Veggie Blog

Understanding what happens beneath the surface of a yoga pose can make practice more thoughtful. Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff, as described in the original Veggie-Blog post, uses detailed anatomical illustrations to connect familiar postures with the body’s bones, muscles and movement.

What makes Yoga Anatomy different?

The original description highlights illustrations developed from photographs and enhanced with anatomical structures by medical illustrator Sharon Ellis. The result is described as a blend of pose photography and X-ray-style visual explanation. The description refers to more than 60 commonly practised asanas and includes discussion of breathing and how the body functions in each pose.

Who is this book for?

Yoga students may use it to understand why a movement feels different from what they expected. Teachers may find the anatomical viewpoint helpful when choosing variations and explaining movements. An anatomy illustration, however, cannot replace assessing the needs of the individual person in front of you.

Why do the same poses look different on different bodies?

People differ in bone shape, joint geometry, mobility, muscle strength and injury history. One person may comfortably reach the floor in a forward fold while another needs a chair or blocks. Neither result automatically means one body is more successful at yoga. Good alignment is functional and individual, not merely a visual imitation of a photograph.

What should readers learn about muscles and joints?

In a pose, some muscles produce movement, others help stabilise joints and others lengthen under load. The relative role changes with position, balance demands and the use of props. Anatomical diagrams are useful maps, but they cannot show every person’s exact muscle activation or tissue tolerance.

Does knowing anatomy prevent injury?

It can support informed choices, but knowledge alone is not a guarantee. NCCIH reports that common yoga injuries include sprains and strains, often affecting the knee or lower leg. Start gradually, avoid forcing a joint into the shape shown in a book, and stop if a posture causes sharp or persistent pain.

How should a beginner use the book?

Choose a familiar, gentle pose. Look at which joints move and what support they need, then experiment with a block, strap or chair if appropriate. Notice your breathing and comfort rather than trying to reproduce an idealised image. For injuries, pregnancy or significant health concerns, consult an appropriate healthcare professional and a qualified instructor.

Further reading: NCCIH: Yoga—Effectiveness and Safety.

Related on Veggie-Blog: What Is Yoga?.

Book: Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff
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The featured image is an AI-generated illustration, not a photo or an official book cover.

Atkins is a low-carbohydrate way of eating, and the foods you choose depend on which phase you are in. The old version of this post gave a muddled description of the “Atkins pyramid” and told readers to rely on the diet’s own products. This updated guide sticks to what Atkins itself publishes, and adds what independent sources say about labels and balance.

What does an Atkins plate look like?

The Atkins company describes the plan in terms of net carbohydrates, which it defines as total carbohydrate grams minus fiber grams, and in its low-carb foods also minus sugar alcohols. Protein foods such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs, together with fats such as olive oil and butter, are the base of each meal. Carbohydrates come mainly from what Atkins calls “foundation vegetables,” which are non-starchy vegetables such as leafy greens, asparagus, peppers, celery, cucumbers and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Avocados and olives count too. Root vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots and beets are not foundation vegetables. You can see the list on the Atkins healthcare professionals page on foundation vegetables.

Which foods are limited at the start?

In the first phase, Induction, Atkins allows 20 grams of net carbohydrates a day, with 12 to 15 grams coming from foundation vegetables. It asks people to avoid sugar, white flour and other refined grains, whole grains, most fruit (other than avocado, tomatoes and olives), legumes, starchy vegetables and milk. Berries and other foods are added back in later phases. The old post said that fruits are used sparingly in the early stages and whole grains only occasionally, which is in line with this. Our post on Atkins diet basics explains the four phases, and the Induction rules are covered in a separate post on the first two weeks.

Can you rely on low-carb labels?

Not blindly. The old post warned that manufacturers put “low carb” on labels to sell products, and that is a fair concern. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center notes that neither the FDA nor the American Diabetes Association endorses the idea of “net carbs” and that they advise people to look at total carbs on the nutrition label. Even so, it can be useful to know net carbs if you have diabetes or are trying to lose weight. A good habit is to read the Nutrition Facts label and the ingredient list, check the serving size, and subtract fiber from total carbohydrate yourself. See the OSU article on tracking net carbs.

How can you plan meals and shop?

Write a list of acceptable foods and keep it with you, so that you are not trying to remember what you can eat when you are hungry. Plan meals for the week and shop from a list. The old post suggested using Atkins cookbooks and online menu planners, many of which are written by companies selling food, so judge them as you would any diet advice. Our posts on planning meals for Atkins, low-carb swaps and eating low-carb on a budget give practical ideas.

Is it a balanced way to eat?

That depends on how you do it. Plenty of non-starchy vegetables, fish, eggs and nuts can be part of a healthy diet, but a plan built on processed meat, butter and packaged low-carb bars may not be. Talk to your doctor or a dietitian before starting, especially if you have diabetes, kidney disease or take medicine for blood pressure or cholesterol. The Atkins site itself says that the weight loss phases should not be used by people on dialysis and that you should consult a doctor before beginning.

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You know how it is. That special event just around the corner and you can’t fit into your designer jeans. You need a fool-proof, emergency weight-loss method that really works and works fast. So how do you safely and quickly lose those extra pounds?

Once again, renowned health pioneer and bestselling author Ann Louise Gittleman has a quick, no-strings-attached solution that is also good for you. She is always on the cutting edge of developing new methods to rejuvenate the body and facilitate weight loss and she’s done it again in The Fast Track One-Day Detox Diet. Gittleman takes the age-old method of fasting and incorporates it into a safe and healthy one-day plan that helps you lose weight fast, gets rid of toxins, and gives your body a cleansing boost to prepare it for even more weight loss down the road.

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD., C.N.S., is the author of more than a dozen health books, including the bestselling Fat Flush Plan. Her books have sold over 3 million copies. Ann Louise has been named one of the country’s Top Ten Nutritionists by Self Magazine and has also been named a Pioneer in the 21st Century Approach to Optimum Health by Total Health for Longevity Magazine. She maintains a private practice, consults for medical establishments, contributes regularly to national magazine features, and is a popular guest on television and radio.

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Nobody can lower cholesterol overnight, and a number of things that raise it are out of your hands. Still, there is a lot you can do, and for some people a doctor will add medicine on top. This post explains what pushes LDL, the so-called “bad” cholesterol, up, what lifestyle changes realistically do, and what you should know about statins before you talk to your doctor.

What makes LDL cholesterol rise?

Some causes you cannot change. Your cholesterol tends to rise as you get older, and after menopause a woman’s risk goes up because her levels of protective female hormones fall. High cholesterol also runs in families, and an inherited condition called familial hypercholesterolemia causes very high levels from an early age. Diabetes, kidney disease and some medicines can raise LDL as well. The causes you can change are mainly what you eat, how much you move and your weight. A diet rich in saturated fat from fatty meat, full-fat dairy and fried or processed food raises LDL more than anything else in the diet, according to MedlinePlus.

Can you lower it instantly?

No. The idea that diet and exercise are “a waste of time” because they do not work at once is a myth. Eating less saturated fat, adding fiber from oats, beans and fruit, losing extra weight and moving more all lower LDL gradually over weeks and months, and they also help your blood pressure and blood sugar. Your doctor will usually repeat the blood test after a few months to see how far you have come. Start with our guides on what you can do to lower your cholesterol, how to lower cholesterol through diet and exercise and cholesterol.

When do doctors add medicine?

If changes to your lifestyle do not bring your LDL down enough, or if your risk of heart disease is high, your doctor may prescribe a statin. Statins lower LDL by slowing down how much cholesterol the liver makes, and they help the liver remove LDL already in the blood. Studies have shown that they lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with high LDL. Statins usually cause no side effects. They may raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, mostly in people who are already at high risk of it, and they can cause abnormal liver blood tests, although real liver damage is very rare. Muscle damage is also rare. You should not take statins if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with some statins, so ask your doctor or pharmacist. See the MedlinePlus page on statins for more detail.

You may see exact percentages quoted for one brand-name statin in drug company announcements. Results differ with the drug, the dose and the person, so do not expect to match a figure from an advertisement. Other medicines exist too, such as ezetimibe, which blocks cholesterol absorption in the gut, and bile acid sequestrants. Which one suits you is a decision for you and your doctor.

What should you tell your doctor?

Before you start any cholesterol medicine, tell your doctor about any liver or kidney problems, and whether you are pregnant or planning to be. Mention how much alcohol you drink, whether high cholesterol or early heart disease runs in your family, and whether you have diabetes, a thyroid condition or a past heart attack or stroke. List every other prescription, over-the-counter medicine and supplement you take, including antacids. Mild side effects such as an upset stomach or muscle aches should be reported, and they often settle or improve if the drug or dose is changed.

Which cooking oil is best?

Some articles claim that coconut oil is the best oil for cholesterol. That is not what the evidence shows. A 2017 advisory from the American Heart Association found that coconut oil raises LDL cholesterol, as butter and palm oil do, and it advises against using it. The advisory recommends replacing saturated fats with unsaturated ones, and olive oil, which is low in saturated fat, is one good choice. Other plant oils such as canola, sunflower and soybean oil also work.

The bottom line: aim to change your habits first, have your cholesterol checked regularly, and treat medicine as an extra tool when your doctor thinks you need it, never as a replacement for healthy eating and exercise.

Book: Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Food by Michael Greger and Kristine Dennis
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The raw food craze has taken off: Raw restaurants are springing up, and celebrities, models, and other fans are swearing by the benefits of eating “all raw”. But what if you’re just curious about raw food and don’t want to give up your lifestyle or the foods you love? The good news is, you can have your cake and eat it too! In The Raw Food Detox Diet, top nutritionist Natalia Rose shows you exactly how it’s done.

Raw food is a powerful detoxifying agent that can cleanse your body of all the waste that you have accumulated from years of eating processed foods. A diet rich in raw foods can set you on a course toward greater energy, clearer skin, a slimmer figure, and amazing natural health. But detoxifying too quickly will only shock your system. Rose advises you to transition gently, based on your dieting history and individual needs. Complete the Raw Food Detox questionnaire, and determine your personal Raw Food Transition Number (1 to 5) to find out which suggested menus, recipes, and cleansing methods are just right for you.

Natalia Rose works with some of the world’s most health- and body-conscious men and women. Her private practice is in the heart of midtown Manhattan, where she is sought after by a wide variety of clients, including models, actors, socialites, and media personalities. She has been in private practice for more than ten years and has also served as the nutrition director for the Elizabeth Arden Spa on Fifth Avenue and the FrÉdÉric Fekkai salons and spas

Book: Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose
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