Early this month, the Department of Health and Human Services released an update to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The recommended amount of physical activity needed to maintain good health really hasn't changed. Children should get 60 minutes of physical activity a day and most of it should be moderate to vigorous aerobic activity (i.e., increased heart rate, hard to carry on a conversation) and they need muscle strengthening exercises, too. Little children, and their caregivers, should stay active throughout the day. That is subjective, but it means less screen time!
The amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity and strength training that adults need is still 150 to 300 minutes of aerobic activity a week, less if it's vigorous (like running at a 10 m/m pace or faster), and twice a week weight training. The Guidelines say that this amount of physical activity is beneficial, but to really improve health and prevent disease MORE is necessary. That goes for strength training (e.g., lift weights), too. The least amount Americans need to do is twice a week for 20 minutes. Older adults, say 50+ should consider weight training imperative, as it will slow age related muscle loss (i.e., sarcopenia). Read more from the DHHS here. And for an announcement on the changes from NPR, read here.
So what has me all riled up... so much so I am writing a blog post when I have pretty much stopped making time for them? Well, the Guidelines now claim that any large muscle motor activity/movement can count toward your aerobic goal. So if you walk from your car to a building and it takes 5 minutes, good for you!! Only 295 more to go. If you mop the floor for 10 minutes - you are AWESOME, 285 more to go. And so forth.
As I perceive it, that is not exercise. And here is why I think the DHHS wants to say it is. Because, as a nation, we have been woefully behind in meeting the PAGA (physical activity guidelines). According to the CDC, less than 1/4 (25%!) meet the combined aerobic and strength training minimum goal. But if the government says all those little things DO count, then when they ask people about meeting the per week aerobic goal, more can say yes. So the next time the CDC reports results form a survey, the percent of the population meeting the aerobic goal might jump from 50% to 75%, only because the definition has changed, not because people became more active.
Imagine our trend lines - there could be a sudden spike in the number of Americans who meet the goals, but it won't be because people are exercising more, it will be because they are counting things that probably shouldn't count. Be wary when looking at trend data when the definition of the behavior being tracked or the question being asked, has changed.
I absolutely 100% believe we need to move more and sit less and that by doing so, we will be healthier, but come on. If you get up and go to the toilet at night, can you count that too?!? Lowering the standards is not going to reduce chronic illnesses related to sedentary behavior.
Showing posts with label health and wellness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health and wellness. Show all posts
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Odds and Ends
Water Conservation - Beverage Heroes? A story from the Associated Press (AP) caught my attention yesterday. It was published in many papers so you might have caught it. The largest beverage companies are spending millions of dollars to assure that certain land areas are NOT developed and that the proper care of watersheds is administered. The conservation efforts are intended to protect the companies bottom lines - the products they sell. Beverages are predominately water. I understand that their motive is self satisfying but the outcome is beneficial to everyone and I applaud the efforts. Here is a link to the story from one of many sources.
Weight Control Success You are probably aware that individual research experiments and the National Weight Control Registry support the assertion that people who are successful at maintaining weight loss use self monitoring techniques. They keep track of their intake of calories. The level of monitoring (every calorie or just general daily calories) is not as important as the awareness of what one is eating. Because we spend almost 50% of our food budgets on away from home meals and calorie monitoring is a successful weight control technique, it is vital that we have calorie content available on menus and menu boards. Lets get the final rule written and the numbers on our menus! (FDA delay)
Eye Drop Application Here is another thing you may know, but just in case you don't I will share it. Actually there are two things. As noted previously, I have sun damage to my eyes. The condition is called pinquela. My whites are discolored (this makes me sad). The eye doctor suggests that I use drops every day. He told me this two years ago, so I got some Visine. When I saw him in July he said "NO! That is the opposite of what you need." Ooops. So for dry, damaged, scratchy eyes, lubricant drops are helpful. I bought the store brand after I used up the sample he gave me. (But only after I compared the ingredients labels). Anyways, I also told him that I had trouble administering the drops. I would blink before the drop reached my eye. So - here is the technique. With your eye closed, squeeze a drop in the corner (where your tear ducts are) then tilt back and open your eye, lean sideways, and the drop rolls right in!
NFL and Disease Prevention Somewhere along the line, I signed up to receive occasional emails from the NFL. This would be precipitated by my love of the NYG - whom I shall see play in person next month! In July, I received one of the emails and it was announcing a new Wellness Initiative for current and former players, coaches, team members and families. The main focus appears to be mental health. This may be a response to suicides and family conflict that plagues some of the players. Though it includes physical health - that may be related more to injuries (including concussions) that can turn in to disabilities than chronic disease prevention. The program includes a 24 hour hot line for members in crisis. You can learn about it by clicking here. I can't imagine this being a bad thing. I hope that it helps.
Lastly my weekly exercise chart. I didn't share it last week, but I add it today to highlight the near absence of any red columns! That is running. I did manage 15 minutes, but clearly I am not healed so I stopped. I hope for more red next time. BTW, for those who have followed my swimming trials and tribulations.. just once a week, okay just this semester, Oh, if the pool is closed, its not my fault, YAY!, okay twice a week, okay three times a week.. Well, the whole Rec Center is closed this week and I am thinking of paying to swim at the Y. Clearly I made it past the six months (now two years) time that makes something a habit.
Weight Control Success You are probably aware that individual research experiments and the National Weight Control Registry support the assertion that people who are successful at maintaining weight loss use self monitoring techniques. They keep track of their intake of calories. The level of monitoring (every calorie or just general daily calories) is not as important as the awareness of what one is eating. Because we spend almost 50% of our food budgets on away from home meals and calorie monitoring is a successful weight control technique, it is vital that we have calorie content available on menus and menu boards. Lets get the final rule written and the numbers on our menus! (FDA delay)
Eye Drop Application Here is another thing you may know, but just in case you don't I will share it. Actually there are two things. As noted previously, I have sun damage to my eyes. The condition is called pinquela. My whites are discolored (this makes me sad). The eye doctor suggests that I use drops every day. He told me this two years ago, so I got some Visine. When I saw him in July he said "NO! That is the opposite of what you need." Ooops. So for dry, damaged, scratchy eyes, lubricant drops are helpful. I bought the store brand after I used up the sample he gave me. (But only after I compared the ingredients labels). Anyways, I also told him that I had trouble administering the drops. I would blink before the drop reached my eye. So - here is the technique. With your eye closed, squeeze a drop in the corner (where your tear ducts are) then tilt back and open your eye, lean sideways, and the drop rolls right in!
NFL and Disease Prevention Somewhere along the line, I signed up to receive occasional emails from the NFL. This would be precipitated by my love of the NYG - whom I shall see play in person next month! In July, I received one of the emails and it was announcing a new Wellness Initiative for current and former players, coaches, team members and families. The main focus appears to be mental health. This may be a response to suicides and family conflict that plagues some of the players. Though it includes physical health - that may be related more to injuries (including concussions) that can turn in to disabilities than chronic disease prevention. The program includes a 24 hour hot line for members in crisis. You can learn about it by clicking here. I can't imagine this being a bad thing. I hope that it helps.
Lastly my weekly exercise chart. I didn't share it last week, but I add it today to highlight the near absence of any red columns! That is running. I did manage 15 minutes, but clearly I am not healed so I stopped. I hope for more red next time. BTW, for those who have followed my swimming trials and tribulations.. just once a week, okay just this semester, Oh, if the pool is closed, its not my fault, YAY!, okay twice a week, okay three times a week.. Well, the whole Rec Center is closed this week and I am thinking of paying to swim at the Y. Clearly I made it past the six months (now two years) time that makes something a habit.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Swim
It is done. I did it. With rare exception, I swam twice a week (indoors) during the entire fall semester - even when it got cold outside and before the pool water was warmed. From August until now, I swam twice a week except two times when I only swam once a week (because the pool was closed). If we go back six months, I had 3 once a weeks and the rest were twice a weeks.
The only time that I truly dreaded the swim was in October - when the water temperature really dropped and I tended (literally) to shiver the entire time I swam.
Actually, if you look back at this September post, you'll see some of my angst as I struggled to keep my vow of swimming through to December.
And then there was this post on October 31st when my resolve was wearing thin. I was called out for being a wimp and "torturing myself" by easing into the pool. I started to jump in the very next time and things looked up from there.
If I look back to June of this year, so roughly six months, I went from 12 laps to 20 - finishing today with 22 laps which is OVER a half mile (1100 yards). The half mile (880 yards - or just over 800 meters) was my goal.
Oh, and don't forget, I added the kick board for my final (extra) lap for the last month or two as well.
I did try the flip turn one more time today, but I missed the wall on the kick off and got water up my nose. So, well - I can't do everything I set out to do.
I looked at the usual distances for swimming, biking and running in triathlons and I qualify for the sprint distance on all three and almost the olympic distance (the swim is .93 miles).
Now that is something to worry about after grad school. Maybe it will be my 50th birthday present to myself.
I really enjoy the swimming and it has gone from "something to do to rest from running" to a true stand alone fitness activity. In fact, lap swimming has a pretty high MET value - so WOW - yay me.
That's not really all - I made it through the entire semester without missing a day of exercise - my regular running, weight training, swimming and walking - all adhered to and all kept me sane. I am just about as proud of that as I am my final grades!
So - I don't know - there may be swimming in the New Year after all. The pool is officially closed until January 9th and I am off to Florida for a while - by the time I return I may be over it... however, I thought of packing my suit and maybe going to a Y while traveling :)
 |
| I did get my money's worth from the suit! |
Actually, if you look back at this September post, you'll see some of my angst as I struggled to keep my vow of swimming through to December.
And then there was this post on October 31st when my resolve was wearing thin. I was called out for being a wimp and "torturing myself" by easing into the pool. I started to jump in the very next time and things looked up from there.
If I look back to June of this year, so roughly six months, I went from 12 laps to 20 - finishing today with 22 laps which is OVER a half mile (1100 yards). The half mile (880 yards - or just over 800 meters) was my goal.
Oh, and don't forget, I added the kick board for my final (extra) lap for the last month or two as well.
I did try the flip turn one more time today, but I missed the wall on the kick off and got water up my nose. So, well - I can't do everything I set out to do.
I looked at the usual distances for swimming, biking and running in triathlons and I qualify for the sprint distance on all three and almost the olympic distance (the swim is .93 miles).
Now that is something to worry about after grad school. Maybe it will be my 50th birthday present to myself.
I really enjoy the swimming and it has gone from "something to do to rest from running" to a true stand alone fitness activity. In fact, lap swimming has a pretty high MET value - so WOW - yay me.
That's not really all - I made it through the entire semester without missing a day of exercise - my regular running, weight training, swimming and walking - all adhered to and all kept me sane. I am just about as proud of that as I am my final grades!
So - I don't know - there may be swimming in the New Year after all. The pool is officially closed until January 9th and I am off to Florida for a while - by the time I return I may be over it... however, I thought of packing my suit and maybe going to a Y while traveling :)
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Odds and Ends
Has it indeed been another week! I have to say that I feel more grounded in my studies and caught up with my readings and such. It is a good feeling, except I keep thinking I must have forgotten something. That being said, I found time to read a little here and there and keep a sheet of notes for today, so let us have at it.
A Positive Consequence: One of the older diabetes drugs, i.e. not the one that the FDA has received calls to pull from the market, but metformin, may have another indication. This is popular drug is being studied by scientists at the National Cancer Institute. A preliminary finding in mice shows that those exposed to one of the tobacco specific nitrosamines, nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone or NNK, associated with lung cancer, do not develop tumors when on this medication. However, I have to call out Reuters for saying in their headline that the diabetes drug may prevent smokers from getting lung cancer because the loudest headline should always be - Stopping Smoking Can Prevent Lung Cancer.
Allergan: Allergan is the company that makes botox and they just got in trouble for one of the things that I am often all in a tizzy over - misleading advertising and physician manipulation. They have agreed to settle and pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and or restitution for not only telling us that botox can help with migraines, pain, muscle spasms and cerebral palsy, but health care professionals too. Botox may be approved for additional uses now, but in the past it encouraged (maybe with money) doctors to use the medicine in ways it had not been approved. Off label use is legal but it cannot be marketed. I believe the fees are over 600 million bucks.
RD Club: My campus has a nutrition club and of course I signed up. This weekend I received an email about the first meeting and event. I cannot go to the meeting because of my classes, but the email included a notice that they would be having an ice cream social. Seriously? And you wonder where the freshman 15 come from!
With Regret: Yes, it is with regret that I add these few sentences because what I witnessed was at Walmart and that is where I prefer to shop because I have limited funds and because a lot of people work there and I want them to keep their jobs. This weekend though - darn it - I saw this and just sort of stood there stunned, staring, disappointed and fruitless - meaning - I didn't buy any fruit. I had been at the green beans and didn't get any because mixed into the big batch of them were moldy ones. I then went to the strawberries and grapes and a produce clerk was rearranging the strawberries. Now, it is ALWAYS a challenge to buy these berries, no matter the store. There is almost always containers with darkening or moldy fruit and they never seem to last long once you get them home. So the clerk was pulling the containers forward and making the display neat. I had already been looking for a clean batch and had come across several in very bad shape. To my dismay, they were NOT pulled from the shelf. It was like the person was there to arrange the shelf not to think. As I watched him, sort of dumbfounded, I noticed that he had places on his forearms that were scratched and bloodied. I just sort of stared as I said, and then walked away. Sadly, the next day I went to an upscale grocer and their strawberries and green beans were also turning bad.
Fitness: I think I wrote this word down on my list just to toot my own horn. I have my routine now. Running five days a week, 7-6-8-6-8 if possible, swimming two days, 30 laps but I think tomorrow I am ready to go back to 34, weight training two days and for transportation I am bicycling about 20 - 24 miles a week with a little walking too. I must say that in the last couple days I have started standing up and pedaling on the hills instead of lowering the gear and I am getting stronger. BTW, those spin classes that have you add resistance and stand up - they pay off!
A Positive Consequence: One of the older diabetes drugs, i.e. not the one that the FDA has received calls to pull from the market, but metformin, may have another indication. This is popular drug is being studied by scientists at the National Cancer Institute. A preliminary finding in mice shows that those exposed to one of the tobacco specific nitrosamines, nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone or NNK, associated with lung cancer, do not develop tumors when on this medication. However, I have to call out Reuters for saying in their headline that the diabetes drug may prevent smokers from getting lung cancer because the loudest headline should always be - Stopping Smoking Can Prevent Lung Cancer.
Allergan: Allergan is the company that makes botox and they just got in trouble for one of the things that I am often all in a tizzy over - misleading advertising and physician manipulation. They have agreed to settle and pay hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and or restitution for not only telling us that botox can help with migraines, pain, muscle spasms and cerebral palsy, but health care professionals too. Botox may be approved for additional uses now, but in the past it encouraged (maybe with money) doctors to use the medicine in ways it had not been approved. Off label use is legal but it cannot be marketed. I believe the fees are over 600 million bucks.
RD Club: My campus has a nutrition club and of course I signed up. This weekend I received an email about the first meeting and event. I cannot go to the meeting because of my classes, but the email included a notice that they would be having an ice cream social. Seriously? And you wonder where the freshman 15 come from!
With Regret: Yes, it is with regret that I add these few sentences because what I witnessed was at Walmart and that is where I prefer to shop because I have limited funds and because a lot of people work there and I want them to keep their jobs. This weekend though - darn it - I saw this and just sort of stood there stunned, staring, disappointed and fruitless - meaning - I didn't buy any fruit. I had been at the green beans and didn't get any because mixed into the big batch of them were moldy ones. I then went to the strawberries and grapes and a produce clerk was rearranging the strawberries. Now, it is ALWAYS a challenge to buy these berries, no matter the store. There is almost always containers with darkening or moldy fruit and they never seem to last long once you get them home. So the clerk was pulling the containers forward and making the display neat. I had already been looking for a clean batch and had come across several in very bad shape. To my dismay, they were NOT pulled from the shelf. It was like the person was there to arrange the shelf not to think. As I watched him, sort of dumbfounded, I noticed that he had places on his forearms that were scratched and bloodied. I just sort of stared as I said, and then walked away. Sadly, the next day I went to an upscale grocer and their strawberries and green beans were also turning bad.
Fitness: I think I wrote this word down on my list just to toot my own horn. I have my routine now. Running five days a week, 7-6-8-6-8 if possible, swimming two days, 30 laps but I think tomorrow I am ready to go back to 34, weight training two days and for transportation I am bicycling about 20 - 24 miles a week with a little walking too. I must say that in the last couple days I have started standing up and pedaling on the hills instead of lowering the gear and I am getting stronger. BTW, those spin classes that have you add resistance and stand up - they pay off!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Odds and Ends
Hedonistic or Homeostatic? Interesting words and you have probably heard them before - however, I recently saw them used to describe differences in the way that people eat. Or as I like to say, fuel themselves. A hedonistic eater would be a person that eats for pleasure, obviously, but without any connection to the body's messages about whether or not food is really needed at the moment. A homeostatic eater is more in tuned with the needs of his or her body. A person who continuously overrides the system and eats anyway, will make that system malfunction.
You're Lucky - Someone that knows me pretty well, made an unusual comment the other day. She asked how much I weigh I think and said that I was lucky. NO NO I am NOT lucky. IF I were lucky, wouldn't I be a hedonistic eater without consequences?? I am a controlled and disciplined eater and a frequent exerciser. I choose this, and I thrive in it, but it is work to be sure. ( and if any of you out there read the Sookie Stackhouse novels - that would make me bitten not born - in other words, it isn't a natural or genetic trait of mine)
Tanning - OK, sorry - this is hard truth time. The problem with obesity is that it adversely affects ones joints and mobility. It also can lead to chronic and life changing diseases. I know what I am about to say is true, because I used to believe it and do it. Tanning fat seems to make it look less well, fat - voluminous. But tanned fat is still fat and not only does the person still have the health risks from obesity, now the skin cancer risk is added to the mix.
Reputable Web - In the Boston Globe recently, a column listed the names of websites frequently visited for health information. Only two were said to be good sources of information and I was glad to see that they were two that I use. They were WebMD and Emedicine.
Conbiotics- Food should just be food. Adding extras seldom accomplishes anything and misleading claims abound. This time Nestle got a hit from the FTC for saying that its probiotic yogurt or shake or whatever it was, helped children's immune systems. Not proven - What has been said to be helpful - a well balanced diet - food on a plate, and exercise!
Me and the CEO - I was reading a fluff piece (not really fluff, but not research so for me it is fluff!) about the CEO of Cigna. He is a triathlete and in the WSJ article about him, he said that he will often get ideas for something while riding his bike at 5 a.m and by 9 a.m. he is explaining his new plan in the conference room. The exact same things happen with me, but maybe not at 5 a.m. Exercise absolutely generates brain power!
"You" Don't Pay a Thing - Oh that damn sassy chair. I think that the motorized chair that is pitched directly to the elderly is a scam to be reckoned with and when the announcer discusses the billing of Medicare by the company, he adds, "You don't pay a thing!" So of course, I shout back to the TV, "No Everybody else pays for it!"
Eco Index - What is it? You may be hearing the term more these days. It is used to gauge how much a product does or does not adversely impact the environment. This can include the materials involved, the places they are put together, exporting, and disposal. To learn more, click on this link.
You're Lucky - Someone that knows me pretty well, made an unusual comment the other day. She asked how much I weigh I think and said that I was lucky. NO NO I am NOT lucky. IF I were lucky, wouldn't I be a hedonistic eater without consequences?? I am a controlled and disciplined eater and a frequent exerciser. I choose this, and I thrive in it, but it is work to be sure. ( and if any of you out there read the Sookie Stackhouse novels - that would make me bitten not born - in other words, it isn't a natural or genetic trait of mine)
Tanning - OK, sorry - this is hard truth time. The problem with obesity is that it adversely affects ones joints and mobility. It also can lead to chronic and life changing diseases. I know what I am about to say is true, because I used to believe it and do it. Tanning fat seems to make it look less well, fat - voluminous. But tanned fat is still fat and not only does the person still have the health risks from obesity, now the skin cancer risk is added to the mix.
Reputable Web - In the Boston Globe recently, a column listed the names of websites frequently visited for health information. Only two were said to be good sources of information and I was glad to see that they were two that I use. They were WebMD and Emedicine.
Conbiotics- Food should just be food. Adding extras seldom accomplishes anything and misleading claims abound. This time Nestle got a hit from the FTC for saying that its probiotic yogurt or shake or whatever it was, helped children's immune systems. Not proven - What has been said to be helpful - a well balanced diet - food on a plate, and exercise!
Me and the CEO - I was reading a fluff piece (not really fluff, but not research so for me it is fluff!) about the CEO of Cigna. He is a triathlete and in the WSJ article about him, he said that he will often get ideas for something while riding his bike at 5 a.m and by 9 a.m. he is explaining his new plan in the conference room. The exact same things happen with me, but maybe not at 5 a.m. Exercise absolutely generates brain power!
"You" Don't Pay a Thing - Oh that damn sassy chair. I think that the motorized chair that is pitched directly to the elderly is a scam to be reckoned with and when the announcer discusses the billing of Medicare by the company, he adds, "You don't pay a thing!" So of course, I shout back to the TV, "No Everybody else pays for it!"
Eco Index - What is it? You may be hearing the term more these days. It is used to gauge how much a product does or does not adversely impact the environment. This can include the materials involved, the places they are put together, exporting, and disposal. To learn more, click on this link.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Children and Cholesterol
An interesting project has been underway in West Virginia for ten years. The purpose of the study, among other things, is to determine the amount of children who would not be screened for abnormal cholesterol levels under current best practice guidelines for this population (who should have been).
This is more of a pilot program than an intervention and some might suggest doing the evaluation in other states. I prefer using this data to do one or both of the following:
1) Begin standard screening of all children, in school and at no cost
2) Create systematic and intensive school and community based programs to address what West Virginia has already found
The findings include that a significant portion (more than 30%) of children have high enough levels of low density lipoprotein to warrant lifestyle interventions on nutrition and physical activity.
I have to say that in reading about the WVA work I was initially very skeptical regarding the end that they were heading to – which is medicating the kids and that did come up. However, the lead investigator Dr. Neal denies any industry ties or funding.
The study is published in a journal titled, Pediatrics.
This is more of a pilot program than an intervention and some might suggest doing the evaluation in other states. I prefer using this data to do one or both of the following:
1) Begin standard screening of all children, in school and at no cost
2) Create systematic and intensive school and community based programs to address what West Virginia has already found
The findings include that a significant portion (more than 30%) of children have high enough levels of low density lipoprotein to warrant lifestyle interventions on nutrition and physical activity.
I have to say that in reading about the WVA work I was initially very skeptical regarding the end that they were heading to – which is medicating the kids and that did come up. However, the lead investigator Dr. Neal denies any industry ties or funding.
The study is published in a journal titled, Pediatrics.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Guest Blog: Odds and Ends
Okay, my friend sent me an odds and ends post on June 12th. It was very funny and referred to my posts from the week before - so you have to look back to those if you are wondering what she is referring to. The reason I did not post it then was because I had called her just the day or so before to give her some very important news - and she notes it in her text. BTW, she actually cried when I told her my news and I have rarely felt so loved and appreciated as I did at that moment. So here is her post - feel free to laugh out loud and then, I will explain.
Hello, All.
This is the "blog" from "YourHealthEducator's" non-healthy friend, with a few of my own end-of-week observations:
1) My mother informed me this afternoon that I had already told her "TWICE already" that my friend Dee was moving back to the area and that perhaps I had ingested too much sugar today. (no joke).
2) I did the "healthy100" questionnaire, with the following results:
Conservative life: 79
Expected life: 89
Potential life: 97
FYI: 2 great-grandmothers lived into their 90s; maternal grandmother was 91 when she died of a heart attack as result of being thrown from a car in an accident (which was NOT her fault); paternal grandmother will be 93 later this month; of maternal great aunts, one lived into 90s; one died at 101)
Additional FYI: On maternal side, women tend to lose their hair in their 80s. Great! I'll live to be 90 or 100, but I'll live the last 20 years of my life with no hair!!!
3) I took at least 4 years off my life today b/c I took everything out of my clothes closets, vacuumed them, then re-organized them. It was a traumatic afternoon. (What else can you do when it's 96 degrees, 80% humidity, and a big afternoon thunderstorm?) So I then made myself feel better by having half a bottle of sauvignon blanc and one summer squash, sliced and baked on a pizza stone with pepper, salt, and Parmesan cheese. Yep, that was my dinner. Oh, and I also had 2 of those little mini dark-choc, mint 3 Musketeer bite size bars. I keep them in the freezer. They are SO yummy when frozen, and you have to chew them really slowly.
4) I made myself run 3+ miles this a.m., b/c my friend Dee is moving back to NC, and I have to be ready to run 6 miles by mid-August.
5) The not funny news: Yesterday in WS, there was a fatal house fire. Sadly, the woman who died, a veteran, had COPD, was using an oxygen tank. The report said the fire was caused by the cigarette she was smoking.
And to end on a lighter note:
6) I am now less than 50 pages into Sookie's story, and I am addicted. Thank you very much!
7) As I sit at my desk, the wind is blowing this direction from Bowman Gray Stadium (remember that place?), and I can hear all the race cars going 'round and 'round and 'round. Saturday night sounds!
Have a good evening! (Um, sorry, I did NOT video myself: a) baking the squash from my garden, or b) cleaning out my closets.
Your Non-HealthEducator
Ah so - here it is everyone, the news I have been alluding to for several weeks. In truth, the information has been in my hands since April, but kept close to my chest as I kept creating new standards as to what constituted official. My family and three close friends only heard this within the last month. I must tell you, because almost down to a person the GUESS about my news was "pregnant or adopting a child." No, no not at all. The truth is that my passion is preventing disease, especially as related to obesity. I want to prevent the chronic disease epidemic in YOUR children and their children. I want to impact society so that your great grandchildren are not going to have hypertension and diabetes type two when they are 30 and 40.
So my dear friend who just gave us a laugh or two and is more healthy than she is letting on- is my running buddy, was my running buddy. She ran many miles with me while I studied for my MPH and joked to the professors at my graduation that she should get an honorary degree as she heard every single word of all my papers and projects. She is now going to get even more education, whether she wants it or not, because in August I will begin my studies as a full time student at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. I will be working on my doctorate in public health, and YES, I am going to make a difference....
Hello, All.
This is the "blog" from "YourHealthEducator's" non-healthy friend, with a few of my own end-of-week observations:
1) My mother informed me this afternoon that I had already told her "TWICE already" that my friend Dee was moving back to the area and that perhaps I had ingested too much sugar today. (no joke).
2) I did the "healthy100" questionnaire, with the following results:
Conservative life: 79
Expected life: 89
Potential life: 97
FYI: 2 great-grandmothers lived into their 90s; maternal grandmother was 91 when she died of a heart attack as result of being thrown from a car in an accident (which was NOT her fault); paternal grandmother will be 93 later this month; of maternal great aunts, one lived into 90s; one died at 101)
Additional FYI: On maternal side, women tend to lose their hair in their 80s. Great! I'll live to be 90 or 100, but I'll live the last 20 years of my life with no hair!!!
3) I took at least 4 years off my life today b/c I took everything out of my clothes closets, vacuumed them, then re-organized them. It was a traumatic afternoon. (What else can you do when it's 96 degrees, 80% humidity, and a big afternoon thunderstorm?) So I then made myself feel better by having half a bottle of sauvignon blanc and one summer squash, sliced and baked on a pizza stone with pepper, salt, and Parmesan cheese. Yep, that was my dinner. Oh, and I also had 2 of those little mini dark-choc, mint 3 Musketeer bite size bars. I keep them in the freezer. They are SO yummy when frozen, and you have to chew them really slowly.
4) I made myself run 3+ miles this a.m., b/c my friend Dee is moving back to NC, and I have to be ready to run 6 miles by mid-August.
5) The not funny news: Yesterday in WS, there was a fatal house fire. Sadly, the woman who died, a veteran, had COPD, was using an oxygen tank. The report said the fire was caused by the cigarette she was smoking.
And to end on a lighter note:
6) I am now less than 50 pages into Sookie's story, and I am addicted. Thank you very much!
7) As I sit at my desk, the wind is blowing this direction from Bowman Gray Stadium (remember that place?), and I can hear all the race cars going 'round and 'round and 'round. Saturday night sounds!
Have a good evening! (Um, sorry, I did NOT video myself: a) baking the squash from my garden, or b) cleaning out my closets.
Your Non-HealthEducator
Ah so - here it is everyone, the news I have been alluding to for several weeks. In truth, the information has been in my hands since April, but kept close to my chest as I kept creating new standards as to what constituted official. My family and three close friends only heard this within the last month. I must tell you, because almost down to a person the GUESS about my news was "pregnant or adopting a child." No, no not at all. The truth is that my passion is preventing disease, especially as related to obesity. I want to prevent the chronic disease epidemic in YOUR children and their children. I want to impact society so that your great grandchildren are not going to have hypertension and diabetes type two when they are 30 and 40.
So my dear friend who just gave us a laugh or two and is more healthy than she is letting on- is my running buddy, was my running buddy. She ran many miles with me while I studied for my MPH and joked to the professors at my graduation that she should get an honorary degree as she heard every single word of all my papers and projects. She is now going to get even more education, whether she wants it or not, because in August I will begin my studies as a full time student at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. I will be working on my doctorate in public health, and YES, I am going to make a difference....
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Are Statins for Everyone?
There is some discussion amongst health care professionals in regards to the use of statin (i.e. Lipitor, Zocor, Cresor, Vytorin, Simcor) medications to lower cholesterol. A panel is considering making the recommendations more personalized which could add people to the list of medicated and also remove them. You can read more about these recommendations and why they are being suggested elsewhere. My post today is more general.
I can’t remember the exact date or year that cholesterol numbers and medication became a household subject, but they are now. My first memories are of my father mixing up some powdered medication that he had to drink two or three times a day because he had high cholesterol levels. This may have been before his first heart attack, but certainly after. I don’t remember my primary care doctor talking about cholesterol levels before the year 2000. It is around then however, that health fairs began to offer cholesterol screenings on a pretty routine basis as did employee wellness programs. In fact, most personal wellness profiles or risk assessments include them now.
It also seems to me that at first the only thing they had us focus on was the ratio of good to bad cholesterol and that is discussed less often now. Then there was the whole thing about the good cholesterol or HDL and how to get it higher. Oh yes, and the great egg debate and whether cholesterol in food was the evil or if saturated fat led to cholesterol in the blood and was the real bad guy. Ah – nostalgic isn’t it?
Of course, the drug companies have blessed us with many more options for lowering our cholesterol – no more messy, yucky-tasting powders! And as the drugs have improved, it seems the target numbers, especially for that pesky LDL, have been lowered and lowered again. People with no additional risk factors get one goal number and people with any variety of other risk factors get others. It has even been proposed that everyone get on the statin medications regardless of their cholesterol status. Ah but you see – these medications are not without side effects and do require routine blood work to check for damage to other body systems.
What I like to ponder and hope that you will as well is the outcome question. This has come up in the public health discourse with more frequency in the last few years and that is a good thing. It is not enough for a medication to limit or reverse a condition that leads to a more serious disease or disease outcome; it also needs to reduce the number of those adverse events. (You can think this through with many a risk factor or condition and a disease)
So let us take high cholesterol. The reason we want to lower cholesterol in the body is because too much of it can lead to atherosclerosis or plaque build up in the arteries. This makes the walls of the arteries thicker and they can become so thick that blood won’t pass through them. Pieces of plaque can also come off the wall and clog the artery. Sometimes clots travel through and clog veins as well. The outcome of these scenarios is a heart attack or stroke and possibly death. So the question is – regardless of whether the medicine lowers the cholesterol number- do these drugs stop heart attacks?
I am sure that the information to my research question below is available to some extent, however, I do not have the liberty, i.e. time, to explore that and will just offer it as food for thought. If someone were suggesting that I take one of these medications, however, I WOULD make the time to find the answer.
Question: Which of the following interventions reduces the number of heart attacks, strokes, surgeries, death – etc in patients with high cholesterol?
Statins alone
Statins with low fat calorie controlled diet and daily exercise
Low fat calorie controlled diet and daily exercise alone
And yes, you already know what I think the answer is – though it may depend on other factors of a particular set of people as well.
I can’t remember the exact date or year that cholesterol numbers and medication became a household subject, but they are now. My first memories are of my father mixing up some powdered medication that he had to drink two or three times a day because he had high cholesterol levels. This may have been before his first heart attack, but certainly after. I don’t remember my primary care doctor talking about cholesterol levels before the year 2000. It is around then however, that health fairs began to offer cholesterol screenings on a pretty routine basis as did employee wellness programs. In fact, most personal wellness profiles or risk assessments include them now.
It also seems to me that at first the only thing they had us focus on was the ratio of good to bad cholesterol and that is discussed less often now. Then there was the whole thing about the good cholesterol or HDL and how to get it higher. Oh yes, and the great egg debate and whether cholesterol in food was the evil or if saturated fat led to cholesterol in the blood and was the real bad guy. Ah – nostalgic isn’t it?
Of course, the drug companies have blessed us with many more options for lowering our cholesterol – no more messy, yucky-tasting powders! And as the drugs have improved, it seems the target numbers, especially for that pesky LDL, have been lowered and lowered again. People with no additional risk factors get one goal number and people with any variety of other risk factors get others. It has even been proposed that everyone get on the statin medications regardless of their cholesterol status. Ah but you see – these medications are not without side effects and do require routine blood work to check for damage to other body systems.
What I like to ponder and hope that you will as well is the outcome question. This has come up in the public health discourse with more frequency in the last few years and that is a good thing. It is not enough for a medication to limit or reverse a condition that leads to a more serious disease or disease outcome; it also needs to reduce the number of those adverse events. (You can think this through with many a risk factor or condition and a disease)
So let us take high cholesterol. The reason we want to lower cholesterol in the body is because too much of it can lead to atherosclerosis or plaque build up in the arteries. This makes the walls of the arteries thicker and they can become so thick that blood won’t pass through them. Pieces of plaque can also come off the wall and clog the artery. Sometimes clots travel through and clog veins as well. The outcome of these scenarios is a heart attack or stroke and possibly death. So the question is – regardless of whether the medicine lowers the cholesterol number- do these drugs stop heart attacks?
I am sure that the information to my research question below is available to some extent, however, I do not have the liberty, i.e. time, to explore that and will just offer it as food for thought. If someone were suggesting that I take one of these medications, however, I WOULD make the time to find the answer.
Question: Which of the following interventions reduces the number of heart attacks, strokes, surgeries, death – etc in patients with high cholesterol?
Statins alone
Statins with low fat calorie controlled diet and daily exercise
Low fat calorie controlled diet and daily exercise alone
And yes, you already know what I think the answer is – though it may depend on other factors of a particular set of people as well.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
More Claims Face Sanction
It isn’t just herbal supplements that claim health benefits that are false, the FDA and FTC have also questioned Kellogg and General Mills on claims that they put on cereal boxes. To be certain, Cheerios are not an effective cholesterol lowering food and Rice Krispies do not improve children’s immune systems. Both companies have recently or in the past been admonished and sometimes fined for such falsehoods.
I can’t help but wonder why the NutriSystem company hasn’t been called out. The claims that companies make have to be backed by science and can not be misleading. I feel strongly that NutriSystem ads mislead people, especially when they promote a meal plan for diabetics that states it is “based on clinical studies” – what does that mean?
What you should be more inclined to believe is this – food in its natural form – fruits, whole grains, vegetables, legumes, some seafood – THEY are antioxidant rich and a diet that is based on them is better for you than one that contains a lot of processed foods. I do not CARE what they ADD to the box it is still food in a box and that means it is processed.
Remember, maybe it was last Sunday, the odds and ends note about those vegetables – immune, vision and digestive health – I wonder if the FDA/FTC is going to check on that one. I haven’t read the rest of the label though – if the name of it is the only leading thing I bet it passes by – but if it claims to improve those things – then it is apparently suggesting that it has medicinal properties and the FDA has to approve medicines and their outcomes – which must be proven in clinical trials!
I can’t help but wonder why the NutriSystem company hasn’t been called out. The claims that companies make have to be backed by science and can not be misleading. I feel strongly that NutriSystem ads mislead people, especially when they promote a meal plan for diabetics that states it is “based on clinical studies” – what does that mean?
What you should be more inclined to believe is this – food in its natural form – fruits, whole grains, vegetables, legumes, some seafood – THEY are antioxidant rich and a diet that is based on them is better for you than one that contains a lot of processed foods. I do not CARE what they ADD to the box it is still food in a box and that means it is processed.
Remember, maybe it was last Sunday, the odds and ends note about those vegetables – immune, vision and digestive health – I wonder if the FDA/FTC is going to check on that one. I haven’t read the rest of the label though – if the name of it is the only leading thing I bet it passes by – but if it claims to improve those things – then it is apparently suggesting that it has medicinal properties and the FDA has to approve medicines and their outcomes – which must be proven in clinical trials!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Odds and Ends
Instead of listening to the news or radio at the moment, I have the windows open and can hear the sound of the rain. It is cathartic - it calms my soul - not that my soul is agitated, but I think you understand. So another week ends and a few notes have been set aside for comment.
SCAMS: GRRRR you can just imagine me pulling my hair out okay?! I was listening to Pandora today (free music over the Internet) and an ad played for an "all natural" weight loss program that guarantees 1-2 pounds a day of healthy weight loss. Just because the company uses a supplement that is an herbal does not mean it is safe and nor does it mean it is healthy. At the website they clarify that the 1-2 pounds per day is just in the first week - oh really - as in WATER weight. It is 70$ for fifteen days, but experts recommend at least thirty days. It is a supplement combined with a very low calorie diet (you think?). Supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may have any amount of the active ingredient claimed along with others that could be harmful If you buy this product, I WILL know and you will be in big trouble. Just refer to yesterday's blog and change your life in a way this actually IS safe.
Elevators: I work in a complex that is two stories. All the offices open outside. There is an elevator in the middle of the complex and stairs at either end. The whole thing is slightly larger than a football field. I only take the elevator if I have a roller cart with equipment, etc. I paid attention to the people getting on the elevator the other day - remember, what matters to us is what gets our attention. I only saw overweight people getting on. A flight a day can make a difference - if we stop navigating stairs, we are going to be unable to navigate stairs as we age. Old age is no place for the frail.
Drink Up: I didn't know that there was an employer who allowed drinking on the job until an uproar crossed The Continents because the employer was limiting it! In Denmark, the brewer, Carlsberg has long allowed employees to drink on the job from conveniently placed coolers- as long as they did not become inebriated. (drivers have the special ignition locks to prevent drunk driving). I am not sure why the company is trying to curtail the drinking to only 1-3 beers during lunch breaks, but the employees WALKED off the job in protest. Too damn funny. I was a bartender once and a waitress in a diner that served alcohol - goodness no, we could not drink a drop on the job, but I really think that was more about inventory and cost than anything else.
Behavior Placement: How very cool an idea this is and I have to say NBC-U is the group making it happen. Most of us have heard of product placement which involves having an actress or TV personality "subtly" drink, wear, or use a brand name product on camera. But behavior placement is having that same person DO something that we want others to do. In the past and in the negative - the behavior was tobacco use. Now, we have people recycling, exercising, driving hybrids. I learned from reading a WSJ article that NBCU makes this happen on its shows at least twice a year - THAT will get them my loyalty - I am impressed.
Talking Bout My Generation: Heard on the news this week - one fifth of the people born in the 1960s are overweight or obese. Also heard was that in my generation, those currently in their 40s, the weight stabilizes but in younger generations it seems that the weight continues to increase across their lifespan and thus the concern that today's children, with very early cases of diabetes and hypertension, will be the first to reverse the trend in our increasing life expectancy. I do want to take this time to remind of the other problem which is the great number of people who are simply dieing longer as opposed to living longer. Think about it.
Races: I ran another short distance race this morning. Though it wasn't my fastest 10K (six miler) it was my second fastest and I won a little medal for out running the other 11 women in my age group. The total number of racers was 242 and I finished 118 overall. I mention this in reference to the previous posts on the saga of a failed marathon and the new goals I embraced. Oh , if you want to see the map of the race, it is under my links with the heading My Garmin Activity.
POOP! Oh yes, my friends, the very best for last. I hope you have not left the blog just yet. This is the best thing I heard all week. I arrived home from work one evening, and a man and woman were having a conversation across the way, in the grass. They each had a dog on a leash. As the man was walking away, the woman said, "Oh - someone left their poop." Seriously? My "greatest generation" Dad, he never picked up our dog's poop - I wonder what he would think of this - crating and poop scooping - what has the world come to?
SCAMS: GRRRR you can just imagine me pulling my hair out okay?! I was listening to Pandora today (free music over the Internet) and an ad played for an "all natural" weight loss program that guarantees 1-2 pounds a day of healthy weight loss. Just because the company uses a supplement that is an herbal does not mean it is safe and nor does it mean it is healthy. At the website they clarify that the 1-2 pounds per day is just in the first week - oh really - as in WATER weight. It is 70$ for fifteen days, but experts recommend at least thirty days. It is a supplement combined with a very low calorie diet (you think?). Supplements are not regulated by the FDA and may have any amount of the active ingredient claimed along with others that could be harmful If you buy this product, I WILL know and you will be in big trouble. Just refer to yesterday's blog and change your life in a way this actually IS safe.
Elevators: I work in a complex that is two stories. All the offices open outside. There is an elevator in the middle of the complex and stairs at either end. The whole thing is slightly larger than a football field. I only take the elevator if I have a roller cart with equipment, etc. I paid attention to the people getting on the elevator the other day - remember, what matters to us is what gets our attention. I only saw overweight people getting on. A flight a day can make a difference - if we stop navigating stairs, we are going to be unable to navigate stairs as we age. Old age is no place for the frail.
Drink Up: I didn't know that there was an employer who allowed drinking on the job until an uproar crossed The Continents because the employer was limiting it! In Denmark, the brewer, Carlsberg has long allowed employees to drink on the job from conveniently placed coolers- as long as they did not become inebriated. (drivers have the special ignition locks to prevent drunk driving). I am not sure why the company is trying to curtail the drinking to only 1-3 beers during lunch breaks, but the employees WALKED off the job in protest. Too damn funny. I was a bartender once and a waitress in a diner that served alcohol - goodness no, we could not drink a drop on the job, but I really think that was more about inventory and cost than anything else.
Behavior Placement: How very cool an idea this is and I have to say NBC-U is the group making it happen. Most of us have heard of product placement which involves having an actress or TV personality "subtly" drink, wear, or use a brand name product on camera. But behavior placement is having that same person DO something that we want others to do. In the past and in the negative - the behavior was tobacco use. Now, we have people recycling, exercising, driving hybrids. I learned from reading a WSJ article that NBCU makes this happen on its shows at least twice a year - THAT will get them my loyalty - I am impressed.
Talking Bout My Generation: Heard on the news this week - one fifth of the people born in the 1960s are overweight or obese. Also heard was that in my generation, those currently in their 40s, the weight stabilizes but in younger generations it seems that the weight continues to increase across their lifespan and thus the concern that today's children, with very early cases of diabetes and hypertension, will be the first to reverse the trend in our increasing life expectancy. I do want to take this time to remind of the other problem which is the great number of people who are simply dieing longer as opposed to living longer. Think about it.
Races: I ran another short distance race this morning. Though it wasn't my fastest 10K (six miler) it was my second fastest and I won a little medal for out running the other 11 women in my age group. The total number of racers was 242 and I finished 118 overall. I mention this in reference to the previous posts on the saga of a failed marathon and the new goals I embraced. Oh , if you want to see the map of the race, it is under my links with the heading My Garmin Activity.
POOP! Oh yes, my friends, the very best for last. I hope you have not left the blog just yet. This is the best thing I heard all week. I arrived home from work one evening, and a man and woman were having a conversation across the way, in the grass. They each had a dog on a leash. As the man was walking away, the woman said, "Oh - someone left their poop." Seriously? My "greatest generation" Dad, he never picked up our dog's poop - I wonder what he would think of this - crating and poop scooping - what has the world come to?
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Odds and Ends
Fitness Facility Injuries: This first note is not exactly what I wanted it to be. I just spent my dinner time (I was eating) searching for an article that was referenced in a story only to find it was a book, not a journal and I cannot get my eyes on it. Really sucks. I read an article in an ACSM journal about law suits and treadmills. In that article it said that treadmill injuries were the fifth most common health club liability claim. I do not have access to the full list, but I sure wanted to see what the top four were. When I try to Google - injuries-, I get mistakes instead. Of course, not warming up and using improper form were noted. I am very curious about the other claims, maybe I can find the book at the library. Of note, I imagine some injuries happen on the other cardio equipment, the weight training machines and with free weights, in cycling and in step aerobics class - in fact, someone fell in my class last week!
Health Insurance Commercials: I have been noticing health insurance commercials recently - advertisements for private insurance that shows the premiums one might have to pay based on age, gender and such. The commercials show three or more examples and I noticed that above the sentence, woman age 45 (ex.) it says in lighter letters, "tobacco free". I work in tobacco education as my career and I knew that tobacco users paid more than non users, but really hadn't seen that distinction in an ad. To me, that proves more than anything that tobacco causes disease!
Chesticles and Shrinkage: I really wish I could remember which show or commentator or host made this statement as they should get the credit for this, but I cannot. Of course, I have been vocal about the negatives of using supplements, protein powders, growth hormones, performance enhancing drugs and steroids. We have almost all heard of roid rage - so we know that steroids are not without significant risks. What I heard someone else say this week was that steroid use also led to chesticles which I will leave you to imagine and that steroids also shrink a man's testicles. I found that ironic of course, especially because some men I see who are really , I mean REALLY, bulked up, walk like they have some significant um, hardware, between their legs. ( I'm just saying......)
More Drug Company Shame: News is out that the company that makes diabetes drug Avandia, the one with the warning label for cardiovascular risk, knew about the risks long before disclosing it and in fact, continued to conduct clinical research trials to compare it to another drug that was safer - even when subjects were suffering the consequences.
Most Important Statement of the Week: After Bill Clinton underwent a second procedure in regards to his heart disease, he said that he was going to be more "disciplined about exercising every day."
Health Insurance Commercials: I have been noticing health insurance commercials recently - advertisements for private insurance that shows the premiums one might have to pay based on age, gender and such. The commercials show three or more examples and I noticed that above the sentence, woman age 45 (ex.) it says in lighter letters, "tobacco free". I work in tobacco education as my career and I knew that tobacco users paid more than non users, but really hadn't seen that distinction in an ad. To me, that proves more than anything that tobacco causes disease!
Chesticles and Shrinkage: I really wish I could remember which show or commentator or host made this statement as they should get the credit for this, but I cannot. Of course, I have been vocal about the negatives of using supplements, protein powders, growth hormones, performance enhancing drugs and steroids. We have almost all heard of roid rage - so we know that steroids are not without significant risks. What I heard someone else say this week was that steroid use also led to chesticles which I will leave you to imagine and that steroids also shrink a man's testicles. I found that ironic of course, especially because some men I see who are really , I mean REALLY, bulked up, walk like they have some significant um, hardware, between their legs. ( I'm just saying......)
More Drug Company Shame: News is out that the company that makes diabetes drug Avandia, the one with the warning label for cardiovascular risk, knew about the risks long before disclosing it and in fact, continued to conduct clinical research trials to compare it to another drug that was safer - even when subjects were suffering the consequences.
Most Important Statement of the Week: After Bill Clinton underwent a second procedure in regards to his heart disease, he said that he was going to be more "disciplined about exercising every day."
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Does it Matter Why?
On the radio today, I heard a discussion regarding the Mediterranean Diet. Another study supports the health benefits of consuming plant based foods, fish and olive oil, and an occasional glass of wine. The study that was highlighted today was not an experiment but an observation made after comparing two large groups of persons of later age. One group ate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and used olive oil while another ate foods considered to be Western - a lot of meat and fried foods. The first group had a significant and substantially lower rate of dementia than the second.
Science has already suggested that the Mediterranean Diet is protective for the heart. It is expected that the diet helps to reduce inflammation or just creates less inflammation. It also seems that people who eat this way have lower weights.
One person interviewed today said that at this time we don't know if it is something particular in one or more of the foods eaten that is helpful or if the combination of the foods is helpful - or even that the persons are thinner and have less cases of diabetes (diabetes is a risk factor for impaired blood flow which effects the heart and brain).
For instance, it could be the antioxidants in the fruits and vegetables, or the PUFA in the fish or the fiber that reduces bad cholesterol or even the resveratrol in the red wine, that promote better health.
I do want to make this one point to be safe. When our health experts suggest that we eat more fruits ,vegetables, fish, and get more monounsaturated fats, they do not mean ON TOP OFF or IN ADDITION TO the red meats and sugars and other fats that we consume, they mean in PLACE OF.
And if it matters to you, if it's the fish, fiber, fruits or wine - stay tuned because they will figure it out. However, your heart and brain will thank you if you just go ahead and make the recommended amendments to your "diet" today.
Science has already suggested that the Mediterranean Diet is protective for the heart. It is expected that the diet helps to reduce inflammation or just creates less inflammation. It also seems that people who eat this way have lower weights.
One person interviewed today said that at this time we don't know if it is something particular in one or more of the foods eaten that is helpful or if the combination of the foods is helpful - or even that the persons are thinner and have less cases of diabetes (diabetes is a risk factor for impaired blood flow which effects the heart and brain).
For instance, it could be the antioxidants in the fruits and vegetables, or the PUFA in the fish or the fiber that reduces bad cholesterol or even the resveratrol in the red wine, that promote better health.
I do want to make this one point to be safe. When our health experts suggest that we eat more fruits ,vegetables, fish, and get more monounsaturated fats, they do not mean ON TOP OFF or IN ADDITION TO the red meats and sugars and other fats that we consume, they mean in PLACE OF.
And if it matters to you, if it's the fish, fiber, fruits or wine - stay tuned because they will figure it out. However, your heart and brain will thank you if you just go ahead and make the recommended amendments to your "diet" today.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Make Mine a Double
They do research on alcohol. I am sure that you knew that.
A recent study compared the effects of drinking whiskey to vodka. The two alcoholic beverages were similar except that those who over indulged in whiskey had worse "hang overs" than those who did the same with vodka. The symptoms being headache, nausea and thirst. The two groups did not have differences in performance or sleep.
In the news article from the BBC it was said that the reason may be that whiskey has more of something referred to as congeners than vodka does. In the article, congeners were said to be molecules and examples of them were acetone, acetaldehyde and tannins. Most of us have heard of tannins, at least I had heard of them, in regards to something in red wine that could trigger a migraine.
More interestingly, I had heard of the first two congeners with regard to tobacco. I thought, HUH, I bet that has something to do with the making of the product because a lot of times the toxins in tobacco are actually CREATED in the curing or fermenting process. And that was IT! I looked it up and in alcoholic beverages, congeners refer to chemicals that are created during fermentation. The term congener has several meanings.
So whiskey has more of these congeners than vodka. Alcohol scientists think that the congener content may lead to worse hang over symptoms. Brown University used over 90 volunteers to study the difference between the two alcohols. The research volunteers drank until their BAC was a third over the US/UK legal limit, so I think that would be about .1%. [btw, the chemicals are said to offer up aroma, flavor and color]
Long term over indulgence of alcohol has serious health effects which I would imagine could be attributed to some of the toxins that are found in alcohol. I may study this in the future, but at this time I do not know which types of alcohol, i.e. liquor, wine or beer - would be the worst. I do know that evidence exists to support some alcohol intake as health promoting if it can be done in moderation.
This research study was done in the USA, but the article I read was from the BBC and in that article there was mention of a charity that strives to promote responsible drinking. I went to their website and thought it was pretty darn cool. You might enjoy it as well. In the meantime, please do be mindful of all your food and beverage intake. Your body needs you to make wise decisions!
A recent study compared the effects of drinking whiskey to vodka. The two alcoholic beverages were similar except that those who over indulged in whiskey had worse "hang overs" than those who did the same with vodka. The symptoms being headache, nausea and thirst. The two groups did not have differences in performance or sleep.
In the news article from the BBC it was said that the reason may be that whiskey has more of something referred to as congeners than vodka does. In the article, congeners were said to be molecules and examples of them were acetone, acetaldehyde and tannins. Most of us have heard of tannins, at least I had heard of them, in regards to something in red wine that could trigger a migraine.
More interestingly, I had heard of the first two congeners with regard to tobacco. I thought, HUH, I bet that has something to do with the making of the product because a lot of times the toxins in tobacco are actually CREATED in the curing or fermenting process. And that was IT! I looked it up and in alcoholic beverages, congeners refer to chemicals that are created during fermentation. The term congener has several meanings.
So whiskey has more of these congeners than vodka. Alcohol scientists think that the congener content may lead to worse hang over symptoms. Brown University used over 90 volunteers to study the difference between the two alcohols. The research volunteers drank until their BAC was a third over the US/UK legal limit, so I think that would be about .1%. [btw, the chemicals are said to offer up aroma, flavor and color]
Long term over indulgence of alcohol has serious health effects which I would imagine could be attributed to some of the toxins that are found in alcohol. I may study this in the future, but at this time I do not know which types of alcohol, i.e. liquor, wine or beer - would be the worst. I do know that evidence exists to support some alcohol intake as health promoting if it can be done in moderation.
This research study was done in the USA, but the article I read was from the BBC and in that article there was mention of a charity that strives to promote responsible drinking. I went to their website and thought it was pretty darn cool. You might enjoy it as well. In the meantime, please do be mindful of all your food and beverage intake. Your body needs you to make wise decisions!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Obesity v. Tobacco
To be honest, I wanted to share some new things I learned about smokeless tobacco or ST and quitting ST, but my notes are at work and I don't want to make a mistake, so I will probably write about that tomorrow. It isn't much, but it was new to me and by sharing it, I will be better able to remember it and repeat in my presentations - I thank you in advance for helping me with that!
So for plan B, I want to share something that I heard this afternoon. I believe it was the show Talk of the Nation that I was listening to on NPR. An author of a book possibly titled, Rationing Health Care, was the guest. There were also callers who gave opinions and asked questions. In the course of the show then, I learned this interesting bit of fact:
Numbers crunchers are not really worried about the effect that tobacco users, namely smokers, are going to have on health care. This was brought up when a caller asked about people having to take responsibility for health outcomes (and their treatment) that were largely caused by their own actions. (In other words, not genes or environment, but things like smoking and obesity)
The guest said that smokers tend to get lung cancer in their sixties and die relatively quickly so a lot of money is NOT spent on treatment. At the same time, the smokers have paid into Medicare through payroll taxes and the Medicare dollars can be spent on someone else AND because the smoker is now dead the Social Security income they would have received can stay in the system.
Obesity, on the other hand, tends to affect people at younger ages and does lead to chronic conditions that are very costly to treat over time.
What we really need is an over haul of prevention and a way to make taking good care of ourselves in the first place a cost effective and attractive thing to do. But for once, smokers do not have to feel like everyone is picking on them.
So for plan B, I want to share something that I heard this afternoon. I believe it was the show Talk of the Nation that I was listening to on NPR. An author of a book possibly titled, Rationing Health Care, was the guest. There were also callers who gave opinions and asked questions. In the course of the show then, I learned this interesting bit of fact:
Numbers crunchers are not really worried about the effect that tobacco users, namely smokers, are going to have on health care. This was brought up when a caller asked about people having to take responsibility for health outcomes (and their treatment) that were largely caused by their own actions. (In other words, not genes or environment, but things like smoking and obesity)
The guest said that smokers tend to get lung cancer in their sixties and die relatively quickly so a lot of money is NOT spent on treatment. At the same time, the smokers have paid into Medicare through payroll taxes and the Medicare dollars can be spent on someone else AND because the smoker is now dead the Social Security income they would have received can stay in the system.
Obesity, on the other hand, tends to affect people at younger ages and does lead to chronic conditions that are very costly to treat over time.
What we really need is an over haul of prevention and a way to make taking good care of ourselves in the first place a cost effective and attractive thing to do. But for once, smokers do not have to feel like everyone is picking on them.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
How oh How Can I Burn More Calories??
Well, I gotta tell you something you may not like. In fact, I just reread the beginning of a text book I had to study for my personal training certification some years ago and it cautioned that trainers would at times have to tell people things they did not want to hear. The example in the book was having to tell someone they had to give up the hot fudge sundae to lose weight. My example is having to tell you, my readers, that if you really want to have excess calorie burn, or increased metabolism, for hours after your workout you have to work your ASS off.
I was sent a link to someone else's blog by a personal trainer, dancer, runner, friend that I respect very much. The blog post was incredibly technical and I am still scratching my head over it. Jennifer thought I would be interested, and I was, but oh boy, I was hard pressed to follow along.
Firstly, it seems that the energy burn we long for has a lot to do with the oxygen consumption we do after our exercise. In fact, this is called EPOC to stand for excess post exercise oxygen consumption. EPOC is only one measure of physiological change we cause during exercise that contributes to calorie burn. I know you have heard of lactic acid threshold and maximum heart rate, those too are involved. Along with this is the individual characteristic of YOU and also the activity you are doing and how long and hard you are doing it.
I could break down the blog post that I read but you know, the bottom line is really what matters.
If you want to increase your metabolism or calorie burn for any length of time after your workout then you need to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. You should run, swim, cycle, dance, step, etc. , so hard that you lose your breath. You should lift weights so that the muscle in question burns and quivers and no further reps are possible. You have to lift HEAVY or do full body resistance like push ups and pull ups.
Exercise at less intense levels and you will absolutely benefit and burn calories. If you are going to tell yourself that three hours later you are still burning more calories than most people, then you really have to work for it.
Another thing I read in my book today - the people I teach or coach have more control over their health outcomes then I do. If you want this, then go out and get it.
I was sent a link to someone else's blog by a personal trainer, dancer, runner, friend that I respect very much. The blog post was incredibly technical and I am still scratching my head over it. Jennifer thought I would be interested, and I was, but oh boy, I was hard pressed to follow along.
Firstly, it seems that the energy burn we long for has a lot to do with the oxygen consumption we do after our exercise. In fact, this is called EPOC to stand for excess post exercise oxygen consumption. EPOC is only one measure of physiological change we cause during exercise that contributes to calorie burn. I know you have heard of lactic acid threshold and maximum heart rate, those too are involved. Along with this is the individual characteristic of YOU and also the activity you are doing and how long and hard you are doing it.
I could break down the blog post that I read but you know, the bottom line is really what matters.
If you want to increase your metabolism or calorie burn for any length of time after your workout then you need to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. You should run, swim, cycle, dance, step, etc. , so hard that you lose your breath. You should lift weights so that the muscle in question burns and quivers and no further reps are possible. You have to lift HEAVY or do full body resistance like push ups and pull ups.
Exercise at less intense levels and you will absolutely benefit and burn calories. If you are going to tell yourself that three hours later you are still burning more calories than most people, then you really have to work for it.
Another thing I read in my book today - the people I teach or coach have more control over their health outcomes then I do. If you want this, then go out and get it.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Odds and Ends
Yes it is the week's end again. I have to admit that all my tidbits for the week seem to have come just this afternoon. Most of these are from my time spent in front of the TV. What?!? Yes, I do watch some TV and today it was the NY Giants-Tampa Bay Buccaneers football game. GO GIANTS. Because tobacco use was front and center during the game, I start with something from earlier this week, but about tobacco.
This past week one of the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act mandates was instituted. That is the banning of flavored tobacco or flavorings being added to cigarettes. Unfortunately, that really doesn't impact the industry much. Clove cigarettes may be smoked by some artsy types who will now have to switch to clove cigars, but the majority of flavoring is in smokeless tobacco products and those are targeted increasingly to women and children. Since the FDA regs do not allow for the ban of menthol, cigarette users really are not affected by the flavoring stipulation.
Today, while watching the game I saw a commercial for Chantix, not that you'd know and promotions for our State of Florida Quit Line. The Pfizer ad was subtle. Ask your doctor about prescription medication that can help you quit. The ad talked about all the times "you said" you would quit and that now is "my time to quit."
Tobacco Free Florida is our state website, funded by tobacco settlement monies and DOH grants. I was THRILLED to see at least two different Tampa Bay players promote quitting. They said, "I am tobacco free" and then said the number of our quit line. Celebrity spokespersons can be very effective, however, it works best when coupled with an anti tobacco message.
Oh and during the game the announcers discussed that we had the oldest coach in the NFL and the youngest, at today's match up. So the age of the oldest coach? No not 70 - He is only 63.
Not regarding today's TV watching, but I am excited about news of a possible break through in a vaccine for HIV and hope to study that more this week.
Okay that is that then.
This past week one of the new Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act mandates was instituted. That is the banning of flavored tobacco or flavorings being added to cigarettes. Unfortunately, that really doesn't impact the industry much. Clove cigarettes may be smoked by some artsy types who will now have to switch to clove cigars, but the majority of flavoring is in smokeless tobacco products and those are targeted increasingly to women and children. Since the FDA regs do not allow for the ban of menthol, cigarette users really are not affected by the flavoring stipulation.
Today, while watching the game I saw a commercial for Chantix, not that you'd know and promotions for our State of Florida Quit Line. The Pfizer ad was subtle. Ask your doctor about prescription medication that can help you quit. The ad talked about all the times "you said" you would quit and that now is "my time to quit."
Tobacco Free Florida is our state website, funded by tobacco settlement monies and DOH grants. I was THRILLED to see at least two different Tampa Bay players promote quitting. They said, "I am tobacco free" and then said the number of our quit line. Celebrity spokespersons can be very effective, however, it works best when coupled with an anti tobacco message.
Oh and during the game the announcers discussed that we had the oldest coach in the NFL and the youngest, at today's match up. So the age of the oldest coach? No not 70 - He is only 63.
Not regarding today's TV watching, but I am excited about news of a possible break through in a vaccine for HIV and hope to study that more this week.
Okay that is that then.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Obesity Drugs
I have never held back my concerns about the treatment of obesity. I feel that the best treatment is weight loss that occurs naturally from energy intake and expenditure changes. Still, treatment for the morbidly obese and those close to it, often does involve invasive, and I mean, life changing, invasive surgery or some type of prescription medication. The medications often involve some type of neurotransmitter activation or metabolism adjustments and to date have lacked efficacy or have been effective but lethal.
You must know that publicly traded and independent drug companies are constantly at work trying to find the chemical compound that will take calorie reduction out of the equation. Pills do not, or have not, come without a price and I mean more than a dollar price, but we want the easy way.... It saddens me. I see all these ads, "is your job making you fat?", " is stress making you fat?" NO ... food is making you fat.... and I am digressing from my point.
In a recent article about a drug that looked promising in a previous trial but less so in a current one, additional information about obesity drug qualifications was explained.
In past posts, I have explained that everyone cannot make drugs and sell them without showing the FDA that there is a need. To meet this need, the drug must treat a condition that there is no drug for, or treat it much more effectively than an existing drug, or treat a condition with less side effects than an existing drug does. With obesity drugs there are a few more elements.
The subjects in the clinical trial must lose 5% of their body weight over those taking a placebo. OR 35% of the experimental group has to lose 5% of their body weight and double the proportion of the placebo group. At least we have some high standards here. Also the results have to be statistically significant and not just something that could be seen through chance. (there are statisticians who figure that part out)
It is important to note that last piece because some commercials that say " X was effective in a clinical trial" do not clarify if that was statistically significant. Also, those that say their product was developed with clinical trials are not saying anything about efficacy!
You must know that publicly traded and independent drug companies are constantly at work trying to find the chemical compound that will take calorie reduction out of the equation. Pills do not, or have not, come without a price and I mean more than a dollar price, but we want the easy way.... It saddens me. I see all these ads, "is your job making you fat?", " is stress making you fat?" NO ... food is making you fat.... and I am digressing from my point.
In a recent article about a drug that looked promising in a previous trial but less so in a current one, additional information about obesity drug qualifications was explained.
In past posts, I have explained that everyone cannot make drugs and sell them without showing the FDA that there is a need. To meet this need, the drug must treat a condition that there is no drug for, or treat it much more effectively than an existing drug, or treat a condition with less side effects than an existing drug does. With obesity drugs there are a few more elements.
The subjects in the clinical trial must lose 5% of their body weight over those taking a placebo. OR 35% of the experimental group has to lose 5% of their body weight and double the proportion of the placebo group. At least we have some high standards here. Also the results have to be statistically significant and not just something that could be seen through chance. (there are statisticians who figure that part out)
It is important to note that last piece because some commercials that say " X was effective in a clinical trial" do not clarify if that was statistically significant. Also, those that say their product was developed with clinical trials are not saying anything about efficacy!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Odds and Ends
Here we are again at week's end. I have a few left over bits to share.
I saw a commercial on line last night while watching a TV show. It was a little dog explaining that he used to have good poop but now it was superior. YUP that is what I said. I wish I could find it now, but a quick google search didn't draw it out. It did involve a cute canine saying how he used to be a good pooper but now he was a super pooper and this was owed to some brand of dog food. Well, I do get it. Colon health is important and a high fiber diet is one strategy for maintaining it. I guess dogs don't need my cereal bars as they have that special dog food, but you do not have to eat dog food for super poop! (ah, I make myself laugh out loud sometimes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEZkK_Z3deQ my cereal bar recipe is here
Ah, I am a bit dejected. I, as you know, am a big fan of Kenneth Cooper, MD. Recently a newspaper story attributed a comment to him and when I contacted the reporter I was told that Dr. Cooper had made this comment in his book the Antioxidant Revolution. I did get the book from the library and was reviewing it this weekend. I am frustrated because the book was published in 1994 and many of the things that Dr. Cooper is advocating have since been either disproved as effective or found to be harmful. I worry because many people who read the book now would not know that! The important part is this however. Every action that occurs in our bodies as well as assaults that occur from without, like smoking and pollution, lead to free radical expression. Free radicals in small numbers are good and in a slight excess our bodies own (endogenous) antioxidants can manage the extra. Unchecked and abundant free radicals can lead to heart disease and cancer as well as aging. Research continues to support that exogenous antioxidants from FOOD can help, but supplements do not. Dr. Cooper's book is heavy on supplement promotion. It is a 15 year old book!
Sorry for the inconvenience: Some weeks back, I read a short article by Howard Brandston who is a lighting consultant. He was discussing how the energy conservation efforts that call for compact fluorescent lights or CFLs over incandescent ones are not considering how uncomfortable Americans will be with this change. I am sorry, what? He talked about how our dimmer switches for ambiance and home theatre systems would not work well with the CFLs. What an incredibly spoiled group we have become.
I was intrigued by a show on NPR yesterday and wanted to mention the gist of the conversation to you. A scientist or professor from UCLA was saying that the elephant in the room of Health Care Reform was food. He discussed diabetes, especially diabetes 2 and that high fructose corn syrup had a lot to do with it. He said that diabetes was leading to costly treatments but that physicians received reimbursement to treat it and not to prevent it. He also noted that our government pays farmers to grow a lot of corn and this corn is used to make the very cheap high fructose corn syrup which is used most generously in sodas. Soda consumption is a big factor in our obesity and diabetes epidemics. I do hope that prevention programs become the norm. Expect the insurance companies to role out some fancy wellness programs when the reform passes. Maybe I can work for them!
You may not be aware, but the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 bans all flavorings in cigarettes, except menthol. That means clove cigarettes will be banned. However, the ban on flavorings, which we feel entice children, does not include cigars. Get ready then for the Clove Cigar.
Lastly. A report about bacteria in our oceans, east and west and gulf coast, was scary. In the news story it was advised that we not avoid our oceans but that we rinse ourselves off when we leave. This advice is regarding the water AND the sand of our beaches. I just thought the irony should be noted. We have poisoned our waters and now they are poisoning us.
Might I just add - Go Giants
I saw a commercial on line last night while watching a TV show. It was a little dog explaining that he used to have good poop but now it was superior. YUP that is what I said. I wish I could find it now, but a quick google search didn't draw it out. It did involve a cute canine saying how he used to be a good pooper but now he was a super pooper and this was owed to some brand of dog food. Well, I do get it. Colon health is important and a high fiber diet is one strategy for maintaining it. I guess dogs don't need my cereal bars as they have that special dog food, but you do not have to eat dog food for super poop! (ah, I make myself laugh out loud sometimes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEZkK_Z3deQ my cereal bar recipe is here
Ah, I am a bit dejected. I, as you know, am a big fan of Kenneth Cooper, MD. Recently a newspaper story attributed a comment to him and when I contacted the reporter I was told that Dr. Cooper had made this comment in his book the Antioxidant Revolution. I did get the book from the library and was reviewing it this weekend. I am frustrated because the book was published in 1994 and many of the things that Dr. Cooper is advocating have since been either disproved as effective or found to be harmful. I worry because many people who read the book now would not know that! The important part is this however. Every action that occurs in our bodies as well as assaults that occur from without, like smoking and pollution, lead to free radical expression. Free radicals in small numbers are good and in a slight excess our bodies own (endogenous) antioxidants can manage the extra. Unchecked and abundant free radicals can lead to heart disease and cancer as well as aging. Research continues to support that exogenous antioxidants from FOOD can help, but supplements do not. Dr. Cooper's book is heavy on supplement promotion. It is a 15 year old book!
Sorry for the inconvenience: Some weeks back, I read a short article by Howard Brandston who is a lighting consultant. He was discussing how the energy conservation efforts that call for compact fluorescent lights or CFLs over incandescent ones are not considering how uncomfortable Americans will be with this change. I am sorry, what? He talked about how our dimmer switches for ambiance and home theatre systems would not work well with the CFLs. What an incredibly spoiled group we have become.
I was intrigued by a show on NPR yesterday and wanted to mention the gist of the conversation to you. A scientist or professor from UCLA was saying that the elephant in the room of Health Care Reform was food. He discussed diabetes, especially diabetes 2 and that high fructose corn syrup had a lot to do with it. He said that diabetes was leading to costly treatments but that physicians received reimbursement to treat it and not to prevent it. He also noted that our government pays farmers to grow a lot of corn and this corn is used to make the very cheap high fructose corn syrup which is used most generously in sodas. Soda consumption is a big factor in our obesity and diabetes epidemics. I do hope that prevention programs become the norm. Expect the insurance companies to role out some fancy wellness programs when the reform passes. Maybe I can work for them!
You may not be aware, but the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 bans all flavorings in cigarettes, except menthol. That means clove cigarettes will be banned. However, the ban on flavorings, which we feel entice children, does not include cigars. Get ready then for the Clove Cigar.
Lastly. A report about bacteria in our oceans, east and west and gulf coast, was scary. In the news story it was advised that we not avoid our oceans but that we rinse ourselves off when we leave. This advice is regarding the water AND the sand of our beaches. I just thought the irony should be noted. We have poisoned our waters and now they are poisoning us.
Might I just add - Go Giants
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Odds and Ends
Protect Your Feet: Ever notice people’s feet when they are wearing sandals? Well, you will now. Some people have very smooth looking feet while others have white looking dry skin, especially at their heels, layers of it really. I first began to notice this some years back and quickly changed my routine to prevent such an outcome for me. My Mom had always told me to apply lotion after a shower and I have done so, for years and years. I used to not apply it to the bottom of my feet, but as I said, once I noticed how bad feet could look, I made sure to go from face to feet with my lotion, EVERY day. Here is a tip for you. Have a bottle of lotion by your bed and apply to feet at night. Make this a routine, like brushing your teeth. Trust me on this one. Actually, you should trust me on all of this!
What People Will Say: I was out and about doing my paid job this week when an older person, a hospital volunteer actually, said quite loudly to me, “You are so little. What are you a zero?” I replied that I was, but only because they make clothes bigger than they used to so that heavy people don’t feel so bad. But her question, which didn’t really offend me, begs this question, “Why is that okay to ask?” Had she seen an overly large person would she have said, “You are SO big, what are you a 24?” Likely not.
Pfizer’s Trickle Down Effect: I didn’t think of this until my Mom mentioned it to me as we strolled along the beautiful Florida gulf beach this weekend. When Pfizer was at its most aggressive marketing and drug promoting, it often brought health care professionals to restaurants or brought food from restaurants to the hospitals and clinics. My mother said that some waitresses or cooks really began to rely on the 25 dollar tips and that since then some have actually had trouble paying their bills. I absolutely think Pfizer should pay up the 2.3 billion in settlement fees, but this shows how much of a ripple effect the behavior of one company can have.
Joints and Exercise: I heard a report on NPR this past Friday that supports previous research that the use of our bodies is a protective factor against arthritis. And again, injury of knees or ankles and such are the biggest cause of later life arthritis. IN other words, highly active people, even life long runners, do not develop arthritis from activity unless they have had injuries in certain joints. You can read about it here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112556135
My last odds and ends have to do with some foods I recently saw advertised. The first I have noted before, OJ. I cannot find the ad online but suffice it to say, OJ is not the best way to get the nutrients that an orange offers because the juice is concentrated and thus high in sugar or fructose and low in fiber.
Things get worse from there. The other two food items that I became aware of this week are from IHOP and Bob Evans. I saw a mention of the IHOP NFL promotion of AFC and NFC stuffed French toast in the WSJ. The bit in the paper just noted that there was a 50 cent price difference between the two. IHOP’s website notes that it is their classic stuffed French toast but shaped like a foot ball and served either over some strawberry or blueberry concoction, not fresh fruit. IHOP doesn’t say, but other websites state that the meal has about 1500 calories, not counting orange juice (kidding). That is just about my entire calorie need for the day! http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/09/football-shaped-stuffed-french-toast-at-ihop/
And lastly, I saw a commercial for a Bob Evans dish. I knew it was bad before I even looked it up. It is called a knife and fork sandwich. There are several varieties but I saw the ad for the meatloaf one. This is what I saw; meatloaf with a slice of cheese, on top of mashed potatoes, on top of a thick slice of bread, covered in gravy. That comes in at 820 calories and 37 grams of fat. http://www2.bobevans.com/WebSite/Nutritionals.nsf/$$TemplateforNutritionals?OpenForm&category=SANDWICHES
Oh and I should add this last thing that I heard. Frito Lay has decided to put MORE chips in its bags.
All this being said; who is it that thinks that the food and restaurant industries are going to voluntarily make their items healthier? And who doesn’t think having calorie info on the menu when you order is a good idea?
I believe this post might last two days with tomorrow being Labor Day so enjoy your picnic and remember those not cheeseburger salads on You Tube.
What People Will Say: I was out and about doing my paid job this week when an older person, a hospital volunteer actually, said quite loudly to me, “You are so little. What are you a zero?” I replied that I was, but only because they make clothes bigger than they used to so that heavy people don’t feel so bad. But her question, which didn’t really offend me, begs this question, “Why is that okay to ask?” Had she seen an overly large person would she have said, “You are SO big, what are you a 24?” Likely not.
Pfizer’s Trickle Down Effect: I didn’t think of this until my Mom mentioned it to me as we strolled along the beautiful Florida gulf beach this weekend. When Pfizer was at its most aggressive marketing and drug promoting, it often brought health care professionals to restaurants or brought food from restaurants to the hospitals and clinics. My mother said that some waitresses or cooks really began to rely on the 25 dollar tips and that since then some have actually had trouble paying their bills. I absolutely think Pfizer should pay up the 2.3 billion in settlement fees, but this shows how much of a ripple effect the behavior of one company can have.
Joints and Exercise: I heard a report on NPR this past Friday that supports previous research that the use of our bodies is a protective factor against arthritis. And again, injury of knees or ankles and such are the biggest cause of later life arthritis. IN other words, highly active people, even life long runners, do not develop arthritis from activity unless they have had injuries in certain joints. You can read about it here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112556135
My last odds and ends have to do with some foods I recently saw advertised. The first I have noted before, OJ. I cannot find the ad online but suffice it to say, OJ is not the best way to get the nutrients that an orange offers because the juice is concentrated and thus high in sugar or fructose and low in fiber.
Things get worse from there. The other two food items that I became aware of this week are from IHOP and Bob Evans. I saw a mention of the IHOP NFL promotion of AFC and NFC stuffed French toast in the WSJ. The bit in the paper just noted that there was a 50 cent price difference between the two. IHOP’s website notes that it is their classic stuffed French toast but shaped like a foot ball and served either over some strawberry or blueberry concoction, not fresh fruit. IHOP doesn’t say, but other websites state that the meal has about 1500 calories, not counting orange juice (kidding). That is just about my entire calorie need for the day! http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/09/football-shaped-stuffed-french-toast-at-ihop/
And lastly, I saw a commercial for a Bob Evans dish. I knew it was bad before I even looked it up. It is called a knife and fork sandwich. There are several varieties but I saw the ad for the meatloaf one. This is what I saw; meatloaf with a slice of cheese, on top of mashed potatoes, on top of a thick slice of bread, covered in gravy. That comes in at 820 calories and 37 grams of fat. http://www2.bobevans.com/WebSite/Nutritionals.nsf/$$TemplateforNutritionals?OpenForm&category=SANDWICHES
Oh and I should add this last thing that I heard. Frito Lay has decided to put MORE chips in its bags.
All this being said; who is it that thinks that the food and restaurant industries are going to voluntarily make their items healthier? And who doesn’t think having calorie info on the menu when you order is a good idea?
I believe this post might last two days with tomorrow being Labor Day so enjoy your picnic and remember those not cheeseburger salads on You Tube.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A Rose by Any Other Name
If Roses were called broccoli, would they still make us smile and blush when we were presented with them? I do not know the answer to that, but I can tell you that broccoli and other cruciferous and green leafy vegetables are the roses for our hearts and arteries.
It has been long recommended that we eat our vegetables. In doing so, we will have less chance of heart disease and cancer. A new study from London attempts to explain why.
Now this is a real deviation from my usual reports on epidemiological studies on nutrition. (studies regarding what populations do and the effects those behaviors have on their health)
This study involves mice taking a chemical basically. It was a lab experiment.
Some scientists believe that a chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane turns on a protective protein in our bodies that can reduce fatty plaque build up in our arteries (atherosclerosis).
The study that comes out of the Imperial College of London did the exact opposite of what I say people should do. Instead of the mice eating "broccoli" they were fed a purified form of sulforaphane that must have been synthesized some how. In the animal studies the protective protein, called Nrf2 was indeed activated. The scientists will now try giving the mice with hardened and clogged arteries the same chemical as it appears in broccoli.
It is said that if this does not have the same positive effect, the recommendation will be that people take sulforaphane in pills. OMG.. did I just say that on my blog?
Actually, the news article I read did not mention anything about drugs that reduce plaque buildup but other websites and articles note that the broccoli chemical worked as well as prescription statins, now that IS newsworthy!
http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=10400&utm_source=Front%2BPage&utm_medium=Promo%2BBox%204&utm_campaign=Brocolli040909
BTW, this is a good reason that restaurants should offer sides of broccoli to our children instead of cucumbers and celery... which are really low in nutrients. Oh, but parents, be careful, just because they steam it doesn't mean they don't add butter. Ask and Decline!
It has been long recommended that we eat our vegetables. In doing so, we will have less chance of heart disease and cancer. A new study from London attempts to explain why.
Now this is a real deviation from my usual reports on epidemiological studies on nutrition. (studies regarding what populations do and the effects those behaviors have on their health)
This study involves mice taking a chemical basically. It was a lab experiment.
Some scientists believe that a chemical in broccoli called sulforaphane turns on a protective protein in our bodies that can reduce fatty plaque build up in our arteries (atherosclerosis).
The study that comes out of the Imperial College of London did the exact opposite of what I say people should do. Instead of the mice eating "broccoli" they were fed a purified form of sulforaphane that must have been synthesized some how. In the animal studies the protective protein, called Nrf2 was indeed activated. The scientists will now try giving the mice with hardened and clogged arteries the same chemical as it appears in broccoli.
It is said that if this does not have the same positive effect, the recommendation will be that people take sulforaphane in pills. OMG.. did I just say that on my blog?
Actually, the news article I read did not mention anything about drugs that reduce plaque buildup but other websites and articles note that the broccoli chemical worked as well as prescription statins, now that IS newsworthy!
http://www.bhf.org.uk/default.aspx?page=10400&utm_source=Front%2BPage&utm_medium=Promo%2BBox%204&utm_campaign=Brocolli040909
BTW, this is a good reason that restaurants should offer sides of broccoli to our children instead of cucumbers and celery... which are really low in nutrients. Oh, but parents, be careful, just because they steam it doesn't mean they don't add butter. Ask and Decline!
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