From eNewsletter 1/29/2020
DID YOU KNOW that if you are forgetful or make mistakes when in a hurry, a new study from Brain Sciences found that just 20 minutes of open monitoring meditation could help you to become less error prone?
Some forms of meditation have you focus on a single object, commonly your breath, but open monitoring meditation is a bit different. It has you tune inward and pay attention to everything going on in your mind and body. The goal is to sit quietly and pay close attention to where the mind travels without getting too caught up in the scenery.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
There is no new credible information to offer other than what we discussed in last week's eNewsletter. Here's the link if you missed it. This virus is transmitted like many other cold and flu viruses, so proper preventive hygiene is imperative. The CDC has an informative FAQ page if interested.
SENSIBLE EATING STYLES
Steve & Bonnie: A recent study in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition purported weight management and health benefits for overweight adults who followed the Mediterranean, Intermittent Fasting and Paleo eating styles.
Intermittent Fasting led to slightly more body mass loss than the others. The Mediterranean eating style improved blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
The aim of the research was to examine how effective all three eating styles were in a "real world" setting, with the evidence suggesting that all three are healthful, beneficial ways to eat depending upon individualized needs.
The participants were able to follow the Mediterranean eating style guidelines more closely than the fasting and paleo eating styles after one year. Those who said they were still following their diet at 12 months lost even more body mass.
It's great to see these results. However, there's even a better option. Combine the Mediterranean and Paleo eating styles. We call it PaleoMeditteranean and have been recommending it for years.
If you want to explore Intermittent Fasting, we are not opposed to it, as long as you get permission from your health professional. Anyone with a personal or family history of blood sugar disorders, especially hypoglycemia, should never try Intermittent Fasting.
UPDATE ON THE KETOGENIC DIET
For those who are not familiar with the ketogenic or "keto" diet, it is an extremely high fat, low carbohydrate diet that is prescribed for epileptic patients. It has now been drawn into the mainstream as the next "fad diet".
While a new study from Nature Metabolism was only done on mice, it is significant nonetheless. Researchers found benefits in the short-term, but after only one week, negative effects started to show. As the mice continued on the diet, they developed diabetes and obesity.
This happens because once the body realizes that it is not in "starvation" mode, it loses the "keto effect" quickly. Then, you are simply consuming more fat than you can burn, and is stores as fat.
As we have said incessantly since this diet has come into vogue, please avoid it.
7-DAY ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MENU
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