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] |
Fri, 12 January 2007 Are All Sugars the Same? There is a discussion going on in the Fitness Rocks forum about sugar, and different ways to sweeten foods. In answering one of the questions I quoted from a book by Andrew Weil. I am providing a link to his book at Amazon here: Eating Well For Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Bringing Health and Pleasure Back to Eating Dr. Monte Category: Blog -- posted at: 9:42 AM Comments[0] |
Thu, 11 January 2007 The Evidence against Eating Meat I don't want to come across as a crazed vegetarian warrior trying to convert the world to my particular point of view - I just find the evidence in support of diets that are heavy on plant-based foods and light on meat to be...well...remarkable. Two studies I looked at today bear this out. The first is a review article that looked at the potential benefits of eating very small amounts of meat, or no meat at all. The consensus of the data from six different studies appears to reveal a significant increase in longevity associated with eating diets low in meat. People with very low meat consumption sustained over a couple of decades gained about 3.6 years of extra life. I'm not as focused on life extension as I am on improving the quality of life and reducing the burden of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. Just getting old may not be such a great thing, but being able to get old and remain robust, vigorous, and independent - that would be good. Being old and not having your day planner filled up with visits to all of your different doctors is an achievable goal. What's the best policy to address the rising cost of prescription drugs? How about the one nobody is talking about - stay healthy. A plant-based Mediterranean-style diet is an essential part of a program to keep you healthy as you get older. Regular exercise is another critical piece of the plan, as is maintaining a healthy weight. Components of a Mediterranean diet are:
The second study I looked at today assessed the benefit of eating a Mediterranean diet in people who had coronary heart disease. Greater adherence to a Mediterranean diet, as described above, was associated with a significant decrease in death rates from heart disease and all other causes as well. The more a person's diet conformed to the Mediterranean diet; the lower was their risk of death. The data for the health benefits of plant-based diets and regular exercise is simply overwhelming, and should not be ignored. References: Does Low Meat Consumption Increase Life Expectancy in Humans? Mediterranean Diets and Survival among Patients with Coronary Heart Disease Category: Blog -- posted at: 11:35 AM Comments[0] |
Sun, 7 January 2007 Weight Loss Drugs - for Dogs? Please - I can't stand anymore of this. The FDA has approved a weight loss drug, Slentrol, for your dog. Slentrol, manufactured by Pfizer, will cost about a dollar per day and is indicated for dogs who are more than 20% above ideal weight. How long before we have canine liposuction and gastric bypass surgery? Around 40% of dogs are overweight or obese - a consequence of having their human owner's lifestyle imposed upon them. What better evidence could there be that the human epidemic of obesity is a medical problem we have created for ourselves - not one that was dealt to us by a bad set of genes? We have provided our dogs with an overabundance of food and an inadequate amount of exercise and they have gotten fat. I couldn't have designed the experiment any better. One article I read quoted a veterinarian as saying the drug was an encouraging development because obesity in dogs is such a big problem. He was also a paid consultant for Pfizer. Such ethical dilemmas are everywhere in the healthcare professions. Overweight dogs suffer all the same complications that overweight humans do - type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, increased rates of cancer, and osteoarthritis. Evidently, many people believe that it is a good idea to "treat" their dog to a meal at their favorite fast-food restaurant on a regular basis - to show their love! How is slowly killing your dog by feeding him/her burgers and fries a loving act? When did taking your dog for a walk or playing fetch cease to be an appropriate method of showing affection? Here are a few Fitness Rocks tips to help with the growing problem of dog obesity: 1. Your dog can't open the refrigerator or drive the car to McDonalds. In fact, your dog can only eat what you feed him, and when you feed him. If we can't keep our animals from overeating how can we possibly hope to prevent ourselves from overeating? 2. Maybe if you got off the sofa and took your dog for a walk you could both lose some weight. 3. Get over the idea that overfeeding your dog, your family, and yourself is a way of expressing affection or "rewarding" yourself for whatever you've done well. How about just patting yourself on the back, or rubbing behind your ears? 4. The evidence is now overwhelming - not only are burgers, fries, and other fast food bad for humans - they're bad for all living creatures. Take them off your menu. 5. Stop hoping for magic that will allow you and your dog to continue living a sedentary, overindulgent lifestyle without ill-effects. Express your love for your dog, and yourself, by eating a healthy diet and exercising every day. Obesity is a complicated medical problem with a very straight-forward solution. The Fitness Rocks audi download "Successful Weight Loss" provides a great discussion and information on making healthy choices for a weight loss program. Click the icon on the sidebar for more details. References: Now Dogs Have Weight Loss Pills My own article on weight loss drugs for humans Dr. Monte
Category: Blog -- posted at: 6:53 PM 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] |
Wed, 3 January 2007 Download the Audio File of the Fitness Rocks Teleconference on Successful Weight Loss Now Available
This is a 90 minute recording of the recent Fitness Rocks teleconference on weight loss. The teleconference includes a panel discussion between the Fitness Rocks team of experts including a registered dietitian, an exercise physiologist, two psychologists, and me, Dr. Monte. There is also a 30 minute segment of audience questions and answers. The program is available for immediate download, just click on the "buy now" link. Category: Blog -- posted at: 8:48 PM Comments[0] |
