The Wall Street Journal recently published an article stating that people who consume less than 3,000 milligrams of sodium per day are at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke within the period of low sodium intake. The claim is based on a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The study tracked 100,000 people, from 17 different countries, over an average period of three years. And while participants who consumed less than 3,000 milligrams of sodium per day were at higher risk for disease, so were participants who consumed more than 6,000 milligrams. Suzanne Oparil, professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is an expert on high blood pressure and claims this new study “adds a pretty big weight on the side that low salt intake is associated with harm.” While this study is bringing new material to the table, The American Heart Association is not convinced of the new findings due to how the study was conducted and continues to recommend people reduce their sodium intake. To read more about the study, visit The Wall Street Journal. An article published in The Independent this morning states, "Medics, police officers and fire fighters could be at increased risk of developing diabetes." The publication comes after new research was published in the Occupational & Environmental Medicine journal linking a heightened risk of diabetes to shift work.
In comparison with conventional employees who work a 9 to 5 day, shift workers, especially “graveyard” shift workers, are 9 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Additionally, researchers found that male shift workers are 37 percent more likely to develop diabetes while employees who work rotating rather than fixed shift patterns have an increased risk of 42 percent. According to CBS News, ‘”Some potential biological mechanisms may explain the link between shift work and [diabetes],” the researchers write in their study. “First, shift work may interfere with the normal synchrony of the light-dark cycle, sleeping and eating patterns, which might cause a mismatch of circadian rhythms.”‘ Other research on the topic has also linked shift work to serious health conditions, including cancer, heart disease and potential harm to fertility for women who hold late night or rotating shift jobs. Other articles covering this story include Forbes, Tech Times and BBC News. A Strategy for Weight Loss Based on Healthy Dietary Habits and Control of Emotional Response to Food7/14/2014
Research has shown that emotions have a powerful effect on eating behavior and that there is a connection between food choices, emotions and increased energy intake.
In June 2015, researchers from the University of Compultense of Madrid published the results of their study looking into the “emotional behavior of individuals as a function of the relation between food intake and emotions to facilitate the establishment of personalized dietary guidelines based on healthy eating habits and increase the patient fidelity until the desired weight.” The results of the study showed that the studied population was sedentary, consumed an unhealthy diet and eating behavior was greatly affected by emotions. The majority of participants were classified as emotional eaters. During the treatment program, eating habits and lifestyle subjects were modified and reduced at least 10% of their body weight. Ultimately, knowing the relation between food intake and emotions allows individuals to personalize their dietary strategy for weight loss. At Medical Metabolic Specialists, we always begin with individualized assessments. We work with our new clients to determine what kinds of lifestyle modifications related to nutrition, medical issues, physical activity and emotional wellbeing would best combine to provide you with the healthiest and most effective weight loss. Please give us a call to discuss our Comprehensive Program and to learn how to get started! Source: PubMed If you are planning to spend your weekend on the couch, you may want to reconsider. A recent report published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that watching too much TV may be linked to a higher risk of early death. “Watching television is a passive, sedentary activity, and certainly people who do it for hours are not paying attention in terms of their lifestyle and in terms of their diet,” said American Heart Association cardiologist Nisa Goldberg. In a recent article by the LA Times, Oyinlola Oyebode, lead researcher at University College London, claims, “We have shown that those eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables daily have the lowest risk of mortality from any cause.” Unless you are consuming at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day, you may not be eating enough. A portion can be relatively small though according to registered dietician Andy Bellatti. “A mere half cup of cooked leafy greens counts as a serving, as do roughly a dozen baby carrots or six asparagus spears,” he tells the LA Times.
Eating out and not taking the time to prepare meals are two of the biggest reasons that only about a quarter of American adults have three or more servings of vegetables a day. Jennie Cook, an LA Caterer, recommends stocking your kitchen with fresh produce and making it a priority. She encourages adults to have three servings of vegetables and/or fruit at both lunch and dinner and two servings with breakfast. Read the full study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. While counting calories and incorporating exercise into your routine may help with short-term weight loss, researchers are finding these remedies do not contribute to long-term weight loss. “We intuitively know that ‘eat less exercise more’ doesn’t work. It’s such simple advice that if it worked, my colleagues and I would be out of job,” says Dr. David Ludwig, director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. “The uncomfortable fact is that an exceedingly small number of people can lose a substantial amount of weight and keep it off following that advice” (TIME).
According to Dr. Ludwig and his colleague, Dr. Mark L. Friedman, weight loss should not be viewed as something separate from biological functions and the effects of what kinds of food are consumed. “‘Instead of counting calories, we should be focusing on the quality of the food we consume,’ says Ludwig” (TIME). At Medical Metabolic Specialists, this research is core to our practice. As an obesity medicine specialist, Dr. James Hendrick focuses on the prevention and treatment of obesity and its associated conditions. His goal is to help patients understand their obstacles and manage their metabolism to help them lose weight. Unlike traditional weight loss clinics you see advertised, our comprehensive approach addresses the important issues of behavior, nutrition, emotion, disease, and medication along with how they relate to your weight. We don’t just tell patients to exercise and count calories, but rather we use the latest scientific techniques to create a comprehensive, individualized, lifelong weight management program to improve overall health and happiness. If you are ready to start your journey to long-term weight loss, contact us to begin your individualized assessment A recent article published by Reuters suggests that the recommended exercise guidelines for adults are far too low and adults who follow the guidelines still gain weight. “Current recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 60 minutes of vigorous exercise per week might not be sufficient to prevent long-term weight gain,” lead researcher Trine Moholdt told Reuters Health in an email. “More is needed.” Moholdt and her team recently published the results of a 22-year study examining weight and exercise patterns of more than 19,000 adults. The study shows that, on average, the men gained roughly 17 pounds while the women gained approximately 19 pounds. “Only those who exceeded the recommended weekly 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 60 minutes of vigorous activity were able to avoid significant weight gain over both the first and second half of the study period” (Reuters). So what does this mean? Consider taking your exercise to the next level by participating in at least two intense exercise regimes a week. Try joining a Zumba class or dusting your bike off for some long distance riding. Whatever exercise you decide on, find something that is going to make you sweat and add it to your schedule a few times a week! Read more about this study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Did you know “stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American adults eat on average only 1.1 fruits and 1.6 vegetables a day – less than half of the daily recommended intake” (ABC News).
You may want to reconsider your fruit and vegetable intake because, according to research, fruit every day may decrease the risk of stroke by almost one third. If you have been keeping up the news, Fort Collins is starting 2014 with a bang. Not only did USA Today Travel rank our city as the #2 Best U.S. Cycling Town, but Time recently reported “94.9% of Fort Collins residents say they are satisfied with the city — a higher percentage than found in any other American city.” While many factors play into why residents love this town, we know great health is one of the top reasons. With the numerous bike trails and outdoor activities, Fort Collins residents are not only happy, but also healthy.
According to USA Today, the Alliance for Biking and Walking recently found “levels of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes are lower in cities where a higher percentage of commuters bicycle or walk to work…” Jeffrey Miller, president and CEO of the Alliance for Biking and Walking, commented, “It’s not surprising to see that we have a correlation between public health and levels of biking and walking. Still, it’s good to have the data. It’s a very positive thing that we need to highlight.” So dust off your bikes and get to riding! With our 310-mile network of paths and bike lanes, Fort Collins is the perfect city to commute to work or enjoy a weekend ride. According to an article by Time Magazine, “Your doctor could soon be prescribing crucial shuteye as treatment for everything from obesity to ADHD to mental health as experts say carving out time for sleep is just as important as diet and exercise.” As stated by the article, researchers have known for some time that sleep is critical for weight maintenance and hormone balance, and too little sleep is linked to many diseases and heart problem as well as mental health. However, it wasn’t until recent that research on sleep became a paramount component of the medical industry in terms of treatment of various conditions.
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MMSMedical Metabolic Specialists, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, is dedicated to using the latest scientific techniques to create a comprehensive, individualized. lifelong weight management program to improve your overall health. Archives
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