Women Affairs

Deborah Kotz One in seven American couples grapples with infertility, often with no explainable medical cause. A new book, The Fertility Diet, may offer a low-tech, low-cost solution for some. It's based on research from the well-respected Harvard Nurses' Health Study suggesting that diet may play a role in women's efforts to conceive. The book identifies particular nutrients they should be getting, such as iron, or avoiding, such as trans fats, to improve their chances of getting pregnant. How much are the odds increased? The book doesn't say. That's because the 10-step plan was formulated from dietary habits collected from surveys—and not actually tested on infertile women. While no one knows whether this plan can truly help women get pregnant, it's based, for the most part, on good nutrition and smart health habits. Book coauthor Jorge Chavarro, an investigator on the Nurses' Health Study and research fellow at the Harvard School of Public Health, spoke w...

She’s tried liposuction and other methods to lose weight. But now, talk show host Tyra Banks has discovered a new way to stay slim: she is on a no-liquids diet these days. According to a friend of the former model, Tyra goes for days without consuming any fluids. According to a website, the friend says, “So far she’s been on this specific diet for weeks.” And, Tyra is reportedly very strict about the diet too. Her friend claims that she doesn’t even have a bottle of water in her dressing room. So far, Tyra’s new diet seems to be working, for she’s looking fab.

Ken Black If you are one of those people who have tried every method of losing weight under the sun, consider the benefits of the MediFast diet, a healthy new diet product on the market that is designed to help you quickly shed pounds the safe and wholesome way. If you are looking at it right now, or have ever considered it, or even if you are looking at some other type of diet to help you with your weight loss needs, consider the three benefits this regimen has when you’re trying to lose weight. The 3 Benefits of the MediFast Diet 1. The MediFast Diet is Convenient This weight loss program is convenient. You never have to worry about counting up points or checking the labels of your food for their carbohydrate content. And, you don’t have to count points, pop pills, or drink tea either. This diet helps you lose weight by doing what you know how to do best - eat! The MediFast diet isn’t the type of diet that requires one to sit down to a meal every night. If you are on the go, it is ok...

Post natal flab is something that all new mothers are anxious to shed as soon as they give birth and is a challenge for many women. Given that the body goes through many changes and hormonal challenges for nine months, it is no wonder that trying to lose weight after giving birth takes time, determination and patience. Some women never got back their shape and weight of pre-pregnancy days. Doctors recommend that in the first 6 weeks after delivery, new mothers should focus on getting the necessary rest and bonding with baby. According to doctors, in most cases, a return to pre-pregnancy body composition may take anywhere between nine months to a year. There are many ways to shed off post natal flab and postpartum exercise is most often a better option than trying to diet. Dieting is not sensible at this time, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your body also needs the necessary nutrients to repair itself. Your readiness to exercise is a function of pre-pregnancy fitness level and pos...

Allison Firestone “I became a vegan slowly,” recalls Tammy Jackson, 22. “I gave up red meat after I developed a serious aversion to beef after a bad burger experience and because of all the negative stuff I’d read about the beef industry—hormones, antibiotics, sanitation issues and so on.” While only about 2.5% of Americans don’t eat meat, the surge in vegetarian products over the past few years shows that there’s an increasing interest in meat-free lifestyles. In-n-Out and Burger King now offer a vegetable burger. And it seems like every grocery store carries soy milk and veggie alternatives to steaks and hot dogs. But besides peace of mind when you think of all those cute little farm animals you’re saving, what do meat-free diets really do for our bodies? Do they contribute to healthy weight loss? Are they all they’re cracked up to be? You are what you eat.There are three main categories that meat-free lifestyles fall into: * Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian: This describes the majority of t...

Lose weight. Eat healthy foods. Exercise daily. If you're like many people, you made these or similar pledges during the annual New Year's Day ritual of resolving to improve our health. Of course, resolutions are easy to start; the challenge is sustaining them. Now, during March National Nutrition Month, have you held true to your good intentions? Statistics show that, at the end of January, some 64% of resolvers are still hanging in there; six months later, that number drops to 44%. Making resolutions is the first step, but, experts say, you need a plan and a healthy dose of perseverance if you want to succeed. * 1. Have a Realistic Eating Plan Have an eating plan that has plenty of variety, yet is simple, interesting, and tastes good -- such as the Mediterranean-style diet with its "good carbs" from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; healthy fats from nuts, fish, and olive and canola oils; and lean protein. According to a new study published in the jour...

Harry Jackson Jr. St. Louis Post-Dispatch (MCT) ST. LOUIS - Andrea Riggs was ready to take on the competition when she opened her personal training studio in Black Jack, Mo. The niche for Body Beautiful was to help black women get into shape, be healthy and look good. The competition she ran into, however, wasn't Bally or Gold's or 24 Hour Fitness. Instead, her greatest competition came from attitudes about exercise and diet from the people she wanted for her clients: black women. "They told me they didn't want to lose weight," Riggs said, recalling her efforts to recruit clients. "It's cultural expectations and pressures. African-American women seem to say, `We want meat on our bones, and we all want to be bootylicious and appeal to African-American men.'" People who battle health disparities in African-Americans agree with Riggs. But they admit the topic rarely is broached because of fear of political incorrectness. Still, th...