Bad combo: sugary drinks and protein
Conflicts between pro-athlete teammates is nothing new: Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’neal played for nine tension-ridden years until their animosity forced O’neal’s trade to the Heat in 2004.
But as bad a combination as those teammates were, they’re nothing compared with the damage you can do to your body from consuming sugary drinks with protein-rich meals.
A new study from the Department of Agriculture’s Human Nutrition Research Center found that drinking sugary beverages with a meal in which 15 percent of calories come from protein slashes by 8 percent fat oxidation, which kick-starts the breakdown of fat molecules. And the more protein you eat, the more you reduce your body’s fat-burning skills. It matters not just how much you eat, but what you eat and what combinations of foods you take in.
Your smart move: no sugar-added drinks and only lean proteins. Artificial sweeteners are not the answer. They might cause weight gain after your body realizes it’s been tricked!
Watch weight before pregnancy
Blue whales are the largest animal on Earth — weighing 200 tons — and they give birth to healthy calves that weigh around 3 tons. Those newborns gain about 200 pounds a day for the first year, feeding only on mother’s milk!
We humans, however, don’t respond so well to weighing a lot and then getting pregnant. A new study reveals that boys whose mothers were obese when they became pregnant are at an increased risk for developing behavior problems by the time they are 9 to 11 years old. And the heavier mom is when she becomes pregnant, the greater the risk. That’s because, say the researchers, obesity during pregnancy creates inflammation and causes metabolic changes that might affect gene expression and alter a fetus’s developing brain.
That study didn’t show the same effects in girls, but a separate study found that girls born to obese mothers were five times more likely to become obese as an adult.
So, if you’re overweight and planning to become pregnant, now’s the time to shed those pounds. Aim to lose 4 pounds a month; reduce your calorie intake by around 500 calories daily and increase your physical activity by at least 300 calories a day (walking 10,000 steps daily will more than do that!). A year from now, if you become pregnant, your child-to-be will have a great start on a healthier and happier life.
Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.