Imagine that you are running a company, but you cannot get to your goal because all of your good workers keep quitting. For 30 years, your response to this problem has been to criticize the workers and say they are stupid and weak for quitting. As a result, you never reach your goal. You don’t change your formula or alter your plan, just keep blaming and shaming the workers for quitting. If you did this, your failure rate would remain unchanged over time, of course, and you would never reach your goal. In the same way, hundreds of thousands of people fall short of their dieting and weight loss goals every year, and the incidence of obesity continues to rise. The fitness industry’s answer to this has been to continue on as planned and blame the soaring failure rates on the people themselves, creating a culture of overt and subtle fat-shaming. Now, imagine that you do some research at your company, and you find out that folks keep quitting because the carpet smells like garbage, the office is way too hot and the desks are in disrepair. If you hope to eventually get to your goal, you would almost certainly address the factors that are leading to attrition of our workers, right? The same thing goes for weight loss in 2018. Science has shown us why “workers” are quitting. They quit because their ability to perform exercise is limited, they don’t sleep enough and they don’t eat for change. Just as your company needed to stop ridiculing the workers for quitting and instead change the carpet, furnace and desks, the fitness world should resist the urge to fat-shame and instead focus on exercise capacity, sleeping and recovery. I have studied weight loss and obesity for many years. The issue of overweight and obesity grows more pressing each year, as 84 million people are now considered pre-diabetic. While they are in a pre-diabetic condition, they can still avoid the debilitating consequences of the disease. But once they become diabetic, health problems cascade as a result of this serious disease. The same is true for heart disease, arthritis and many other obesity-related conditions. Exercise People must exercise enough not only to burn calories for weight loss but to keep weight off. Simply put, if a person can walk for only five minutes today, he or she cannot expect to be successful on a program that calls for four days of exercise beyond that amount each time, tomorrow. Thus, the initial goal of any intended weight loss transformation should be to first increase one’s exercise capacity to a critical point, called the catching point. Once this capacity is reached, food preferences will change, metabolic rates will increase and patients will have a real chance to follow an exercise regimen that results in a significant amount of calories burned. An “in-shape” person is much more likely to be successful with a new diet and exercise program than a sedentary, overweight person. As a result, step one must be to increase this capacity and to get there. The other two tenets of recovery are equally critical: sleep and diet. Sleep Restful, plentiful sleep is key to weight loss, research suggests. Thousands of articles and many books have been written on sleep as it relates to brain function, brain waves, thinking, memory, mood, etc. The role of sleep in physical metabolic change, though, is missing from most diet attempts. Simply put, sleep is the time that the body changes. Structurally, our bodies are making molecules during sleep that follows exercise which will do useful things for us such as strengthen our muscles, lower blood pressure, neutralize inflammation and increase our metabolism. Sleeping enough will also make us eat less. Functional MRI scans of the brain show that people are far more interested in eating when they are sleep-deprived. Moreover, sleep-deprived people are more driven toward unhealthy foods when given the option. They also have increased levels of gherlin, the hormone that makes us feel hungry, and decreased levels of leptin, the hormone that makes us feel full. And, in multiple studies people have been shown to actually eat more food and actually gain more weight when sleep-deprived, and population-based studies have shown increased BMIs in people with fewer sleep hours. Eating for change Often, people err when they try to lose weight by restricting calories at the beginning of their efforts. Restricting calories leads to a host of responses from the body that induce food-seeking behavior and cause people to “quit” their diets. A recent study of a large group of people suggests that people should not count calories at all but instead pay attention to the quality of the food they eat, refraining from sugar and processed foods and instead eating lots of fruits and vegetables. We can’t make changes in our body’s structure without the appropriate nutrients on board. If, while we are sleeping, our bodies set out to make the changes we want and there are no nutrients with which to do so, there will be no transformation. The specific nutrients necessary for recovery and optimization of our microbiome have been well-described during recent years and should be added to our intake (vs. restriction) until a critical point of clean eating is reached. In summary, the three things missing from most diet attempts are the appropriate exercise capacity, the right amount of sleep and a plan to eat for recovery and change. Implementing these elements to most plans will allow folks to stay engaged long enough for healthy habits to “catch.” Words by David Prologo, Associate Professor, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University. Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today.

Tiffany & Co. unveils timeless and empowering designs with new T1 collection. In a collection that has become renowned for timeless designs, Tiffany & Co.’s T collection has unveiled the latest addition to its iconic lineup of jewelry, Tiffany T1, designed by chief artistic officer Reed Krakoff. “At Tiffany, we believe that luxury should be effortless and irreverent,” says Krakoff. “When we were creating Tiffany T1, we realized it had to live up to and be worthy of the Tiffany name—of being the best, something that people think of when they think of the ultimate way to celebrate themselves.” The new T1 collection features a curated edit of nine 18k rose gold styles – rings and bracelets in narrow and wide widths with several pieces radiating intricately hand-set pave diamonds. The first wave of rose gold pieces are available now at Tiffany & Co. stores or online at Tiffany.com. Looking ahead, 18k yellow and white gold pieces land in June while baguette diamond-set pieces round out the collection in September. By Linda Kesky, ML Correspondant Images courtesy of Tiffany Co.

Baseball’s opening day came and went. The Olympics have been postponed. Football in the fall? Don’t count on it. With COVID-19 infections and deaths rising each day, the cancellation of live sporting events might seem like an afterthought. But in the coming weeks and months, their absence will undoubtedly be felt. This isn’t the first time sports have been put on hold. During previous crises and conflicts, sports have been stopped. But in the past, the reprieve was brief; sports went on to act as a way to bring Americans together, helping them persevere and, ultimately, heal. This time’s different. An American ‘religion’ Sports are so important to so many of us that some have likened them to a modern religion, replete with rituals, saints and shrines. “Sports are more than games, meets and matches,” sociologist Jay Coakley has observed. “They’re important aspects of social life that have meanings going far beyond scores and performance statistics.” Research suggests that watching sports can benefit physical well-being. Fandom can also be linked to psychological benefits such as an increased sense of belonging. When spectators experience social connectedness to other fans, it can reduce negative emotions, like depression and isolation. Enduring – and emerging stronger For these reasons, sports, during times of crisis, often act as a salve. At the onset of the Civil War, baseball was less than two decades old, and the first two years of the war hit the young sport hard. As several players enlisted and others focused on civilian war efforts, many clubs folded or played reduced schedules. Still, as historian George Kirsch has noted, baseball “endured the trial of civil war remarkably well, persisting and even progressing under trying circumstances.” Union soldiers brought the game to the battlefield, playing to stay fit and get some much-needed distraction. In the process, they exposed many of their fellow countrymen to the game for the first time. After the war, baseball’s popularity boomed. Sports went on to endure both World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic. The ranks of college football players, for example, were vastly depleted, with many student-athletes going into active duty. Others joined the newly established Student Army Training Corps on their campuses and were often kept out of practices and games. Still, the games went on, with freshmen permitted to fill the rosters. Overseas, in Europe, millions of American troops continued to engage in baseball, football and boxing behind the front lines as a respite from the drudgery of trench warfare. Sports and athletics, according to historian Steve Pope, became “central components of military life.” The first wave of the flu arrived in the U.S. in the spring of 1918, but the second, stronger wave hit right at the onset of the college football season. Given the shortage of players due to the war, discussions to cancel the 1918 season were already underway when the flu returned. Michigan had played only one game when the governor shut down public gatherings. A game against rival Michigan Agricultural College – now Michigan State – was postponed for concerns that “prolonged cheering at the games would weaken the throats of the spectators, thus making them more susceptible to the disease.” Nationwide, hundreds of college games were canceled. Nonetheless, as flu cases subsided in November 1918, Michigan was able to play four more games. Undefeated Michigan and Pitt were titled co-champions, despite having played only five games each. Bringing the country together Following the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor, some wondered whether it was even appropriate to hold sporting events. Then President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent the so-called “green light letter” to Major League Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in January 1942. In it, Roosevelt wrote that “it would be best for the country to keep baseball going.” The people, he added, “ought to have a chance for recreation.” The 1942 season went on as scheduled. Women’s-only baseball leagues also became popular during this period. At its peak in 1948, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League attracted close to 1 million spectators. More recently, 9/11 presented a major challenge to sports. As sporting events could present perfect targets for terrorists, security concerns and costs skyrocketed. On the day of the attacks, Major League Baseball immediately postponed all 15 games; over the next six days, 91 games were canceled. The last time the league had canceled games without a player strike had been D-Day in 1944. Yet games resumed on Sept. 17, and the World Series was played in November. The Super Bowl was also pushed back, but went on as planned. According to sports scholar Rebecca Kraus, baseball’s return, in particular, “provided an emotional release, sense of hope and a place for the community to gather in its time of need, thus fulfilling its role as the national pastime.” President George W. Bush throws the first pitch of Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. E-sports into the void? The current sports stoppage, however, is unprecedented. It touches every level of every game, in every country in the world, from the Olympics down to pickup basketball. In the battle against the coronavirus, sports cannot be relied upon. In fact, sports are among the culprits: Officials have discovered that a February soccer match in Milan, Italy, led to a massive outbreak that accelerated the spread of the virus. In all of this, there’s an important point to consider. We’re still processing the many jarring changes to our routines. And when sports return in a year or two, our perception of this strange hiatus will have certainly changed. We might marvel at how quickly sports bounce back and pick up right where they left off. At the same time, when sports do resume, who could blame fans for being wary about attending games? Sports shouldn’t be taken for granted. In the great scheme of things, organized sports are a relatively recent phenomenon – less than 200 years old in the United States. Who knows what sports will look like 50, 100 or 200 years from now. Starting at about 776 B.C., the ancient Olympic Games lasted for 12 centuries. Today they’re long gone. Could, over time, the steady threat of global calamity also relegate our current conception of sports to ancient history? Already, one relative newcomer to the sporting scene has filled a void. Despite some initial hiccups, televised e-sport tournaments are still being held as planned. With 1.3 million viewers following a virtual race, the recent inaugural eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series on Fox Sports became the most-watched e-sport competition in American television history. Words by Lars Dzikus, Associate Professor in Sport Studies, University of Tennessee Special thanks to The Conversation for this story. You can support the independent network which provides news by donating today

After three years of research and development Wilson Sporting Good introduced the Clash tennis racket collection to tennis players around the world. This line, is the first to feature rackets explicitly created for the modern tennis swing by flexing without compromising stability or power. Wilson designed the Clash racket for a wide range of players, who desire rackets that are incredibly easy to play, provide complete confidence to swing powerfully, and offer unparalleled control over shots. “The Clash is a true revolution in the racket space,” says Hans-Martin Reh, General Manager, Wilson Racquet Sports. “It is born from the feedback of hundreds of tennis players throughout the world and thousands of hours of playtests. In creating this racket, we sought to push the limits of how a racket could move, feel, react on ball impact and, ultimately, make a player feel. Control and confidence are the top attributes players want from their racket, and the Clash delivers on both. It’s a highly playable collection that represents the intersection of flexibility, stability, power, control and feel --hence the name Clash. It is unlike anything they have seen or felt from rackets before.” Roger Federer tests the Wilson Clash Racket To create the Clash line, Wilson LABS, the innovation hub at Wilson, utilized motion capture technology to track racket swing planes and dimensionalize the modern player’s angle of attack, bringing to life how much more vertical it has become over time. This research, along with insights from hundreds of tennis players globally, led Wilson LABS researchers to evaluate ways they could alter conventional racket construction by providing a level of fluid movements to the frame. Researchers theorized that these fluid movements could maximize how a racket pocketed the ball and control the release of it. This theory became the core tenet behind the design of the Clash collection. Two new technologies comprise Clash rackets. The first is the brand’s patent-pending FreeFlex™ technology, which is a carbon mapping system that unifies carbon at unconventional angles throughout the rackets’ frame for a higher degree of flexibility both vertically and horizontally. This system allows the rackets to bend with any swing style to better pocket a tennis ball and control the release of the ball as a player follows through with their swing. StableSmart™, a new frame geometry that provides stability and power to these flexible frames, complements FreeFlex technology. The combined effect of FreeFlex and StableSmart gives a player the opportunity to control the directional accuracy and depth of a shot, giving them more confidence throughout every swing. Click below to launch slideshow > The Clash collection features a bold, three-part colorway. The matte black finish of each frame features gray accents at the three and nine o’clock positions. And the twelve o’clock position of the racket, the fastest point of the racket, carries a pop of modern infrared. This element of vibrant color creates a streak of infrared as the rackets move through the air, giving the design a sense of motion. The new Wilson Clashcollection includes the Clash 100 and Clash 100 Tour. Both models are available via tennis specialty retailers (in-store and online) and on www.wilson.com. Courtesy of Wilson Sporting Good

During this time of uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Grammy Award Winner, Pitbull, in collaboration with Haim Saban's label, Saban Music Group, have risen to action by creating a genuinely encouraging message of hope and faith, designed to invoke a sense of positivity and strength in people of all ages. "I Believe That We Will Win (World Anthem)" is a song of much-needed inspiration for humanity! Haim Saban said of the new joint effort: "As Pitbull said it best, 'now is the time to face everything and rise.' I am humbled to be part of this movement that unites everyone, even though we MUST stay apart to win the war against this disease. Pitbull knows how to inspire, and collaborating with him on this project was something I knew I had to do. I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!" The song will be available worldwide on April 13, 2020, followed by an Official video. The strategy behind the video is to incorporate a call to action that will invite artists, musicians, and entertainers alike to participate. Everyone will be encouraged to create a visual snippet singing the hook/chant while pounding their chest and then having them upload it to all their social platforms. A portion of the proceeds from the song will go to the charities, Feeding America, and the Tony Robbins Foundation. "Let's show the world how powerful it is when we come together to fight for one cause - that's called life," announced Pitbull when teasing the new track. "There's no better partner than Haim Saban and his team to motivate our world," said Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull). "Together, we will show the world how to Face Everything And Rise (FEAR)." Stream the song here: believeanthem Courtesy of Saban Music Group LLC

To address expanding global travel restrictions and provide peace of mind in guest travel planning, Royal Caribbean Group is extending its Cruise with Confidence cancellation policy through September 1, 2020.  The updated policy enhances planning flexibility by allowing cancellations up to 48 hours prior to sailing for any reason.  Guests will receive a full credit for their fare, usable on any future sailing of choice in 2020 or 2021. "Guests are reacting positively to our Cruise with Confidence policy," says company chairman and CEO Richard Fain, "because it enables them to make informed decisions and to better manage complicated travel plans during this unprecedented time of uncertainty." The extension applies to both new and existing cruise bookings. In addition to easing concerns of booked guests, Fain says the policy enhances consumer confidence to schedule new bookings, knowing last-minute travel adjustments will incur no penalty. "We want our guests to feel they can safely keep their existing cruise bookings or schedule new sailings," says Fain, "because this policy gives them more freedom and flexibility." The policy applies to all cruises with sailing dates on or before September 1, 2020, and applies to the company's global brands Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara.  For individual brand policy details and for information on the Silversea policy, please visit the respective brand websites: Azamara Celebrity Royal Caribbean Siversea Courtesy of Royal Caribbean Group

eMerge Americas, the premier technology event connecting the Americas, has announced today the postponement of the eMerge Americas 2020 conference previously scheduled for March 30-31st at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, FL. "We're committed to the health and wellbeing of our attendees, partners, and the community as a whole," said Felice Gorordo, CEO of eMerge Americas.  "This decision follows careful consideration, and this postponement will enable us to provide the experience that our customers, partners, and employees expect and deserve in a safe environment." Due to global precautions for the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the state of Florida's public health emergency declaration, and building upon recommendations from the World Health Organization, eMerge Americas is postponing their 16,000 attendee tentpole event to November 4-5, 2020. "We look forward to holding our 2020 conference later this year with an extraordinary lineup of keynote speakers and participating investors, startups and government officials," stated Melissa Medina, President of eMerge Americas. "We remain excited to host our attendees later this year." For more information, please email info@emergeamericas.com. About eMerge Americas eMerge Americas is the premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. In 2019, eMerge Americas attracted over 16,000 attendees and more than 400 participating companies from over 40 countries. The upcoming eMerge Americas conference is scheduled for November 4-5, 2020. For more information about eMerge Americas, please visit: www.emergeamericas.com. Words and images courtesy of eMerge Americas.

Whether you’re a seasoned instructor, a sought-after club manager, or a fitness fanatic, at FIBO USA you’ll find what you need to reach your fitness goals. With cutting-edge group fitness classes, future-focused education, electric interactive experiences, and an exhibit hall featuring the freshest innovations shaping the marketplace, you’ll be ready to move to the next level. FIBO USA is an industry summit, education program, and fitness festival all in one heart-pounding experience. Backed by the long-running success of FIBO Global Fitness—one of the world’s leading event for the fitness industry—comes to Miami each year to help you enhance your health and fitness performance, both personally and professionally. When will FIBO USA Miami Beach be held? The event is scheduled to be held on November 6-8, 2020. Where will FIBO USA be held? Miami Beach Convention Center located at 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139 For more info visit www.fibo-usa.com Words by Miami Living Magazine

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) creators of the popular “Miami Spice Restaurant Months” program, launched the ‘Miami Eats. Order Out, Help Out’ program to support local restaurants suffering from the downturn in business created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Launched on March 20, 2020, the program now has more than 1000 participating restaurants. ‘Miami Eats’ has now partnered with ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’, a non-profit, donation-based organization, founded by philanthropist and Miami resident Will Osborne and his son, restaurateur Mac Osborne. ‘Meals for Heroes Miami’, also created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, launched on April 1, 2020.  It seeks to meet two complementary objectives; to feed stressed and exhausted first responders risking their lives daily and provide revenue and protect jobs at Miami restaurants. “Miami is a city built on the hospitality industry, which is being crushed by this pandemic.  This is a fight that is going to be won by our healthcare frontline workers, in conjunction with our first responders.  These three constituencies, hospitality, healthcare, and fire/EMS/police need our support.  Purchasing meals to deliver to these stressed professionals is a sign of support from a grateful community” commented Founder Will Osborne. “The GMCVB is proud to align the ‘Miami Eats’ program with the ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ initiative,” said William D. Talbert, III, CDME, President & CEO, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Miami Eats was born from the Bureau’s commitment to drive demand for the hospitality industry. As the heroes of this community, we could think of no better group than first responders to be recipients of Miami’s best take-out and delivery food providers and with the full force of the bureau’s marketing efforts already in place, there is a great opportunity for ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ to utilize the platform of ‘Miami Eats’ to help drive donations to “Meals for Heals, Miami’ so they can expand their efforts”. HOW IT WORKS ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ reaches out to hospitals and testing centers to determine their needs. In partnership with local restaurants, orders are placed for 50 to 500 meals daily to be delivered to each facility. Restaurant partners take all necessary precautions outlined by the CDC, and working with each facility, ensure a contact-less delivery of the meals. Frontline recipients to date include Mount Sinai Medical Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami Baptist Hospital, Miami Baptist Miami Beach, and the Miami Beach Fire Department among others. In addition to the support of the marketing efforts of the GMCVB through its ‘Miami Eats’ program, ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ will also have the support of the City of Miami Beach, which will promote the initiative to their residents. “As our healthcare workers and first responders work tirelessly to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge the community to consider donating to  ‘Meals for Heroes, Miami’ —  which allows these essential workers to be fed on the frontlines by our local restaurants while keeping workers employed” said Mayor Dan Gelber. “Giving back to others in this way has another much needed consequence: keeping many of our beloved eateries in business and their staff working.” Additional GMCVB initiatives include; Hotels for Essential Lodgers, a comprehensive list of hotels open for Essential Lodgers during the crisis; Miami Salutes, an initiative calling on restaurants and retailers to extend special offers to heroic frontline and first responders; Help for Tourism, a web page providing the industry and other GMCVB partners a look at how to secure assistance; Virtual Miami, a web portal dedicated to showcasing local virtual events, webcams, video’s showcasing neighborhoods, attractions, museums and experiences that make Greater Miami a world-class destination, as well as unique downloadable backgrounds that capture the beauty and diversity of Greater Miami for remote meetings; and the Miami Pandemic Response Fund, a partnership between the GMCVB, United Way of Miami-Dade, Miami Herald/Nuevo Herald, Health Foundation of South Florida and The Miami Foundation to create a $500,000 fund to support hospitality workers and their families with emergency needs including food, supplies, utilities, rent/mortgage assistance and micro-grants. For more information about all of the following programs put together by the GMCVB in response to the unprecedented effects of COVID-19 on hospitality and tourism in Greater Miami and the Beaches, visit www.MiamiandBeaches.com. Words by GMCVB

Recognized as the most striking urban-chic hotel on The Sunset Strip, Andaz West Hollywood fuses Hollywood’s iconic rock history with local, glamorous flair. Designed by Jason Goldstein, the hotel features a simple, modern, open design. Home of Los Angeles’ highest rooftop pool, Andaz West Hollywood also features 239 rooms with breathtaking views of downtown and the Hollywood Hills. Here, you will experience a sophisticated, unforgettable stay. Upon arriving in the hotel’s sleek and modern lobby, you will be greeted by a professional and friendly “Andaz Host,” who provides a speedy check-in and possesses expert knowledge on everything local-culture related. Andaz West Hollywood is walking distance from Los Angeles’ best entertainment venues, including The Roxy, Viper Room, The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, Whisky A Go Go, and more. Numerous restaurants, bars, and shopping are also nearby. HISTORY Andaz West Hollywood has a rich historical record worth stating. Built in 1958 in a poinsettia field, it was opened as a Gene Austry’s Hotel Continental. In 1967, the hotel became the Continental Hyatt House managed by Hyatt Corporation, but in 1976 the named was changed to Hyatt on Sunset, also known as the Riot House or Riot Hyatt due to its infamous rock and roll musicians and celebrity guests. The guest book includes names like Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, John Lennon, The Who, Ray Davies, Guns N’ Roses, David Bowie, and Tina Turner. The hotel changed its name to Hyatt West Hollywood in 1997, in celebration of its 30th anniversary. HOTEL FEATURES Rooms feature a modern, open design with elegant furnishings, a flat screen TV, comfortable bedding, complimentary wireless internet, in-room safe, hair dryer, ironing board, and complimentary, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, replenished daily.  Bathrooms are elegantly designed with Calcutta marble mosaics, delivering a modern look. Enjoy LATHER bath and body products, and a range of guest services: dry cleaning, laundry, and delivery services. Enjoy the 24-hour fitness center and valet. Click to launch slideshow > DINING Overlooking The Sunset Strip, Riot House Restaurant offers farm-to-table, Californian cuisine using local and seasonal ingredients. Enjoy a comprehensive wine list featuring handcrafted vintage Napa Valley and French wines.  AMENITIES Andaz West Hollywood offers the perfect accommodations and setting for weddings and special events. Fully staffed and equipped, The Panorama Ballroom, Mezzanine Lounge, and Sundeck Rooftop are ideal sites for personalized event. Plus, Andaz West Hollywood is known for their quality and involvement with the LGBT community, hosting a range of prestigious equality events. For event planning information, email wehoevents@andaz.com Andaz West Hollywood is located at 8401 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069 For more information, call 323-656-1234 or visit www.andazwesthollywood.com. Words by Markin Abras. Images courtesy of Andaz

The human microbiome is the complex ecosystem of microorganisms that live in and on the human body. Over the last 15 years, scientists have discovered that this ecosystem plays a huge role in our overall health. And of particular importance is the gut microbiome, which is the community of symbiotic bacteria and other microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. Recent research has revealed that the gut microbiome affects almost every system in the body, including the digestive system, immune system, and cardiovascular system. There have also been studies that specifically link gut health to a number of human diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, and colon cancer. You’ve probably noticed that TV doctors and natural health bloggers like to recommend all sorts of foods, beverages, and probiotic products that supposedly improve gut health. Unfortunately, while the science behind gut health is legitimate, a lot of these recommendations are not. To put it simply, Viome’s Gut Intelligence Test is currently the most advanced gut microbiome test in the world. It uses sophisticated metatranscriptomic sequencing technology developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory to map the strains and species of bacteria, fungi, phages, yeast, and viruses that make up your unique gut microbiome. With this information, Viome can recommend the right foods you should be eating more of and the ones you should be avoiding right now. Viome’s analysis also includes comprehensive scores based on the health of your gut. In fact, it’s pretty amazing what they can see from your poop. Curious to know some things your microbiome can reveal about you? 1. Spinach Isn’t a Superfood For Everyone You’ve been told to eat your greens and that greens and nuts are anti-inflammatory, but this is not always true. Spinach, bran, rhubarb, beets, nuts, and nut butters all contain oxalates. Oxalate-containing foods can be harmful unless your microbes are producing the chemicals that can metabolize oxalate into non-harmful substances or nutrients. ⅓ of Viome customers are unable to metabolize oxalates properly. For these people, healthy foods like spinach could actually be doing more harm than good. 2. Foods Containing Antioxidants Aren’t Always Good for Everyone Polyphenol antioxidants in foods are usually considered very healthy, but unless you have microbes that convert specific polyphenols into nutrients that your body can absorb, you may not get their full benefit. One example is a polyphenol called ellagic acid. Viome can detect if your microbiome is metabolizing ellagic acid and converting it into urolithin A. It is only the urolithin A that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Without the microbes to do this conversion, you will not benefit from the ellagic acid in foods such as walnuts, raspberries, or pomegranate, Only about 50% of Viome customers actually receive the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits from eating foods that contain ellagic acid. 3. Eating Too Much Protein Can Cause Inflammation Protein helps you build muscle and provides energy, but if you eat too much, it can cause some serious inflammation. Viome’s technology can see if you are eating too much protein that feeds protein-fermenting bacteria like Alistipes putredinis and Tannerella forsythia. Viome can also see if your gut microbiome is producing harmful substances such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, p-cresol, or putrescine. These substances can damage your gut lining and lead to health issues like leaky gut. 4. Your Gut Microbiome Can Reveal If You're Depressed Your gut and brain are connected via the vagus nerve. A large majority of neurotransmitters are either produced or consumed by your gut microbiome. In fact, some 90% of all serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter) is produced by your gut microbiome and not by your brain. Viome can analyze if your gut microbiome is producing harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide, which causes the lining of your gut to start to deteriorate, resulting in leaky gut. Leaky gut has also been identified as a potential source of depression and higher levels of anxiety, in addition to many other chronic diseases. 5. Carbs Can Be Protein Precursors Rejoice! Perhaps carbs aren’t as bad as you thought (as long as your gut microbiome is up to the task). Viome can see if you’re metabolizing some of the starches you are eating and converting them into amino acids that are precursors to protein. Think about it for a second. Your gut microbiome can convert CARBS into amino acids that are precursors to building protein. The microbiome is excellent at adapting and pivoting based on the food you feed it and the environment that it’s in. Viome’s at-home Gut Intelligence kit and personalized recommendations Once you place your order, Viome will send you an easy to use at-home kit to collect your sample. After you return your sample by mail, Viome analyzes it to determine what organisms are active in your gut are, and what specific nutrients and toxins they produce from the food you’re eating. Then they use an advanced artificial intelligence system called Vie, which uses a massive (and continually growing) database of information to generate customized dietary recommendations based on your unique results. These dietary recommendations are designed to: • Increase microbial species associated with overall wellness • Minimize microbial species associated with poor health • Create the ideal ratio of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats for your diet • Encourage foods that are most compatible with your metabolism • Help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight • Increase your energy, focus and well-being. With the new year just around the corner, you owe it to yourself to get the customized, designer diet you’ve been looking for. Order your test kit today at Viome.com.

What does it feel like to be in one of the most iconic cities in the world during Covid19? Welcome to Miami Beach under quarantine: once busy streets flocking with lively tourists alongside congested traffic jams are no longer to be seen or heard. Instead, an eerie feeling of being watched amidst copious crow and parrot sounds becomes a prevalent experience as you walk through the bizarrely empty streets of Miami Beach. We will remember these days as an unprecedented historical moment -- for some, precious time to rediscover and self-reflect; for others an annoyance, despair and biting desire to have life go back to normal. In this picture essay, Miami Living captures Miami Beach during Covid19. "It is 4:46 pm...where is everyone?" Words and images by Markin Abras