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Tag: recommends

  • Got Prediabetes? Nutritionist Recommends Simple Hacks To Reverse It

    Got Prediabetes? Nutritionist Recommends Simple Hacks To Reverse It

    Prediabetes could be the beginning of all your chronic woes, paving the way for diabetes and its potentially irreversible health consequences. But what if you could reverse the condition without medications or complicated treatments? According to a nutritionist, all it takes is timely action—combining the right exercise with a nutritious diet.

    Adrian Chavez, a nutritionist specializing in weight loss and blood sugar management, recently shared his simple strategies to reverse prediabetes on social media. “If I had prediabetes and wanted to reverse it in 2025, here’s exactly what I would do,” Chavez wrote in an Instagram post, offering practical advice to help people take control of their health.

    “As someone who spent my entire PhD studying this topic, I can confidently say this is the most evidence-based approach to this issue, Chavez wrote.

    Exercise:

    Getting adequate physical activity is the first step Chavez recommends. “A single exercise session (if done correctly) can reduce blood sugar levels up to 2-3 days,” Chavez explained. For those who can make exercise a habit, for example, training every other day, blood sugar levels will show continuous improvement.

    Although both cardio and strength training are beneficial, Chavez believes that combining both would be the best option.

    Nutrition:

    What you eat and the timing of your meals play a vital role in managing blood sugar levels. Chavez also stresses the importance of monitoring total calorie intake, being mindful of the types of carbs you include, and ensuring you get enough protein and micronutrients to support overall health.

    “You have to eat the right amount of calories for your needs. In most cases, this means eating in an energy deficit (less calories than your body is burning for fuel) to lose excess body fat,” Chavez said. However, for people with prediabetes who do not have excess body fat and lack muscle mass, this means eating at “maintenance or even slight surplus.”

    While consuming the right amount of protein helps maintain and build muscle, slows digestion, and improves satiety, Chavez notes that the total proportion of energy coming from carbs should be kept under 55%. “Also choose high fiber carbohydrates such as legumes, vegetables, fruits and whole grains,” he added.

    When planning your diet, Chavez suggests ensuring adequate intake of micronutrients like magnesium, vitamin D, and chromium for better blood sugar control. He also recommends including antioxidant-rich foods such as berries, leafy greens, herbs, spices, coffee, and tea. Additionally, Chavez advises planning meal timings so that more of your daily calories are consumed earlier in the day rather than at night.



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  • AAP Recommends Shared Reading To Strengthen Bonds, Boost Brain Development

    AAP Recommends Shared Reading To Strengthen Bonds, Boost Brain Development

    Do you read aloud to your kids? This simple yet meaningful bonding experience between parents and caregivers can have lasting benefits. A recent recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) emphasizes that reading together not only strengthens familial connections but also boosts brain development in young minds.

    The latest updated policy statement from the AAP suggests “literacy promotion as a universal primary prevention strategy to strengthen families and support healthy development.”

    The policy statement published in Pediatrics recommends that parents and caregivers read with their children from birth, continuing at least through kindergarten, including in the NICU. This practice supports language, cognitive, and social-emotional development in early childhood. The evidence shows it improves school readiness and helps with early brain development. Reading with kids also helps with positive childhood experiences that enhance early relational health.

    “Reading together with young children weaves joyful language and rich interactive moments into the fabric of daily life. As a pediatrician and parent, I suggest making books your bedtime routine, using them to connect and wind down after a busy day, and generally building them into life with a young child. It will strengthen the bonds that hold you together, and build your child’s developing brain,” said Dr. Perri Klass, the lead author of the policy statement.

    “Research tells us that reading proficiency by third grade is a significant predictor of high school graduation and career success. Children who first encounter books in the arms of their parents, when they are very young, arrive at school associating books and reading with lap-time, a sense of security, interactions, stories, rhymes, and entertainment, and above all with the beloved voices of the adults with whom they have those all-important early relationships.”

    Experts particularly stress the importance of reading books, especially as children are increasingly exposed to screen time and electronic devices become more popular in their daily lives. According to pediatric experts, digital books do not encourage the same level of parent-child interaction as traditional books. If screen-based reading or audiobooks are used, parents should engage in reciprocal interactions with their children during these activities to strengthen relational bonds and enhance learning.

    “Turning the pages of a high-quality, print book filled with colorful pictures and rich, expressive language is best. While touchscreens and other electronic devices may be popular, they are typically passive or solitary experiences for children and do not offer the same benefits of interactivity and relationship-building,” said Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a co-author of the technical report and chair of the Council on Early Childhood.

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