Latest news with #LaurenKelly
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Trapezium Gallery exhibition of Lauren Kelly and Jess Swift's art
An art exhibition is set to open in Bradford. The exhibition, titled 'In Full Colour,' will showcase the work of multi-disciplinary artists Lauren Kelly and Jess Swift, at Trapezium Gallery, on Kirkgate, from May 10 to May 31. Ken Woods, of Trapezium Gallery, said: "We are delighted that friends Jess and Lauren have teamed up to exhibit their vibrant work." Kelly's work, which spans painting, collage, photography, and digital art, explores themes of nostalgia, youth culture, and the aesthetics of hedonism. She said: "I am interested in collapsing the boundaries between the real and the re-imagined. "Viewers are invited into that in-between space, where prettiness can be powerful, and where nostalgia, though tinted rosy retrospection, still leaves something raw behind." Swift, who primarily works in abstract painting and contemporary sculpture, explores neurodiversity and alternative learning methods through her work. She said: "As a dyslexic artist, my paintings are an expression of my reclaiming ownership, and I encourage the viewer to partake in the process." The exhibition will be open on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11am to 3pm. There will be refreshments and a chance to meet the artists at a launch event on Saturday, May 10, from 12pm to 3pm.
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
'This is the cheat code!': Women are eating raw carrots for period pain. Does it work? Kind of.
'This is the cheat code!': Women are eating raw carrots for period pain. Does it work? Kind of. Show Caption Hide Caption Expert reveals how to add more superfoods to your diet Nutrition therapist Lauren Kelly explains what foods are designated as a "superfood" and how they can benefit your overall health goals. Stuck in bed with period cramps? Over-the-counter painkillers just aren't doing the trick? Some say this natural food may be the fix. Raw carrots are all the rage among social media users who claim that the vegetable can prevent menstrual cramps and pain by reducing the body's estrogen levels. 'Eating raw carrots every day has helped my periods significantly!! I haven't gotten cramps once. This is the cheat code girls!!!' one X user wrote, amassing 8.1M views. 'I tell all the women in my life to eat carrots,' another replied. Experts say there is a grain of truth to the claim − but with a lot more nuance. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A (as beta-carotene), fiber, magnesium and potassium, and are low in calories and fat – all nutritional properties that contribute to overall health. But there is limited scientific evidence that eating raw carrots directly alleviates period pain or cramps, explains Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, MD, OB-GYN, Co-Host of SHE MD and Co-Founder of Ovii. 'Promoting carrots as a cure-all can be misleading and may distract from other effective strategies for menstrual health, like balanced nutrition, exercise, hydration, and stress management,' says Caroline Thomason, RD, CDCES, a dietician based in Washington, DC. Can raw carrots help you detox excess estrogen? The short answer: Yes, but not directly. Estrogen is an important hormone that regulates the reproductive system, and estrogen levels rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle. High estrogen levels can disrupt reproductive processes and cause irregular periods, reduced sex drive, worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and hormonal acne, according to Cleveland Clinic and Healthline. When it comes to period cramps, significantly painful periods "aren't normal" and could be a sign of endometriosis, Aliabadi says. "If you have painful periods, consult with your physician," she adds. "Other lifestyle factors and treatments have been proven to help, such as anti-inflammatory foods, exercise, stress management, and medical treatments like ibuprofen or hormonal therapies." What helps with period cramps? Periods don't have to be painful. Here's how to find relief from menstrual cramps. No one food can completely resolve or eliminate period pain or cramps, but raw carrots can help support your body's natural detox process, Thomason says. 'Raw carrots are high in fiber, particularly soluble fiber, that supports hormone balance by binding to estrogen in the digestive tract and promoting its excretion (through stool),' she explains. 'This process is part of the body's natural hormone metabolism and excretion, which happens whether you eat carrots or not.' Vitamin A also can support the liver, which plays a role in metabolizing and eliminating excess hormones, according to Aliabadi. "In that sense, a healthy liver function could support overall hormone balance, but carrots alone won't 'detox' estrogen," she says. Other fiber-rich foods like leafy greens, oats, beans and whole grains can also help support hormone balance over time, especially for those who are estrogen-dominant (relative to progesterone levels) or have conditions related to hormone imbalance, according to Thomason. Hormonal imbalances unrelated to menopause or medication, such as birth control, may be caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder affecting 8%-18% of reproductive-aged women, and should be treated by a physician. 'Just lose weight': Women with PCOS are going untreated due to 'weight-centric health care' Can magnesium levels in carrots reduce period cramps? The short answer: Not significantly. Magnesium is known for its muscle-relaxing properties and can help alleviate cramps, but the evidence for its effectiveness is very limited. And while carrots contain some magnesium, they are not as rich as foods like dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), almonds, whole grains or pumpkin seeds, according to Thomason. The suggested amount of magnesium for women is 310-320 mg per day, per Healthline. A medium-sized raw carrot (about 58 grams) contains approximately 7.32 mg of magnesium, whereas one cup of raw spinach has 24 mg. 'No single food can provide a magic bullet for period pain relief,' Thomason says. 'Instead of putting one food on a pedestal, like carrots, focus on the basics like getting a variety of fruits and vegetables, exercising regularly and drinking plenty of water.' Spreading misinformation or exaggerating claims about natural remedies can also cause people to rely on unproven methods to treat their symptoms, Aliabadi explains: "This could delay proper care, especially if individuals continue to suffer from severe cramps or other menstrual issues without addressing them with appropriate medications or lifestyle adjustments."
USA Today
22-03-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Kiwi skin may not be very appetizing, but it has surprising health benefits
Kiwi skin may not be very appetizing, but it has surprising health benefits Show Caption Hide Caption Expert reveals the fruits, rice and meats that can lower blood pressure Hypertension can increase the risk of heart disease. Nutrition therapist Lauren Kelly has dietary suggestions that can help lower blood pressure. Kiwis are a nutrient-dense fruit that research has shown to offer a number of health benefits, including boosting digestive, immune and metabolic health. But did you know that you're leaving even more nutrients on the table? You likely eat the soft, green insides of the kiwi fruit and peel off the brown outer layer that's somehow both fuzzy and rough at the same time. You don't have to, though. "Kiwi skin might not be appetizing, but it's definitely edible," registered dietitian Miranda Galati tells USA TODAY. Is it worth it to brave chewing the strange texture of the outer layer of a kiwi? Here's what nutrition experts say. Can you eat the skin of a kiwi? The short answer is yes, you can eat kiwi skin. Whether you want to is another question, but from a health perspective it's definitely allowed — and sometimes even encouraged. "Most Americans aren't eating enough fiber, and eating kiwi skin is one way to combat that," Galati says. "The skin of the kiwi is where much of its fiber is held — if you eat the whole kiwi with skin, you could increase the fiber content by almost half." The current Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest consuming between 20 and 38 grams of fiber every day, depending on your age and sex. American adults are only averaging 10 to 15 grams per day, though, according to Harvard Health. A 100-gram serving of peeled kiwi usually contains about 2.1 grams of fiber, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food database. If you keep the skin on, that total spikes to about 3.5 grams of fiber. For comparison, other foods high in fiber include lima beans (9.2 grams per serving), black beans (7.5 grams), Brussels sprouts (6.4 grams), popcorn (5.8 grams) and pears (5.5 grams). How to peel kiwi easily Peelers are great, but it might not work for oddly-shaped fruits and vegetables. ProblemSolved, Reviewed More to read: List of fruits with the most health benefits: These 8 are expert recommended Is kiwi skin hard to digest? Aside from the texture, another common concern about eating kiwi skin is whether it's difficult on your digestive system. But you don't need to panic if you try a kiwi skin for the first time and feel some stomach discomfort, Galati says. Can you eat bay leaves? What to know about the potential dangers "Some people may notice uncomfortable digestive symptoms from eating kiwi skin like bloating or gas. But that's not because of skin — it's because of the increase in fiber," Galati says. "Increasing fiber from any source may cause digestive upset as your body adjusts. The rule of thumb for eating more fiber is to go slow, make one change at a time and drink plenty of fluids. And be sure to wash the kiwi skin thoroughly since it may hold microbes or dirt."
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Can chocolate go bad? Yes (!) What to know before sharing Valentine's Day treats
Can chocolate go bad? Yes (!) What to know before sharing Valentine's Day treats Show Caption Hide Caption An expert explains the health benefits of eating chocolate Sometimes having a sweet tooth can be good! Nutrition therapist Lauren Kelly explains some of the health benefits of eating chocolate. A chocolate bar hates to see Valentine's Day coming. The holiday is responsible for roughly $4 billion in chocolate and candy sales annually, according to a report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Think Hershey's Kisses and pink-colored M&Ms to chocolate-covered strawberries and gourmet chocolate boxes. Whether you're making a chocolatey treat, giving a loved one a box of chocolates or planning on enjoying some yourself, dietitian Jamie Nadeau, RD, shares some tips on how to make sure your Valentine's Day chocolate intake doesn't make you (love) sick. Cute: I searched the country for a Valentine's date. Here's who I picked. Can chocolate go bad? The short answer is yes, chocolate can go bad. The long answer is that it depends on a number of factors, including the type of chocolate and how it's stored, Nadeau explains. In general, dark chocolate usually lasts longer than milk chocolate because it doesn't contain milk. "Most chocolate can last anywhere between one to two years, but it depends, so I recommend taking a peek at the expiration date and storing it properly," Nadeau says. "It should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place away from heat and sunlight." Is candy a healthy Valentine's snack? Experts share how to have a healthy holiday. How can you tell if chocolate has gone bad? Many solid forms of chocolate can still be safely eaten up to six months past the best buy date on their label, Nadeau says, adding that "many expiration dates refer to optimal quality versus the food actually going bad right on that date." In other words, eating something like chocolate past its "best by" date usually just means it won't taste as good, not that it'll make you sick. But if the chocolate in question has a "rancid smell," noticeable mold on top or a sour taste, that should be your sign to toss it out. Literal death by chocolate isn't necessarily something to worry about, but Nadeau notes that "just like other types of spoiled food, you can get food poisoning or gastrointestinal upset by eating chocolate that isn't good anymore."
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Health
- USA Today
1 in 3 older Americans take aspirin daily. What does it do?
1 in 3 older Americans take aspirin daily. What does it do? Show Caption Hide Caption Expert reveals the fruits, rice and meats that can lower blood pressure Hypertension can increase the risk of heart disease. Nutrition therapist Lauren Kelly has dietary suggestions that can help lower blood pressure. Nearly one in three Americans over the age of 60 — roughly 19 million people — take aspirin daily, according to a 2021 study in Annals of Internal Medicine. Should you be among that group? Aspirin is an over-the-counter medication used for a variety of reasons, but particularly in heart attack and stroke prevention for older people. Dr. Michael J. Blaha, MD, MPH, Director of Clinical Research for the Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, is breaking down how exactly aspirin helps with those health conditions and whether you should ask your doctor about taking it, depending on what your health concerns are. What does aspirin do? Aside from pain treatment, doctors may prescribe aspirin to patients who are at risk of heart attack or stroke, according to Harvard Health. These two serious health conditions occur when plaque forms in arteries, which can slow down blood flow in the body and cause small blood clots to form. Blocking or disrupting blood flow to the heart is what causes a heart attack, while blocked or disrupted blood flow to the head causes a stroke. Here's where aspirin can come into play: it thins blood, which makes clots less likely. "Aspirin can reduce heart attacks and strokes, and to some degree other clots like those in the deep veins of the legs," Blaha says. "In low doses, aspirin inhibits platelets and therefore reduces blood clots." More: Why you should reconsider taking daily aspirin Does aspirin thin blood quickly? Thinning blood and therefore making clots less likely is a definite pro for those who are at higher risk of cardiovascular issues. But that doesn't make aspirin a prime candidate for everyone. "In cardiovascular disease, we commonly prefer blood thinning because many cardiovascular diseases are the result of blood clots," Blaha says. "However, blood thinning is inevitably accompanied by an increased risk of bleeding." Because of that increased risk of bleeding, those who have a history of bleeding or who have gastrointestinal disorders should not take aspirin, Blaha says. Aspirin "weakens the stomach's protective lining against stomach acid, making the stomach and intestines more vulnerable to ulcers, which can bleed," according to Harvard Health. Those who are "at low to moderate risk of cardiovascular disease without any evidence of subclinical disease on imaging or prior heart attack or stroke" should also avoid taking aspirin, Blaha adds. More than three million Americans reported taking aspirin without consulting a medical professional first, according to that 2021 survey. But the American Heart Association warns against taking daily low-dose aspirin without talking to your doctor first. Concerned about hypothyroidism? These are the signs to look out for. "Too may low risk patients were taking aspirin in the past, sometimes without consulting a medical professional," Blaha notes.
