Current Health News and Studies About Nutrition and ExercisePage 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 September 11, 2009: Steven Blair, a professor of exercise science and epidemiology at the University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, spoke recently at the American Psychological Association's (APA) 117th Annual Convention held in Toronto, Canada. Mr. Blair is known as one of the world's leading experts on exercise and its benefits to health. In his address to the attending psychologists, Mr. Blair said that the greatest threat to Americans in this century is their widespread sedentary lives, and its negative effect on health. Speaking, Mr. Blair said, "Over the past few decades, we have largely engineered the need for physical activity out of the daily lives of most people in industrialized societies..." According to Mr. Blair, research shows that anywhere from 25 to 35 percent of all Americans are inactive. Continuing, he said that they work sedentary jobs, neglect to committing to any physical activity, don't do anything in the house, and most hire others to do their yard work. In a publicized statement, Mr. Blair said, "Given that these individuals are doubling their risk of developing numerous health conditions compared with those who are even moderately active and fit, we're looking at a major public health problem." Part of Mr. Blair's research is derived from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS.) This study which was started in 1970 is ongoing. It involves over 80,000 individuals. Researchers keep track of each volunteer's medical history, and periodically their body mass index (BMI) is determined and body composition measured. They also underwent a stress test. Upon examining research results, Mr. Blair said that the volunteer's fitness level is a good indicator of their lifespan. A follow-up study of 40,842 ACLS participants shows that poor fitness levels accounted for the deaths of 16 percent of both men and women. The ACLS study also shows that physical activity doesn't have to be excessive. It reveals that men who were only moderately active lived six years longer than those who were classified as 'couch potatoes.' "We need numerous changes to promote more physical activity for all, including public policies, changes in the health care system, promoting activity in educational settings and worksites, and social and physical environmental changes. We need more communities where people feel comfortable walking...I believe psychologists can help develop better lifestyle change interventions to help people be more active via the Internet and other technological methods," said Mr. Blair. September 17, 2009: many people today suffer from vitamin B12 malabsorption; B12 malabsorption is the body's inability to detach B12 from food or its binding proteins. Vitamin B12 is essential for: Proper assimilation of vitamin B12 is dependent on a protein known as intrinsic factor (IF.) Intrinsic Factor is a protein that attaches to B12 and allows the body to absorb it into the bloodstream at the end of the small intestine. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can come from many directions. Since B12 is present only in animal food sources, vegetarians and vegans will be naturally deficit. Other deficiencies occur because: Although B12 is water-soluble, it does not leave the body quickly as do other water-soluble vitamins. Vitamin B12 is stored in the liver, kidneys, and other parts of the body. A deficiency may not be apparent for many years. After approximately seven years of B12 deficiency, irreversible brain damage can occur. Chronic B12 deficiency can also result in depression, dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, anemia, neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, fertility and childbearing difficulties for women, heart disease, and cancer. Animal sources of vitamin B12 include pork, seafood, beef, chicken, milk, and eggs. B12 is actually a generic class of compounds known as Cobalamins. Vitamin B12 deficiency is scientifically a 'Cobalamin' deficiency. There are three major formulations of cobalamins and all end with the -cobalamin suffix: hydroxocobalamin, cyanocobalamin, and methylcobalamin. Cyanocobalamin. By far the most commonly used form in the United States and the medical world in general. This is the form often given in B12 'shots' in the doctor's office. Of the three forms of cobalamin, cyanocobalamin is the worst. It requires a greater dosage to get the same effect as hydroxocobalamin. It is ineffective for several B12 deficiencies. Researchers going back to the 1970s have called for cyanocobalamin to be removed from the market. Japan has already done so. Methylcobalamin. This is the form found in animal food sources. It is by far the superior form of B12. Methylcobalamin is effective against neurologic diseases. It is also highly effective in removing toxic substances from your body. The bioavailability of methylcobalamin is the highest of any form. September 18, 2009: it has been discovered that beets can increase exercise stamina by 16 percent; historically, beet juice has been used as a cancer fighter since the 1950s. In the 1950s, Dr. Ferenczi of Csoma, Hungary had good success in using beet juice to break up cancerous tumors. However, he also discovered that if his patients discontinued drinking beet juice, the tumors would reappear. Dr. Ferenczi recommended drinking one-quarter gallon of beet juice on a daily basis to break up tumors. Results were realized in a matter of weeks or months. The only weak link in using beet juice is the disposal of the waste products due to tumor breakup. The breakup is very fast, sometimes overpowering the body's ability to dispose of the matter. It is recommended that detoxification methods such as colon and liver cleansing be used in conjunction with beet juice therapy. The primary cancer fighting ingredient in beets is betacyanin. Betacyanin is the substance which gives beets their bright, distinctive color. Beets will also magnify detoxifying compounds in the body, making it a more efficient detoxifier. September 20, 2009: according to the August 24, 2009 issue of U.S. News & World Report, over 12 million Americans have the most common form of sleep disordered breathing, obstructive sleep apnea; throat muscles are tight while you are awake. While you are asleep, they relax, allowing the airway to collapse or become stopped up by the tongue. Blockage of the airway interrupts the flow of air sometimes for as long as ten seconds or more. This can happen multiple times at night without the person even being aware of it. Sleep apnea causes constant dips in blood oxygen levels. Sleep apnea has been associated with high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, loss of memory, obesity, parasomnias, and insulin resistance which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Scientists have long suspected a link between chronic sleep apnea and premature death. This link has been confirmed by a study published in the Public Library of Science. Being overweight or obese can lead to sleep apnea, or aggravate it. Excess weight can increase the size of tissues in and around the airway making it more likely to collapse as muscles relax during sleep. Over 50 percent of the people diagnosed with sleep apnea are overweight. Alcohol, a muscle relaxant, can relax the throat muscles more than usual during sleep. This makes the airway more vulnerable to blockage. Sleep medications can also cause the same effect as alcohol. Sleeping on your back aggravates sleep apnea; sleeping on your side eases it. Scientists suspect that the body desires a deep sleep when sleep deprived. Sleep apnea is maximized during this deep sleep phase known as REM (rapid eye movement.) Conversely, sleep deprivation can result from sleep apnea. Constant smoking can irritate the throat leading to sleep apnea. September 22, 2009: the death rate from unintended injury in the United States increased 11 percent between the years 1999 and 2005; one category was particularly disturbing. The jump in deaths from poisoning totaled 89 percent of all unintended injuries. The jump in mortality was among Americans aged 15 to 64 years of age. The poisoning was due primarily to prescription drugs. Antidepressant drugs have led the surge of all medications currently being prescribed. Americans taking prescription drugs increased 72 percent between 1997 and 2007. According to the New York Times, almost 4 billion prescriptions were filled in 2007. This is an average of nearly 13 prescriptions for every American. Statistics reveal that the average senior citizen gets more than 30 prescriptions filled each and every year; Americans aged 19 through 64 fill an average of 12 prescriptions every year. Even children are not exempt. Those between the ages of 0 through 18 average 4 prescriptions a year. Dr. Joseph Mercola says that American children are among the most medicated children in the world! A new term has been invented for the mixing of multiple prescription medications-polypharmacy. Dr. Michael Stern, a specialist in geriatric emergency medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, said in an interview by the New York Times, “Polypharmacy is responsible for up to 28 percent of hospital admissions and, if it were classified as such, it would be the fifth leading cause of death in the United States.” September 23, 2009: like the ostrich which buries her head in the sand, soda manufacturers refused to acknowledge the link between their products and obesity; now a massive California study has placed another nail in the coffin of soda-both diet and regular. Questioning the soda drinking behavior of 43,000 adults and 4,000 adolescents, researchers have found that by drinking one or more sodas a day increases the chance of becoming obese by 27 percent. This same study revealed that 41 percent of California children drink at least one soda a day, 62 percent of adolescents drink at least one a day, and 24 percent of adults drink at least one daily. The average California teenager consumes a whopping 39 pounds of liquid sugar a year from soda alone! (Additional reading...) September 24, 2009: most people know that cancer and heart disease rank one and two as the top causes of death in America; what would surprise most people is the cause that ranks in the top ten. According to a jointly funded study by scientists from Harvard University and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), omega-3 deficiency ranks in the top ten as the cause of death in America. (Read all about omega-3 fatty acids here.) Omega-3 deficiency is also preventable. Anywhere from 72,000 to 96,0000 Americans die from inadequate intakes of omega-3 fatty acids. The researchers examined twelve dietary, metabolic, and lifestyle factors. They then used a sophisticated mathematical model to find out how may deaths could have been prevented had each factor had been taken care of. September 24, 2009: the August 9, 2009 issue of Time magazine published an article entitled Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin; as an exercise enthusiast and fitness guru for well over 30 years, I was flabbergasted. Not because I believed the claim and that I had wasted 30 years of my life, but because thousands of studies and anecdotal evidence from millions of health oriented individuals, including Jack LaLanne himself, believe the opposite. According to the article, currently 45 million Americans claim to have memberships at health clubs as opposed to 23 million in 1993. These 45 million memberships cost approximately $19 billion! John Cloud, the author of the article, works out regularly with a personal trainer. He says that like many others who work out, he gets hungry after exercising. This hunger causes him to eat more on workout days than on non-workout days. Mr. Cloud then asks a rhetorical question, "Could exercise actually be keeping me from losing weight?" He then quotes Eric Ravussin, chair in diabetes and metabolism at Louisiana State University and a prominent exercise researcher who says, "In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless..." Based on Eric Ravussin's comment, Mr.Cloud's experience, and a few recent studies he mentions which say that exercise isn't as important to weight loss as many believe, Mr. Cloud reaches the conclusion that exercise stimulates hunger. That hunger in turn causes the exerciser to eat more than he should thus making his exercise routine counterproductive. First of all let me say that weight loss is a small part of a healthy lifestyle paradigm. If a healthy lifestyle is the total focus and goal, you will lose weight if you are overweight. A healthy lifestyle is a holistic approach encompassing your entire being. The physical aspect of this holistic approach must include both nutrition and exercise. Exercise alone is not enough to cause permanent and healthy weight loss. It's like rowing with one oar. You are constantly moving but only in one direction. The same hold true with nutrition alone. People who are concerned about their health and who exercise make sensible food choices. They don't spend an hour with a personal trainer and then go to Duncan Donuts and load up on the sugary treats. Read exercise for health and the benefits of exercise for irrefutable studies on the importance of exercise. September 25, 2009: an estimated 27 million Americans suffer from osteoarthritis; what once afflicted people at 60 or 70 years of age is now targeting those in their 40s and 50s. What is osteoarthritis? It is a medical problem affecting the joints. It happens when cartilage breaks down. Cartilage is the material that cushions the bones. When cartilage wears down, bone begins to rub on bone. Osteoarthritis occurs most often in the knees. It is also common in the hips, and to a lesser extent in the fingers, neck, and toes. James Fries, a rheumatologist at the Stanford University Medical School in Palo Alto, California says, "Osteoarthritis used to be characterized as a 'wear and tear' disease. The idea was that after a certain amount of pounding or living or time or whatever, practically everybody would get it sooner or later. We now know that for the weight-bearing joints like the knees and hips, it's tear, not wear..." The people who are at the greatest risk of developing osteoarthritis are the overweight or obese. By controlling your bodyweight, osteoarthritis could be reduced by 40 to 50 percent. A recent study of 3,000 North Carolinians who kept a healthy bodyweight beginning at age 18 had only a 29 percent chance of being diagnosed with osteoarthritis at a later age. Those who gained an unhealthy amount of weight had a 60 percent chance. Abnormal weight affects joints by increased stress on the knees. This stress makes the cartilage have to withstand forces that it wasn't designed to withstand. The weight also generates inflammation which in turn wears down the cartilage. Joint injuries can also lead to osteoarthritis. It is estimated that 20 to 30 percent of osteoarthritis stems from an injury. Athletes-whether professional or week-end-who tear a cruciate ligament or a meniscus are more than likely to develop osteoarthritis later in life. This can occur even when the injury is surgically repaired. Sixty to seventy percent of people over the age of 65 have a degenerative tear in a meniscus. Genetics can predispose you to develop osteoarthritis. This was the case with Jane Fonda. Her father Henry Fonda had it. Her brother, Peter, has osteoarthritis in his hip. People who are bow-legged or knock-kneed are predisposed to developing osteoarthritis. Certain jobs can also cause this debilitating disease. Jobs such as carpet installers or jobs which call for constant ladder climbing can cause osteoarthritis to develop. Women are at an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis. One reason is that women tend to be more overweight then men. Another reason is that women's joints and muscles are not constructed as stable as are men's. Experts tell us that nothing is able to stop or slow down osteoarthritis. It seems that only hip or knee replacement can guarantee that. However, certain lifestyle modifications can make the disease easier to live with. Since being overweight or obese is the greatest factor in developing osteoarthritis, getting down to a healthy weight is crucial. This reduces the load on the hips and knees and lessens inflammation. This will subsequently reduce the pain and discomfort. Exercise is important to reduce the debilitating effects of osteoarthritis. Cartilage has no blood supply. But when it is stressed through exercise, cartilage will squirt out waste products. And when the stress is relieved, the cartilage is fed oxygen. This keeps its cells alive. Strengthening exercises for the muscles surrounding the joints will decrease the pain. Light leg raises while seated will do the trick. Start with just lifting each leg parallel to your body when seated. Then attempt to lift them slightly above parallel. You will feel your quadriceps tense and slightly burn. You may want to progress to using very light weights when you become accustomed to the exercise. September 26, 2009: according to the Associated Press (AP), obesity is the leading cause of cancer; the AP says that 1 in 12 newly diagnosed cases of cancer are attributable to unhealthy weight. The AP also reports that according to European scientists, obesity accounts for 8 percent of all cancers on the continent. “Obesity is catching up at a rate that makes it possible it could become the biggest attributable cause of cancer in women within the next decade,” says University of Manchester cancer expert Andrew Renehan. In the United States, the National Cancer Institute says that being overweight and obese causes up to 14 percent of the cancer deaths in men and 20 percent in women. September 29, 2009: throughout the centuries man has been searching for the fabled fountain of youth; increasingly the fountain of youth is looking to be a nutrient rather than a place. This nutrient is known as resveratrol. Resveratrol is a polyphenol and anti-fungal. Research conducted in 2003 shows that it can increase the lifespan of yeast cells. It accomplishes this by turning on a gene called sirtuin1. This gene is activated in several species in a period of calorie restriction. Since 2003, studies have associated resveratrol to extended lives in nematode worms, fruit flies, fish, and mice. Other studies have discovered beneficial qualities in humans. These studies show anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects, cardiovascular benefits, anti-diabetes potential, energy endurance enhancement, and protection against Alzheimer’s. Resveratrol is able to cross the blood/brain barrier to protect the brain and nervous system. This ability is unique among antioxidants. Other known benefits of resveratrol include: An interesting study was published in the journal Nature. A group of mice was fed a diet consisting of 60 percent fat calories. The mice began dying prematurely developing incipient diabetes. A second group of mice was fed the same diet as the first. But they were also given substantial daily doses of resveratrol. The group given resveratrol gained weight but they avoided enlarged livers, high blood glucose and insulin. These factors can lead to full-blown diabetes. This group of mice lived as long as mice fed a healthy diet. September 30, 2009: red clover used in an Australian product by the name of Trinovin has been effective in reducing symptoms of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia); researchers have found out that red clover is the richest source of isoflavone plant compounds. Asian diets are high in isoflavones. According to studies, while Asian men develop precancerous prostate cells at about the identical rate of men in the West, the change into actual prostate cancer is much lower. In China, only 1.8 percent of the men develop prostate cancer while 53.4 percent of men of the same age group in the United States develop it. Asian diets are high in legumes such as chickpeas and other beans and soy. The legumes contain four isoflavones which are not commonly found in a Western diet-biochanin A, genistein, formononetin, and daidzein. When biopsies were performed on patients with prostate cancer who took Trinovin, it was discovered that they experienced a fivefold increase in cancer cell death over patients who did not take Trinovin. Trinovin treated patients in the study were given 4 tablets a day which supplied 160 mg per day of red clover derived isoflavones. Available in the United States, a dosage of one tablet taken daily with a meal is recommended (supplies 40 mg of isoflavones.) Last year Oprah and Dr. Oz talked about the acai berry on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Pursuing a quick buck, dishonest marketers have associated claims purportedly made by Oprah and Dr. Oz with their products. "Companies used the fact that Oprah and Memhet Oz talked about the acai berries on their shows to create the impression that Oprah and Oz were selling these products -- and endorsing them," said David Schardt, from the Center for Science and Public Interest (http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8369105.)
The taste of the acai berry is that of a combination of berry and chocolate. It is deep purple in color. Acai berries are a concentrated source of anthocyanins. As a matter of fact, they have 33 times the amount of anthocyanins of red grapes. The berries are also chock full of essential fatty acids, fiber, and protein. The berries are among the foods with the highest levels of ORAC values. ORAC determines the concentration of antioxidants a food has. The higher the ORAC value, the greater capacity your body has to fight against health destroying free radicals. Acai berries contain 10 times the antioxidant levels of grapes and 2 times that of blueberries. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC be consumed daily. However, the average American consumes only 1,000. Acai is reported to: The fruit is highly perishable. It should be eaten within 24 hours of it being harvested. In order to protect the nutrients within the acai berry, it must be freeze-dried, canned, or frozen within hours of harvest. The best method of preservation is to freeze the entire fruit (pulp and juice.) This allows fragile omega-3s, 6s, and 9s and the antioxidants to remain intact. You have heard of other exotic fruits such as Goji, Noni and Mangosteen. Acai differs from these products because it contains the all important essential fatty acids omega-3s, 6, and 9. Also, 99% of these other fruits (as well as some acai fruits) are refined in China where they spray everything with harsh chemicals and preservatives and have the lowest form of quality control and have virtually no organic program. Acai products (especially the juice) is bottled and distributed by many manufacturers. All are not equal. You want only the highest quality product you can find. I highly recommend acai products from Amazon Thunder. Mercola.com has high quality, organic acai capsules which I highly recommend too. High quality acai products from Amazon Thunder is organic certified or made from organic ingredients. They are made in USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) organic certified facilities. Acai products have no added sugar. And although many manufacturers choose to add caffeine to their products, Amazon Thunder does not. October 1, 2009: research continues to accumulate about the necessity of adequate levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet; the British Journal of Nutrition reported that people who are overweight and obese have low levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their bloodstream compared to healthy-sized individuals. Animal studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may increase the production of heat by the process of thermogenesis. A study also discovered that omega-3s raised the satiety in overweight and obese individuals. This causes them to eat less. October 2, 2009: testosterone is a male hormone that is responsible for a deep voice, body hair, bulging muscles, and vigor in the bedroom; unfortunately, levels decline as you age. There are four main ways in which testosterone can be increased: (a) increased production (b) cortisol production decreased (cortisol is a hormone which competes with testosterone for binding spots on muscle cells) (c) testosterone can be liberated from sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and (d) decrease the amount of testosterone that is converted into estrogen. Following are four natural supplements which can accomplish one or more of the above: Forskolin: this is an extract from the plant Coleus forskohlii; this extract increases testosterone production and frees it from SHBG. Eurycoma longifolia: a Malaysian herb that reduces SHBG which in turn increases free testosterone; this herb also reduces cortisol levels. Tribulus terrestris: an herb which increases levels of luteinizing hormone; this hormone instructs cells located in the testicles to increase testosterone production. Damiana: a Mexican herb which has a very long history of being an aphrodisiac; a recent study revealed that this herb reduced testosterone's conversion to estrogen. October 3, 2009: researchers from the University of Leicester and the Institute for Molecular & Cellular Biology in Portugal have discovered a form of vitamin C which can help to promote wound healing and protect the DNA damage of skin cells; the form is a derivative known as ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA2P). Prior to this discovery, the group of researchers published evidence that DNA repair is upregulated in people consuming vitamin C supplements. They have now given mechanistic evidence for this in cell cultures. "The study indicates a mechanism by which vitamin C could contribute to the maintenance of a healthy skin by promoting wound healing and by protecting cellular DNA against damage caused by oxidation," states Dr. Marcus S. Cooke from the Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine and Department of Genetics, at the University of Leicester. The researchers feel that their findings will be of great value to the cosmetics industry. One of the causes of premature skin aging are free radicals. As an antioxidant, vitamin C destroys these destructive compounds. October 9, 2009: Since cows have been placed on a strictly grain diet-namely corn-their guts have changed to accommodate it. This has allowed cows' guts to not be resistant to E.coli. Cows normal diet is grass. Research suggests that E.coli cannot survive in the guts of grass-fed cows. What makes the diet of cows so important is an investigative article in the New Yorks Times about dance instructor Stephanie Smith who was left comatose from eating a single Cargill hamburger that was infected by E.coli. The particular strain of E.coli was E. coli O157:H7. This strain is very deadly. "Of course, a 'single hamburger' can include meat from hundreds of animals. Hamburger meat is often composed of various grades of meat from different parts of cows and even from different slaughterhouses. These cuts of meat are particularly vulnerable to E. coli contamination, but there is no federal requirement for grinders to test their ingredients for the pathogen" (When Hamburgers Cause Sickness, Paralysis, and Death; www.mercola.com.) October 14, 2009: Japanese research has concluded that drinking 5 or more cups of green tea daily can reduce the risk of developing certain blood cancers; in a study which lasted 10 years, the daily consumption of green tea lowered blood cancer risks by 42 percent and lymph system cancers by 48 percent. Researchers from Tohoku University looked at 40,000 Japanese men and women over a 10-year period analyzing factors such as age, gender, lifestyle and health. October 15, 2009: "Nearly a third of all children in this country are overweight or obese… and a third will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lifetimes," Obama said. "It is a major public health threat right now, so just imagine what we're going to be facing in 20 or 30 years if we don't get on this issue." As a parent, Mrs. Obama knows firsthand the difficulties of trying to ensure healthy meals for the family. Between working and going to the kid's sports events and meetings, little time is left for preparing home-cooked meals. "I remember coming home from a meeting or an event, tired- just tired... Going home to an empty refrigerator and kids who were hungry. And fussy… And all they want is some pizza and some burgers… I can relate," Mrs. Obama said. October 17, 2009: fish contamination was the subject of David Carpenter's study which was published in the journal Science; Dr. Carpenter, MD, is the director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany. Fish contamination arises from the widespread practice of cramming fish, notably salmon, into pens and feeding them soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. These fish are known as farmed. As a result of this practice, salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants than wild salmon. These contaminants include carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. Dr. Carpenter's research has shown that the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe. DDT has been associated with obesity and diabetes. Because farming spawns disease and other problems, these fish are treated with high concentrations of antibiotics and pesticides. You ingest these deadly chemicals when you eat farmed fish. Buy wild Alaskan salmon. Avoid canned fish which say fresh Atlantic. It is farmed. October 22, 2009: author Alissa Hamilton has blown the whistle on the orange juice industry in her book Squeezed: What You Don't Know About Orange Juice. Many manufacturers claim that their products are fresh. In truth however, truly fresh orange juice lasts only a few days. The best time to buy orange juice is from March to the end of June. Most of the products on the market are deoxidized, watered down, and inundated with sugar. And, almost all of the orange juice we drink in the United States is processed from oranges grown in Brazil. As far as nutrients is concerned, there is more vitamin C in the fruit than in a full glass of orange juice. (Courtesy of: The Real Food Channel (www.therealfoodchannel.com.) October 23, 2009: an extract from the plant Coleus forskohlil called forskolin has been shown to boost the male hormone testosterone. Forskolin works in two different ways. First it increases the production of testosterone. Secondly, forskolin liberates testosterone from SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin.) SHBG attaches itself to testosterone and carries it throughout the body. The catch is that when testosterone is bound to SHBG, it cannot be absorbed by muscle cells, increasing their mass. By detaching testosterone from SHBG, there is more of it to be used by the muscles. October 24, 2009: What was not so well known is that muscles of seniors do not respond well to a sudden onset of exercise. Instead of generating muscle growth, exercise after long periods of inactivity will build scar tissue in older adults. Remember the old saying use it or lose it? It is certainly true of muscle. Strength training should be incorporated into any exercise program. It should then be a consistent part of it. I began a consistent program of strength training in 1978 after primarily running to keep in shape. And now, 31 years later at the age of 58, I still weight train four days a week. Compared to the muscles of young people, the study found that older muscle tissue has four times less regenerative stem cells. Other research has shown that as a person ages, the body is less able to utilize the protein from food to build new muscle tissue. And too, insulin is unable to stop muscle breakdown between meals and overnight as it does in younger people. But, the take home message is that it is never too late to begin a weight training program. However, if you have been inactive for a long period of time, or if you have never weight trained, get a physical and a doctor's approval before starting. Then begin slowly. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will your adaptability. A slow start and moderation are the keys to a successful and beneficial, and I might add, enjoyable, weight training program. Read the benefits of weight training, as well as exercise in general, here. |
Acai berries are found in the rain forests of Brazil. They grow at the very top of palm trees some reaching a breathtaking 82 feet tall. The natives of the Amazon rain forest have been consuming these berries for years. 
first lady Michelle Obama sounded the alarm on America's escalating obesity rates in her speech before the Department of Health and Human Services. She specifically targeted the ever spiraling childhood obesity crisis. 
it is generally well known that as a person ages, 