Advanced Mediterranean Diet

…according to an article in AJCN.  The study looked only at left ventricle pumping action, not death rates, hospitalization rates, or quality of life.

I remember back in the early 1980s when AIDS was a death sentence.  The virus that causes it is called HIV: human immunodeficiency virus.  With the great drugs we have now, HIV-infected smokers lose more life-years to smoking than to HIV, according to a study in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Problem is, there’s no consensus on what it means.

…to the tune of $2.4 million.  Good for him.  The story is at Forbes.  Larry Husten writes:

A New Jersey cardiologist will receive $2.4 million for his role in a whistleblower lawsuit against Cooper Health System and Cooper University Hospital. Following an investigation by the US Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Cooper agreed last week to pay $12.6 million to settle Medicare and Medicaid fraud allegations. The federal qui tam lawsuit was originally filed by Delaware Valley cardiologist Nicholas L. DePace, who claimed that Cooper paid illegal kickbacks to physicians for patient referrals.

Why no jail time?

The Aussies just discovered this.  I thought this was axiomatic among dentists 50 years ago: “No carbs, no cavities.”

…according to research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  Study participants lived in England and Scotland.

Tom Naughton of Fat Head fame actually took the time to read and analyze the study.  He’s skeptical.  Visit his blog for details.

Sean Preus explains the research at his blog.  Some excerpts:

First, don’t rely on the mere addition of muscle to solve your weight problems. Adding muscle is part of a body reformation, but it shouldn’t be the primary pillar. Dietary changes should be your focus if weight loss is a goal.

Second, increases of roughly 80-100 calories per day expended aren’t very significant for people who are looking to lose weight, but that can be a major boost for people who aim to maintain weight. As previously discussed, The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) is an organization that collects information from people who have lost at least 30 lbs. and have maintained that loss for a minimum of one year. Strength training is the second most popular physical activity (after walking) of  NWCR members [3].

Finally, as long as you strength train once every three days–even with a brief full body routine–you will maintain a constant state of elevated metabolism.