Sat, 21 November 2009 Evolutionary Biology and Health - Part One |
Sat, 14 November 2009 Exercise Beyond Age 70 |
Sat, 7 November 2009 Corn and Your Health |
Sat, 31 October 2009 The Environment and Your Health |
Tue, 20 October 2009 Knowledge is Not Always Power: An Interview with Dr. David Katz |
Tue, 6 October 2009 Poverty and Your Health |
Sat, 26 September 2009 Lifestyle and Heart Disease - an interview with Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of Harvard Medical School. |
Sun, 20 September 2009 Mindfulness and Health - an Interview with Dr. Ellen Langer about her newest book Counterclockwise. |
Fri, 11 September 2009 Exercise and Obesity A second podcast rebuttal to the TIME magazine article about the "Myth of Exercise." This podcast includes an interview with Dr. Mark Pereira from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. |
Wed, 2 September 2009 Is Exercise Making us Fat? |
Sun, 3 May 2009 The Magic Formula In this, the last episode of Fitness Rocks, we will review a study from the Archives of Internal Medicine about reducuing the risk of type 2 diabetes in people over age 65. The study looks at the role of the basic lifestyle habits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and moderate alcohol consumption in preventing type 2 diabetes. I have called this collection of lifestyle habits the magic formula because when combined these habits consistently are associated with the lowest risk of developing chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes. References: Lifestyle Risk Factors and New Onset Diabetes in Older Adults |
Sun, 26 April 2009 Where have I been? |
Sat, 21 March 2009 Childhood Obesity is a Big Deal This week on Fitness Rocks I review a few articles on Childhood Obesity. This is a growing problem that will have substantial economic consequences for our nation and the world. Get interested in this problem, even if you aren't overweight and even if you don't have kids. References: Childhood BMI and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease as an Adult Childhood Obesity - The Shape of Things to Come Food Marketing to Children |
Sat, 14 March 2009 Diet and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease This week on Fitness Rocks we look at a study that evaluated the impact of a Mediterranean style diet on the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This is another in a long line of studies that will make you want to pay closer attention to what you eat. References: Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Disease Adherence to a Mediterranean Diet and Survival in a Greek Population |
Sat, 7 March 2009 The Risk of Too Much Sitting This week on Fitness Rocks I review two articles that look at the adverse health consequences of prolonged sedentary activity - which is the way most people live. Are there health benefits from simply getting up from your desk and moving around for a few minutes several times a day? References: Too Much Sitting: A Predictor of Chronic Disease Risk? Breaks in Sedentary Time |
Sat, 28 February 2009 Low-Fat vs Low-Carb - The Final Answer? This week on Fitness Rocks I review an article from the New England Journal of Medicine that dispels the mythology about dietary macronutrients and weight loss. You'll like it. What's important in the quest for weight loss - fat, carbohydrate, protein, calories or sticking with a healthy lifestyle that includes a low-calorie diet and regular exercise? References: Comparison of Weight Loss Diets with Different Amounts of Fat, Protein, and Carbohydrate |
Sat, 21 February 2009 Exercise Dose and Quality of Life This week on Fitness Rocks I will discuss a recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine looking at the relationship between the amount of exercise a person does and their quality of life. The results will make you feel good. Also, this week at Fitness Rocks I introduce the new idea of the Fitness Rocks Test Center - you can take an online multiple choice quiz on the material presented in the podcast. Use it to test your listening skills and to generate some enthusiasm for fitness in your workplace by creating a little competition among your colleagues. To take the test just click on the "Fitness Rocks Test Center" page tab. References: Exercise Dose and Quality of Life |
Sat, 14 February 2009 Should You Take a Multivitamin? This week on Fitness Rocks we review an article from the Archives of Internal Medicine on the use of multivitamins. Does taking a multivitamin every day reduce your risk of heart disease or cancer? References: Multivitamin Consumption and the Risk of Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Among Postmenopausal Women |
Sun, 1 February 2009 Physical Fitness and Academic Performance This week on Fitness Rocks we'll look at an article from the Journal of School Health on the relationship between physical fitness and performance on standardized achievement tests in school kids. It looks like being fit makes you smart! References: Physical Fitness and Performance on Standardized Academic Tests |
Sun, 25 January 2009 What is the Optimal Exercise Strategy? This week on Fitness Rocks we review an article from the January 26, 2009 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine that investigated the optimal exercise program for reducing age-related chronic diseases and physical disability. Is your exercise routine as good as it can be? References: Effects of Exercise Modality on Insulin Resistance and Functional Limitation in Older Adults |
Sat, 17 January 2009 Sodium, Potassium and Cardiovascular Disease We all know that too much sodium in our diet is unhealthy. A new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that the ratio of sodium to potassium in our diet has a significant impact on our risk of developing cardiovascular disease. References: Effects of Sodium and Potassium Ratio on the Subsequent Risk of Cardiovascular Disease |
Sat, 10 January 2009 Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements and Cancer Prevention This week on Fitness Rocks I review two articles from the Journal of the American Medical Association looking at antioxidant supplements for the prevention of cancer - especially prostate cancer. References: Selenium and Vitamin E for Prostate Cancer Prevention Vitamin E and Vitamin C for Cancer Prevention Editorial on these two studies in JAMA |
Sat, 3 January 2009 Sleep Duration and Risk of Heart Disease This week on Fitness Rocks I review an article from the Journal of the American Medical Association about the risk of heart disease associated with poor sleep. Are you getting enough sleep to keep you healthy? References: Short Sleep Duration and the RIsk of Coronary Artery Calcification |
Sun, 21 December 2008 Low-Carbohydrate Diets and Brain Function This week I interview Dr. Holly Taylor and Dr. Robin Kanarek about their recent study looking at the brain effects of eating a low-carb diet. You should listen to what they have to say. References: Low-Carb Diets and Cognition |
Sun, 14 December 2008 Global Warming |
Sat, 6 December 2008 The Anti-Inflammation Diet This week on Fitness Rocks I interview Dr. Chris Cannon about his book The Idiot's Guide to the Anti-Inflammation Diet. References: The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Anti-Inflammation Diet (Complete Idiot's Guide to) 
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Sun, 30 November 2008 Yoga - An Interview with Carmina Mock This week I interviewed Carmina Mock, a registered nurse who has been teaching Yoga for thirty-four years. Carmina has a wonderful world view that I think you will appreciate. Monte |
Sat, 22 November 2008 Yoga for Depression This week on Fitness Rocks I have an interview with Dr. David Shapiro of UCLA about his research on using Yoga as a complementary treatment for depression. References: Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for Depression |
Sun, 16 November 2008 Big Money, Bad Science - What's the Best Way to Prevent Heart Disease? This week the JUPITER study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is being haled in the lay press as a study that may fundamentally change how we approach the prevention of heart disease. It could result in millions of additional people being prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs. Is it good science or good marketing? References: JUPITER Study Editorial on JUPITER Study Lancet Editorial Lifestyle Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease with Lifestyle Diabetes Prevention Program |
Sat, 8 November 2008 Lifestyle and the Risk of Stroke In an article published in the journal Circulation researchers looked at the relationship between healthy lifestyle habits and the risk of stroke. I review the article in this episode of Fitness Rocks - you should listen! References: Primary Prevention of Stroke Through Healthy Lifestyles |
Sat, 1 November 2008 Dietary Supplements - Buyer Beware This week on Fitness Rocks I review two articles discussing the lack of regulation on the dietary supplement industry - you will be disturbed. References: Article from the FDA available online Doctor's Awareness of Dietary Supplement Regulation |
Sat, 25 October 2008 |
Sat, 18 October 2008 |
Sun, 12 October 2008 Lifestyle Habits and Mortality In this episode of Fitness Rocks I interview Dr. Rob Van Dam, an Assistant Professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, about his recent paper in the British Medical Journal. Dr. Van Dam and his colleagues report on lifestyle data collected on over 80,000 nurses for a 24 year period. References: Combined Impact of Lifestyle on Mortality |
Sat, 4 October 2008 Cancer Prevention - An Interview with Dr. Neal Barnard References: Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine |
Sat, 27 September 2008 Physical Activity Affects the Expression of Obesity Genes An interview with Dr. Evadnie Rampersaud of the Miami Institute of Human Genomics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. |
Sat, 20 September 2008 Alternate Day Fasting - an Interview with Dr. Krista Varady References: Alternate Day Fasting and Chronic Diseases Prevention |
Fri, 12 September 2008 |
Fri, 5 September 2008 |
Fri, 29 August 2008 |
Sat, 23 August 2008 |
Sat, 16 August 2008 Reduced Disability Among Aging Runners |
Sat, 16 August 2008 Low-Carb, Low-Fat, and Mediterranean Diets for Weight Loss |
Sun, 20 July 2008 Diet and Skin Cancer |
Sat, 12 July 2008 Cholesterol Lowering Drugs in Children |
Sat, 28 June 2008 The Mediterranean Diet and Type 2 Diabetes This week we take a look at two recent articles about type 2 diabetes. The first is from the New York Times and the second is an article from the British Medical Journal about how eating a Mediterranean-style diet affects the risk of type 2 diabetes. |
Sat, 21 June 2008 Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics - A Conversation with Dr. Mathew Reeves This week on Fitness Rocks we talk with Dr. Mathew Reeves, an associate professor of epidemiology at Michigan State University. Dr. Reeves is the lead author on a paper published in the April 25, 2005 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine entitled Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics among Adults in the United States. References: Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics Among US Adults Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 14 June 2008 Ending the Food Fight - an Interview with David Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D. This week on Fitness Rocks I talk with Dr. David Ludwig, a Pediatric Endocrinologist at Children's Hospital Boston, and the author of Ending the Food Fight. Dr. Ludwig created the Optimal Weight for Life program at Children's Hospital Boston and in this podcast he shares his expertise with us about some of the factors involved with achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. |
Sat, 7 June 2008 Why Fitness Matters (Part 2) This week on Fitness Rocks I continue the review I began on Fitness Rocks Podcast 100 about Why Fitness Matters. Today I will focus on diet. |
Sat, 31 May 2008 Why Fitness Matters For the 100th episode of Fitness Rocks I have put together a two-part series reviewing the argument in favor of fitness. I've used several references and a few excerpts from previous podcasts. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: Aging, Health Risks, and Cumulative Disability Exercise Capacity and Mortality in Men Referred for Exercise Testing Exercise Capacity and the Risk of Death in Women Cardiovascular Fitness as a Predictor of Mortality in Men World Health Organization PDF on Chronic Diseases Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 24 May 2008 Muscle Soreness and Muscle Cramping with Exercise This week on Fitness Rocks I talk to Carol Torgan, Ph.D. about muscle soreness and muscle cramping. Dr. Torgan has her Ph.D. in Kinesiology. She is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and the Senior Content Director for Revolution Health on the web at www.revolutionhealth.com. |
Sat, 17 May 2008 Secrets of a Long and Healthy Life - an Interview with Author Dan Buettner This week on Fitness Rocks I talk to Dan Buettner, author of the best-selling book The Blue Zones. Dan has spent the past several years traveling the world with a team of researchers studying the habits of people who live extraordinarily long and robust lives. In his book, and in our interview, Dan shares what he learned about the secrets of a long and healthy life from the world's longest lived people. |
Sun, 11 May 2008 Fitness is an Independent Predictor for Risk of Chronic Illnesses - an Interview with Dr. Steven Blair This week on Fitness Rocks I talk with Dr. Steven Blair from the department of Exercise Science and the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina about his research work in the area of measured fitness level and health outcomes. |
Sat, 3 May 2008 DASH Diet and the Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke This week on Fitness Rocks I have a conversation with Dr. Teresa Fung of Simmons University in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Fung and her colleagues recently published a paper in the Archives of Internal Medicine on how the DASH diet affects the risk of heart disease and stroke. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. The DASH diet emphasizes increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, lower consumption of red meat and processed meat, lower consumption of sodium, and moderate consumption of low-fat dairy products. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley |
Fri, 25 April 2008 Spark: An Interview with John Ratey, M.D. This week on Fitness Rocks we have an interview with Dr. John Ratey, author of the best-selling book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. |
Sat, 19 April 2008 Brain Rules This week on Fitness Rocks I interview Dr. John Medina, author of the excellent new book Brain Rules. Dr. Medina shares his insights into how we can achieve optimal brain health and function. |
Fri, 11 April 2008 Anxiety and Heart Disease This week on Fitness Rocks we continue on the theme of Fitness and the Brain in an interview with medical researcher Dr. Yinong Young-Xu. Dr. Young-Xu recently presented a paper at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology on his research into the relationship between anxiety and the progression of Coronary Heart Disease. |
Sat, 5 April 2008 Abdominal Obesity and the Risk of Dementia Can that weight around your middle increase your risk of dementia as you get older? Find out by listening to Fitness Rocks Podcast 092. Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Fri, 28 March 2008 Combating Childhood Obesity - an Interview with Dr. Steven Kelder This week on Fitness Rocks I talk to Dr. Steven Kelder, a medical researcher at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston's School of Public Health. He has worked extensively with a program called CATCH - Coordinated Approach to Child Health. Dr. Kelder talks about the issues and problems of childhood obesity and the different ways researchers are trying to employ to reverse the trend toward higher rates of childhood obesity. We also discuss some of the obstacles to success in reversing this very serious and expensive public health dilemma. |
Sat, 22 March 2008 Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Your Health This week on Fitness Rocks we have an interview with Dr. Dana King who has published his research on the health effects of adopting moderate wine drinking in middle age. The study was published in the March 2008 issue of the American Journal of Medicine. |
Sat, 15 March 2008 Trends In Coronary Heart Disease Coronary Heart Disease has been the number one killer of Americans for decades. There has been a trend toward lower death rates from coronary heart disease for the past few decades. There has also been a trend toward higher rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Will the trend toward lower rates of coronary heart disease continue - or not? Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: Explaining the Decrease in US Death Rates from Coronary Disease Recent Trends in the Prevalence of Coronary Disease Editorial on Recent Trends in Coronary Disease Childhood BMI and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Adulthood Adolescent Overweight and Future Adult Coronary Heart Disease Childhood Obesity - The Shape of Things to Come Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 8 March 2008 Secrets of an Exceptionally Long Life This week on Fitness Rocks I review an article from the Archives of Internal Medicine that looked at the modifiable factors involved with living a long and robust life. I think you will find the study very interesting and encouraging. |
Fri, 29 February 2008 Skinny Songs - an Interview with Heidi Roizen This week I have an interview with technology entrepreneur and songwriter Heidi Roizen about her new CD called Skinny Songs. Heidi has a great story of turning her life around as she approached age 50 and recognized that she needed to lose a lot of weight. She'd used music throughout her life to motivate herself for business meetings and public speaking so it was natural that when she decided to get serious about a fitness program she wanted music that would help her stay with the program. She quickly discovered there wasn't any music that spoke directly about the struggles she knew she would face in trying to change her lifestyle - so, being the good entrepreneur, she wrote her own songs and had professional musicians and music producers turn them into a fantastic CD. Check out Fitness Rocks Podcast 087 to hear how Heidi used her skills as an successful business woman to adopt a healthy lifestyle, lose a lot of weight, and create a fabulous CD. |
Sat, 23 February 2008 Does Attitude about Exercise Affect the Health Benefits of Exercise? This week on Fitness Rocks we review a paper that investigated the relationship between how people think about exercise and the health benefits derived from exercise. Can your attitude about exercise affect the way your body responds to exercise? The answer will definitely be interesting to you. The podcast begins with an article summary by me and closes with an interview with the article author, Dr. Ellen Langer of Harvard University. |
Fri, 15 February 2008 Timing your eating and drinking for optimal weight loss and athletic performance This week on Fitness Rocks we talk with Dr. Dan Benardot about the physiology behind timing our food intake and the best way to use sports drinks while exercising. The information Dr. Benardot reviews applies to people who are engaged in weight loss efforts as well as people who are interested in maximizing athletic performance. |
Sat, 9 February 2008 Anti-aging, Exercise, and Science This week on Fitness Rocks I review a study from the Archives of Internal Medicine about the genetic effects of exercise that seem to indicate an anti-aging benefit. I was also lucky enough to get an eight-minute interview with the lead author of the paper. What does exercise do to your DNA? Check out Fitness Rocks podcast 084 to find out. References: The Association Between Leisure Time Physical Activity and Leukocyte Telomere Length Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Fri, 1 February 2008 Exercise is Medicine - A New Initiative From The American College of Sports Medicine This week on Fitness Rocks we talk with Dr. Robert Sallis, President of the American College of Sports Medicine, about the new Exercise is Medicine Initiative being cosponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association. Dr. Sallis shares his insights into the health benefits of exercise and tells us why he believes that exercise should be considered a genuine medical therapeutic intervention. |
Sat, 26 January 2008 Trusting the Data on Drugs In this week's podcast I talk with Dr. Erick Turner who published a paper in this week's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reviewing how negative data on drug benefits may not be getting published in the medical literature. Selectively publishing only positive data on drug responses gives practicing doctors and the general public a perspective on the benefit of a particular drug that is artificially enhanced. Whether you currently take prescription drugs or not, you should listen to this podcast to gain some insight into how things work in the world of medical research on the drugs people are prescribed. |
Sat, 19 January 2008 Beans and Your Health This week on Fitness Rocks we look at a recent study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition about beans and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Seventy-five million Americans have either type 2 diabetes or a condition called pre-diabetes. The World Health Organization estimates that up to ninety percent of cases of type 2 diabetes can be avoided by a healthy diet, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. Check out Fitness Rocks podcast 081 to hear some good news about things you can do and eat to lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: American Diabetes Association - Information on Type 2 Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes World Health Organization - Chronic Disease Fact Sheet Beans and Type 2 Diabetes - Article from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Diet, Inflammation, and Type 2 Diabetes - Article from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 12 January 2008 Exercise Related Sudden Cardiac Death This week we review an article from the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that looks at possible diagnostic clues to some of the causes of exercise related sudden cardiac death. Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 5 January 2008 Making New Year's Resolutions Work This week on Fitness Rocks we talk to Dr. Kirsten Harrel, a specialist in Positive Psychology, about how to stick with your New Year's resolutions. You should also check out the Fitness Rocks forum where you can write a post to support Ricky and Sue, as well as other people, in their effort to quit smoking. |
Sat, 29 December 2007 Fitness, Fatness, and Health It's time for those New Year's resolutions. For many people that means another attempt at weight loss. This week on Fitness Rocks I thought it would be appropriate to review another recent study looking at the relationship between fitness, fatness, and the overall risk of poor health and premature death from all causes. A study from the December 5, 2007 issue of JAMA looked at the impact on our health status of fitness as measured during exercise testing and fatness as assessed by BMI, waist circumference, and percent body fat. Understanding the data from this study will help you shape better, more achievable goals for the New Year, and the rest of your life. |
Sat, 22 December 2007 Exercise Fat Burning Zone: An Interview with Dr. Len Kravitz What sort of exercise routine will burn the most fat calories? Does it matter if exercise is low intensity or high intensity? What about type of exercise and duration of exercise? The fitness world is filled with "gurus" who have strong opinions about these and other questions regarding the type of exercise that is best suited for losing weight and being fit. In this episode of Fitness Rocks we will get answers to these questions and clear up a lot of confusion by going directly to a genuine expert, Dr. Len Kravitz. Dr. Kravitz is a professor of exercise physiology and a researcher at the University of New Mexico. He has recently published an article on the topic of "exercise fat-burning zones" in the IDEA Fitness Journal. |
Sat, 15 December 2007 Cross Training with Coach Adam This week on Fitness Rocks Podcast 076 we talk to Adam Krajchir, the founder of Race With Purpose, about cross-training. Adam is an exercise physiologist with a great deal of experience training elite athletes and ordinary athletes like the rest of us. We also have a special short story submission from Mike Ormsby, a listener from Romania. Mike writes about his recent experience running a marathon. Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 8 December 2007 Vegetarian Diets: Myths and Misconceptions - an Interview with David Nieman, Dr.P.H. This week on Fitness Rocks we are talking with Dr. David Nieman about vegetarian diets and health. Dr. Nieman is an active researcher and a prolific author on topics of health and nutrition. Listen to Fitness Rocks podcast 075 to learn whether you can get enough protein from a vegetarian diet as well as other essential nutrients. I know you'll find this interview enlightening and useful. |
Sat, 1 December 2007 Interview with Tory Klemensten - Triathlete and Marathon Runner Tory Klementsen is an accomplished endurance athlete - but she wasn't always such a fitness enthusiast. In fact, Tory is a woman who successfully lost 100 pounds five years ago and changed from couch potato to marathoner. Her story is compelling and inspirational. Check it out in podcast 074. |
Sat, 24 November 2007 Exercise Dose and Fitness How much exercise should I do? I get this question a lot. Higher fitness has been consistently linked to better health and a lower risk of premature death from all causes - including heart disease and some cancers. A study in the May 16, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at the effect of different "doses" of exercise on fitness levels. This week on Fitness Rocks I interview Dr. Timothy Church, the lead author on the JAMA paper, about what he found about the relationship between amount of exercise and fitness levels. |
Sat, 17 November 2007 Meditation - an interview with Monique Danielle This week we will follow-up on last week's discussion of meditation by talking to Monique Danielle, a mind-body fitness professional who teaches meditation. Monique has a website and an audio CD on meditation. You can check these out at the links in the reference section. |
Sat, 10 November 2007 Can Meditation Reduce Your Blood Pressure? This week on Fitness Rocks we interview Dr. Noel Bairy-Merz about a research paper she and her colleagues published on the benefits of meditation at reducing blood pressure and improving insulin resistance in people with heart disease. |
Sat, 3 November 2007 Poor Sleep and Inflammation This week on Fitness Rocks we talk to medical researcher Michael Irwin, M.D. of the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA. Dr. Irwin and his colleagues published a paper in the Archives of Internal Medicine describing their study into the effects of sleep deprivation on measured markers of inflammation. It seems very likely that prolonged sleep loss could lead to chronic inflammation and hence chronic diseases. |
Mon, 29 October 2007 Can Chronic Stress Cause Chronic Inflammation? This week on Fitness Rocks we look at a review article about the relationship between chronic psychological stress and chronic inflammation. The discussion is a bit tedious, but I think you'll find the information intriguing. Is the stress in your life enough of a problem to cause you to have a heart attack? Check out podcast 069 to learn about stress and inflammation. References: Stress, Inflammation, and Hypertension Exercise reduces chronic inflammation Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 20 October 2007 Eating More Fiber Reduces Chronic Inflammation This week on Fitness Rocks Dr. Dana King, a medical researcher in the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina, talks to us about his research into the effects of dietary fiber on chronic inflammation. Having a low grade state of chronic inflammation increases the risk of developing several different chronic diseases, including heart disease and some cancers. Lifestyle factors like exercise and a healthy diet have been demonstrated to reduce inflammation. Join Fitness Rocks and Dr. King in a discussion about chronic inflammation and the lifestyle changes everyone can make to lower inflammation. |
Sat, 13 October 2007 Inflammation and Coronary Artery Disease This is another in the Fitness Rocks series of podcasts that seeks to explain the relationship between chronic inflammation and coronary heart disease. Understanding how inflammation promotes chronic diseases and how you can reduce inflammation through lifestyle changes is essential to a healthy life. |
Sat, 6 October 2007 Are there common origins for heart disease and colon cancer? This week on Fitness Rocks we look at a paper that examines the association between the risks of developing heart disease and the risks of developing colon cancer. Medical research is beginning to reveal common origins for a wide range of chronic diseases that we didn't necessarily appreciate in the past. Some of these shared precipitating causes are modifiable - meaning they can be reversed through changes in lifestyle. This podcast will be the first in a series of Fitness Rocks podcasts exploring the phenomenon of chronic, low-grade systemic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is becoming recognized as an underlying cause for many apparently diverse chronic diseases. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are effective methods to reduce chronic inflammation. Check out Fitness Rocks Podcast 066 and the next several Fitness Rocks Podcasts to learn what you can do to reduce your chances of having chronic inflammation, or reverse this process if you already have it. References: Prevalence of Colorectal Neoplasm Among Patients with Newly Diagnosed Coronary Artery Disease Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 29 September 2007 Lower Your Salt, Lower Your Blood Pressure, Save Your Life In this episode of Fitness Rocks I will look at some recent data on sodium intake, blood pressure and your health. Over the past 20 years death from heart disease has declined slightly - but heart disease remains the number one killer of Americans even though it is an almost completely avoidable disease. Sodium intake is one of several important risk factors for heart disease that is within your control to change. Listen to Fitness Rocks Podcast 065 to learn about the dangers of sodium and how it is that Americans came to eat so much of it - you'll probably discover that you are inadvertently eating much more sodium than you think. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley |
Sat, 22 September 2007 What's Your HEART Score? This week I talk to Dr. Arch Mainous, Ph.D. about the HEART score which is a risk assessment tool that he and his colleagues in the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina developed. Listen to Fitness Rocks podcast 064 for an excellent discussion of the various risk factors for heart disease and to learn how you can use the HEART score to assess your current risk of having a heart attack. Of course, we also talk about strategies to reduce your risk of heart disease. References: A Coronary Heart Disease Risk Score - American Journal of Cardiology Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 15 September 2007 Vitamin D and All-Cause Mortality Another study looking at the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation has found some interesting news that you won't want to miss. Should you be taking vitamin D supplements? If so, how much and what kind? Check out podcast 063 for the answers. |
Sat, 8 September 2007 Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease This week we're looking at a recent study that investigated whether taking vitamins C, E, and beat carotene alone or in combination might help with reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. |
Sat, 1 September 2007 Making Healthy Lifestyle Changes In this episode of Fitness Rocks I review recent data on the continued increase in the rate of rise of obesity in the USA and a paper that covers how to make effective lifestyle changes. There are many factors involved with changing one's lifestyle. Check out podcast 061 to learn which ones are likely to work for you. |
Sat, 25 August 2007 Sixty-Three Marathons in Sixty-Three Days! Tim Borland has been planning and training to use his passion for running to help in the fight against an absolutely devastating hereditary childhood illness called Ataxia-Telangiectasia. In this episode of Fitness Rocks Tim talks to us about how, and why, he has committed to running 63 back-to-back marathons every day for 63 days. You won't want to miss this inspiring story. The A-T Cure Tour begins September 3rd and you can follow Tim's progress at the A-T Cure Tour website. Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sun, 19 August 2007 Can Your Friends Make You Gain Weight? A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine takes a look at the influence of social networks in the person-to-person spread of obesity. I think you'll find the research sheds more light on the complicated processes behind the obesity epidemic. |
Sat, 11 August 2007 Growing Toward Balance This week I have an interview with Dr. Mary Kearns. Dr. Kearns is an applied developmental Psychologist and she has a new book out entitled Growing Toward Balance. Dr. Kearns talks to us about the impact of stress on our health and gives us some ideas on how we can cope with stress more effectively. References: Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 4 August 2007 It's Never Too Late - Part 2 In podcast 055 I reviewed an article about how middle-aged people can dramatically reduce their risk of heart disease and all-cause mortality by adopting the four basic elements of a healthy lifestyle - even at age 65! The four basic elements of a healthy lifestyle are: eating five or more fruits and vegetables per day; exercising at least 30 minutes every day; maintaining a healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 - 24.9); and not smoking. This week on Fitness Rocks we are very fortunate to have medical researcher Dr. Dana King on the show. Dr. King is the lead author on the paper reviewed in podcast 055. References: Turning Back Clock: Adopting a Healthy Lifestyle in Middle Age Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 28 July 2007 Osteoarthritis of the Knee This week on Fitness Rocks we talk about lifestyle and osteoarthritis and we have an interview with Dr. Paul Dimond, an Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in total joint replacement as well as less invasive treatments for osteoarthritis of the knees. Please Vote for Fitness Rocks at the Podcast Awards Website References: Consumer Labs Information on Glucosamine and Chondroitin Consumer Labs Audio Discussion of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Article in NEJM About Glucosamine and Chondroitin Diet, Nutrition and Osteoarthritis Physical Activity and Osteoarthritis Lifestyle Medicine and Osteoarthritis Music: Jon Schmidt - All of Me |
Sat, 21 July 2007 It's Never Too Late This week I review an article that discusses the potential benefits of adopting healthier lifestyle habits later in life - can you still get healthy even after years of neglecting yourself? Find out what the experts say in this episode of Fitness Rocks. |
Sat, 14 July 2007 Food and Pain Management Can the food choices you make reduce the risk of developing a chronic pain syndrome? Check out podcast 054 to learn how food may help in the fight against pain. |
Sat, 7 July 2007 Weight Lifting and Your Genes In Fitness Rocks Podcast 053 we will review two articles on the health benefits of strength training. One of the articles talks about how you can begin practicing genetic medicine all by yourself - I think you'll find this to be some very empowering information. The third annual podcast awards are coming very soon, please consider nominating Fitness Rocks in the Health and Fitness Category. You can click on the Podcast Awards button at the bottom of the Fitness Rocks homepage to nominate Fitness Rocks - or the podcast of your choice. |
Sat, 30 June 2007 How Intensity Affects Exercise Benefits In this weeks show I review an article from the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings that looked at the effects of different exercise intensities with regards to lowering blood pressure, increasing strength, and improving measured aerobic fitness. The results will make a difference to you as you plan your fitness program. The article I used is not yet posted online, so I cannot link to it yet. |
Sat, 23 June 2007 Making Bad Cholesterol Better or Worse In this episode of Fitness Rocks we'll review studies relating to how diet affects the form in which LDL cholesterol exists in our body. It turns out that the Mediterranean Diet, with its high content of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, reduces the amount of oxidized LDL cholesterol. This is important because oxidized LDL cholesterol is a bigger risk factor for having heart disease than standard measures of cholesterol. Check out the show to get the details - it could be good for your health. |
Sat, 16 June 2007 Changing Your Diet and Exercising can Save Your Life - an Interview with Bob Torres from the Vegan Freak Radio Podcast Bob Torres has a Ph.D. from Cornell University and teaches at a college in Upstate New York. His wife also has a Ph.D. from Cornell and teaches at the same college. Together they host the Vegan Freak Radio Podcast and coauthored the book Vegan Freak: Being Vegan in a Non Vegan World. Bob has been a Vegan for several years, primarily out of concern for animal rights. He recently went to his doctor for a regular check-up and got some bad news regarding his blood sugar and cholesterol levels. He had always believed that eating Vegan was automatically healthy - but it turns out that it is definitely possible to eat a variety of highly processed foods that aren't very healthy and still be Vegan. Bob identified the bad foods, ate more fruits and vegetables, got serious about exercise, and achieved a remarkable change in his health in just one month. Check out Fitness Rocks Podcast 050 to hear Bob's story and learn how some very simple lifestyle changes can save your life. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: Vegan Freak Radio Podcast - (Rated Explicit) Music: Jon Schmidt - All of MeBuy the digital download of Weight Loss: How They Did It:  |
Sat, 9 June 2007 Dietary Supplements - Are They a Good Idea? This week we look at a study from the June 6, 2007 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association that evaluates the relationship between folic acid supplementation and cancer risk. You'll be surprised at the results. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: Folic Acid for the Prevention of Colorectal Adenomas Folate and Cancer - Timing is Everything Essential Nutrients: Food or Supplements? Cancer and Mortality Associated with Beta-Carotene and Vitamin E supplementation Music: Jon Schmidt - All of MeBuy the digital download of Weight Loss: How They Did It: |
Sat, 2 June 2007 An Interview with Monte Ladner, M.D. The Fitness Rocks podcast began posting shows one year ago on June 20, 2007. There have been a total of 64 episodes posted. In this episode of Fitness Rocks I interview Monte Ladner, M.D. about how and why he started the Fitness Rocks podcast. Dr. Ladner also discusses his new audio book Weight Loss: How They Did It and we play track 02 of the audio book. |
Sat, 26 May 2007 Exercise, Weight Loss, and Systemic Inflammation In this episode we're going to review the relationship between exercise, weight loss, and systemic inflammation. Systemic inflammation, as measured by C-Reactive Protein, is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Check out Fitness Rocks Podcast 047 to learn what you can do to fight inflammation. |
Sat, 12 May 2007 Nutrition and Age-Related Disability In this podcast I'll review two articles looking at the role of micronutrients in preventing declining muscular strength and cognitive abilities as we age. What you eat today has a great deal to do with how well you will be able to function when you're older. The Fitness Rocks audio book Weight Loss: How They Did It will be out very soon. Check the website now and then for more information. Check out David's running blog - he just ran his first half-marathon! Comments[0] |
Sat, 5 May 2007 Can Calorie Restriction Add Years to Your Life? This week we review two articles that look at the relationship between calorie restriction and health and lifespan. The topic was suggested by my good friend Nigel from the Running from the Reaper Podcast. Can cutting calories really make you live longer? Check podcast 045 to find out. Comments[0] |
Sat, 28 April 2007 Core Training with Adam Ford This week I have an interview with Adam Ford of Ridgeline Fitness about using the Swiss Ball for core strengthening. What is the "core?" Check out Fitness Rocks Podcast 044 to find out. References: Ridgeline Fitness - Swiss Ball Elsie Escobar - Yoga Music: Comments[0] |
Sat, 21 April 2007 Live Like a Cave Man This week we review a paper entitled How to be a 21st-Century Hunter-Gatherer. In this paper the authors contrast our modern diet and lifestyle with that of our ancient ancestors from 10,000 years ago - a time before the development of agriculture. These changes in our eating habits and exercise patterns are out of sync with our genetic heritage and are at the root of our epidemics of obesity, and chronic diseases. There is a one-page PDF file for this podcast. If you want a copy just send me an e-mail through the contact button and I'll send it to you. Comments[0] |
Sat, 14 April 2007 Interview with Sports Performance Coach Charles Staley This week we talk to Charles Staley, a fitness coach who has developed a unique strength training method called "Escalating Density Training." Charles has appeared on a variety of nationally televised programs describing his fitness program. He has also written several fitness articles for popular magazines including Men's Health. Charles is the author of the book Muscle Logic. He also has produced an exercise DVD that describes his training method. And, Charles is a "celebrity trainer" for Podfitness. I talk to Charles about how to use weight training as an effective component of a weight loss program, a running program, and a general fitness program. There are links to Charles' website and a free e-book called The Unnatural Athlete in the reference section. Comments[3] |
Sat, 7 April 2007 Comments[0] |
Sat, 31 March 2007 Exercise in Breast Cancer Prevention and for Breast Cancer Survivors In this episode of Fitness Rocks we have a conversation with Naomi Aronson about the role of exercise in breast cancer prevention and in the treatment of breast cancer survivors. Naomi is an occupational therapist in New York City who works closely with breast cancer survivors. She is a passionate advocate for women who have survived breast cancer and speaks and writes about the role of exercise in breast cancer survivors. Her latest article on exercise for the breast cancer survivor appeared in the April 2007 edition of the IDEA Fitness Journal. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and more than 40,000 women die each year from the disease in the USA. Exercise has been found to have a role in preventing the cancer, and in reducing the risk of recurrence in women who have been treated for it. Comments[0] |
Sat, 24 March 2007 Muscle and Your Health Resistance training to increase muscle strength and muscle mass is not just about big biceps. In this episode of Fitness Rocks we review a paper that discusses the role of maintaining healthy, strong muscles in preventing chronic disease. Comments[0] |
Sat, 17 March 2007 Is the Atkins Diet a Good Idea? An Interview with Dr. Christopher Gardner Dr. Christopher Gardner is the lead author on the recent paper that appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association reporting potential benefits for the Atkins diet. This week I did a 43-minute telephone interview with Dr. Gardner about his research. Dr. Gardner also shares his thoughts and frustrations with trying to get the public to eat healthier diets. This is a great interview with a dedicated medical researcher that I know you will find intriguing. Comments[2] |
Fri, 9 March 2007 Is the Atkins Diet a Good Idea? This week in the Journal of the American Medical Association medical researchers from Stanford University published a study that appears to lend credibility to the Atkins diet. The study has made headline news in the lay press around the world. Is the Atkins diet a good idea? No, and this study is seriously flawed. Listen to Podcast 037 and hear what I have to say about this popular medical study. I was able to get one of the authors of the study to answer some questions through e-mail and talk to me briefly on the telephone, but I could not persuade them to give an interview on the podcast - I tried. Music: Comments[5] |
Sat, 3 March 2007 Are Your Antioxidant Supplements Killing You? This week a study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that suggested a major downside to taking antioxidant supplements - they may actually increase your risk of dying prematurely! The study was a meta-analysis which means that the authors reviewed the data from several other studies (sixty-eight in this case) and drew conclusions on the findings of all these different medical investigations combined. The report by these authors has set off a firestorm among consumers of dietary supplements and the industry that peddles these supplements. According to the paper's authors, regular consumption of antioxidant supplements (Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, and Vitamin E) may be associated with an increase in mortality. Check out Fitness Rocks Podcast 036 for a discussion of this alarming medical paper. |
Sat, 24 February 2007 Resistance Training This week we talk with exercise physiologist Paul Sorace about the benefits of resistance training. Paul covers issues surrounding the health effects of strength training and how to approach the design of a sensible strength training program. |
Sat, 17 February 2007 Should You be Drinking Green Tea? In this podcast we review some articles from the medical literature on the potential health benefits of green tea. Green tea is a source of flavonoid polyphenols called Catechins that may play a role in reducing the risk of some chronic diseases. The news about green tea is basically good, but it is important to remember that it is the synergistic effects of a variety of different plant chemicals working together that creates optimum health. Adding green tea to a diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and healthy fats like olive oil, canola oil, and avocados makes sense. Expecting green tea to offset the negative effects of a poor diet and lack of exercise does not make sense. Click here to vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: Green Tea Consumption and Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All Causes in Japan Green Tea Consumption and Cognitive Function Music: |
Sat, 10 February 2007 How Much Exercise is Enough? In this episode we look at some of the research surrounding the question of how much exercise is enough to be healthy, prevent chronic diseases, and maintain a healthy weight. The question has a more complicated answer than you might imagine. I do my best to sumarize my understanding of the literature in 30 minutes - trust me, I could've said a lot more. Post your comments and questions here and in the Fitness Rocks Forum, or e-mail me directly. Please cast a vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley by clicking here. References: The Evolution of Physical Activity Recommendations: How Much is Enough? Relative Intensity of Physical Activity and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Comparison of Cardioprotective Benefits of Vigorous vs Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_033_-_How_Much_Exercise_is_Enough.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 3:27 PM |
Sun, 4 February 2007 Calcium and Milk Consumption - How Much is Enough? In this show we look at the data on calcium and dairy consumption and try to make sense of current recommendations on how much calcium we should be getting. We also look at the possibility that excessive calcium and dairy products may have negative consequences for our health. Click Here to Vote for Fitness Rocks at Podcast Alley References: Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating Dairy Products, Calcium, and Prostate Cancer Risk Calcium Requirement is a Sliding Scale Letter from Dr. Neal Barnard about Milk Music: Comments[0] |
Fri, 26 January 2007 Do You Have the Metabolic Syndrome? The Metabolic Syndrome is a collection of cardiometabolic risk factors that leads to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, and premature death. It is present in 27 percent of US adults aged 20 - 74 and 40 percent of adults over the age of 60. The risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome increases with increasing body weight and physical inactivity. To learn what the Metabolic syndrome is, and whether you might have it, listen to podcast 031. There is also a one-page PDF file on the Metabolic Syndrome available from Fitness Rocks. To get a free copy send me an e-mail through the contact button on the website. Help us become the number one podcast on Podcast Alley by voting for Fitness Rocks here: http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=29843 References: The Metabolic Syndrome: Concepts and Controversy Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, and Mortality: Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Fruit and Vegetable Intakes, C-Reactive Protein, and the Metabolic Syndrome Music: Comments[0] |
Fri, 19 January 2007 Pomegranate Juice, Plant Derived Antioxidant Chemicals, and the Risk of Cancer Can Pomegranate juice affect the growth of cancer cells? This week we review a study that tested the effects of Pomegranate juice in men with recurrent prostate cancer. We briefly review the role of oxidative stress in the origin of cancer and other diseases and look at how antioxidant chemicals found in fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of several different chronic diseases, including cancer. Thanks to everyone who has left a comment at iTunes and Podcast Alley. Thanks also to the people leaving posts at the forum and pictures on the Frappr map. And, of course, thank you for all the great e-mails. To be on the Fitness Rocks e-mail alert list send a request using the contact button at the top of the page. References: Role of Diet in Prostate Cancer Development and Progression Flavonoid (from plants) Intake and Risk of Chronic Disease Music: Comments[2] |
Sat, 13 January 2007 Can a Low-Protein, Low-Calorie Diet and Regular Exercise Reduce the Risk of Cancer? In this week's show we review an article looking at the relationship between diet, exercise patterns, body fat, and the risk of cancer. This is information that will make you closely examine your own lifestyle habits. We also have an interview with Amy MacIntyre of the popular podcast Fitness Attack, and we go over this week's listener e-mail - there are a lot of terrific questions and suggestions. Check out the Frappr map on the website and add your picture. Get involved with the great discussions on the Fitness Rocks Forum. References: Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being Music: Comments[0] |
Sat, 6 January 2007 Synergy Between Diverse Nutrients in Food and Lifestyle Choices Promote Optimum Health In this episode of Fitness Rocks we review the benefits of eating the whole food - all edible parts of the naturally occurring fruit, vegetable or whole grain. Plant foods are filled with thousands of phytonutrients that work in concert to give us lower risk of chronic diseases and premature death. Exercise brings an additional set of health promoting effects. The combination of a healthy, plant-based diet and regular exercise produces optimum health. The recent Fitness Rocks teleconference on Successful Weight Loss is now available as an audio download. You can purchase the program by clicking the link on this page. This week I sent a PDF file to all listeners on the Fitness Rocks e-mail alert list entitled How Not to Have a Heart Attack. If you would like a copy of this one-page PDF document send me an e-mail through the contact button and I will send it to you. References: Food Synergy - American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating Music: Comments[0] |
Sat, 30 December 2006 Exercise, the Mediterranean Diet, Weight Loss, and your Health This week I tried experimenting with the compressor feature on my microprocessor and it didn't workout exactly right. The podcast has an odd background sound when listened to with headphones. Oddly enough, this background sound is unnoticeable when the podcast is listened to over external speakers. The technical aspects of podcasting continue to trip us up - sorry. The show this week takes a look at two studies using lifestyle interventions to prevent heart disease. One study focuses on exercise and the other one on the Mediterranean diet. You will be surprised, and excited, to hear how lifestyle interventions to prevent heart disease stack up against medical interventions. The lessons learned in this podcast can be applied directly to your plans for a healthy weight loss program. References: Exercise versus Angioplasty in Men with Stable Coronary Artery Disease The Mediterranean Diet and the Rate of Cardiovascular Complications after Myocardial Infarction Autopsy Evidence of Coronary Artery Disease in Young Trauma Victims Overdosed America: The Broken Promise of American Medicine Music: Comments[0] |
Sat, 23 December 2006 Is it Okay to be Overweight if You are Fit? In this episode of Fitness Rocks we review four studies from the medical literature that examine the relationship between fitness and obesity and the risk of developing heart disease, or dying prematurely from any cause. Do high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness compensate for the known negative health consequences of being overweight or obese? Put another way - is it okay to be obese if you are fit? Medical studies provide different perspectives - much of the difference results from the different ways the various studies were designed. What are the Fitness Rocks' conclusions? Listen to podcast 026 for all the details. This week Fitness Rocks welcomes a new co-host to the show - Dr Jenny. Dr Jenny is board certified in Internal Medicine and board certified in Cardiology. She's a serious expert! References: Competing Impact of Excess Weight Vs Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Cardiovascular Risk Adiposity as Compared with Physical Activity in Predicting Mortality among Women Music: Comments[0] |
Sat, 16 December 2006 Glycemic Index and Weight Loss - What You Should Know In this episode I try to explain the glycemic index and its implications for health and weight loss. I intentionally ignored the glycemic load, not because it isn't important, but because the discussion was already complicated enough. Glycemic index is a measure of how much, and how fast, a particular carbohydrate containing food raises blood sugar. This rise in blood sugar precipitates a corresponding rise of insulin that that is required for the cells of our body to utilize this absorbed sugar from the food we eat. It turns out that the glycemic index reveals some very interesting aspects about the relationship between the foods we eat and our health as well as our weight. But the glycemic index is not as clear-cut as one would hope, and it is the subject of ongoing debate and controversy within the medical and scientific community. Listen to the program and send me your e-mail questions and comments. It is a complicated topic. References: Glycemic Index of Foods: A Physiologic Basis for Carbohydrate Exchange Dietary Glycemic Index and Obesity Association Between Dietary Carbohydrates and Body Weight Music: Comments[0] |
Sat, 9 December 2006 Losing Sleep and Gaining Weight In this episode of Fitness Rocks we review studies that look at the relationship between sleep and weight gain. There are some very interesting connections between sleep and weight loss. We also review two recent case reports from the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings concerning injuries related to herbal weight loss products. Sign-up for the Fitness Rocks Teleconference on making healthy choices for your New Year's Weight Loss Resolutions by e-mailing us through the contact button on this web page. The Teleconference is free. References: Could Hypertension be a Consequence of our 24/7 society? Rx for Obesity: Eat Less, Exercise More and - Maybe - Get More Sleep Sleeping More as a Way to Lose Weight Sleep Curtailment and Leptin and Ghrelin Levels Amphetamines Lacing Internet-Marketed Neutraceuticals Ischemic Colitis Associated with Bitter Orange Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_024_-_Losing_Sleep_and_Gaining_Weight.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:01 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 2 December 2006 Lifestyle Habits and Your Blood Pressure Twenty-five percent of the adult population in the United States has high blood pressure, and forty-seven percent of these people do not have their blood pressure adequately controlled. The risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, blindness, and kidney failure. In this episode of Fitness Rocks we talk with exercise physiologist Paul Sorace about how you can reduce your blood pressure with diet and exercise. We discuss what the medical research has shown regarding the best type of diet to keep blood pressure under control. Paul also shares his insights into the best ways to exercise. Fitness Rocks will be having its first teleseminar sometime in December. The teleseminar is free and will be a discussion on how to make an effective New Year's weight-loss resolution - and how to keep it. The teleseminar will include a dietitian, an exercise physiologist, and two psychologists discussing effective weight-loss strategies and answering your questions. If you want to participate in the teleseminar send us an e-mail through the contact button and we will send you the date/time and telephone number for the conference - it's free! References: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension - NEJM 1997 Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension - NEJM 2001 Lifestyle measures to reduce blood pressure - JAMA American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand on Exercise and High Blood Pressure Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_023_Preventing_or_Reducing_High_Blood_Pressure_with_Lifestyle_Changes.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:33 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 25 November 2006 Boosting Your Immunity to Reduce Your Risk of the Common Cold In this episode of Fitness Rocks we look at ways you can strengthen your immune system that may help you avoid the common cold. Healthy eating and regular exercise is an effective route. The evidence for Echinacea and other dietary supplements is not convincing.
I apologize for the slow play of the podcast on the "PuPu Player"- I don't know why this occasionally happens. It plays slow with the "listen now" button - but the good news is that it plays fine if you listen via iTunes. I'm definitely not a sound engineer, so if anybody has an idea why this podcast doesn't play right on the "PuPu Player" please send me an e-mail.
References: Nutritional Strategies to Counter Stress to the Immune System - ACSM Health and Fitness Journal Exercise and the Incidence of the Common Cold An Evaluation of Echinacea in Experimental Rhinovirus Infections - NEJM Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_022_-_Boosting_your_immune_system_to_fight_the_common_cold.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 9:06 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 18 November 2006 Is Your Job Killing You? Job stress has been linked to higher risks of developing high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. In this episode of Fitness Rocks we talk with Psychologist Dr. Mary Guarino about following individual passions to find a fulfilling career. For most of us our job plays a big role in defining who we are as human beings - whether we like it or not. Wouldn't it be great to have a job that excited you, a job that you actually loved doing and that gave meaning to your life? Dr. Mary Guarino owns Stellar Self in Washington, DC and is the author of It's Your Time Now: What Will You Do With It. Listen to what Dr. Guarino has to say about turning your passion into your life's work. References: Job Strain and High Blood Pressure Job Stress and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_021_-_Dr._Mary_Guarino_talks_about_finding_the_right_career_for_you.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 9:52 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 11 November 2006 Weight Loss - It Can Add Years to Your Life In this episode we review a recent medical article from the New England Journal of Medicine about the relationship between overweight, obesity, and the risk of premature death. Being even moderately overweight carries an increased risk of premature death. But don't despair; we are also going to review the basics of successful weight loss in an interview with a Fitness Rocks' listener. Jason is going to share with us how he lost 44 pounds over six months and has maintained that weight loss for almost a year. It turns out that achieving weight loss, and maintaining that weight loss, is not complicated, at least in Jason's case. Listen to what Jason has to say about his own experience with successful weight loss - maybe his program of healthier eating and regular exercise will work for you! References: Jason's Post in the Fitness Rocks Forum Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_020_Interview_with_a_succesful_weight_loser.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 10:23 AM Comments[3] |
Sat, 4 November 2006 Harnessing the Power of Positive Thinking for Weight Loss and Development of Healthy Lifestyles In this episode of Fitness Rocks we talk to Dr. Kirsten Harrell, a psychologist specializing in the field of Positive Psychology. Dr. Harrell will review with us the basic principles of developing positive attitudes that can help you succeed in your weight loss program as well as developing and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. Can you harness the power of your thoughts to enhance weight loss? Can positive attitudes help you stick with a plan of healthy eating and regular exercise? Listen to the show and hear what Dr. Harrell has to say about attitudes, weight loss, and healthy lifestyles. References: Positive Psychology Progress - Article The Science of Happiness - Article from Time Magazine The Happiness Formula - A BBC News Program on Happiness Research University of Pennsylvania Authentic Happiness Website WebMD Article on Positive Psychology Music: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_019_-_Harnessing_the_power_of_positive_thinking.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 9:55 AM Comments[0] |
Sat, 28 October 2006 Yoga - an interview with Los Angeles based Yoga instructor Elsie Escobar Elsie Escobar talks to us about what Yoga is and how to incorporate Yoga into your fitness and wellness program. What can Yoga do to improve your physical health and your mental health? Is Yoga an effective way to reduce stress? What are the different types of Yoga, and which type might be right for you? How does one get started with Yoga? Elsie answers these questions and others as we explore the role of Yoga in creating health and wellness on this episode of Fitness Rocks. References: Yoga's potential benefits for people with coronary artery disease Music: Listener Call-in Line (206) 350-0982
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Sat, 21 October 2006 Weight loss, Exercise, Healthy Eating and Type 2 Diabetes Nearly twenty-one million Americans have Diabetes. Another fifty-four million have "Pre-Diabetes." That totals Seventy-Five million Americans who either have diabetes, or are at high risk for developing diabetes. That's almost one in three people - are you at risk? Can Diabetes be prevented? In this episode we define Diabetes, type 1 and type 2, and talk about the devastating consequences Diabetes has on its victims. We also look at what the medical literature tells us about the role of weight loss, exercise and diet in possibly preventing Diabetes, the sixth leading cause of death in America. References: Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk of Cancer Diet, Lifestyle, and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women Beyond Cardiovascular Risk: The Impact of Obesity on Cancer Death Music: Comments[1] |
Sat, 14 October 2006 Good Fats and Bad Fats: Should You be Eating Nuts? In this episode of Fitness Rocks we explore the role of fat in our diet and its effect on our health. There are different types of dietary fat including saturated, trans, and unsaturated. Which of these fats, if any, are good for us, and which ones should we avoid? If nuts are mostly fat, and therefore high in calories, should we avoid them in our diet or eat them every day? Can high-calorie nuts be a useful part of a weight loss diet? Find out the answers in this episode of Fitness Rocks. References: Nut and Peanut Butter Consumption and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women Nut Consumption and the Risk of Heart Disease Nut Consumption and Body Weight Elsie's Yoga Website and Podcast Music: CORRECTION In the Podcast I say that Canola oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. It looks like I was wrong. Canola oil is, however, an excellent source of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Sorry for the confusion. Comments[2] |
Sat, 7 October 2006 Stress Management Tips from Dr. Mary Guarino Dr. Mary Guarino holds a Ph.D in Apllied Developmental Psychology. She operates Stellar Self in Washington DC where she works with clients to help them better manage chronic stress and to live fuller, richer lives. In this podcast I interview Dr. Guarino about her approach to stress management in the very stressed out crowd of people living and working in Washington DC. References: Sonya Lyubomirsky, Ph.D; Happiness Researcher Jon Kabat-Zin, Mindfulness based stress reduction Source for Rodney Yee Yoga DVD's
Music: Listener Call-in Line (206) 350-0982
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Sun, 1 October 2006 Chronic Stress and its Health Implications - Does it Cause Weight Gain? This is the first of a two-part series on chronic stress. This week we will review the basic concepts of what is stress, what is the physiologic stress response, and why is a prolonged stress response bad for you. We'll talk about how chronic stress affects weight management and how it affects your risk for developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and other chronic illnesses. Next week we will have an interview with Dr. Mary Guarino, owner of Stellar Self, and an expert in managing chronic stress. We'll ask Dr. Guarino for her advice on stress management. Call us at (206) 350-0982. References: Do Stress Reactions Cause Abdominal Obesity and Comorbidities? Protective and Damaging Effects of Stress Mediators Personality Correlates of Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Music: Listener Call-in (206) 350-0982 Comments[1] |
Sun, 24 September 2006 Environment, Genetics, and Obesity, and also, The Relationship Between Diet and Developing Alzheimer's Disease and Gallstones This podcast discusses the role of our genetic predisposition toward weight gain in our modern environment - and what you can do about it. We also review two medical articles looking at the effect diet has on the risk of developing Alzheimer's Disease and Gallstones. Can eating a plant-based diet (vegetarian, or near-vegetarian) help you lose weight, maintain weight control, and prevent you from getting Alzheimer's dementia and gallstones? Listen to the show and find out. Call in your comments at (206) 350-0982. References: From Instinct to Intellect: The Challenge of Maintaining Healthy Weight in a Modern World Fruit and Vegetable Juice Consumption and Alzheimer's Disease Alzheimer's Disease: A Reference from the National Institute of Aging Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and the Risk of Cholecystectomy in Women Music: Laura Clapp - The other half of me Uncle Seth - I want a little bit more
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Fri, 15 September 2006 Resting Energy Expenditure (Basal Metabolic Rate) and Weight Loss, and Should You Eat Soy? This week we look at calculating resting energy expenditure, which is similar in concept to basal metabolic rate, and how to use this information to help you lose weight. We ask the question - do you really need to worry that much about basal metabolic rate? We also answer a question from Dave at ZAP 120 about soy products and how much should you eat. Finally, I play a song from an upcoming CD by Gordon Scott called Buddha Bill. Gordon is a musician and a listener from Tiree, Call us at (206) 350-0982 or send us an e-mail through our contact page. References: How Much May I Eat? Calorie Estimates Based Upon Energy Expenditure Prediction Equations Eat, Drink, and be Healthy - a book by Walter Willet, M.D. Total Energy Expenditure Calculator Music: Jonathan Coulton - I feel Fantastic
Listener Call-in Line (206) 350-0982 Comments[0] |
Fri, 8 September 2006 Stretching, Weight Loss and Blood Pressure On this podshow we talk about stretching and review the References: Stretching at the Blood Pressure Change with Weight Loss is Affected by Type of Diet Music: Charlie Crowe - Vegas Hard Rock Shuffle Shelley Jacobson - I wanna be the One
Leave us a Message (206) 350-0982 Comments[2] |
Sun, 3 September 2006 Healthy Weight, Exercise Capacity, Nicotine, Adam Tinkoff Interview Part 2 In this episode I answer listener questions about what is a healthy weight, and what is "maximum exercise capacity" and why is it important? I also take to my soapbox about a recent news item regarding the tobacco industry's continued efforts to increase the addictive potential of cigarettes. The program wraps up with part 2 of the interview with Adam Tinkoff discussing how he successfully lost twenty pounds, and how he stays fit while traveling around the world. References: Adiposity as Compared with Physical Activity in Predicting Mortality among Women Exercise Capacity and Mortality among Men Referred for Exercise Testing Exercise Capacity and the Risk of Death in Women Eat, Drink, and be Healthy - Book by Walter Willet, M.D. Music: Listener Call-in Line (206) 350-0982 Comments[0] |
Sat, 26 August 2006 Adam Tinkoff Interview about Weight Loss and Fitness In this episode I play part one of an interview with Adam Tinkoff of the Podcast Burning 20. We talk about his success in losing twenty pounds and his new-found enthusiasm for running, including training for a marathon. I also discuss an article that reports on how your cholesterol level changes with the seasons. Great information, motivation, and music that will make you want to move. Have a great workout. References: Seasonal Variation in Serum Cholesterol Levels
Music:
Listener Call-in Line (206) 350-0982 Comments[0] |
Sun, 20 August 2006 Exercise, Diet and Your Cholesterol level In this podcast I try to learn how to use my new telephone interview equipment - and fail. The podcast is an interview with Paul Sorace, a clinical exercise physiologist at Please call in comments to our listener line at: (206) 350-0982 Music: Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials - Natural Man
References: The Exercise Capacity and Mortality Among Men Referred for Exercise Testing Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women Through Diet and Lifestyle Effects of the Amount and Intensity of Exercise on Plasma Lipoproteins Leave us a message at: (206) 350-0982 Comments[0] |
Sat, 12 August 2006 The Falmouth Road Race In this show I interview runners at the Falmouth Road Race, including running legends Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. The theme of the podcast is finding the motivation for fitness. Music: American Heartbreak - Somebody Bill DeRome - New Year's Resolution American Heartbreak - Last of the Superheroes
Call in your comments at: (206) 350-0982 Comments[2] |
Sat, 5 August 2006 The Health Makeover Challenge In this episode I do an interview with Mark and Melissa, two people who recently took my Health Makeover Challenge. We report on their results, including weight changes, and before-and-after lab testing. The Health Makeover Challenge is an eight-to-ten week program of intensive exericise and dietary change (emphasizing a Mediterranean-style diet) geared toward improving health with weight loss viewed as a side-benefit. References: Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet Cardiovascular Fitness as a Predictor of Mortality in Men Steve Runner - Phedippidations Music: American Heartbreak - 21 and Easy Phone in a message for the show (206) 350 - 0982 Comments[0] |
Wed, 26 July 2006 Dietary Supplements In this episode we discuss dietary supplements and what you should know about the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. References: Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act Antioxidant Vitamin Supplements and Cardiovascular Disease What Vitamin Sould I be Taking, Doctor? Herbal Medicines - What's in the Bottle? Center for Responsive Politics Office of Dietary Supplements National Institute of Health Music: Asian Man Records - Summertime Leave us a message: (206) 350 - 0982
Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_005_Dietary_Supplements.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 10:19 PM Comments[1] |
Wed, 19 July 2006 Women and Heart Disease: This show reveals the reality that heart disease is the number one killer of women in the References: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Women Through Diet and Lifestyle Exercise Capacity and Risk of Death in Women Marital Stress Worsens Prognosis in Women with Coronary Heart Disease Music: Matthew Ebel - Wasting my Time
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Mon, 3 July 2006 Weight Loss:
References: National Weight Control Registry Long-Term Weight Loss Maintenance Healthy Lifestyle Characteristics Among Adults in the IDEA Health and Fitness Association Music Links: Direct download: Fitness_Rocks_Podcast_003_Weight_Loss.mp3 Category: podcasts -- posted at: 12:53 PM Comments[0] |
Sat, 24 June 2006 Fitness Rocks Podcast 002 Article references: Coffee and Parkinson's Disease - JAMA Coffee and liver cirrhosis - Archives of Internal Medicine Coffee and Type 2 diabetes - JAMA Coffee and CHD in Women - JAMA 1996 Overtraining - Essentials of Exercise Physiology, second edition, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins McArdle, Katch, and Katch p 128 University of Music Comments[0] |
Tue, 20 June 2006 Fitness Rocks Podcast 001 Music links for this episode: Topic references: The Hidden and Potent Effects of Television Advertising: Beans and your heart from Archives of Internal Medicine: Vegetarian black bean chili recipe: High Blood Pressure - an article by Monte Ladner, M.D. I mention another podcast in my podcast called former fattie. You can visit this podcast by clicking here.
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