meal plans for weight loss weight management 1200 calorie diet fast weight loss tips i want to lose weight
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback Issues Statewide Weight Loss Challenge, Dismisses School Lunch Guidelines
Americans are undeniably getting fatter by the decade with the latest reports showing that more than half of U.S. adults in most states are now obese. In the face of such staggering statistics, one state governor is taking an unconventional stand. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has issued a weight loss challenge this week in an [...]
Empty Calories Comic: Giving Thanks for a Non-GMO Holiday
See these related articles: GMO Labeling Didn’t Win the Battle in California, but We Haven’t Lost the War What is a GMO? Best Healthy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes
online diet journal diet solution hcg diet information weekly diet plan dr simeons diet
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
How to cure lactose intolerance
Can lactose intolerance be cured?
The major reason some people can’t digest dairy products is they lack the enzyme lactase, which is necessary to break down lactose in the small intestine. It has been determined that continued genetic expression of this enzyme, known as lactase persistence, is dependent on ancestry and racial background. (2) The ability to consume dairy probably gave early herdsmen a distinct survival advantage, allowing for the spread of the gene in certain regions of the world such as northern Europe and parts of Africa; today, only about 40% of the world’s adult population maintain full lactase function following childhood. (3, 4) Lactase deficiency makes digesting dairy products more challenging for these individuals.
However, true lactose intolerance is rarely diagnosed by medical testing, and adults frequently mistake their gastrointestinal symptoms as a sign that they are unable to digest dairy products at all. Studies have shown that even diagnosed “lactose malabsorbers” are capable of consuming moderate amounts of dairy, tolerating an average 12 grams of lactose when administered in a single dose (the lactose content found in 1 cup of milk) with little to no symptoms. (5) Additionally, many adults who believe they have lactose intolerance are actually suffering from other gastrointestinal disorders such as SIBO, celiac disease, or IBS, and do not see significant benefit from eliminating dairy. Ultimately, there are many people who avoid dairy products without reason for doing so.
Why dairy is worth eating
You may be wondering why eating dairy even matters; after all, there are many examples of ancestral cultures that had no dairy in their diets and maintained superb health. However, it is believed that certain ethnicities may have had physical adaptations to their low calcium diet, and also traditionally consumed animal foods that are higher in calcium but probably not so appetizing to us Westerners, such as fish heads, bones, and skin. (6, 7) Therefore, they were able to meet their individual calcium needs without milk and dairy.
Calcium is a mineral that is difficult to get adequate amounts of in a modern Western diet without the inclusion of dairy. While the adequate levels of fat soluble vitamins A, D, and K2 reduces the amount of calcium an adult needs to maintain bone health, it can still be challenging to get enough calcium simply from leafy greens and bone-in fish. Several studies have shown that individuals with lactose intolerance have lower bone density and are at higher risk for fractures and osteoporosis, likely due to their inadequate calcium intake. (8, 9, 10) This risk is possibly exacerbated by low K2 consumption, as grass-fed dairy is one of the best sources of vitamin K2.
Pastured dairy products, in particular, are also a good source of the fat soluble vitamins A, D and K2 – which can also be difficult to obtain elsewhere in the diet. In fact, the only other significant sources of K2 are goose liver and natto, foods that aren’t typically eaten or easy to find. And, as I pointed out in a recent article, dairy is the primary source of the natural trans-fat conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which may have anti-cancer and other beneficial properties.
So what can you do if you believe you truly have lactose intolerance but want to begin eating dairy again? It may surprise you to learn that the quality and quantity of your gut bacteria can play an important role in your ability to tolerate dairy products. By taking certain kinds of probiotics and consuming fermented dairy on a regular basis you can improve, if not eliminate, many of the symptoms of lactose intolerance that come with eating dairy.
Using probiotics to cure lactose intolerance
Studies have shown that supplementation with probiotics, in addition to consuming yogurt that has been enhanced with certain types of bacteria, can alleviate symptoms of lactose intolerance by modifying the metabolic activity of microbiota in the colon. (11, 12, 13) These bacteria may even produce their own lactase enzyme, and consuming lactose from dairy products can promote the growth of these bacteria in the colon. Over time, these effects can lead to greater lactase content in the gut, improved lactose digestion, and eventually the elimination of intolerance symptoms.
If you plan to use yogurt and probiotics to improve your digestion of dairy products, it’s important to start slowly and build up tolerance gradually. Often, negative effects from dairy consumption come from simply eating more lactose in one sitting than one’s gut can completely metabolize. I recommend starting with probiotic supplementation first, and focusing on bifidobacterium longum, a strain that has been shown to efficiently metabolize lactose. (14)
Jarro-Dophilus, a shelf-stable probiotic that doesn’t require refrigeration, is one option. Taking prebiotics is another way of significantly increasing bifidobacterium levels; in fact, some studies suggest prebiotics are more effective than probiotics at doing this. Biotagen is the prebiotic I use in my clinic. Remember to start at a very low dose and build up slowly over time with both pre- and probiotics to avoid any unpleasant side effects.
In addition to this supplement, I suggest consuming a few spoonfuls of a high quality full-fat yogurt every day, with each meal if possible. This will introduce beneficial bacteria into your gut that are effective lactose metabolizers, and by slowly increasing the amount of yogurt you eat every day, you may be able to work up to eating two or more servings of fermented dairy every day.
If you tolerate the yogurt well, and want to try diversifying your dairy intake, my next recommendation is to start including full-fat hard cheeses (raw if possible); these cheeses are great sources of calcium and vitamin K2 and are very low in lactose. One ounce of hard cheese contains about a third of the recommended intake of calcium, and gouda is the best source of vitamin K2 of all cheeses. (15) These hard cheeses are extremely low in lactose, and make a nutrient-dense addition to a whole foods diet. As you become more tolerant of dairy products, you can try higher lactose items such as soft cheeses, cream, and even fluid milk. Just remember to stick to the full fat and grass-fed versions as often as possible.
Of course, another option to try is raw milk. Anecdotal evidence from raw milk drinkers around the country suggests that many people who cannot tolerate pasteurized milk have no trouble drinking raw milk. (16) Research conducted on this theory, however, indicates that truly lactose intolerant individuals do not experience any benefit from drinking raw milk over pasteurized milk. (17) Some feel this result suggests that while many people believe themselves to be lactose intolerant, there is only a small percentage of people who are truly lactose intolerant from a clinical perspective.
The best way to figure out which dairy products work for you and your digestive system is simply to try them yourself. By taking the time to introduce lactose fermenting bacteria through probiotics and high quality yogurt, you may find your lactose intolerance symptoms decreasing over time. Of course, if you’d rather eat fish heads to get your calcium, feel free to skip the dairy!
Have any of you ever cured yourself of lactose intolerance? What method did you use? Let me know in the comments below!
Source: http://chriskresser.com/how-to-cure-lactose-intolerance
diabetes and diet joy bauer diet hypothyroidism diet diet and nutrition diet meals delivered
Lab Notes: Online Medical Record Access Increases Visits; Flu or Fever While Pregnant Ups Autism Risk
On our Lab Notes page CalorieLab’s editors select and rank the day’s essential health news items in real time. Readers can suggest, vote and comment on items. Below are brief summaries of this past week’s (November 17, 2012 through November 24, 2012) Lab Notes items. To see today’s items, visit Lab Notes.
1. Online Medical Record Access Increases Visits
Results from a new study suggests that giving people online access to their medical records may not reduce the number of visits or phone calls they make to the doctor, and in fact may actually increase them.
2. Flu or Fever While Pregnant Ups Autism Risk
Babies born to women who came down with the flu or ran a fever for more than one week during pregnancy are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop some form of autism by age three. No link was found between common colds or sinus infections and autism.
3. Groups Say Birth Control Pill Should Be OTC
A panel of obstetrician gynecologists and scientists wrote a statement to drugs regulators that called for making birth control pills over-the-counter, so women will have greater access to them which will reduce unwanted pregnancies.
4. 1 in 20 American Youths Has Used Steroids
1 in 20 American youths has used anabolic steroids to build muscle mass, says new research.
5. Red State Roads Much Deadlier Than Blues
If you plan on driving in, to, or through a state that voted for Romney during the upcoming holiday season, be warned: the 10 states with the highest rates of traffic fatalities all went Red. Meanwhile, the 10 lowest-fatality states all went Blue.
6. Starbucks Buys Teavana
Teavana currently has 300 locations in shopping malls, but Starbucks wants to expand the popular Teavana into stand-along stores around the world, complete with tea bars where customers can purchase cold or hot drinks.
7. Le Whif: Breathable Chocolate in Tube
Makers of the breathable coffee and vitamins are betting that you also want to breathe in your chocolate while chatting with friends over coffee.
8. No Major Change in FDA Pharmacy Oversight Yet
There will be no new regulations giving the FDA more authority in overseeing compound pharmacies until they show their role in the events leading up to a fungal meningitis outbreak tied to a steroid made by The New England Compounding Center.
9. Santa Stuck at Beard While Rappelling
Santa needed some assistance after his beard became stuck while rappelling at the Reading shopping centre in the UK.
10. Little Brother May Raise Blood Pressure
Having a younger brother may mean you’re more likely to have higher blood pressure into adulthood, claim researchers who studied 374 Bolivian adults living in villages in the Amazon.
11. Diet Essential for Wound Healing in Diabetes
Chronic wounds such as foot ulcers are a common problem for patients with diabetes. French researchers have found that a high protein diet, particularly one rich in two specific amino acids, may improve wound healing in diabetic laboratory animals.
12. Hi-Caf Energy Drinks Could Be Fatal
One month after the FDA noted a link between five deaths and Monster Energy drinks, the agency announced a probe into reports of thirteen deaths and 33 hospitalizations linked to 5-Hour Energy shots. The concern: high caffeine concentrations.
(By CalorieLab editors)
Lab Notes: Online Medical Record Access Increases Visits; Flu or Fever While Pregnant Ups Autism Risk is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog
Source: http://calorielab.com/news/2012/11/24/this-past-week-health-news-from-labnotes-17/
acai berry diet best diets body cleansing diet brazilian diet pills protein diet plan
Do Child Care Centres Promote Obesity?
This has, in some circles led to discussions whether such parental home care can be replaced by putting the kids in childcare centres.
A study by Marie-Claude Geoffroy and colleagues from the University College London, UK, published in the Journal of Pediatrics now reports that preschool daycare may substantially increase the risk for overweight and obesity in kids.
The study looks at 1600 kids enrolled in a prospective birth cohort in Quebec, Canada with information on child care arrangements (center-based/family-based/care by a relative/nanny) and other relevant variables at ages 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4 years in relationship to measured weights and heights at ages 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 years of age.
Despite adjusting for several potential confounding factors (including socioeconomic position, breastfeeding, maternal employment, and maternal body mass index), children who attended a center-based childcare were about 65% more likely to be overweight or obese in childhood (4-10 years) than kids in parental care.
Similarly, kids cared for by a relative were about 50% more likely to be overweight or obese.
Further analyses suggested that for each increment of 5 hours spent in either center-based or relative childcare, the odds of overweight/obesity in the first decade of life increased by 9%.
As the authors point out, it may be time to carefully scrutinize the “obesogeonic” features of childcare arrangements in comparison to parental care.
As noted previously on these pages, when parents have more important issues to deal than being home to raise their kids, their offspring may well be at increased risk of obesity - a fact that is often lost (or rather ignored) in public health discussion on the the root causes of the childhood obesity epidemic.
I wonder how my readers feel about the impact of non-parental childcare on childhood weight management.
AMS
Edmonton, Alberta
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AryaSharma/~3/zNZLjx_6BhA/do-child-care-centres-promote-obesity.html
diet meals delivered hcg diet reviews original hcg diet weight loss programs for women a good diet
Biggest Loser 14 Official Trailer Reveals New Contestants, New Logo, and New Theme
They’re back and not necessarily bigger than ever, but definitely younger! NBC’s Biggest Loser will return to prime time on January 6 for the much-anticipated season premier of the show’s 14th season. A season off has allowed the producers to refocus and (we hope) select a cast as inspiring and motivated as some of the [...]
abs diet online healthy diet plan high fiber diets akins diet crash diet
Is the Nike+ Kinect Training Program the Personal Trainer You’ve Been Looking For?
(CC) Fast Company/Nike+ Kinect
Are you envious of celebs who have the monetary means to hire a personal trainer to stop by their house at the flip of a switch? Sure, that would be a nice perk to have in life, but there are other options for the rest of us. The Nike+ Kinect Training program might just be one of them.
The gym isn’t for everyone. Some of us prefer the comfort of our own home, where we are free to be as silly and free with our bad selves as we’d like. If you have an Xbox 360, you might want to check out the recently unveiled Nike+ Kinect Training program. It acts as a virtual trainer using motion sensing technology to guide your movements and challenge you to push harder.
The program retails for $49.99 and comes with customizable workouts. It doesn’t matter if you’re a new mom looking to get back in shape, someone in your 50s who has never been very athletic, or a pro who can’t get by for even a day without a workout: The Nike+Kinect adjusts to anyone’s current level of fitness. Nike does recommend, however, that anyone who is just beginning the program go through the Fitness Challenge at the beginning to get an assessment.
If you do the Fitness Challenge every four weeks, you will receive a Fuel Print to track your progress. It can let you know what you are doing wrong and what you are doing right. It can identify your strengths and your weaknesses. In addition, it allows you to compare your stats and/or progress with that of the greater Nike+Kinect community, including its own personal trainers. There’s nothing like a little bit of healthy competition to keep motivation at a prime level.
As with many programs of this nature, there is also a mobile companion app available for iOS and windows devices.
(By Marissa Brassfield for CalorieLab)
Ed. note: Enjoyed this post? Click the “Like” button below and be sure to “Like” the CalorieLab Facebook page.
Is the Nike+ Kinect Training Program the Personal Trainer You’ve Been Looking For? is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog
Source: http://calorielab.com/news/2012/11/19/nike-kinect-training/
easy diet 800 calorie diet mediteranean diet paleo diet chinese diet tea
Smartphone Apps for Healthy Living [infographic]
If you have a vice — and let’s face it, we all do — then you’re lucky to be living in the year 2012. With advancements in technology, smartphone apps now have a healthy living solution for nearly every need.
The number of people who have a healthy living app on their phone is expected to triple by the year 2015. As one might expect, the majority of the health-related apps are in the weight loss category. While iPhone users are seven times more likely to pay for health apps, Android users are 10 times more likely to use reference apps. Some of the most popular health apps on iPhone include Lose It, Pregnancy Tracker, iMapMyRun, Period Tracker Lite and MyFitnessPal. When it comes to Android, the most popular health apps are Instant Heart Rate, Noom Weight Loss Coach, FatSecret and, once again, MyFitnessPal.
How does having apps like these under our fingertips improve our standard of living? For patients, when you’re able to self-monitor your health with easy access to information, it results in fewer doctor’s visits and lower treatment costs. There’s also a benefit to healthcare providers. When they have fewer visits from patients, they’re better able to assist their larger population of clients, which means better patient monitoring and improved service and efficiency.
Check out the infographic below for more insights on smartphone apps for healthy living.
(CC) Confused.com
(By Marissa Brassfield for CalorieLab)
Ed. note: Enjoyed this post? Click the “Like” button below and be sure to “Like” the CalorieLab Facebook page.
Smartphone Apps for Healthy Living [infographic] is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog
Source: http://calorielab.com/news/2012/11/20/smartphone-apps-for-healthy-living-infographic/
macrobiotic diet abs diet la weight loss low carb diet plan protein diet
Recipe: Curried Chicken (or Turkey) Salad
Type of dish: Lunch
Equipment: Cooking pot, whisk
Servings: Makes 2-3 servings.
Ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (instructions on poaching them below, or instead, use leftover cooked chicken from any part of the bird)
- 3 celery ribs, chopped
- 1/2 cup peeled and small dice apple (about half an apple), or substitute raisins or quartered grapes
- 1/4 cup minced shallot or red onion
- 1 tsp curry powder for a mild flavored dish–or add more to taste
- juice of one lime
- pinch cayenne
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup cashews, lightly toasted
- large bed of greens of choice
- 1/2 to 2/3 cup freshly made mayonnaise (ingredients to follow)
- For the mayonnaise:
- 1 fresh egg yolk
- 1/2 tsp dijon mustard or mustard powder
- 1 TB red wine vinegar or lemon juice
- pinch salt
- 1/2 cup highest quality olive oil
Directions:
To poach chicken breasts:
- Place the chicken breasts in a pot with 1 TB salt, and cover them with water. Turn to medium heat and bring water to a very gentle simmer. Do not cover yet; heat in this water (temperature of water 170 degrees) for 5 minutes.
- Cover, turn off the heat, and let the pot stand for 10 to 12 minutes. Check for an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Remove the breasts to a plate and let cool, patting them dry.
- Place celery, apple, shallots, curry powder and cayenne, cilantro, and cashews in a bowl.
- When chicken meat has cooled, cut into small dice and mix well with all the ingredients in the bowl.
- Stir in the mayonnaise and lime juice. When well incorporated, serve immediately on a bed of greens.
To make the mayonnaise:
- All ingredients should be brought to as close to room temperature as possible before beginning. Place the egg yolk in a sturdy bowl and mix with a whisk for 1 minute.
- Add the mustard, vinegar (or lemon juice), and salt to the bowl, whisk again to incorporate.
- With one hand (or do this with a partner), whisk constantly from the time you begin dropping in the oil until about 2/3 of the way through the oil to be added. Be prepared not to be interrupted for a few minutes.
- At first, drop in the oil drop by drop, gently whisking constantly to form an emulsion. After about 2 TB of oil has been incorporated, change the oil to a thin stream, rather than slow drops.
- Once all the oil is whisked in, your mayonnaise is ready to use. Eat within about 2 days and keep refrigerated at all times until serving.
Enjoy!
Source: http://chriskresser.com/recipe-curried-chicken-or-turkey-salad
best diet plans mediteranian diet hcg diet shots mufa diet wedding diet
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
100 Ways to Boost Your Energy in Syd Hoffman’s New Book
All-Day Energy: 100 Ways to Boost Your Energy…Now! was written by Syd Hoffman, a former elementary school principal who was fascinated by the endless energy in her students. She started making changes and found a dramatic difference in her energy to the point of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. She found that “it doesn’t take hours of [...]
Source: http://www.dietsinreview.com/diet_column/11/100-ways-to-boost-your-energy-in-syd-hoffmans-new-book/
losing weight special k diet hcg diet dangers banana diet diets
Rambo Takes on Holiday Health and Fitness
Contributor: “Dr. J”Dr. J offers his irreverent, slightly irrelevant, but possibly useful opinions on health and fitness. A Florida surgeon and fitness freak with a black belt in karate, he runs 50 miles a week and flies a Cherokee Arrow 200.
Rambo here! With the holidays almost upon us, I would like to advise you on how to gently take them on and take them out!
Just to set the tone for this column, if you feel that holiday health and fitness is an oxymoron, leave off the oxy and look in the mirror! How’s that attitude working for you?
Going into Battle
Do you know how many calories the average person supposedly eats on Thanksgiving Day, let alone for the rest of the holiday season? 4500! Do you know the truth about how far and long you will be on a forced march to burn off that load? You probably can’t handle the truth, or that 75+ mile march in full gear, for that matter! Don’t dig that extra-large foxhole for yourself that you then have to get out of, soldier!
I’ve heard people say, ‘I got out of the exercise habit,’ or their healthy eating habit. You may have gotten out of exercise and healthy eating, but I have news for you: You were never in the habit! If you were in the habit, you would still be doing it.
When it comes to difficulties with maintaining holiday health and fitness, you had better learn how to stay out of them, because it is not going to be nearly as easy to get out of them.
No excuses will be accepted! Start right now and exorcise them from your vocabulary. Taking time off from exercise and allowing yourself to clean out every crumb in the mess hall around the holidays does a lot more harm than good. The holidays are a time when it’s even more important to keep up your exercise and established healthy eating habits.
If you have worked to create these good healthy habits in your recent past, but have had bad habits before that, be warned. Do not reinforce those bad habits that you used to have. They will come back with a vengeance, and before you know it, you will be like a snowball rolling down the hill to fat land!
Alcohol
Alcohol will remove the best laid plans of any partygoer. If you can’t absolutely be sure of what you will do, don’t drink alcohol. I like how it’s been suggested that you have a glass of water between every glass of alcohol containing drinks. Exactly how many drinks do you plan on having when the recommended safe limit for men is two, and for women one? My advice, have a glass of water between every swallow of your drink!
A Pre-emptive Strike
People who are pushing food in your grill are the enemy. The people who really care about us want what is good for us.
You don’t have to discuss it at length, but approach them up front and tell them it’s your priority to take care of yourself this year.
Stand up for yourself. Start with a small refusal, like “no thank you.” Then, and only then, if need be, bring out the bigger weapons.
Guilt is their grenade! You can feel it coming. They will be lobbing their extra special, guaranteed to put five pounds where you don’t want it, sugar and fat laden, lap-band necessitating dessert into your lap. Be prepared!
Take No Prisoners!
If you have leftover candy or other unhealthy foods, don’t be taking them to your workplace to do others a favor and share! Sabotaging others’ healthy resolutions is not helping your comrades. See that health aid on the curb called your garbage can? Throw that stuff out, preferably before going into your house!
Make Your Plan of Attack
Make plans to stay fit during the holidays before they begin. Create a schedule that allows for workouts and for time to prepare healthier meals.
Fill your plate with high-volume, lower-calorie foods first, then add the rest with serious portion control. Spend time getting to know your family and friends better, as risky as that is. You will be surprised, it might actually make your holiday what the holidays were supposed to be in the first place.
Drop Down and Give Me 25!
Combine physical activities with holiday tasks and errands. Double-time those errands. Do those chores you have been putting off. Get as much movement in as you can.
High-intensity interval training, which burns the maximum calories in the minimum amount of time, can be your best compatriot.
Every year it’s the same thing about what we can do about the overindulgent holiday food fest. Then many of us have that holiday food fest! Lots of big eating, lots of big regrets over and over again.
Rambo’s not about talking. Rambo’s about doing.
This is the first holiday year for the rest of your life.
Start doing!
Ed. note: Enjoyed this post? Click the “Like” button below and be sure to “Like” the CalorieLab Facebook page.
Rambo Takes on Holiday Health and Fitness is a post from: CalorieLab - Health News & Information Blog
Source: http://calorielab.com/news/2012/11/20/rambo-takes-on-holiday-health-and-fitness/
original hcg diet weight loss programs for women a good diet online diet journal diet solution
Energy drinks, Cracker Jacks, and caffeine: enough already
People who consume caffeinated energy drinks may be dying right and left (Because of the caffeine? The drinks? Hard to say) but that isn’t stopping food manufacturers from adding it to everything: Cracker Jacks, jelly beans, Gummi Bears, brownies, mints, and maple syrup.
The FDA has just released its data on problems reported among users of three caffeinated energy drinks.
According to the New York Times,
The three products involved in the release — Rockstar Energy, 5-Hour Energy and Monster Energy — are all marketed as dietary supplements. Other energy drinks like Red Bull, NOS and AMP are marketed by their producers as beverages. There is not a mandatory reporting requirement for beverages, though makers can do so voluntarily.
In releasing the filings, the F.D.A. said it thought that even with the mandatory reporting requirement for dietary supplements, “only a small fraction of adverse events associated with any product is reported.”
…The records related to Monster Energy and 5-hour Energy came to light because they were released by the F.D.A. under the Freedom of Information Act.
The choice of labeling these products as foods or supplements deserves scrutiny. By an act of Congress, dietary supplements do not have to meet the same standards for content and health claims as foods, and the FDA cannot do much to regulate them unless the products are demonstrably harmful.
Even though people died after drinking these products does not necessarily mean that the products caused the deaths. Even this number of deaths could be a coincidence.
But earlier, the Times reported that
Since 2009, 5-Hour Energy has been mentioned in some 90 filings with the F.D.A., including more than 30 that involved serious or life-threatening injuries like heart attacks, convulsions and, in one case, a spontaneous abortion….
Some lawmakers are calling on the F.D.A. to increase its regulation of the products and the New York State attorney general is investigating the practices of several producers.
I looked up the Supplement Facts label for 5-Hour Energy.
According to statements given to Beverage Daily, 5-Hour Energy says there isn’t any evidence that its products cause deaths. Its shots contain no more caffeine than a cup of coffee, and do not contain herbal ingredients.
But the product label does not list caffeine content. The FDA does not require companies to disclose caffeine levels.
It allows them to market the products as drinks or as dietary supplements. Monster Energy contains 240 mg caffeine in 24 ounces. It has been associated with the deaths of five people so far.
The Times points out that healthy adults can consume large amounts of caffeine with no evidence of harm but that caffeine can be risky for people with underlying conditions like heart disorders. How much is risky? It’s hard to say.
Most adults know how much caffeine they can handle without getting shaky or sleep-deprived. But kids don’t, necessarily.
Consumer Reports tested products and found that some energy drinks contained more than 240 mg per serving, but notes that packages sometimes contain more than one serving.
The FDA considers caffeine to be safe. But in an opinion last updated in 2011, FDA’s Select Committee on GRAS Substances found that “it is inappropriate to include caffeine among the substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS). At current levels of consumption of cola-type beverages, the dose of caffeine can approximate that known to induce such pharmacological effects as central nervous system stimulation.”
The Times notes that sales of energy drinks in the U.S. are booming, growing by about 16% last year and bringing in nearly $9 billion.
What to do? A lawyer for the parent of one of the teenagers who died after drinking Monster Energy is urging the FDA to ban the drinks to minors.
The FDA should investigate the cases, for sure.
And how about adding amounts of caffeine to labels. That seems like a no brainer while the investigations are in progress.
Source: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2012/11/energy-drinks-cracker-jacks-and-caffeine-enough-already/
high fiber diet no carb diet hcg injection diet healthy weight loss low fat diet
The farm bill is still in limbo. Now what?
My NYU Food Policy class meets tonight and we’ll be talking about the farm bill and Dan Imhoff’s most helpful book Food Fight: The Citizens’ Guide to the Next Food and Farm Bill.
To review what’s up with the 2012 farm bill:
Congress updates farm bills every five years or so. It passed the last one in 2008, with an expiration date at midnight on September 30, 2012. This was the first time Congress ever set an expiration date to land in the midst of a presidential election. This was asking for trouble. Congress is paralyzed in election years.
That date has now come and gone.
But in June 2011, the Senate passed its version of the bill: The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012.
The House, however, was unable to come to agreement on its version: The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012.
Why? Election-year politics and disagreements about whether and by how much the SNAP (food stamps) budget should be cut. More than 80% of farm bill spending goes to SNAP benefits—a whopping $72 billion last year–making it a prime target for budget cutting.
This situation puts us in farm bill limbo.
The significance of limbo is best explained by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).
- Without a new farm bill, commodity (corn, soybean, etc) support programs revert to permanent law contained in the farm bills passed in 1938 and 1949. Why? Because unlike subsequent bills, these did not have expiration dates.
- The old laws reintroduce much higher support prices (through certain loans instead of payments), require much smaller crop production, and lead to much higher consumer prices. They do not include support for soybeans, other oilseeds, peanuts, or sugar, making them woefully out of date.
- Limbo has no effect on SNAP or crop insurance. Congress covered SNAP with a resolution for continued funding through March 2013. The Federal Crop Insurance Act effectively authorizes crop insurance permanently.
- Dairy programs are in turmoil. Milk payments to farmers ended in September. The dairy price support program ends on January 1. Under the 1949 law, government-supported prices would be about four times higher than current law and about twice as high as current market prices.
- The Agricultural Appropriations Act extended some—but not all—conservation programs through 2014.
- The permanent law does not support the hard-won programs that encourage fruit and vegetable production: organic, farmers’ market, beginning farmer, socially disadvantaged farmer, or specialty crop programs. These now have no funding.
This leaves Congress with three options between now and January:
- Finish the current process and pass a bill (unlikely since it only has a few weeks to do this)
- Vote to extend provisions through the 2013 crop year, or
- Start from scratch all over again in a much tighter budget environment—the infamous “fiscal cliff.”
As NSAC explains:
The farm bill is the nation’s major food and agricultural policy vehicle and is about much more than the big ticket items: food stamps, crop insurance, and commodity support. The farm bill is also about conservation and environmental protection, rural economic and community development, food system reform and agricultural research.
With no new farm bill or extension, the programs that address rural and urban job creation, natural resource conservation, renewable energy, and improved production and access to healthy food are in big trouble.
This is a big mess, and a serious result of dysfunctional government. It will be interesting spectator sport to see how Congress handles it.
Will Congress find a way to bring agricultural policy in line with health policy?
Or will Congress simply do whatever is most expedient, given the budgetary mess it has also created.
It’s too bad so much is at stake.
Source: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2012/11/the-farm-bill-is-still-in-limbo-now-what/
fast diets acai berry diet best diets body cleansing diet brazilian diet pills
Sexual Function and Obesity
A recent paper by Ronnie Kolotkin, Durham, NC, published in OBESITY, presents a systematic review of the literature on the relationship between obesity and sexual functioning.
Based on 11 population studies, 20 cross-sectional, and16 weight-loss studies the authors find a robust and consistent negative impact of obesity on sexual functioning.
Thus, in men, erectile dysfunction (ED) is most commonly associated with excess weight.
On the other hand, women with excess weight tend to generally report greater problems with various aspects of sexual desire, arousal and function.
Most weight loss studies have shown significant improvements in sexual function despite, as the authors note, varying study designs, weight loss methods, and follow-up periods.
Based on their review, the authors recommend that future studies
1) investigate differences and similarities between men and women with respect to obesity and sexual functioning,
2) use instruments that go beyond the assessment of sexual dysfunction to include additional concepts such as sexual satisfaction, interest, and arousal and,
3) assess how and the degree to which obese individuals are affected by sexual difficulties.
The authors also recommend that sexual functioning should be more fully addressed by clinicians, both in general practice and in weight loss programs.
AMS
Edmonton, Alberta
.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AryaSharma/~3/3aBEVlclUAE/sexual-function-and-obesity.html
The Ultimate Thanksgiving Leftovers Guide: 20 Delicious Recipes
The big day is over and you likely have a few containers of leftovers lying around your house. This could either mean you eat lots of the same thing over and over again for the next few days or you get creative and turn your turkey, sweet potatoes, and cranberries into something much more delicious [...]
weight loss foods hcg diet drops cholesterol diet diets for quick weight loss best diet to lose weight
5-Week Holiday Survival Guide with $5000 in Prizes from The Best Life and DietsInReview
It’s as hard for us to believe as anyone else that “the holidays” officially kick off in just one week! We hope we aren’t the only ones already thinking about how to make this a healthful season where we spend more time giving thanks and less time feeling guilty. We want to help ensure you [...]
idiot proof diet lose weight diet coffee diet your hcg diet best diet plans
I really want to lose weight?
Lose Weight?
I do not know, do you?
I am a healthy size 14, which apparently makes me the average American woman. I want to be a healthy size 12. I was a size 10 before I had my son, but between my ribs, that he has managed to get on his knees to spread and develop a little baby-the real breasts (Woo-hoo, a real boobs! Where were you when I needed a date to the prom?), I don’t think that’s in the cards. But you never know.
I got to a point in my life where I have learned a lot about personal truths, and one of them is this-skinny just doesn’t seem like the chocolate tastes like. I’m a fan of the Biggest Loser on TV and I love seeing people who change their lives, but I would really like is to see the contestants sit in the doctors and trainers after the competition, and to develop a goal weight, which is suitable for real life calls for a maximum of 2 workouts a week and allows for the occasional pizza. By the end of the season, the contestants are so focused on losing weight, who lives at the gym and eating half the calories of a healthy body functions require. No surprise they put on a little weight immediately after the show and some of them get so depressed about the fact that they are all back, and then some. Competitors who manage to maintain a very lean weight, are the ones who go to professional training, motivational speaking, or, where they are, in practice, paid for the spokesmanship to stay skinny.
If you want to work with the major goals in the media or entertainment, you want to lose weight. The Media is cruel. If you are Kathy Bates does not work in the television and eat cake. Instead, you’ll probably be fine to replace the money and prestige. What do you want?
Do you want that your significant other is a smokin’ hot hardbody? Then the better would be the same, if for no other reason than that the people who seem to spend a lot of time at the gym. If you’re not in there as well, you can see the honey and other hardbodies will be. What do you want?
Ask yourself, is there something you have or do, that you can not only because of the weight. It’s not about whether or not you love yourself. Self esteem is an incredibly complex and the weight-loss industry would like you to think it is almost completely unrelated to your weight. I know that skinny people who feel worthless and fat people who think they are the finest since sliced bread, both equally without objective criteria. The transition to a scale does not change the head noises.
All life is a compromise. I love good food, good wine and relax, and it is going to be brutal, the rest of my time and calories, or it means that I’m going to do a few miles. So I do. My husband does not care about (and when her BMI exceeds mine, he should better not). Blood chemistry is normal. I am fit enough to walk, if I want to run up and down the stairs, and go to the swing dance. I’m not fit to Marathon, but then, I do not want to run a marathon.
If your butt is too big for the airline seat, your weight is probably not what keeps you from traveling. If you are not so large that you have to design fashions Omar Tentmaker Office where tailored suits are standard dress your weight is unlikely to keep you in professional development. And it’s definitely not keep you find love. If you want to walk down the runway, to lose weight. If your knees hurt, when you walk in, to lose weight. If your blood glucose numbers are off, lose weight. But do not know why you want to lose weight and be realistic about how much you want to lose versus How you want to live.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WeightLossEasily/~3/3GVuAykC2rc/i-really-want-to-lose-weight-2
advocare diet 400 calorie diet healthy diet plans cholesterol diet menu diets for women
Monday, 26 November 2012
HealthBuzz November 23: Holiday Gift Guides, BestLife and DIR’s Holiday Survival Guide, and Thanksgiving Leftover Recipes
Take a break from your Black Friday shopping to catch up on some healthy news! This week’s headlines from DIR include our 2012 Holiday Gift Guides, AB Circle Pro Paying Millions in Refunds, and the Risks Muscle-Enhancement Supplements Pose on Teens. We also have news from our partners at Best Life, Care 2, Organic Consumer, [...]
crash diet oatmeal diet diet.com how to diet best detox diet
The Big and Fast Fooding of Thanksgiving and Santa Claus Parades
And indeed - pretty much every holiday parade comes replete with fast food mascots in float or balloon form.
Of all the holiday parades, none's bigger than Macy's and according to Wikipedia, over the years the Macy's Parade has included the following fast food balloons and floats:
- Ronald McDonald (3 different versions including the one pictured up above)
- The Pillsbury Doughboy
- M&Ms
- Kraft KD's Cheeseasaurus Rex
- The Honey Nut Cheerios Bee
- The Nesquick Bunny
- The Kool-Aid Man
- Jell-O
- Goldfish on Parade (the crackers)
- Hamburger Helper
- Jimmy Dean
- Oceanspray
Nearer to me Toronto is the home to a truly world famous Santa Claus parade.
Its current sponsors include: McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Redpath Sugar, Nestle's Turtles, Kraft Foods, Tim Horton's, Plantars Peanuts, Shopsy's Deli, and Villagio White Bread.
And when I simply googled iconic fast food brands and parades, thousands of pictures came up. Those pictures included this one of a Coca-Cola float from the 2007 Rogers Santa Claus parade - this from the same Coca-Cola company that regularly claims it doesn't market Coca-Cola to kids. Guess they thought the parade was geared to Santa loving adults.
So if you're a parent, and if you're keen on trying to reduce your children's exposure to fast food branding, you'll have to have your kids sit out your local Santa Claus parade.
Sigh.
Is there anywhere or anything out there geared towards kids that the food industry hasn't co-opted to market their brands?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/fLgR/~3/YkVXGZV4IjU/the-big-and-fast-fooding-of.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)