May 15th, 2011 | 
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On May 26, 2009, Robert Lustig gave a lecture called “Sugar: The Bitter Truth,” which was posted on YouTube the following July. Since then, it has been viewed well over 800,000 times, gaining new viewers at a rate of about 50,000 per month, fairly remarkable numbers for a 90-minute discussion of the nuances of fructose biochemistry and human physiology.
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Energy Drinks Pose Serious Health Risks for Young People
Emma Hitt, PhD
February 14, 2011 — A lack of research and regulation associated with energy drinks, combined with reports of toxicity and high consumption, may result in potentially dangerous health consequences in children, adolescents, and young adults, according to a review of scientific literature and Internet sources.
Sara M. Seifert, BS, and colleagues from the Department of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine in Florida, reported their findings in a report published online February 14 and in the March print issue of Pediatrics.
According to the review, self-report surveys indicate that energy drinks are regularly consumed by 30% to 50% of children, adolescents, and young adults. The current trial questions the use of energy drinks in these young populations, as they provide no therapeutic benefit and are associated with risks for serious adverse health effects.
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Something for the vegetarians. As most of you know the vegetarian path isn’t my preferred way to go, however those of you who have made that choice need options too, so I want to be able add things in that don’t alienate you all. I hope you enjoy this one!!
Fiber-packed lentils lend this meatless burger nutritional pizzazz. They also hold their own next to meatier varieties in taste. Keep in mind lentils form a complete protein when paired with a whole grain (in this case, brown rice) but as you’ll see in the nutritional facts at the end of this blog there is not enough in each burger for this to be the only protein source in your meal.
Serves: 6
Hands-on time: 45 minutes max
Total time: 65 minutes
Posted in Recipe of the Month
Childhood obesity is running rampant in our country, and increasing by the month. We, as the adults in this community we call America, need to band together to fight this monster. Of course the only way to combat something like this is the acquisition of knowledge. The following study can REALLY help us on the way to protecting our children. Read on…..Let me know what you think.
Early Introduction of Solid Foods Linked to Risk for Early Childhood Obesity
Laurie Barclay, MD
February 7, 2011 — Early introduction of solid foods is linked to a risk for early childhood obesity, according to the results of a prospective prebirth cohort study reported online February 7 in Pediatrics.
"Parental feeding practices during early infancy, such as the timing of solid food introduction, may be 1 key modifiable determinant of childhood obesity," write Susanna Y. Huh, MD, MPH, from the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Children’s Hospital Boston in Boston, Massachusetts, and colleagues. "Data suggest that the introduction of solid foods earlier than 4 months of age is associated with increased body fat or weight in childhood or with greater weight gain during infancy, which itself predicts later adiposity. Other studies have found no association between the timing of solid food introduction and body fat or an association between delayed introduction of solid foods after 6 months and greater adiposity."
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
This may seem a little redundant, but the horse ain’t dead yet, soooo here it is….
Michael O’Riordan
February 28, 2011 (London, United Kingdom) — There is yet another reason to stay away from soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices, and sugar-loaded sports drinks: a new study has shown that there is a direct association between fructose and glucose intake and increases in blood pressure and that these sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with significant increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures [1].
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Here’s a good one from our friends at ACE fitness. Check it out…..and implement!
For those times when you just can’t make it to the gym, resistance tubing offers an inexpensive and portable way to get a full-body strength-training workout at home or on the road.
As with all exercise, it is important to warm up for five to 10 minutes and gently stretch the muscles you will be working. For beginners, it is best to do one set of 12 to 15 repetitions of each exercise. Intermediate exercisers (those that have been lifting weights for up to three months) can perform one to two sets of each exercise. More advanced strength trainers (those who have been lifting weights or using tubing for more than three months) should try to complete two or three sets of 12 to 15 repetitions. Stretch each muscle group after each set and at the end of the entire workout to improve flexibility.
Perform the following exercises for a quick full-body workout:
Posted in Work Out of the Week
I have the privilege of sharing with you another great testimonial from a recent client. My thanks to you Amy, for the kind words, the heart felt emotion, the hard work and dedication to your health. It really paid off and you deserve all the results you were able to achieve.
See her story here (or open the rest of this post) You can read more about Amy at her BlogSpot here. Show her some love!
Posted in New and Exciting Things
Higher Exercise Capacity Equals Improved Survival in Older Adults
Michael O’Riordan
August 17, 2010 (Washington, DC) — Exercise capacity is inversely associated with all-cause mortality in older men, according to the results of a new study [1]. The survival benefit was observed among individuals able to participate in moderate daily exercise, such as brisk walking, report investigators.
"Most health benefits are evident at fitness levels of greater than 5 [metabolic equivalents] METs," lead investigator Dr Peter Kokkinos (Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC) told heartwire. "Now, those benefits are graded, so that the more exercise you do, the greater the survival benefit."
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
Staying Active Lessens Age-Related Weight Gain, Especially in Women
December 14, 2010 (Chicago, Illinois) — Staying active in young adulthood appears to help individuals lessen the fattening effects of time, with results of a new study showing that physically active young adults do not put on as much weight as their less active counterparts [1]. While some weight gain appears inevitable–even the most active individuals had increases in weight and waist circumference over a 20-year period–maintaining high activity levels lessens the weight gain as people move into middle age, report investigators.
"Preventing weight gain can be something that is appropriate for people who are overweight, normal weight, or obese, so it crosses weight classes," lead investigator Dr Arlene Hankinson (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL) told heartwire . "And like many prevention strategies, it’s usually easier to prevent something from happening than to treat it after you’ve already developed the problem."
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
It looks like the the medical community is finally starting to catch up to us forward thinkers. Let’s start to act, not re-act, everyone. If everything is treated symptomatically rather than with proactive measures we should just call it sick care, not health care. You’ll see below that they’re finally getting it.
From Medscape Medical News
New Guidelines for Exercise in Type 2 Diabetes
Fran Lowry
December 10, 2010 — New guidelines issued jointly by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Sports Medicine stress the crucial role that physical activity plays in the management of type 2 diabetes.
They replace recommendations made in the American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand "Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes" that were issued in 2000.
Developed by a panel of 9 experts, the new guidelines are published concurrently in the December issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and Diabetes Care.
"High-quality studies establishing the importance of exercise and fitness in diabetes were lacking until recently," the expert panel writes, "but it is now well established that participation in regular physical activity improves blood glucose control and can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes mellitus, along with positively affecting lipids, blood pressure, cardiovascular events, mortality, and quality of life."
Most of the benefits of exercise are realized through acute and long-term improvements in insulin action, accomplished with both aerobic and resistance training, the experts write.
For people who already have type 2 diabetes, the new guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise spread out at least 3 days during the week, with no more than 2 consecutive days between bouts of aerobic activity. These recommendations take into account the needs of those whose diabetes may limit vigorous exercise.
"Most people with type 2 diabetes do not have sufficient aerobic capacity to undertake sustained vigorous activity for that weekly duration, and they may have orthopaedic or other health limitations," said writing chair Sheri R. Colberg, PhD, professor of exercise science at Old Dominion University and adjunct professor of internal medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, in a statement. "For this reason, the ADA [American Diabetes Association] and ACSM [American College of Sports Medicine] call for a regimen of moderate-to-vigorous activity and make no recommendation for a lesser amount of vigorous activity."
The panel specifically recommends that such moderate exercise correspond to approximately 40% to 60% of maximal aerobic capacity and states that for most people with type 2 diabetes, brisk walking is a moderate-intensity exercise.
The expert panel also recommends that resistance training be part of the exercise regimen. This should be done at least twice a week — ideally 3 times a week — on nonconsecutive days. The panel also recommends that people just beginning to do weight training be supervised by a qualified exercise trainer "to ensure optimal benefits to blood glucose control, blood pressure, lipids, and cardiovascular risk and to minimize injury risk."
Regular use of a pedometer is also encouraged. In a meta-analysis of 8 randomized controlled trials and 18 observational studies, people who used pedometers increased their physical activity by 27% over baseline. Having a goal, such as taking 10,000 steps per day, was an important predictor of increased physical activity, according to the expert panel.
Finally, the new guidelines emphasise that exercise must be done regularly to have continued benefits and should include regular training of varying types.
Physicians should prescribe exercise, Dr. Colberg said in a statement. "Many physicians appear unwilling or cautious about prescribing exercise to individuals with type 2 diabetes for a variety of reasons, such as excessive body weight or the presence of health-related complications. However, the majority of people with type 2 diabetes can exercise safely, as long as certain precautions are taken. The presence of diabetes complications should not be used as an excuse to avoid participation in physical activity."
Dr. Colberg and the other authors have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;2282-2303.
Posted in Studies and Interesting Findings
