category, and No.2 in the Best Diets Overall category, the MIND Diet has garnered considerable attention due to its claims that stretch far beyond weight loss alone. The MIND Diet stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay, and is a combination of the DASH and Mediterranean Diets: the Mediterranean Diet was ranked #3 in the Best Diets for Healthy Eating and #1 for Best Plant-Based Diets categories. The MIND Diet focuses on leafy greens, vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish, poultry, olive oil, and wine; and the diet limits red meat, butter and margarine, cheese, pastries and sweets, and fried or fast food. Want an even better reason to try this diet?

As mentioned in this Womens Health article, a study from the Rush University Medical Center found that people who followed the MIND diet had reduced their risk of Alzheimers by an average of 53 percent. Kate Patton, R.D., a registered dietician with the Cleveland Clinic, further told Womens Health, The combination of lean protein, heart- and brain-healthy omega 3s, antioxidants, and fiber, as well as low levels of added sugar and saturated and trans fat reduces inflammation to help cut your risk of dementia.

Read more from the original source:
Need to Lose Weight? 3 Easy Diets That Actually Work