Eating disorders: 'We had to climb walls just to get a bit of help' - BBC

Family photo

By Jayne McCubbin & Riyah Collins

BBC News

Big Brother star Nikki Grahame and teenager Chelsea Mooney never met but they had something in common: anorexia.

Nikki, who was 38, and Chelsea, who was 17, died from the disease within a few days of each other in April 2021.

A charity in Hull has just opened two therapy rooms named after both women - in the hope that they will help others with the disease.

Analysis by BBC Breakfast reveals a huge rise in hospital admissions for people with eating disorders

Chelsea's dad, Steve Blackford, says Chelsea's family struggled to find support during her illness.

"We really had to climb over walls just to try and get a little bit of help," he says.

The rooms, at a shopping centre in Hull, will provide a range of services for people with eating disorders.

Nikki's best friend Carly Cunningham says that "there needs to be more help out there" and hopes the rooms can fill a gap in services.

'My last goodbye'

Steve was working away at sea when he got the call that his teenage daughter was dangerously ill.

"I asked the the nurse on the phone, 'Is she still gonna be there when I get back?' and they went quiet for a second," he recalls.

"And she said: 'I don't think so'."

"That was the longest 15 hours of my life knowing that I was coming back from sea to say my last goodbye to my eldest daughter."

Chelsea died in April 2021 in Sheffield after several attempts to take her own life.

She was diagnosed with an eating disorder when she was 15, by which point Steve says she'd already been struggling for two years.

During an inquest into the circumstances of Chelsea's death, a coroner expressed concerns about the care she received at an inpatient unit.

What is anorexia?

Anorexia is a mental illness which sees people limit how much they eat and drink and become extremely low-weight.

People with the condition often think they're larger than they are and experience a deep fear of gaining weight.

It can cause severe physical problems including loss of muscle strength and reduced bone strength.

Source: Beat

Family photo

Analysis by BBC Breakfast suggest the family's not alone.

NHS figures for April 2021 to March 2022 show that more than 28,400 people were admitted to hospital with an eating disorder.

This was a 38% increase on April 2019 to March 2020 - the year before the Covid pandemic - when 20,650 people were admitted.

When you compare the figures for children in the same periods, the figure jumps from 4,232 to 7,719 - an 82% rise.

Steve says the figures are shocking and that support "seems to have got worse".

• BBC Action Line: Help and support is available here
• Child deaths expose mental health unit pressures
• 'Lockdown made it hard to get anorexia support'

'I think I'm dying'

Chelsea's name appears on one of the two rooms being opened by eating disorder charity Seed.

The second room is dedicated to Nikki Grahame who shot to fame after appearing on Big Brother in 2006.

Her experience with anorexia was well documented and she even discussed it openly in a book she released a few years later.

"Big Brother was what I would say saved her for quite a long time, actually," Nikki's best friend Carly Cunningham says.

"I felt like the eating disorder was able to take a backseat."

But during lockdown, Carly says she saw the friend she'd known since she was 11 being taken "piece by piece" by the disease.

"One day, she actually said 'Carls, I think I'm dying'."

Carly Cunningham

They struggled to find a hospital place where Nikki could be cared for and had to start a fundraiser to support her recovery.

"It was the last resort," says Carly.

"We had this money but we couldn't find any beds. We did find one place in London but there was a five-week wait."

That hospital called them back the day after Nikki died on 9 April 2021 after being admitted to a hospital in Dorset.

"So many people are falling through the cracks," says Carly.

"This illness can take someone just like that and it needs to be taken seriously. There needs to be more help out there."

The government told the BBC it is investing almost £1bn in community mental health care to support adults by next year.

That's on top of £54m which it says will be spent on eating disorder support services for young people and children.

"These are tragic cases and highlight the importance of our work to improve eating disorder services and bolster mental health services," a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said.

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Steve and Carly were approached by Emmerdale actress Gemma Oaten, who also runs Seed, about naming the new rooms after Chelsea and Nikki.

Gemma set up the charity with her parents after living with an eating disorder when she was a teenager.

"I know that so easily, my life could have ended the same way," she says. "That is why this means so much to me.

"I was determined to show that their deaths will not be in vain."

The rooms, at Hull's Princes Quay shopping centre, will provide therapy, listening services, an advice line and workshops from registered trainee therapists for anyone affected by eating disorders.

"It honestly melted my heart in many different ways," Steve says about Chelsea's room. "It's bittersweet.

"Chelsea liked helping people all the time... she's still helping people, from a different place now."

Carly thinks her friend would be honoured by having the therapy room bear her name.

"I couldn't even put into words for Nikki, how happy she would be to have her name on a door that is going to help so many," she says.

"This is the most special thing that could have happened for her."

If you've been affected by the issues raised in this article, help and support is available via BBC Action Line.

Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

Related Internet Links

• SEED

• Department of Health and Social Care

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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Eating disorders: 'We had to climb walls just to get a bit of help' - BBC
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Yelp names ‘Top 100 Places to Eat’ in the US - NewsNation Now

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1. Yelp names ‘Top 100 Places to Eat’ in the US  NewsNation Now
2. These 4 Arizona restaurants made Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat  Arizona's Family
3. 2 Riverside County restaurants make Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat  The Press-Enterprise

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Aurora's best places to eat, drink and play - Axios

Mango House community center in Aurora. Photo: Hyoung Chang/Denver Post via Getty Images

The cultural cornucopia that is Aurora makes the city a great place for dining, drinking and socializing.

Where to go: Here are our favorite places to visit.

🌮Flavor Corner

Latin American cuisine is the star at this food truck rodeo, Las Esquina del Sabor at 15200 E. Colfax Ave.

• Alayna found everything from tortas and gorditas to menudo and ceviche, plus plenty of covered and outdoor seating.
• This spring, the food trucks will move to the new La Plaza Marketplace, an indoor entertainment and food hall in the site of a former K-Mart.

🍫 Miette Et Chocolat

This internationally acclaimed chocolate maker will blow your mind — and taste buds — with its elaborate confections. Visit the downtown location on East Colfax or at Stanley Marketplace.

🥭Mango House

Part health center and part food hall, this community center on East Colfax serves an assortment of global food.

• Urban Burma — which now has its own food truck —is the highlight with noodle and curry dishes. But give Jasmine Syrian Food and other African and Asian food stalls a try, too.

🍗 Havana Street

This busy road is akin to Denver's Federal Boulevard when it comes to finding great ethnic eats. This 5280 magazine guide is a good place to start with Korean Angry Chicken for lunch and a Snowl snow bowl for dessert.

🥘 Stanley Marketplace

On the city's western border near Denver, Stanley Marketplace offers local shops, a brewery, beer hall, restaurants and a rotating list of events that entertain the whole family.

• Our favorites, to name just a few: Annette, Comida, Chook, Rosenberg's Bagels and Sweet Cow.
• Pro tip: Just around the corner, you can find Mason's Dumpling Shop, a gem of flavor.

🍺 Dry Dock Brewing

Aurora's brewery scene is expanding, but the first stop is still the city's first craft brewery, which now has two locations.

• The award-winning beer at Dry Dock ranges from classics like Apricot Blonde to its famous boozy Bligh's Barleywine. Look for plenty of special and seasonal taps, too.

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Sleep Junkie website wants to pay you $1,000 to eat cheese before bed - Here's why - KABC-TV

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Are you a die-hard cheese lover? This could be your dream job!

Sleep Junkie, a website that conducts sleep studies and mattress reviews, is looking for five "dairy dreamers" to help its researchers test the theory that eating cheese before going to sleep gives you nightmares.

The job includes eating cheese every night at the same time before going to sleep and writing about how well you slept and if you had any dreams or nightmares.

You'll start working in March and will be expected to work for three months. Then, you'll get paid $1,000 upon completion of the study.

Sleep Junkie said tasters should eat the same kind of cheese every night for a week, and then take a week off before trying a new variety.

To apply, you must be at least 21 and own a device that tracks sleep. You must also be able to sleep alone during the trial without any sleep issues.

Also, you can't be lactose intolerant. If you're interested in applying, click here.

Copyright © 2023 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Health department: Don’t eat baked goods from Incline Village business - KOLO

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (KOLO) -The Washoe County Health District advises people not to eat baked goods from Happy Tiers Bakery in Incline Village.

The bakery products were made without the benefit of an inspection, prompting the Public Health Alert.

The baked goods were made between Oct. 1 and Tuesday and include wedding cakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies and quiche.

Throw away the goods or return them, the health district said.

“No reports of illness involving these products have been reported,” the health district said in a statement. “Individuals exhibiting signs or symptoms of foodborne illness should contact a health care provider immediately.”

They were made without verifying the food safety protocol. “The products were manufactured in an unknown location and the retail facility did not have a permit for the baking or manufacturing of any food products,” the health district said.

People with food safety questions can call 775-328-2434, option 8, or email foodsafety@washoecounty.gov.

Copyright 2023 KOLO. All rights reserved.

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People Who Live Longer Eat These Specific Foods, According to a Major 36-Year Study - Parade Magazine

Fad diets are a dime a dozen, and they wiggle their way into conversations and onto our social media feeds each January. A new Forbes Health/OnePoll survey of more than 1,000 adults found that 33 percent of 18 to 25-year-olds and 30 percent of 41-year-olds' top New Year's resolution was to eat a better diet. 

But popular diet plans, like keto, consistently rank near the bottom of medical and nutrition experts' lists of recommended diets.

However, "what not to eat" and "which plans not to follow" only help so much. What should you eat to boost your overall health? A new survey spanning nearly four decades has provided us with actionable advice—and it's not restrictive or one-size-fits-all.

In fact, various eating patterns can reduce disease and premature death, according to the new study, which was spearheaded by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and published online on Jan. 9. 

"The take-home message from this study is that there is no single diet that is the best diet for everyone. A healthy diet can be flexible and adapted to meet individual health needs, food preferences and cultural traditions," says Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD, one of the study's authors and a professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

What are they, and how can you incorporate these foods into your daily life? Nutrition experts dished.

About the Cohort Study

The new study was large and long-term. It included more than 75,000 women and 44,000 men. No participant had cancer or cardiovascular disease before the study. Every four years, participants completed dietary questionnaires, which researchers scored. 

Many of the patterns that emerged aligned directly with these diets and guidelines: 

• The Mediterranean diet: Focuses on lean proteins like fish and chicken, fresh produce and healthy fats like olive oil and avocado. It was recently ranked as the top diet for 2023 by US News & World Report. 
• Healthful plant-based: Similar to the Mediterranean diet, but animal products like poultry and cheese don't make the cut.
• Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Updated every five years by the USDA and HHS, these guidelines recommend focusing on lean and plant-based protein, fruits and veggies while limiting red meat, processed food, alcohol and added sugar.
• Alternative Healthy Eating Index: Developed by Harvard researchers, this study rates foods based on risk for contributing to or limiting risk for chronic diseases. 

One dietitian says the new study offers hope for people who don't necessarily want to craft a menu based on one particular "type" of diet. 

This study indicates that one does not need to stick to only one healthy dietary approach for their whole life. To enhance variety and adherence, one can switch between these various healthy diets or create their own flexitarian diet. However, the core healthy eating principles should remain the same: Eat more minimally processed plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and legumes; eat less red meat and ultra-processed foods high in sugar, sodium and refined starch.

"The study summarizes that various eating patterns can protect against mortality related to heart disease, cancer or respiratory diseases," says Kimberley Rose-Francis, RDN, CDCES, CNSC, LD. "This is in contrast to the one or two dietary patterns historically touted as healthy eating patterns, like the Mediterranean diet. This new research demonstrates that nutrient-dense foods from different cultures and food preferences promotes good health."

Eat These Foods to Increase Your Life Expectancy

Each plan mentioned by Harvard researchers has its nuances. But they also have key similarities worth highlighting as you craft your grocery lists.

"Although these diets differ in some aspects, they all include high amounts of healthy plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes and lower amounts of refined grains, added sugars, sodium, and red and processed meats," Hu says.

Experts went dug into the data and provided actionable advice.

Whole grains

People may resort to low to no-carb diets to lose weight. But experts suggest taking a different route. Instead of cutting carbs, reach for whole grains.

"Whole grains are important to regularly consume in our diet as our brain uses these as our first energy source," says Kayla Kopp, RD, LD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition. "Whole grains, compared to white grain products, have more fiber and help to keep us fuller longer. Fiber is crucial for blood sugar control, cholesterol control, as well as keeping our bowel movements regular."

Indeed, another large recent cohort study from 2020 indicated that participants with the highest intake of whole grains had the lowest risk for Type II diabetes. A study from 2022 found that high consumption of total whole grains was linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk.

Figuring out what's truly whole grain requires a bit of savviness because of misleading marketing, though.

"If the food package is labeled with 'multigrain,' '12-grain bread' or 'made with whole grains,' still check the ingredient list," says Rose-Francis. "These words are savvy marketing buzzwords companies use that may be confusing and may not even contain whole grains."

What are you looking for?

"Foods that have whole grain or whole wheat listed as the first ingredient," says Stephanie Magill, MS, RD, CD, FAND, adding that she recommends getting at least five servings per day.

Sources include:

• Brown rice
• Quinoa
• Whole wheat pasta
• Barley
• Bulger
• Farro

Whole fruit

You're likely not surprised fruits made this list. But your first thought may not be "carbohydrate source" when you think of fruit. Produce is a natural form of sugar and fiber—and, of course, vitamins.

"Fruit contains lots of potassium, vitamin C and folate, which our population doesn't tend to get enough of," Kopp says.

Because fruits have natural sugar, people, such as those with diabetes, will want to pay close attention to portion sizes and how they consume fruits.

"If you are someone who needs to control your blood sugar...It is ideal to consume a fruit with a source of protein or healthy fat," Kopp says. "For example, eating apple slices with peanut butter or an orange with a piece of string cheese...can aid in preventing spikes in blood sugar."

Speaking of sugar, reach for whole fruit over juice.

"Juice is higher in calories and doesn’t have the beneficial fiber that a whole piece of fruit has," Magill says. 

Some of Kopp's top recommendations for fruit include:

• Apples
• Oranges
• Bananas
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Opting for seasonal fruits can up their appeal.

"For example, the best types of fruit to purchase [in January] are apples, clementines, grapefruit, kiwis, kumquats, lemons, oranges, pears, persimmons and tangerines," Kopp says.

Vegetables

You're also likely not surprised that vegetables made the cut. 

They are a great source of vitamins, minerals and fiber and contain the least number of calories for someone who may be trying to lose weight," Kopp says.

But Kopp and Magill say they see people struggle to incorporate them into their diet. Magill suggests getting five servings per day. Variety is the spice of life, after all—and may even help you (finally) eat enough veggies.

"The key with fruits and vegetables is to eat a variety of types and colors so that you can get the benefits from all the nutrients," Magill says. "Eating a variety of colors and textures also makes meals more visually appealing and eating more enjoyable."

If you want to eat seasonally, Magill recommends going to farmer's markets, some of which continue indoors during the winter.

"During the winter months, it is best to purchase kale, Brussels sprouts, carrots, Swiss chard, parsnips, collard greens, radishes and red cabbage," Kopp says.

Some of Kopp's top recommendations for non-starchy vegetables include:

• Broccoli
• Asparagus
• Cauliflower
• Cucumbers
• Carrots
• Bell peppers 
• Spinach
• Green beans
• Zucchini

Nuts 

No-fat, like no-carb, is another no-go based on this study and dieticians' recommendations for healthy individuals.

"Nuts are considered a healthy, unsaturated fat source that aid in improving inflammation, lowering cholesterol and decreasing the risk of developing heart disease," Kopp says, adding that these fats can also be obtained from other sources like avocados and olive oil.

Portion size is key, though."It is recommended to stick with no more than ¼ cup nuts at a time because they are calorically dense even though they are healthy," Kopp says.

Magill notes that about a ¼ cup of almonds provides almost 200 calories and around 15 grams of fat. 

Legumes 

"Legumes are important for controlling your blood pressure, lowering your cholesterol and balancing blood sugar in the body," Kopp explains. "They can also help to support healthy gut function and aid in weight management as they are very high in fiber."

She suggests adding black beans to your taco next time you observe Taco Tuesday. Other sources she recommends include:

• Beans
• Lentils
• Chickpeas
• Peas 
• Soybeans

Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all plate. And Kopp notes that people at risk for or living with certain conditions and on medications, like kidney disease, high cholesterol or diabetes, may need additional guidance. Even some veggies may need to be limited.

"There are specific conditions, like kidney disease, where an individual may need to be cautious of the specific kinds of vegetables they are ingesting," Kopp says. "This is why it is best to work with a registered dietitian if you are unsure."

Sources

• Frank B. Hu, MD, PhD, one of the study's authors and a professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

• Kayla Kopp, RD, LD, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition.
• Kimberley Rose-Francis RDN, CDCES, CNSC, LD
• Stephanie Magill, MS, RD, CD, FAND
• Best Diets Overall 2023. U.S. News and World Report.
• Bilodeau, K (2022). Scoring highly on Alternative Healthy Eating Index lowers risk for many illnesses.
• Davis, S (2022). 50% of Gen Z cite this health improvement as a top new year’s resolution for 2023.
• Healthy Eating Index, FDA.
• Shan, Z, et al (2023). Healthy eating patterns and risk of total and cause-specific mortality. 
• Yang, H, et al (2020). Intake of whole grain foods and risk of type 2 diabetes: results from three prospective cohort studies. 
• Yang, H, et al (2022). Intake of whole grain foods and risk of coronary heart disease in US men and women. 

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You could be paid $1,000 to eat cheese before bed - New York Post

You’d be working on your “night cheese.”

A new study looks to prove that eating cheese before bed can cause nightmares.

The study — undertaken by Sleep Junkie — is looking for five American testers to slice their way through several types of cheeses every week, asking the participants to record their dreams and nightmares.

Sleep Junkie is sweetening the deal by giving their “dairy dreamers” $1,000 upon completion of the study.

“The chosen candidates will be paid for their work and all cheese costs will be expensed,” reads the official job description. “Our dairy dreamers will become our official cheese testers, providing honest feedback on how eating various kinds of cheese before bed impacts their sleep quality.”

According to the website, applicants must be over 21, own a smartwatch or fitness tracker, sleep alone, have a consistent sleep schedule, not suffer from any sleep-related issues and — probably most important — not be dairy- or lactose-intolerant.

Sleep Junkie is sweetening the deal by giving their “dairy dreamers” $1,000 upon completion of the study.

Getty Images

“Our dairy dreamers will become our official cheese testers, providing honest feedback on how eating various kinds of cheese before bed impacts their sleep quality,” the site says.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The study is expected to take place between March and May.

Sleep Junkie is calling for “self-starters, honest, with good writing skills and [who] enjoy both sleeping and eating” to apply for the study.

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