Run Your Way to Fitness – Get Fit in 2011!
Raeanne Sisson’s business card speaks for itself. The “before” and “after” pictures show the transformation of 100 pounds lost since March 2009 with healthy eating and a commitment to regular exercise. It’s not a “diet.” “It’s permanent,” said Sisson, a teacher at Argenta-Oreana Elementary School, who is also a coach for Team Beachbody and attributes her success to a group of friends’ support and accountability. “It’s for life.” One of those friends is Brian Bell, a graphic designer who lost 135 pounds over eight months and now is committed to regular runs and weight maintenance.
He said he had to learn portion control and a mental adjustment to how he viewed food, but running is what put him over the top. In fact, nearly all the friends run and ran together in the 2 Miles to Miles 5K and fun run Dec. 31 at the Greater Decatur Y. Several of them first met at the Shoreline Classic in June. “If you want to see fast results, running will do it,” said Amanda Juarez, who works with Sisson at Argenta-Oreana. She’s a former college athlete who, now that she’s past her 30th birthday, needed a way to stay fit and feel competitive without organized sports. Running is her choice as well, even if her only competitor is herself. Yet they all stress that running is not the only exercise. The idea is to do something, anything, as long as it gets you off the couch and moving, and you should enjoy it, so you’ll stick with it. Sisson and her friends meet at the Y on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. for a group workout and do something different each time — yoga, P90X, Zumba and one called Insanity. It’s free and anybody can come.
They’ve had as many as 40 or 50 and as few as 10. The rest of the week, participants work out on their own, in whatever activity appeals to them. All ages, body types and fitness levels attend, said Lisa Koehler. Her mother, Diana, has attended. “I’m so proud of her,” Koehler said. The group will begin The 90-day Challenge on Jan. 19. Prior to that, an information meeting will be 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at the Avon Theatre. Sisson was on two medications to control high blood pressure and no longer takes either one. She’s gone from running a mere 30 seconds to being able to run a 5K. Bell has run 12 races this year. “One of the great things for me is, people become like family,” said Diana Koehler. “It’s so great to get out and get involved with all these great people.” [email protected] 421-7982 To see more of Herald & Review, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald-review.com Copyright © 2011, Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Posted Jan 4, 2010
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January 4th, 2011
Milk May Boost Weight Loss
Drinking a cup or two of milk a day might help overweight dieters lose even more weight. In a new study, dieters who consumed milk or milk products lost more weight on average than those who did not.Researchers in Israel placed more than 300 overweight men and women ages 40 to 65 on either a low-fat, low-carb or Mediterranean diet for two years. Regardless of meal plan, dieters who drank 12 ounces (a cup and a half) of milk each day lost 12 pounds at the end of two years, compared to only 7 pounds for dieters who drank less than half a cup of milk per day, according to their research published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. For each extra 6 ounces of milk per day — about three-quarters of a cup — dieters lost an additional 10 pounds in six months.
The researchers found that people who lost weight increased levels of Vitamin D in their blood, supporting other studies that found obesity is linked with the lack of Vitamin D. Soaking up rays of sun can naturally produce Vitamin D, as can drinking fortified milk, fatty fish and eggs. Four cups of milk has the recommended 400 international units (IU) of Vitamin D that recent studies show Americans aren’t getting. To see more of The Orlando Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.OrlandoSentinel.com. Copyright © 2010, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Marissa Cevallos, The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.
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Low Zinc Levels Increase Pneumonia Risk in Elderly
A high proportion of nursing facility residents were found to have low serum (blood) zinc concentrations during an observational study funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute on Aging.
The scientists found that those with normal blood zinc concentrations were about 50 percent less likely to develop pneumonia than those with low concentrations. The study was led by Simin Nikbin Meydani, director of the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University in Boston, Mass. ARS is the chief intramural scientific research agency of USDA. HNRCA researchers have been studying immune response and respiratory infections in about 600 elderly residents in 33 nursing facilities in the Boston area.
Meydani and colleagues previously reported that among the facility residents, those who consumed 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E daily for one year were 20 percent less likely to get upper respiratory infections, such as colds, than those who took a placebo. The secondary analysis of data from the same clinical trial showed a high proportion of the residents had low serum (blood) zinc concentrations at baseline and after one year of follow-up. All participants had been supplemented with half of the recommended dietary allowance of essential vitamins and minerals, including zinc, during the trial. Those with normal zinc status were not only less likely to develop pneumonia, they also had fewer new prescriptions for antibiotics, a shorter duration of pneumonia, and fewer days of antibiotic use compared with residents who had low zinc levels. In addition, mortality was lower in those with adequate blood zinc levels.
The study suggests that supplementation of zinc-deficient elderly may result in reduced risk of pneumonia. Still, the authors note that controlled clinical trials are needed to test efficacy of zinc supplementation as a low-cost intervention to reduce mortality due to pneumonia among vulnerable populations who already have low zinc levels. These study results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. CONTACT: Rosalie Marion Bliss, ARS News Service Agricultural Research Service, USDA
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Vitamin B May Help Fight Depression
FOLIC acid, the vitamin linked to the prevention of birth defects, may also prevent and help treat depression.
In two trials, around 1,000 people are being given a daily dose of folic acid, the synthetic form of the vitamin folate.
In one new trial, at the University of Oxford, researchers are looking at whether it can prevent new episodes of depression in young people.
In the second trial, at Bangor University, North Wales, researchers are treating adults with moderate to severe depression.
Research shows that up to a third of people with depression have low levels of folate. Studies have also shown that the greater the folate deficiency, the more severe the depression symptoms.
People with low levels also have a poorer response to antidepressants.
Posted June 11, 2010
© 2010 Daily Mail. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company
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Berries May Improve Vision in Diabetics
A Kansas State University researcher is exploring the use of Chinese wolfberries to improve vision deficiencies that are common for type-2 diabetics.
Dingbo “Daniel” Lin, K-State research assistant professor of human nutrition, is studying wolfberries and their potential to improve damage to the retina. His findings show that the fruit can lower the oxidative stress that the eye undergoes as a result of type-2 diabetes.
“I would not say that wolfberries are a medicine, but they can be used as a dietary supplement to traditional treatments to improve vision,” Lin said. “Wolfberries have high antioxidant activity and are very beneficial to protect against oxidative stress caused by environmental stimuli and genetic mutations.”
Lin has experience in biochemistry and eye research, and he wanted to bridge his current work in nutrition with vision. In a conversation about the eye and phytochemicals Lin had with his father, a traditional medical doctor in China, Lin decided to explore the use of wolfberries for vision improvement.
“In our culture’s history, we have traditional medicine literature that describes things like the wolfberry and its functions,” Lin said.
Wolfberries are bright orange-red, oblong-shaped and grown in China. Lin said the fruit is known to help rebalance homeostasis, boost the immune system, nourish the liver and kidneys and improve vision. He wanted to understand the mechanisms of the wolfberry’s effects on vision and started the project in July 2008. Read more…
Posted April 8, 2010
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March is all about nutrition
During March, the American Dietetic Association encourages people to be informed on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
“Not everybody thinks about it (nutrition) every single day. So actually, to have a whole month dedicated to it and get the word out there, I think is the main focus,” said Chelsey Olivier, a registered dietitian at Mercy Medical Center. Olivier said National Nutrition Month is a way to bring much needed awareness to nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
“Some people just don’t know. A lot of people I see, they think they’re doing everything right and when you actually sit down and look at it, there are different areas that they can change. People skip meals because they think that’s the way that they need to lose weight or different fad diets that people follow,” said Olivier. “Really it’s just about balanced eating and a healthy lifestyle.” Read More…
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Green Tea can help lower your cancer risk
An interesting article about the cancer preventing benefits of green tea.
Posted Mar 8, 2010
Taipei (dpa) – A study published recently in Taiwan showed that drinking green tea is effective in preventing cancer caused by smoking.
Lin Yi-hsin, a student from the Graduate School of Public Hygiene at Taiwan’s Chung Shan Medical University, said many studies have shown that drinking green tea is effective in preventing cancer, but her study focused on green tea’s effectiveness in preventing cancer caused by smoking.
Lin recruited 500 people, including 170 lung cancer patients, for her study.
“I analyzed their lifestyles and habits of smoking, eating and drinking tea,” she told a news conference at her university in Taichung, central Taiwan.
The study found that those who do not drink green tea are five times more likely to develop lung cancer than those who do. And those who do not drink green tea but smoke have 13 times the risk of getting the disease compared with people who drink at least one cup of green tea each day.
This is because tea polyphenols are an antioxidant which can inhibit the formation of lung cancer cells, she said.
Professor Wong Jui-hung, who supervised Lin’s research, said: “This study has shown that drinking green tea can check the growth of insulin-like growth factor, which is a hormone that stimulates the growth of cancerous cells.
“Lung cancer is common in Taiwan but rare in Japan because the Japanese like to drink green tea,” he said at the news conference.
Date: Feb 1, 2010
Copyright 2010 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH
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Diet Cheating Rules
Posted Feb 23, 2010
Nobody’s perfect and that’s especially true when it comes to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Diet modification experts say you have to plan for occasional splurges as part of the long-term plan. Atlanta personal fitness trainer Beth Lewis offers empowering psychological advice to her clients who need a boost: “Don’t mistake setbacks with failure.” So, here are a few ways “cheating” on your diet can actually be a refreshing and powerful strategy to support successful weight control. Read More…
Copyright 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Key to a Healthful Diet is Improving Your Nutrition from the Ground Up
It’s common knowledge that a healthful diet is an important part of an healthful lifestyle, but most people have trouble figuring out what to do when planning a complete diet overhaul. During National Nutrition Month®, the American Dietetic Association reminds everyone that an easy way to focus on eating better is to start with the basics: build your nutritional health from the ground up.
“By starting slowly and giving yourself a good foundation, you can work towards a healthier life,” says registered dietitian and ADA spokesperson Toby Smithson. “Change doesn’t have to be dramatic to make a difference.”
Smithson suggests ways to improve your nutrition from the ground up:
1.Focus on fruits and veggies: “Take a good look at your current diet you’ll probably realize you’re not eating enough fruits or vegetables,” says Smithson. “Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.”
2.Look locally: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area. “This can be a great way to eat well and support your community at the same time,” Smithson says.
3.Make calories count: “Too often, people think of foods as good or bad and that only those on the ‘good foods’ list are okay to eat,” says Smithson. “When you’re choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.” To figure out how many calories you need to achieve a healthy weight, visit www.mypyramid.gov.
4.Test your taste buds: A healthy eating plan emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy and includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts. “Those are the basics, but within this wide range there are always opportunities to try new things and find new favorites,” Smithson says. “Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new healthy favorites to add to your regular grocery list.”
5.Trick yourself with treats: “A healthful diet doesn’t mean deprivation,” says Smithson. “If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts. There is no reason to go hungry just because you’re making healthful changes.”
Copyright © 2009 American Dietetic Association (ADA)
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The knowledge that psoriasis is a disease of the immune system has led to the development of newer treatment options, like ENBREL, that work at the level of the immune system. These treatment options reduce inflammation and help keep skin clearer. Because ENBREL suppresses your immune system, it may lower your ability to fight infections.
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