Impulsive behavior: What happens in the brain?

A recent study, carried out in rats, investigates which neural pathways and neurotransmitters might play a role in impulsive behavior.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326862.php

The best stretches for runners

Running works many leg muscles and also puts a strain on the knees and back. Learn about 10 stretches that can help keep runners performing well in this article.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326799.php

Women and men at risk of different obesity-related conditions

A new study has found that women and men with obesity face different health risks, while the condition can lead to a range of complications for all.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326821.php

Exercising before breakfast may be most healthful choice

In a new study, people with overweight or obesity who worked out before eating breakfast burned more fat and saw overall health benefits.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326811.php

What are the best ways to eat coconut oil?

People can eat coconut oil in many different ways, including as a cooking oil, as an alternative to butter in baking, and in smoothies. Learn about how to use it, and how much to use, here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326790.php

Jennifer Aniston Says She's on the 16:8 Intermittent Fasting Diet—But What Is That?

Let’s face it, we all want the Jennifer Aniston glow. Does this woman ever not look like she’s just walked out of a wellness retreat? Clearly, she knows a thing or two about health and well-being, and she’s finally sharing some of her secrets.

In an interview with UK magazine Radio Times during the promo trail for her new Apple TV+ show The Morning Show, Aniston revealed that she’s a big fan of intermittent fasting, particularly a version called the 16:8 diet.

“I do intermittent fasting, so no food in the morning. I noticed a big difference in going without solid food for 16 hours,” she said, per CNBC.

RELATED: Is Celery Juice Healthy? Here's What a Nutritionist Thinks

Aniston’s preferred way of intermittent fasting limits her eating time window to eight hours per day, while fasting for the other 16 hours, Tanya B. Freirich, MS, RD, New York-based nutritionist and registered dietitian for Sweet Nova, tells Health. Other types of intermittent fasting diets include the 5:2 diet, which involves fasting for two nonconsecutive days each week and eating without restrictions on the other five days. There's also the OMAD—or one meal a day—diet.

Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular, and it's easy to see why. For starters, there's no prescribed calorie limit, which means no crunching numbers and relying on calorie counting guides before eating. But what else is involved in the 16:8 eating plan and similar fasts, and are they actually safe? Here's what nutrition experts have to say. 

Does the 16:8 intermittent fast diet actually work? 

As far as the benefits of intermittent fasting go, one study found that it helped people lose a “modest” amount of weight and also lowered their blood pressure. “It’s suspected that the reason it helps people lose weight is that eating within an eight-hour window simply limits the total amount of calories consumed in a day,” New York-based nutritionist Lauren Harris-Pincus, RD, tells Health. “But ultimately, the only way to lose weight is to create a caloric deficit where you consume fewer calories than you expend.”

RELATED: What to Know About the Snake Diet, an Extreme Fasting Plan for Weight Loss

Is the 16:8 diet good for you?

Some advocates of the 16:8 diet claim it helps control blood sugar levels and boost brain function, but there’s little scientific evidence to back these up. And if you don’t stick to nutritious food during the eight-hour window, any positive effects are quickly negated. In other words, 16 hours of fasting doesn’t compensate for eight hours of stuffing your face with junk food.

For the best results, you should be careful about your choice of eating window. According to Freirich, it should start early in the day, preferably no later than about 10 a.m., and finish early in the evening. “This allows for the energy you consume during your eating window to serve your activities throughout the day, plus it’s in line with our natural circadian rhythms, presuming you wake up around 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.,” she explains. If you choose a much later eating window, say 4 p.m. to 12 a.m, you could actually see weight gain, she warns.

Wait... is celery allowed during fasting? Doesn’t it have some calories?

Aniston also told Radio Times that she likes to start her day with a celery juice around 9 a.m., which some fasting purists might not agree with. (Typically, intermittent fasting permits nothing but water, tea, or coffee for the entire 16-hour fasting period). “There are no super specific rules to intermittent fasting, however, having anything with calories like celery juice is technically not fasting,” confirms Harris-Pincus.

But hey, it’s not as if Aniston’s having soda for breakfast. And she’s not the only one to extol the virtues of celery juice—it seems like every social media influencer is celebrating the green stuff right now.

Any magical health benefits of celery juice are exaggerated “beyond the fact [that] it’s a vegetable,” says Harris-Pincus. Yet if it works for you, go for it. “I always tell clients that if they like celery juice, then have some,” she adds. “Make half of your food volume fruits and veggies, and you’re good to go.”

RELATED: What Is Alternate-Day Fasting, and Is It Even Safe? Here's What Nutritionists Have to Say

Is there anyone who shouldn’t do intermittent fasting?

The 16:8 diet isn’t suitable for everyone. Freirich doesn't advise it for people with diabetes or problems with low blood pressure or low blood sugar, as well as children, athletes, and pregnant women. “These groups of people need food more consistently throughout the day or have high energy needs that are difficult to meet with time constraints,” she explains.

Are there any side effects to be aware of?

Intermittent fasting shouldn’t come with any nasty side effects, but—like all restrictive eating plans—it’s important to not let it take over your life. “Sometimes people shy away from social events because they interfere with the timing of the fast,” Harris-Pincus says. “I never recommend letting an eating behavior determine your interaction with friends, family, or coworkers.”

It’s also important to pay attention to exercise in relation to fasting. Harris-Pincus warns against exercising while fasting or waiting several hours after exercising to eat your first meal. “You want to feed those muscles and replenish carbohydrate stores after an intense workout,” she says.

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How many calories are there in different cuts of chicken?

Learn about the calories in the breasts, thighs, wings, and drumsticks of a chicken with and without skin. Also, discover how cooking methods change the calorie and fat content of chicken.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326767.php

The best vitamins and supplements for energy

Although a healthful diet and regular exercise can reduce fatigue, some vitamins and supplements can also boost energy. Learn which ones may have benefits here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326756.php

Potato puree is a promising race fuel for athletes

In a trial involving trained cyclists, potato puree and carbohydrate gel showed equal ability to sustain blood glucose and racing performance.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326759.php

First-time evidence suggests that fat can accumulate in the lungs

New evidence shows that fatty tissue can build up in the airways, affecting lung health, especially in people with obesity. This may contribute to asthma.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326734.php

Vegan keto diet: Everything you need to know

A vegan keto diet is a very low carbohydrate diet that does not include any animal products. Learn about the possible benefits and risks and what to eat on a vegan keto diet here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326729.php

What to know about third trimester weight gain

A woman may gain weight during the third trimester of pregnancy. This is because the fetus is growing and the body is preparing for delivery. Learn more about third trimester weight gain here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326671.php

Drinks, not food, with added sugar promote weight gain

Research finds that adding sucrose to drinks increases calorie intake and weight gain in mice, but adding the same amount in solid form to food does not.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326686.php

Could coffee byproducts fight inflammation?

A recent study has investigated whether the byproducts of coffee production might help ease the inflammation associated with obesity and protect health.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326669.php

Everything you need to know about man boobs

'Man boobs,' or enlarged breast tissue in males, is a common concern. In many instances, a person can use diet and targeted exercises to reduce the appearance of enlarged breast tissue. Learn more here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326637.php

How to get defined abdominal muscles

In this article, we discuss the best ways to get well-defined abdominal muscles. We provide tips on exercising and explain the best dietary approach.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326624.php

What to Know About the Snake Diet, an Extreme Fasting Plan for Weight Loss

Can bowel movements lead to weight loss?

When a person poops, they may temporarily lose the weight of the stool. However, this is not a good weight loss strategy. Learn more about bowel movements and weight loss here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326647.php

Type 2 diabetes: Weight regain reduces cardiovascular benefits

New research on type 2 diabetes shows that regaining weight reverses much of the cardiovascular risk reduction that initial weight loss affords.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326625.php

What to know about exogenous ketones

Exogenous ketones are supplements that may help a person enter a state of ketosis, in which the body breaks down fats instead of carbohydrates. Learn more about the effectiveness and safety of exogenous ketones here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326607.php

What to know about sugar detox symptoms

Sugar detox symptoms may feel unpleasant, but they are temporary and should subside after a few days. Learn about possible sugar detox symptoms and how to manage sugar withdrawal.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326575.php

Is this how fructose worsens the effect of high fat diets?

A new mouse study reveals that adding fructose to high fat diets disrupts fat burning in the liver through effects on fat oxidation genes and mitochondria.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326550.php

What is claudication?

Claudication is pain, cramping, or fatigue in the muscles that usually occurs during exercise and goes away with rest. Learn about why it happens, what it feels like, and treatments here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326553.php

Postpartum weight loss: Diets and plans

Breastfeeding, eating a healthful diet, and gentle exercise can all aid postpartum weight loss. Learn how to lose weight safely after pregnancy here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326548.php

6 ways to tighten loose skin

There are many causes of loose, sagging skin, including aging, rapid weight loss, and pregnancy. Learn about ways to prevent and tighten loose skin here.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326536.php

What is the impact of cooked vs. raw food on the gut?

A new study in mice and humans confirms that cooked meals affect the gut microbiome differently from raw foods, which may have health implications.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326527.php

What is the best protein powder for weight loss?

Research suggests that some protein powders may support weight loss. We look at the best options, depending on a person's diet. We also describe how to use these powders.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326523.php

What to know about blood pressure rates after exercising

This article describes optimal blood pressure readings. In it, we also investigate how to lower blood pressure through exercise and other lifestyle changes.

source https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326514.php