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.  Secrets of Thin People – Habits Can Help Keep Weight Under Control – ABC News Broadcast Highlights Real Simple Magazine Article

This could be a process that your body is catching up with the changes going on in your body.  You could be reaching a point where the amount of calories and exercise are not enough to push past the plateau.  Adding more exercise will get you past the plateau, but you may need to add variety to your workout.  Weight Loss Plateaus – How to get back on track to Losing Weight

Metabolic Syndrome could be prevented by Eating a Diet Rich with Magnesium

A 15 year study found that people that ate the most magnesium in their diets had a 31 percent less of a chance for developing metabolic syndrome. 

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that include high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.  The metabolic syndrome people usually have an excessive amount of weight around their waist.  They struggle with blood sugar levels and can often develop type 2 diabetes.  They are also at an increased risk for developing heart disease.  Metabolic Syndrome could be prevented by Eating a Diet Rich with Magnesium

A new study indicates that there is a connection between fluoride intake and fluorosis of the permanent incisors.  Fluorosis is characterized by white streaks or splotches on the teeth.  Kids in the study, who are currently 10 to 13 years of age, were followed since birth.  The Iowa Fluoride Study recorded food and beverage intakes multiple times throughout those years.

The well water and purchased beverages were analyzed for fluoride concentrations. When the kids were between 7.7 and 12 years of age, they had dental examinations, where researchers looked for evidence of fluorosis. 

The researchers compared amounts of fluoride consumed and children with and without fluorosis in their permanent incisors.  They found that 35% of the children had some evidence of dental fluorosis, most of which was mild.  Fluoride Consumption Linked to White Streaks and Splotches in Teeth - Compare Different Drinks With Tooth Erosion and Decay - Diet Coke OK

There have been questions whether or not the Atkins diet is safe.  A group of researchers from the New York School of Medicine says it is not safe and should not be recommended.

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau along with colleagues did a case report about this life-threatening complication when a 40 year old obese woman was on the Atkins diet.  The woman was following the diet strictly.  She developed ketoacidosis which is caused when excessively high levels of acids called ketones are found in the blood.  When starvation occurs the liver produces Ketones.  Low carbohydrate diets like the Atkins diet leads to Ketones being produced.  Atkins Diet Warning - Researchers do not recommend for Weight Loss due to Health Risks

One of the easiest ways you can help your own effort to lose weight and get healthy is through the use of supplementation. A supplement shouldn't be some concentrated megadose vitamin that doesn't have the all of the other nutrients that exists in juice and fiber of the fruit or vegetable. No, a supplement should be "that which is closest to the actual content of the food, plus have as much of the nutrients in tact that is contained in the juice of the fruit or vegetable."

Combination Folic Acid with Vitamin B supplements may not lower cardiovascular risk, according to a new studies in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).  Researchers announced at the American College of Cardiology, in Atlanta that lowering homocysteine levels by supplementation has no effect in preventing heart attacks, and may even trigger them.  The studies focused on people that have already had heart attacks or suffer from diabetes and other ailments.

There were two studies in the NEJM concerning the supplements.  One of the studies indicated that there may be a "marginally significant" decrease in stroke risk after supplementation. This may not be worth the risk though.  The authors of one of the studies (Homocysteine Lowering and Cardiovascular Events after Acute Myocardial Infarction) concluded that “Treatment with B vitamins did not lower the risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease after acute myocardial infarction. A harmful effect from combined B vitamin treatment was suggested. Such treatment should therefore not be recommended.”  Folic Acid and Vitamin B did not Reduce Subsequent Heart Attack Risk - Two Studies Found Supplements Lowered Homocysteine Levels Not Risk 

There may be a link between calcium deficiencies and two serious complications during pregnancy, preeclampsia and eclampsia, Preclampsia is the development of high blood pressure and protein in the urine during pregnancy.  Eclampsia is a life threatening condition that can kill both the mother and child.

Researchers under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO), investigated whether a calcium supplement could reduce the complications and the mortality from these conditions.  They looked at 8,300 women with low dietary calcium and gave half 1.5 gram calcium supplements, while giving the other half a placebo. Before the study all of the women had a daily intake of 600 milligrams or less.  This was about half the recommended intake for pregnant women.   

Although the calcium supplements did not reduce the incidence of preeclampsia, it did lower their "severe preeclamptic complications index" and "severe maternal morbidity and mortality index."  They were less likely to die from the illness.  Calcium Supplements Can Save Lives in Pregnant Women – Helps Prevent Premature Child Birth and Lowers Risk of Pregnancy Complications  

First researched in Finland, Xylitol has shown in numerous studies to prevent tooth decay.  Other research conducted in Brazil and Michigan also show that Xylitol in chewing gum helps to prevent cavities.  Xylitol is a found in plants, trees, fruits and vegetables.  The more the chewing gum contains Xylitol, the better the benefits to preventing cavities.

The benefits to chewing gum with Xylitol are many.  It helps to prevent tooth decay.  It will replace minerals in the tooth decayed lesions.  It reduces the number of cavities and reduces the amount of plaque build-up on teeth.  Chewing gum with Xylitol will increase saliva production preventing dryness in the mouth.  Xylitol Chewing Gum gaining in Popularity – Prevents Tooth Decay

Multiple research studies are coming to the same conclusion that excess body fat causes an inflammation response in their body that can be deadly.

A recent report in the International Journal of Obesity by researchers from the University of Warwick Medical School found that the biggest health risk to overweight and obese people is the killer inflammation response created from the excess body fat.

Professor F.P. Cappuccio and Dr. M.A. Miller looked at 3 different ethnic groups that were overweight or obese.  They measured the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the participant’s Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) to determine the amount of body fat a person was carrying.  Obesity Risk – Fat causes Killer Inflammation Response in the Obese and Overweight

The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are exploring how to make healthier yogurt and cheese products.

Yogurt could possibly become a heart healthy food choice with a C-Trim ingredient.  The C-Trim is a derivative of oats and barley and contains beta-glucan which is a soluble fiber.  The goal that ARS scientists have is to find ways to cut calories and to increase the foods nutritional value.

ARS scientists from across the country reported some of their successful results in the March 2006 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.  This issue’s main focus was all about obesity.  By improving the food nutrition and lowering calories it would hopefully turn the trend of obesity around.  Obese Children and Diet – Scientists making healthy foods to fight Obesity

A recent study of cholesterol lowering foods such as soy protein, almonds, plant sterols that are put in special margarines, oats and barley showed that they will do a better job at lowering cholesterol when used together.  The participants that stayed on a specific diet of these foods were able to lower their LDL “bad” cholesterol as well as the first generation statin drugs did.

The study by Professor David Jenkins from the University of Toronto reported these findings in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  How to Lower Cholesterol by eating a selection of Heart Healthy Foods

A group of scientists from Japan reported in the March 8^th issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry that eating rice bran, the outer coating of brown rice, can lower blood pressure as well as cholesterol.  The researchers discovered that the rice bran acts in the same manor as an ACE inhibitor prescription medicine.

The study was conducted with rats.  The scientists from Tohoku University and Japan’s National Research Institute of Brewing showed that rats that were hypertensive and stroke-prone were able to lower their systolic blood pressure approximately 20 percent in the same method as ACE inhibitors.  High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol can be lowered by eating Rice Bran

Lifting weights just twice a week for an hour will help women stop the buildup of abdominal fat.  The study involved 164 overweight women ages 24 to 44, and was presented at the American Heart Association conference in Phoenix. 

The women were broken up in to two groups.  One group participated in a two-year weight-training program.  The other group was given a simple brochure that recommended exercise of 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week.  Both groups were told not to change their diets in a way that would lead to weight loss.  Weight Lifting Helps Reduce Abdominal Body Fat Compared to other Unsupervised Exercise Programs - No Diet Change only Weight Training 

"Obesity increases the risk of contracting cancer," said Dr. Javier Salvador, Director of the Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition at the University Hospital of the University of Navarra.

Dr. Javier said that more people are overweight than ever before.  It is found in both industrialized countries and in developing countries as well.  He points out that in Spain 15% of the population suffers from obesity and 54% are overweight.  He believes that the cause for obesity is by people eating more calories and having a sedentary lifestyle.

Dr. Javier’s concerns for Western society is a rise in infant obesity. When these obese babies grow up they will become obese adults.  There are more obese children that are developing type II diabetes at young ages.  Cancer Risk increases with Obesity – More Young Children and Adults Overweight

New research has found that an investigational therapy for bone loss, denosumab, demonstrated significant increases in bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.  A person’s BMD can be an indicator for fracture risk, according to a study published in the Feb. 23, 2006 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Denosumab is a RANK Ligand inhibitor under development by Amgen.  Ligand is a protein that is the primary “mediator” of osteoclast formation, function and survival.  These osteoclasts are responsible for bone removal. 

This study is in the second stage and the researchers were able to dmonstrate that “denosumab provides rapid and sustained responses of bone metabolism in patients with low BMD.”  Denosumad can be administered twice yearly and will increased total hip, spine, distal 1/3 radius and total body BMD similar to current therapy.  Osteoporosis Patients may Benefit From New Drug - Two Injections of Denosumab per Year will Increase Bone Mass in Postmenopausal Women

Heart health and brain health are associated with each other, according to a multi-Institute collaboration of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published online today in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.  It may be possible to maintain brain health as we age by making good lifestyle choices, such as exercise, learning new things and staying socially connected.

From the public health perspective, the researchers believe that by controlling cardiovascular (CV) risk factors we can help maintain “brain health”.  These factors include reducing blood pressure, reducing weight, reducing cholesterol, treating (or preferably avoiding) diabetes, and not smoking.

Committee chair Hugh Hendrie, MB, ChB, DSc, said “Based on our review of CV risk factors, the link between hypertension and cognitive decline was the most robust across studies.”  He is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine.  Heart and Brain Health Linked - Alzheimer's Disease Risk can be Lowered by Exercise and Mental Stimulation

The Jerusalem Diet – 24 Hour Dieting

The Jerusalem Diet was created by Ted Haggard, a pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs.  The reason that the diet is called “The Jerusalem Diet” was that in 1998 he traveled to Jerusalem and had gained too much weight.  He thought he would eat only fruits, veggies and nuts for one day.  After a day of this he felt better and the clothes fit better.  His diet encourages you to weigh yourself every day so that you don’t get off your goal weight.

If he gains a pound or two he restricts his diet and exercises for an hour.  This usually turns into a weight correction within 24 hours.  He doesn’t promote fast weight loss, but makes it more manageable.  The diet also addresses addictions to food, cigarettes, and caffeine.  It sounds like exercise should be on a regular basis, more than just once a week.  He recommends 14 super foods to eat on the diet which are healthy foods choices.  The Jerusalem Diet – 24 Hour Dieting

I Hate Diets - New Approach to Weight Loss!

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999-2002 survey) determined that approximately 65% of the U.S. adult population was either obese or overweight. This survey also indicated that an estimated 16% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 years are overweight. And, there is no doubt that obesity is on the rise in our country!

Why the upwards trend in obesity? As most of us are aware, Americans have fallen prey to high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie diets (common in fast food restaurants). We’re typically eating way-y-y more calories each day than we need for our lifestyles! (But, oh! Those ‘comfort’ foods sure taste good and temporarily soothe our psyches, don’t they?!) Let’s face it, though! If we constantly consume more calories than we burn, most likely we’ll eventually put on some extra weight!

Ironically, Americans often go through spurts of trying one fad diet after another or starting an exercise regimen, only to get bored with it and quit after only a few weeks or so. We refer to a ‘fitness craze.’ Do we call it a ‘craze’ because we get so hyped up about it one minute, pour all our efforts into losing weight and getting into shape…yet, soon, throw our hands up in the air in defeat? I Hate Diets - New Approach to Weight Loss!

McDonalds Faces Three Lawsuits - Celiac Disease Sufferers Claim the Company Misled Consumers About their French Fries

McDonald’s is facing at least three lawsuits by people with celiac disease. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the lawsuits claim that the company “misled” the public about the ingredients in their French fries. 

Last week McDonalds revealed that their fries contained both wheat and dairy products.  They may taste great, but the wheat products can cause gastrointestinal symptoms in people that suffer from celiac disease.  In fact gluten, a protein found in wheat, can cause damage to the intestines in people with celiac disease. 

The Associated press reported that Debra Moffatt of Lombard, Ill., seeks unspecified damages in a suit filed Friday in the Cook County Circuit Court.  She is accusing the company of misleading the public. McDonalds Faces Three Lawsuits - Celiac Disease Sufferers Claim the Company Misled Consumers About their French Fries

FDA defines term “Whole Grain” for Food Manufacturers

Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Very Beneficial For Many Women over the Age of 60 - Helps Prevent Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures

Calcium and vitamin-D supplements play an important role in preventing bone fractures in older women, according to study published in the February 16th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.  Researchers say, in older women, “consistent use of calcium and vitamin-D supplements will play a role in reducing her risk for osteoporosis”.

Up until now the results have been conflicting.  Based on the data provided by the Women’s Health Initiative, lead author Rebecca Jackson, associate professor of internal medicine and physical medicine at Ohio State University Medical Center, said “The value of a study this large is that it does show, even if only on a small scale, that the intervention can be effective to lower the risk of osteoporosis within two to three years…. A physician isn't needed to prescribe these supplements. All this means any supplementation of this kind is potentially beneficial, particularly in women over 60 years old. That's a huge finding."  Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Very Beneficial For Many Women over the Age of 60 - Helps Prevent Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures

The diet pill rimonabant not only helped lower weight in test subjects and keep it off, it also lowered the bad cholesterol HDL and triglyceride levels.  According to the background information in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article, the researchers believe that besides weight loss, obesity management should target improvement in certain cardiometabolic risk factors, which include abnormal cholesterol and glucose (blood sugar) levels and excess weight around the waist.

This research determined just that.  It looked at rimonabant in conjunction with promoting reductions in weight, waist circumference, long-term weight maintenance, and reduction of cardiometabolic risk factors in obese and higher risk overweight patients.  Rimonabant Diet Pills Work and Lower HDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides - Weight Loss Drug for the Obese

A new test is available that may give those over the age of 50 odds of dying within the next 4 years.  The test considers 12 risk factors to determine the participant’s risk. 

The lower the test scores, the lower the odds of dying.  A score of 5 points means your risk of dying in four years is 4%.  A score of 14 points will make the risk rise to 64%.  Just being a man will give you 2 points.  You will get another 2 points for being diabetic or being a smoker.  If you are unable to walk two blocks without getting tired, you will get another 2 points.

The older you are the more points you will get.  Over the age of 60, points will begin to accrue just because of your age.  The researchers warn, don’t try this test at home.  They say a doctor can help you put things into perspective.  New Test Helps Determine the Risk of Death in the Next Four Years - Risk of dying within 4 years found for those over the age of 50 

A new study published in the February 13^th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine found that low-carb dieters end up having higher total cholesterol and higher levels of LDL “bad” cholesterol.

The researchers did a comparison of the high protein and high fat diet (low-carb) versus the low fat dieters.  Atkins low-carb dieters are encouraged to eat all types of protein and high fat foods with very little carbs.  South Beach is another low-carb diet; however this diet focuses on healthy protein (like chicken and fish) with balanced and controlled fat intake along with anything that is low-carb (certain types of fruits and vegetables, and sometimes beans.)  South Beach is calling their low-carbs, "smart carbs" because of the nutrition.  Atkins Diet may not be good for your Heart

The new study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues with the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Dietary Modification Trial that claims a low fat diet was no healthier than normal fat diet did more than raise eyebrows.  It has experts debating back and forth whether the study was legitimate.

Was it a flawed study?  The data was extrapolated from a huge number of participants; nearly 50,000 postmenopausal women.   Of those, 40% were asked to make dietary modifications including “consumption of a reduced amount of fat (20 percent of energy) and of an increased amount of vegetables and fruits (5 or more servings a day) and grains (6 or more servings a day).” The other 60% made no dietary modifications.

The study found little difference in breast cancer rates, cardiovascular disease or stroke.  The rate of breast cancer for the women that modified their diet was 3.35% while the rate for women that did not modify their diet was 3.66%.  The difference was considered slight.  Does a Low Fat Diet Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer? - Stroke? Heart Disease?

Two environmental groups say that mercury levels in human subjects were higher than what is deemed safe.  The Sierra Club and Greenpeace tested hair samples from 6,600 people in all 50 states and found that New Yorkers had the highest contamination of mercury.  California, Colorado and Oregon were not far behind. 

According to a Sierra Club press release, one in five women tested nationwide has mercury levels higher than the EPA safe limit. This is important for women of childbearing age and their small children.  According to the Sierra Club exposure to mercury in the womb can cause “neurological damage and other health problems.” 

The EPA recommends mercury levels not to exceed one microgram per gram of hair.  The usual way mercury gets into the body is via food.  It has little to do with your home or work location.  The groups claim that coal burning power plants are the biggest single source of the mercury.  These power plants produce 42% of the country’s industrial mercury pollution.  Levels of Mercury in Humans Exceeds EPA Standards - Chart tells what Fish to Avoid

New research indicates that the herbal extract saw palmetto was no more effective than the placebo for improving urinary symptoms in men with enlarged prostate.  Researchers led by Stephen Bent, MD, a staff physician at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, and Andrew Avins, MD, MPH, of the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, conducted a double blind study involving 225 men.

The researchers randomly assigned patients with enlarged prostates a placebo or saw palmetto.  They took the tablets twice per day for one year. 

The subjects were tested for symptoms and side effects.  The symptoms were assessed according to a standard symptom score for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and objective measures of urinary function.  Enlarged Prostate Patients may not Benefit Saw Palmetto - Herbal Supplement Tested

Eating your vegetables is still good for you and the low-fat diet study shouldn’t get you to start a regular fast food diet of hamburgers.  The low-fat diet study currently in the news showed that a low-fat diet did not offer the cancer prevention health benefit menopausal women that lowered fat intake and increase fruits and vegetables.  Although the magnitude of the low-fat diet didn’t pan out, this study into vegetables reinforce the health benefits in cancer prevention.  This study was first published in Nature’s British Journal of Cancer and reflects how the chemical compounds found in certain vegetables can be beneficial in the prevention of cancer.  Eating Vegetables may help boost DNA Repair and Guard against Cancer

A recent study published in the online edition of the Journal of Applied Physiology, showed a 50 percent reversal in people with metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes by following the Pritikin diet and exercise program over a 3 week period of time.

The lead researcher, Christian Roberts, from the University of California, Los Angeles said, "The study shows, contrary to common belief, that Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome can be reversed solely through lifestyle changes."

"This regimen reversed a clinical diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome in about half the participants who had either of those conditions. However, the regimen may not have reversed damage such as plaque development in the arteries," Roberts said. "However, if Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome continue to be controlled, further damage would likely be minimized and it's plausible that continuing to follow the program long-term may result in reversal of atherosclerosis."   Pritikin Diet and Exercise Program helped treat Type II Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome in Obese and Overweight Patients

A new study says that overweight children are twice as likely to develop diabetes as normal weight children.  Although few children in the study had diabetes, their risk factors were “very high”. 

The study included 1,740 eighth-graders from 12 U.S. schools.  They found that half of the children were either overweight or on the verge of becoming overweight.  Being overweight is one of the primary risk factors for type-2 diabetes. 

Of these children, 41 percent had elevated blood sugar levels and 36 percent had high levels of insulin.  Insulin is a hormone that helps process blood sugar.  High insulin and blood sugar levels signal that the body is becoming resistant to insulin.  This is a precursor to type-2 diabetes.  These tests were taken after fasting.  Obesity Doubles Childs Risk of Diabetes - Study Found Half of the Children are Twice as likely to become Diabetic

Vitamins supplements are so common among us. We can easily buy them at supermarkets or our local drugs store. But what are vitamins? And why should we take them? Nobel Laureate, Fritz Lipmann, once commented, "Doctors like to prescribe vitamins and millions of people take them, but it requires a good deal of biochemical sophistication to understand why they are needed and how the organism uses them."

Vitamins are essential micronutrients that the body cannot supply in sufficient quantities. They therefore must be obtained from the environment (diet or supplements). For simplification, vitamins are classified in two groups, according to whether they are water-soluble or fat-soluble. The water-soluble vitamins include vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins; these are considered for the most part relatively non-toxic. The fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, K, tend to accumulate in tissues and can be quite toxic at high doses.  Vitamins: Why Do We Take Supplements

We are a product of our environment and must be realistic in knowing that the environment is not pure and because of the basic instinct of greed, we are living in a polluted world. The people, who live the longest, exist in the high mountains where the air is not polluted, the water is full of healthy minerals and the food is free of synthetic chemicals.

In the polluted world, we must recognize that polluted air, water and food produce free radicals and pathogenic germs that cause us to prematurely age with diseases and pain. For those of us that live in the chemical world, we can live 20 years or even longer, if we prevent free radicals and pathogens from shortening our life. Anti-aging depends on fighting free radicals and pathogens. Conventional medicine may let us live 20 years longer, but with the expectation of suffering. Fortunately, the choice is ours.  Antioxidants - How to slow down Aging

A recent study published in The Lancet, a British journal, reported that eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day can reduce the risk of a stroke by 26 percent. 

The study accessed data from previous research looking at 257,551 people over an average time of 13 years.  What the researchers found was a correlation between having the highest risk for strokes in people that ate less than 3 servings of fruits or vegetables a day.  If the person ate 3 – 5 servings a day of fruits or vegetables they had a lower risk of having a stroke.  The group that ate 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day had the lowest risk of having a stroke.  Risk of Stroke reduced by eating more Fruits and Vegetables

A Virus may be responsible for obesity in some people.  Researchers have found that adenovirus AD-37 causes obesity in chickens.  This finding builds on studies that two related viruses,Ad-36 and Ad-5, cause obesity in animals.  Lead researcher Leah D. Whigham said "Adipogenic potential of multiple human adenoviruses in vivo and in vitro in animals," in the January issue of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology published by the American Physiological Society.

There seems to be an “accumulating evidence” that viruses may cause obesity, in effect making obesity contagious, according Leah.  The researchers now say “Eat right, exercise, and wash your hands”. 

These three viruses, Ad-37, Ad-36 and Ad-5 are part of a family of approximately 50 viruses know as human adenoviruses.  Adenoviruses were first discovered in 1953 by investigators trying to establish cell-lines from adenoidal tissue of children removed during tonsillectomy.  A New Study Says a Virus Can Cause Obesity – Adenovirus Ad-37 May Make People Fat

Parents and teachers are always looking for ways to help kids lose weight.  A new game from Japan may help.  Dance Dance Revolution has been around the US for a few years, but now West Virginia is embracing the game for their middle school students.

According to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in West Virginia, since many students don’t like traditional sports like basketball, football, baseball or soccer, this new game will give the kids a choice.  The schools are targeting youths between 10 to 14 years of age.  This is not to replace physical education or health classes, but as an option for students who dislike the other sports.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the problem with obesity is a significant health risk and close to half (46 percent) of more than 30,000 fifth graders screened for coronary artery risk project from 1999 to 2005 were overweight or obese. This is published in the Institute of Medicine guidelines.  Dance Dance Revolution helps kids lose weight - New Dancing Game from Japan

It appears tomatoes can benefit people with high blood pressure. Israeli scientists asked 54 people with moderately high blood pressure, even when treated with medication, to add a daily dose of concentrated tomato extract in capsule form to their diet. Rather than add another medication the patients opted to try the tomato extract, equivalent to 4 tomatoes per day.     

The researchers conducted a double blind study where the patients were either given a placebo or a capsule of tomato complex.  The complex of ingredients included potent antioxidants, such as lycopene, phytoene, phytofluene, beta-carotene, tocopherols (vitamin E), phospolipids and phytosterols.  In a published article by Jamie Talan in Newsday, Dr. Esther Parn head of the hypertension division at Soroka medical center and professor of medicine at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva, Israel, said the drop in blood pressure was equal to drop they would have looked for by prescribing another medication.  “But there are no side effects”, she said.  Tomatoes can Lower High Blood Pressure - Study in Israel Recommends Tomato Sauce

It appears that eating fish and taking supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids does not reduce cancer risk.  Catherine H. MacLean, M.D., Ph D, of RAND Health in Santa Monica California, and her colleagues looked at 38 articles published between 1966 and October 2005, and abstracted detailed data about the incidence of cancer. 

They compared cancer incidence with consumption of omega-3 and the elapsed time between the intervention and the “outcome measurements”.  Some of the epidemiological studies found that people that consume diets high in omega-3 fatty acids have a lower rate of some types of cancer.  The omega-3 acids are found in fish and some vegetables. 

Some of the smaller trials have attempted to connect omega-3 consumption with a lower incidence of cancer.  A number of dietary supplements containing omega-3 have labels that suggest that omega-3 fatty acids “protect against cancer”, even though the studies have reported mixed results. Study Says Omega-3 Fatty Acids Does Not Prevent Cancer - Fish Contains Omega3

The weight loss drug orlistat (currently marketed as Xenical by Roche) may be available over-the-counter (OTC) soon.  A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel of doctors and scientists voted to recommend that the regulatory agency approve orlistat for over-the-counter sales today.  The FDA must still make the final approval.

The advisory panel vote was 11-2 to recommend approval.  It is likely the FDA will approve the drug for OTC sales.  This will be the first nonprescription weigh-loss drug approved for use in the United States by the FDA.

Xenical’s main rival is Abbott Laboratories Inc.’s Maridia.  Meridia works by suppressing the appetite.  Xenical is a fat-blocker but has some negative side effects. Its biggest drawbacks are excessive gas and uncontrollable bowel movements. FDA Panel Approves Orlistat (Xenical) For Over-The-Counter Sales - First Weight Loss - Diet Pill to ever be Approved by the FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says Emagece Sim and Herbathin diet pills are not safe and could lead to very serious side effects.  According to the FDA the dietary supplement Herbathin may contain several active ingredients including controlled substances. 

Both supplements are made in Brazil by Fitoterpicos (sometimes spelled Fytoterapicos) and Phytotherm Sim.  Consumers are advised not to use the two supplements and return them to their supplier.  According to Dr. Steven Galson, Director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, "There are dangers to consumers who purchase diet pills that contain drugs of unknown origin and quality.  These products are not approved by FDA and if people experience side effects, it is difficult to trace problems and for physicians to treat them."  FDA Warns Consumers Not To Use Brazilian Diet Supplements - Emergence Sim and Herbathin Imported From Brazil

There have been many claims that soy can improve your health as of late.  Now the American Heart Association concludes soy does not reduce “bad” cholesterol all that much and has no effect on “good” cholesterol. 

It also appears the soy component isoflavone does not reduce the symptoms of menopause either.  Soy does not prevent hot flashes, breast, uterine or prostate cancer.  Earlier this month researchers found that soy may worsen certain heart failure conditions.

This may come as a blow to people that switched to soy as a source of protein.  Eating Tofu, soy butter, soy nuts and soy burgers may not be good for the heart even though they are a good source of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals.  Soy Tofu and Supplements Do Not Lower Cholesterol or Prevent Cancer

A study first published in the BMJ online edition showed that wine drinkers had healthier diets than beer drinkers.

The researchers studied data from 3.5 million sales transactions from 98 retail supermarket chains in Denmark over a time period from September 2002 through February 2003.

They organized the data in groups of wine only, beer only, mixed, or non-alcohol consumers.  They also kept track of what items they bought and the total amount of each transaction spent on a shopping trip.

 Researchers discovered that wine buyers were more likely to buy healthy food items such as olives, fruit, vegetables, poultry, cooking oil, low-fat cheese, and meat.  Beer consumers bought more often pre-cooked food dishes, sugar, cold cuts, chips, pork, butter or margarine, sausages, lamb, and soft drinks.  Wine drinkers eat healthier than Beer drinkers

A recent study reported by BBC News said that intelligence in a baby improves with mothers eating Omega-3 rich food during their pregnancy.

The study conducted in Avon, UK, looked at 9,000 mothers and children and found that those who had eaten less of Omega-3, an essential fatty acid, had lower IQs.

Institutes of Health in the US researched and calculated the data gathered in the Avon study and came up with the following statistics.  The mothers with the lowest intake of Omega-3 in their diet had children who on average were six points lower on verbal IQ.  Eating Fish high in Omega-3 Fatty Acid makes Babies Smarter

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis say that too much saturated fat spurs a protein to kill mammalian cells. 

The researchers were able to stop the production of the protein called EF1 A-1 which thrives with high levels of saturated fat palmitate.  When the production of the protein was stopped, it slowed the cell death.  If the cell was abundant with the palmitate fat, the cells would produce the EF1 A-1 protein and this caused these cells to die rapidly.  Saturated Fat Overload causes Cells to Die – Increased risk for Diabetes

Nature magazine reported that yogurt bacteria may be helpful in blocking HIV transmission according to researchers in the US and the UK.  The original research paper was reported in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

Scientists at Brown Medical School in Rhode Island, and UK’s Food Research Institute used genetically altered yogurt bacterium, Lactococcus lactis, and made cyanovirin which was shown to stop HIV infection in the cells of monkeys and in humans.  Yogurt bacteria may help prevent AIDS and HIV Transmission

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have discovered two plant compounds that may be potentially healthy for your heart.  A person with heart disease may be helped by the plant compounds by slowing down the blood clotting process.

The research conducted by Jae B. Park at the Human Nutrition Research Center’s Phytonutrient Laboratory was first reported in the current issue of Agricultural Research magazine.  The two plant compounds were N-caffeoyldopamine and N-coumaroyldopamine.  The plant compounds are naturally occurring and are found in sweet peppers, Chinese wolfberry, and cocoa.  Heart Disease - Plant Compounds slow down Blood Clots - Sweet Pepper and Cocoa

The FDA was requested by the U.S. Attorney’s Office from Pennsylvania for assistance in seizing ATF Fitness Products, Inc.’s Lipodrene inventory.  The dietary supplement contains ephedrine alkaloids and is harmful to the heart.

The U.S. Marshalls were sent to the company headquarters in Oakmont, Pennsylvania to stop the distribution of the Lipodrene by seizing five boxes worth approximately $16,000. 

Each daily dose of Lipodrene contains 50 mg of ephedrine alkaloids.  On April 12^th, 2004, the FDA announced that it is prohibiting the distribution of ephedrine alkaloid containing supplements.  The ATF Fitness Products, Inc. was in violation of this rule.  The FDA made this rule because ephedrine alkaloids are stimulants that can pose dangerous effects on the heart.  Studies of ephedrine alkaloids show that it raises blood pressure and will stress the circulatory system which puts a person at a higher risk for having a heart attack or stroke.  Lipodrene Diet Pill supplements contains Ephedrine Alkaloids

A low caloric diet may slow aging of your heart, according to investigators at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.  The researchers studied the heart function of members of the Caloric Restriction Society.

The hearts of these people appear to be more elastic than those of age and gender matched control subjects.  There hearts were able to relax between beats similar to the hearts of young people. 

Luigi Fontana MD PhD said "This is the first study to demonstrate that long-term calorie restriction with optimal nutrition has cardiac-specific effects that ameliorate age-associated declines in heart function.”  He is the assistant professor of medicine at Washington University and an investigator at the Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy.  Low Calorie Diet Helps Keep Heart Young Healthy and Elastic

Nearly two thirds of all consumers bought organic foods in 2005, even though they cost more than non organic foods.  According to Consumer Reports not all Organic food is worth the extra money.  Some are though.

The report found that fish is not worth the extra money.  In an interview on KABC TV in Los Angeles Tracy Evans of the Whole Foods Markets eating organic food will lessen the toxins in your system. She may be right.  In a study published back in September 2005, researchers found that kids that ate conventional foods had detectable amounts of pesticide in their urine. Which Organic Foods are Best and Worth the Extra Money - According to Consumer Reports