If you've ever engaged in your own debate or watched one evolve, there are three core pillars of conducting a skilled debate that have stood the test of time: Bridge: Finding a common ground, even one point of agreement, is an effective way to build a rapport with the person with whom you are debating. …
2022’s Most Searched Diets
The ketogenic diet was the most searched diet plan in 2022. In fact, here is a list of the top 10 most searched diets from last year. Keto diet Mediterranean diet Diabetic diet Carnivore diet Military diet Dash diet 7-day diet plan for weight loss Low carb diet Atkins diet Go lo diet https://foodinstitute.com/focus/keto-was-most-searched-diet-plan-in-2022/ Carbohydrate …
Ketogenic for a Sound Mind?
What if you could change your diet to reduce your risk of Alzheimer's? A recent study concluded a modified Mediterranean ketogenic diet may decrease your risk of this horrible disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-04-mediterranean-ketogenic-diet-benefit-adults.html Overview The study was a small (n = 20) randomized trial with two groups, one group with normal cognitive health and the other with …
Dismantling the Fake Nutrition News
Over the last few weeks we have seen some sensational headlines related to a low-carb diet, the ketogenic lifestyle and sugar substitutes. Here are just a few examples: A quick google search will showcase a range of other articles on these topics that were picked-up by "news" agencies & bloggers alike, with a disappointing consistency …
Raising the Bar
Knowing why something is not a good idea can be almost as important as knowing why a choice is the correct path. A good example is in the nutrition world. Americans are looking at more dietary options and variations than ever before, eager to find products that help support their dietary lifestyle, and one of …
Playing With Percentages
Having successfully run corporate businesses, built brands and gained an expertise in research and insights, I'm no stranger to data and percentages. When building a business case, creating segmentation and assessing the risk/reward profile of an investment or initiative, we are constantly playing with percentages. However, one of the rules that applies to both this …
Stating the Obvious
With today's 24/7 barrage of news and information, it's hard to decipher what's really important, what is actually true & factual, and what pieces of "news" are so obvious that we have to stop and question whether those are actually newsworthy at all. A few days ago I came across a news article with the …
Change the Trajectory
Typically when we talk about a record being broken, it's a good thing. Whether it's an individual athletic event where a sprinter or swimmer smashes a world record with a scintillating performance, a team accomplishment like winning a Super Bowl or Stanley Cup, or a major milestone by a company or industry, we tend to …
A Better Way
Here's a hypothetical question. If I asked you to eat a substitute item that was more expensive, provided a poorer nutritional profile, was made with more additives & fillers, delivered less of a critical macronutrient, and tasted worse, would you buy it? It's actually not a hypothetical question, as that is what Beyond Meat is …
Five Takeaways From Low Carb 2022
From August 25 - 28, I had the opportunity to attend the Low Carb Conference in beautiful San Diego, CA. I was particularly keen to learn more about the scientific advances of how a low carbohydrate lifestyle contributes to metabolic health, and I was not disappointed. At this conference we covered low-carb diets, the ketogenic …
Shifting the Odds
Cancer. Just the word sends a chilling and daunting feeling into any conversation. If you've ever been diagnosed, or know someone close who has received a cancer diagnosis, your life changes in an instant. The truth is there is still so much we don't know about cancer. How does it start? Who is at a …
Improving Metabolic Health
Recent data from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) 2022 survey reaffirmed the trend of more people looking to follow diets. In this year's survey, roughly 52% of respondents confirmed following a "diet or eating pattern" in the last year, up 13% from the 2021 survey. The segment driving this increase were those aged below …
Delving Into Dairy
In the latest issue of People Magazine, the People Food Awards highlighted over 60 of their favorite new items to hit store shelves. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the foods highlighted were a sugary mess…waffles, sugary cereals, candy, ice cream, snacks, etc. However, there is one product I wanted to highlight as an example of …
The Rise of Flexitarian
According to a new CFANS Insights survey from the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, 80% of consumers prefer animal-based protein, but plant-based protein is on the rise as 31% suggest they will eat more in the next five years. https://www.nationalhogfarmer.com/news/umn-survey-80-us-consumers-prefer-animal-based-protein Protein Importance Among the three macronutrients, protein is arguably …
When Diversity Does Not Fit The Narrative
It is impossible to scroll through http://www.linkedin.com during a day without seeing multiple posts about the importance of corporate diversity. Lectures come fast and furious about the importance of racial, gender, sexual orientation and religious diversity, and I've been surprised at how many of the proxy statements for stocks I own focus on making the …
Europe’s Obesity Problem
At the recent 2022 European Congress on Obesity, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared obesity rates in Europe have reached epidemic proportions, and that COVID-19 was a key contributor in making the obesity trend worse. https://www.gbnews.uk/news/who-declares-obesity-in-europe-has-reached-epidemic-proportions-after-covid-19-made-things-worse/286184?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral In North America, we tend to think of Europeans as generally healthier & less obese, but that perception may …
Bad Policy Drives Poor Decisions
Unless you've been under a rock for the last 16 months, you are well aware of the inflationary pressure Americans are feeling across almost every area of their lives. For a recap: The annual inflation rate in the US accelerated to 8.5% in March of 2022, up from 7.9% in February, and the highest since …
Questions About Ivermectin
In September 2021, the following press release appeared from the AMA, APHA and ASHP, and quoting the FDA and CDC: https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-apha-ashp-statement-ending-use-ivermectin-treat-covid-19 The release takes a position that, not only is Ivermectin strongly discouraged as a treatment for COVID-19, but that it is dangerous, largely due to over-use by people looking for a way to counter …
Understanding the Role & Cause of Inflammation
Here's a new flash. We have a chronic disease & inflammation problem, and it's getting worse. How bad is it? Even the CDC is alarmed: 60% of the U.S. Population has one chronic disease40% of the U.S. Population has at least two chronic diseases75% of COVID-19 deaths were among patients who had at least four …
Continue reading Understanding the Role & Cause of Inflammation
A Ketogenic Hat Trick
How many times have you heard the term "fad diet?" It seems like every year there is a new miracle way to lose weight, improve metabolic health and achieve a leaner physique. If I had $1 for every time someone mentioned the ketogenic diet and "fad diet" in the same sentence, I would be comfortably …
Can the Ketogenic Lifestyle Help with Multiple Sclerosis?
As if we need another reason to consider the benefits of a ketogenic lifestyle, a recent study suggests the ketogenic diet can help people who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-03-keto-diet-people-multiple-sclerosis.html Overview The study included 65 people who suffered from a common type of MS that includes relapses and remissions, with participants following a strict …
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Diabetes: A Dire Direction
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/diabetes-death-america/2022/01/31/id/1054720/ You can’t exercise your way out of a bad dietDR. MARK HYMAN In January 2022, the National Clinical Care Commission issued their report to Congress & the Secretary of Health & Human Services on the pathway to prevent and control diabetes, and better manage complications. For a link to download and read the full report, …
Transparency in Leadership
On January 27, 2022, at the Whitehouse briefing with Jen Psaki, a reporter asked why the Biden administration was not doing more to encourage healthy lifestyles as a mechanism to deal with the risks surrounding COVID-19. As quoted from the briefing (for a video montage of the Q&A, click here): And then, on COVID: We …
Reduce the Comorbidities, Reduce the COVID-19 Risk
Since the start of COVID-19, http://www.business-fit.org has been sounding the alarm about how our collective poor health, growing obesity & metabolic disorders, and poor dietary choices have been creating highly inflammatory conditions and contributing mightily to those who have suffered severe symptoms. Now, the CDC is officially confirming what we've suspected all along. In a …
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Questioning the U.S. News Best Diets of 2022 Ranking
Happy New Year! 2022 is off to an auspicious start: (1) The more contagious but less severe omicron COVID-19 variant runs wild: (2) Governments take draconian measures to enforce vaccine compliance; (3) New Year's Resolutions around health & wellness take center stage, as people begin the new year with a renewed sense of adherence to …
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Can Artificial Sweeteners Contribute to Insulin Resistance?
As consumers seek ways to improve their dietary behaviors, one area that continues to be controversial is the role of artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweetening ingredients such as saccharine, sucralose, monk fruit, stevia leaf & allulose are added to a wide range of foods to offer a sweet treat without the guilt. But are they really …
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Follow The Science
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, one phrase we have heard over and over again is…"follow the science." Whether it has been associated with mask wearing, social distancing, vaccine mandates or reopening schools and large venues, the mantra from the WHO (World Health Organization), the CDC and other governmental bodies has been "follow the science." But …
Evidence of Obesity’s Role in Severe COVID-19 Symptoms Continues to Grow
https://www.wfae.org/health/2021-09-30/novant-says-9-of-10-children-in-covid-icus-are-overweight-but-public-health-officials-rarely-talk-about-obesity As the world grapples with COVID-19, the delta variant, the heightened debate around vaccine effectiveness and government intervention, and the controversy surrounding various treatment options, one constant remains: the correlation between COVID-19 patients suffering from severe symptoms and the prevalence of obesity. The link to this article highlights a pediatrician in North Carolina who …
Continue reading Evidence of Obesity’s Role in Severe COVID-19 Symptoms Continues to Grow
Changing the Calories-in/Calories-out Narrative
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/insulin-weight-loss-calories-carbohydrates/2021/09/28/id/1038283/ If you've spent any time trying to lose weight, you've probably heard these well-rehearsed phrases: "To lose weight, you have to consume fewer calories than you burn.""If you're overweight, you're eating too much. Cut back on your calories & add exercise.""The 1st law of thermodynamics applies to food consumption & weight management. It's calories …
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Ultra-Processed Food Accounts for 2/3 of Children’s Calories
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2782866?guestAccessKey=c646e502-898f-443b-8558-d90a74e35415&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=081021 According to the CDC, as of 2018, 19% of children aged 2 - 19 are considered obese, with the percentage of children 12 - 19 (just coming into adulthood) even higher at 21.2%. Childhood obesity was also higher among Hispanic children (25.6%) and non-Hispanic Black children (24.2%). What could be contributing to such an …
Continue reading Ultra-Processed Food Accounts for 2/3 of Children’s Calories
11 Biases in the Latest Ketogenic-Bashing Study
It seems as though trust in the mainstream media, confidence in what governments are doing & saying, and the quality and consistency of recommendations from global organizations based on sound science is at an all-time low. Back in January, a poll by Edelman demonstrated this, and the trend is only becoming worse. Almost 3 months …
Continue reading 11 Biases in the Latest Ketogenic-Bashing Study
The Link Between Metabolic Syndrome & COVID-19
https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2021/21_0123.htm A few days ago the CDC published findings detailing underlying medical conditions of hundreds of thousands of U.S. patients who were hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms. The data was from the period of March, 2020 - March, 2021, from 800 hospitals, and included adults 18 years and older. Here's a synopsis of the key …
Continue reading The Link Between Metabolic Syndrome & COVID-19
The Dish About Meat
https://foodinstitute.com/focus/despite-the-rise-of-plant-based-alternatives-meat-department-sales-up-19-in-2020/ The latest data on meat sales from 2020 shows robust growth vs. previous year at +19.2%. This is impressive given the amount of visibility, news coverage and distribution expansion of plant-based meat substitute products. Consumer attitudes toward meat consumption is also interesting to note, as those defining themselves at "meat eaters" actually declined from …
Weight, Not So Fast?
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/diet-fasting-calorie-counting-weight-loss/2021/06/16/id/1025358/ Anyone who has tried to lose weight is familiar with the old advice to manage calories-in vs. calories-out. The thinking is all calories are equal, so in order to lose weight, you just have to reduce your caloric intake below your caloric expenditure (or calories burned) and weight will begin to shed from the …
To My Dad on Father’s Day
Today is Father's Day, 2021, a well-earned time to recognize, thank and remember how critical of a role it is to be a Father. Hopefully, most will have the chance to spend quality time with their Father or Dad, and thank them for their love, care and support. For me, today is my first Father's …
Nestlé’s Unhealthy Admission
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/nestlé-document-says-majority-of-its-food-portfolio-is-unhealthy/46664032 Global CPG conglomerate Nestlé has admitted that at least 60% of their food/drink products "do not meet a recognized definition of health." In fact, based on the Australian Health Star system, only 37% of Nestlé's food and beverage products meet a 3.5 rating or higher. It's important to remember Nestlé is a global leader …
Energy Drink Awareness
Energy drinks have become a growth juggernaut in the beverage world. With a 10.5% growth rate in the previous year and almost half of consumers drinking them doing so several times per week, the trends are very favorable in this sector. In fact, according to Statista, global energy drink sales are projected to grow from …
The Importance of Data Integrity
We have more sources of data and "news" today than ever before. But, as with all great power comes great responsibility, so we need to ensure we are applying critical thinking skills around all this available information. When reviewing a "study" or evaluating a data set or news item, consider the following: How robust is …
Pre-Diabetes Risks for Heart Disease
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/prediabetes-heart-attack-stroke-odds/2021/05/05/id/1020200/ Pre-Diabetes & Insulin Resistance According to the CDC, 88 million Americans have a condition known as pre-diabetes, the precursor to Type II Diabetes. Pre-diabetes is where the body has elevated blood sugar levels and cells are becoming more resistant to insulin successfully transporting the blood sugar into cells for storage. When the body's normal …
How to Reverse Type II Diabetes & Obesity
COVID-19's rampage on the world's population has had one profound effect that may begin to shift our global health and wellness mindset. If you have not read or watched a news article about the appalling increase in diabetes cases around the world, and how the huge majority of these cases are preventable by diet and …
Another Casualty of the Smartphone War
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lg-elec-smartphones-idUSKBN2BS1M3 There was a big announcement in technology this week, with South Korea's LG announcing they will shut down their smartphone business effective July, 2021, and shift their investment and focus toward smart home products, electric vehicle components, robotics, artificial intelligence, business-to-business products and other connected devices. So, what happened? A Quick History of the Smartphone …
Can Processed Foods Adversely Affect the Immune System?
Processed food continues to be of topical news coverage as we deal with an epidemic of heart disease, type II diabetes and obesity related to dietary choices. As if you needed another reason to avoid processed food, a new study suggests that common additives can also harm the human immune system. In the world driven …
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Five Ways to Eat Less Processed Food
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/cardiovascular-diet-heart-processed-foods/2021/03/23/id/1014827/ Regardless of which dietary philosophy you choose - Vegan, Paleo, Pegan, South Beach, Atkins, Low Carb, Ketogenic - there is one aspect that ALL of these eating philosophies share: avoid processed foods. Even the fundamentally flawed 2020 - 2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines & MyPlate recommend consuming more "nutrient dense" foods in lieu of processed …
A Global Report Linking Obesity & COVID-19
https://www.newsmax.com/health/health-news/coronavirus-death-obesity/2021/03/04/id/1012449/ It's been over a year since COVID-19 started ravaging the world with a global pandemic that has directly or indirectly claimed the lives of 2.5 million people. As scientists and governments try to assess how to manage through the pandemic, including vaccinating the population, we continue to learn about who is at the highest …
How Hormel’s Acquisition of Planters from Kraft Heinz Underlines the Importance of Brand Strategy
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-spam-maker-hormel-just-bought-115-yearold-planters-for-335-billion-144921127.html Hormel announced they are buying the Planters, Cheese Balls & Corn Nuts brands from Kraft Heinz for $3.35 billion. While this deal had been rumored for some time, it's helpful to understand why this makes sense and the different trajectories of these two CPG conglomerates. The Struggles at Kraft Heinz Prior to the merger …
Interviewing Six Pack
Interviewing. Most of us have done it, and at various times, many have been both the interviewer as well as the interviewee. Think about your interviewing experiences, and which ones stand out as memorable? What did YOU do in the interview that was memorable? How about the other person(s) in the interview? Successful interview experiences …
Diversity of Thought
As of Q1 2020, 40% of Fortune 500 companies have a diversity executive as a senior staff member. However, much of the emphasis within these roles is on whether there is adequate representation of gender or race. While absolutely important, here's a little hint. If you focus less on trying to meet a certain percentage …
A Culture of Innovation
While Amazon.com's earnings reports are always anticipated, Tuesday's results were accompanied by a big announcement, even by their standards. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos will be transitioning out of his current CEO role to become Executive Chairman in the third quarter. Anytime there is a leadership change, employees and investors get nervous. What makes this particularly …
U.S. Dietary Guidelines Fail to Change Course
https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-u-s-dietary-guidelines-reject-recommendation-to-cut-sugar-alcohol-intake-11609254000?reflink=share_mobilewebshare In 1977, the first edition of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines was published with an intent to reduce heart disease and diabetes through a diet high in carbohydrates, low in fat, and paying attention to measurements like blood cholesterol. Since that seminal moment, the health of Americans has spiraled downward with obesity, diabetes, heart disease …
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Holiday Snacking Help
https://www.drlamcoaching.com/blog/holiday-themed-trail-mixes/?utm_source=daily-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscriber-newsletter&utm_term=diet&utm_content=article-19065&inf_contact_key=0769e399d8f9a13dcd45f498a7a5c0644dfbc39d7283b2cb89d5189540b69330 While most look forward to Christmas with anticipation and excitement, even the most jolly soul will admit the holidays are stressful. Managing the needs of work and personal commitments, attending parties, buying the "perfect" gifts, dealing with traffic & schedules, the threat of lousy weather, and the highs & lows of extended family time …
Spirit Shining Bright
"Man's Best Friend." Just hearing these three words triggers an immediate picture of an owner and his/her dog, and the kinship that is formed through a myriad of life experiences. Ask a dog owner what it's like to own a dog, and in most cases, you'll get a response in the neighborhood of "(dog's name) …
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