Today’s Re-Powering Information – I thought this was a great topic as we kick off the holiday weekend. I sometimes observe couples as I am out at a restaurant and it’s obvious whose on a date as they are holding hands and leaning in towards each other. The couples who have been married for several years are both on their iPhones or Blackberries and barely making conversation or eye contact. It’s so easy to get stuck in a run where there is no excitement and nothing to look forward to (or worse). What’s the most exciting thing you have planned for the weekend. What adventures will you have to tell of on Tuesday night? How can you add excitement into your weekend with your partner. It does not necessarily mean a trip to the jungle, but it can be an adventure in your own back yard.
Read on for new research on couples who have some adventure in their relationships. I was not surprised to find that happily married couples live longer.
Married Couples Who Play Together Stay Together
For married couples, finding moments to be together free of financial, family or other stresses is not an indulgence, according to new research from the University of Denver.
"The more you invest in fun and friendship and being there for your partner, the happier the relationship will get over time," says Howard Markman, a psychologist who co-directs the university's Center for Marital and Family Studies.
“The correlation between fun and marital happiness is high, and significant.”
Other studies, too, have found that having fun together -- especially while doing “new and exciting activities” -- is the secret to a happy marriage.
Having a joyful marriage is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule in the United States. This is tragic as your happiness and ability to be optimally productive in your life is severely limited when you are not in a happy relationship with your spouse.
Taking some free time to really engage yourselves in something fun (without the kids and without any worries) is something we all can do more of, but there are other ways to support your relationship as well.
Four Tips to a Happy Marriage
Research shows that happily married couples live longer and heal faster than those in unhappy relationships. With that in mind, here are some practical ways to increase the happiness in your relationship:
1. Fight fair. “The way you interact during marital arguments is as important a heart risk factor as whether you smoke or have high cholesterol,” says Timothy W. Smith, a psychology professor at the University of Utah. Verbal aggression, such as yelling at or insulting your partner, leads to decreased intimacy and “self-silencing” -- keeping quiet during a fight -- has been linked to depression, eating disorders and heart disease in women.
2. Keep positive feelings alive. Couples most likely to be married for the long-term are those who maintain their positive feelings for their spouse for at least the first two years. The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) can help you to clear any emotional blocks that may be sabotaging your relationship.
3. Read the book Fighting for Your Marriage. I generally give this book to all the couples I know who are planning to get married. It is a valuable source of information for positively handling disagreements between you and your spouse, which will increase the success of your relationship.
4. Support your partner’s goals and dreams. People feel happiest in relationships where they feel the other person helps them achieve their own personal goals.
Sources:
• ABC News July 26, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Food Diary for Weight Loss
Today’s RePowering Information – I have always been a big beliver in keeping a diary for weight loss success (as well as success in general). There is something so powerful to writing things down such as goals and food intake. Most times when you see a weight loss success story, it included recording food intake in one form or another. Knowing you are going to write it down and a coach is going to check it makes you think about making healthier choices. But don’t just take my work for it. Read the new story below.
Dear (Food) DiaryBy SANJAY GUPTA, M.D. Illustration by Corliss Elizabeth Williams for TIME
Article ToolsPrintEmailSphereAddThis RSSYahoo! Buzz Two nights ago, I had a handful of M&M's. In fact, I can tell you I ate seven of the peanut kind, which is my favorite. Under normal circumstances, I would've simply grabbed a bunch, mindlessly eaten them while talking to a colleague and forgotten them entirely.
Instead, I know the specific number I ate because I am keeping a food diary. I write down everything I consume, with great detail. I had a single packet of ketchup with my eggs the other morning and 4 oz. (113 g) of green-tea-flavored frozen yogurt with my daughter two days before that. I started the diary because I wanted to test the striking new results of a paper published in the August issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Scientists at several clinical-research centers in the U.S. found that dieters who kept a food diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn't.
The study tracked nearly 1,700 overweight or obese adults across the country who were at least 25 years old. Men and women were included, and 44% of the group was African American. All participants were encouraged to use such weight-loss maintenance strategies as calorie restriction, weekly group sessions and moderately intensive exercise as well as to keep a food journal. The senior investigator, Victor Stevens of Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., told me that "hands down, the most successful weight-loss method was keeping a record of what you eat." In the six-month study, participants who kept a food journal six or seven days a week lost an average of 18 lb. (8 kg), compared with an average of 9 lb. (4 kg) lost by non-diary keepers.
Of course, as you might guess, "it's not just writing it down that counts," Stevens says. It is also about using that record to identify eating habits that need to be modified. While most people think they know what they eat, they really have only a general idea and tend to have selective memory, especially when it comes to the foods that aren't so good for us. With a detailed food diary, you can see where those extra calories are coming from.
As soon as I started writing down all the foods I was eating, I wondered exactly how many calories I was consuming. I found a terrific site called the Daily Plate at livestrong.com. It not only lets you accurately count calories but also helps you find people with eating habits similar to your own. A virtual cheerleading squad could help motivate you to stay away from that bag of M&M's, or whatever food weaknesses you may have.
While keeping a food diary works, it's best to do so in conjunction with regular exercise. Losing just 10 lb. (4.5 kg) can help control high blood pressure and reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Drop a few pounds, and you might get an immediate thank-you from your knees and other joints. It is also likely that your sleep will improve, as will your energy levels.
There is another part of the food-diary experiment that really seems to be working for me. In addition to being honest and diligent about the diary, I am showing everything in my diet diary—down to the last morsel—to my wife. Stevens says it's all about accountability. You may have been thinking about eating that extra cookie, he says, "but you didn't want it to show up on the diary at the end of the day." Tonight, we are eating 6 oz. (170 g) of grilled tilapia with steamed broccoli and a handful of steamed brown rice. I originally thought we were going to have steak tonight, but my wife got hold of my food diary. And, yes, she saw those M&M's.
— With reporting by Danielle N. Dellorto
Dear (Food) DiaryBy SANJAY GUPTA, M.D. Illustration by Corliss Elizabeth Williams for TIME
Article ToolsPrintEmailSphereAddThis RSSYahoo! Buzz Two nights ago, I had a handful of M&M's. In fact, I can tell you I ate seven of the peanut kind, which is my favorite. Under normal circumstances, I would've simply grabbed a bunch, mindlessly eaten them while talking to a colleague and forgotten them entirely.
Instead, I know the specific number I ate because I am keeping a food diary. I write down everything I consume, with great detail. I had a single packet of ketchup with my eggs the other morning and 4 oz. (113 g) of green-tea-flavored frozen yogurt with my daughter two days before that. I started the diary because I wanted to test the striking new results of a paper published in the August issue of American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Scientists at several clinical-research centers in the U.S. found that dieters who kept a food diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn't.
The study tracked nearly 1,700 overweight or obese adults across the country who were at least 25 years old. Men and women were included, and 44% of the group was African American. All participants were encouraged to use such weight-loss maintenance strategies as calorie restriction, weekly group sessions and moderately intensive exercise as well as to keep a food journal. The senior investigator, Victor Stevens of Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Ore., told me that "hands down, the most successful weight-loss method was keeping a record of what you eat." In the six-month study, participants who kept a food journal six or seven days a week lost an average of 18 lb. (8 kg), compared with an average of 9 lb. (4 kg) lost by non-diary keepers.
Of course, as you might guess, "it's not just writing it down that counts," Stevens says. It is also about using that record to identify eating habits that need to be modified. While most people think they know what they eat, they really have only a general idea and tend to have selective memory, especially when it comes to the foods that aren't so good for us. With a detailed food diary, you can see where those extra calories are coming from.
As soon as I started writing down all the foods I was eating, I wondered exactly how many calories I was consuming. I found a terrific site called the Daily Plate at livestrong.com. It not only lets you accurately count calories but also helps you find people with eating habits similar to your own. A virtual cheerleading squad could help motivate you to stay away from that bag of M&M's, or whatever food weaknesses you may have.
While keeping a food diary works, it's best to do so in conjunction with regular exercise. Losing just 10 lb. (4.5 kg) can help control high blood pressure and reduce your risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Drop a few pounds, and you might get an immediate thank-you from your knees and other joints. It is also likely that your sleep will improve, as will your energy levels.
There is another part of the food-diary experiment that really seems to be working for me. In addition to being honest and diligent about the diary, I am showing everything in my diet diary—down to the last morsel—to my wife. Stevens says it's all about accountability. You may have been thinking about eating that extra cookie, he says, "but you didn't want it to show up on the diary at the end of the day." Tonight, we are eating 6 oz. (170 g) of grilled tilapia with steamed broccoli and a handful of steamed brown rice. I originally thought we were going to have steak tonight, but my wife got hold of my food diary. And, yes, she saw those M&M's.
— With reporting by Danielle N. Dellorto
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Caffeing Being Added to your foods.
Today’s Re-Powering Information –Does this sound frightening to anyone besides me? Read the news release below and tell me if this is anything you want to put in your body! What else can we add to foods? . . . Hmm – we already included monosodium glutamate, high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified enzymes, nitrates, gar gum, plastic, hormones and so on. Now we can add extremely high doses of caffeine to our children's cereal. Yes, caffeine is naturally grown, but when taken to excess or for those who are sensitive they can have adverse side effects such as: increased heart rate, anxiety, the jitters or insomnia. People who consume high levels of caffeine may experience effects such as abnormal heart rhythms, headaches, muscle tremors and gastrointestinal problems. Extraordinarily high caffeine intake can lead to serious health consequences, and can even be fatal. And with caffeine effecting the central nervous system and already being found in foods, medications, dietary supplements, soda, coffee, tea, chocolate, etc, I don’t think we need to be adding more. I agree that Americans need more energy, however they don’t have to get it artificially.
Caffeine should be consumed moderately. Abruptly quitting caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms. Avoid the withdrawal symptoms by slowly weaning from caffeine over a period of two to four weeks.
Read the article below to find new places you may be seeing caffeine.
Trend for energy infused food
By Sarah Hills
Latest news headlines
25-Aug-2008 -
Foods with added stimulants are stealing a march on energy drinks as companies are developing new ways to energize consumers seeking alternatives to sugary beverages, according to a global consumer trends analyst.
Manufacturers are looking to attract customers with foods that provide all the stimulation of energy drinks, therefore offering the potential to cut out high levels of sugar, unpleasant tastes and unnatural chemicals, the analyst CScout claimed.
The trend monitor and strategic consultancy gave the example of Engobi’s caffeine-infused Energy Go Bites, with 70 percent higher caffeine content compared to conventional energy drinks.
And Dakota Valley Products uses a patented process to manufacture natural, healthy seeds infused with caffeine, taurine, lysine, and ginseng. This is said to give twice the amount of energy as an energy drink without the added sugar.
A CScout spokesperson said: “This trend shows that consumers may be distinguishing between somewhat unhealthy stimulants, which they desire, and high sugar content in drinks, which they do not.
“Stimulants could be infused into many other foods – breakfast foods may be a particularly good candidate, including energy-giving cereals, breads and spreads.”
The potential is indicated by figures for the US market for energy beverages, which alone was valued at $5.5bn in 2006 by Packaged Facts. The market researcher predicts it will grow to $9.3bn by 2011.
Other products already on the market include the NRG Phoenix Fury Potato Chips from Golden Flake Snack Foods. These contain the same amount of caffeine as in three and a half cups of coffee, according to its manufacturer which said it was attracting the same customers who buy energy drinks.
Also in the US, global confectionery company Mars launched Snickers Charged this year, an alternative to the traditional Snickers brand in the US but with 60mg of caffeine, taurine and B-vitamins for an extra energy boost.
Caffeine content
Small amounts of caffeine have the potential to make people feel more alert, according to research, which makes it an appealing ingredient for the energy products sector.
Traditionally the main delivery format has been beverages such as coffee, which have a strong bitter taste that some consumers do not like. However, new technologies have been developed that make it applicable for different foodstuffs, presenting new opportunities to manufacturers.
Last year Maxx Performance announced the development of a proprietary way to encapsulate caffeine for foods using vegetable-derived lipids.
The company has worked in collaboration with bakery experts on prototypes to demonstrate its potential in bakery products and recently showcased brownies, donuts and cinnamon raison bread. The products are aimed at improving memory and performance but without impacting taste or flavor.
Also, in early 2007 a Colorado-based firm called Encaff Products also announced the development of caffeine-based donuts.
Founder Dr Robert Bohannon said at the time that early experiments yielded a bad-tasting product, but in collaboration with food industry experts he eventually came up with a patent-pending microencapsulation process that allows the inclusion of very small caffeine particles.
Encapsulation allows for a precise amount of caffeine to be included in a product.
Calls for regulation
However some products high in caffeine - such as Enviga, the beverage launched by Coca Cola and Nestle with calorie-burning claims and 100mg of caffeine per 12 ounce can - have been held up by pressure grounds as examples of why caffeine regulations require tightening.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has been requesting, as a starting point, mandatory caffeine labelling and more responsible marketing of such products.
The FDA has brought the caffeine issue to the discussion table but as yet no regulatory commitment has been made.
Caffeine should be consumed moderately. Abruptly quitting caffeine can cause withdrawal symptoms. Avoid the withdrawal symptoms by slowly weaning from caffeine over a period of two to four weeks.
Read the article below to find new places you may be seeing caffeine.
Trend for energy infused food
By Sarah Hills
Latest news headlines
25-Aug-2008 -
Foods with added stimulants are stealing a march on energy drinks as companies are developing new ways to energize consumers seeking alternatives to sugary beverages, according to a global consumer trends analyst.
Manufacturers are looking to attract customers with foods that provide all the stimulation of energy drinks, therefore offering the potential to cut out high levels of sugar, unpleasant tastes and unnatural chemicals, the analyst CScout claimed.
The trend monitor and strategic consultancy gave the example of Engobi’s caffeine-infused Energy Go Bites, with 70 percent higher caffeine content compared to conventional energy drinks.
And Dakota Valley Products uses a patented process to manufacture natural, healthy seeds infused with caffeine, taurine, lysine, and ginseng. This is said to give twice the amount of energy as an energy drink without the added sugar.
A CScout spokesperson said: “This trend shows that consumers may be distinguishing between somewhat unhealthy stimulants, which they desire, and high sugar content in drinks, which they do not.
“Stimulants could be infused into many other foods – breakfast foods may be a particularly good candidate, including energy-giving cereals, breads and spreads.”
The potential is indicated by figures for the US market for energy beverages, which alone was valued at $5.5bn in 2006 by Packaged Facts. The market researcher predicts it will grow to $9.3bn by 2011.
Other products already on the market include the NRG Phoenix Fury Potato Chips from Golden Flake Snack Foods. These contain the same amount of caffeine as in three and a half cups of coffee, according to its manufacturer which said it was attracting the same customers who buy energy drinks.
Also in the US, global confectionery company Mars launched Snickers Charged this year, an alternative to the traditional Snickers brand in the US but with 60mg of caffeine, taurine and B-vitamins for an extra energy boost.
Caffeine content
Small amounts of caffeine have the potential to make people feel more alert, according to research, which makes it an appealing ingredient for the energy products sector.
Traditionally the main delivery format has been beverages such as coffee, which have a strong bitter taste that some consumers do not like. However, new technologies have been developed that make it applicable for different foodstuffs, presenting new opportunities to manufacturers.
Last year Maxx Performance announced the development of a proprietary way to encapsulate caffeine for foods using vegetable-derived lipids.
The company has worked in collaboration with bakery experts on prototypes to demonstrate its potential in bakery products and recently showcased brownies, donuts and cinnamon raison bread. The products are aimed at improving memory and performance but without impacting taste or flavor.
Also, in early 2007 a Colorado-based firm called Encaff Products also announced the development of caffeine-based donuts.
Founder Dr Robert Bohannon said at the time that early experiments yielded a bad-tasting product, but in collaboration with food industry experts he eventually came up with a patent-pending microencapsulation process that allows the inclusion of very small caffeine particles.
Encapsulation allows for a precise amount of caffeine to be included in a product.
Calls for regulation
However some products high in caffeine - such as Enviga, the beverage launched by Coca Cola and Nestle with calorie-burning claims and 100mg of caffeine per 12 ounce can - have been held up by pressure grounds as examples of why caffeine regulations require tightening.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has been requesting, as a starting point, mandatory caffeine labelling and more responsible marketing of such products.
The FDA has brought the caffeine issue to the discussion table but as yet no regulatory commitment has been made.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Avoid the Beauty Bullies - Building Women's Self Esteem
Today’s Re-Powering Information: - Wow I really learned a few things from today’s article. I was intrigued by this one since it’s the first day of school and for many young girls (and of course boys) the peer pressure begins again. I didn’t realize the pressure to be beautiful was starting as early as kindergarten and continuing into the corporate workplace. I’m not saying looks are not important, but I suppose for me that being healthy was always paramount. I think every woman should wake up and make an effort to look her best for her own self confidence and esteem, but not to please anyone in her peer group. I don’t believe extreme measures should be taken to look beautiful, but instead to look within and look for your natural features beyond what Vogue says is the ideal skin tone, eye shape or hair color.
Wearing the latest jeans or jewelry has never been important to me. I know women obsessed by it. I just don’t believe its healthy and it sets the tone for our young girls (and boys) about their bodies. We are their greatest teachers and if we don’t have a positive image about ourselves you can bet theirs will only be further diminished with today’s media and peer pressure.
I’m suggesting we stick together, support and lift each other up, eliminate the criticism, do our best to look our natural best so that we feel good about ourselves and give those around us a positive boost. Nothing good comes of criticizing anyone. My grandmother lived with us growing up and she was very critical. I could remember dreading going down stairs b/c I would wonder what thing she was not going to like. Would it be my socks or the way I had my hair? Thankfully I don’t think there are any long term scars, but I am sure we can all share similar stories of personal criticism that was unnecessary and unproductive.
Read on to see the details of particularly how women can be cruel to each other and how women go to great lengths to have just the right look to avoid being bullies by beauties!
Women Dying To Be Beautiful?
If researchers are right, it may be more than mere coincidence that beauty and pain are so frequently intertwined in pop culture.
Indeed, a new report released this week from the YWCA contends that American women are obsessed with the pursuit of perfection – and paying for it in painful ways we may not even realize.
“What’s really new here is the sheer extent to which women and girls are willing to go – literally causing physical harm – to be ‘beautiful’ according to the standards perpetuated by a youth-obsessed media culture with literally thousands of messages 24 hours a day,” said YWCA USA CEO Dr. Lorraine Cole.
Titled “The Beauty Report” the data is gleaned from studies conducted over the last several years by a variety of researchers. But Cole says the common thread that runs through them all is the clear evidence of womens obsession with the pursuit of beauty – as well as the pursuit of an idealized body image most of us will never obtain. And she says, doing so produces a life-long burden that eventually takes a physical and emotional toll on our mental and physical health.
Among the numbers in the report with the most impact:
80% of women say they are very unhappy with the way they look.
67% of women aged 25 to 45 are trying to lose weight – even though 53% of them were considered to be a “healthy” weight.
While 40% of newly diagnosed cases of eating disorders – like anorexia or bulimia – are found in girls between the ages of 15 and 19, symptoms of the disorder are now showing up as early as kindergarten.
American women spend almost $7 billion dollars a year on products used in the pursuit of beauty. Over a 5 year period that translates into 1 year of college tuition. Invest just half of that sum into a savings account for 10 years and end up with nearly $10,000.
But perhaps the most telling aspect of this report had less to do with our individual pursuit of beauty - or the dollars we spend pursuing it- and more to do with how that pursuit is so deeply intertwined with peer acceptance.
I’m talking about what I like to call the “beauty bullies “ – you know who they are, that clique of cute-girls who pick on less-cute-girls because of how they look. According to the report this behavior not only influences our relentless pursuit of beauty, it has seen an alarmingly steady rise since the 1990s.
What’s even more interesting – at least from the 40 something gals point of view - is that this behavior doesn’t seem to end at the Senior Prom. Often these “beauty bullies” carry their peer pressure tactics right onto the college campus, into the sorority house and eventually, down the hallowed halls of some of America’s biggest corporations.
How bad is it? According to the report “lookism” - a term coined to describe prejudice based on appearance - is an increasingly prevalent equal opportunity employment issue. In one analysis researchers found that those who were considered less attractive actually earned 9% less than those who were considered good looking.
Many believe it is the same “beauty bullies” we met in junior high school that are now driving the “lookism” movement against other women in the business world.
The Pursuit of Beauty: Can It Ever Be Healthy?
While the report served to raise some important issues, in my opinion it also overlooked a few.
Indeed, it failed to address the idea that at least part of the increased interest in beauty products and cosmetic treatments has to do with the fact that they are simply more available - both in terms of convenience and affordability.
While our mothers and grandmothers were hard pressed to find anything more than a jar of Ponds Cold Cream to soothe their furrowed brows, today, the selection of treatments – as well as what they can accomplish and their relative affordability - places the pursuit of self improvement in tantalizingly close reach.
In this respect the report may have been a little harsh on those who are able to simply take advantage of what the beauty and medical industry has to offer - - which can be done safely, and without obsession.
That said, the real issue that seems to be at stake here is not so much the fact that women are in hot pursuit of the perfect face or body, but rather the feeling that they have no choice in the matter.
Be it acceptance among their peers, in the workplace, or in the high stakes world of love and romance, once a woman is made to believe that being herself is no longer good enough, she is in marked danger of crossing that nearly invisible line that separates healthy self improvement from dangerous beauty obsession.
Left untended, those feelings of self doubt can cripple us with depression, anxiety, phobias - and at it’s worst lead us deep into addictions, domestic violence, and self hatred so strong it can eventually kill us.
So I guess the real importance in the Beauty Report is not so much to tell us that we shouldn’t yearn for that fabulous new red Dior lipstick or covet those wrinkle relieving Botox injections - or do what we can to get them. The key, it seems is not to feel any less about ourselves if those yearnings are never realized. We really are okay just the way we are.
One final point to consider: It’s not just a matter of being less hard on ourselves - as women, we also have an obligation to stop being so hard on each other.
Originally Posted by Colette Bouchez at Red Dress Diary http://www.reddressdiary.com/
End
Boy, we do cover all topics here don’t’ we ???
Have a great day and Pay if Forward!!!
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Wearing the latest jeans or jewelry has never been important to me. I know women obsessed by it. I just don’t believe its healthy and it sets the tone for our young girls (and boys) about their bodies. We are their greatest teachers and if we don’t have a positive image about ourselves you can bet theirs will only be further diminished with today’s media and peer pressure.
I’m suggesting we stick together, support and lift each other up, eliminate the criticism, do our best to look our natural best so that we feel good about ourselves and give those around us a positive boost. Nothing good comes of criticizing anyone. My grandmother lived with us growing up and she was very critical. I could remember dreading going down stairs b/c I would wonder what thing she was not going to like. Would it be my socks or the way I had my hair? Thankfully I don’t think there are any long term scars, but I am sure we can all share similar stories of personal criticism that was unnecessary and unproductive.
Read on to see the details of particularly how women can be cruel to each other and how women go to great lengths to have just the right look to avoid being bullies by beauties!
Women Dying To Be Beautiful?
If researchers are right, it may be more than mere coincidence that beauty and pain are so frequently intertwined in pop culture.
Indeed, a new report released this week from the YWCA contends that American women are obsessed with the pursuit of perfection – and paying for it in painful ways we may not even realize.
“What’s really new here is the sheer extent to which women and girls are willing to go – literally causing physical harm – to be ‘beautiful’ according to the standards perpetuated by a youth-obsessed media culture with literally thousands of messages 24 hours a day,” said YWCA USA CEO Dr. Lorraine Cole.
Titled “The Beauty Report” the data is gleaned from studies conducted over the last several years by a variety of researchers. But Cole says the common thread that runs through them all is the clear evidence of womens obsession with the pursuit of beauty – as well as the pursuit of an idealized body image most of us will never obtain. And she says, doing so produces a life-long burden that eventually takes a physical and emotional toll on our mental and physical health.
Among the numbers in the report with the most impact:
80% of women say they are very unhappy with the way they look.
67% of women aged 25 to 45 are trying to lose weight – even though 53% of them were considered to be a “healthy” weight.
While 40% of newly diagnosed cases of eating disorders – like anorexia or bulimia – are found in girls between the ages of 15 and 19, symptoms of the disorder are now showing up as early as kindergarten.
American women spend almost $7 billion dollars a year on products used in the pursuit of beauty. Over a 5 year period that translates into 1 year of college tuition. Invest just half of that sum into a savings account for 10 years and end up with nearly $10,000.
But perhaps the most telling aspect of this report had less to do with our individual pursuit of beauty - or the dollars we spend pursuing it- and more to do with how that pursuit is so deeply intertwined with peer acceptance.
I’m talking about what I like to call the “beauty bullies “ – you know who they are, that clique of cute-girls who pick on less-cute-girls because of how they look. According to the report this behavior not only influences our relentless pursuit of beauty, it has seen an alarmingly steady rise since the 1990s.
What’s even more interesting – at least from the 40 something gals point of view - is that this behavior doesn’t seem to end at the Senior Prom. Often these “beauty bullies” carry their peer pressure tactics right onto the college campus, into the sorority house and eventually, down the hallowed halls of some of America’s biggest corporations.
How bad is it? According to the report “lookism” - a term coined to describe prejudice based on appearance - is an increasingly prevalent equal opportunity employment issue. In one analysis researchers found that those who were considered less attractive actually earned 9% less than those who were considered good looking.
Many believe it is the same “beauty bullies” we met in junior high school that are now driving the “lookism” movement against other women in the business world.
The Pursuit of Beauty: Can It Ever Be Healthy?
While the report served to raise some important issues, in my opinion it also overlooked a few.
Indeed, it failed to address the idea that at least part of the increased interest in beauty products and cosmetic treatments has to do with the fact that they are simply more available - both in terms of convenience and affordability.
While our mothers and grandmothers were hard pressed to find anything more than a jar of Ponds Cold Cream to soothe their furrowed brows, today, the selection of treatments – as well as what they can accomplish and their relative affordability - places the pursuit of self improvement in tantalizingly close reach.
In this respect the report may have been a little harsh on those who are able to simply take advantage of what the beauty and medical industry has to offer - - which can be done safely, and without obsession.
That said, the real issue that seems to be at stake here is not so much the fact that women are in hot pursuit of the perfect face or body, but rather the feeling that they have no choice in the matter.
Be it acceptance among their peers, in the workplace, or in the high stakes world of love and romance, once a woman is made to believe that being herself is no longer good enough, she is in marked danger of crossing that nearly invisible line that separates healthy self improvement from dangerous beauty obsession.
Left untended, those feelings of self doubt can cripple us with depression, anxiety, phobias - and at it’s worst lead us deep into addictions, domestic violence, and self hatred so strong it can eventually kill us.
So I guess the real importance in the Beauty Report is not so much to tell us that we shouldn’t yearn for that fabulous new red Dior lipstick or covet those wrinkle relieving Botox injections - or do what we can to get them. The key, it seems is not to feel any less about ourselves if those yearnings are never realized. We really are okay just the way we are.
One final point to consider: It’s not just a matter of being less hard on ourselves - as women, we also have an obligation to stop being so hard on each other.
Originally Posted by Colette Bouchez at Red Dress Diary http://www.reddressdiary.com/
End
Boy, we do cover all topics here don’t’ we ???
Have a great day and Pay if Forward!!!
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Friday, August 22, 2008
Fitness Motivation for Men and Women Differ?
For the past 8 years I have primarily been focused on helping women get fit although I still coach male clients. What becomes obvious is that incentive to get is often driven from different motives.. As I get ready to launch a men's camp I have a heightened awareness about what motivates men to exercise. I know some of you have husbands who are exercise fanatics and others who are weekend warriors and some couch potatoes. There are lots of factors that go into deciding to exercise (and stick with it) such as your past experience with exercise, how uncomfortable you are with your present situation, something in the future that you aspire to, such as a child watching you in an event or a family reunion. There are both internal and external forces that motivate us. We are motivated to move away from pain 2.5 more times than we are to move towards pleasure. There was likely a moment in time where you decided to join boot camp. Some of you had not exercised in decades and others were looking for a new challenge. You may have thought about exercise / weight loss many times before actually committing, but there was some emotion that actually caused you to be motivated to exercise.
The article below shares some differences between men and women in motivation towards exercise. It may give you some insight into your spouse.
When it comes to fitness, men and women motives certainly not the same
Posted by Chris Bynum, Health and Fitness Writer, The Times-Picayune August 22, 2008 5:00AM
Categories: Living: Health and Fitness
Kenneth Harrison / The Times-Picayune
Health, appearance, athletic performance and social approval are the main reasons people work out. And while men and women may express their motivations differently, the differences between the sexes seem to be narrowing when it comes to fitness. A recent poll conducted by Fitness magazine asked readers to identify the thing that inspired them to join a health club. For 41 percent of the women respondents, the answer was: shopping for clothes.
But women aren't the only ones who experience their ah-ha (or uh-oh) moment in the dressing room. When it comes to finding the motivation to pursue fitness goals, it turns out that men aren't from Mars. They're with women on Venus. They just express it differently.
"It used to be that women took better care of themselves and were therefore more inclined to join a gym for health reasons. Men went to the gym to build muscle," says Fabio Comana, exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. "Now women go to the gym because they want to look better in their clothes. In recent years, men are more driven by health reasons than aesthetics to work out.
"I wouldn't say they are reversing roles. There's just a merging of the reasons men and women exercise."
Health, appearance, athletic performance and social approval are the main reasons people work out. And while men and women may express their motivations differently, the differences between the sexes seem to be narrowing when it comes to fitness.
While you might think that the motivation to work out comes down to the fact we all want to look good naked, local personal trainers say the Mars-Venus differences are more complex. Their observations reflect both subtle and significant contrasts.
"Men are more likely to say, 'My doctor says I should get fit' rather than 'I want to get fit,'¤" says local certified personal trainer Rusty Roussel, the co-owner of Salvation Studio, who says men are often motivated by health scares. "Women simply want to embrace what exercise can do for them -- having more energy, looking good, feeling good."
Jonas Deffes, a personal trainer who also conducts NOLA Boot Camp for women, says men work out to look good, and women work out to gain confidence.
But he has observed that once men start to look good as a result of their workouts, they also start to feel better as a result of their commitment to work out.
"And as women start to feel better about themselves, they also feel that they look better," Deffes says.
Local trainers say most women want to lose fat and most men want to build muscle -- the same fundamental goal of a more toned body conveyed in a completely different way.
"Women keep their skinny pants. If one day they try those on and can't get into them, they are motivated to work out," says Shawn Oddo, personal trainer to Simply Fit in Metairie. The "skinny jeans" factor is not one he has heard discussed among men.
"Men just want to be buff," says Oddo.
And because their instinct is always to nurture others before self, women also are more likely than men to require external pressure to work out, says performance expert Mackie Shilstone, director of The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General Hospital.
"Women make 70 percent of the health care decisions in this country, but they don't make (enough) decisions for themselves," Shilstone says. "In many cases, a woman begins a health program to satisfy a mother, a friend, a spouse."
Important life events -- such as a class reunion, a vacation, a milestone birthday, a wedding -- also play strongly into the workout habits of women, says Joe Moore, president of International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).
Men, on the other hand, are often motivated by their jobs.
"I have two riverboat pilots whose jobs are demanding both physically and mentally, and they see fitness as part of the skill set for their jobs," says Roussel, the Salvation Studio trainer.
Life changes -- new romance, divorce, job promotion, empty nest -- are also fitness motivators for men and women alike, local trainer say.
A strong indicator that the sexes have more fitness goals in common than ever before is borne out by the fact that health clubs, once segregated by sex, are now almost exclusively co-ed. Even free weight rooms, once an all-boys' club, are now unisex environments.
"Men and women did not work out together. Clubs often alternated days between men and women, or they provided dual facilities to accommodate both sexes," Moore says. Now IHRSA's membership rolls show that women make up more than half of health-club memberships, which runs counter to research that shows women are still hesitant to work out alongside men.
And then there's Dara Torres, at 41 the oldest American Olympic swimmer ever, whose influence crosses both age and gender barriers. She swam the fastest times in her 24-year career while winning three silver medals for the United States in Beijing and inspired countless aging adults along the way.
"Men and women are signing up all over the country for swim classes," Moore says.
Both male and female clients, Roussel says, have come in to his studio to request some of the workout strategies Torres has shared with the world as cameras followed her quest.
Men and women may be different, says Comana, but when it comes to the pursuit of fitness, "They are not as diametrically opposed as they once were."
Health and fitness writer Chris Bynum can be reached at cbynum@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3458. Comment or read past stories at www.nola.com/health.
END
Have a wonderful weekend.
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.DentonBootCamp.com
The article below shares some differences between men and women in motivation towards exercise. It may give you some insight into your spouse.
When it comes to fitness, men and women motives certainly not the same
Posted by Chris Bynum, Health and Fitness Writer, The Times-Picayune August 22, 2008 5:00AM
Categories: Living: Health and Fitness
Kenneth Harrison / The Times-Picayune
Health, appearance, athletic performance and social approval are the main reasons people work out. And while men and women may express their motivations differently, the differences between the sexes seem to be narrowing when it comes to fitness. A recent poll conducted by Fitness magazine asked readers to identify the thing that inspired them to join a health club. For 41 percent of the women respondents, the answer was: shopping for clothes.
But women aren't the only ones who experience their ah-ha (or uh-oh) moment in the dressing room. When it comes to finding the motivation to pursue fitness goals, it turns out that men aren't from Mars. They're with women on Venus. They just express it differently.
"It used to be that women took better care of themselves and were therefore more inclined to join a gym for health reasons. Men went to the gym to build muscle," says Fabio Comana, exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. "Now women go to the gym because they want to look better in their clothes. In recent years, men are more driven by health reasons than aesthetics to work out.
"I wouldn't say they are reversing roles. There's just a merging of the reasons men and women exercise."
Health, appearance, athletic performance and social approval are the main reasons people work out. And while men and women may express their motivations differently, the differences between the sexes seem to be narrowing when it comes to fitness.
While you might think that the motivation to work out comes down to the fact we all want to look good naked, local personal trainers say the Mars-Venus differences are more complex. Their observations reflect both subtle and significant contrasts.
"Men are more likely to say, 'My doctor says I should get fit' rather than 'I want to get fit,'¤" says local certified personal trainer Rusty Roussel, the co-owner of Salvation Studio, who says men are often motivated by health scares. "Women simply want to embrace what exercise can do for them -- having more energy, looking good, feeling good."
Jonas Deffes, a personal trainer who also conducts NOLA Boot Camp for women, says men work out to look good, and women work out to gain confidence.
But he has observed that once men start to look good as a result of their workouts, they also start to feel better as a result of their commitment to work out.
"And as women start to feel better about themselves, they also feel that they look better," Deffes says.
Local trainers say most women want to lose fat and most men want to build muscle -- the same fundamental goal of a more toned body conveyed in a completely different way.
"Women keep their skinny pants. If one day they try those on and can't get into them, they are motivated to work out," says Shawn Oddo, personal trainer to Simply Fit in Metairie. The "skinny jeans" factor is not one he has heard discussed among men.
"Men just want to be buff," says Oddo.
And because their instinct is always to nurture others before self, women also are more likely than men to require external pressure to work out, says performance expert Mackie Shilstone, director of The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General Hospital.
"Women make 70 percent of the health care decisions in this country, but they don't make (enough) decisions for themselves," Shilstone says. "In many cases, a woman begins a health program to satisfy a mother, a friend, a spouse."
Important life events -- such as a class reunion, a vacation, a milestone birthday, a wedding -- also play strongly into the workout habits of women, says Joe Moore, president of International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA).
Men, on the other hand, are often motivated by their jobs.
"I have two riverboat pilots whose jobs are demanding both physically and mentally, and they see fitness as part of the skill set for their jobs," says Roussel, the Salvation Studio trainer.
Life changes -- new romance, divorce, job promotion, empty nest -- are also fitness motivators for men and women alike, local trainer say.
A strong indicator that the sexes have more fitness goals in common than ever before is borne out by the fact that health clubs, once segregated by sex, are now almost exclusively co-ed. Even free weight rooms, once an all-boys' club, are now unisex environments.
"Men and women did not work out together. Clubs often alternated days between men and women, or they provided dual facilities to accommodate both sexes," Moore says. Now IHRSA's membership rolls show that women make up more than half of health-club memberships, which runs counter to research that shows women are still hesitant to work out alongside men.
And then there's Dara Torres, at 41 the oldest American Olympic swimmer ever, whose influence crosses both age and gender barriers. She swam the fastest times in her 24-year career while winning three silver medals for the United States in Beijing and inspired countless aging adults along the way.
"Men and women are signing up all over the country for swim classes," Moore says.
Both male and female clients, Roussel says, have come in to his studio to request some of the workout strategies Torres has shared with the world as cameras followed her quest.
Men and women may be different, says Comana, but when it comes to the pursuit of fitness, "They are not as diametrically opposed as they once were."
Health and fitness writer Chris Bynum can be reached at cbynum@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3458. Comment or read past stories at www.nola.com/health.
END
Have a wonderful weekend.
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.DentonBootCamp.com
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Obesity reaches 30% in some US states.
Today’s Re-Powering Information: It’s no secret that obesity is on the rise across all demographics. Somehow Texas always gets listed amoung the fatest of cities – althought not this time. I think it has a lot to do with the abundance of fast food restaurants which give us a very low score. If you look at the number of Olympians and athletes from Texas, we clearly are doing something right too. Read the “Fat” report below to increase your awareness of the over fat issue we face and to drive your motivation even higher to be fit and help others get fit too.
THREE STATES REACH 30 PERCENT ADULT OBESITY RATE, STUDY SHOWS
WASHINGTON, DC -- The number of states that have an adult obesity rate of at least 30 percent has jumped from one to three. West Virginia and Alabama join Mississippi in that category, according to the fifth annual “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2008” report, which was released Tuesday.
Mississippi has a 31.7 percent adult obesity rate, followed by West Virginia (30.6 percent) and Alabama (30.1 percent). Colorado is the leanest state with an 18.4 percent adult obesity rate, although that rate did increase over the previous year from 17.6 percent.
In fact, adult obesity rates increased in 37 states in the past year, according to the Trust for America’s Health report, which was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Rates rose for a second consecutive year in 24 states and for a third consecutive year in 19 states. No state had a decrease.
The “F as in Fat” report also finds that rates of type 2 diabetes, a disease typically associated with obesity, grew in 26 states last year. Four states now have diabetes rates that are above 10 percent, and all 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension are in the South. The report also found a relationship between poverty and obesity levels. Seven of the 10 states with the highest obesity rates are also in the top 10 for highest poverty rates.
Though many policies in health clubs and local and state governments have emerged to promote physical activity and good nutrition in communities, the report concludes that they are not being adopted or implemented at levels needed to turn around the obesity epidemic.
“America’s future depends on the health of our country,” says Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health. “The obesity epidemic is lowering our productivity and dramatically increasing our health care costs. Our analysis shows that we’re not treating the obesity epidemic with the urgency it deserves.”
Other findings from the “F as in Fat: 2008” report:
• Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws related to physical education and/or physical activity in schools, only 13 states include enforceability language. Of these states, only four have sanctions or penalties if the laws are not implemented.
• Although the Dietary Guidelines for Americans were updated in 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal program has yet to adopt the recommendations.
• Eighteen states have enacted legislation requiring school meals to exceed USDA nutrition standards. However, only seven of these laws have specific enforcement provisions, and only two state laws include sanctions if the requirements are not met.
• Ten states do not include specific coverage for nutrition assessment and counseling for obese or overweight children in their Medicaid programs.
• Twenty states explicitly do not cover nutritional assessment and consultation for obese adults under Medicaid.
• Only Georgia and Vermont have specific guidelines for treating obese adults in their Medicaid programs. In Nebraska and South Carolina, the Medicaid programs specifically state that obesity is not an illness and is, therefore, not covered.
• Forty-five states allow using obesity or health status as a risk factor to deny coverage or raise premiums. Only five states do not allow using obesity or health status to deny coverage or raise premiums.
“The report shows the serious impact that the obesity crisis is having on our country’s health and economic well-being,” says former President Bill Clinton, who co-leads the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a partnership between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. The group works to advance innovative approaches combating childhood obesity and helping children lead healthier lives.
The “F as in Fat” report concludes with several recommendations to help the country set a goal of reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. Some of those recommendations include:
• Investing in effective community-based disease-prevention programs that promote increased physical activity and good nutrition.
• Improving the nutritional quality of foods available in schools and childcare programs.
• Increasing the amount and quality of physical education and activity in schools and childcare programs.
• Increasing access to safe, accessible places for physical activity in communities. Examples include creating and maintaining parks, sidewalks and bike lanes, and providing incentives for smart growth designs that make communities more livable and walkable.
• Improving access to affordable nutritious foods by providing incentives for grocery stores and farmers’ markets to locate in underserved communities.
• Encouraging limits on screen time for children through school-based curricula and media literacy resources.
• Eliminating the marketing of junk food to kids.
• Encouraging employers to provide workplace wellness programs.
• Requiring public and private insurers to provide preventive services, including nutrition counseling for children and adults.
• Providing people with the information they need about nutrition and activity to make educated decisions, including point-of-purchase information about the nutrition and calorie content of foods.
The full report can be found at http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2008/Obesity2008Report.pdf.
States with the highest adult obesity ranking:
1. Mississippi (31.7 percent)
2. West Virginia (30.6 percent)
3. Alabama (30.1 percent)
4. Louisiana (29.5 percent)
5. South Carolina (29.2 percent)
6. Tennessee (29 percent)
7. Kentucky (28.4 percent)
8. (tie) Arkansas and Oklahoma (28.1 percent)
10. Michigan (27.7 percent)
End.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
THREE STATES REACH 30 PERCENT ADULT OBESITY RATE, STUDY SHOWS
WASHINGTON, DC -- The number of states that have an adult obesity rate of at least 30 percent has jumped from one to three. West Virginia and Alabama join Mississippi in that category, according to the fifth annual “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2008” report, which was released Tuesday.
Mississippi has a 31.7 percent adult obesity rate, followed by West Virginia (30.6 percent) and Alabama (30.1 percent). Colorado is the leanest state with an 18.4 percent adult obesity rate, although that rate did increase over the previous year from 17.6 percent.
In fact, adult obesity rates increased in 37 states in the past year, according to the Trust for America’s Health report, which was supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Rates rose for a second consecutive year in 24 states and for a third consecutive year in 19 states. No state had a decrease.
The “F as in Fat” report also finds that rates of type 2 diabetes, a disease typically associated with obesity, grew in 26 states last year. Four states now have diabetes rates that are above 10 percent, and all 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension are in the South. The report also found a relationship between poverty and obesity levels. Seven of the 10 states with the highest obesity rates are also in the top 10 for highest poverty rates.
Though many policies in health clubs and local and state governments have emerged to promote physical activity and good nutrition in communities, the report concludes that they are not being adopted or implemented at levels needed to turn around the obesity epidemic.
“America’s future depends on the health of our country,” says Jeff Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health. “The obesity epidemic is lowering our productivity and dramatically increasing our health care costs. Our analysis shows that we’re not treating the obesity epidemic with the urgency it deserves.”
Other findings from the “F as in Fat: 2008” report:
• Although all 50 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws related to physical education and/or physical activity in schools, only 13 states include enforceability language. Of these states, only four have sanctions or penalties if the laws are not implemented.
• Although the Dietary Guidelines for Americans were updated in 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) school meal program has yet to adopt the recommendations.
• Eighteen states have enacted legislation requiring school meals to exceed USDA nutrition standards. However, only seven of these laws have specific enforcement provisions, and only two state laws include sanctions if the requirements are not met.
• Ten states do not include specific coverage for nutrition assessment and counseling for obese or overweight children in their Medicaid programs.
• Twenty states explicitly do not cover nutritional assessment and consultation for obese adults under Medicaid.
• Only Georgia and Vermont have specific guidelines for treating obese adults in their Medicaid programs. In Nebraska and South Carolina, the Medicaid programs specifically state that obesity is not an illness and is, therefore, not covered.
• Forty-five states allow using obesity or health status as a risk factor to deny coverage or raise premiums. Only five states do not allow using obesity or health status to deny coverage or raise premiums.
“The report shows the serious impact that the obesity crisis is having on our country’s health and economic well-being,” says former President Bill Clinton, who co-leads the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a partnership between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. The group works to advance innovative approaches combating childhood obesity and helping children lead healthier lives.
The “F as in Fat” report concludes with several recommendations to help the country set a goal of reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. Some of those recommendations include:
• Investing in effective community-based disease-prevention programs that promote increased physical activity and good nutrition.
• Improving the nutritional quality of foods available in schools and childcare programs.
• Increasing the amount and quality of physical education and activity in schools and childcare programs.
• Increasing access to safe, accessible places for physical activity in communities. Examples include creating and maintaining parks, sidewalks and bike lanes, and providing incentives for smart growth designs that make communities more livable and walkable.
• Improving access to affordable nutritious foods by providing incentives for grocery stores and farmers’ markets to locate in underserved communities.
• Encouraging limits on screen time for children through school-based curricula and media literacy resources.
• Eliminating the marketing of junk food to kids.
• Encouraging employers to provide workplace wellness programs.
• Requiring public and private insurers to provide preventive services, including nutrition counseling for children and adults.
• Providing people with the information they need about nutrition and activity to make educated decisions, including point-of-purchase information about the nutrition and calorie content of foods.
The full report can be found at http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2008/Obesity2008Report.pdf.
States with the highest adult obesity ranking:
1. Mississippi (31.7 percent)
2. West Virginia (30.6 percent)
3. Alabama (30.1 percent)
4. Louisiana (29.5 percent)
5. South Carolina (29.2 percent)
6. Tennessee (29 percent)
7. Kentucky (28.4 percent)
8. (tie) Arkansas and Oklahoma (28.1 percent)
10. Michigan (27.7 percent)
End.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The Latest Cellulite Treatments
Today’s Re-Powering Information – I’ve told you before, but I’ll say it again. If there were a quick, easy magic way to melt off the fat for only 3 easy payments of 19.95 I would honestly tell you. Here’s one more cellulite product debunked! Don’t waste your time or money on these crazy “solutions”. Just keep coming to camp! Exercise and proper nutrition is the ONLY way to get rid of cellulite!
The Latest Cellulite Treatments
Sound Too Smooth to Be True
By RHONDA L. RUNDLE
August 19, 2008; Page D1
Beauty magazines and spas are touting a new generation of high-tech treatments for cellulite, a common affliction that gives parts of women's bodies a dimpled, uneven appearance. But there's little evidence that the new devices are effective, say some dermatologists who have scoured the medical literature and evaluated the products.
Devices that claim to reduce or eliminate the appearance of cellulite have long been available. Most use a mechanical massager that causes tissue to swell, eliminating the uneven skin surface. But dimpling can recur within hours or days. The latest products also use massagers, but add treatment from a laser or other "energy source." This is supposed to create a more lasting solution by inducing fat cells under the skin to release some of their contents, leading to a smoother surface appearance.
Mary Stoll/Elemé Medical Inc.
SmoothShapes targets the uneven appearance of cellulite.
Some dermatologists say they see little difference between the new products and older ones. "There's nothing that has been shown in any objective way to create improvement for cellulite," says Robert A. Weiss, president-elect of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
On RealSelf.com, a Web site where consumers exchange beauty information, cellulite treatments garner some of the most vociferous complaints. VelaShape, sold by Syneron Medical Ltd., "was a huge waste of time and money," gripes Kimberly Lamse, a 40-year-old jewelry designer in Burbank, Calif. In an interview, Ms. Lamse says she paid $1,500 to an orthopedic doctor for treatments she sought after reading about VelaShape in a fashion magazine. Syneron's chairman, Shimon Eckhouse, says most women get good results, and "no medical treatment is 100% effective." American Laser Centers, with more than 200 locations across the country, uses Syneron technology in its AmeriSmooth treatments.
The market for cellulite-fighting equipment is expected to grow to $200 million a year by 2012 from $80 million last year, forecasts Millennium Research Group Inc. Other technologies, including SmoothShapes from Elemé Medical Inc., have been promoted on television shows including NBC's "Today" and the syndicated "Rachael Ray Show."
The hurdle for Food and Drug Administration approval for such devices is low. The agency determines whether a device temporarily reduces the appearance of cellulite through the use of a mechanical massager, but doesn't evaluate the efficacy of any additional technology. "We do not have any data or information about how long the effect lasts," says Karen Riley, a spokeswoman for the FDA, which has cleared more than a dozen devices for cellulite treatment.
Vic A. Narurkar, director of the Bay Area Laser Institute, a San Francisco cosmetic clinic, says company-sponsored cellulite studies are too small and poorly designed to persuade him to invest in a costly technology, or to charge patients for it. Dr. Weiss of the dermatologic society says such studies often rely on photographic comparisons that accentuate the contrast between "before" and "after" pictures.
Many studies also are performed by investigators with financial ties to a manufacturer. Elemé Medical, for instance, says its "pivotal" study of 74 people was conducted by Elliot Lach, a plastic surgeon. But Dr. Lach is also the device's inventor and holds an equity stake in Elemé.
Dr. Lach defends SmoothShapes, which has a list price of $79,900, but says he understands the skepticism. He says he has submitted his study to a medical journal, but it hasn't yet been accepted for publication. The study contains evidence of cellulite reduction that is documented with magnetic resonance imaging, a more authoritative measure of results than photographs, he says.
Elemé hopes to convince skeptics with a broader study of 200 or more subjects at multiple clinical sites. It says the photography is being carefully handled to maximize its credibility with independent reviewers.
Melinda Beck is on vacation.
• Email healthjournal@wsj.com.
End
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
The Latest Cellulite Treatments
Sound Too Smooth to Be True
By RHONDA L. RUNDLE
August 19, 2008; Page D1
Beauty magazines and spas are touting a new generation of high-tech treatments for cellulite, a common affliction that gives parts of women's bodies a dimpled, uneven appearance. But there's little evidence that the new devices are effective, say some dermatologists who have scoured the medical literature and evaluated the products.
Devices that claim to reduce or eliminate the appearance of cellulite have long been available. Most use a mechanical massager that causes tissue to swell, eliminating the uneven skin surface. But dimpling can recur within hours or days. The latest products also use massagers, but add treatment from a laser or other "energy source." This is supposed to create a more lasting solution by inducing fat cells under the skin to release some of their contents, leading to a smoother surface appearance.
Mary Stoll/Elemé Medical Inc.
SmoothShapes targets the uneven appearance of cellulite.
Some dermatologists say they see little difference between the new products and older ones. "There's nothing that has been shown in any objective way to create improvement for cellulite," says Robert A. Weiss, president-elect of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery.
On RealSelf.com, a Web site where consumers exchange beauty information, cellulite treatments garner some of the most vociferous complaints. VelaShape, sold by Syneron Medical Ltd., "was a huge waste of time and money," gripes Kimberly Lamse, a 40-year-old jewelry designer in Burbank, Calif. In an interview, Ms. Lamse says she paid $1,500 to an orthopedic doctor for treatments she sought after reading about VelaShape in a fashion magazine. Syneron's chairman, Shimon Eckhouse, says most women get good results, and "no medical treatment is 100% effective." American Laser Centers, with more than 200 locations across the country, uses Syneron technology in its AmeriSmooth treatments.
The market for cellulite-fighting equipment is expected to grow to $200 million a year by 2012 from $80 million last year, forecasts Millennium Research Group Inc. Other technologies, including SmoothShapes from Elemé Medical Inc., have been promoted on television shows including NBC's "Today" and the syndicated "Rachael Ray Show."
The hurdle for Food and Drug Administration approval for such devices is low. The agency determines whether a device temporarily reduces the appearance of cellulite through the use of a mechanical massager, but doesn't evaluate the efficacy of any additional technology. "We do not have any data or information about how long the effect lasts," says Karen Riley, a spokeswoman for the FDA, which has cleared more than a dozen devices for cellulite treatment.
Vic A. Narurkar, director of the Bay Area Laser Institute, a San Francisco cosmetic clinic, says company-sponsored cellulite studies are too small and poorly designed to persuade him to invest in a costly technology, or to charge patients for it. Dr. Weiss of the dermatologic society says such studies often rely on photographic comparisons that accentuate the contrast between "before" and "after" pictures.
Many studies also are performed by investigators with financial ties to a manufacturer. Elemé Medical, for instance, says its "pivotal" study of 74 people was conducted by Elliot Lach, a plastic surgeon. But Dr. Lach is also the device's inventor and holds an equity stake in Elemé.
Dr. Lach defends SmoothShapes, which has a list price of $79,900, but says he understands the skepticism. He says he has submitted his study to a medical journal, but it hasn't yet been accepted for publication. The study contains evidence of cellulite reduction that is documented with magnetic resonance imaging, a more authoritative measure of results than photographs, he says.
Elemé hopes to convince skeptics with a broader study of 200 or more subjects at multiple clinical sites. It says the photography is being carefully handled to maximize its credibility with independent reviewers.
Melinda Beck is on vacation.
• Email healthjournal@wsj.com.
End
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Supersize Me - Portion Control
Today’s Re-Powering Information: The movie Supersize me has been around for a while. If you have not seen it or if you kids have not, its worth watching and re-watching as a reminder to avoid fast food. Its sad to see the brain washing from the media and it’s influence on us and our children. I think slowly but surely people are becoming more conscious. A former client of mine in NJ called me yesterday asking for suggestions for snacks for the 9 year old girls he coaches in soccer. He’s in the minority of dads who are making conscious decisions for his 4 children. I know it takes guts to go against convention and provide healthy snacks, but in the long run it’s worth it for the health, performance and long term lifestyles of those young girls.
I’ve mentioned it before, but my good friend Dr. Chris Mohr and his wife Dr. Kara Mohr came up with a program for parents and kids about fueling your body like a champion. Its produced for both kids and parents and is inspiring them to eat healthy. It’s a perfect time to watch with the Olympics on and kids aspiring to be more athletic. Scroll down on the boot camp store page and you can see more information. http://www.argylebootcamp.com/bootcamp-store.html
Below are notes from Dr. Mercola regarding portion sizes in America.
Mini-Size Me!
Morgan Spurlock’s documentary film, Supersize Me, should be a mandatory film for all children and their parents to see. Prior to his experiment, Spurlock was a highly fit and athletic individual weighing 185 pounds. He went on a McDonald's diet, gained 25 pounds, and looked and felt absolutely terrible. It is truly amazing to SEE what massive amounts of trans fat and 31 pounds of sugar will do to you in just one month.
He ended up suffering from many health complaints I see every day such as fatigue, headaches and indigestion. His cholesterol levels were high and he suffered from uric acid and mild chemical hepatitis. Before his 30 days were even over, his doctor urged him to cancel his experiment because his health was deteriorating so rapidly and getting flat out dangerous.
Not only does eating fast food expose you to addictive sugar and dangerous trans fats, but it also gives you more calories than you may think. As stated in this article, the average American consumes an amazing 3,770 calories a day!
Listen folks, unless you’re in daily training for the Olympics, in three separate events, the only thing this amount of calories will accomplish is rapidly deteriorating health.
The problem with “supersizing” is that the larger a meal gets, the harder it becomes to estimate how many calories are involved (not to mention that when you eat out, you don't know how the meal is prepared, or with what ingredients, which adds to the difficulty).
Super-sizing -- whether from a fast food or slower food restaurant – simply tempts you to spend more money on extra calories you don't need.
Eat What You Need, Not What You’re Served
Previous studies have shown that it actually takes you longer to reach fullness or satiety when you’re served a larger than normal portion of food, and young children consume about 25 percent less when allowed to help themselves to what they want than when served.
In one survey, 67 percent of participants said that they finish their entrees when eating out all or most of the time. As many restaurants serve very large portions, it’s no wonder studies have also found a link between body weight and frequency of consuming meals from restaurants.
Always use your hunger as a guide, rather than deciding how much to eat based on what’s on your plate. And, as I’ll discuss in just a moment, your hunger may in fact be a major clue that you’re eating not only the wrong types of food, but that you’re likely consuming them in lopsided ratios for your individual biochemistry.
“What’s Cooking?”
Right now, about 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food goes toward highly processed foods. This is a prescription for chronic degenerative disease; most Americans are simply exchanging convenience for their health. If you choose to rely on restaurant food for most of your meals, you are simply cutting off decades from your lifespan and increasing the likelihood of having to rely on expensive and potentially toxic drugs to treat the symptoms that will result from not eating healthy.
So you either pay now or wind up paying later, at which point it will typically be far more painful and expensive.
You, a family member, or someone you pay, simply has to spend time in the kitchen cooking fresh wholesome meals if you have any hope of staying healthy. Like many people, I have very little "free time" in my life, but still I am committed to preparing over 95 percent of my meals in order to preserve my health. It is a commitment, a truly important one, and it CAN be done.
Rather than have 90 percent of your food as processed, set a goal to reverse that ratio and strive for a diet of 90 percent non-processed food and only 10 percent from other sources. Not only will you enjoy numerous health benefits, but you will gain the satisfaction of preparing meals and being able to control the ingredients.
Yes, it takes more time and energy to follow an individualized nutrition plan than to eat fast food, but doing so could:
• Add years to your lifespan
• Give you more energy than you know what to do with
• Help you avoid cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis
It’s all in the Ratios of Your Rations
The beauty of eating natural and wholesome foods is that your food cravings will dissipate, making reducing the sizes of your portions that much easier. You can split your meals into five or six smaller portions, and still be far less hungry than you ever were before because your body is finally getting the fuel it needs to thrive.
If you are having food cravings and “can’t stop eating,” then you likely need to readjust your food choices as discussed in my book Take Control of Your Health.
Typically this involves shifting the ratio of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, once you have determined what types of food your body is designed to eat. Optimal health may actually have less to do with the type of food you are eating, but with the relative percentage of each food you consume.
END
Have a fit day.
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
I’ve mentioned it before, but my good friend Dr. Chris Mohr and his wife Dr. Kara Mohr came up with a program for parents and kids about fueling your body like a champion. Its produced for both kids and parents and is inspiring them to eat healthy. It’s a perfect time to watch with the Olympics on and kids aspiring to be more athletic. Scroll down on the boot camp store page and you can see more information. http://www.argylebootcamp.com/bootcamp-store.html
Below are notes from Dr. Mercola regarding portion sizes in America.
Mini-Size Me!
Morgan Spurlock’s documentary film, Supersize Me, should be a mandatory film for all children and their parents to see. Prior to his experiment, Spurlock was a highly fit and athletic individual weighing 185 pounds. He went on a McDonald's diet, gained 25 pounds, and looked and felt absolutely terrible. It is truly amazing to SEE what massive amounts of trans fat and 31 pounds of sugar will do to you in just one month.
He ended up suffering from many health complaints I see every day such as fatigue, headaches and indigestion. His cholesterol levels were high and he suffered from uric acid and mild chemical hepatitis. Before his 30 days were even over, his doctor urged him to cancel his experiment because his health was deteriorating so rapidly and getting flat out dangerous.
Not only does eating fast food expose you to addictive sugar and dangerous trans fats, but it also gives you more calories than you may think. As stated in this article, the average American consumes an amazing 3,770 calories a day!
Listen folks, unless you’re in daily training for the Olympics, in three separate events, the only thing this amount of calories will accomplish is rapidly deteriorating health.
The problem with “supersizing” is that the larger a meal gets, the harder it becomes to estimate how many calories are involved (not to mention that when you eat out, you don't know how the meal is prepared, or with what ingredients, which adds to the difficulty).
Super-sizing -- whether from a fast food or slower food restaurant – simply tempts you to spend more money on extra calories you don't need.
Eat What You Need, Not What You’re Served
Previous studies have shown that it actually takes you longer to reach fullness or satiety when you’re served a larger than normal portion of food, and young children consume about 25 percent less when allowed to help themselves to what they want than when served.
In one survey, 67 percent of participants said that they finish their entrees when eating out all or most of the time. As many restaurants serve very large portions, it’s no wonder studies have also found a link between body weight and frequency of consuming meals from restaurants.
Always use your hunger as a guide, rather than deciding how much to eat based on what’s on your plate. And, as I’ll discuss in just a moment, your hunger may in fact be a major clue that you’re eating not only the wrong types of food, but that you’re likely consuming them in lopsided ratios for your individual biochemistry.
“What’s Cooking?”
Right now, about 90 percent of the money Americans spend on food goes toward highly processed foods. This is a prescription for chronic degenerative disease; most Americans are simply exchanging convenience for their health. If you choose to rely on restaurant food for most of your meals, you are simply cutting off decades from your lifespan and increasing the likelihood of having to rely on expensive and potentially toxic drugs to treat the symptoms that will result from not eating healthy.
So you either pay now or wind up paying later, at which point it will typically be far more painful and expensive.
You, a family member, or someone you pay, simply has to spend time in the kitchen cooking fresh wholesome meals if you have any hope of staying healthy. Like many people, I have very little "free time" in my life, but still I am committed to preparing over 95 percent of my meals in order to preserve my health. It is a commitment, a truly important one, and it CAN be done.
Rather than have 90 percent of your food as processed, set a goal to reverse that ratio and strive for a diet of 90 percent non-processed food and only 10 percent from other sources. Not only will you enjoy numerous health benefits, but you will gain the satisfaction of preparing meals and being able to control the ingredients.
Yes, it takes more time and energy to follow an individualized nutrition plan than to eat fast food, but doing so could:
• Add years to your lifespan
• Give you more energy than you know what to do with
• Help you avoid cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis
It’s all in the Ratios of Your Rations
The beauty of eating natural and wholesome foods is that your food cravings will dissipate, making reducing the sizes of your portions that much easier. You can split your meals into five or six smaller portions, and still be far less hungry than you ever were before because your body is finally getting the fuel it needs to thrive.
If you are having food cravings and “can’t stop eating,” then you likely need to readjust your food choices as discussed in my book Take Control of Your Health.
Typically this involves shifting the ratio of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, once you have determined what types of food your body is designed to eat. Optimal health may actually have less to do with the type of food you are eating, but with the relative percentage of each food you consume.
END
Have a fit day.
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
Sample Healthy Meal Plans
Today’s Re-Powering Information: I talk a lot about nutrition, and my goal is for you to make the most wholesome food choices. It’s hard to find a diet or meal plan that only includes healthy choices. Sometime I cringe when I see a 1,500 calorie diet, and it’s filled with processed foods, unhealthy choices, high fat, fillers, etc. What good is consuming 1,500 (or 1,200) calories if they are not good for your health? If you are going to over eat I would rather it be on blueberries and almonds than on chips and donuts.
Just like it’s important to surround yourself with successful (however ever you personally define that) people, it’s important that you are surrounded by healthy food. I’ve given you lists of healthy foods to choose from and I know its easier to buy a lean cuisine or Jenny Craig frozen meal, but I promise you they are not improving your healthy. It takes a little work to plan for and prepare healthy meals, but once you have done it a few times, it’s no harder than eating junk and you will come to a point where you will crave salads – it’s the only thing I order in restaurants. Y
our body is amazing and will adapt to what you put in it. If you are currently craving sugar, you can turn that around so that you will eventually crave fruit and vegetables. I swear it’s true.
Anyway, let me share with you some sample menu’s using healthy food that is flavorful and nourishing. Keep in mind that you are burning 400- 700 calories in boot camp depending on your level of fitness, the workout, your intensity and your metabolism. To get an estimate of how many calories you burn a day at rest, add a zero to your body weight. So if you weigh 140, that’s 1,400 calories a day to maintain your weight – without considering any activity. It takes 3,500 calories to burn a pound. So if you burn 500 a day in camp and consume 500 calories less per day, you will lose 2 pounds a week – in theory!
Diet Menu of Healthy Foods
Breakfast:
• One boiled egg - 90 calories
• One slice wholegrain toast with 25g cheese - 205 cals
• One Banana (sliced) - 107 calories
• Handful of strawberries - 60 cals
Lunch:
Chicken Fry with snow peas, broccoli, asparagus, baby corn, mushrooms and onions over brown rice. 450 calories
Snack:
• Small handful of dried fruit and nuts/seeds & almonds - 200 cals
Dinner:
• Fresh Tuna steak (grilled) - 180 cals
• 2 small new potatoes with skins - 75 Calories
• Steamed Vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, carrots) - 110 cals
Total Healthy Calories = 1657
________________________________________
Healthy Diet Menu #2
Breakfast:
• One cup cereal (Bran Flakes, Muesli, Fiber One, Steal Cut Oats) w skimmed milk) - 300 calories
• One banana - 107 cals
• One Kiwi fruit - 34 cals
Lunch:
• Turkey and Cheese wrap with lettuce / tomatoes - 310 TOTAL!
• 1 plum – 35 calories
Snack:
• 1 cup of berries - 67 cals
• One fruit yogurt - 75 cals
Dinner:
• Teriyaki Chicken (100g chicken breast, quarter cup of teriyaki sauce from health food store) - 290 total calories
• 2 cups Fresh steamed vegetables - 150 cals
Total Calories = 1368 healthy low calories for one day!
________________________________________
Healthy Diet Menu #3
Breakfast:
• 2 Weetabix with sliced banana and semi-skimmed milk - 325 calories
• add mixed berries - 70 cals
• Yogurt - 75 cals
• Tea or coffee (no sugar)
Lunch:
• One tortilla wrap - 360 TOTAL calories for this wrap & filling!
• filled with; 1/4 small, mashed avocado, turkey, sliced tomato, reduced fat mozzarella cheese.
• Salad + dressing (lettuce, tomato, cucumber & onions) - 80 cals
Snack:
• 2 teaspoons peanut butter - 110 calories
• One slice Granary toast - 110 cals
Dinner:
• Salmon Steak (Medium steak grilled with dried herbs) - 200 calories
• Mashed potatoes - 150 cals
• Steamed vegetables - 80 cals
Total Calories = 1560 healthful calories
So this may give you some idea’s for healthy meals and their caloric values. Use the food lists I gave you to shop from and build your meals.
Keep making healthier choices.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Just like it’s important to surround yourself with successful (however ever you personally define that) people, it’s important that you are surrounded by healthy food. I’ve given you lists of healthy foods to choose from and I know its easier to buy a lean cuisine or Jenny Craig frozen meal, but I promise you they are not improving your healthy. It takes a little work to plan for and prepare healthy meals, but once you have done it a few times, it’s no harder than eating junk and you will come to a point where you will crave salads – it’s the only thing I order in restaurants. Y
our body is amazing and will adapt to what you put in it. If you are currently craving sugar, you can turn that around so that you will eventually crave fruit and vegetables. I swear it’s true.
Anyway, let me share with you some sample menu’s using healthy food that is flavorful and nourishing. Keep in mind that you are burning 400- 700 calories in boot camp depending on your level of fitness, the workout, your intensity and your metabolism. To get an estimate of how many calories you burn a day at rest, add a zero to your body weight. So if you weigh 140, that’s 1,400 calories a day to maintain your weight – without considering any activity. It takes 3,500 calories to burn a pound. So if you burn 500 a day in camp and consume 500 calories less per day, you will lose 2 pounds a week – in theory!
Diet Menu of Healthy Foods
Breakfast:
• One boiled egg - 90 calories
• One slice wholegrain toast with 25g cheese - 205 cals
• One Banana (sliced) - 107 calories
• Handful of strawberries - 60 cals
Lunch:
Chicken Fry with snow peas, broccoli, asparagus, baby corn, mushrooms and onions over brown rice. 450 calories
Snack:
• Small handful of dried fruit and nuts/seeds & almonds - 200 cals
Dinner:
• Fresh Tuna steak (grilled) - 180 cals
• 2 small new potatoes with skins - 75 Calories
• Steamed Vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, carrots) - 110 cals
Total Healthy Calories = 1657
________________________________________
Healthy Diet Menu #2
Breakfast:
• One cup cereal (Bran Flakes, Muesli, Fiber One, Steal Cut Oats) w skimmed milk) - 300 calories
• One banana - 107 cals
• One Kiwi fruit - 34 cals
Lunch:
• Turkey and Cheese wrap with lettuce / tomatoes - 310 TOTAL!
• 1 plum – 35 calories
Snack:
• 1 cup of berries - 67 cals
• One fruit yogurt - 75 cals
Dinner:
• Teriyaki Chicken (100g chicken breast, quarter cup of teriyaki sauce from health food store) - 290 total calories
• 2 cups Fresh steamed vegetables - 150 cals
Total Calories = 1368 healthy low calories for one day!
________________________________________
Healthy Diet Menu #3
Breakfast:
• 2 Weetabix with sliced banana and semi-skimmed milk - 325 calories
• add mixed berries - 70 cals
• Yogurt - 75 cals
• Tea or coffee (no sugar)
Lunch:
• One tortilla wrap - 360 TOTAL calories for this wrap & filling!
• filled with; 1/4 small, mashed avocado, turkey, sliced tomato, reduced fat mozzarella cheese.
• Salad + dressing (lettuce, tomato, cucumber & onions) - 80 cals
Snack:
• 2 teaspoons peanut butter - 110 calories
• One slice Granary toast - 110 cals
Dinner:
• Salmon Steak (Medium steak grilled with dried herbs) - 200 calories
• Mashed potatoes - 150 cals
• Steamed vegetables - 80 cals
Total Calories = 1560 healthful calories
So this may give you some idea’s for healthy meals and their caloric values. Use the food lists I gave you to shop from and build your meals.
Keep making healthier choices.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Today’s Re-Powering Information: - Today’s information is about carbs in the diet. Dr. Atkins did a great thing when he brout to the attention of Americans that we were over consuming carbs. The mistake he made is that all carbs were lumped together and the truth is that all carbs are not created equal. You want to have some of the whole grain lower glycemic carbs such as steel cut oats, quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes, etc. We want to avoid the processed carbs found in baked goods, white breads, white pasta, cereal, etc. Below is some new research on the effects of fructose on putting fat onto our body as well as Dr. Mercola’s take on the article. Remember these are Dr. Mercola’s opinions. I happen to agree with most of what he says and he goes against most conventional medicine.
Some Carbs Turn to Fat Fast in Your Body
According to new research, people on low-carb diets lose weight in part because they get less fructose, a type of sugar that can be made into body fat quickly.
The study shows that the type of carbs someone eats can be as important as the amount. Although fructose is naturally found in high levels in fruit, it is also added to many processed foods, especially in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.
For the study, six healthy people performed three different tests involving drinking various mixes of glucose and fructose. Researchers found that fructose turned into body fat much more quickly, and that having it for breakfast changed how the body handled fats at lunch.
Sources:
• NBC5 July 25, 2008
• Journal of Nutrition June 2008, 138:1039-1046
How Women Can Use This Simple Fat Tweak to Improve Their Health
Find Out More
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It’s great to find this study is bringing some attention to the dangers of fructose. So often it’s mistakenly labeled as a “healthy” form of sugar, when in reality too much fructose will pack on the pounds faster than a buffet of French fries and Krispy Cremes.
If you need to lose weight, fructose is one type of sugar you’ll want to avoid, particularly in the form of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Actually, even if you don’t need to lose weight, you should still avoid excess fructose if you want to stay healthy.
Eating + Fructose = Fat
Part of what makes HFCS such an unhealthy product is that it is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar.
"Our study shows for the first time the surprising speed with which humans make body fat from fructose," said Dr. Elizabeth Parks, associate professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center and lead author of the study in Science Daily.
“Once you start the process of fat synthesis from fructose, it's hard to slow it down," she said. “ … The bottom line of this study is that fructose very quickly gets made into fat in the body."
How does this happen?
Well, most fats are formed in your liver, and when sugar enters your liver, it decides whether to store it, burn it or turn it into fat. Fructose, however, bypasses this process and turns full speed ahead into fat.
"It's basically sneaking into the rock concert through the fence," Dr. Parks told Science Daily. "It's a less-controlled movement of fructose through these pathways that causes it to contribute to greater triglyceride [i.e. fat] synthesis.”
Ironically, the very products that most people rely on to lose weight -- low-fat diet foods -- are often those that contain the most fructose! Even “natural” diet foods often contain fructose as a sweetener.
Fat is Not the Only Downside to Fructose
Aside from the weight gain, eating too much fructose is linked to increases in triglyceride levels. In one study, eating fructose raised triglyceride levels by 32 percent in men!
Triglycerides, the chemical form of fat found in foods and in your body, are not something you want in excess amounts. Intense research over the past 40 years has confirmed that elevated blood levels of triglycerides, known as hypertriglyceridemia, puts you at an increased risk of heart disease.
Meanwhile, one of the most thorough scientific analyses published to date on this topic found that fructose consumption leads to “decreased signaling to the central nervous system from 2 hormones (leptin and insulin).”
Leptin is responsible for controlling your appetite and fat storage, as well as telling your liver what to do with its stored glucose. When your body can no longer “hear” leptin’s signals, weight gain, diabetes and a host of related conditions may occur.
“The long-term consumption of diets high in … fructose is likely to lead to increased energy intake, weight gain, and obesity,” the analysis concluded. “The potential for weight gain from increased fructose consumption may only represent one aspect of its metabolic consequences.”
Are You Eating More Fructose Than You Realize?
Since the 1970s the consumption of HFCS in the United States has skyrocketed. The largest contributor is easily soda (The number one source of calories in America!), for which HFCS is the primary sweetener. But HFCS is not only in sugary drinks. It’s in the vast majority of processed foods, even those you wouldn’t think of as sweet, such as ketchup, soup, salad dressing, bread and crackers.
So even if you don’t drink soda, if you eat processed foods you’re likely consuming fructose -- and a lot of it.
Beware of HFCS Propaganda
To further complicate matters, the Corn Refiners Association recently launched a major advertising and PR campaign designed to rehabilitate HFCS’ reputation. The group is spending $20 million to $30 million on the campaign, including running full-page ads in more than a dozen major newspapers, claiming that the product is no worse for you than sugar.
This, of course, is not true.
The Corn Growers Association wants you to believe that HFCS has the "same natural sweeteners as table sugar and honey." But don’t fall for it. HFCS is highly processed and does not exist anywhere in nature.
The Safest Sweeteners Around?
Ideally I recommend that you avoid sugar, in all forms. This is especially important for people who are overweight or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
But if you’re looking for the occasional sweet treat, I recommend, in this order:
1. The herb stevia (this is the best and safest sweetener, although illegal to use according to the FDA)
2. Raw, organic honey
3. Organic cane sugar
I recommend avoiding all other types of sugar, including fructose, HFCS, and any type of artificial sweeteners. The easiest way to do this is to stop drinking soda and stop eating processed foods.
Small amounts of whole fruit, which do contain fructose, are not a problem. If you’re healthy, you can enjoy fruit in moderation according to your nutritional type.
End
Again I agree with Dr. Mercola’s comments regarding sugar. Alcohol is a sugar and like alcohol, sugar must be weaned off. Like alcohol, the more you have the more you want. When giving up sugar or alcohol you may have headaches, cravings and be grumpy initially, but then something incredible happens when you are without sugar . . . you feel great, your energy soars, you crave healthy things! Than if you have sugar when you are not used to it you feel like you are drugged b/c of the effects. – brain fog, lethargic, no energy, headache, etc.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
Some Carbs Turn to Fat Fast in Your Body
According to new research, people on low-carb diets lose weight in part because they get less fructose, a type of sugar that can be made into body fat quickly.
The study shows that the type of carbs someone eats can be as important as the amount. Although fructose is naturally found in high levels in fruit, it is also added to many processed foods, especially in the form of high-fructose corn syrup.
For the study, six healthy people performed three different tests involving drinking various mixes of glucose and fructose. Researchers found that fructose turned into body fat much more quickly, and that having it for breakfast changed how the body handled fats at lunch.
Sources:
• NBC5 July 25, 2008
• Journal of Nutrition June 2008, 138:1039-1046
How Women Can Use This Simple Fat Tweak to Improve Their Health
Find Out More
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It’s great to find this study is bringing some attention to the dangers of fructose. So often it’s mistakenly labeled as a “healthy” form of sugar, when in reality too much fructose will pack on the pounds faster than a buffet of French fries and Krispy Cremes.
If you need to lose weight, fructose is one type of sugar you’ll want to avoid, particularly in the form of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Actually, even if you don’t need to lose weight, you should still avoid excess fructose if you want to stay healthy.
Eating + Fructose = Fat
Part of what makes HFCS such an unhealthy product is that it is metabolized to fat in your body far more rapidly than any other sugar.
"Our study shows for the first time the surprising speed with which humans make body fat from fructose," said Dr. Elizabeth Parks, associate professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center and lead author of the study in Science Daily.
“Once you start the process of fat synthesis from fructose, it's hard to slow it down," she said. “ … The bottom line of this study is that fructose very quickly gets made into fat in the body."
How does this happen?
Well, most fats are formed in your liver, and when sugar enters your liver, it decides whether to store it, burn it or turn it into fat. Fructose, however, bypasses this process and turns full speed ahead into fat.
"It's basically sneaking into the rock concert through the fence," Dr. Parks told Science Daily. "It's a less-controlled movement of fructose through these pathways that causes it to contribute to greater triglyceride [i.e. fat] synthesis.”
Ironically, the very products that most people rely on to lose weight -- low-fat diet foods -- are often those that contain the most fructose! Even “natural” diet foods often contain fructose as a sweetener.
Fat is Not the Only Downside to Fructose
Aside from the weight gain, eating too much fructose is linked to increases in triglyceride levels. In one study, eating fructose raised triglyceride levels by 32 percent in men!
Triglycerides, the chemical form of fat found in foods and in your body, are not something you want in excess amounts. Intense research over the past 40 years has confirmed that elevated blood levels of triglycerides, known as hypertriglyceridemia, puts you at an increased risk of heart disease.
Meanwhile, one of the most thorough scientific analyses published to date on this topic found that fructose consumption leads to “decreased signaling to the central nervous system from 2 hormones (leptin and insulin).”
Leptin is responsible for controlling your appetite and fat storage, as well as telling your liver what to do with its stored glucose. When your body can no longer “hear” leptin’s signals, weight gain, diabetes and a host of related conditions may occur.
“The long-term consumption of diets high in … fructose is likely to lead to increased energy intake, weight gain, and obesity,” the analysis concluded. “The potential for weight gain from increased fructose consumption may only represent one aspect of its metabolic consequences.”
Are You Eating More Fructose Than You Realize?
Since the 1970s the consumption of HFCS in the United States has skyrocketed. The largest contributor is easily soda (The number one source of calories in America!), for which HFCS is the primary sweetener. But HFCS is not only in sugary drinks. It’s in the vast majority of processed foods, even those you wouldn’t think of as sweet, such as ketchup, soup, salad dressing, bread and crackers.
So even if you don’t drink soda, if you eat processed foods you’re likely consuming fructose -- and a lot of it.
Beware of HFCS Propaganda
To further complicate matters, the Corn Refiners Association recently launched a major advertising and PR campaign designed to rehabilitate HFCS’ reputation. The group is spending $20 million to $30 million on the campaign, including running full-page ads in more than a dozen major newspapers, claiming that the product is no worse for you than sugar.
This, of course, is not true.
The Corn Growers Association wants you to believe that HFCS has the "same natural sweeteners as table sugar and honey." But don’t fall for it. HFCS is highly processed and does not exist anywhere in nature.
The Safest Sweeteners Around?
Ideally I recommend that you avoid sugar, in all forms. This is especially important for people who are overweight or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
But if you’re looking for the occasional sweet treat, I recommend, in this order:
1. The herb stevia (this is the best and safest sweetener, although illegal to use according to the FDA)
2. Raw, organic honey
3. Organic cane sugar
I recommend avoiding all other types of sugar, including fructose, HFCS, and any type of artificial sweeteners. The easiest way to do this is to stop drinking soda and stop eating processed foods.
Small amounts of whole fruit, which do contain fructose, are not a problem. If you’re healthy, you can enjoy fruit in moderation according to your nutritional type.
End
Again I agree with Dr. Mercola’s comments regarding sugar. Alcohol is a sugar and like alcohol, sugar must be weaned off. Like alcohol, the more you have the more you want. When giving up sugar or alcohol you may have headaches, cravings and be grumpy initially, but then something incredible happens when you are without sugar . . . you feel great, your energy soars, you crave healthy things! Than if you have sugar when you are not used to it you feel like you are drugged b/c of the effects. – brain fog, lethargic, no energy, headache, etc.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
www.ArgyleBootCamp.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mediterranean Diet
Today’s Repowering Information:
I know statistics about obesity are not enough to drive someone to do anything about it, but even so, they are still staggering to look at. Colorado is the one state that is still holding out with only 15 – 19% of their population being obese. Obese is defined at the point where the fat on your body is significant to negatively impact your health. We are not talking about the 10 -15 cosmetic pounds most of us could afford to shed. Fat is where toxins in the body are stored so we do not want to have more fat on our bodies than we need.
by Dr. Jack Barnathan
A new study from Ben Gurion University in collaboration with Harvard University, the University of Leipzig, Germany and the University of Western Ontario, Canada, demonstrates that dieters don't have to give up healthy fats if they want to lose weight, or increase health benefits. Instead, they can opt for diets that are low in "empty" carbohydrates (high glycemic, simple) like breads, pasta and at the same time eat a bounty of "complex" or low glycemic vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes and healthy fats.
The conclusion of these researchers (published in the New England Journal of Medicine) who monitored 322 moderately obese people assigned one of 3 diets:
1) A low fat diet
2) A Mediterranean diet
3) A low carb diet like "Atkins"
The "low carb" dieters lost 10.3 lbs in one year, the Mediterranean lost 10 lbs, and the low fat just 6.5 lbs. All the participants decreased the number of calories they consumed by similar amounts, but it is clear that the lower carb and Mediterranean diets were superior.
A Mediterranean diet consists of plant based carbohydrates, olive oil / olives (primary 'good fat' source), beans, nuts, seeds. Dairy products (mostly from yogurt and cheese) and fish in moderate to low amount. Very little red meat and eggs. Moderate of red wine. Since there is no "single" mediterranean diet (there are 16 countries bordering) there is variety, but the above are some of the basics. Italy and Greece were the countries where much of the observation / research was performed.
The researchers commented that the results were comparable to "physician-prescribed" weight loss medications.
Further, the Mediterranean diet group saw the biggest improvement in blood sugar levels.
What is also remarkable is that 85% of those in the study stuck with their diets the full three years.
Researchers are concluding that a "low carb, Mediterranean diet can be a "safe, effective" alternative for individuals.
At N.Y. Strength our "Authentic Nutrition Precision Cuisine" strongly encourages a "Mediterranean style" diet, and recommend many healthy foods with remarkably healthy fats (avocado, walnuts, brazil nuts, salmon, trout, bison, etc.) for creating an energizing meal that one can enjoy preparing, and sharing at the dining table. beyond weight loss."
END
Of all of the diet books out there, the MEdeterrian diet is one that nutritionists will generally support. It leverages common sense using a variety of fresh and wholesome vegetbles and fruits, whole grains and lean meats. It incorporates natural fats that are high in omega’s and no processed foods.
I know statistics about obesity are not enough to drive someone to do anything about it, but even so, they are still staggering to look at. Colorado is the one state that is still holding out with only 15 – 19% of their population being obese. Obese is defined at the point where the fat on your body is significant to negatively impact your health. We are not talking about the 10 -15 cosmetic pounds most of us could afford to shed. Fat is where toxins in the body are stored so we do not want to have more fat on our bodies than we need.
by Dr. Jack Barnathan
A new study from Ben Gurion University in collaboration with Harvard University, the University of Leipzig, Germany and the University of Western Ontario, Canada, demonstrates that dieters don't have to give up healthy fats if they want to lose weight, or increase health benefits. Instead, they can opt for diets that are low in "empty" carbohydrates (high glycemic, simple) like breads, pasta and at the same time eat a bounty of "complex" or low glycemic vegetables, fruits, beans, legumes and healthy fats.
The conclusion of these researchers (published in the New England Journal of Medicine) who monitored 322 moderately obese people assigned one of 3 diets:
1) A low fat diet
2) A Mediterranean diet
3) A low carb diet like "Atkins"
The "low carb" dieters lost 10.3 lbs in one year, the Mediterranean lost 10 lbs, and the low fat just 6.5 lbs. All the participants decreased the number of calories they consumed by similar amounts, but it is clear that the lower carb and Mediterranean diets were superior.
A Mediterranean diet consists of plant based carbohydrates, olive oil / olives (primary 'good fat' source), beans, nuts, seeds. Dairy products (mostly from yogurt and cheese) and fish in moderate to low amount. Very little red meat and eggs. Moderate of red wine. Since there is no "single" mediterranean diet (there are 16 countries bordering) there is variety, but the above are some of the basics. Italy and Greece were the countries where much of the observation / research was performed.
The researchers commented that the results were comparable to "physician-prescribed" weight loss medications.
Further, the Mediterranean diet group saw the biggest improvement in blood sugar levels.
What is also remarkable is that 85% of those in the study stuck with their diets the full three years.
Researchers are concluding that a "low carb, Mediterranean diet can be a "safe, effective" alternative for individuals.
At N.Y. Strength our "Authentic Nutrition Precision Cuisine" strongly encourages a "Mediterranean style" diet, and recommend many healthy foods with remarkably healthy fats (avocado, walnuts, brazil nuts, salmon, trout, bison, etc.) for creating an energizing meal that one can enjoy preparing, and sharing at the dining table. beyond weight loss."
END
Of all of the diet books out there, the MEdeterrian diet is one that nutritionists will generally support. It leverages common sense using a variety of fresh and wholesome vegetbles and fruits, whole grains and lean meats. It incorporates natural fats that are high in omega’s and no processed foods.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Energy Drinks May Give You More Than a Buzz
Today’s Re-Powering Information:
You should be getting through at least one bottle of water during camp and another on the ride home. For the new campers, we do have access to bathrooms inside so don’t’ be afraid to drink. Your body is made of 70% water so that is always going to be the beverage of choice. Once again we have been sucked in by the media into believing we need alternate beverages for energy. Caffeinated beverages have been around for ages and now they are targeting teens who come to rely on them for energy, sports performance, to get through an all nighter of homework or just for the buzz. I just found this article by a local Doctor in Grapevine on the effects of caffeinated beverages. I hope this moves you closer to drinking more water and less diet or caffeinated beverages.
Energy Drinks May Give You More Than a Buzz
Did you know that caffeine is the main ingredient in many energy drinks? Just one energy drink can contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine--as much as one or more cups of coffee. If you consume a combined total of 300 milligrams of caffeine in a day, from energy drinks, coffee, soda, food or medication, it may lead to jitteriness, nausea and heart palpitations, according to Dee Rollins, Ph.D., R.D., of Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine in Texas. When someone ingests 1,000 mg of caffeine in a day, the result may be extreme symptoms that require hospital attention, such as disorganized speech, muscle tremors and heart arrhythmias.
To reduce the chance that you'll experience these effects, pay attention to the amount of caffeine listed on the product label for the entire container, not just one serving, and monitor what else you're consuming that may contain caffeine.
Follow these tips, too:
- Don't drink energy beverages while exercising. It can lead to severe dehydration.
- Don't ever mix energy drinks with alcohol because doing so can mask how intoxicated you really are and cause extreme dehydration.
In addition to caffeine, most of these energy drinks contain sugar and sodium, which could lead to problems if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
END
So remember to stick to water as your primary source of hydration.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
You should be getting through at least one bottle of water during camp and another on the ride home. For the new campers, we do have access to bathrooms inside so don’t’ be afraid to drink. Your body is made of 70% water so that is always going to be the beverage of choice. Once again we have been sucked in by the media into believing we need alternate beverages for energy. Caffeinated beverages have been around for ages and now they are targeting teens who come to rely on them for energy, sports performance, to get through an all nighter of homework or just for the buzz. I just found this article by a local Doctor in Grapevine on the effects of caffeinated beverages. I hope this moves you closer to drinking more water and less diet or caffeinated beverages.
Energy Drinks May Give You More Than a Buzz
Did you know that caffeine is the main ingredient in many energy drinks? Just one energy drink can contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine--as much as one or more cups of coffee. If you consume a combined total of 300 milligrams of caffeine in a day, from energy drinks, coffee, soda, food or medication, it may lead to jitteriness, nausea and heart palpitations, according to Dee Rollins, Ph.D., R.D., of Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine in Texas. When someone ingests 1,000 mg of caffeine in a day, the result may be extreme symptoms that require hospital attention, such as disorganized speech, muscle tremors and heart arrhythmias.
To reduce the chance that you'll experience these effects, pay attention to the amount of caffeine listed on the product label for the entire container, not just one serving, and monitor what else you're consuming that may contain caffeine.
Follow these tips, too:
- Don't drink energy beverages while exercising. It can lead to severe dehydration.
- Don't ever mix energy drinks with alcohol because doing so can mask how intoxicated you really are and cause extreme dehydration.
In addition to caffeine, most of these energy drinks contain sugar and sodium, which could lead to problems if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
END
So remember to stick to water as your primary source of hydration.
Your friend in fitness,
Kelli Calabrese
www.KelliCalabrese.com
Kelli@KelliCalabrese.com
Monday, August 11, 2008
Blood Type Diets - Are they right for you?
Two good friends of mine recently graduated from the school of intergrative nutrition in NYC and they feel there is some merit to blood typing diets. I have not completely bought into it, but I thought I would share this to see how it applies to your blood type and let you decide if making these adjustments are worth making.
When presented with something like this, if it’s sensible, a good way to know if it’s working for your body is to do one thing at a time. For example, eliminate one thing at a time like dairy or gluten and then add one new thing at a time. This is the only way to know if something is working or not. If you make too many changes, you can not attribute it to a particular change.
PS – My blood type is A-
Type A
Agriculture
25,000-15,000 BC
cooperative, sensitive, orderly, settled, cultivator, adapts well to changes in diet and environment, little need for animal food, immune system preserves and metabolizes nutrients more easily, sensitive digestive tract, vulnerable immune system, open to microbial invasion, heart disease, cancer, anemia, liver and gallbladder disorders, type 1 diabetes, classic vegan, vegetarian
Foods -
vegetables, tofu, seafood, grains, beans, legumes, fruit,
reduce:, meat, dairy, kidney beans, lima beans, wheat
increase:vegetable oil, soy foods, vegetables, pineapple; vitamin B-12
for vegan type, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, hawthorn echinacea
Need calming centering exercises, such as: yoga tai chi
40% Caucasian Americans, 27% African Americans, 22% Indians, 16% American Indians
38% Japanese, 32% Korean, 41% Jewish, 47% Western European
Blood Type A evolved when agriculture began.
Type B
Balanced
10,000-15,000 BC
nomad
flexible
creative
strong immune system
versatile adaptation to changes in diet and environment
strong nervous system
tolerates chaos
no natural weaknesses
tendency toward auto-immune breakdowns and rare viruses
type 1 diabetes
chronic fatigue syndrome
auto-immune disorders:
Lou Gehrig's disease
lupus
multiple sclerosis
omnivore
meat
(no chicken)
dairy1
grains
beans
legumes
vegetables
fruit
reduce:
corn
lentil
peanuts
sesame seeds
buckwheat
wheat
increase:
greens
eggs
venison
liver
licorice tea
magnesium
licorice
ginkgo
lecithin
moderate physical,with mental balance, such as:
hiking
biking
tennis
swimming
travel
wandering
11% Caucasian Americans, 20% African Americans, 33% Indians, 4% American Indians
22% Japanese, 31% Korean, 16% Jewish, 7% Western European
Blood Type B is more likely to naturally tolerate dairy.
1 When there was no longer sufficient land for agriculture, people shifted to dairy as food.
Type AB
Abstract
First found in the Middle East beginning in 2500 BC.
Became more common 1,000 years ago.
rare
enigma
mysterious
highly sensitive
designed for modern life
rugged immune system
combined benefits of Type A and
Type B
sensitive digestive tract
tendency for over-tolerant immune system that allows for microbial invasion
heart disease
cancer
anemia
mixed diet in moderation
meat
seafood
dairy
tofu
beans
legumes
grains
vegetables
fruit
reduce:
red meat
kidney beans
lima beans
seeds
corn
buckwheat
increase:
tofu
seafood
good quality dairy
greens
kelp
pineapple
vitamin C
hawthorn
echinacea
valerian
quercitin
milk thistle
Calming, centering exercises, such as:
yoga
tai chi
combined with moderate physical exercises, such as:
hiking
cycling
tennis
4% Caucasian Americans, 4% African Americans, 7% Indians, 1% American Indians
10% Japanese, 10% Korean, 7% Jewish, 4% Western European
Most recently evolved blood type
Pentium chip; can process information very quickly.
Most adaptable; can morph into anything.
Has trouble feeling understood by society.
Type O
Oldest
30,000-25,000 BC
strong
hunter
leader
self-reliant
goal-oriented
hardy digestive tract
strong immune system
natural
defenses
against
infections
efficient
metabolism
shorter
small
intestines
less
chance for
cancer
low tolerance for new diets and new
environments
immune system
can be
over-active and attack itself
low thyroid
inflammation
arthritis
blood-clotting
disorders
ulcers because
they get overly acidic
red meat
strong enzymes to digest meat
high protein
vegetables
fruit
reduce:
wheat/corn1
baked goods2
kidney beans
navy beans
lentils
Brussels sprouts
cauliflower
mustard
increase:
kelp
seafood
salt
liver
red meat
kale
spinach
broccoli
coleus forsolli3
for vegetarians
vitamin A
vitamin K
calcium
iodine
licorice
kelp
intense
physical
exercise,
such as:
running
aerobics
contact
sports
martial
arts
power yoga
45% Caucasian Americans, 49% African Americans, 37% Indians, 79% American Indians
30% Japanese, 28% Korean, 38% Jewish, 43% Western European
1 Blood Type O most susceptible to wheat and corn allergies.
2 Baked goods may cause a tired, foggy feeling.
3 Coleus forsolli is an ayurvedic herb for type O vegetarians who crave meat.
If this has intrigued you or you are relating to the information found in your blood type diet, For more info. visit http://www.4yourtype.com/ or www.Mercola.com
When presented with something like this, if it’s sensible, a good way to know if it’s working for your body is to do one thing at a time. For example, eliminate one thing at a time like dairy or gluten and then add one new thing at a time. This is the only way to know if something is working or not. If you make too many changes, you can not attribute it to a particular change.
PS – My blood type is A-
Type A
Agriculture
25,000-15,000 BC
cooperative, sensitive, orderly, settled, cultivator, adapts well to changes in diet and environment, little need for animal food, immune system preserves and metabolizes nutrients more easily, sensitive digestive tract, vulnerable immune system, open to microbial invasion, heart disease, cancer, anemia, liver and gallbladder disorders, type 1 diabetes, classic vegan, vegetarian
Foods -
vegetables, tofu, seafood, grains, beans, legumes, fruit,
reduce:, meat, dairy, kidney beans, lima beans, wheat
increase:vegetable oil, soy foods, vegetables, pineapple; vitamin B-12
for vegan type, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, hawthorn echinacea
Need calming centering exercises, such as: yoga tai chi
40% Caucasian Americans, 27% African Americans, 22% Indians, 16% American Indians
38% Japanese, 32% Korean, 41% Jewish, 47% Western European
Blood Type A evolved when agriculture began.
Type B
Balanced
10,000-15,000 BC
nomad
flexible
creative
strong immune system
versatile adaptation to changes in diet and environment
strong nervous system
tolerates chaos
no natural weaknesses
tendency toward auto-immune breakdowns and rare viruses
type 1 diabetes
chronic fatigue syndrome
auto-immune disorders:
Lou Gehrig's disease
lupus
multiple sclerosis
omnivore
meat
(no chicken)
dairy1
grains
beans
legumes
vegetables
fruit
reduce:
corn
lentil
peanuts
sesame seeds
buckwheat
wheat
increase:
greens
eggs
venison
liver
licorice tea
magnesium
licorice
ginkgo
lecithin
moderate physical,with mental balance, such as:
hiking
biking
tennis
swimming
travel
wandering
11% Caucasian Americans, 20% African Americans, 33% Indians, 4% American Indians
22% Japanese, 31% Korean, 16% Jewish, 7% Western European
Blood Type B is more likely to naturally tolerate dairy.
1 When there was no longer sufficient land for agriculture, people shifted to dairy as food.
Type AB
Abstract
First found in the Middle East beginning in 2500 BC.
Became more common 1,000 years ago.
rare
enigma
mysterious
highly sensitive
designed for modern life
rugged immune system
combined benefits of Type A and
Type B
sensitive digestive tract
tendency for over-tolerant immune system that allows for microbial invasion
heart disease
cancer
anemia
mixed diet in moderation
meat
seafood
dairy
tofu
beans
legumes
grains
vegetables
fruit
reduce:
red meat
kidney beans
lima beans
seeds
corn
buckwheat
increase:
tofu
seafood
good quality dairy
greens
kelp
pineapple
vitamin C
hawthorn
echinacea
valerian
quercitin
milk thistle
Calming, centering exercises, such as:
yoga
tai chi
combined with moderate physical exercises, such as:
hiking
cycling
tennis
4% Caucasian Americans, 4% African Americans, 7% Indians, 1% American Indians
10% Japanese, 10% Korean, 7% Jewish, 4% Western European
Most recently evolved blood type
Pentium chip; can process information very quickly.
Most adaptable; can morph into anything.
Has trouble feeling understood by society.
Type O
Oldest
30,000-25,000 BC
strong
hunter
leader
self-reliant
goal-oriented
hardy digestive tract
strong immune system
natural
defenses
against
infections
efficient
metabolism
shorter
small
intestines
less
chance for
cancer
low tolerance for new diets and new
environments
immune system
can be
over-active and attack itself
low thyroid
inflammation
arthritis
blood-clotting
disorders
ulcers because
they get overly acidic
red meat
strong enzymes to digest meat
high protein
vegetables
fruit
reduce:
wheat/corn1
baked goods2
kidney beans
navy beans
lentils
Brussels sprouts
cauliflower
mustard
increase:
kelp
seafood
salt
liver
red meat
kale
spinach
broccoli
coleus forsolli3
for vegetarians
vitamin A
vitamin K
calcium
iodine
licorice
kelp
intense
physical
exercise,
such as:
running
aerobics
contact
sports
martial
arts
power yoga
45% Caucasian Americans, 49% African Americans, 37% Indians, 79% American Indians
30% Japanese, 28% Korean, 38% Jewish, 43% Western European
1 Blood Type O most susceptible to wheat and corn allergies.
2 Baked goods may cause a tired, foggy feeling.
3 Coleus forsolli is an ayurvedic herb for type O vegetarians who crave meat.
If this has intrigued you or you are relating to the information found in your blood type diet, For more info. visit http://www.4yourtype.com/ or www.Mercola.com
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