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Archive for October, 2007

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Weight Loss Frauds Scam Millions

Jason by
Jason

October 31, 2007
posted to General and Diets in Review.

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Have you ever wondered how all those late night infomercials that reinvent new ways of selling the same thing keep getting airtime? They wouldn’t if people weren’t buying what they were selling. Now the data is here to prove it.

The Federal Trade Commission released a survey that proved P.T. Barnum right. But maybe it was more than one fool born every day. More than 30 million adults in the U.S. - about 13 percent of the adult population - were victims of fraud during the year of the study.

Hucksters fooled the most people with, you guessed it, fraudulent weight loss products. An estimated 4.8 million U.S. consumers were victimized.

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Calorie Restriction Best for Weight Loss

Jason by
Jason

October 31, 2007
posted to Diet News.

There are so many roads that lead to the same weight loss destination. But according to a review of dozens of clinical trials, the best path to shedding pounds is the old-fashioned way of calorie-cutting and exercising.

In an analysis of 80 weight-loss studies, researchers found that approaches focusing on trimming calories - with or without exercise - were most effective at keeping the pounds off over four years.

On average, participants shed 11 to 19 pounds, then typically gained a little bit back over time.

The study, reported in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, stated that diet and exercise can work over the long haul if people stick to it and have realistic expectations. But, according to the researchers, people need to be prepared for weight loss to taper off after six months.

“Although there is some regain of weight, weight loss can be maintained,” write the researchers, led by Marion J. Franz, a registered dietitian and health consultant with Minneapolis-based Nutrition Concepts by Franz Inc.

Weight-loss medication also seemed to help somewhat in keeping the weight off over the longer-term.

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Boiled Peanuts a Healthy Snack

Jason by
Jason

October 31, 2007
posted to Diet News and Diet Tips.

Residence of the South are very familiar with the boiled peanut. They’ll be pleasantly surprised to find out that it looks like it may be a healthier snack than raw peanuts.

Unsurprisingly, the news comes from food scientists from Alabama A&M University, where they compared raw and boiled peanuts. In the study they examined an extract from each and found that the boiled ones were higher in antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to prevent cancer, heart disease, and other chronic conditions.

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Top 7 Protein Sources

Jason by
Jason

October 30, 2007
posted to Diet Tips.

Proteins, which are made up of amino acids, are the building blocks for your body. Protein helps children grow and helps build and maintain muscle mass in adults.

If you want to build muscle, a substantial level of protein intake is important. Ladies often wrongly worry that they will bulk up and lose their feminine look. Not true. Plus, avoiding weight training makes losing unwanted pounds more difficult, because even moderate toning will up your metabolism 24 hours a day (muscle burns more calories).

With the help of eDiets.com’s Chief Fitness Pro Raphael Calzadilla, I’ve put together seven high protein sources that will ensure you get your daily dose in a healthy manner:

1. Egg whites - They may not be as tasty as the whole egg, but they are an efficient protein source.

“Egg whites are an excellent source of protein, because the protein is instantly absorbed by your body,” says Raphael. “They also have no fat and no cholesterol.”

2. Whole egg - For years, fear of the cholesterol in egg yolk has made people shy away from this wonderful source of protein. But in moderation, you have nothing to worry about.

Even though the yolk is high in cholesterol, it is also higher in protein than the egg whites. One of the best sources of protein is the yolk in the egg. A Harvard study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association showed eating an egg a day did not raise the risk of heart disease.

3. Steak - Beef… it’s what’s for dinner… and it’s what’s for muscles if you want more of them. And not just protein, but creatine and iron and iron as well.

4. Chicken - Prefer something a little leaner? Chicken is a mainstay in bodybuilder’s diets. Lean cuts of chicken breast have 28 grams of protein, no carbs and only 2 grams of fat.

5. Tuna - Have you ever seen those dedicated gym rats eating tuna right out of the can? It may seem a little crude, but tuna is a hit for muscle gain, and the convenience outweighs the “lack of decorum.” Higher consumption of fish is associated with a reduced risk of some types of stroke among middle-aged women, according to an article in the January 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

6. Cottage cheese - Guys, don’t let your egos get in the way. This may be a staple of women’s diets, but there’s nothing wimpy about eating this high-protein food.

“Protein in cottage cheese is of extremely high quality and contains all of the essential amino acids (building blocks of protein) in the amounts proportional to the body’s needs,” says Raphael.

7. Salmon - If you get sick of tuna, but still want to get your protein from the sea, salmon is a great alternative. Postpone your appointment with St. Peter at the Pearly Gates by consuming this omega-3-rich fish.

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Going Organic

Jimmy C by
Jimmy C

October 26, 2007
posted to General.

The NY Times health blog has a great article on 5 Easy ways of going organic.

“The key is to be strategic in your organic purchases. Opting for organic produce, for instance, doesn’t necessarily have a big impact, depending on what you eat.”

Check out the full post over at the Ny Times Health Blog

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Three Cheers to New Study on Alcohol

Jason by
Jason

October 26, 2007
posted to Diet News.

There’s apparently more good news for those of us who like to imbibe. We already knew that red wine has been shown to improve your heart health. Now a drink or two a day may also help you breathe easier. Lung function seems to improve - even for smokers - for people who partake in moderate regular drinking.

“This is the biggest study that’s ever looked at the possible protective effect of alcohol involving the lung,” said study author Dr. Stanton T. Siu, chief of pulmonary medicine at Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Oakland, California.

Dr Sui goes on to say that he found that “if you drank less than two glasses of alcohol that you had much less likelihood of developing obstructive airways disease, which includes asthma and emphysema.”

He goes on to reveal some surprising news.

“You do seem to get some benefit if you drink three to five drinks per day,” added Siu.

“But it wasn’t as good if you drank just a little. And if you drank six or more, it actually had a bad effect. It made your lung function worse.”

Siu said light drinking’s protective effect roughly translates to a 20 percent reduction in the risk for developing lung disease.

“There was a little more of a positive impact for women,” Siu said, “but not a huge difference. And, in fact, when we looked at three to five drinks per day, then the men did better than the women.”

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Cereal Manufacturers, Rejoice!

Jason by
Jason

October 24, 2007
posted to General and Diet News.

Breakfast is often touted as the most important meal of the day. A study, 20 years in the making, gives you another reason not to skip it - that is, if you eat whole grain cereal. The study has concluded that whole grain cereals may significantly reduce a person’s risk of heart failure.

The men in the study who ate a bowl of whole grain cereal daily had a 28 percent lower risk of developing heart failure.

“Eating half a cup to a cup of whole grain breakfast cereal may help lower your blood pressure. It may help lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease,” said Dr. Luc Djousse of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston.

“This study adds another piece to the puzzle. It may also lower your risk of heart failure,” Djousse, whose study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

The researchers studied the breakfast habits of more than 21,000 male doctors with an average age of 53.7 years for nearly 20 years. Over the course of the study, 1,018 of the men had heart failure. Most new cases were in the men who ate no whole grain cereals.

And those who ate at least one bowl a day of whole grain cereal had the lowest incidence of heart failure.

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Sunburn Protection From an Unlikely Source

Jason by
Jason

October 23, 2007
posted to General.

Broccoli has many health benefits. Protecting you from the sun may be the last thing that comes to mind. But researchers in the U.S. are finding an extract from newly sprouted broccoli helps fend off damage from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

So, eating and wearing broccoli are beneficial.

The extract, known as sulforaphane, reduced skin redness and damage by more than one-third compared with untreated skin, they said.

“This is a first demonstration that a human tissue can be protected directly against a known human carcinogen,” said Dr. Paul Talalay of Johns Hopkins University, whose study appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“This is not a sunscreen,” Talalay said. The extract helped fortify skin cells to fight the effects of UV radiation as opposed to blocking the rays.

At the highest doses, the extract reduced redness and swelling by an average of 37 percent. The effect varied considerably with volunteers, ranging from 8 to 78 percent protection, due to genetic differences.

Skin cancer - the most common cancer in the U.S. - affecting more than 1 million Americans every year, according to the National Cancer Institute. It kills more than 10,000 people each year, which is about four percent of all cancer deaths.

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School Health Improving, But More To Do

Jason by
Jason

October 22, 2007
posted to Diet News.

A new report issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that U.S. schools are getting better about promoting healthy eating. But improvements are still needed.

“Since the release of the previous SHPPS (School Health Policies and Programs Study) in 2000, America’s schools have made significant progress in removing junk food, offering more physical activity opportunities, and establishing policies that prohibit tobacco use,” CDC Director Dr. Julie L. Gerberding said.

But speaking for those of us who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, we had vending machines, and I know our school lunches weren’t all that nutritious. The only difference I can see is we were more active. We had recess and gym class. And then when we got home (after homework), we played in the yard.

It’s great to improve the food, but it seems that the sedentary lives kids are leading these days is the most troubling thing of all. While the report says the number of schools prohibiting junk food in vending machines has risen from eight percent to 32 percent since 2000, only four percent of elementary schools, eight percent of middle schools and two percent of high schools provided daily physical education for the entire year.

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Exercise Improves Balance in Elderly

Jason by
Jason

October 22, 2007
posted to General.

“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”

Maybe grandma wouldn’t have to utter these words if she made sure she got a little exercise. According to new research, exercise may help the elderly stay steady on their feet, which could save them from falls that result in injury. This is especially important for those really advanced in age, because how often have you heard of an older person breaking a hip and passing away because of complications in surgery?

In an analysis of 34 clinical trials, researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland found that supervised exercise regimens generally helped improve balance and coordination. Various forms of exercise seemed effective, but strength training and the exercises targeting balance, coordination and walking ability showed the strongest effects.

The participants in the studies were over 75 years on average.

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