Portrait on the Mantel

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that fried chicken and fast food burgers consumed 2 times per week increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, by 40% and 70% over the course of a decade.

Fast food burgers and fried chicken played the biggest role in blood sugar disorders. In addition they cause the largest weight gains which results in an increase likelihood of developing diabetes.

Surprisingly, those who ate fast foods lived the most unhealthy lifestyles and are more prone to developing other serious diseases over the course of their lives; imagine that. Just imagine, someone spent money to find this out. I guess they wanted to cross all their “I’s” and dot all their “T’s” before putting their names on this bit of research. I think I could have told them how this was going to come out.

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This just in a study conducted by the Mailman School of Public Health in New York, published in the journal Pediatrics; exposure to air pollution in the womb can significantly reduce a child’s IQ.

The results suggest that women exposed to a class of aire pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can have adverse affects on a child’s IQ. PAHs are produced by burning fossil fuels and other organic materials, including tobacco. The major source of PAH pollution is car exhaust. Previouse research has shown that PAH exposure can cause cancer and damage the neurological and reproductive systems.

Just another environmental concern that seems to be shaping our society.

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Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, eating her lightly baked fish.
Along came a spider, who sat down beside her and said “What a heart healthy dish!” Robyn Sharretts

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe
But faced foreclosure, didn’t know what to do
She appealed to her banker to lend her a hand
Now she sleeps on a flip flop out in the sand. David Sorenson

Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill sought pre-treatment approval from an in network provider
Then carefully and safely walked down the hill,
As their policy limit was one such lifetime occurrence. Warren Scrivani

Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep
And can’t tell where to fin them.
Leave them alone and they’ll come home
With their GPS to guide them! Gail Noren

Little Jack Horner sat in a corner
Eating a non-denominational winter-holiday pie
He stuck in his thumb and pulled out a plum,
And said, “I have an unhealthy relationship with food that causes my obesity.” Bill Muse

Jack Sprat could eat no fat
His wife would eat no sweet
When they added a pilates class
Their bods were hard to beat. Bobby Schackow

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More and more middle age and older adults are lifting weights today than ever before. We believe this is due to repeated positive reports on the benefits of weight training, such as reducing risk of diabetes, heart attacks and over all premature death.

However, we must use our middle aged brains when beginning any exercise regiment. The injuries which occur from this population happen within the 1st few weeks of lifting and many cases cause the lifter to quit all together.

In most cases injuries occur due to incorrect training methods like trying to lift like a younger person in the beginning: choosing the heaviest weight they can lift for say 10 reps, resting then repeating this for 2 or more sets. They get sore for a few days, when the soreness subsides, they return to the gym lifting the same heavy weights again, following this routine for weeks. This type of regiment almost always causes injuries for novice and older lifters alike. For many this type of program ends their training all together.

The best way to start a weight training program is to choose an exercise for each muscle group, usually no more than 10 exercises. Divide the body into push and pull or back and front. This will help you learn how the body is put together and how it moves with regard to the body. For each exercise pick a weight you can use comfortably for 8-12 repetitions; comfortably means you can lift this weight without straining. As the weeks progress this weight should increase for most large body movements. Aim for 2 or 3 sets of work for each exercise. Remember this is very individual, some can complete 3 sets others because of their lack of lifting experience may only need to do 1 or 2 sets.

As mentioned above, some degree of soreness is normal. Use this soreness as a way of determining how heavy or how many sets you performed in the previous workout. If you are extremely sore, reduce you weight significantly.

If you are new to weight lifting progress at a moderately slow pace. Think in terms of progress on a monthly bases, not weekly. Avoid falling into the trap of jumping on the band wagon of the latest fad program. You can increase your workload month after month and before long you’ll be working out in manner that safe and effective. I do want all to not misunderstand the role of muscle soreness, those of use who’ve been lifting for a number of years we use muscle soreness to determine lifting intensity. The more intense a lifting session the more soreness we expect to become. Know the important between muscle soreness and joint injury. Joint injuries are to be avoided, muscle soreness tell you whether you’re lifting too intensly or not intensely enough.

Keep lifting the benefits trend upward but know there are some pitfalls. However most pitfall are due to over reaching. Don’t be afraid to ask a professional for help.

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Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that teens are at higher risk for premature heart disease due to adolescent obesity. One in 5 teens have high cholesterol levels and the more obese the teen the greater the risk of premature heart disease.

The problem is how kids get to school, how they play, how they do homework and what they eat. All these are trending toward more sedentary lifestyles. A huge contributor is the American Diet (Western Diet) which is loaded fat and high carbohydrates as oppose to fresh fruits and veggies.

Teenage life has also changed with each passing decade, more teens spend their time inside verses outside. TV and gaming is a major activity for many teens.

There are ways to reduce premature heart disease risk for teens, unfortunately none are truly functional especially if the teen didn’t grow up in a house where these solutions were modeled as the child grew up. They include regular exercise, reduce consumption of red or processed meats, eat foods high in Omega 3 fatty acids and consume foods high in fiber such as fruits and veggies.

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A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives reveals children who are exposed to cigarette smoke prenatally and during the 1st year of their life are likely to develop behavioral problems by the time they are school age. Particularly problematic during the gestational years, tobacco smoke can more than double the risk of childhood behavior problems.

Children whose mothers smoked while they were in the womb as well as those exposed to 2nd hand smoke following their birth. Those exposed to smoke prenatally were 90% more likely to develop behavioral problems; compared to non smoking mothers. Children who were exposed after birth had a 30% higher risk. Those exposed in both inferences developed doubled the abnormal behavior problems.

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Researchers from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have reported that doctors are prescribing hysterectomies as a cure for conditions known as menorrhagia as oppose to other methods of treatments.

Menorrhagia is chronic abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding that lasts for longer than a normal period. It may be caused by underlying health problems such as blood clots, endometriosis, hormonal imbalance and uterine tumors. The condition can be treated with drugs or if drug therapy doesn’t work, a minor surgery called endometrial ablation where the inner layer of the uterus is removed. A Hysterectomy should be the last resort.

The rates of hysterectomy’s have been going down recently but there are some troubling concerns with regard to which group of women this is occurring. What everyone agree is that women must be informed of all their treatment options before giving consent to any irreversible procedure.

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Acupuncture has been shown to reduce hot flashes and boost the sex drive and over all well being of women undergoing breast cancer treatment.  This study highlights the benefits of acupuncture in improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients without the negative side effects of drugs therapy.

The purpose of this study focused on the benefits of alternative treatments to alleviate the negative side effects of breast cancer treatment and ultimately to encourage women to seek out these treatments.

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A study published in the journal Diabetologia found that eating a diet high in processed meat may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 41%. The study shows that a high intake of total meat increased the risk of diabetes by 17%, while red meat and processed meat were associated with a 21% and 41% increases in diabetes risk.

The higher rate of diabetes risk from processed meats can be attributed to the nitrates used as preservatives. Other studies have documented that nitrates cause beta cell toxicity. Beta cells are involved with the production of insulin. Consequently, their ability to produce insulin is blocked by nitrate induced toxicity.

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We’ve all heard the saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. The saying may come from ancient Roman proverb, who believe that apples have magical powers to cure illnesses.

This belief has some roots in the lack of humans ability to synthesize vitamin C within our bodies. Therefore it is essential that we find a good food source of this vitamin. Vitamin C is well known for preventing scurvy. Vitamin C has many immune system enhancing properties and is therefore essential to our daily health. Vitamin C is a superb antioxidant, essential for cell detoxification and enzymatic function. Apple contains bioflavonoids an antioxidant used in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Apples contain both soluble and insoluble fiber roughly 4 grams depending on the size which is roughly 15% of RDA. Both types of fiber lowers LDL cholesterol. Pectin found in Apples decrease risk of colon cancer and preventing gallstones.

The Phlorzin found in Apples has been found to have preventative properties with respect to asthma and lung conditions, more than any other citrus fruits.

So an Apple a day may actually keep the doctor away. Just remember to shop for the organic variety.

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