Christmas Round Robin
In conclusion, as we bask in the glow of our self-created magnificence, we send our regards to you, dear friends and family. May your year have been half as extraordinary as ours, and may your holidays be filled with the kind of refinement and sophistication that only we can truly appreciate.
Yours, with an air of restrained magnanimity,
Giles and Aspen Urquhart-Smythe
The Croft
Tilbury
In case you were wondering, yes, this is an edited version of something I got ChatGPT to produce using the following prompt:
You are to act as a pretentious, over-privileged middle-class Englishman writing a “round robin” newsl...
Source: David Bradley Sciencebase - Songs, Snaps, Science - December 17, 2023 Category: Science Authors: David Bradley Tags: Fiction Source Type: blogs
A few things you can do
Voluntary action is not going to solve the planetary environmental crisis. We need a massive public policy response including public investment, regulatory and tax policy. So please don ' t think that any of your individual small acts of virtue mean you can stop being politically engaged. Still, we might as well do what little we can, in part because their can be multiplicative and synergistic effects. I ' m going to point to a few things that basically won ' t cost you a penny, or inconvenience you, or make you give up anything you like.There are a lot of more sustainable food products becoming available. Obviously, you c...
Source: Stayin' Alive - January 23, 2023 Category: American Health Source Type: blogs
3 easy ways to eat a healthier diet
While many people might be taking a pass on formal New Year’s resolutions this year, others may mark a fresh start this month by resolving to make up for poor eating habits of the past. But this motivation is often focused on a diet that’s too ambitious, or too restrictive. Without a solid plan, you may fail quickly. So consider a compromise: start with these three easy ways to eat a healthier diet.
Aim for real food only
Look at your plate and note what’s processed and what isn’t. Maybe it’s the whole thing (like a frozen dinner), or maybe it’s just part of your meal (like the bottled dressing on your salad). ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 4, 2021 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Heidi Godman Tags: Diet and Weight Loss Health Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
Do pro-inflammatory diets harm our health? And can anti-inflammatory diets help?
This study also showed that pro-inflammatory diets were associated with a poor cholesterol profile. This finding was also seen in other another study, also published in JACC, which found that pro-inflammatory foods had a harmful effect on cholesterol levels while some anti-inflammatory foods had favorable effects.
What foods are pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory?
Foods with a higher pro-inflammatory potential are red meat, processed meat, and organ meat; refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, and many desserts; and sweetened beverages including colas and sports drinks.
Foods that have a higher anti-inf...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - December 23, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Food as medicine Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
Whole grains or no grains? Food labels can be misleading
Food labels contain a wealth of information: calories, serving size, and the amounts of fat, sugar, vitamins, and fiber contained in a food, among other things. But do consumers know how to effectively use this information? A recent study showed that some consumers are struggling, especially when it comes to understanding whole grains.
Recent study highlights consumer confusion
For the study, published in Public Health Nutrition, researchers conducted two experiments to examine consumer understanding of whole grains on food labels. The research, which focused on food labels on bread, cereal, and crackers, was done online a...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 30, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Health Healthy Eating Nutrition Source Type: blogs
Can celiac disease affect life expectancy?
Celiac disease (CD), triggered by the ingestion of gluten, occurs in people genetically predisposed to develop the chronic autoimmune condition.
During the past few decades, doctors have learned much about how the disease develops, including genetic and other risk factors. However, results from studies on whether people with CD have an increased risk of premature death linked to the condition have been mixed. A recent study shows a small but statistically significant increased mortality rate.
Celiac disease can affect the entire body
Until recently, CD was considered a mainly pediatric gastrointestinal disorder, associated...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - May 28, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Maureen Leonard, MD, MMSc Tags: Allergies Autoimmune diseases Source Type: blogs
With a little planning, vegan diets can be a healthful choice
Recently there has been much discussion and many questions about vegan diets. Are vegan diets — which exclude meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy — healthful? Do they provide complete nutrition? Should I try one? Will it help me lose weight?
Many people around the world eat plant-based diets for a variety of reasons, some because meat is not readily available or affordable, others because of religious convictions or concerns about animal welfare. Health has become another reason people are moving to plant-based diets. And research supports the idea that plant-based diets, including vegan diets, provide health benef...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - February 6, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
Plant-based diets are best … or are they?
This study is also a reminder that the health impact of a particular intervention (such as diet) may not be easy to predict or explain. In most cases, the risk of stroke and heart disease tend to rise or fall together, but that wasn’t the case in this research.
Beware the study’s limitations
This study linking a vegetarian diet with a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke has a number of important limitations that should temper the concerns of vegetarians.
The study was observational. That means it simply observed what happened among different people who followed different diets over time, without being able to account fo...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 31, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robert H. Shmerling, MD Tags: Healthy Eating Heart Health Hypertension and Stroke Source Type: blogs
10 foods that may impact your risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes
Could just 10 foods substantially impact your risk of dying from a cardiometabolic disease (CMD) like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke? Maybe.
A study published in JAMA provides some insight into the degree to which 10 specific foods and nutrients affect the risk of dying from CMD. The study found that in 2012, eating suboptimal levels of 10 foods or nutrients — too much of some and not enough of others — was associated with more than 45% of deaths due to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
10 foods associated with nearly half of CMD deaths
The researchers developed a risk assessment model that combine...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - October 7, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Diabetes Health Healthy Eating Heart Health Hypertension and Stroke Nutrition Source Type: blogs
Avoiding nuts and seeds for better gut health? You shouldn ’t
Nuts and seeds are important components of a healthy diet. But if you have diverticula — little pouchlike structures that sometimes form in the muscular wall of the colon and bulge outward — you may worry about nuts or seeds getting stuck in those little pockets, which can cause a painful infection called diverticulitis.
Take heart. While it was once believed that nut and seed consumption could lead to diverticulitis, the link is unproven.
In fact, quite the opposite is true. Nuts and seeds are rich in fiber, which is important for gut health and keeping you regular.
How much fiber do you need daily? If you’re over 5...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 3, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Heidi Godman Tags: Digestive Disorders Healthy Aging Healthy Eating Nutrition Source Type: blogs
When it comes to cholesterol levels, white meat may be no better than red meat — and plant-based protein beats both
This study looked at plant-based protein sources, and plant-based diets can provide all the necessary protein for optimal health. Here’s a look at the amount of protein contained in a variety of plant-based foods.
Protein content in plant-based foods
Food
Serving size
Protein (grams)
Calories
Lentils
1/2 cup
9
115
Black beans
1/2 cup
8
114
Chickpeas
1/2 cup
7
135
Kidney beans
1/2 cup
8
113
Black eyed peas
1/2 cup
7
112
Pinto beans
1/2 cup
7
117
Soybeans
1/2 cup
14
150
Tofu
1/2 cup
10
183
Nuts
1/2 cup
5–7
160–200
Peanut butter
2 tablespoons
8
190
Flaxseeds
3 tablespoons
5
150
Sesame seeds...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - August 22, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Health Healthy Eating Heart Health Source Type: blogs
Impossible and Beyond: How healthy are these meatless burgers?
Plant-based burgers are not a novel concept. But new products designed to taste like meat are now being marketed to vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger are two such options. Eating these burgers is touted as a strategy to save the earth, casting meat as a prehistoric concept. Both brands also offer up their products as nutritious alternatives to animal protein.
But how do they stack up? It turns out the answer may depend on whether your priorities lie with your personal health or the health of the planet.
The good news: Meatless burgers are a good source of protein, vitami...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - August 15, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Emily Gelsomin, MLA, RD, LDN Tags: Health Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
The DASH diet: A great way to eat foods that are healthy AND delicious
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is an eating plan based on eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and choosing lean proteins, low-fat dairy, beans, nuts, and vegetable oils, while limiting sweets and foods high in saturated fats.
A recent study published the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that men and women younger than 75 who most closely followed the DASH diet had a significantly lower risk of heart failure compared to study participants who did not follow the DASH diet. Currently, about 5.7 million adults in the United States have heart failure, and about half of those who d...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - July 25, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Food as medicine Health Healthy Eating Heart Health Source Type: blogs
Healthy eating for older adults
Eating right can help keep your body and mind healthy and extend your quality of life. But some older Americans may face barriers to getting enough nutrients or calories.
Many ways aging can affect appetite
Physiological changes that come with aging can result in reduced calorie needs, which can lead to decreased food intake and altered body composition, even in healthy older adults. This can be compounded by diminished smell and taste, and changes in hormone levels that affect how quickly you feel full. Depression, lack of independence, and social isolation can make food less appealing, further contributing to a less than...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - June 20, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Health Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
Healthy meals: 3 easy steps to success
Healthy meals don’t just happen — you need to make them happen. Here are three easy steps to get you on your way.
Step 1: Make a plan
The first step is to plan your menu for the week. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, just jot down what you and your family would like to eat.
Then think about ways to make your choices healthier. Substitute chicken breast for steak and add more vegetables, for example. Can you streamline your cooking? Consider cooking a large batch of grains on the weekend and using them in more than one meal.
Step 2: Shop smart
You’ve already planned your menu. Once you make your shopping list, youâ€...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - June 6, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Health Healthy Eating Nutrition Source Type: blogs
