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diet

4 mins read

Curious About Fasting For Weight Loss? Here’s What You Should Know First

You might’ve heard of intermittent fasting before since it’s grown in popularity online, but fasting is a practice that’s been around for centuries.

Fasting is sacred to many religions, including Christianity and Islam, and cultures, and it’s defined as abstinence from all or certain foods, drinks, and activities for a predetermined period. But you’re probably wondering what health benefits the practice might offer, particularly when fasting from food.

According to research, the health benefits of fasting are bountiful. So, if you’ve considered fasting for weight loss or other health reasons, you’ll be happy to discover these five science-backed health benefits of fasting:

Helps fight against inflammation

We all deal with inflammation as it’s our body’s natural response to protect us from infection. While inflammation is a regular occurrence, chronic inflammation can lead to serious health concerns such as arthritis. Luckily, research shows that fasting can result in decreased levels of inflammation, leading to better health and a lower risk of developing arthritis, cancer, or heart disease.

Promotes weight loss

This is the health outcome you’ve probably been waiting for, so here it is! For starters, decreased caloric intake naturally leads to some type of weight loss, but you also have your metabolism to thank, too. Research suggests that short-term fasting may boost metabolism, which enhances weight loss.

Could aid in delayed aging and increased lifespan

Are you on the hunt for the fountain of youth? Fasting might be the thing you’ve been looking for because, according to studies performed on rats, rats that fasted every other day lived 83% longer than the animals that didn’t fast, and they experienced delayed aging. Of course, studies still need to be carried out on humans to ensure quality results, but this research is certainly promising.

May improve brain function and aid in protecting brain health

The older you get, the more critical it is to stimulate the brain to keep it up and at ‘em. But some animal studies report that fasting not only protects brain health but it increases the generation of nerve cells that enhance cognitive function. Again, more studies need to be carried out on humans, but this research gives you something to think about.

Enhances heart health and lowers the risk of diabetes

African Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart diseases than non-Hispanic whites in 2018. So it is paramount that we especially take our heart health seriously. Studies have found that fasting could decrease “bad” cholesterol, decrease blood pressure, and even lower the risk of diabetes and heart diseases.

The bottom line

Fasting has been associated with many health benefits, but this doesn’t mean that this practice is suitable for everyone. You should always do your research and, most importantly, consult your doctor before beginning any fast or diet, especially if you have diabetes or low blood sugar.

 

Written by Reese Williams


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5 mins read

Food Heaven Made Easy: Serving Healthy Food & Nutrition Advice

If you’re like me, a large part of living a healthier lifestyle includes liking pics of healthy food on social media as opposed to actually cooking said healthy food.

I’m trying to do better though, as most of us are. That’s why I reached out to the founders of Food Heaven Made Easy, the go-to source for healthy recipes and info about nutritious living.

We chatted with Jessica, one half of the dynamic duo. This is what she had to say:

SB: Tell us a little bit about Jess and Wendy.

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Wendy & Jess

Jess: We are both Registered Dietitians. Wendy is from NYC (the Bronx to be exact) and Jess used to live in Brooklyn but has since moved back to her home state of California.

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SB: How did you both meet and how did that lead to the creation of Food heaven Made Easy?

Jess: We actually met at a dinner and game night sponsored by a community organization. At the time, I had already started graduate school to get my Master’s in nutrition, and a few months later, Wendy decided that this would be a great career path for her too.

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Though we went to different schools, we kept each other motivated throughout the process. Throughout this time, we ended up working together for the NYC Department of Health doing cooking demos and nutrition workshops in Harlem and the Bronx.

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SB: How long have you been vegetarians and what influenced that decision?

Jess: I have been vegetarian since the age of 12. I never liked meat growing up and realized that being ‘vegetarian’ was a thing (around that age). I told my family that I wanted to be a vegetarian in the car one day and never ate meat since. Wendy on the other hand, grew up eating meat and loving every bite.

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She became vegetarian due to gastrointestinal health concerns. After she gave up meat, her symptoms practically disappeared within months.

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SB: Many people focus on what they put in their hair to keep it healthy. However what we put in our bodies also affects our hair. What is the best way to eat for healthy hair?

Jess: This is absolutely true! The most important thing for healthy hair, skin and nails is to eat a well balanced healthy diet and to drink plenty of water. We encourage people to focus on vegetables (try to get at least 5 colors of veggies everyday), fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, beans.

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Also, Yogurt is rich in B-vitamins, which are needed for protein synthesis. B-vitamins also promote the circulation of nutrients to our hair follicles, by making new blood cells. This ensures healthy hair follicles and scalps. Salmon is also a hair super-food, since it’s packed with protein, fish oil and selenium to strengthen and encourage hair growth.

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SB: There are so many types of diets being marketed as THE solution to weight loss. Are there any specific one that you can say are definitely a waste of time?

Jess: Yes, all of them! Kidding. But truth be told, diets don’t work. The trick is making small sustainable changes that add up to yield big results over time. No quick fixes when it comes to weight loss, just hard work and determination

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SB: There are many diseases that disproportionately affect Black communities. Which do you tackle the most in your practice.

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Jess: We see a lot of diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and increasingly more Gastrointestinal problems like acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

7055_887575971269707_802776223293095115_nSB: What is the best advice you would give to someone who is just starting their journey to living a healthier lifestyle?

Jess: Start small. It’s always best to do small and attainable goals that add up and lead to big results over time. For folks who want a little more guidance, we will be publishing 28 Day Plant Powered Health Reboot Cookbook, which helps you create a more structured healthy eating plan for a month. With this book, you can fully dive in to a healthy diet with structure.

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Visit Wendy & Jess at  www.foodheavenmadeeasy.com for tips and tricks for delicious living and their monthly nutrition podcast. For those interested in personalized nutrition counseling, contact Jess via her website.

 

-Tony O. Lawson (@thebusyafrican)