Category Archives: Uncategorized

Almost Half of U.S. Women Gain a Large Amount of Weight In theTwo Years After Marriage

…according to a link I found in an article at Huffington Post.  An excerpt:

A 2011 Ohio State study found that weight gain of about 20 pounds is average among people who get married (especially for women), and according to Texas healthcare professional Judy Gaman, there are lot of good explanations for the increase. In the video above, she explains that after the wedding, lifestyle patterns change, leading to more food consumed and less activity.

One major culprit is television. Gaman said married people tend to watch more T.V., since they’re not just watching the shows that they personally want to watch.

Prolonged Sitting Isn’t Healthy

Read the details at the Washlngton Post.

h/t Weight Maven Beth Mazur

Pharmacist Scott Gavura Rarely Takes Supplements: Should You?

For many, supplements are a way to make expensive urine.  Gavura writes:

Aside from sporadic vitamin D in winter, I don’t take any vitamins or supplements routinely, nor do I give any to my children. Your reasons may be close to mine: There is little to no evidence suggesting that dietary deficiencies are widespread, nor is there good evidence to suggest that vitamin supplements are beneficial in the absence of deficiency. I don’t have any need for an other supplements, nor am I confident in the scientific evidence for many of them.

 

Read the rest.

 

Excessive Calcium Consumption May Increase Risk of Death In Women

…according to an article at MedPageToday.  I remember a research report from a couple years ago noting this link between calcium and premature death, but it only applied to women not taking a vitamin D supplement.  It’s complicated.

Both Alcohol Abstinence AND Heavy Consumption Are Linked to Dementia

…according to a study out of Finland.  Researchers looked at mid-life alcohol consumption and dementia signs and symptoms 20 years later.  I quote from DementiaToday.com: 

The study, conducted at the University of Turku, University of Helsinki and National Institute for Health and Welfare in Finland based on subjects from the Finnish Twin Cohort, shows that midlife alcohol consumption is related to the risk of dementia assessed some 20 years later. The study indicates that both abstainers and subjects consuming large amounts of alcohol have a greater risk for cognitive impairment than light drinkers.

Judicious alcohol consumption, primarily wine, is a component of the traditional Mediterranean diet that is probably protective of dementia.

Physician Nutrition Death Match

I ran across some nutrition-advice videos of Dr Michael Greger six months ago and started following his twittering.  It didn’t take me long to figure out he favors a vegetarian or vegan diet.  Dr. Harriet Hall at Science-Based Medicine has Dr. Greger in her crosshairs, challenging many of his claims.  Well worth a read.  An excerpt: 

Vegans tell us the Inuit, who lived almost exclusively on food of animal origin, had a short life span. That’s not true. Statistics on the Inuit between 1822 and 1836 showed that their average life expectancy was about the same as that of European peasants of the time who ate a diet overwhelmingly based on bread. 25% of Inuit lived past 60, and some lived into their 80s and 90s.

Does Weight Watchers Work?

Melanie at Dietriffic has put lots of thought into the Weight Watchers weight-loss program.  Some excerpts from her recent review: 

As I’ve said in the past, while I agree Weight Watchers isn’t the worst diet plan out there (far from it!), I don’t believe they teach people enough about sustaining their weight loss long-term, which is probably why a lot of members find the pounds slipping back on, when they stop counting points.

And this…

Remember, it really doesn’t matter what diet plan you choose to follow, it won’t continue to work if you stop following it.

So, that means you need to find something you can do for life, and stick with it.

Read the rest.

 

Does Strength Training Affect Aging?

Skyler Tanner is one of my favorite bloggers.  Watch his video for his answer.

Link

U.S. Birth Rate Hits Historic Low

U.S. Birth Rate Hits Historic Low

Regular Exercise Linked to Lower Prostate Cancer Risk

…according to an article in MedPageToday.  The association was not noted in black men, however.

In a prospective study, Caucasian men suspected of prostate cancer and scheduled for biopsy were less likely to have the disease if they were at least moderately active, according to Lionel Bañez, MD, of the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Durham N.C., and colleagues.

If they did have cancer, they were significantly less likely to have high-grade disease if they had been working out regularly, Bañez and colleagues reported online in Cancer.

Another way to reduce your risk of prostate cancer is to follow the Mediterranean diet.  Other cancers reduced by the Mediterranean diet are breast, colo-rectal, and uterus.