2013-05-21T21:38:01-04:00 Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/author/index.php?author=theresa-albert Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Theresa Albert Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3220345 2013-05-05T19:59:25-04:00 2013-05-05T21:55:31-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
A study funded by the EU, called NeuroFAST, is trying to pull together the research. So far, there seems to be proof that the neurotransmitter called dopamine is increased in the brain when eating. This response is similar to what happens when taking other drugs, so it lends credence to the theory of nature over nurture. To test it, just think about how you feel when you have a headache. It goes away while you are eating; just for those few moments, the pain is soothed enough to give you a break.

Dr. Lustig from the University of California's work shows that there is a leptin resistance in the brain similar to an insulin resistance in the body. Leptin is the chemical that signals fullness or satiety in the brain and, under normal circumstances, tells you to stop eating. But sugar seems to interfere with that signal to an acclimatizing degree. Get more sugar and want even more because the brain can no longer sense small amounts and asks for more to get the same feeling. Sounds like a drug to me...

That said, for most of us, the normal way to manage is to slowly but surely cut back on sugar, like you would with caffeine to manage withdrawal. The end recommendation is still the same and it is to consume as little sugar as possible, choose whole grains that don't convert to sugar so quickly, and focus on lean proteins and lots of vegetables.

Here is my segment on CTV News for more...]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3176893 2013-04-29T12:38:07-04:00 2013-04-29T12:22:05-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/ Health News Recap for the week of April 21-27, 2013

Do Calories or Burn Rate Matter more?

If knowing the calories contained in a food works a little to dissuade you from ordering fatty foods, knowing the work you have to do to burn it of dissuades a lot. Here's what's at play...

A Texas Christian University study found learning how much exercise it would take to shed the extra weight from the food you're about to eat can be a powerful weight loss weapon. Diners who didn't know what the study was about and who were all equally hungry received one of three menus: no info, calories and amount of walking it would take to burn off an item. They found that diners ordering from menus listing how much time it would take to burn off the food item tended to order less than those who used menus that listed calorie counts. Those who knew the effort ordered 100 fewer calories. That can be significant over a lifetime.

Calories are a nebulous and unclear measure that isn't well understood. But most people know they have a finite amount of time and, er, laziness. Most people want to make the right choice and will differ to the greater treadmill when provided with the easy calculation. Here are the top 10 foods you can't afford the time to consume.

The Most Dangerous Food on Your Plate

There has been an increase in recalls of late and now there is evidence of two key contributors
The Centre for Science in the Public Interest has completed a survey of 1,700 outbreaks over 12 years and they found that ground beef and ground chicken are most risky.

This issue is processing. It isn't that whole cuts of meat don't have the pathogens, they do. It is that in a ground product, many pieces from many animals are incorporated. In whole meats, you typically cook off the surface to a safe temperature, thereby killing the bacteria. When ground, the surface in turned within where it has an even greater chance to grow and a lesser chance of being cooked to the proper temperature.

Personally, I avoid ground meats.

But if you are going to consume them, be sure they are properly chilled at the grocery store. There is a fill line in the open fridges, if meat is stacked too high, it gets too warm. Reach to the back, bottom. Keep cold in transit, use an insulated bag and wash it often. Check each burger or many sections of a meatloaf to be sure the temperature is consistently over 185F. Colour is not a good indicator of done-ness.

The Mediterranean Diet Under the Microscope

It is generally accepted that the Mediterranean diet is the best style of eating for lifelong health but now there is data outlining exactly how much of each food is optimal.

According to a study at the University of California, the average example amounts of the following were considered to have a positive impact on overall mortality, reduction in cardiovascular disease.

Low Fat Dairy: 1 cup
Fruit: 1 medium apple or ¾ cup of berries
Vegetables: 1 cup chopped broccoli
Whole Grains: ¾ cup cooked brown rice
Meat: 3 ounces (small, thin burger)
Fish: 1 ounce (1 cheese string)
Legumes: 1 tablespoon

What these numbers indicate is that it really takes very little of these healthy foods to be classified as a Mediterranean diet. Perhaps the key to the healthiest diet isn't simply the addition of these healthy foods but also the avoidance of the white carbohydrates and bad fats. Go figure.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3128418 2013-04-22T12:27:00-04:00 2013-04-22T12:07:49-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
But there is a way to be sure your beach vacation isn't killing you slowly...

Pick a Smart Beach

Do it wisely, as I did in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The 200-mile long island known as the Outer Banks is a virtual Mecca for activity, this community is built for peaceful earnest action and utter relaxation. There are no restaurant chains on the island which contributes to local and authentic eating but it also eliminates the drive-thru impetus (as well as trash on the beach). The people here are independent, customer service driven entrepreneurs who have learned to roll with the waves and harness the wind. You can find everything from woodland hikes to kiteboarding to go with your peaceful beach time. And, suddenly, your active vacation presents itself.

Add Activity to Beach Days

This is one of the few places left in North America where you can still drive right onto the beach with your surf and paddle boards as well as fishing gear so you can catch dinner. All it takes is a seven-minute video and a four wheel drive vehicle to get a permit. If you can't do that, Koru Village will rig you up, get you out and back in a 4-Wheel Suburban, pack you a picnic lunch and guide you through. They will even take you on a hike through rare and unique forests. Or, they will drop you off and come get you. Before you head out though, do a quick stint at Klub Koru's decked out gym or top notch yoga studio. At this place, you really can find the right balance because you can come back to the spa/pool and beach club for some evening rest. A full and busy day outdoors is very different from a bake-a-thon and beach read.

Choose a NEAT Place to Stay

Many accommodations on this island are rental houses that include access to a club. Outer Beaches Realty includes Klub Koru access and has some massive houses to rent by the week for many families to share as well as smaller more intimate ones. Pick something within walking distance of activities so you can park the car for days at a time. And, while for some it is a drawback, this coastal town, accustomed to awe inspiring weather, builds homes on stilts with lots of stairs...so you are forced to climb. NEAT activity throughout a vacation is key to avoid that "high water mark" ring of belly fat.

Stand Up and Fish

Unique to this community, commercial fishermen, deep sea charters and tourist attractions sit cheek by jowl to one another. You won't have to go far to find local action, eats and colour. Spend some time chatting with Ernie, captain of the Albatross Fleet and he will share with you all the stories of the locals whose ancestors floated in on a barrel after a shipwreck. Then he will take you out to fight the big game thereby keeping your upper body strength alive.

Harness the Wind

It only takes a few active days to learn how to kite board from Kittyhawk Kites. (Yup, the same Kitty Hawk that the Wright brothers chose for its windy nature.) This team are masters at not making you feel like a dumbbutt for dropping the kite over and over again. Once you are on a board, your abs and hips do the work, and, here, if you fall off, the water is knee deep as far as the eye can see. You simply get back up and walk using the warm water for resistance.

Find Something to Climb

You want to start your trip climbing something, anything. Bodie Island Lighthouse is perfect to start you off on the way in. It is a steep climb including a museum's worth of history with one the the few working Fresnel lenses fully restored and working with leaded glass panes. The 360 outdoor view of this region will give you the perspective you need to explore it. Kayaks and kites on the sound side, surfboards and windsails on the ocean. To get from one to the other, you, um, walk across the street.

Ride Away

When you are ready to get out of the sun...mostly...think about a horseback ride through the woods to the beach. Equine Adventures will take you there, tell you how and hurt your underworked inner thighs and abs for a couple blissful hours. Or rent a bike and tour from one end to the other stopping at shops and lookout points along the way.

Pick Your Protein

As I have harped over and over, the healthiest protein comes from the water. And the freshest came out of the water mere minutes ago. When you are ready for a slightly indulgent treat, take a look at Goodwinds Restaurant where Executive Chef, Joel Sardinha is serving pub food with high end quality local ingredients. He is also focusing on local beer wine and moonshine. Yes, moonshine. The key to choosing food on vacation is stick with the broiled, steamed or baked and give up the breaded and deep fried. Choose local.

Keep Walking

All beaches in the Outer Banks have public access and are strollable before during and after dark for miles and miles and miles. Blissfully, much of this island is protected but the signs will tell you the space is reserved by the Feds for birds and sea turtles. Because in this North Carolina jewel, the wind, weather and seasons rule. Your vacation will be about harnessing it, living with it and loving it the way the outer banks locals do.

Slap Away

You will be fully exposed on any beach vacation so bring strong sunscreen, no one wants to do away with that particular kiss from heaven. Pick your seasons wisely to avoid nibbling pests, spring and fall work best. Or slap on bug spray and cover ups often. Plan some indoor time between 11 and 2 and keep moving the rest of the day.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3076588 2013-04-14T21:41:46-04:00 2013-04-14T21:41:50-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
1. Salmonella in nuts

Trophy Brand Nut Mix was recalled this week for containing salmonella. The brand was mostly sold in the western provinces and no illnesses have been reported.

Once upon a time salmonella was only found in fish or chicken and, if cooked to the proper temperature, posed no risk of illness. Lately, we have seen an increase in foods like nuts and produce that are consumed raw. The bacteria can come from the soil and or processing systems and can live for up to a year on nuts.

The risk to most healthy people is minimal but to the very young or very old, they can be quite deadly.

The only way to protect yourself is to make sure that your are healthy enough to ride out any illnesses and avoid these foods if you are in the immune challenged categories.


Here is a link to the Health Canada notice.



2. Dangers of the "drinks after work" habit.

There is new information coming out of England that the post work drink with colleagues could be more dangerous to the waistline than we thought. This study showed that out that the "relaxation" of those 2 drinks may lower your resistance to the fatty foods that often come with the drinks.

The math adds up to a lot of weight gain. Two hundred or 300 extra calories in your beverage plus 400 extra calories in fatty foods represent a whole meal. The problem is that you don't really register it as a meal and then continue on to have dinner.


3. GMO Hay, No Way!

Protests this week were spurred by the specter of government approval of genetically modified alfalfa in Canada. Banned in the EU but approved in the US, this crop is normally grown for cattle and dairy feed. The concern is that the GMO crop will cross pollinate with non GMO thereby making some Canadian produce unsellable in Europe.

Reports on the pro side include that GMO produces higher yields and may require less pesticide. There are 20 years of research saying that these crops are perfectly safe. Is that long enough to make a decision?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/04/10/f-gmo-genetically-modified-foods-consumers.html?cmp=rss]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.3019628 2013-04-05T12:37:51-04:00 2013-04-05T12:09:13-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
In fact, liver cancer is one of the very few cancers still on the increase. Why? Because people don't know about the problem. One in ten Canadians have liver disease. Many, if not most, don't even know about it until the condition is very advanced. Perhaps irreversibly.

Your liver performs over 500 jobs and does so silently and judiciously. Among those jobs are the master tasks of managing your cholesterol, hormones and filtering your blood. You can't survive without any one of those processes. The liver is the largest organ in the body and when it is done doing all of that, it is the only organ that can regenerate itself.

The Canadian Liver Foundation is sounding the alarm that we can no longer marginalize liver disease as one of simply alcohol abuse. Diet plays a much bigger role as does the very preventable, treatable Hepatitis A, B and C. Many are and will carry and transmit this virus without knowing it and yet simple, cost effective screening is available.

So, here is what you can do:

1. Have your liver tested for its functionality, it is a simple blood test that you can request from your doctor.

2. Have your liver tested for Hep A, B and C and have the appropriate vaccines

3. Watch your diet for sugar, bad fats and excess calories. Any healthy lifestyle choices that you make for your heart will also benefit your liver.

4. Remove toxic cleaning products and air fresheners from your home, your liver has to filter these things out.

5. Watch all drugs and herbal medications. Acetaminophen in particular needs to be managed, high doses and/or in combination with alcohol it is very damaging.

6. Donate to The Canadian Liver Foundation. Someone you know is going to need their help and research in prevention and treatment is a lot less costly that treatment or transplant.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2991598 2013-04-01T12:24:45-04:00 2013-04-01T12:25:04-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
Watch CTVnewchannel clip here

Health Topics in the news this week:

Chocolate and Eyesight

We know that chocolate is generally good for you but now there is evidence that it protects your eyesight much like carrots do according to England's Physiology and Behavior.

The study abstract's research highlights states:

"Acute cocoa supplementation enhances the visual performance of young adults. Cocoa improved reading of low contrast letters, and detection of motion. We propose that increased blood flow to the retina and brain explains this. We also replicated the recent finding that cocoa improves cognitive ability."

To boot, dark chocolate contains a small amount of vitamin A, which protects against macular degeneration and copper to prevent nerve damage. These benefits are most pronounced in chocolate that has the highest concentration of flavonoids which means the darkest of dark chocolate.

Here are two great recipes to apply your happiness to: Protein Chocolate Spread and High Anti-Ox Hot Cocoa.

Eggs and Cholesterol

The studies go back and forth on cholesterol in eggs and now we discover that there wasn't as much cholesterol as previously thought in the first place! What the what? The results of the new study, by the USDA, indicate that a large egg has 14 per cent less cholesterol than previously thought.

Previously, an egg was categorized as having 215 mg of cholesterol. But based on re-evaluation by the USDA, future tables will reflect the new cholesterol value for a large egg: 185 mg.

There is still some discussion as to whether the cholesterol in eggs (or any food for that matter) affects your blood levels of cholesterol very much, if at all. Your liver manages cholesterol amounts and adjusts accordingly. You are much better off, eating your egg and watching your sugar and alcohol intake.

Babies and Solid Foods

There is always conversation around when to feed babies solid foods but now the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has weighed in and says that 93 per cent of parents are getting it wrong. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discovered that almost 93 per cent of those women had introduced solid foods to their infants before six months, that 40 per cent did it before the four-month mark, and that 9 per cent had offered solids to their babies before they were even four weeks old, according to a study published Pediatrics.

"Fifty per cent said that their health care provider told them it was time to introduce solid food," said Kelley Scanlon, a co-author of the study and lead epidemiologist in the nutrition branch in the division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity at the CDC. "That, for us, indicates that health care providers need to provide clearer guidance and really support women in carrying out the recommendation," Scanlon said.

Some of the reasons parents still give for feeding at this early age are:
1. My baby was old enough
2. My baby seemed hungry
3. I wanted to feed my baby something in addition to breast milk or formula
4. My baby wanted the food I ate
5. A doctor or other health care professional said my baby should begin eating solid food
6. I thought it would help my baby sleep longer at night

Research shows that feeding this early in life can contribute to allergies, obesity and lifelong digestive issues. What do you think? How old were your kids when you started solids? What it a good thing? Or a bad thing?]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2948212 2013-03-25T12:03:44-04:00 2013-03-25T12:03:37-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
Alcohol

Alcohol dilates the capillaries in the face and can cause a permanent mottled look.

What to do:

Drink as little alcohol as possible and give your body some rest once in a while. Remove it altogether for at least a few days in a row each month.

Splash cold water on your face if you are a "flusher" to bring the inflammation down.

Sugar

Sugar/High Fructose Corn sugar-by far this is the single most overused "food" in our roster. For starters, it is the number one contributor to obesity and nothing makes you look older than being overweight.

What to do:

Simply removing sugar (especially liquid calories) will remove a few pounds from your belly. The secondary benefit is the reduced oxidative damage and inflammation that sugar imposes on your cells.

Bad fats

Saturated and trans fats are inflammatory and therefore contribute to a sallow look of the skin and dull hair.

What to do:

Skin needs the healthy fats of nuts, seeds, avocados and whole grains to repair and glow. Avoid all deep fried foods, reduce saturated fat from meat and increase the good fats.

Dehydration

Without water every cell in the body is less plump. This appears on the skin first contributing to the saggy and sallow look of age.

What to do:

Drink water, at least one litre each day on top of your usual routine of consuming lots of high water foods like watermelon, cucumber, berries and lettuce. (That is your usual routine, right?)

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2806762 2013-03-05T07:00:34-05:00 2013-05-05T05:12:01-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
Energy comes from the conversion of food into fuel in your body. It is that simple. The more effectively you feed the fire, the more energy you will have. A slow, steady burning metabolism is achievable no matter what you are born with. Here are the foods to eat and the times to eat them to net you more energy than you have ever had.

Energy Steps:

1. Sleep well. Six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you need a bedtime snack, make it a high magnesium one which will help your muscles relax. Try oatmeal with two teaspoons of almond butter stirred into it. Resist the urge for brown sugar topping or you will sleep with syrup in your veins that may mean you wake up with a wonky blood sugar level that can leave you groggy and slow and make you crave even more sugar!

2. Breakfast needs to contain protein and fibre to set your blood sugar, and therefore energy level, for the day. Skip this step and expect an energy zapping crash or two that will be hard to recover from. This egg white omelette takes mere seconds and won't ever let you down.

3. Mid-morning snack that is low on the glycemic index but contains glucose to fuel your sluggish brain is crucial! Natural Delights Medjool Dates should always be in your car/desk or bag, they are power fuel that is great any time you feel yourself flagging. Here is a recipe for power date balls that combine just the right amount of good fat, protein, anti-oxidants and carbs to get you through the morning or as a pre-workout power boost.

4. Lunch: Skip the carbs, go for protein and greens like a stir fry without the rice or a salad with fish or chicken. Add a few nuts and a drizzle of dressing for slow burning good fats. Carb-heavy sandwiches or pastas will only drag you down by 3 p.m.

5. Pre-dinner snack: A big glass of water and a handful of almonds. Chances are you haven't been drinking enough and some brain brown-out can be blamed on dehydration. A few almonds will take the edge off so you don't eat a box of crackers while you are making dinner.

6. Dinner: Try to finish eating dinner at least 2-3 hours before bed so it doesn't interfere with your sleep.

Keeping your energy level even means taking a step by step approach incorporating the finest fuel for your body and brain. It also means managing your caffeine intake and keeping it to three cups of coffee or tea ending by about 2 p.m. Try this for a week and then let us know how you did! Did your energy level improve?

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2712629 2013-02-19T08:58:49-05:00 2013-04-21T05:12:02-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/ what I experienced last week in Marseille, France. By now we all know that we need to eat more fish, less meat and lots of veg but our Canadian culture and climate doesn't really support that process easily. And, even if you knew how and where to buy the freshest of fish, would you know how to cook it? Would you ask your fishmonger? Do you have one of those?

In Marseille, France the entire ancient city is built around the port as it has been for 2,600 years. This southern city has been an important Mediterranean transport and fishing gateway to the rest of Europe but it has also achieved the status of being the Cultural Capital this year. Quite a feat for a humble fishing village that happens to be the second largest city in France.

Every single day locals and local restaurateurs expect to see small boats unload today's catch from the boat onto the dock at the smack at the heart of town. There is no sign, no song and dance, this process has been happening here for thousands of years; everyone knows where it is. It is pure theatre to watch as bream, mullet, mackerel, sole and octopus are hauled, weighed, hawked and cleaned on the spot, in the moment for the patrons. The fish culture is so entrenched here that the Cultural Museum feels it necessary to stipulate no smoking, no pets and no fish are allowed in the centre. OK then.

This is the kind of place that you will find a tiny hole in the wall fish restaurant providing the most outstanding seafood meal imaginable. La Boite a Sardines sells fresh fish in its own stall but also makes outstanding meals out of shucked oysters, pan fried whole sardines, crawfish and "fish and chips" in a most cheerful, Provencal style. The chips turn out to be chickpea puree formed into potato shapes and fried and, when dipped in housemade aioli, you will think you have gone to heaven (where there is lots of garlic).

I'm convinced that it is never simply which foods are available that makes a people; it is their attitude toward the food. The cultural roots that support a style eating support a joie de vivre and a healthy body. Where we go awry isn't in our food choices, it is in our food attitude of filling the hole rather than feeding a soul and supporting local trades that go back as far as our ancestors.

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Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/ The Fairmont Southampton in the afternoon. But, I got into that pack of people all pumped and excited and I caught their enthusiasm. Given that I am pretty fit and run about 5 K a few times per week at the gym (but on a treadmill rather than tropical hills!), I figured, this was doable even though I hadn't trained. So I took off, found inspiration from the people and the vistas and ran (well, jogged).

I know how crucial it is to support any exercise regime with the right food, and the older you get, the more important it is. Filling your tank well and ensuring that your exercise is actually doing you more good than harm can't be stressed enough. The day before and on run day (yoga day, spin day, zumba day, weight day, cardio day...), it is all about the fuel. The day after, it is also critical to nourish cell recovery with the right food. So what is that?

BLOG CONTINUES AFTER SLIDESHOW



10 hours before exercise

Do:

Have a meal of low GI, easily digestible carbohydrate like lentils or beans will allow your muscles to take up as much glycogen as possible. The protein/carb balance of beans is perfect.

Don't:

• Drink alcohol, it's dehydrating



• Eat a heavy protein or fat laden meal, it will weigh you down and interrupt your sleep



• "Carb Load" with spaghetti and bread, they will let you down too quickly

Two to four hours before

Do:

Eat Breakfast -- It is true that you will burn more fat if you exercise first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. But you will tire too quickly and may run the risk of burning the very muscle you are trying to build.

Magic Muesli
Oatmeal with milk
Whole grain cereal with banana and soy milk
Protein smoothie

Don't:

• Have bacon and eggs



• Skip Breakfast



• Forget to hydrate with water or coconut water!

One hour before workout

Eat a high glucose, easily digestible snack like these power balls.

During::

Around the one hour point, your glucose and blood sugar levels will drop and you may become fatigued or light headed.

Do:

• Drink four to five big gulps of water per hour



• Consider coconut water over sports drinks



• eat two pitted medjool dates

Dates are a fresh fruit high in the all important glucose with the added benefit of recovery minerals and anti-oxidants. They are just as easily digested and portable as a "power pack."

Don't:

• Slurp a commercial energy gel which is a highly processed, often corn syrup-based packet. They don't contain the antioxidants or minerals of a real food that will support you in recovery.



• Drink sports drinks unless you are exercising for more than 2-3 hours and coconut water isn't available

Recovery:

Do:

Drink lots of water.

Within an hour or two after exercise, your muscles will be calling for replenishment. Feed them the highest quality food you can find. (If you are going to "cheat" with a treat, now is the time, your body can use the extra calories quickly and efficiently).

Have a full meal with lots of vegetables, lean protein, preferably fish, and a good whole grain carb (like brown rice or quinoa or whole grain bread).

Don't:

Drink alcohol before you eat. Since your muscles are primed for more fuel, and they can't use the calories from booze to do so, those calories will be converted to fat. Give your body the kind of calories it needs to recover and then have a drink if you are going to. Remember, alcohol is also further dehydrating. Water up. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2614967 2013-02-04T12:02:52-05:00 2013-04-06T05:12:01-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/ Get Stuffed takes our sickness to a whole new level by pitting competitors against one another in any manner of "food offs." The loser is treated to the most high fat, deep fried, multi-thousand calorie meal that the winner can imagine. The whole show from start to finish makes me sick.

In a recent episode two "friends" challenge eat other to a "bobbing for pig's feet" contest. The camera zooms in on pig's feet resting against a wall, complete with flies buzzing and ants crawling. Truly, this is not something that looks humane, never mind for human consumption. Then we see the hooves in clear plastic buckets and our stars on their knees ready to shove their faces into cold water and grab a hoof with their teeth only to fling it out of the bucket. Apparently, the object of bobbage is slippery so we cut to a local giving sage advice with the poorest grammar "ya jus gots ta grab at the toes to get a good grip" or some similar barely understandable sentence. Luckily, the producers realize the necessity of subtitles.

Then we are treated to a belly flop contest into a mud pit.

The loser is then "forced" to eat the local platter of deep fried stuff topped with deep fried crap covered in deep fried ikk. She says "it's OK, I love deep fried food" and proceeds to debase herself with shoving it in and rubbing it on her face.

Has this bravado of playing and eating with the reckless abandon of a Roman really become who we are? We watch this sh*t so they keep making it. Does it get watched so we can feel better about ourselves? Is it like a train wreck that we can't take our eyes from? There really are people starving right her under our noses and around the world, are we that insensitive to the importance of the sustenance of food ? I just don't get it.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2521265 2013-01-21T17:36:10-05:00 2013-03-23T05:12:01-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/ aspireassist is ridiculous. It appears that the gadget inserts a port that allows for some of the food that is consumed to be siphoned out before it is digested. Sorry, but that sounds like something one would do under dire medical circumstances, a reverse feeding tube of sorts. And, what happens to the nutrients from said food?

I seriously doubt that a person who feels that they need this gadget is enjoying so much salad that they have to let some out. Letting out some of the badness that is ingested doesn't nourish the body. This just feels like another way to support disordered eating to me.

I get it that we may have collectively hit the point of no return and that weight loss is a massive hurdle that many can't jump. I know the torment that obesity can cause, have watched many clients, friends and family struggle with weight loss plans that don't work and leave them dejected. The quick fix default just looks like more pain and trouble than the longer term, multi-pronged approach.

What's required now is prevention, prevention, prevention. Let's take a big picture view and stop feeding our kids poorly so they don't also land in this situation. We need a strong government, involved manufacturers and food producers, caring caregivers, easy access to activity, an engaged population and affordable, fresh, real food for all.

Weight loss requires a mental health component, an activity component, a food component and, most importantly a supportive environment. Embracing the kind of apparatus that this system provides is a slippery slope in the wrong direction.

Ok, let me have it...what do you think?

LOOK: 10 of the healthiest (and tastiest) snacks to munch on in between meals
]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2475857 2013-01-15T12:54:04-05:00 2013-03-17T05:12:01-04:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
The stats

Canada

Obese Adults: 14.3 per cent
Litres of Alcohol/person/yr: 7.8
Litres of beer/person/yr: 70
Juice consumed L/yr: 52.6
Soft Drinks L/yr: 119
Wine consumption L./yr: 10

France

Obese Adults: 9.4 per cent
Litres of Alcohol/person/yr: 14.8
Litres of beer/person/yr: 41
Juice consumed L/yr: 23.5
Soft Drinks L/yr: 37.2
Wine consumption L/year: 47

Source: http://www.nationmaster.com/compare/Canada/France/Food

There were no stats on consumption of potato chips, corn chips, red meat portion sizes or "snacks" but you can already see the trend developing. They get away with it because they avoid the empty calories and blood sugar-spiking evils of beer, juice and soft drinks and instead are still committed to real food, pleasurable meals and taking the time to eat.

Here is your swap sheet to enjoy the pleasures of the French as a North American man:

• Give up the beer. Switch to a maximum of two glasses of wine (preferably red) each day


• Don't snack. Have breakfast, lunch and dinner and a piece of cheese with fruit at night


• Learn to love your coffee black or switch to tea. Drink up to three cups per day but get rid of the useless calories from cream and sugar.


• Toss out all liquid calories from juice or pop. Drink water, milk (two cups/day) or wine.


• Eat only grass-fed beef or lamb and only in portions the size of your palm and only twice per week


• Eat lots of fish, grilled or baked


• Have sex for exercise (there are very few gyms in France, my unscientific theory is that this is why)


• Laugh, talk, think, learn. All of these pleasures will reduce the stress that creates belly fat

Not one of these swaps is a hardship, you don't see "eat kale" or "take vitamins" or "pump iron" on this list. There is a simple joie de vivre that comes with the French lifestyle that feeds everything else. It goes something like this: be moderate, except in your love of life.

]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2372102 2012-12-28T08:09:08-05:00 2013-02-27T05:12:02-05:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
All habits are created for the same reason and they can either serve you well or poorly. says Charles Duhigg, who wrote The Power of Habit. Either way, you have created them because there is some payoff. With negative habits, all "reasons" are excuses to justify that payoff so you can hate me (or Duhigg) if you want or you can choose to find another payoff. It's up to you. I will like you either way and remind you again on many occasions.

Payoff

Choose the tough hotspot hurdle: your keystone habit. See what your brain just did? It picked the hard one (Exercise? Give up chips? No snacking after dinner? Eat more vegetables?) and then instantly rationalized why changing that habit won't work for you. That excuse is your payoff. Figure out what you get out of that bad habit and we are getting somewhere. You are no different than anyone else, sorry.

The reasons are quite common:

• Can't get exercise, I have no time (try this...)
• I've tried to give up chips before, it doesn't last long
• I get so hungry after dinner and besides, it is my only vice
• I hate vegetables and they take so much time to prepare (try this...)

Rest assured, others have broken these habits and felt better for it, there is a cascade of positivity that happens when you overcome such hurdles. But there is a system that must be employed to be successful. It is simple.

Replace

Once you discover the payoff, you must replace the habit. Simple willpower in shutting it down doesn't work. This applies to every habit in your life and once you know how to manage it, you will know how to change just about everything from nail biting to back biting.

Systematic

Now that you have chosen your replacement habit you need to give yourself a cue and a system to start the new habit. Pick the same time each day and do the new thing routinely.

Leave your sneakers in full view, leave your veggies chopped and arranged at the front of the fridge. Do not "re-decide" each day. It isn't an option. Exercise can start with a five minute walk to the mailbox but once you are there, you will find that you want to do one more lap. The trick is to never, ever let yourself off the hook for those five minutes. Ever. They will grow on their own.

This habit we have in North America of making resolutions and laughing at ourselves for breaking them is our collective way of accepting the status quo. But the cream of the crop manage to make enough change to stay on top. You can too.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2371967 2012-12-27T16:30:08-05:00 2013-02-26T05:12:01-05:00

Theresa Albert http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theresa-albert/
Here is why: Losing weight takes a herculean, single minded commitment to everything you put in your mouth and every movement you make. And not just this month, until you lose those 10 or 100 pounds, you will need to focus on it for the rest of your life. Every nibble of cheese, every sip of wine, each brownie or sizzle of steak will make your mouth water and you will have to resist.

If you have 100 pounds to lose, you need to know what is involved in not only to taking that weight off, but keeping it off. For you, the benefits will be huge but you really want your resolution to be to "seek help to lose weight." You need more than new recipes. You need new tools, new thoughts, a plan of action, greater support and some insight into why this happened. Your key to success will be realizing that your body wants to stay fat but your mind, your life and your loved ones don't want to see you suffer any more. Any or all of these reasons will need to be strong enough to pull you through.

You need to know what you are getting into and that you may need superhuman powers to keep it off. Mobility and quality of life will improve when you do.

If you have five or 10 pounds to lose (and they are the same pounds that you wanted to lose last year or did lose and found again) you may be better off committing to never gaining another ounce. Shedding the 10 pounds may make you feel better but every time you do so your body adjusts accordingly. This makes it harder each passing year. Tighten the ship and learn to love what you have got (those in the other categories think your problem is vanity anyway). Better to improve the types of food from which you obtain calories, make every calorie healthier and every cell in your body will thank you.

If you are like most of the population who has between 10 and 90 to lose, substitute your vague "lose weight" resolution for this much clearer, sounder approach: Lose 10 per cent of your total body weight. There is good evidence that this will give you the most health benefits and be the easiest loss to retain.

There are universal tips and tricks to keep calories low and help manage your brain's and body's expectations of fuel. After all, you gave your body and brain more and now they are getting less, it is only human to push back. You, your habits, your environment and your attitudes will all have to change. It is not about what is on the plate! It is about what your biology thinks should be on the plate.

Make this year, the year that you change THAT and you will be getting somewhere.

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