Britons could lose health cover in Europe after Brexit, report warns

Millions of Britons could have their access to free health insurance taken away after Brexit, a parliamentary report has said.

MPs on the health select committee urged the government to offer more guarantees for Britons visiting the continent after hearing evidence that without the right to receive treatment in countries that are part of the European Economic Area, people with cancer could find it too expensive to go to Europe.

In a strongly worded report on the effect of Brexit on health and social care, the committee said the challenges created by losing reciprocal health arrangements should not be underestimated.

British travellers can currently use the European health insurance card, which guarantees access to healthcare free or at a reduced cost in Europe. The EU member state providing treatment is able to claim back costs from the patient’s home country. Some estimates suggest that up to 27 million Britons have the cards.

The inquiry heard evidence that losing this agreement could create challenges for many travellers, including disabled people and those with mental or physical health conditions. Prof Martin McKee of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said a week’s full private health insurance for a holiday in France for someone with diabetes or mild depression would cost between £800 and £2,500.

The report also noted that hundreds of thousands of expats living abroad could lose reciprocal healthcare rights, leaving some facing hardship. McKee, a professor of European public health, said many Britons in Spain have properties that are now worth little. “Many will come back in a state of poverty because they bought properties in Andalusia and other places … They will be throwing themselves on the mercy of the state when they come back,” he said.

Christopher Chantery, a British resident in France, told the committee many pensioners moved to the country “in good faith on the implicit promise that these arrangements would continue. Suddenly, something happens that brings those arrangements to an end. It is absolutely terrible for many people”.

British nationals living abroad have to get an S1 form, which gives them health cover, paid for by the UK, within Europe.

The committee, which includes Labour and Conservative MPs, called on the government to preserve the existing system as opposed to seeking a new arrangement. What was currently in place offered taxpayers good value for money, it said.

In the same report, the committee warned that the Brexit vote could lead to a brain drain, with morale among EU nationals in the NHS low due to uncertainty about their future. It called for more reassurances and said the government should continue to be able to recruit the “brightest and best from all parts of the globe” after Britain leaves the EU.

The Department of Health could not comment due to general election purdah rules. But when asked about reciprocal healthcare at the start of the year, the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said it was one of the rights of those who retired to Spain or France and he wanted to secure it early on in negotiations, but could not guarantee this.

Speaking to the Guardian, Prof Jean McHale, the director of the Centre for Health Law, Science and Policy at the University of Birmingham, said: “If questions of healthcare provision and patient mobility are not included in the negotiations, if there is not a transitional period and we move to hard Brexit, there will be major practical questions. What happens at midnight on Brexit D day to the person in hospital in another EU member state who has been in a car accident?”

Britons could lose health cover in Europe after Brexit, report warns

Cancer patient"s family stands to lose £50k under benefit cuts

“My death, on or before Thursday, changes my family’s wellbeing to the tune of tens of thousands. It is utterly unbelievable.”

Alan’s voice cracked, not just with emotion but the brutal impact of four years of cancer that started in a tonsil before spreading to his lungs and chest, delivering a terminal diagnosis in June, 2015.

By December, last year, the 51-year-old husband and father (who has asked the Guardian not to use his real name in order to protect his family) was given between one and five months to live.

His mind quickly focused on the lives of his wife, Kate, and their children, a 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, after his death. He feared the “whirlwind of emotional and financial distress and turmoil” heading towards them as he grappled to draw up a plan.

Then came a bitter blow that has led Alan to speak out urgently against a Conservative policy being rolled out this week, despite voting for Theresa May’s party all his life.

The father and businessman, who was forced to give up work due to his illness, realised that if he survived beyond midnight this Wednesday 5 April, his family could be stripped of tens of thousands of pounds of critical financial support over the next decade.

Changes to the widowed parent’s allowance mean a benefit of around £112 a week until the youngest child leaves full-time education, perhaps in 10 years’ time, will be replaced by £350 a month (£80 a week) for a maximum period of just a year and a half.

“Based on the ages of our children and on my probable death – I would imagine this year – I had calculated that we would be entitled to about £58,000,” said Alan, who lives with his family in Barnet, London. “The new calculation shocked me. My life is now deemed to be worth £6,300.”

A government spokesperson said the financial gap would be reduced somewhat by the new system being tax-free. They also said families were eligible for a slightly higher lump sum payment immediately after the death of £3,500 rather than £2,000.

But Alan said the increase was “smoke and mirrors” and that the tax change did nothing to alleviate the many years of lost income.

After years paying into the system, Alan described the change as “daylight robbery”.

“The amount of money I’ve built up in my full state pension is more than the government would be paying out in the current widowed parent’s allowance. Assuming I started my pension at 68 and that the average male expectancy 81 – that is £120,000.”

He said the move was “callous and brutal” and that it showed no compassion, stressing that his family is “just about managing” and would be struggling even more after his death.

Kate agreed: “I feel like they are stealing from us. They’ve taken what Alan is owed.”

The couple also said that a letter to their local MP, Matthew Offord, copied to the prime minister, Theresa May, and the chancellor, Philip Hammond, on 24 February had not yet been answered. A follow-up on 10 March also received no reply, he said.

“Time is slipping away,” said Kate, describing her shock at what she sees as being blanked. “The sand is going through an hourglass. It is disappearing. Every day we look and say ‘he’s alive – will he be tomorrow?’”

She said it was difficult to find words to describe “the hell we’ve lived for four years” through painful bouts of treatment with sickening side-effects, her husband being fed through a tube to the stomach, ambulances, hospital appointments, worsening diagnoses and then the terrible news: “There is nothing more we can do.”

“Our legs move and our bodies move but we can’t really breathe,” added the 48-year-old psychotherapist. “Now we’ve been over-looked, ignored, let down. It is like nobody cares.”

The benefit change was like “being thumped in the face when you can’t take any more”, she claimed – describing her acute anxiety for the future.

The government has argued that the policy change is fair because these days women are more likely to work and so are less dependent on their spouse’s income.

But Kate says that she can already only work part-time as she cares for her sick husband and strives to be there for her children’s school pick-ups. Life after his death will trigger a “new nightmare of struggle”, she argued, with no magic bullet at 18 months.

Alan said he voted Conservative and felt “utterly let down”. He described reading the Tory 2015 manifesto from cover to cover and stressed that there was no mention of this reform. “There is no political mandate – it is a moral outrage.”

As well as speaking to the Guardian, Alan and Kate spoke emotionally about their case on LBC radio alongside a number of bereaved families who also expressed their shock.

A DWP spokesperson said: “We’re modernising the support we offer, replacing an outdated system that doesn’t reflect people’s lives today. The new Bereavement Support Payment is simpler, easier to understand, tax-free and doesn’t affect the amount received from other benefits, so families can access wider welfare support.”

They argued that families could be compensated by increases to other benefits.

Charities admit that the changes affect families in different ways but said that DWP figures suggested that overall 91% of parents will be supported for a shorter period, while 75% will be worse off in cash terms of as a result of the change. Working families with young children will lose £23,500 on average, they suggest.

Cancer patient"s family stands to lose £50k under benefit cuts

Cancer patient"s family stands to lose £50k under benefit cuts

“My death, on or before Thursday, changes my family’s wellbeing to the tune of tens of thousands. It is utterly unbelievable.”

Alan’s voice cracked, not just with emotion but the brutal impact of four years of cancer that started in a tonsil before spreading to his lungs and chest, delivering a terminal diagnosis in June, 2015.

By December, last year, the 51-year-old husband and father (who has asked the Guardian not to use his real name in order to protect his family) was given between one and five months to live.

His mind quickly focused on the lives of his wife, Kate, and their children, a 10-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, after his death. He feared the “whirlwind of emotional and financial distress and turmoil” heading towards them as he grappled to draw up a plan.

Then came a bitter blow that has led Alan to speak out urgently against a Conservative policy being rolled out this week, despite voting for Theresa May’s party all his life.

The father and businessman, who was forced to give up work due to his illness, realised that if he survived beyond midnight this Wednesday 5 April, his family could be stripped of tens of thousands of pounds of critical financial support over the next decade.

Changes to the widowed parent’s allowance mean a benefit of around £112 a week until the youngest child leaves full-time education, perhaps in 10 years’ time, will be replaced by £350 a month (£80 a week) for a maximum period of just a year and a half.

“Based on the ages of our children and on my probable death – I would imagine this year – I had calculated that we would be entitled to about £58,000,” said Alan, who lives with his family in Barnet, London. “The new calculation shocked me. My life is now deemed to be worth £6,300.”

A government spokesperson said the financial gap would be reduced somewhat by the new system being tax-free. They also said families were eligible for a slightly higher lump sum payment immediately after the death of £3,500 rather than £2,000.

But Alan said the increase was “smoke and mirrors” and that the tax change did nothing to alleviate the many years of lost income.

After years paying into the system, Alan described the change as “daylight robbery”.

“The amount of money I’ve built up in my full state pension is more than the government would be paying out in the current widowed parent’s allowance. Assuming I started my pension at 68 and that the average male expectancy 81 – that is £120,000.”

He said the move was “callous and brutal” and that it showed no compassion, stressing that his family is “just about managing” and would be struggling even more after his death.

Kate agreed: “I feel like they are stealing from us. They’ve taken what Alan is owed.”

The couple also said that a letter to their local MP, Matthew Offord, copied to the prime minister, Theresa May, and the chancellor, Philip Hammond, on 24 February had not yet been answered. A follow-up on 10 March also received no reply, he said.

“Time is slipping away,” said Kate, describing her shock at what she sees as being blanked. “The sand is going through an hourglass. It is disappearing. Every day we look and say ‘he’s alive – will he be tomorrow?’”

She said it was difficult to find words to describe “the hell we’ve lived for four years” through painful bouts of treatment with sickening side-effects, her husband being fed through a tube to the stomach, ambulances, hospital appointments, worsening diagnoses and then the terrible news: “There is nothing more we can do.”

“Our legs move and our bodies move but we can’t really breathe,” added the 48-year-old psychotherapist. “Now we’ve been over-looked, ignored, let down. It is like nobody cares.”

The benefit change was like “being thumped in the face when you can’t take any more”, she claimed – describing her acute anxiety for the future.

The government has argued that the policy change is fair because these days women are more likely to work and so are less dependent on their spouse’s income.

But Kate says that she can already only work part-time as she cares for her sick husband and strives to be there for her children’s school pick-ups. Life after his death will trigger a “new nightmare of struggle”, she argued, with no magic bullet at 18 months.

Alan said he voted Conservative and felt “utterly let down”. He described reading the Tory 2015 manifesto from cover to cover and stressed that there was no mention of this reform. “There is no political mandate – it is a moral outrage.”

As well as speaking to the Guardian, Alan and Kate spoke emotionally about their case on LBC radio alongside a number of bereaved families who also expressed their shock.

A DWP spokesperson said: “We’re modernising the support we offer, replacing an outdated system that doesn’t reflect people’s lives today. The new Bereavement Support Payment is simpler, easier to understand, tax-free and doesn’t affect the amount received from other benefits, so families can access wider welfare support.”

They argued that families could be compensated by increases to other benefits.

Charities admit that the changes affect families in different ways but said that DWP figures suggested that overall 91% of parents will be supported for a shorter period, while 75% will be worse off in cash terms of as a result of the change. Working families with young children will lose £23,500 on average, they suggest.

Cancer patient"s family stands to lose £50k under benefit cuts

Benefits cuts: are you about to lose a Motability car, scooter or wheelchair? | Frances Ryan

Up to 500 Motability vehicles are now being removed from people each week in the UK due to personal independence payments (PIP) cuts, according to research by Muscular Dystrophy UK. The number of disabled people now affected by the new benefit rules has climbed to 51,000.

The Guardian is continuing a video investigation into the impact of cuts on disabled people and is looking for people to tell their story. As part of this, we’re looking to speak to people who have recently been told they will lose their Motability car, scooter, or wheelchair (and have not already returned their vehicle).

How will losing your vehicle affect you? Do you worry you’ll struggle to leave your home and get to work or medical appointments, or to socialise? Share your experience below.

Benefits cuts: are you about to lose a Motability car, scooter or wheelchair? | Frances Ryan

The poorest will lose out from prescription cuts

The Conservative government is once again aiming to take more from the poor (GPs ordered to stop prescribing some drugs to save cash, 28 March). These treatments will effectively be removed from those currently entitled to free prescriptions (eg recipients of income support or pension guaranteed credit, those having a long-term disability, holding a valid medical exemption certificate or maternity exemption certificate). Doctors have long been advising those who pay for their prescription to buy these over-the-counter medicines at retail price, rather than pay the £8.40 prescription charge. Nothing changes here; it is those who cannot otherwise afford these medicines who will go without.
Aidan Shanks
Eastry, Kent

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters

The poorest will lose out from prescription cuts

Eggs lose free-range status on Pancake Day

On Shrove Tuesday, the biggest egg-buying day of the year, UK consumers are being warned that eggs branded as free range have actually been laid by housed hens because of emergency measures to combat the spread of bird flu.

All free-range egg boxes will carry a sticker explaining that the box contains “eggs laid by hens temporarily housed in barns for their welfare”.

But consumers, who will be stocking up on eggs to make pancakes on Tuesday, will still be charged a premium for free-range eggs.

The UK consumes an estimated 52m eggs on Pancake Day, more than double the normal rate. About half the eggs sold in supermarkets are usually free range.

On 6 December poultry farmers were ordered to house their flocks to protect the UK from a virulent outbreak of avian flu.

The stickers are being introduced because, under EU rules, if hens have been housed for more than 12 weeks they cannot be sold as free range.

Andrew Opie, the director of food policy at the British Retail Consortium, said: “What we will start to see is stickers appearing on boxes of eggs to indicate that the hens that have produced those eggs are no longer free range. The likelihood is that all egg boxes will be stickered.”

Asked by BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today programme whether prices would fall as a result, he said: “We would hope that customers would recognise that this is a challenge beyond the control of the farmers themselves and will continue to support British free range farmers through this difficult time.”

There have been several confirmed outbreaks of the H5N8 strain of avian flu this year, including on farms in Northumberland, Suffolk, Lancashire and Lincolnshire.

About 20% of egg producers have flocks in areas classed as a high risk of contagion. From Wednesday, the restrictions will begin to be eased.

All farmers in the high-risk areas will be required to continue to house birds. Those outside the area will be allowed to let birds out, but many are expected to continue to house their flocks as a precaution.

The UK consumes an estimated 52m eggs on Pancake Day. Photograph: Alamy

The H5N8 strain of bird flu poses no risk to humans. The British Free Range Egg Producers Association said birds were not being be kept in battery farm conditions.

It said: “While free-range egg farmers would prefer their birds to be outside, they also wouldn’t want to risk the health of their birds. Their sheds have plenty of room for the birds to move around freely and include scratching areas so birds can still display their natural instinctive behaviour.

“Farmers have also put in additional stimulants like footballs, cabbages and even Christmas trees to keep the birds happy.”

It added eggs “will still taste great and will have been laid by birds who were allowed outside before 6 December, and that will be allowed outside again as soon as it is safe”.

Opie said: “We expect more farmers to be bringing hens indoors than might be anticipated from those higher risk areas that have been identified by Defra [the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs].

“That’s a genuine concern from farmers to prevent the virus entering their flocks and destroying their livelihood. We anticipate that all eggs will be stickered for that reason.”

Eggs lose free-range status on Pancake Day

Ministers lose fight to stop payouts over swine flu jab narcolepsy cases

Dozens of children who developed narcolepsy as a result of a swine flu vaccine could be compensated after the high court rejected a government appeal to withhold payments.

Six million people in Britain, and more across Europe, were given the Pandemrix vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline during the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic, but the jab was withdrawn after doctors noticed a sharp rise in narcolepsy among those who received it.

The sleep disorder is permanent and can cause people to fall asleep dozens of times a day. Some narcoleptics have night terrors and a muscular condition called cataplexy that can lead them to collapse on the spot.

In 2015, a 12-year-old boy, known as John for the proceedings, was awarded £120,000 by a court that ruled he had been left severely disabled by narcolepsy caused by the vaccine. He was seven when he had the jab and developed symptoms within months.

Because of his tiredness, John became disruptive at school and found it almost impossible to make friends. He takes several naps a day, cannot shower or take a bus on his own, and may never be allowed to drive a car.

Despite paying out, the Department for Work and Pensions argued John’s disability was not serious enough to warrant compensation and said the court was wrong to take into account how the illness would affect him in the future. But the high court on Thursday rejected the government’s appeal that only the boy’s disability at the time should have been considered.

The ruling paves the way for more than 60 other people to claim compensation.

“This important decision brings clarity to anyone who brings claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Act in future,” said Peter Todd, the family’s solicitor at Hodge Jones & Allen. “It will in particular bring welcome relief to those who developed narcolepsy as a result of taking the swine flu vaccination and who have been awaiting payment from the DWP scheme but also has implications for anyone affected by other vaccines covered by the scheme.”

The judgment means the DWP has to take into account the impact disability has on a person’s entire life, and not just the impact it has on the individual at the time their claim is made.

“Sadly, those who developed narcolepsy as a result of the swine flu vaccination have had their lives changed forever. The condition will affect many aspects of their lives including working, driving, personal and family relationships – the very things most of us take for granted,” Todd said.

In 2014, a 23-year-old nursery assistant who developed narcolepsy after receiving the swine flu vaccine took her own life, telling her family that living with the sleep disorder had become unbearable. In a note written on the day she died, Katie Clack, urged her family to pursue her legal case, saying she had been left with “no quality of life”. Her sister, Emma Sutton, told the Guardian at the time: “We feel she was let down by the defective vaccine, which caused her narcolepsy, and by the insufficient intervention and support, which ultimately led to this tragedy.”

The Pandemrix compensation case was the first that the court of appeal considered under the Ul statutory compensation scheme, which was set up in 1979 for rare occasions when vaccines cause severe damage. The decision to consider the impact of the disability over the person’s entire life is now binding on all future cases brought under the act.

Todd said there are about 100 people in the UK with narcolepsy caused by Pandemrix. A further 100 applications a year are made for compensation under the scheme due to harm caused by other vaccines. “Today’s judgment brings a welcome relief to the many people affected by the DWP’s continued refusal of applications for compensation,” Todd said. He is acting for 88 claimants, mostly children, who developed narcolepsy as a result of the swine flu vaccine, and in a civil case against GSK, which manufactured the vaccine.

A DWP spokesperson said: “We are aware of the judgment of the court and are carefully studying the court’s reasons.”

Ministers lose fight to stop payouts over swine flu jab narcolepsy cases

6 Little-Known Reasons You Can’t Lose Belly Fat

6 Little-Known Reasons You Can’t Lose Belly Fat

Use These Essential Oils to Speed Up Metabolism and Lose Weight

Use These Essential Oils to Speed Up Metabolism and Lose Weight

Drink This Juice Reset Your Thyroid, Fight Inflammation, and Lose Weight

Drink This Juice Reset Your Thyroid, Fight Inflammation, and Lose Weight

Women’s Health and Weight Loss: Lose Weight to Fight Osteoporosis

1. Exercise and Bones

It is a well-known fact that exercise and weight loss make you both look and feel better. Another bit of common knowledge is that to lose weight, control your diet, and exercise regularly gives you a healthier heart.

In addition to the previously mentioned benefits of proper diet and exercise are several other very specific health benefits of having a regular exercise and weight loss program.

One additional health benefits of exercise and weight loss activities is guarding against osteoporosis, the disease that makes the bones weak and brittle with age (1).

Weight-bearing activities like walking, elliptical machine, and jogging, have been shown to strengthen the skeletal system and lower the risk of the development of this very debilitating disease.

The primary reason for this is that exercises that force the body to bear weight make the bones denser over time as opposed to a sedentary lifestyle, in which the bones get weaker and more brittle due to a lack of force placed against them.

In women, the low estrogen levels that often accompany menopause and/or very sporadic menstruation make the problem even worse as the bones lose a lot of their mineral content and weaken accordingly.

In addition, such activities that many take part in to either lose weight or maintain an already healthy body composition have also been shown to aid in preventing further development of the disease for those who have already been diagnosed and have received clearance from their doctor.

2. Calcium and bones

So, in addition to exercise and hormonal factors, a woman’s diet is extremely important in guarding off this very debilitating condition.

One of the reason why we do not recommend most traditional diet plans and programs is because the over-restrictive eating guidelines often eliminate or seriously limit the consumption of some very necessary vitamins and minerals that keep the body healthy and strong.

The most important time to get an appropriate amount of calcium is between the ages of 14 and 24, when peak bone mass is obtained.  Then after that bone continues to develop until about age 35 to 40, at which time the bone mass that a woman has will strongly determine how much at risk she may be for bone fractures in her later years.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends that women intake 1,000 mg (1g) of calcium daily, and then increase their daily dosage to 1,500 mg (1.5g) post menopause (2).

Sadly, only an estimated 25% of women in any age group consume the recommended daily amount of calcium to guard against osteoporosis. And when they go on diets and weight loss programs, they tend to consume even less. The best sources of easily assimilated calcium are raw milk and bone broth.

3. Iron and Bones

Finally, one of the biggest weaknesses of the traditional commercial diet is the lack of iron that exists in its stringent and often excessively limited eating guidelines (3). In order to lose weight, many unsuspecting women get bamboozled into taking part in weight loss programs that cut out many of the nutrients that they need. Iron is one of the primary casualties of such diets and weight loss plans.

The plot thickens for women in particular due to the fact that their bodies regularly lose iron during menstruation.  Therefore, eating a low-calorie, low-iron diet in an effort to lose weight only makes the problem more severe.

It is generally suggested that women supplement their diets with an iron supplement such as either Ferrofood or Iron-Fe Max from Standard Process. This is particularly important during periods of heavy exercise and training that are typical aspects of any weight loss program or general effort to lose weight even when a special program is not in use.

One thing to be on guard for, however, is excessive iron supplementation by iron-deficient (non-anemic) women.   There is a disorder known as hemosiderosis which results from large deposits of iron made in the liver that causes a glitch in the proper metabolism of the iron itself. Avoiding prolonged large doses will eliminate the risk of this particular disorder. Supervision by a trained and experienced holistic doctor is recommended.

Below are a few recommendations from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) that will help you to make sure you get the adequate amount of iron intake in your daily diet, whether on a program to lose weight or not:

Eat foods with a high vitamin C content with all meals. Vitamin C aids in the absorption of iron. (examples: salsa; chili peppers; oranges)

Include dark meat chick and/or turkey in the training diet. Both of these are rich in iron.

Vegetable proteins such as split pea soup or chili beans with lean meat help the iron in those meats to properly absorb

1. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/default.asp


2. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-HealthProfessional/


3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425147/

Women’s Health and Weight Loss: Lose Weight to Fight Osteoporosis

Keep lit: how to lose weight without giving up alcohol | Dean Burnett

Alcohol. Fun, isn’t it, for various reasons. The Christmas holidays are a period of particularly heavy drinking for many of the UK population, so much so that January often feels like one long national hangover. This often combines with the sense of “starting afresh” and the ritual of New Year’s Resolutions and results in a period of abstention. In recent years, it’s become fashionable to swear off alcohol for the whole of January, often (but not always) as part of an overall effort to improve general fitness and lose weight.

But, is this necessary? Or is it possible to have your pint and down it, and lose weight while carrying on indulging in the booze?

On paper, it looks like a big ask. It’s easy to see why people find giving up drinking a bit of a challenge. It has pleasurable effects, it aids social interaction, in the UK at least it’s often expected that you’ll drink at social occasions, and if you’re a regular drinker then you’re brain and body will likely have adapted to expect a regular intake.

But all this comes at a cost to the body. Alcohol is second only to fats in terms of the amount of energy per mass it contains. In plain English, alcohol delivers about 7 calories per gram consumed (fat delivers closer to 9 calories per gram). And that’s just the pure alcohol, the ethanol, in your drink. The stuff around it (the beer, the stout, the cocktail ingredients, the mixers) add substantially more. What’s more, these are “empty” calories. The point of drinking is to get the intoxicating effect, not to nourish the body in some way, so physiologically we’re just pouring pointless calories down our throat.

However, scientific analysis offers some way to potentially “game the system”, and not just lose weight while continuing to drink, but use the effects of alcohol to increase your chances of getting in shape! Here are a few suggestions.

If you stir kale into your shots, it counts as a superfood. Probably. Photograph: Courtesy of Juice Crawl

Pub runs

One of the problems with drinking from a weight-gain perspective is that, as well as pointless calories, it also involves very little physical movement. Sitting down and talking for hours isn’t exactly good cardio. You need to engage in a lot more physical movement if you want to burn off those calories.

So, if you really do fancy a drink, don’t stroll to the local, jog there. In fact, don’t go to your local, pick a pub on the other side of town and jog there instead. Or pick several pubs and sprint from one to the next each time you finish a drink, more of a pub sprint than a pub crawl. This has the added bonus of, at the end of the night, if you arrive at the last pub red-faced, struggling to speak or walk, you’ll fit right in.

You might look at this and decide it’s not worth it just for a drink so opt to stay in. If so, fine. That’s good for your health too. So really, you can’t lose here.

Indulge in impulsivity

One thing alcohol is known to do is make people more impulsive. The complex interaction between alcohol and our brains and genes means our higher-reasoning areas and those that supress impulsivity are often hampered by drink, resulting in us doing and saying things we’d normally shy away from.

You can exploit this effect to improve your health by signing up for fitness classes, marathons, Tough Mudder runs, and things like that. You may have consumed a lot of empty calories but thanks to drink you’re now going to burn those off, and then some.

Obviously, once you sober up, you could just change your mind. It’s harder than you think though, as our brains are reluctant to go back on a decision once it’s made. This is especially true if you made the decision in front of people, who will now think worse of you if you go back on it.

When you wake with a pounding head saying “What the hell did I agree to last night?”, it may well have been good for you in the long run.

Interesting fact – people often look the same after a heavy workout session as they do after a heavy drinking session Photograph: ronstik/Getty Images/iStockphoto

Embrace the anger

One other unpleasant effect of alcohol, which ties in with greater impulsivity, is an increase in irritability and anger. There are many neuropsychological explanations for this; an inability to correctly work out people’s intentions from their behaviour, a drop in ability to plan actions and predict consequences, releasing pre-existing stresses and issues that you usually supress, and so on.

One consequence of increased anger is an increase in “approach” motivation. The brain seems to have two separate motivations systems, approach and avoidance. Things we want to deal with, we’re motivated to approach. Things we are wary or scared of, we’re motivated to avoid. Anger increases the power of the approach system, meaning we “get stuck in” where we otherwise wouldn’t.

So, if you’re drunkenly tempted to pick a fight with the biggest bruiser in the room, go ahead. The realisation of what you’ve done will soon get through your alcohol-infused brain, triggering an adrenaline-rush fight-or-flight response. You’ll have no choice but to get moving to stay ahead of the enraged beast, burning many calories as he chases you with a pool cue.

Blank the workout

Alcohol, at the right doses, can and does disrupt the ability to form new memories. So, if you have a gym session or exercise routine planned, you could dry quickly getting so drunk beforehand your brain can’t form new memories, but you can still complete your workout before passing out from intoxication. When you eventually wake up, you should have no memory of exercising, so will think you still need to do it. Voila; you get to drink and actually double the exercise you partake in.

It’s a delicate balancing act though, to get the timing and intake just right to hit that narrow window of usefulness. So practice is needed, which may well render the whole thing pointless.

Wine is made from grapes. Grapes are a fruit. Fruit is good for you. So, therefore…

I’ll be honest, I’m really reaching here. Photograph: Thorben Maier / Alamy Stock Phot/Alamy Stock Photo

Try moderation

You may think all these suggestions fall into the category of “terrible” or maybe even “downright hazardous to health, life and liberty”. And you’d be right.

Truth is, alcohol isn’t ever really going to be helpful if you’re trying to lose weight and get in shape. That’s just not how our bodies work. But that doesn’t mean you have to cut it out entirely. Each to their own, and many people just cut down and/or increase their physical activity, or some combination of the two. You need to find what works for you.

Of course, this involves navigating the onslaught of “expert” advice and trendy “diets” we are bombarded with at this time of year. It’s enough to drive you to drink.

Dean Burnett ‘s book The Idiot Brain isavailable now in the UK,USA,Canadaand many other countries.

He is appearing at Dry Humour, an alcohol-free comedy night on Friday the 13^th in Cardiff, in aide of Alcohol Concern.

Keep lit: how to lose weight without giving up alcohol | Dean Burnett

How to Lose 5+ Pounds In Just 5 Days With This Miracle Drink

There are many ways to lose weight naturally and safety. Certain foods  have power to speed up the fat-burning process and help you get your ideal weight, one of which is parsley.

Is Parsley Really Good For Losing Weight?

Parsley is not only packed with nutrients, it’s also high in fiber and low in calories, makes it a nutritious addition to your weight-loss diet.

Parsley is low in calories

A 1 cup serving of parsley contains

• 22 calories


• 0.47 gram fat


• 34 milligrams of sodium

This low-calorie, low-fat, low-sodium vegetable can help you lose pounds if you eat it regularly.

Parsley is high in fiber

A 1-cup serving of parsley has 2 grams of fiber content, 5-8% of the daily recommendation for the dietary fiber. Foods that high in fiber are helpful for people who want to lose weight, they are helping you feel fuller with less food  and also reducing the risk of overeating.

How to use parsley for losing weight

If you want to lose more pounds, try this recipe. You should lose around 5 pounds in just 5 days and it also helps detox your body and improves digestion as well.

Parsley-Lemon Weight Loss Juice

Ingredients:

• A bunch of parsley


• 1 medium lemon


• A cup of water

Directions:

Juice the lemon and add into the chopped parsley, pour the water in and mix them well. Drink the juice every morning before your breakfast for 5 days, then take a 10-day break.

More Benefits of Parsley That You Should Know

1. It’s highly recommended to consume parsley more often, it’s also good for your body in other ways you may never knew.


2. Parsley may helps prevent certain types of cancer naturally.


3. Parsley helps prevent night blindness because of its rich Vitamin A content.


4. Parsley is rich in vitamin K and calcium, which are essential for keeping strong bones.


5. Health experts suggest to include parsley into your diet to strengthen immune system to fight against illnesses and infections.


6. Parsley is also good for your skin, as it contains various minerals such as potassium, manganese, calcium, zinc and copper, which are important for maintaining healthy skin.


7. Parsley has good anti-bacterial properties to help you fight any bacterial infections.


8. Parsley is one of the best natural foods to cure kidneys problems and improve kidneys activity. Myristicin and apiole in parsley kill bacterial that may cause infections in the urinary tract and also improve the urine flow in the body.

The healing benefits of parsley are not stopping here. It also:

1. Reduces wrinkles (7 Most Effective Ways to Get Rid of Wrinkles)


2. Cures dark circles under eyes


3. Prevents hair loss and promotes hair growth


4. Protects your heart


5. Purifies blood


6. Improves ear health


7. Cures gallstones


8. Improves liver health


9. Treats stomach problems


10. Removes bad breath

Sources: stylecraze.com/ seekingfit.com/myhealthylifeadvice.com

Also Read:

Top 5 Ways To Use Parsley As A Natural Remedy

Sliming Down The Spicy Way

Top 5 Weight Loss Remedies Sitting In Your Spice Rack

How to Lose 5+ Pounds In Just 5 Days With This Miracle Drink

How to Lose Weight Fast Using a Treadmill

The treadmill is one of the best tool developed so far by the mankind. A lot of people in this world has a habit to go out for jogging either in the morning or in the evening to keep themselves fit all the time. Even the doctors refer their patients to go out regularly for a walk. It is said that if you can jog or run for an hour or so everyday, you will never face an sort of health disorders in your life.

It also helps to lose weight and keep the body well toned. While the majority of people tends to go out everyday for jogging, not many people are able to take some time out of their busy schedule to do so. Owing to this fact, the treadmills were brought into the markets. This product enables everyone and anyone to walk or jog at their home. Ever since this product is available for common people, a lot of them have experienced positive changes in their life.

Buying a Treadmill

So, if you think that your daily work is not letting you jog or even walk, then it is probably the best time for you to get a treadmill for yourself. All you need to do is find yourself a best treadmill out of all, and you can practice all that you want at your home. However, while buying a treadmill, you will need to consider lots of things.

Since it is the only device which can help you to lose weight fast and in an easy way hence you will need to get the high quality product for yourself. There are several numbers of cheap brands which are easily available in the markets. You should try and avoid such brands. If you can consult a physician, he or she might have proper treadmill buying guide for you. Or else you can simply search for it online.

Loosing Weight with the help of treadmill

Buying a treadmill is the first and foremost task which you will need to do. Once you get yourself a proper high-quality product then you can start with your aim of loosing weight. Here are some steps which you can follow to achieve such dreams of yours:

• Simply start with walking. Most people jump start with running at high speed as soon as they bring a treadmill home. You will need to control your emotions and let muscle and body parts get habituated to the machine.


• Then there are the flat treadmill and inclined treadmill workout which you can practice, which are considered good for losing weight. Once get to know about the functionality of the machine, you can try out these forms.


• You can also jog on a treadmill if you set the speed to 1 mile per hour or 2 miles per hour. It is up to you, what exercise you are interested in. No matter what, you will need to practice for at 20 to 30 minutes to see effective results.

If you can maintain a regular practice on the tread, you are liable to experience a weight loss within first few weeks. All you need is a good quality treadmill and specific set of workouts to practice.

How to Lose Weight Fast Using a Treadmill

NHS patients told to lose weight and quit smoking or face operation delays

Obese people and smokers will be asked to lose weight and give up cigarettes or face delays to routine operations after a health authority’s proposals were approved by NHS England.

Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 will be asked to lose weight or face a 12-month delay for elective surgery while smokers will be asked to quit for two months or face a six-month postponement, the Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) announced.

The North Yorkshire CCG ruled out a “blanket” ban and said each patient would be dealt with on a “case-by-case basis” when the plan comes into force in January.

The CCG said: “Smokers and obese patients that need routine surgery, but do not wish to access the support services or fail to meet the criteria will not be denied their operation, but it could mean they have to wait longer than they otherwise would have done.”

Dr Shaun O’Connell, the CCG clinical lead who is also a local GP, said the plans would give patients the “best possible health outcomes in the long term” while helping to protect finances.

O’Connell said: “There is no ban and no blanket policy … decisions about what is in the best interests of their health, will be made on a case-by-case basis.”

The CCG, which serves a population of more than 351,000 in areas including York, Selby and Tadcaster, said there would be exclusions from the plan, which will probably include emergency and bariatric surgery and operations on patients under 18.

This year, NHS England intervened in the policy after the Royal College of Surgeons raised concerns that the proposals went against clinical guidance and made smokers and overweight patients soft targets for financial savings.

But the public body has now approved the plan.

An NHS England spokeswoman said: “Vale of York CCG has made clear its commitment to supporting patients to achieve better health and clinical outcomes by referring them to an established weight loss or stopping smoking programme, where appropriate.

“However, every patient’s case will be considered in the light of their own particular circumstances and on the basis of clinical need.”

NHS patients told to lose weight and quit smoking or face operation delays

Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Asking yourself ‘Why can’t I lose weight?’ is actually one of the best things you can do for yourself. It says you know that what you’re currently doing isn’t working for you.

You’re at the place where you’re ready to look at alternatives – try something different to get a result you want.

So why can’t you lose weight? Here are 3 possible reasons you may not be losing weight…

#1) Medical Reasons

Now this is not the same as saying you’re genetically programmed to be overweight. That is hogwash. In fact, scientists estimate that even if you do have a genetic propensity to gain weight, your genes only account for 15 – 25% of your current weight. Thus, forget the genetics excuse.

But there are medical reasons that some people can’t lose weight. Low thyroid, adrenal exhaustion, insulin resistance and other medical conditions can make losing weight near to impossible.

There’s nothing more frustrating that trying to lose weight, doing all the right things and not losing an inch – all because of a medical condition. Get the medical condition cleared up first and then address the weight (in fact, the weight may just go down on it’s own once you get the medical condition addressed).

#2) Emotional Eating

I recently read an article where a nutritionist estimated that 75% of overeating was due to emotions. 75%! Can you imagine what would happen if you learned to eliminate emotional eating and cut out all those calories? What a weight loss impact! The weight would be falling off.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, emotional eating is on the rise. Most people today are feeling the pressure of an increasingly hectic lifestyle. We hardly have time to tie our shoes, never mind deal with our emotions.

Because of this, our emotions get stuffed down and ignored until finally they explode and we’re face-down in a bowl of Rocky-Road ice cream with extra chocolate sauce.

Here’s the bottom line: you are human and you have emotions. Your emotional needs are important and need to be addressed properly with love. You need emotional nurturing and proper emotional care.

If that means you take a 5-minute break every few hours at work to regain your emotional balance, do it. If that means you need to unwind by doing a mall walk and window shopping after work – don’t let anything stop you.

Learn to nurture your emotional health and you’ll nip emotional eating in the bud – and start losing weight FAST.

#3) Mismatched Weight Loss Plan

There are many different ways to lose weight and dozens of weight loss programs to choose from. Some plans emphasize a change in diet, others emphasize a change in exercise, others focus on the inner reasons for overeating.

Every person is different and will lose weight in their own unique way. If what you’re doing now isn’t currently working, it may be a simple case of personality-plan mismatch.

Maybe instead of a diet-focused weight loss plan, you would feel better with a fitness-focused weight loss plan or a psychological weight loss plan. There are lots of plans to choose from and you deserve to take your time and find one that fits your personality and lifestyle best.

If you think this is the case, take some time to review different diet or weight loss plans. Find one that you can get excited about, one that makes sense to you and that fits your belief system and personality. That’s when you’ll make real weight loss progress!

So, those are 3 possible reasons for your weight loss plateau. You don’t have to stay stuck in a weight loss rut. You don’t have to keep asking yourself the frustrating question: Why Can’t I Lose Weight?’ Keep believing in yourself and in your dreams. Don’t give up and you will get there!

Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

18 Magical Ways To Lose Weight Without Exercise

18 Magical Ways To Lose Weight Without Exercise

A Sweet Syrup That Helps Detox Your Body, Lose Weight, Improve Brain Function and More

Natural is always best, and this natural homemade sweet syrup is said that will help you lose up to 10 pounds in a week and also get rid of excess water and harmful toxins out of the body.

This miracle weight loss syrup is made of 5 common ingredients:

• 2-3 cm ginger


• 2 tablespoons of cinnamon


• 3 tablespoons raw honey


• 3-4 lemons


• 125g horseradish

How to Make:

Blend horseradish and ginger in a blender and add in juice from a lemon, stir them well and then add the cinnamon, honey.

Stir the mixture well until you get a syrup.

Save the syrup in a glass jar.

How to Use:

Eat 1 teaspoon of this syrup 2 times a day, one before your lunch and another before dinner. Keep taking for 3 weeks, then have a 3 week break before you repeat.

You’ll get better results by taking it together with cardio exercises. After 3 weeks, something will happen to your body.

All of these five ingredients are great weight loss contributors. Horseradish works effectively to cleanse the body and boost the metabolism to aid in weight loss. Have a cup of warm lemon water as the first thing in the morning is good for your overall health, it also helps cleanse your bowels and flush out the wastes.

Studies have found that add a teaspoon raw honey and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to a cup of boiling water can aid in weight loss effectively.

As one of the most popular spices, ginger affects weight in several ways:

1. Ginger boosting a healthy digestion, and an efficient digestive system is essential for weight loss.

2. Ginger is recommended to treat obesity, as studies have found that it can boost metabolism by up to 20%. A faster metabolism means you can burn off more fat that stored up in the body.

3. Researchers showed ginger has a significant effect on the satiety feeling after your meal, means you’ll feel fullness quickly after eating ginger.

Besides, if you drink ginger water more often, it will also detox your body. For people who drink too much alcohol, or eat too many toxic foods, it’s highly recommended to add a piece of ginger in your water to cleanse the harmful toxins.

Cinnamon and lemon also help with your digestion and flush toxins out of your body. This syrup is also good for your heart, this is thanks to horseradish, as it contains a good amount of potassium, which helps maintain a healthy heart rate and reduce the high blood pressure.

Sources: progressivehealth.com/ healthylifetricks.com/ seekingfit.com

Read More By Author Heidi Kristoffer.

A Sweet Syrup That Helps Detox Your Body, Lose Weight, Improve Brain Function and More

7 Healthy Cooking Techniques to Help You Lose Weight

There are countless strategies on how to lose weight.  Setting realistic goals, making a commitment, low calorie intake, regular exercise, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, are essential ways to increase your chance of success.

But losing weight also requires healthy cooking techniques that enhance the likelihood of you achieving your goal.

Unhealthy Cooking Methods Won’t Help You Lose Weight

There are healthy and unhealthy cooking methods and techniques.  Some cooking techniques deplete vitamins and nutrients in food — like boiling, for instance.  And some cooking methods can actually add calories to your meals.

For example, eggplant is a low-calorie and fiber-rich food.  But eggplant absorbs oil like a sponge when it’s fried or sautéed.

The cooking method of choice for potatoes can also hamper your success in losing weight.  Though roasted potatoes are a great complement to any meal — mashed potatoes fall in the realm of unhealthy.  Mashed potatoes usually have generous amounts of milk and butter.  And they often have their fiber-rich peels removed.  You’re more likely to go in for another helping, which undermines your chances to lose weight.

However, healthy cooking methods that preserve food nutrients, speed up cooking time, and avoid adding calories, are most beneficial when it comes to losing weight.

Healthy Cooking Techniques

Adding healthy and flavorful cooking techniques to your repertoire is one more strategy you can incorporate in your weight loss plan.

Here’s a list of healthy and simple cooking techniques that can help you to manage and lose weight.

• Experiment with spices and herbs: Spices and herbs add flavor to dishes without pouring on sodium or extra calories.  A sprinkle of basil or fresh rosemary can add flavor to any ordinary recipe.

• Cut vegetables into bigger pieces: Bigger cuts of vegetables have less surface area to pick up oil.  Before cooking your ingredients, cut down on your fat intake; use a mister to lightly coat your ingredients with oil.

• Poach fish: Poaching fish in water or court bouillon (fish stock) is a great alternative to fried fish.  Oil isn’t added when poaching fish.  And the soft heat of the poaching liquid keeps the fish moist and flaky.

• Don’t overcook pasta: You may have noticed that overcooked pasta turns out mushy — and the texture is lost.  That’s because, as the pasta cooks, starch molecules that hold the noodles together begin to breakdown. This reaction drains the fiber content of the noodle — turning it into a refined carbohydrate that eventually breaks down into sugar in your body.  Cook the noodles until just before they’re al dente. Using this technique helps to preserve the noodle’s fiber. They’ll be more filling — so you’ll eat less.  Keep in mind — pasta-cooking time varies — depending on the size and shape of the pasta.

• When roasting meat – use a rack: When roasting a larger cut of meat, place a rack in the bottom of the pan so the meat doesn’t sit in its melted fat.  Instead of using pan drippings, baste the meat with low-fat liquids like broth, lemon juice, or wine, to keep the meat moist.

• Pressure cook meats: Pressure cooking helps saturate ingredients with a depth of flavor that would normally require hours of conventional cooking.  Less water comes into contact with your food to leach away vitamins and minerals, while using a pressure cooker.  Pressure cooking also saves cooking time by sealing in the steam from boiling liquid.

• Don’t remove the skins: Keep the skin on your food — like potatoes and apples.  The peels hold a majority of the food’s nutrients and fiber.  If you remove the skin on foods, the food won’t fill you up as much — making you more susceptible to snacking later.  However, chicken skin adds extra calories and saturated fat to your meal.

Remember, setting realistic goals, making a commitment, reducing calorie intake, regular exercise, and adopting a healthy lifestyle, are all necessary and safe ways to help you lose weight.  Adding healthy cooking techniques enhances your chance of success, as well.

7 Healthy Cooking Techniques to Help You Lose Weight

6 Sneaky Ways To Burn Calories And Lose Weight Faster

6 Sneaky Ways To Burn Calories And Lose Weight Faster