Get Moving, Eat RightCancer research advocates estimate that 1/3 of many cancers could be prevented with a strenuous (and nutritious) life.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
It's All About the Calories
Certainly some diets are healthier than others. But, when it comes to weight loss it's all about the number of calories consumed. In today's New England Journal of Medicine researchers from Harvard and the Louisiana State University showed that the percentage of carbohydrate or fat in the diet did not have any measurable effect on the amount of weight lost over 6 months (about 13 lbs on average) when caloric consumption was similar. This is not surprising to those of us who work in the field of nutrition and metabolism. It has long been suspected that people can lose weight using any system that they can latch onto, as long as it helps motivate and/or discipline them to eat less.
Certainly some diets are healthier than others. But, when it comes to weight loss it's all about the number of calories consumed. In today's New England Journal of Medicine researchers from Harvard and the Louisiana State University showed that the percentage of carbohydrate or fat in the diet did not have any measurable effect on the amount of weight lost over 6 months (about 13 lbs on average) when caloric consumption was similar. This is not surprising to those of us who work in the field of nutrition and metabolism. It has long been suspected that people can lose weight using any system that they can latch onto, as long as it helps motivate and/or discipline them to eat less.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tumors Develop in Boy Treated with Fetal Stem Cells
A Russian boy who received human fetus neural stem cells has developed tumors along the brain and spine. The boy is being treated for a neurodegenerative disease known as ataxia telangiectasia. Tumor formation has been observed in animal studies after fetal stem cells transplantation and is a major concern in human trials using stem cells from human embryos. This is the first reported case of tumors in a human treated with fetal stem cells. So far.
A Russian boy who received human fetus neural stem cells has developed tumors along the brain and spine. The boy is being treated for a neurodegenerative disease known as ataxia telangiectasia. Tumor formation has been observed in animal studies after fetal stem cells transplantation and is a major concern in human trials using stem cells from human embryos. This is the first reported case of tumors in a human treated with fetal stem cells. So far.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
It's Like Déjà Vu All Over Again
The United States of the early 1930s is eerily similar to the one we have been following in early 2009. A charismatic Democratic President using a severe economic down-turn to justify massive government spending and wealth distributive policies, all the while vilifying achievers and wealth creators, and stifling any hope for prosperity.
In "The Forgotten Man", Amity Schlaes pens a fascinating view of the people most responsible for turning a depression into the Great Depression. Yet, those who are looking for a frontal assault on FDR and the New Deal might be disappointed since the author is remarkably even handed and fair in presenting the "progressive" point of view and rationale. Nevertheless, the historical evidence is damning. The New Dealers may have been successful in creating new dependency groups and future Democratic voting blocks, but they did very little to nothing to help the economy. Indeed, during their tenure Americans began viewing the ongoing economic disaster as a regular part of life. The adventurous, risk taking spirit that made America great laid dormant for over a decade until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The biggest problem I had with the book, besides the sickening feeling I experienced juxtaposing history with present day events, was that the author mistakenly identified the famed four-horsemen of Notre Dame Football lore as defensive stars.
The United States of the early 1930s is eerily similar to the one we have been following in early 2009. A charismatic Democratic President using a severe economic down-turn to justify massive government spending and wealth distributive policies, all the while vilifying achievers and wealth creators, and stifling any hope for prosperity.In "The Forgotten Man", Amity Schlaes pens a fascinating view of the people most responsible for turning a depression into the Great Depression. Yet, those who are looking for a frontal assault on FDR and the New Deal might be disappointed since the author is remarkably even handed and fair in presenting the "progressive" point of view and rationale. Nevertheless, the historical evidence is damning. The New Dealers may have been successful in creating new dependency groups and future Democratic voting blocks, but they did very little to nothing to help the economy. Indeed, during their tenure Americans began viewing the ongoing economic disaster as a regular part of life. The adventurous, risk taking spirit that made America great laid dormant for over a decade until the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.
The biggest problem I had with the book, besides the sickening feeling I experienced juxtaposing history with present day events, was that the author mistakenly identified the famed four-horsemen of Notre Dame Football lore as defensive stars.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Diabetes Emerging at Ever Younger Ages
A recent study indicates that 16% of American teenagers are already well on their way to type 2 diabetes (previously known as adult onset diabetes). This is clearly a result of the sky rocketing rates of obesity in this country, which in turn reflects ever increasing sedentary habits by American youth.
A recent study indicates that 16% of American teenagers are already well on their way to type 2 diabetes (previously known as adult onset diabetes). This is clearly a result of the sky rocketing rates of obesity in this country, which in turn reflects ever increasing sedentary habits by American youth.
Monday, February 09, 2009
A Healthy Dose of Exercise
Researchers from Louisiana and South Carolina reported in today's Archives of Internal Medicine that quality of life was improved in post-menopausal women after a 6 month exercise program in proportion to the amount of exercise they performed. Higher doses of exercise during this time were associated with greater improvements in both mental and physical measurements. Moreover, these improvements were not dependent on weight loss. While it is well known that people benefit in a variety of ways from a regular exercise routine, this is the first study to show that the benefits in quality of life are closely associated with the dose.
Researchers from Louisiana and South Carolina reported in today's Archives of Internal Medicine that quality of life was improved in post-menopausal women after a 6 month exercise program in proportion to the amount of exercise they performed. Higher doses of exercise during this time were associated with greater improvements in both mental and physical measurements. Moreover, these improvements were not dependent on weight loss. While it is well known that people benefit in a variety of ways from a regular exercise routine, this is the first study to show that the benefits in quality of life are closely associated with the dose.
Friday, February 06, 2009
More of the BHO Nightmare
Barack Obama in the midst of one of the most tumultuous first two weeks in presidential history managed to guarantee his signature on an executive order allowing federal dollars for human embryo research. He will be overturning Bush administration policy that protected human embryos from destruction and stem cell harvest.
Barack Obama in the midst of one of the most tumultuous first two weeks in presidential history managed to guarantee his signature on an executive order allowing federal dollars for human embryo research. He will be overturning Bush administration policy that protected human embryos from destruction and stem cell harvest.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Rejecting the Next Generation
The green-lefties abhor Western civilization and continue to push that we adopt a policy of self induced extinction. My first impulse is usually to say have at it, the fewer liberals that reproduce the better off the rest of us will be. But, really it is sad how many of these people think. Is it any wonder they seem so empty and angry. After rejecting what is most meaningful in life, children, family, patriotism and a loving Creator what else is there to give them joy?
The green-lefties abhor Western civilization and continue to push that we adopt a policy of self induced extinction. My first impulse is usually to say have at it, the fewer liberals that reproduce the better off the rest of us will be. But, really it is sad how many of these people think. Is it any wonder they seem so empty and angry. After rejecting what is most meaningful in life, children, family, patriotism and a loving Creator what else is there to give them joy?
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