Exercising slows many of the degenerative issues that result from aging. This definitely seems to be the consequence of modifications in several different biological processes and systems — exercising in fact adjusts the operation of your metabolism, making it work better.

There are a number of proposed mechanisms for the effects of exercise, including:

 * The induction of heat shock proteins
 * Boost in cardiac antioxidant capacity
 * Expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress proteins
 * Anatomical and physiological alterations in the coronary arteries
 * Modifications to nitric oxide production
 * Adaptational changes in cardiac mitochondria
 * Improved autophagy
 * Improved function of sarcolemmal and/or mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels

Hit the sack an hour earlier before switching to daylight saving time this weekend, expert says. Worried that your sleep patterns will be disrupted when the clocks move ahead sixty minutes this weekend? The secret is getting enough sleep in advance, says one sleep expert. First, be certain you’re well rested before the switch to daylight savings time on March 13, advises Dr. Aparajitha Verma, medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston.

One method to do that is to start changing your sleep habits in the days before the time change; one example is, start getting up and going to sleep 1 hour earlier, Verma said.

You can also take a nap on Sunday afternoon if you feel you need to and you have enough time. But avoid napping within a few hours of your regular bedtime because that can disrupt your nighttime sleep, she added.

As you try to adapt to the time change, keep in mind that certain persistent problems may indicate a more serious sleeping disorder. Included in this are: remaining awake after 30 minutes of trying to go to sleep; excessive daytime sleepiness; or sleeping for seven or even more hours and waking up tired.

If you experience such problems, you may want to consider participating in an overnight study at an accredited sleep study center. Verma suggested.

More information

SOURCE: Methodist Neurological Institute, news release, March 7, 2011

Starting formula-fed babies on solid food too early may increase their risk of becoming obese by the time they reach age 3, according to a prospective study.

The study, which followed more than 840 young children, found that formula-fed infants introduced to solid food before four months of age had a 6.3-fold increased odds of obesity at age 3 (95% confidence interval 2.3 to 6.9), Susanna Y. Huh, MD, MPH, of Children’s Hospital Boston, and colleagues reported online in Pediatrics.

However, the same didn’t hold for breastfed infants — who showed no impact of timing of solid food introduction on obesity at age 3 (odds ratio 1.1, 95% CI 0.3 to 4.4), Huh and co-authors wrote.

The findings from the longitudinal study support guidelines recommending holding off on solids until at least 4 months of age and preferably to six months of age, the researchers noted.

“Additionally, it further confirms the tremendous long-term nutritional value of breast feeding during the first six months of life,” commented Cliff Nerwen, MD, of Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York City, in a statement sent to reporters.

Source

Medpagetoday

The study found that most trials showed an improvement in mental well-being: compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.

However, none of the identified studies measured the effects of physical activity on physical well-being, or the effect of natural environments on sticking to exercise. On balance this review has identified some promising effects on self-reported mental well-being immediately following exercise in the natural environment, as opposed to those reported following exercise indoors. This is a first step towards vindicating the positive effects of programs such as the Green Gym and Blue Gym, and innovative interventions by medical practitioners that include exercise outdoors as part of holistic treatments for those suffering from depression and similar psychological ailments.

“The hypothesis that there are added beneficial effects to be gained from exercising in the natural environment is very appealing and has generated considerable interest. By using the data currently available to us we have added strength to the link between mental and physical well-being and outdoor exercise, but further research and longer, tailor-made and focused trials are needed to better understand this link.”

Source

Science Daily

Costa Mesa Chiropractor Weekly health Alert:

A range of fake blueberries are being used in a number of retail food items, even though they contain labels or photos suggesting that they contain real blueberries.

The Consumer wellness Center reports that these “blueberries” are actually a mixture of sugar, corn syrup, starch, hydrogenated oil, artificial flavors and artificial food dyes blue No. 2 and red No. 40.  The companies that use the fake blueberries include well-known manufacturers such as Kellogg’s, Betty Crocker and General Mills

According to the Los Angeles Times:

“… [T]he fakes were found in bagels, cereals, breads and muffins. Some products contain real blueberries mixed with fakes. For example, the blueberry bagels sold at Target contain some real berries but the ‘blueberry bits’ listed in the ingredients aren’t real blueberries … Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats Blueberry Muffin variety has no blueberries but does have ‘blueberry flavored crunchies’ made from the sugar-and-dye concoction mentioned above.”

Sources:

Los Angeles Times January 20, 2011

Posted via email from chirowellnessnews’s posterous

As a chiropractor and healthcare provider, I cannot say enough about the crucial issue of excess weight and how it adversely affects every system of the human body. I “preach” to my overweight patients and hammer away on the subject in my blogs because in addition to the cardio-vascular diseases caused by obesity, much of the back pain, hip pain, and knee pain that people experience is influenced by the undue stress excess weight puts on the joints of the body. And, though it may not surprise you, an expert panel in a report out just today said that people in this country must slash their calories and increase physical activity because the obesity epidemic is “the single greatest threat to public health in this century.” 

We all know that dieting isn’t easy, but the advisory committee for the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans gave this clear-cut advice: “People in this country need to cut the calories they consume from added sugars and solid fats (butter, marbled meats) and start eating a more nutrient-rich, plant-based diet.”

The report called for many changes in the food environment. To read more, go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2010-06-15-

Posted via email from chirowellnessnews’s posterous

It’s a great time to be alive, isn’t it? Science and technology have literally put the world at our fingertips. And, in addition to the unlimited access we all have to information and communication, there are computer games, video games, and round-the-clock TV shows. Unfortunately, the “pros” of most things arrive hand-in-hand with the “cons.” Now, there are plenty of “cons” to be addressed here, but as a chiropractor, I’m going to focus on the adverse effect that our bad posture is having on our musculoskeletal system, not only while we’re engaging in these activities, but even after the work and play is done. All you need to do is to take a look at the majority of teenagers to see that posture, in general, is in a slump.

Why is posture so important? Poor posture causes headaches, neck pain, and back pain, just for openers. And, since the back bone is (eventually) connected to the hip bones and knee bones, bad posture can create a lot of painful movement from your head to your toes.

Joe Donofrio, dean of clinical services at Sherman College of chiropractic in Spartanburg, offers some great posture tips. Check them out at goupstate.com 

Posted via email from chirowellnessnews’s posterous

Technorati Tags: posture

If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that as a chiropractor I am very concerned about excess weight and obesity when it comes to people’s health in general, and my patients’ health in particular, especially since I observe first hand every day the damaging effects to the musculoskeletal system that take place when a person carries around unneeded, and therefore unhealthy, poundage. The damage begins early and affects young and growing bones structures as well as those that are on the other end of the spectrum and aging. So, I was very happy, indeed, when I read today on nationalpost.com  that U.S. schools and childcare programs could be required (by law!) to include daily exercise as part of the new National Physical Activity Plan released on Monday.

It is no secret, though still shocking, that two-thirds of adult Americans and one-third of children are either overweight or obese. Obviously, along with a poor diet, inactivity is taking its toll on the U.S. population. Most research shows that both adults and children absolutely need at least one hour of moderate physical activity a day to stay healthy and to keep from gaining weight. And, in addition, regular exercise helps to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and other cardio-vascular diseases. (Plus, regular exercise stimulates the brain and promotes learning!) The NPAP plan, along with changing medical school curricula and adding guidelines for doctors on counseling patients, local regulations will “encourage” the construction of sidewalks, playgrounds, and parks, and (hurray!) a return of organized exercise in schools.

Nancy Brown, Heart Association CEO, stated: “Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of the U.S. population does not participate in any physical activities.” It is vital to get our country back on track moving the human body as it was designed to move. And, it is important to start early by encouraging our children to be active once again, as children used to be before video games, computers, and 24-hour TV programs. Putting PE back into our children’s daily school activities will not only help them to get and stay healthy, it will help them to get and stay smarter, too!

Posted via email from chirowellnessnews’s posterous

As a chiropractor I am always interested in new studies that emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight and getting regular exercise. In addition to regular chiropractic care, I recommend a nutritious diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle whether my patients are children, adults, and seniors. There are enormous health benefits to staying active through the years and we, humans, can neither start too early nor quit too late. In fact, in my years as a chiropractor I have witnessed the positive results on the musculoskeletal system of my older patients who’ve stayed active and don’t carry around excess weight. Not only are they generally more healthy, but they seldom develop the arthritic changes that often accompanyboth a sedentary lifestyle and wear and tear on the joints from extra poundage.

Many organic diseases, in fact, might well be avoided through early exercise and weight maintenance. As a case in point, Cancer Researchers in the UK  estimated that more than 19,000 cases of cancer could be prevented each year in the UK, alone, if everyone maintained a healthy body weight. And, they found that the amount of exercise children get is mainly influenced by their environment, especially their immediate family influences, but also their neighborhood and school environments. The researchers discovered that even though some children may inherit certain genes that make them naturally more likely to enjoy sports and exercise, environment is the most powerful factor in determining how active they actually are.

So, really, it all boils down to this: A family that plays together and weighs together, stays healthier together!

Posted via email from chirowellnessnews’s posterous