Oprah Winfrey will be having a special program on Monday concerning weight-loss.  She says that the most common questioned asked of her is “How does she lose weight and keep it off?”  Here special is expected to feature a man who lost 500 pounds without surgery.  A woman lost 85 pounds and will make her TV debut in a bikini.

Oprah had many years of weight gain and loss.  She would say on Monday “I'm going to do it" and then by Wednesday she would be failing.  She now realizes that the commitment to do well and to be well is a lifetime of choices that you make daily.  She says that true commitment does not come when you say "I'll try" Or "I want to" or "I really want to." The true commitment comes when you say, "I have decided."

Oprah says she does not have the genetics or body type to function without exercise.  She must make a daily choice to exercise to stay fit.  She says she does this the way she takes a bath, as a necessity.  Oprah's Weight Loss Plan Show on Monday - Diet and Exercise Daily - Winfey Boot Camp Includes Pilates Aerobics and Strength Training

Researchers at Oregon State University have found that xanthohumol, a compound found in hops, inhibits NF-kappaB protein in cells along the surface of the prostate gland.  Xanthohumol is a chief ingredient in beer and this finding may lead to a therapy that could prevent both prostate cancer and prostate enlargement.

According to Emily Ho, "We've shown that the addition of xanthohumol in a cell culture blocks the signal of NF-KappaB protein and works to slow down the growth of benign prostatic hyperplasia and malignant prostate cancer cell”.  Ho is assistant professor of nutrition and exercise sciences in OSU's College of Health and Human Sciences and a researcher with OSU’s Linus Pauling Institute.  Prostate Health - Beer Ingredient (Hops) May Prevent Prostate Cancer and Enlargement - Xanthohumol Inhibits NF-kappaB Protein in Gland 

New cases of Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy or BSE) have appeared in cows in Texas and Alabama.  These cases appear to be an atypical form of the disease.  Scientists believe it may be a new strain of the disease that can be passed from cow to cow. 

Scientists theorize that cows pick up BSE, a cellular prion protein (prions are smaller than viruses), from their feed.  In this case however, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the existence of a rare strain and researchers are still unsure how the disease was transferred. 

"It's most important right now, till the science tells us otherwise, that we treat this as BSE regardless," the Agriculture Department's chief veterinarian, John Clifford, said.  According to FoodConsumer.org, laboratory studies on mice showed that both the classic and atypical strains could be spread from one animal to another.  Possible Cow to Cow Transmission of Mad Cow Disease In Texas and Alabama - Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy BSE

Scientists call it the ‘Asian Paradox’ because of the lower amounts of cancer and cardiovascular disease in Asians, even though these countries have an abundance of heavy smokers.  Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine theorize that possibly it is related to the high consumption of green tea.  The article was first reported in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

"We do not yet have a full explanation for the 'Asian paradox,' which refers to the very low incidence of both heart disease and cancer in Asia, even though consumption of cigarettes is greater than in most other countries," said the lead author, Bauer Sumpio, M.D. who is a professor and Chief of Vascular Surgery in the Department of Surgery. "But we now have some theories."  Cancer and Heart Disease are much lower in Asia possibly from drinking Green Tea

Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center believe yoga, as part of a treatment plan for cancer patients, can improve the quality of life.  Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., associate professor and director of the Integrative Medicine Program at M. D. Anderson presented their findings at the 42nd annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

The research included sixty-one women with breast cancer undergoing radiation.  They were randomized and some took yoga classes twice weekly at or around the time of their radiation therapy appointments.  They created a control group that was “to be offered yoga post-treatment.” The patients ranged from Stage 0 to Stage 3.

The researchers found that after just one week of yoga and radiation, the patients reported increased physical function, as well as general health, compared to the control group.  Also, this group reported better social functioning, significantly lower levels of sleep-related daytime dysfunction, as well as marginally lower levels of fatigue overall.  There was no difference in depression or anxiety levels between the two groups. Yoga Improves Quality of Life For Radiation Therapy Patients - Exercise Program Planned for Breast Cancer Chemotherapy - Study

Anna Nicole Smith lost 69lb with a product that contained Hoodia!

No More Taking Diet Pills Though, As New Proven Weight Loss Secret Revealed By Industry Leaders in Two New Products.

Herbal diet manufacturers specializing in Hoodia Gordonii proven weight loss products have pinpointed a real secret winner in chewing gum that has a powerful added active weight loss ingredient.

Two new products are finally unveiled by one of the industry leaders, Dietary Formulae Inc. We interviewed the sales director, Fay Thompson of Dietary Formulae Inc in January 2006 after learning the secret success with the new chewing gum to help you loose weight.  Hoodia Supplements - Patented Hoodia Chewing Gum

Upsizing your meal to mega-size at the fast food restaurants may be inexpensive but there are hidden costs to eating excessively.

A group of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison calculated how much money a single occurrence of overeating costs over the following year.  The study will be published in the June 2006 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

"When confronted with the overwhelming costs of obesity to society as a whole, people don't always take the statistics personally," said Rachel Close who worked with the professor of nutritional science, Dale Schoeller, as part of her master's thesis. "This is another way to present the costs associated with weight gain, and might help convince people that upsizing a meal is no bargain after all. With obesity projected to rise from the current 30 percent to 40 percent of the American population by 2010, this is an important message."  Overeating Costs Money - Hidden Costs Associated with Gaining Weight

If you suffer from a peptic or duodenal ulcer, the last thing you might consider taking is hot Cayenne Pepper. This goes against everything you've ever heard about what aggravates an ulcer, the facts are that most "spicy" foods do just the opposite.

Capsicum (Cayenne Pepper) can reduce pain which serves as a local anesthetic to ulcerated tissue in the stomach and can even help to control bleeding in the stomach. Some individuals may be bothered by eating "Red Pepper" or spicy foods, these foods do not cause the formation of gastric ulcers in normal people. An interesting note is that people suffering from ulcers usually avoid Cayenne Pepper, in fact those people may actually benefit from its therapeutic action. Stomach Ulcers - Cayenne Peppers may help Improve Condition

Two studies highlight the benefits of exercise, including lower risks of skin cancer and bowel cancer.  In the first study, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, exposed female mice to ultraviolet B light (UVB).  The researchers found that the mice that had 24-hour access to running wheels took longer to develop skin tumors and had fewer of them.  The tumors were also smaller in the mice that were exercising. 

Scientists believe that programmed cell death, called apoptosis, can be triggered by exercise.  The problem with cancer cells is that they do not die like normal cells. Dr. Allan Conney said “Preliminary indications from follow-up work in the laboratory suggest that voluntary exercise enhances UVB-induced apoptosis in the skin, and that it also enhances apoptosis in UVB-induced tumors. So, although UVB is triggering the development of tumors, exercise is counteracting the effect by stimulating the death of the developing cancer cells.”  Dr. Conney is Garbe professor of Cancer and Leukemia Research.  Exercise Prevents Cancer By Promoting Cell Death - Both Skin and Bowel Cancer Studies Show Voluntary Workouts Reduce Risk

Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that some prescription drugs can possibly cause dangerous interactions when taken with grapefruit juice. 

It was originally believed that flavonoids from the grapefruit juice caused the interactions; however the researchers believe that it is because of a chemical called furanocoumarins that is found in the grapefruit which contributes to the problem.

Grapefruit juice causes some drugs to not be absorbed because an intestinal enzyme called CYP3A partially destroys the medication before it is absorbed.  The researchers first reported there discovery in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Medications may have dangerous interactions when taken with Grapefruit Juice

Oprah Winfrey had Dr. Oz on her show to share how to eat better to get healthier and younger.  Some was diet and exercise advice.  The authors Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet Oz M.D., shared some of the information from their book called, “YOU: The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger.”

Another book by Michael F. Roizen is called “The RealAge Makeover: Take Years off Your Looks and Add Them to Your Life.”

One of the secrets is to understand what you are eating.  Look at the ingredients on the package label.  If sugar or high fructose corn syrup is top on the list of ingredients it is not a good food choice.  Dr. Oz recommends foods that have sugar in them also contain fiber or complex carbohydrates.  Mixing the sugar with a complex carbohydrate will slow the absorption of the sugar into the system and help to control an insulin rise and rapid drop following.  Dr. Oz’s 90 Day Plan showed Oprah and viewers how to get Younger and Healthier

You know what makes exercising on a treadmill so effective in losing weight and getting in shape ¬ the ability to adjust the incline. With the push of a button you can adjust the intensity level of your workout to any degree.

If you live in a flatlander state like Illinois and you run or walk outside, you’re stuck at one level. With a treadmill you can simulate running or walk on hills or mountains, and that is where you start getting the heart beating and the calories burning.

Breaking Out of the Exercise Rut For those of us who exercise regularly, we tend to get into a rut. And once you get stuck in a rut you reach a plateau. You find that you are not losing any more weight, and you are not getting in better shape.  Getting the Most Out of Your Treadmill Workout

The state medical board of Mississippi ordered 14 weight loss businesses that do ear stapling because they say they are doing so illegally.

According to a news report by ABC news, Mal Morgan who is the executive director of the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure had received several complaints of people that had the ear stapling performed causing serious ear infections.  Doctor’s in the state had more people coming in to get the staple removed and to treat the infection.

The ear stapling business advertised this as a weight loss procedure which is why they closed down the businesses as they are practicing medicine without a license.  Weight Loss Ear Staple – Mississippi Medical Board shuts down Businesses offering Ear Stapling for Losing Weight

Why do we still buy big brand name foods that we know are bad for us?  According to James Tillotson, PhD, MBA, professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University said the reason why big brand names survive, “mega-brands maintain their strong grip on our diet because consumers, food companies, and supermarkets are intertwined in a symbiotic relationship that yields great benefits for all three.”

Tillotson has a two-part series in his Business and Nutrition column in Nutrition Today who looks at the brand name products and refers to them as “fortress brands” because they are hard for competitors to take their market share.

“In spite of a deluge of popular press coverage in recent years about pros and cons of following the Dietary Guideline recommendations, consumer surveys continue to report that taste still trumps all other rationales in motivating food purchases by catering to our strong liking for sweets, fats and oils, and salt,” Tillotson wrote in his column.  Nutrition – Why Consumers by Mega-Brand Name Food Even when they know it’s not Nutritious

Dr. Ian Smith is the author of the “Fat Smash Diet” and has helped Hollywood celebrities lose weight on VH1’s best rated show called “Celebrity Fit Club”.  Dr. Smith visited last Friday’s NBC Today show and shared what the different phases of the diet plan entails.

Phase 1 is called Detox Phase.  This phase lasts for 10 days and you limit your diet intake to fruits and vegetables.  The detox phase is intended to help clean your body of imperfections.  Dr. Smith said that people can lose anywhere from 6 – 10 pounds during this phase of the diet.

In Phase 2 called the Foundation you add 3 – 4 ounces of meat or seafood to your diet.  You add oatmeal, yogurt, brown rice and egg whites in addition to the fruit and vegetables that you are already eating.  You also start to add back cheese, cereal, and drinks to your diet.  You also learn about portions, but you don’t count calories.  Fat Smash Diet – Four Phase approach to Losing Weight

Earlier studies that suggest moderate drinking or a drinking a glass of wine everyday may help prevent a heart attack might be flawed.  This may be because people in the studies that quit drinking may have quit consuming alcohol because of poor health.  This could have skewed the results to favor drinking.  According to the report, “This was only the case, however, when they deliberately included error by evaluating both long-term abstainers with people who had reduced alcohol intake or quit drinking recently. Study authors caution their report has not disproved the notion that light drinking is good for health.” 

The new study simply questions the extent to which these benefits actually translate into longer life.  Kaye Fillmore, Ph.D. of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), said “We know that older people who are light drinkers are usually healthier than their non-drinking peers.  Our research suggests light drinking is a sign of good health, not necessarily its cause."  Moderate Alcohol Drinking may not Prevent Heart Attacks - Older Studies May Be Flawed - Glass of Wine Every Day Shows No Benefit

ABC News highlighted some habits that can be used by overweight people to become thin.  Researchers from Pennsylvania found that thin people tend to eat low calorie density foods.  These foods contain high water content.  Examples include fruits, vegetables, water-based soups and stews, and cooked whole grains.

They typically don’t count calories or carry a food scale around with them, according to Barbara Rolls, professor of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University.  Lorie Parch writes in Real Simple Magazine that thin people “keep an eye on what they eat without being obsessive, many focus on filling their plates with mostly fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.”  According to Rolls, thin people tend to eat five small meals a day rather than three squares.  This makes it easier to scale down portions.

Thin people don’t skip meals. According to the report, they don’t skip breakfast.  Breakfast is the most important meal.  According to the ABC News story “A recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that people who ate breakfast were less likely to be overweight than those who didn't.”  I have to admit, I have met many thin people that did skip breakfast.