Archive for October, 2008

Whey Protein and Its Benefits

October 18, 2008 at 2:21 pm · Filed under Diet and Nutrition, Supplements, Weight Management and Fitness

Author: Dominick Ciccone

If you are working out on a consistent basis, you need to be consuming extra Protein; it’s as simple as that. Without the added protein intake your muscles will never recover to their full potential, and you won’t gain the strength you are striving for nearly as quickly. Protein is the building block for all of your muscles, hair and nails, and it is important to make sure you are getting enough of it.

Out of all the available Protein supplements on the market today, Whey Protein stands out as the clear winner. Whey Proteins are high quality and nutritious proteins derived from dairy products. They contain all of the essential amino acids required by the body each and every day, which promote muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth.

Whey Protein can do a number of amazing things. It increases lean muscle mass, aids in fat loss, enhances your immune function and it actually might help to prevent certain forms of cancer. Whey Protein also helps to stabilize blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into your blood stream, which results in a reduced feeling of hunger. Insulin levels also begin to lower when Whey Protein is consumed on a consistent basis which makes it easier for the body to burn fat. Looking at these benefits it is easy to see why Whey Protein can play such an integral role in your diet.

Implementing Whey Protein into your workout routine will help prevent overtraining, because your muscles will be getting the fuel they need to rebuild themselves after a long and hard work out session. It is recommended that you try and get 1 gram of Whey Protein, per pound of body weight. This is most efficiently achieved by spreading your protein intake over 4-6 small meals, and by eating healthy, protein rich foods in conjunction with Whey Protein supplements. You can usually get 20-23 grams of Protein from a single serving of your Whey Protein supplement.

There are many quality Whey Protein supplements on the market today, and many great deals can be found online. It’s a common rule of thumb that the more expensive the Whey Protein costs, the better it is going to taste and help you recover. Searching online for special sales and discounts will help you find high quality Whey Proteins for an affordable price. After all, you don’t want to be drinking something that you hate the taste of 7 days a week, do you? I usually look for Whey Protein in the price range of 40-50 dollars. This price range is usually associated with quality protein that tastes surprisingly good, and is very good for you in terms of calories and Protein grams per serving amounts.

People of all ages can enjoy the benefits of Whey Protein. The number of benefits it provides is amazing. It helps in sports nutrition, weight management, immune system functioning, bone health and most importantly, your general health. Hopefully this information has helped you realize that Whey Protein is the right choice for you!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/whey-protein-and-its-benefits-604375.html

About the Author:

Dominick Ciccone is software developer and an avid weight trainer who enjoys researching nutrition. He also writes for the site:

Thats’s The Whey Protein .

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What You Eat Can Protect Your Skin from the Sun

October 8, 2008 at 7:11 am · Filed under Diet and Nutrition, General Health

By Barbara Levine, R.D., Ph.D.

(ARA) – By now you probably think you’ve heard all of the health reasons there are for eating your vegetables. But, just in time for summer, researchers from Harvard University have announced that lutein — a potent antioxidant found in such dark green, leafy vegetables as spinach and kale — may protect the skin from sun damage.

“Lutein has been widely recognized for its eye health benefits for several years. But, our data is the first of its kind to suggest that lutein may have the potential to act as a preventative agent against UVB-induced skin cancer,” said Salvador Gonzalez, M.D., Ph.D., leader of the Harvard research team. “In addition, these data suggest that lutein protects the skin against damage caused by exposure to UVB light, further validating our position that lutein is a critical component to overall skin health.”

Lutein (LOO-teen) is a yellow pigment (the yellow is covered up by chlorophyll in green leaves) found predominantly in vegetables. It is also present in the eyes and skin of the human body. In women, lutein is found in the breasts and cervix. As an antioxidant, lutein protects the eyes from the damaging effects of aging. Lutein also acts as a light filter, protecting against the sun’s harmful rays.

UVA and UVB rays are two types of harmful rays found in sunlight. UVA rays contribute to wrinkling the skin, as well as to the development of skin cancer. UVB rays are the ones that are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer.

Good sunscreens block both UVA and UVB rays and are critical to skin health. But, you can do even more to protect your skin and eyes when you’re outside this summer.

Safety tips to keep top of mind:

* Wear UV-blocking sunglasses. Over time, exposure to ultraviolet light can cause cataracts and increase your risk of macular degeneration, a disease that causes irreversible blindness.

* If you’re a parent, protect your children’s skin. Research indicates that one or more severe, blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence can double the risk of skin cancer later in life.

* Check the expiration date on your sunscreen. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than three years.

* Eat a healthy diet comprised of green leafy vegetables. Consumption of 6 milligrams of lutein per day (approximately one-third cup of cooked spinach) has been linked to a reduced risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. Vitamins and dietary supplements formulated with purified lutein provide another option for adding this nutrient to a daily diet.

It’s important to note that when lutein is consumed in foods or vitamins, it deposits in various tissues in the body — the eyes, the skin, fat tissue and so on. Therefore, it may also be beneficial to apply lutein directly to the surface of your skin. Several skin care products containing lutein are now available and can be purchased online at www.sephora.com or at salons that carry California Tan Heliotherapy sun care products.

For more information about how lutein can help promote healthy eyes and skin, talk to your doctor and visit the Lutein Information Bureau at www.luteininfo.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content
 
EDITOR’S NOTE: Barbara Levine is associate clinical professor of nutrition in medicine at Cornell University Medical College and chairperson of the Lutein Information Bureau.

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Antioxidant Vitamins and Zinc Reduce Risk of Vision Loss from Age-Related Macular Degeneration

October 8, 2008 at 7:10 am · Filed under General Health, Supplements

(ARA) – Findings from a nationwide clinical trial reported that high levels of antioxidants and zinc significantly reduce the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated vision loss.

Scientists found that people at high risk of developing advanced stages of AMD, a leading cause of vision loss, lowered their risk by about 25 percent when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and zinc. In the same high risk group — which includes people with intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye but not the other eye — the nutrients reduced the risk of vision loss caused by advanced AMD by about 19 percent. For those study participants who had either no AMD or early AMD, the nutrients did not provide an apparent benefit. The clinical trial — called the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) — was sponsored by the National Eye Institute (NEI), one of the Federal government’s National Institutes of Health.

“This is an exciting discovery because, for people at high risk for developing advanced AMD, these nutrients are the first effective treatment to slow the progression of the disease,” said Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NEI. “AMD is a leading cause of visual impairment and blindness in Americans 65 years of age and older. Currently, treatment for advanced AMD is quite limited. These nutrients will delay the progression to advanced AMD in people who are at high risk — those with intermediate AMD in one or both eyes, or those with advanced AMD in one eye already.

“The nutrients are not a cure for AMD, nor will they restore vision already lost from the disease,” Dr. Sieving said. “But they will play a key role in helping people at high risk for developing advanced AMD keep their vision.”

A common feature of AMD is the presence of drusen, yellow deposits under the retina. Often found in people over age 60, drusen can be seen by an eye care professional during an eye exam in which the pupils are dilated. Drusen by themselves do not usually cause vision loss, but an increase in their size or number increases a person’s risk of developing advanced AMD, which can cause serious vision loss.

Advanced AMD can cause serious vision loss. Scientists are unsure about how or why an increase in the size or number of drusen can sometimes lead to advanced AMD, which affects the sharp, central vision required for the “straight ahead” activities, such as reading, driving and recognizing faces of friends.

“Previous studies have suggested that people who have diets rich in green, leafy vegetables have a lower risk of developing AMD,” said Frederick Ferris, M.D., director of clinical research at the NEI and chairman of the AREDS. “However, the high levels of nutrients that were evaluated in the AREDS are very difficult to achieve from diet alone.

“Almost two-thirds of AREDS participants chose to take a daily multivitamin in addition to their assigned study treatment,” Dr. Ferris said. “The study also showed that, even with a daily multivitamin, people at high risk for developing advanced AMD can lower the risk of vision loss by adding a formulation with the same high levels of antioxidants and zinc used in the study.”

Dr. Ferris said some people with intermediate AMD may not wish to take large doses of antioxidant vitamins or zinc medical reasons. “For example, beta-carotene has been shown to increase the risk of lung cancer among smokers,” he said. “These people may want to discuss with their primary care doctor the best combination of nutrients for them. With the use of the high levels of zinc, it is important to add appropriate amounts of copper to the diet to prevent copper deficiency.”

The AREDS participants reported few side effects from the treatments. About 7.5 percent of participants assigned to the zinc treatments — compared with five percent who did not have zinc in their assigned treatment — had urinary tract problems that required hospitalization. Participants in the two groups that took zinc also reported anemia at a slightly higher rate; however, testing of all patients for this disorder showed no difference among treatment groups. Yellowing of the skin, a well-known side effect of large doses of beta-carotene, was reported slightly more often by participants taking antioxidants.

“The AREDS formula is the first demonstrated treatment for people at high risk for developing advanced AMD,” Feris said. “Slowing the progression of AMD to its advanced stage will save the vision of many who would otherwise have had serious vision impairment.”

Courtesy of ARA Content
 
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information, contact Michael Coogan, NEI Information Office, (301) 496-5248, mjc@nei.nih.gov.

VNR and ANR available in English and Spanish by calling 301-496-5248. Photos and other materials available in downloadable, camera-ready format on the NEI website at http://www.nei.nih.gov/amd

The National Eye Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health and is the Federal government’s lead agency for vision research. NEI-supported research leads to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual impairment and blindness. The NIH is an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

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Anti-Oxidants Galore!

October 8, 2008 at 7:09 am · Filed under Diet and Nutrition, Supplements

  by Dr. John Maher

Natural sources of antioxidants, such as Vitamins C and E and beta carotene, are some of your best defenses against coronary-pulmonary aging. Choose from these foods when eating at least five servings per day of fruits and vegetables, better yet 9 servings:

Vitamin C: red pepper, brussels sprouts, papaya, orange, chestnuts, butternut squash, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe, kale, pink grapefruit, sweet potato, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. {The latter 3 also help the liver detoxify poisons and “bad” estrogens (16-hydroxyestrone) that promote breast, colon, cervical and prostate cancer.}

Vitamin E: almonds, spinach, parsnips, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, asparagus, sweet potato, wheat germ, brussels sprouts, peanuts, pecans.

Beta carotene: carrot, butternut squash, cantaloupe, sweet potato, kale, watercress, apricot, red pepper, turnip greens, mango.

A good rule of thumb: eat from the fruit and vegetable “color palette” each day and include red, green, orange, and yellow.

By the way, eating lots of anti-oxidants keeps your lungs strong. The proof? According to a 3/14/98 article in the FASEB Journal, people who ate the most antioxidants were able to exhale almost 1/2 cup more air in 1 second than people who ate much less. The ability to inhale and exhale volumes of air is called “Vital Capacity” and is perhaps the best physical exam indicator of life expectancy!**

And need I remind you that lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer? AND 18% of VICTIMS NEVER SMOKED!

So eat your 9 servings of a rainbow variety of fruits, seeds, nuts and vegetables. Then take a professional quality multi-vitamin/mineral with at least 1000mg Vit C, 100 IU Vit E, and 15,000 units of mixed carotenoids (not just beta-carotene), and 200mcg of selenium. As iron is a pro-oxidant, it should not be included usually except in the anemic, childrens formulas and for menstrating or pregnant females*.

Pregnant females and those desiring or even “at risk” for pregnancy should limit Vit A supplementation to less than 5,000 units a day.

About the Author:

Dr John H Maher Ed., “Longevity News”
“Your Prescription for Wellness”
More Details at: http://www.RxforWellness.com

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The Mind-Body Benefits of Physical Fitness

October 8, 2008 at 7:08 am · Filed under Weight Management and Fitness

Exercise can help combat stress and potential illness
(ARA) – Stress from traffic, cell phones and balancing work/life is so pervasive today that it has become a driving force behind rising healthcare costs.

In a six-year study of more than 46,000 workers, depression and unmanaged stress emerged as the costliest risk factors in terms of medical expenditures. And, according to the American Institute of Stress, 75 to 90 percent of all doctor visits are stress-related.

When someone is under stress, adrenaline pours into the blood stream as part of our “fight or flight” response and muscles throughout the body tense in anticipation of a challenge. Immediate effects can range from a short temper to difficulty sleeping; long-term effects can be even more dangerous.

While impossible to eliminate stress from modern life, one can control the effect it has on the mind and body. People with increased levels of anxiety and nervous tension need to develop effective ways of coping with stress.

“Regular physical activity can help counter the potentially damaging effects of stress on the body and may help prevent stress-related illnesses,” says John McCarthy, executive director of the International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). “These activities provide a natural way to release tension in the body and will often lead to an automatic state of relaxation that naturally follows a good workout.”

The link between mind and body was accepted in ancient India, the birthplace of yoga, thousands of years ago. It has taken a while for Western fitness experts to embrace the idea, however, the concept of holistic health and fitness is rapidly gaining popularity and acceptance. In a survey of health clubs belonging to IHRSA, twenty-three percent offer classes specifically geared to wellness and stress reduction.

In health clubs across the country, the trend is moving away from classes focusing simply on muscle and cardiovascular training to ones that include overall wellness and whole-body maintenance. Over the past few years, more and more people have discovered the benefits of workouts that stimulate the emotions as well as the muscles.

Classes such as yoga, Pilates and martial arts fill up as quickly as health clubs put them on the schedule. According to IHRSA, participation in yoga classes at U.S. health clubs increased by 200 percent between 1998 and 2000.

This mind-body approach appeals to individuals at all different fitness levels. Consumer research shows that an impressive number of American health club members cite holistic motivations for working out. Better-than-half (54%) said that when they exercised regularly, they feel like they have their overall act together, while 38 percent said that when they do not exercise regularly, they just don’t feel right.

Top 5 Non-Physique Related Reasons for Exercise

(Base: Americans who participate in physical activities at least occasionally; % say primary reason for exercise)

1. For fun/enjoyment (49%)

2. To prevent health problems (36%)

3. To reduce stress/tension (31%)

4. To relax (30%)

5. To help with current medical problems (27%)

“As more and more health clubs offer programs that benefit the mind as well as the body, it has become much easier to find a place to practice tai chi, yoga, Pilates and more,” notes McCarthy. “I think people who have not visited a health or fitness club lately will be surprised by the variety of classes available at their local gym.”

In many cases, clubs now offer classes to non-members for a small fee.

Courtesy of ARA Content

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