Monthly Archives: January 2020

The Best Truthdig Book Reviews of 2019 – Truthdig

Posted: January 3, 2020 at 7:45 am

This years original reviews provide unique insight into the literary world through a distinctly progressive lens, including two National Arts & Entertainment Journalism award-winning pieces by Truthdig contributor Allen Barra and Foreign Editor Natasha Hakimi Zapata. Read the full reviews by clicking on the hyperlinked titles below.

The Trickster King and the Erudite LiteralistBy ALLEN BARRA

Approaching Vladimir Nabokovs 120th birthday, Truthdig looks at his friendship and falling-out with another literary giant, Edmund Wilson.

When the Voiceless SpeakByALEXIS CAMINS

Filipino American author Alex Tizon spent his life raising up the lives of those rendered invisible by society.

Putting Trump to Shame Without Ever Saying His Name

By NATASHA HAKIMI ZAPATA

Written after the 45th president was inaugurated, Terrance Hayes sonnets have an urgency that will leave readers heads spinning.

The Future of MeatBy CARYN HARTGLASSAs people become aware of the effects of eating animals on climate change and human health, a new book asks whether we will see an end to it.

Reclaiming DifferenceByPAUL VON BLUMA new anthology shines light on differently abled artists, including Sandie Yi, born with two digits on each hand and foot, whose art forces viewers to reconsider beauty.

Country, Smoothed Over

By TIM RILEY

Ken Burns documentary Country Music and its book tie-in present country music with a naive affection that misses key American tensions.

Who Is Ayn Rand?

By LOUISE RUBACKY

A new book argues weakly for the influence of Ayn Rand on our cultureafter all, the dominant classes in America were greedy and selfish from the get-go.

The Madness Driving Climate CatastropheByH. PATRICIA HYNES

A new book examines how corporate capitalism, through fossil fuel-based technology, has led the world to the point of destruction.

Civilizing Perpetual ForeignersBy ELAINE MARGOLIN

In a time rife with anti-immigrant invective, Truthdig reviews a book that explores a historic episode involving missionaries and migrant Chinese women.

Need more recommendations? Check out all of Truthdigs book reviewshere.

Book Editor

Eunice Wong is the book review editor of Truthdig, as well as editor of Truthdigs Countering Violence Against Women series. She has written for Truthdig's arts and culture section, reviewing theater, film,

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Alive at the Intersection of Time and Space – Thrive Global

Posted: at 7:45 am

The world you desire can be won. It exists it is real it is possible it is yours! (Ayn Rand).

Last week, our mindfulness class celebrated the end of the semester by making vision boards.

If you stumbled in, it may not have looked like anything special, but there was a distinct knowingness in the air as we discovered new things about each other something very relaxing about being in the hum of individual purpose and mutual intention at the intersection of what is real and what has yet to become!

This inescapable reality was the crux of our semester. We were investigating ourselves learning how to navigate the inter-relational, creative cooperative called being human flexing the process that responds to the question:

We did this by training our attentional lens to identify and adapt to the patterns of the universal laws of attraction, relativity and causality testing out the power of clarity in theright here right now experiencesofour lives. Time and time again, our findings returned with the same results:

Attention expands what we believe, and what we believe we become!

So, we sifted through magazines snipping away any doubt or fear or need of any certainty trusting the vibe of a playlist that spanned over 50 years, plugged into some shared but infinitely shifting heart song!

A quiet, simple hymn emerges when intention meets attention: time and space conspire!

Heart and mind intersect and cause our voices to be heard, our hands to create, our vision to emerge to snip and tear and write and point!

In one fell swoop, we relax we let go of the content of who we believe we are, and like a raindrop returning to the ocean, we expand into the bigness of who we are infinitely becoming!

No struggle, no angst, no suffering. No junky, negative-back-talk-identity from old wounds or cloudy memories.

When attention is lit, we see clearly we recognize purpose knocking at the door. And, the positive action of choosing the images and words that extend our vision, empowers desire to open that door from the inside to extend, to effect, to wake up. We realign our trajectory and rediscover a shared destiny!

His is a story of spiritual awakening. As a man, he couldnt escape the causality of a conditioned world. Only when he let go ofthe belief that this time identity (the mind/body content that defined his idea of forsaken) was who he was completely, could he be freed from suffering.

He had to trace his way back home: in order to tap into the infinite possibility of spirit, he had to recognize the power of belief, and to recognize the power of belief he had to experience suffering through belief.

A contemporary existential crisis would look no different!

Suffering is knocking on the door from the inside. (Rumi) Acceptance is open door! Awareness is no door!

Take the polarized state of our nation. The system/process that funnels our collective energy is faulty inefficiently distributing currency (door infinitely open), and/or with bias (door infinitely closed). The defect/effect responds both ways. Open or closed, the belief that a door exists between us rather than for us, stresses the system which causes spiritual disequilibrium indifference, isolation, disconnection and a general lack of purpose.

The action of mutual responsibility of architect and resident is what allows the door to open freely, and how we can use it make a better world!

When we are standing in right or wrong, were way too close to the door; we cant see our beliefs have created a very real world thats keeping us apart.

Fear arrives to conquer attention and reactivity divides intention.

When equal opportunity to access that idea is not equally shared, we feel betrayed crucified in a state of moral crisis. This is the discomfort the constriction the visceral injustice as we move farther away from our shared Father our homeland our center-point.

Apart, its easy to become discontent, to feel at the mercy of some idea. Reaction causes us to miss opportunities to respond in ways that speak to a shared inter-dependence; and fear disallows us the inner-wisdom to own our sh*t to claim the answer to the longing,How do we move forward?through the question,How did we get here?

Only the qualities of humility, courage and a sincere desire to see clearly bring about the correction atonement and relief; and, only through a longing to be whole holy forgiven can we find our way home.

Being human is a deeply visceral experience! Theres absolutely a part of me that wants to be seen enjoys being seen knows that I am expressed when I am seen!

Indeed!This life shines brightest through and with this body, this mind, this heart and this consciousness!

This human being is more!

Its not a belief that i am more, that would be another belief disguised as more. Rather, its a clarity and an honesty that supports the spirit of this idea of I am to contribute to our shared potential our response, our work, our purpose and whatever meaningfully supports the vision of a safe world!

Now is the time to be alive to imagine the world that you desire .. to tear, snip, paste!

Its the reason you are here who you have always been: expansive and sacred at the intersection of time and space.

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Alive at the Intersection of Time and Space - Thrive Global

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P.E.I. Premier Dennis King talks climate, economy and highs and lows in Part 2 of his year-end interview with The Guardian – The Journal Pioneer

Posted: at 7:41 am

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I.

One issue that was on the minds of Island residents this year, as well as a hot topic around the world in 2019, is climate change.

And the most notable climate story in P.E.I. was the effects of post-tropical storm Dorian.

P.E.I. Premier Dennis King told The Guardians political reporter Stu Neatby in a year-end interview that the storm provided a learning opportunity for the new government.

Part 1 of the interview appeared online and in the Dec. 30 edition of The Guardian. The following is Part 2, which has been edited for brevity and clarity.

The Guardian: Looking at the impacts on the Island, what lessons did we learn in terms of how to manage emergencies, climate storms like that?

Dennis King: This was a big one. It impacted a broader area than we had first anticipated.

On Sunday, Monday morning (after the storm) we thought, "oh, well we seem like we've missed the brunt of this." But if you've ventured outside the city of Charlottetown and you drove all the way to Tignish, to Souris and you knew the impact of the Trees.

The one thing I would say I hope we learned from this is, as much as you possibly can be, you have to be extremely flexible in this. You have to be able to pivot quickly. But you also have to keep the Islanders informed to the best extent that you can because we live in an age where everything is immediate.

But I do think we did an amazing job as a province with the first responders getting done what we needed to get done in a short time. It was a horrible mess. Luckily, we didn't have any lives lost, we didn't have any major infrastructure or buildings that fell down. We'll just learn from it and try to take from it what we need to and prepare for the next storm, which we know is coming.

TG: You're likely to start negotiations on carbon pricing with the federal government in 2020. Do you imagine Prince Edward Island will see a similar backstop from what you've seen for provinces like Ontario or Manitoba or will we continue on with a drop in excise taxes?

DK: The agreement we inherited from the previous government was probably an ease into the process of the carbon levy and how that will be applied going forward. I would probably suggest that we will evolve a little bit from that current one.

I would like us to continue to make investments to incentivize Islanders to make sure that we work to become more environmentally friendly on carbon reduction. But I think Islanders are in a better position to be open to accepting a greater responsibility when it comes to carbon reduction.

But also, I think there's a greater opportunity for Prince Edward Island to find the economic opportunities connected to the changing environment. Probably early in the new year I will be wanting to put together some kind of a task force to be a little more aggressive when it comes to finding the new economic opportunities wrapped within the environment.

All of that, I think, will be included in that carbon discussion going forward. I think there is probably a fair expectation from the federal government that we be a little more open to carrying more of that burden going forward.

TG: The economy is humming, job growth is up, but still people feel there's a disconnect. Why do you think some people feel they've been left behind by the strong economic performance of P.E.I.?

DK: I think it's a phenomenon that you see on the national scene as well.

But if you spend time, as I do, walking around, talking to people, there's a sense and a feeling that people at the upper middle part of that are doing very well. But there's a sense that there's people under that who don't feel that they're getting as big a piece of it.

You'll probably see in the weeks ahead that we'll do some more sharing of some of the revenues with some people at the lower end and social services. You're going to see another increase in the minimum wage.

I do think we have to find a way to make sure that more of our economy is shared.

TG: It almost sounds like you're talking yourself into a scheme like a basic income guarantee. Do you think that's the sort of thing we need to address some of the challenges out there?

DK: I've been very impressed in the premise of a basic income guarantee. I've been doing a lot of studying on papers from the U.S. about a job guarantee. Is there a hybrid model for P.E.I. that we can follow or chart the course for? I don't know.

I would like to find a made-in-P.E.I. way to do this. I think we're small enough to be able to do that. There is a flicker of interest at the federal level to be open to seeing what we could do. I'm hoping to exploit that a little further in the new year.

TG: Recently, your minister of agriculture introduced changes to the Land Protection Act. There will be more transparency around shareholders, an increase in fines for people who violate the provisions of the LPA. Do you think these changes were enough to close what some people have called the loopholes in the LPA?

DK: I think they're a positive first start. I think we've been committed since the beginning that this is an issue that successive governments have kicked down the road for a long time. So, I think these are important first steps that we're taking to close some of the most glaring loopholes, if that's what we want to call them. But there's much more to be done.

Look, agriculture's our biggest economic contributor. It's a huge, huge boost to the tax purse. That's how we're able to fund social programs, all the things that we've been doing. So, we have to be very careful in how we proceed with this. But it is evident to me and it has been for a long time that Islanders want to see some changes here.

TG: In 2019, you became premier, you became head of your political party. What's been the highs and lows?

DK: At my very root I'm a political junky as well. That I went to the lieutenant-governor and she asked me to form a government, that was pretty exciting for me. I would have never thought a year before that was even possible.

In terms of lows, the pace at which government works makes it difficult to do things quickly. There's lots of things I'd like to do more quickly, but I'm finding (with) a bureaucracy of thousands of people spread out across P.E.I., it's difficult.

But I love the fact that we have a minority government. I think it's the greatest gift I've been given. I love the way we're operating. I'm very, very proud of that and I'm really excited to see what it brings.

It's (a) minority, so I don't know if we'll be here in a year or if you'll be with somebody else. I have no idea. But I'm going to just take every day as it comes and just try to do the very best I can for Prince Edward Islanders and to make their lives a little bit better.

Due to technical issues, the online portion of Stu Neatby's interview with Premier Dennis King will not be available until later in January. Watch The Guardian for confirmation of the date.

Twitter.com/stu_neatby

RELATED:Dennis King reflects on year one of P.E.I.'s 'grand experiment'

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We need to test whether our millions in education aid is actually working – Financial Post

Posted: at 7:41 am

By John Richards and Shahidul Islam

Canada is back, the Liberals told the world on returning to office in 2015. Henceforth, Canada would play a meaningful role in world affairs, including providing effective development aid. Gender equity headlined the press releases but not much attention was paid to the best means of creating equity, namely quality schools accessible to both boys and girls. In 2016-17 Canada spent nearly $400 million on development aid to education, most of it in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Was it effective? It did allow for the building of schools, buying of textbooks and training of teachers. But whether more children learned to read and do basic arithmetic no one knows because, to our knowledge, Canada undertook no learning assessments on any projects.

Coincidentally, 2015 marked the end date of the UNs campaign to improve social outcomes in the developing world. The first of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG1) was to eradicate extreme poverty. The second (MDG2) was universal primary education. Good quality primary education is arguably the most important prerequisite for a low-income country aspiring to get to middle income. After completing the primary cycle, most children should be able to read and write the common language and do basic arithmetic though this will happen only if the education system is of reasonable quality.

In the case of the health MDGs, aids effectiveness can be evaluated unambiguously. For instance, measuring the success of MDG4 a two-third reduction from 1990 to 2015 in a countrys under-five mortality rate is relatively easy. Measuring outcomes in education is more complex. Realizing this, many governments in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the regions with the worlds weakest school systems, gamed MDG2. For instance, in 2009, in India, the national government enacted a right to education act. The result has been higher enrolment, higher completion rates, fewer dropouts and worse outcomes.

In South Asia, government spending on primary schools is typically too low. But there is no guarantee a donors cheque to a national education ministry improves outcomes. In four of the five major South Asian countries Sri Lanka is an honourable exception ethically dubious interest group politics poses a major obstacle to quality education. It is common in much of South Asia for politicians and bureaucrats to oblige applicants for a government teaching position to pay the equivalent of US$10,000 for the job. In exchange, supervision is lax and teachers frequently offer their students private tutoring for a fee. Applicants who get the jobs typically receive little training and are unlikely to be those most devoted to teaching children.

In India, the most widely accepted measures of quality in basic reading and numeracy are random in-home surveys conducted bi-annually for over a decade by Pratham, a large NGO. In the 2018 survey, 400,000 children ages six to 16 were assessed on reading and arithmetic items from the Grade 2 curriculum. Only 50 per cent of the national sample of Grade 5 students could read a short story while only 28 per cent could solve subtraction and division problems. Those results are, respectively, six points and nine points lower than in 2008. Its no surprise that the decline occurred in the years immediately following the 2009 legislation, as state-level governments increased enrolment with little concern for school quality.

Further evidence of quality problems is that families with modest incomes are abandoning government schools. One-third of Indian children now attend low fee private schools while others attend NGO or faith-based schools. Some of these schools have worse outcomes than government schools but, on average, outcomes are superior at these non-government schools.

Atishi Marlena, a prominent Indian education reformer, has boiled down the essentials for a good public school system to three imperatives: provide quality school infrastructure; ensure a system to identify and hire motivated teachers; and focus on objectively measured learning outcomes and minimum levels of learning for all children. Perhaps the key determinant of improving the persistently low quality of education in government schools, she concludes, is political will. Until political elites decide education outcomes matter, South Asias next generation both boys and girls will remain poor relative to East and Southeast Asia.

If Canada wants its $400 million of education aid to be effective, it should be insisting on independent assessment of what children actually learn in aid-supported projects.

John Richards teaches in Simon Fraser Universitys School of Public Policy and works extensively in Bangladesh. Shahidul Islam served in USAID missions in Bangladesh and Afghanistan and is currently a graduate student at the University of Toronto.

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Doctors Believe Health Supplement Led to 23-Year-Olds Acute Liver Failure – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Posted: January 1, 2020 at 9:45 pm

Doctors believe a health food supplement caused acute liver failure in an otherwise healthy 23-year-old Amarillo woman.

Emily Goss is starting the new year, with a new routine. She checks her vitals to make sure her body isn't rejecting the new liver doctors implanted Christmas Day in an effort to save her life.

"I have my life because someone gave me their liver and I'm just so thankful," Goss said.

Get connected to a healthier life.

The 23-year-old credit analyst said she's been healthy all her life, but started taking a women's herbal supplement designed to help support hormonal balance, weight management, complexion and fertility.

For months, she took four pills everyday until after Thanksgiving, when she noticed symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue and the white of her eyes turning yellow.

"I don't know how to explain. I just knew I wasn't completely there," Goss said.

In fewer than three weeks, she was in acute liver failure. She was rushed from her home in Amarillo to Methodist Hospital in Dallas and moved to the top of the liver transplant list.

"Every time we have a case of acute liver failure, it's always an interesting case. It's also a medical emergency," said Medical Director of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Services Dr. Jeffrey Weinstein, M.D.

He said while acute liver failure is rare, about 30% to 40% of cases are linked to herbal or dietary supplements.

According to the National Institutes of Health, liver injury from medications, herbals, or dietary supplements has emerged as an increasingly important health problem in the United States.

Health supplements, in general, are not regulated by the FDA. Weinstein warned that they can cause harm.

"Many of these are advertised as natural, healthy," he said. "I view them all as drugs and I view them all as chemicals, so there should be good caution into how you use them and why you use them."

On Christmas Day, Goss received a new liver. A biopsy of her old liver may shed light on exactly which ingredient in the supplement made her sick, but according to research, more than 1,000 medications and herbal products have been linked to liver injuries. Doctors ruled out all other possibilities and believe the supplement led to her liver illness.

"I just couldn't believe that a supplement could cause something so life threatening," Goss said.

The NIDDKs Liver Disease Research Branch developed an online resource called LiverTox for information on drug induced liver injury resulting from prescription and over-the-counter drugs as well as from complementary and alternative medicines such as herbals and dietary supplements.

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Watch Out For These 3 Warning Signs In Your Eyes – International Business Times

Posted: at 9:45 pm

KEY POINTS

About 40% of Americans suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency and it is reported that dietary factors might not be the only cause for this.

Eye symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency to watch out for Jaundice (yellow tinge), Eye twitch and Blurred vision

When you lack vitamin B12, your eyes are likely to appear pale or with a slight yellow tinge to the whites and skin. This happens when lack of this vitamin leads to issues with your bodys red blood cell production, says Healthline.

You might experience eye twitching or eyelid spasms when you lack this nutrient. Eye twitching isnt a voluntary bodily action and can also occur due to allergies, dry eyes, or excessive alcohol consumption, NDTV reported quoting nutritionist, Dr. Rupali Dutta.

Deficiency of this vitamin can affect your vision since it affects your nervous system; it often results in optic nerve damage as well. Supplements can be used to treat these symptoms effectively. In rare cases, cobalamin deficiency leads to optic neuropathy characterized by progressive, bilateral and painless vision loss.

Cobalamin is vital for overall health. It helps in DNA synthesis as well as the production of red blood cells. Since the human body doesnt produce this vitamin, you have to get it from animal-based food sources or supplements. And since the body doesnt store the vitamin for a long time, you should be doing this on a regular basis, says WebMD.

The daily recommended amounts of vitamin B12:

Most Americans get enough of this vitamin from their food. But if you are in doubt, consult your doctor to test for vitamin B12 levels. You might be at risk of this vitamin deficiency if you are old, have had weight loss surgery or other surgical procedures that involved the removal of a part of your intestines, or if you are an alcoholic. Other health conditions including pernicious anemia, atrophic gastritis, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, etc., could also be a significant factor in this nutrient deficiency.

Eye symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency Photo: thamuna, Pixabay

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Resolutions for 2020 Come in the Form of Food, Drink in the Desert – Palm Springs Life

Posted: at 9:45 pm

Take a Booze Break

Lo-Fi FizzThe Reef, Palm Springs

Signing up for Sober January doesnt mean you should be stuck with snooze-worthy sparkling water. One of the multiple Even Keel cocktails at the so-kitschy-its-cool tiki bar, this bubbly, booze-free beverage combines spiced and hibiscus syrups, pineapple juice, lime, and soda for a ruby-red thirst-quencher thatll halt hangovers in their tracks. thereefpalmsprings.com

Energy ShotRaw Remedy, Palm Springs

Trade your espresso for this petite-but-potent concoction. The 2.5-ounce shot is blended with fresh turmeric, known for its inflammation-fighting properties, and either powdered ginseng or maca, both of which are natural stamina boosters often found in energy drinks. The juice and raw food bar blends the combo with green apple and lemon juices to make the whole thing go down easier than those kamikaze shots did in college. rawremedyjuicebar.com

Chlorophyll YogurtTwo Bunch Palms, Desert Hot Springs

Havent thought much about chlorophyll since seventh-grade science class? Well, the pigment found in plants has made its way into everything from bottled water to supplements in recent years, touting benefits like blood detox and immunity support. At this wellness resort, the kitchen procures mint-flavored liquid chlorophyll complex extracted from premium botanicals to spike its housemade yogurt thats infused with lemon zest oil and topped with local berries and scratch-made granola. twobunchpalms.com

Cheese and Charcuterie PlateOn the Mark, Palm Springs

Yes, its a tough diet for bread and pasta lovers, but the bright side is you can take down gobs of glorious meats and cheeses, including a customized platter from this gourmet foods shop. Since hard cheeses are more Keto-friendly than soft, owner Mark Van Laanen recommends mixing up goat Gouda, a sheep cheddar, and an aged Dutch cows milk cheese along with rich duck prosciutto and a Tuscan-style Finocchio salami. Youll have to skip the crackers and baguette, but offerings like grilled Cipollini onions, pickled asparagus, and Marcona almonds make for equally amazing accoutrements. onthemarkpalmsprings.com

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The Best (and Worst) Nutrition Advice of 2019 – Outside Magazine

Posted: at 9:45 pm

This was a weird yearforfood. Scientists grew (surprisingly good) plant-based meat products in labs, some people decided to eat nothing butmeat, other peoplebarely ate anything at all. Seltzer had a comeback,researchers developed wearable tech that could tell you when you needed to hydrate, and an Outside editor experimented with drinking an entire gallon of water a day. Amid the madness, a few ideas drifted to the top, ones that were evidence based and reasonable and could actually help you live a littlemore healthfully. Read on to learn whichtrends you should forget about in the new yearand the few that you should carry with you.

In May, wellness guruAnthony William published a book claiming that daily celery juice could detoxyour body and provide all kinds of dubious health benefits, like flushing toxins from your brain and curing asthma, addiction, and Lyme disease. It caught on in certain circles, but none of his claims were backed byscientific evidence.

The idea that any food can detoxyour body is garbage. As Robin Foroutan, a registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics,previously told Outside, The body detoxifies on its own, or we would be dead in days. And while drinking celery juice wont do any harm, it likely wont do any goodeither. The closest thing to an endorsement of the stuffis a 2013 trial during which 30 adults with high blood pressure took celery-extract supplements (pills, not juice) for six weeksand reported slightly lower blood pressure at the end of the trial. Caveats? The extract was far more concentrated than juice, there was no control group, and the lead researchers worked for the company that made the celery extract.

The gut microbiome is a relatively new area of study, but theres promising evidence that the unique makeup of healthy bacteria that exists in each of our bodies is a key factor in overall health. A 2019 reviewfound that ingesting both probiotics (bacteria) and prebiotics(a type of dietary fiber that feeds bacteria) can support a healthy microbiome.

Butgetting probiotics and prebiotics in supplement form probably isnt your best bet. Currently, theres no evidence that long-term, continued consumption of supplemental probioticsmaintains wellness, saidJack Gilbert, a researcher at the University of Chicago, in a previous interview.Instead, its best to get probiotics through fermented foods. Prebiotics, on the other hand, can be found in fruits, vegetables, beans, and other high-fiber foods.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a time-restricted diet during which you only eatfor a set period of time each day. Its more of an umbrella term than a rigid protocol: one popular approach is to eat during an eight-hour window each day;another is to eat normally except for one or two days ofextremely low-calorie intake perweek. But this year, the more extreme one-meal-a-day (OMAD) approach gained some traction. Experts warn against OMAD for a variety of reasons. One small 2007 randomized control trial of 21 adults over eight weeks found that eating one meal a day resulted in lower body-fat percentagebuthigher hunger levels,blood pressure, and cholesterol levels compared to subjects who ate three meals a day. And that doesnt take into account the emotional and social toll ofsuch an extreme diet.

The benefits of any kind of IF are still up in the air, but if youre curious about it, stick to a gentler approach. Eating within a 12-hour windowfrom 8 A.M. to 8 P.M., for examplewill likely deliver many of the same potential benefits, nutrition scientist Stacy Sims previously told Outside.

Intuitive eating has been around since 1995, whenregistered dietitians Elyse Reich and Evelyn Tribole published a popular book on the topic. But it gained mainstream traction this year:we wrote about it in May, The New York Times published an op-edin June presenting it as an antidote to toxic wellness culture, and dozens of nutritionists encouraged their clients (online and off) to start eating a little more freely.

Thisrelaxed approach to foodis guided by ten principles,like honor your health, respect your body, and challenge the food police, and its all about tuning in toyour own preferences and needsand tuning out messages about what you should or shouldnt eat.While more research is needed, theres evidence that intuitive eating is good for both mental andphysical health, and it might even be associated with a more nutritious diet overall.

Going ketomeans getting 75 to 80 percent of your calories from fat, 15 to 20 percent from protein, and less than 5percent from carbs. Its also one of the most popular extreme diets out there at the moment. There is significant evidence that ketosisa metabolic state wherein the body starts using fat as a primary fuel source due to a lack of carbshelps reduce seizures in people with epilepsy. But there arent many evidence-backed benefits beyond that.

Amy Gorin, a registered dietitian in the New York City area, explainedthat while short-term weight loss often happens on the keto diet, it generally isnt sustainable. Maintaining ketosis is difficult, since going over your carb allotment just once can trigger your body to start using glucose (carbs) as fuel againinstead of fat. And many people gain back any weight they lost once they begin to eat regularly, Gorin said. Low-carb diets arent an inherently betterchoice than any other calorie-restricted diet, but if you think they might be rightfor you, Gorin suggests a more moderate approach thanketo.

Plant-based burgers blew up this year. You can now get an Impossible Whopper at Burger Kingor an Impossible Slider from White Castle, both engineered to look, cook, and taste like meat. If that isnt proof enough that plant-based foods are here to stay, consider the fact that, according to one report, the global plant-based meat market was valued at $10 billion in 2018 and is forecasted to hit $31 billion by 2026.

These new plant-based meats arent intended to be a healthier version of beefthe nutritional profile is actually quite similar; instead, theyre meantto be a more environmentally friendly way to eat what tastes likemeat, explainedJonathan Valdez, a registered dietitian in New York.

The research on the health benefits of limiting your consumption ofanimal products is still evolving, but itspromising. A 2019 review of several randomized control trials found that vegan and vegetarian diets are linked to improved metabolic health. You dont have to go full-on vegetarian, according toShivam Joshi, an internal-medicine physician at the New York University School of Medicine. Even swapping out a handful of animal-based meals every week will benefit you.

Using plants for healing purposes is an ancient practice, but Western wellness culturereally dug its teeth into the idea this year. Adaptogens, defined by scientists as plant-based substances thought to enhance the bodys resistance to variouskinds of physical and mental stress, are showing up all over: keep an eye out for ashwagandha on your popcornormaca in your smoothie bowl.

Any wellness claims that brands make about these ingredients are hopeful guesses at best. Ashwagandhas many purported benefits (pain relief, diabetes management, and anti-aging, among others)have yet to be consistently proven by research. Andalthough some people believe that maca can improve reproductive health and fight cancer, these claims also have no real evidence behind them.That said, adaptogens are unlikely to hurt you, so if you dont mind the taste (or the cost), keep on eating them. Butdont claimthat theyre magic.

Sushi has been popular for years, and crispy seaweed snacks are available everywhere from Whole Foods to Trader Joes. Still, most of us dont yet think of seaweed as a comparable alternative to green vegetables like kale and spinach. An April New York Times articleexplained that seaweed is a much lower-impact crop, sinceit doesnt use any land, fresh water, or fertilizers. In fact, it can evenhelp the environment: kelp has been shown to drastically improve water quality. Like other green vegetables, seaweed is packed with micronutrients, but its not your typical green. The richumami flavor can add depth to many dishes.

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What food trends will we see in 2020? – The Globe and Mail

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A cook displays a steamed dumpling with OmniPork plant-based meat at the VeggieWorld fair in Beijing on Nov. 8, 2019.

JASON LEE/Reuters

Gold-flaked chicken wings. Rainbow-coloured everything. Ice cream dyed black with activated charcoal.

There have been some crazy food trends in recent years and it seems they have more to do with looking good on Instagram than anything else.

But some trends are more substantial. Here is my highly personal list of what well see in 2020.

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Cooking 101: Lucy Waverman decodes cooking techniques everyone can master

Faux meats will be even bigger, with the introduction of plant-based shrimp and chicken. Although this is an obvious trend, it is one with which I have difficulty. While convenient, these are still processed foods and we do not always know what goes into them. Make your own veggie burger instead of eating fake meat.

Keep an eye out for new alternative diets. Trying to distinguish between them is not always easy. There is keto and an even newer keto called clean keto. Paleo, gluten free, low carb, no carb and the new favourite intermittent fasting. It gets harder to have a dinner party when you must deal with everyones food restrictions.

Sour flavours are the fresh approach to seasoning. Vinegar, rhubarb and tamarind will be featured. Vinegar will be used as a finishing drizzle on both sweet and savoury foods. Savoury oatmeal made with bone broth, a double whammy of healthiness, is the new breakfast food. Savoury ingredients are also featured in desserts, with spices such as black pepper, chilies, star anise and sesame being highlighted.

Ingredients such as makrut lime leaves, black garlic, pandan leaves and shiso will appear in dishes that are not Asian-based. Black garlic adds a funky taste to salad dressings and sauces. New seeds, including lotus, waterlily and basil, raise the bar when tossed over finished dishes.

Ingredients for your health are also in the spotlight: think alternative milks, nutritional yeast, seaweed and collagen peptides, which are supposed to be anti-aging. Try popcorn infused with collagen. Fermented foods (kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut) with gut-healthy side effects are now the norm rather than a trend.

Although there are many alternative flours on the shelves, more keep arriving. Banana flour, made with green bananas, is the latest. The University of Guelph received a large grant from the Walmart Foundation to develop a method for turning food waste into value-added supplements that could be incorporated into foods. The banana flour study is one result.

With the legalization of cannabis, look for CBD-laced drinks and food on menus. The draw is the potential for CBD to calm anxiety and inflammation while enjoying dinner.

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The no-alcohol culture is growing, especially with people on special diets. Look for mocktails to get increasingly creative. Seedlip, non alcoholic spirits, for example, is perfect for home use mixed with juices and sodas.

Collaborative cooking will be a big draw. The restaurant, chef, farmer, distiller and even an artist will give dinners together, immersing the diner in all aspects of the meal. Dine and learn.

Need some advice about kitchen life and entertaining? Send your questions to lwaverman@globeandmail.com.

Plan your weekend with our Good Taste newsletter, offering wine advice and reviews, recipes, restaurant news and more. Sign up today.

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Global Whey Protein Market Key Players, End User, Demand and Consumption By 2026 – Market Research Sheets

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Whey proteinis a source of protein which is pure, natural, high-quality protein from cows milk and also rich as a source of all essential amino acids. The differnet forms include Whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and whey protein hydrolysate which are widely available in the whey protein market. Whey protein is used in various products such as infant formulas, food supplements, sport beverages, energy bars to meet the health goals for people of all ages.

The primary factor that is responsible for the growth of the global whey protein market is the Health-conscious consumers and awareness regarding the benefits of the whey protein amongst the people. Moreover, the growing popularity, moving towards nutrition supplements to enhance their healthy diets will further boost up the global whey protein market. Health benefit associated with the consumption of whey protein like reduces liver damage, improves immune system function, weight loss, lowering cholesterol also enhance the performance of physically active individuals will act as a fuel in the growth of the global whey protein market. For instance, theEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA)examined the health benefits from whey protein such as satiety, weight loss, reduced body fat, increased muscle, increased strength, increased endurance, and faster recovery after exercising. Although excessive consumption of whey protein can also lead to an imbalance of mineral in the bones, nausea, and headache, but whey protein is not considered dangerous. Even, the availability of alternative protein may restrain the market of whey protein in the upcoming years.

Various notable players operating in the market, include Hilmar Cheese Company, Glanbia, Fonterra Group, Arla Foods, Kerry, Lactalis Ingredients, Agropur Inc., Carbery, Milk Specialties Global, DMK Group, among others.

Theglobal whey protein markethas been segmented on the basis of product type, application, end users, and key geographies. Based on product type, the market is segmented into whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and whey protein hydrolysate. Based on application, the market is segmented into food & beverages, nutritional products, healthcare, and others. Based on end users, the market is segmented into online stores, supermarkets, specialized stores, and others.

The research report Global Whey Protein Market provides an in-depth analysis of global whey protein market based on product type, flavor, end user and major geographies for the forecast period from 2019 to 2026. The report also highlights the major market drivers propelling the growth as well as challenges faced by market participants. The research report provides market size and forecast for global whey protein market. In addition, the report also analyses the competitive landscape, major players and their strategies in 2018. The competitive landscape section of the report captures and highlights the recent developments in the market.

Speak to Research Analyst to Understand more About Research atLink https://www.gmiresearch.com/report/global-whey-protein-market/

Key questions answered in this research report:1- At what pace is global whey protein market growing? What will be the growth trend in the future?2- What are the key drivers and restraints in the current market? What will be the impact of drivers and restraints in the future?3- What are the regional revenue and forecast breakdowns? Which are the major regional revenue pockets for growth in the global whey protein market?4- What are the various application areas and how they are poised to grow?

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