Latest news with #TBEV
Business Mayor
20-05-2025
- Health
- Business Mayor
TikTok's protein obsession has us lacking another key nutrient
Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free A s health and wellness influencers and recipes gain traction online, one macronutrient outshines the rest: protein. Protein-rich foods are celebrated as the golden answer — the key to keeping you feel full with less calories, helping both weight loss and muscle gain. However, the protein craze could mean we're eating too much for our own good. 'There's always been trends around foods that are extreme,' physiologist George Wells, Ph.D., told The Independent . 'We had low fat, then low sugar, and now we happen to have high protein. The extremes tend to catch people's attention. But they're not good for us and they never last.' Amid the protein craze, we're pushing an important nutrient to the side: fiber. Accredited Practicing Dietitian Kim Lindsay says fiber is ignored because carbohydrates have been demonized and feared. 'When there's a trend towards a low-carb, higher protein, if we're reducing the amount of carbohydrates that we're eating, we're going to naturally reduce the amount of fiber that we're taking in, right?' Lindsay explained. 'We have to have a balanced diet where we include plant foods, protein-containing foods, and fats in our diet.' Instead, balance is being pushed aside for protein-rich eggs, meat and seafood. Snacks previously called 'junk food' are getting a wellness makeover, with added protein now found in many bars, chips and gummies. Even the Kardashians are on board, with Khloe Kardashian recently launching her protein popcorn, 'Kloud,' which offers seven grams of protein per one cup of popcorn. Read More How to protect yourself from tick-borne TBEV virus The International Food Information Council's annual survey found that 71 percent of consumers were trying to increase their protein intake this year, a 6 percent rise from 2023. The survey also found that exposure to food and nutrition content online, much of which is protein focused, is up by 54 percent. To be clear, protein is an essential macronutrient to help bodily functions, like fighting infection, providing energy, and building and maintaining muscle mass. Intake depends on body weight, with general guidance being that a just over a third of the calories we consume each day should come from protein. So, with the average American woman weighing around 171 pounds, she should consume about 62 grams of protein a day. The average American man, at around 200 pounds, should eat about 72 grams of protein daily. (Getty/iStock) However, Wells believes that due to social media, we're only focused on having as much protein as possible. 'I think the craze around protein right now probably is linked to bodybuilding and the obsession with body composition — looking like you have the six-pack abs,' he said. But that ignores the flip side. 'If you have too much protein, it's really hard for the body to deal with all of the amino acids that are floating around,' Wells added. That's where fiber comes in handy. Typically found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, fiber is particularly beneficial to your digestive system and keeping you regular. While men should have about 38 grams a day and women should have 25 grams, as noted by dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick, you shouldn't just jump into doing that if you've been eating way less. 'Fiber intake should be tailored to the individual and the microbiome. However, if you are well under this amount, you should go slow to allow the body adequate time to adjust,' Kirkpatrick, the owner of KAK nutrition consulting, explained. She added that fiber can also prevent certain cancers and type 2 diabetes and improve heart health. (Getty/iStock) Observational studies have found a fiber deficiency among Americans. According to a study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, only five percent of the population has the recommended amount of fiber a day. Inadequate intake can result in health issues like chronic constipation and gastrointestinal problems. Similar to avoiding high-processed foods just because they've got extra protein added to them, we should focus on eating real foods that are naturally high in fiber rather than ultra-processed foods with bits of fiber in them. 'We gravitate towards highly processed foods because they're engineered to taste fantastic,' Wells said. 'They're high in sugar and salts, and we crave them as a result. There's no real incentive for the processed foods to be satiating. They're great for business, but they're really not very good for our health.'
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Thai Beverage's half-year profit falls 3%
May 9 (Reuters) - Singapore-listed Thai Beverage ( opens new tab reported a 3.2% fall in its first-half profit on Friday, as its spirits segment suffered a slowdown due to higher raw material costs. The company, which owns brands such as Chang beer and Grand Royal whisky, said profit attributable came in at 14.71 billion baht ($446.2 million) for the six-month period ended March 31, compared with 15.19 billion baht a year earlier. ($1 = 32.9900 baht)
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts issue urgent warning about dangerous infections on the rise: 'There is growing concern'
Scientists have confirmed cases of a dangerous brain infection called tick-borne encephalitis in U.K. residents with no travel history, sparking concerns among the public. According to News Medical, a new study by U.K. researchers found that the virus, which spreads by the bite of an infected tick, has become more prevalent in recent years. The team analyzed confirmed cases between 2015 and 2023 and determined that 21 TBE cases were diagnosed in the United Kingdom. From 2022-23, doctors diagnosed 12 patients with the virus, three of whom acquired it locally. Previously, the consensus among scientists was that tick-borne encephalitis was confined to mainland Europe and parts of Asia and that the risk in the U.K. was very low. Until recently, TBE cases in the U.K. had only been observed in residents who have traveled to places where the virus is endemic. "However, the first probable U.K.-acquired cases were reported in 2019 and 2020, and with the virus now present in local tick populations, there is growing concern that the U.K. could see an increase in domestic cases of TBE," the News Medical article explained. While most infections don't cause symptoms, the disease can progress to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), which can lead to neurological damage, memory loss, and even death in rare cases. Since TBE can cause severe cognitive issues and lifelong health complications, the fact that it's being diagnosed in more patients is concerning, especially since the virus didn't exist in the U.K. until recently. TBEV infections can be more challenging to diagnose than Lyme disease, which may lead to delayed treatment, increasing the risk of long-term health problems. The research team believes our warming planet could be contributing to the spread of tick-borne encephalitis in the U.K. since milder winters allow ticks to survive in larger numbers and expand their geographic range. "Climate change could impact the tick proliferation rate, duration of questing season (and hence transmission) and human behavior among other potential factors," the researchers wrote in the study, published in the journal Eurosurveillance. Rising global temperatures have led to the emergence of other tick-borne illnesses, such as the Heartland virus — a rare disease spread by the lone star tick in America. Two cases of Powassan virus, a disease spread by the black-legged tick, were confirmed last year in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. While not nearly as common as Lyme disease, experts say cases have increased in recent years because of warmer weather. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If you plan on traveling to a country where TBE is endemic, make sure to get vaccinated before you leave. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also advises wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, applying insect repellent, and treating your clothing and gear with permethrin — a synthetic insecticide — if you're engaging in outdoor activities, especially in forested areas. To repel ticks in your backyard without harmful chemicals, you can try planting herbs such as lavender, basil, and oregano. The study authors said that since 2023, TBEV testing has been expanded to all undiagnosed encephalitis cases, even if patients have no exposure to ticks or recent travel history. They suggested further surveillance of ticks and deer across the U.K. to gain more insight on how and where the virus is spreading. If you live in the U.K. or other countries where tick-borne diseases are increasing, keeping tabs on case numbers in your area and other critical climate issues that may impact your health is important. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
