Urban Fitness League wants to make Brooklyn's sport famous

Even doctors don't believe the drug companies. Around 80 per cent say medical research is skewed and can't be trusted, a new survey has found.

Less surprisingly, the public is also distrustful of medical research, and instead relies on the advice of family and friends. Most also want to see simpler package inserts that explain in everyday English the risks of a drug, instead of listing them in "impenetrable" and "unreadable" small print.

In all, 82 per cent of the 1,000 doctors polled said they didn't trust the results of trials that had been paid for by the drug company whose product was being tested, and feared the data had been massaged to achieve a positive result. Around 67 per cent of the 2,000 members of the public who were also polled shared the same concerns.

The UK's Academy of Medical Sciences, which organised the survey, is calling for greater transparency, including clearer labelling and package inserts. But while the drug industry remains the only major sponsor of drug trials, the dangers of biased and manipulated research remain.

The academy's Prof Sir John Tooke, who oversaw the survey, said he was startled by its findings. "Information from research will need to be more accessible and understandable, as well as reliable and trustworthy in the future," he said.

The survey had been commissioned by the UK's chief medical officer of health, Prof Dame Sally Davies, in the wake of controversies over a range of drugs, including statins, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and Tamiflu.

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Even doctors don't believe the drug companies. Around 80 per cent say medical research is skewed and can't be trusted, a new survey has found.

Less surprisingly, the public is also distrustful of medical research, and instead relies on the advice of family and friends. Most also want to see simpler package inserts that explain in everyday English the risks of a drug, instead of listing them in "impenetrable" and "unreadable" small print.

In all, 82 per cent of the 1,000 doctors polled said they didn't trust the results of trials that had been paid for by the drug company whose product was being tested, and feared the data had been massaged to achieve a positive result. Around 67 per cent of the 2,000 members of the public who were also polled shared the same concerns.

The UK's Academy of Medical Sciences, which organised the survey, is calling for greater transparency, including clearer labelling and package inserts. But while the drug industry remains the only major sponsor of drug trials, the dangers of biased and manipulated research remain.

The academy's Prof Sir John Tooke, who oversaw the survey, said he was startled by its findings. "Information from research will need to be more accessible and understandable, as well as reliable and trustworthy in the future," he said.

The survey had been commissioned by the UK's chief medical officer of health, Prof Dame Sally Davies, in the wake of controversies over a range of drugs, including statins, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and Tamiflu.

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Even doctors don't believe the drug companies. Around 80 per cent say medical research is skewed and can't be trusted, a new survey has found.

Less surprisingly, the public is also distrustful of medical research, and instead relies on the advice of family and friends. Most also want to see simpler package inserts that explain in everyday English the risks of a drug, instead of listing them in "impenetrable" and "unreadable" small print.

In all, 82 per cent of the 1,000 doctors polled said they didn't trust the results of trials that had been paid for by the drug company whose product was being tested, and feared the data had been massaged to achieve a positive result. Around 67 per cent of the 2,000 members of the public who were also polled shared the same concerns.

The UK's Academy of Medical Sciences, which organised the survey, is calling for greater transparency, including clearer labelling and package inserts. But while the drug industry remains the only major sponsor of drug trials, the dangers of biased and manipulated research remain.

The academy's Prof Sir John Tooke, who oversaw the survey, said he was startled by its findings. "Information from research will need to be more accessible and understandable, as well as reliable and trustworthy in the future," he said.

The survey had been commissioned by the UK's chief medical officer of health, Prof Dame Sally Davies, in the wake of controversies over a range of drugs, including statins, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and Tamiflu.

---

Even doctors don't believe the drug companies. Around 80 per cent say medical research is skewed and can't be trusted, a new survey has found.

Less surprisingly, the public is also distrustful of medical research, and instead relies on the advice of family and friends. Most also want to see simpler package inserts that explain in everyday English the risks of a drug, instead of listing them in "impenetrable" and "unreadable" small print.

In all, 82 per cent of the 1,000 doctors polled said they didn't trust the results of trials that had been paid for by the drug company whose product was being tested, and feared the data had been massaged to achieve a positive result. Around 67 per cent of the 2,000 members of the public who were also polled shared the same concerns.

The UK's Academy of Medical Sciences, which organised the survey, is calling for greater transparency, including clearer labelling and package inserts. But while the drug industry remains the only major sponsor of drug trials, the dangers of biased and manipulated research remain.

The academy's Prof Sir John Tooke, who oversaw the survey, said he was startled by its findings. "Information from research will need to be more accessible and understandable, as well as reliable and trustworthy in the future," he said.

The survey had been commissioned by the UK's chief medical officer of health, Prof Dame Sally Davies, in the wake of controversies over a range of drugs, including statins, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and Tamiflu.

---

Even doctors don't believe the drug companies. Around 80 per cent say medical research is skewed and can't be trusted, a new survey has found.

Less surprisingly, the public is also distrustful of medical research, and instead relies on the advice of family and friends. Most also want to see simpler package inserts that explain in everyday English the risks of a drug, instead of listing them in "impenetrable" and "unreadable" small print.

In all, 82 per cent of the 1,000 doctors polled said they didn't trust the results of trials that had been paid for by the drug company whose product was being tested, and feared the data had been massaged to achieve a positive result. Around 67 per cent of the 2,000 members of the public who were also polled shared the same concerns.

The UK's Academy of Medical Sciences, which organised the survey, is calling for greater transparency, including clearer labelling and package inserts. But while the drug industry remains the only major sponsor of drug trials, the dangers of biased and manipulated research remain.

The academy's Prof Sir John Tooke, who oversaw the survey, said he was startled by its findings. "Information from research will need to be more accessible and understandable, as well as reliable and trustworthy in the future," he said.

The survey had been commissioned by the UK's chief medical officer of health, Prof Dame Sally Davies, in the wake of controversies over a range of drugs, including statins, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and Tamiflu.

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Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

 Brooklyn has a home-grown sport that’s made it all the way to China and Australia, but hasn’t really become a movement here.

Best known as extreme calisthenics or street workout, neither of those terms does it justice. Think more like breakdancing in the air, somewhere between parkour and Cirque du Soleil.

Men and women use only their body weight and the makeshift uneven bars they find on public jungle gyms, turning their workouts into tests of balance, agility and stamina. Oh, you can do a plank? Try doing it hanging backwards from a bar.

The sport took off thanks to Instagram and YouTube, where stars like Brandon “Beastmode” Correa, Simone “Mingja” Ming, Stephen “Brooklyn Tank” Navaretta and Gina Scarangella have inspired people all over the globe from Europe to Brazil, Australia to China. It’s even been broadcast on EuroSport as “street workout.”

Starting next year, they’ll be organized under the banner of the Urban Fitness League, founded by Ben Sturner, president of the sports startup incubator Leverage Agency.

“I found out about UFL by walking down Union Square and watching this guy doing crazy pull-ups and muscle-ups,” Sturner recalls. “I asked his name; he said it was Abs, and he pulled up his shirt — he had a 16-pack.”

Sturner hired him as his trainer, and this July 4 he’s bringing the first major public exhibition of future UFL athletes to Coney Island. Hosted by Mario Lopez and Tyson Beckford, the exhibition at Ford Amphitheater will feature some of the biggest names in the sport from around the world performing freestyle routines and battles with a halftime show by DJ Envy, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and more. Tickets start at $10.

“We’re the antithesis of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest,” Sturner says, nodding to the usual main event in Coney Island for the Fourth. “In the U.S., there hasn’t been a big organized event like this — this is the Super Bowl of the sport.”

The event, like the sport, will be family oriented. Inclusivity is a cornerstone of the sport, since the only thing you need is your body and a kid-free playground, and athletes will include a performer without legs, a 16-year-old girl and a man who’s 74. “It’s a great thing for families to come to because it’ll be very motivational,” he says. “They’re going to want to come home and try this.”

Sturner is already lining up the starpower behind Urban Fitness League, which will be organized into teams led by sports icons like Red Sox star David Ortiz in Boston and NBA All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury in China. Marbury will also be at Coney Island this weekend, giving out 1,000 pairs of shoes and signing autographs for fans.

Sturner’s vision for the league is to be a “convergence of sport, style and music,” with all the trappings of other professional sports like a draft, and a reality series. But it all starts in Coney Island, so check out the action on the Fourth of July.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

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Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

Brooklyn has a home-grown sport that’s made it all the way to China and Australia, but hasn’t really become a movement here.

Best known as extreme calisthenics or street workout, neither of those terms does it justice. Think more like breakdancing in the air, somewhere between parkour and Cirque du Soleil.

Men and women use only their body weight and the makeshift uneven bars they find on public jungle gyms, turning their workouts into tests of balance, agility and stamina. Oh, you can do a plank? Try doing it hanging backwards from a bar.

The sport took off thanks to Instagram and YouTube, where stars like Brandon “Beastmode” Correa, Simone “Mingja” Ming, Stephen “Brooklyn Tank” Navaretta and Gina Scarangella have inspired people all over the globe from Europe to Brazil, Australia to China. It’s even been broadcast on EuroSport as “street workout.”

Starting next year, they’ll be organized under the banner of the Urban Fitness League, founded by Ben Sturner, president of the sports startup incubator Leverage Agency.

“I found out about UFL by walking down Union Square and watching this guy doing crazy pull-ups and muscle-ups,” Sturner recalls. “I asked his name; he said it was Abs, and he pulled up his shirt — he had a 16-pack.”

Sturner hired him as his trainer, and this July 4 he’s bringing the first major public exhibition of future UFL athletes to Coney Island. Hosted by Mario Lopez and Tyson Beckford, the exhibition at Ford Amphitheater will feature some of the biggest names in the sport from around the world performing freestyle routines and battles with a halftime show by DJ Envy, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and more. Tickets start at $10.

“We’re the antithesis of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest,” Sturner says, nodding to the usual main event in Coney Island for the Fourth. “In the U.S., there hasn’t been a big organized event like this — this is the Super Bowl of the sport.”

The event, like the sport, will be family oriented. Inclusivity is a cornerstone of the sport, since the only thing you need is your body and a kid-free playground, and athletes will include a performer without legs, a 16-year-old girl and a man who’s 74. “It’s a great thing for families to come to because it’ll be very motivational,” he says. “They’re going to want to come home and try this.”

Sturner is already lining up the starpower behind Urban Fitness League, which will be organized into teams led by sports icons like Red Sox star David Ortiz in Boston and NBA All-Star point guard Stephon Marbury in China. Marbury will also be at Coney Island this weekend, giving out 1,000 pairs of shoes and signing autographs for fans.

Sturner’s vision for the league is to be a “convergence of sport, style and music,” with all the trappings of other professional sports like a draft, and a reality series. But it all starts in Coney Island, so check out the action on the Fourth of July.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

Gut problems such as Crohn's disease could be helped, or even reversed, by eating lots of 'good' fats, such as from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

The fats change the bacteria in the gut—known as the microbiome—which reduces some of the distressing symptoms of Crohn's, such as swelling, cramping and diarrhea.

The fats reduce the types of bacteria that are linked to Crohn's by around 30 per cent, researchers from the Case Western Reserve University have discovered. Because the fats lower inflammation, they could have the same beneficial effects on other inflammatory bowel disorders too.

The good fats they tested are plant-based, rather than the saturated fats from animals, the researchers say.

"The finding is remarkable because it means that a Crohn's patient could have a beneficial effect on their gut bacteria and inflammation only by switching the type of fat in their diet. Patients would only need to replace a 'bad' fat with a 'good' fat, and eat normal amounts," said lead researcher Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios.

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4 Medicinal Lemonade Recipes - Manage Sugar Cravings, High Blood Pressure, Inflammation, And More

This guest post was written by Elisha of My Health Maven. She is deeply passionate about educating people and empowering them to lead healthier lives. 

Medicinal Lemonade

Many people enjoy the light refreshing flavor of lemonade, especially on a hot summer day. While it is a refreshing drink, traditional lemonade recipes are laden with sugar which negate any of the nutritious and healing benefits of this amazing fruit. 


Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Lemon also has numerous health benefits including:

• Stimulating bile production to relieve constipation, bloating and improve digestion
  
• Helping reduce cravings due to the pectin fiber content
  
• Lowering blood pressure
  
• Reducing inflammation
  
• Improving heart health
  

What’s in store bought lemonade?

Conventional store bought lemonade can contain a number of unhealthy ingredients. It’s always important to read labels to see what you’re really buying. Minute Maid Lemonade, for example, contains only 12% lemon juice, filtered water, high fructose corn syrup, lemon juice from concentrate, lemon pulp, natural flavors and sugar.
An 8 ounce serving of this drink contains 7 teaspoons of sugar. Excess sugar is linked to numerous health problems including, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. PubMed has over 400 studies on the negative effects of high fructose corn syrup, the second ingredient listed on the Minute Maid Lemonade label.
Crystal Light contains citric acid, potassium citrate, sodium citrate, aspartame*, magnesium oxide, maltodextrin, contains less than 2% of natural flavor, acesulfame potassium, soy lecithin, artificial color, Yellow 5, BHA (Preserves Freshness) *Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine and soy. Yellow 5 is known to cause allergic reactions such as asthma. Aspartame is linked to numerous side effects including headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, confusion, tremors and depression.

What about homemade lemonade?

Homemade lemonade is definitely a healthier option, especially if you use fresh organic fruit and a healthy sweetener option. While homemade lemonade is easy to make, most recipes contain large amounts of sugar. High amounts of sugar are added to cut the tartness of the lemon, but there are many healthier options. My favorite healthy sweetener is Lakanto, a zero calorie sweetener.

What is Lakanto?

Lakanto is made from Non-GMO erythritol and the supersweet extract of the luo han guo fruit, also known as monk fruit. Unlike sugar and the other sweeteners, Lakanto does not feed the harmful yeast (candida) and bacteria in your body. Lakanto is also safe for diabetics.
Lakanto all-natural sweetener, has:

• Zero calories
  
• Zero glycemic index
  
• Zero additives
  
• No influence on your blood sugar and insulin release
  
• A one-to-one ratio with sugar — so it’s easy to measure and use
  

There are two varieties of Lakanto available Golden and Classic.  Golden Lakanto has a flavor similar to brown sugar or molasses. Classic Lakanto has a flavor similar to table sugar. Lakanto is available online and in health food stores.

4 Healthy Lemonade Recipes

Homemade lemonade is easy to make and there are many wonderful fruits and herbs you can add to your lemonade to boost its nutritional profile and flavor. So enjoy the healthy benefits of lemons and try one of these great lemonade recipes.

Lemon Chia Fresca

Lemon Chia Fresca is a wonderfully refreshing drink. Per gram chia seeds contain 8x more Omega 3 than salmon, 6x more calcium than milk, 3x more iron than spinach, 15x more magnesium than broccoli, 2x more fiber than bran flakes, 6x more protein than kidney beans and  4x more phosphorus than whole milk.

Ingredients:

• 1/8 cup organic lemon juice
  
• 1/8 cup Lakanto Sweetener
  
• 1/8 cup organic chia seeds
  
• 5 cup filtered water
  

Directions:

1. Add all ingredients to a large pitcher. Mix well.
   
2. Leave on counter for 15 minutes and mix again.
   
3. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes or more.
   

Lavender Lemonade

Lavender has a calming effect on the body including anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antibacterial and antispasmodic effects as well.

Ingredients:

• 3 cup  water
  
• 1/2 cup Lakanto
  
• 3/4 cup organic lemon juice (about 3 large lemons)
  
• 1 tablespoon organic dried lavender flowers
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

Directions:

1. Bring 1 cup water and Lakanto to a boil. Remove from the heat; add lavender. Cover and let stand for 2-4 hours.
   
2. Strain, discarding lavender. Stir in lemon juice, vanilla and remaining water. Chill; serve over ice.
   

 

 

 

 

 

Orange Lemonade

Oranges are so common that we may take them for granted. Make no mistake they are a nutritional powerhouse. Oranges are rich in limonoids, a potent cancer fighter. They also help to prevent kidney stones. Oranges contain vitamin A, C, E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate, pantothenic acid and choline. They are also rich in calcium, phosphorous and magnesium.

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup Lakanto
  
• 1-1/4 cup hot water
  
• 1 tablespoon organic lemon peel
  
• 1 tablespoon organic orange peel
  
• 3/4 cup organic lemon juice (5 lemons)
  
• 3/4 cup organic orange juice (2-3 oranges)
  
• 3 cup cold water
  

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, combine Lakanto and 3/4 C. hot water; cook and stir over medium heat until Lakanto is dissolved. Cool slightly.
   
2. Stir in citrus peels and juices. Let stand, covered, 1 hour. Strain syrup; refrigerate, covered, until cold.
   
3. To serve, fill glasses or pitcher with an equal amount of fruit syrup and water. Add ice and serve.
   

Turmeric and Ginger Lemonade

Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant rich food.  PubMed has over 4,000 studies on this amazing superfood. Some of Its health benefits include diabetes support, mood support and pain relief.

Ingredients:

• 2 cup water
  
• ½ cup organic lemon juice
  
• ½ teaspoon organic turmeric powder
  
• ½ teaspoon organic ginger powder
  
• 1/8 teaspoon organic ground black pepper
  

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients in a pitcher.  
   
2. Add Lakanto, stevia or other sweeteners to taste.
   
3. Refrigerate.
   

Each of these homemade lemonades boasts a number of unique health benefits. Try your favorite one, or even better, try all of them!

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Does The Alkaline Diet Work?

Three people in New Mexico have been infected with plague this month, which is close to the number of plague cases that the state saw in all of 2016, according to health officials.
This week, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reported two cases of plague — one in a 52-year-old woman and one in a 62-year-old woman, both living in Santa Fe County, in the northern part of the state. Earlier in June, the state reported a case of plague in a 63-year-old man, also living in Santa Fe County. All three people were hospitalized, but all of them survived, NMDOH officials said.
In 2016, New Mexico reported four cases of plague over the entire year, and in 2015, the state also reported four plague cases.

Three people in New Mexico have been infected with plague this month, which is close to the number of plague cases that the state saw in all of 2016, according to health officials.
This week, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reported two cases of plague — one in a 52-year-old woman and one in a 62-year-old woman, both living in Santa Fe County, in the northern part of the state. Earlier in June, the state reported a case of plague in a 63-year-old man, also living in Santa Fe County. All three people were hospitalized, but all of them survived, NMDOH officials said.
In 2016, New Mexico reported four cases of plague over the entire year, and in 2015, the state also reported four plague cases.

Three people in New Mexico have been infected with plague this month, which is close to the number of plague cases that the state saw in all of 2016, according to health officials.
This week, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reported two cases of plague — one in a 52-year-old woman and one in a 62-year-old woman, both living in Santa Fe County, in the northern part of the state. Earlier in June, the state reported a case of plague in a 63-year-old man, also living in Santa Fe County. All three people were hospitalized, but all of them survived, NMDOH officials said.
In 2016, New Mexico reported four cases of plague over the entire year, and in 2015, the state also reported four plague cases.

When I was 5 years old, I walked into class and told everyone that Santa Claus wasn’t real. Yep, I’ve been a buzzkill from the start. I remember some kids getting upset, some in outright denial, and some were also onto the same thing.
Now as an adult, I sometimes feel like I’m doing the same thing to people when I tell them that “the alkaline diet isn’t real”. Some people reading this will get upset if they’ve been a proponent of the alkaline diet for a while, some will be in denial, and some will hopefully research the facts and come to the same conclusion. Santa Claus and the alkaline diet both bring us joy, but they simply aren’t real.

What Is The Alkaline Diet?

The Alkaline Diet places food along a sliding scale, between alkaline (pH=14) and acidic (pH = 0), and recommends that people eat more alkaline foods in order to balance their pH and bring it closer to the body’s ideal pH level (7.35-7.45). The diet promises that eating alkaline foods will make people feel more energized, lose weight, get clear skin and more.
Foods that fall into the “alkaline” category are most vegetables, fruits and a handful of nuts, seeds, legumes and grains. Foods that fall into the “acidic” category are meat, dairy, most grains, sweets and some good fats like butter and cashews.
People on the alkaline diet are encouraged to check their pH by peeing on pH test strips. If it is higher than 7, they are led to believe they are in an alkaline state. (Spoiler alert: this just means their urine is alkaline, not their entire body!)

Why The Alkaline Diet Works

Here’s the reason in short: if you tell people to eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruit, and avoid all processed food and sugar, people will feel healthier. This is not because they are eating alkalizing foods, it’s because they are fresh, whole foods that are high in nutrients, fibre, low in calories and added sugar.
Is it any wonder that people love this diet, rave about dropping pounds and feeling amazing?

…But Here’s Why It Doesn’t Make Sense

1. THE PH VALUE VARIES THROUGHOUT YOUR BODY

Did you know that your stomach has a pH value of 2-3.5? That’s because you need an acidic environment to digest food. The pH value of your saliva also ranges between 5.6-7.9.
Urine has a pH value that fluctuates between 4-9, depending on the health of your kidneys and if more acids need to be excreted. So yes, you can manipulate the pH of your urine with food but this is not a reflection of overall health. It is simply an indicator that you ate foods with a lower or higher acidic content.
And lastly, the pH value of your blood is always between 7.35-7.45. No matter what you eat, this will always remain the same.

2. FOOD CANNOT AFFECT THE PH OF YOUR BLOOD

Our internal organs work really hard to maintain homeostasis at all times and keep blood in the 7.35-7.45 pH value range. If your pH ever fell below or above this, you would be dead. Not only can food not affect the pH of your blood, the pH of food doesn’t matter in the first place. It all ends up in the same place.
Allow me to explain: all food must pass through the stomach which has a pH value of 2-3.5, and that it must then be neutralized by digestive juices in the small intestine. This means all digested food will eventually end up with the exact same pH by the time it reaches your large intestine.

3. “ACIDIC” FOODS ARE GOOD FOR YOU

If I were to follow the alkaline diet, I would be avoiding excellent sources of nutrition. For example, walnuts, cashews and sweet fruits. There is nothing wrong with these foods; as always, it’s simply about ensuring that plant-based foods and vegetables make up the majority of the diet. No matter if you’re vegan, vegetarian, paleo, macrobiotic…just eat lots of vegetables.
So there you have it, in an (acidic) nutshell! If you’ve been following this diet, allow yourself to add back some healthy ‘acidic’ foods and continue to eat plenty of vegetables. However, do not be under the misconception that you are “alkalizing” your body!

http://theheartysoul.com/alkaline-diet/

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However, the findings of five new studies now strongly disagree with this prior work. "I was outraged that Nature, a journal I highly respect, would publish such a travesty," said James Vaupel, a demographer at the Max Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging in Denmark. Vaupel co-founded the International Database on Longevity, one of the databases analyzed in the previous study.

However, the findings of five new studies now strongly disagree with this prior work. "I was outraged that Nature, a journal I highly respect, would publish such a travesty," said James Vaupel, a demographer at the Max Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging in Denmark. Vaupel co-founded the International Database on Longevity, one of the databases analyzed in the previous study.
Vaupel argued that the prior work relied on an outdated version of the Gerontology Research Group's database "that lacked data for many of the years they studied. Furthermore, they analyzed maximum age at death in a year, rather than the more appropriate maximum life span attained in a year — in many years, the world’s world's oldest living person was older than the oldest person who died that year," he told Live Science. "If appropriate data from the Gerontology Research Group are used, then ... there is no sign of a looming limit to human life spans."
Siegfried Hekimi, a geneticist at McGill University in Montreal, and his colleagues similarly found no evidence that maximum human life span has stopped increasing. By analyzing trends in the life spans of the longest-living individuals from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan for each year since 1968, they found that both maximum and average life spans may continue to increase far into the foreseeable future.
Maarten Rozing, a gerontology researcher at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and his colleagues said the authors of the previous study committed errors in their statistical analyses. "We think that the claim that human life span has reached its limit should be regarded with caution," Rozing told Live Science. "Overall taken, there are very strong arguments to believe that our life span is still increasing, and, as long as our living conditions keep on improving, there is no reason to believe that this will come to a halt in the future." [7 Ways the Mind and Body Change with Age]
Similarly, in an analysis of Japanese women, who make up a growing number of centenarians, or people over 100, Joop de Beer, a demographer at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, and his colleagues suggested that the maximum human life span may increase to 125 years by 2070. "There is no reason to expect that a limit to human life span is in sight," de Beer told Live Science. He added that two kind of criticisms can be made about the prior work: "They did not apply their method correctly," and "they did not apply the correct method."
But the researchers did caution that, although the prior work might not have presented a strong argument for a limit to maximum human life span, it does not mean such a limit does not exist. "The evidence is mixed, but at present, the balance of the evidence suggests that if there is a limit, it is above 120, perhaps much above, and perhaps there is not a limit at all," Vaupel said. "Whether or not there is a looming limit is an important scientific question."
"Average human life span is clearly increasing continuously," Hekimi said. "The failure to identify a current limit to maximum human life span suggests that the increase in average life span might continue for quite a while."
Vijg defended his team's October study. "We agree with none of the arguments put forward — sometimes because they were based on a misunderstanding, sometimes because they were plain wrong, and sometimes because we disagreed with the arguments themselves," he told Live Science.
Jay Olshansky, a biodemographer at the University of Illinois at Chicago who did not take part in either the previous work or the new studies, found the rebuttals "a bit amusing." He said the key problem with all of these arguments about maximum human life span is that, of the 108 billion or so humans ever born, "only a handful have ever lived to extreme old age beyond age 110, and it's only in recent times that the number of centenarians has risen."
"The rebuttals are mostly focused on slightly different ways of looking at the same limited data," Olshansky said. "Basically, if you tilt your head a little to the left or right and look at the same old age mortality or survival statistics for all humans, you might come to slightly different conclusions."
Future research should analyze the statistics of human aging as well as the human genome, which "will tell us whether people that have particularly long lives have a particular genetic makeup and whether this makeup changes with changes in the average life span," Hekimi said. "Carrying out such studies and finding out will take a while."
The five new studies are detailed online June 28 in the journal Nature.
Original article on Live Science.

However, the findings of five new studies now strongly disagree with this prior work. "I was outraged that Nature, a journal I highly respect, would publish such a travesty," said James Vaupel, a demographer at the Max Planck Odense Center on the Biodemography of Aging in Denmark. Vaupel co-founded the International Database on Longevity, one of the databases analyzed in the previous study.
Vaupel argued that the prior work relied on an outdated version of the Gerontology Research Group's database "that lacked data for many of the years they studied. Furthermore, they analyzed maximum age at death in a year, rather than the more appropriate maximum life span attained in a year — in many years, the world’s world's oldest living person was older than the oldest person who died that year," he told Live Science. "If appropriate data from the Gerontology Research Group are used, then ... there is no sign of a looming limit to human life spans."
Siegfried Hekimi, a geneticist at McGill University in Montreal, and his colleagues similarly found no evidence that maximum human life span has stopped increasing. By analyzing trends in the life spans of the longest-living individuals from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan for each year since 1968, they found that both maximum and average life spans may continue to increase far into the foreseeable future.
Maarten Rozing, a gerontology researcher at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, and his colleagues said the authors of the previous study committed errors in their statistical analyses. "We think that the claim that human life span has reached its limit should be regarded with caution," Rozing told Live Science. "Overall taken, there are very strong arguments to believe that our life span is still increasing, and, as long as our living conditions keep on improving, there is no reason to believe that this will come to a halt in the future." [7 Ways the Mind and Body Change with Age]
Similarly, in an analysis of Japanese women, who make up a growing number of centenarians, or people over 100, Joop de Beer, a demographer at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, and his colleagues suggested that the maximum human life span may increase to 125 years by 2070. "There is no reason to expect that a limit to human life span is in sight," de Beer told Live Science. He added that two kind of criticisms can be made about the prior work: "They did not apply their method correctly," and "they did not apply the correct method."
But the researchers did caution that, although the prior work might not have presented a strong argument for a limit to maximum human life span, it does not mean such a limit does not exist. "The evidence is mixed, but at present, the balance of the evidence suggests that if there is a limit, it is above 120, perhaps much above, and perhaps there is not a limit at all," Vaupel said. "Whether or not there is a looming limit is an important scientific question."
"Average human life span is clearly increasing continuously," Hekimi said. "The failure to identify a current limit to maximum human life span suggests that the increase in average life span might continue for quite a while."
Vijg defended his team's October study. "We agree with none of the arguments put forward — sometimes because they were based on a misunderstanding, sometimes because they were plain wrong, and sometimes because we disagreed with the arguments themselves," he told Live Science.
Jay Olshansky, a biodemographer at the University of Illinois at Chicago who did not take part in either the previous work or the new studies, found the rebuttals "a bit amusing." He said the key problem with all of these arguments about maximum human life span is that, of the 108 billion or so humans ever born, "only a handful have ever lived to extreme old age beyond age 110, and it's only in recent times that the number of centenarians has risen."
"The rebuttals are mostly focused on slightly different ways of looking at the same limited data," Olshansky said. "Basically, if you tilt your head a little to the left or right and look at the same old age mortality or survival statistics for all humans, you might come to slightly different conclusions."
Future research should analyze the statistics of human aging as well as the human genome, which "will tell us whether people that have particularly long lives have a particular genetic makeup and whether this makeup changes with changes in the average life span," Hekimi said. "Carrying out such studies and finding out will take a while."
The five new studies are detailed online June 28 in the journal Nature.
Original article on Live Science.

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Important Considerations when supplementing with Vitamin D!

Unless you have been living on a desert island – in which case you may not be concerned about vitamin D deficiency anyway – you will have seen that vitamin D has hit the headlines again recently.

The research appears conclusive that there is an association between low levels of Vitamin D and a wide range of chronic health conditions including diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, autoimmunity, cancer, osteoporosis to name but a few of the ever increasing list of diseases.

In practice am a great advocate of vitamin D (actually a hormone) but I have one major proviso. Rarely in practice do I recommend the use of one nutrient in isolation as it always seems to me to be a rather unnatural approach. The fat-soluble hormones, vitamin A, D, E and K are prime examples of why this is often the case. Each of these nutrients have their own unique properties but they also as importantly work synergistically. There are numerous examples of this but here are a few that influence bone density – a much-touted benefit of increased vitamin D levels;

Vitamin D stimulates the production of vitamin K2 dependent proteins which increases the demand for K2. The more K2 (menaquinone) dependent proteins you make, the more calcium you can transport from the arteries (where you don’t want it), and into the bones and teeth where this important mineral is needed. Increasing your intake of vitamin D increases the requirement for vitamin K2.

Vitamin A (as retinol) works in partnership with vitamin D along to improve the production of osteocalcin (BGLAP) by the osteoblasts in bone and dentin, this is a marker that bone-building processes are taking place. Taking vitamin A alone can limit the production of another protein called matrix GLA protein (MGP) which escorts calcium out of the soft tissues such as arteries and veins where it could prove harmful. When vitamin K2 levels are low MGP production is inhibited even further.

Finally, vitamin E which is regarded as one of the most important antioxidants is also shown to communicate with the same cell receptors as vitamin A and D.

To summarise I usually recommend a supplement that combines all the fat-soluble vitamins in the correct ratios.

https://www.amritanutrition.co.uk/blog/important-considerations-when-supplementing-with-vitamin-d/

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5 Health Benefits Of Dandelions: It's More Than Just A Weed

We curse the gods (and our neighbors) every time a taraxacum officinale pops up in our lawn. Viewed in other parts of the world as medicinal, the plant commonly known as dandelion is nothing but a pesky weed to most Americans.
But, if you put aside your prejudice, you may be surprised by the lowly dandelion's benefits. Dandelion root is often found in teas or consumed whole to stimulate appetite and modulate gallbladder function. The leaves, always a great addition to salad, act as a diuretic that helps your body get rid of excess fluid. And the dandelion flower is believed to be able to keep LDL (bad cholesterol) levels within normal range.
Whether you add the leaves to your salad, grind up the roots, or transform its flowers into wine, you'll do well by making this pervasive and, yes, invasive, plant a part of your new, improved diet.

A Pharmacy in Your Front Yard

Although traditional Chinese medicine has been using dandelions as herbal medicine for thousands of years, there are only a handful of scientific studies about its medicinal value—and the most of those have be done with animals, not people. But we do know that this plant is a rich source of vitamins A and C, as well as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.[1] We also know it can be used in a number of specific ways.

Natural Diuretic

Bodybuilders and weight-class athletes looking to drop the last few pounds of water weight sometimes use dandelion juice to help them get ready for a show or competition. The dandelion plant acts as a diuretic, stimulating urination to quickly release excess water and sodium.[2,3]
Yes, you get shredded. But you can also deplete your body of important minerals and electrolytes—and cause dehydration, which inhibits performance. That's why I don't recommend using dandelion to keep your overall water weight down. It's okay to use it prior to a competition, just make sure it doesn't become part of your long-term weight strategy.

Appetite Stimulant

Hardgainers, listen up! If you struggle to finish off your meals (I honestly have no idea what that feels like), consider putting a few dandelion leaves on your next salad or having a cup of dandelion tea with your meal. The leaves have been said to stimulate appetite, improve digestion, and reduce flatulence. Don't expect to gain weight from just eating a few leaves, but you may find yourself having an easier time digesting food.

Gallbladder Health

Preliminary research shows dandelion may increase bile production. Dandelion leaf extract has been shown to increase bile secretion in rats by 40 percent.[4] More research is needed to see if this same benefit would extend to humans, but it's worth noting.

Inflammation Relief

Dandelions' anti-inflammatory qualities may help relieve inflammation associated with exercise. Again, this research was done with animals.[5] But the plant does contain flavonoids, and flavonoids can reduce inflammation. So it may well be that dandelions reduce problems associated with excessive post-exercise inflammation.[6]

Cholesterol Control

Early animal studies also suggest that, because of the antioxidant properties of the vitamin C it contains, dandelions may help control total cholesterol and triglycerides levels, while raising HDL (good) cholesterol levels.[6]

Should You Be "Wary of the Weed"?

Assuming you're healthy and don't have any underlying medical conditions, you can safely use dandelion-based products every day. If you're allergic to ragweed, marigold, daisies, or iodine, avoid dandelion to prevent potential allergic reactions.
If you're currently taking other medications, wait 2-3 hours before consuming anything with dandelion in it, since the plant's diuretic effect could cause certain medications to leave your body too quickly.
Dandelion-based products are available as powders, capsules, liquid extracts, and teas. Find the product that meets your needs. Just be sure to check the ingredients, as you would with anything you put in your body.

References

1. Escudero, N. L., De Arellano, M. L., Fernández, S., Albarracín, G., & Mucciarelli, S. (2003). Taraxacum officinale as a food source. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 58(3), 1-10.
2. Clare, B. A., Conroy, R. S., & Spelman, K. (2009). The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(8), 929-934.
3. Hook, I., McGee, A., & Henman, M. (1993). Evaluation of dandelion for diuretic activity and variation in potassium content. International Journal of Pharmacognosy, 31(1), 29-34.
4. Chabrot, E., & Charonnat, R. (1935). Therpeutic agents in bile secretion. Annals of Medicine, 9, 1463-67.
5. Jeon, H. J., Kang, H. J., Jung, H. J., Kang, Y. S., Lim, C. J., Kim, Y. M., & Park, E. H. (2008). Anti-inflammatory activity of Taraxacum officinale. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 115(1), 82-88.
6. Choi, U. K., Lee, O. H., Yim, J. H., Cho, C. W., Rhee, Y. K., Lim, S. I., & Kim, Y. C. (2010). Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root and leaf on cholesterol-fed rabbits. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 11(1), 67-78.

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