The Skinny Kid

Fruits. Vegetables. Nuts. Rye. These are the foods that will best serve to keep you full of nutrients and feeling full.

Healthy Diet Plan > Low-Glycemic Index Diet Promotes Weight Loss, Cardiovascular Risk Reduction

A diet high in carbohydrates but low on the glycemic index, which measures the impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar levels, may help promote weight loss, decrease body fat and reduce cardiovascular disease risk, according to a report in the July 24 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Do you frequent the beach and eat tons of salmon? If not, you may not be getting enough Vitamin D.

UltraMetabolism Blog: Why you are probably NOT getting enough vitamin D…

There’s no doubt about it: Vitamin D is an incredible asset to your health.

First, it reduces cellular growth (which promotes cancer) and improves cell differentiation (which puts cells into an anti-cancer state). That makes vitamin D one of the most potent cancer inhibitors — and explains why vitamin D deficiency has been linked to colon, prostate, breast and ovarian cancer.

What’s even more fascinating?

How vitamin D actually regulates and controls genes.

It acts on a cellular docking station called a receptor that then sends messages to our genes. That’s how vitamin D controls so many different functions — from preventing cancer, reducing inflammation, boosting mood, easing muscle aches and fibromyalgia, and building bones.

Get married

Here’s some bad news for the confirmed bachelors and runaway brides of the world: They don’t live as long as married people, especially if they never get married, according to new research.Many studies have found that unmarried adults tend to die earlier than those who are married, but most did not differentiate between those who were separated or divorced and those who never got hitched.

Move to Hawaii

Hawaii households are among the largest in the nation, more commonly include married couples, and have the second highest percentage of people 65 years of age or older, according to new statistics released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Think Positive

In 1960, researchers at Mayo Clinic classified 839 people as optimists or pessimists by their responses to a series of requisitions.

The researchers went back 30 years later to determine what had happened to these people.

The optimists had survived six years longer that the pessimists on average.

Watch What You Eat

Add fish and low-sodium soups to your diet to improve your health and lose weight. That’s two of the tips for longevity offered in the July/August AARP Bulletin published by the American Association of Retired Persons.

Or better yet, eat some mint - as in the leaves.

Eating Fabulous » Pain Relief from Mint

Scientists from the Universtiy of Edinburgh have identified chemical compounds in mint oil and relatd compounds that act on a nerve receptor on the skin, called TRPM8, which is activated by the cooling chemicals or cool temperatures. When activated, it inhibits the ‘pain messages’ being sent from the locality of the pain to the brain.

I am among the multitude of people taking Lipitor to treat high cholesterol.  I am aware of the risks, but for those who aren’t here is a good summary:
What is the Risk of Taking Lipitor to Cure Your High Cholesterol?

A person taking Lipitor is lowering their risk of subsequent hardening of arteries, heart attacks, strokes and heart disease. There are a variety of side effects that can occur when taking Lipitor. While most are mild and only a few are more serious, it is important that you fully educate yourself on all possible side effects of Lipitor.

It is very important that you keep in close contact with your physician if you begin to notice any unusual or severe side effects while taking the cholesterol lowering drug Lipitor. There have been some rare but serious cases of liver and muscle problems in a few people taking Lipitor.

Unusual weakness, tenderness or pain in the muscles occur with the liver and muscle problems. If any of these side effects occur when taking Lipitor, it is imperative that you contact your physician immediately.

Some common side effects that can occur when taking Lipitor to reduce your cholesterol include flatulence (gas), upset stomach, nausea, rash or headaches. If you begin to experience any of the above symptoms you can continue to take Lipitor, however, you should consult your physician right away. He or she will want to be aware of and monitor any side effects that occur.

Some of the more potentially serious side effects that can occur while taking include swollen lips, breathing problems, swelling of the face, swelling of the tongue and hives. Extreme blurring of vision or rust colored urine that may have decreased in frequency should be a cause for concern. If the occurrence of muscle weakness, tenderness or pain is present with a combination of flu symptoms, fever, fatigue, stomach pain, dark urine or light colored feces, they could indicate serious problems with the muscles or liver.

While there may be the possibility for many different side effects, Lipitor has been proven to dramatically decrease the level of total cholesterol in the body anywhere from 29 to 45%. Studies show that Lipitor has been proven to reduce the risk of heart attacks by 36 percent.

When combined with proper diet and exercise, you can work to lower the level of bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels.

So far, I have not noticed any of the side effects myself, and have continued to take the drug in order to avoid my father’s fate (heart attack at 61.) However, I would prefer to control my cholesterol naturally and am using the goal of getting off Lipitor as an additional motivator for my weight loss and exercise.

Sugar is bad for your teeth and gums. Whole grain diets help regulate blood sugar and control diabetes. So, will eating whole grain diets reduce gum disease risk? It seems so…
Whole grain-rich diet may reduce gum disease risk (press release)

Eating lots of whole grains may do more than lower a person’s risk of developing diabetes or heart disease, as has been previously reported. New study findings suggest a diet rich in whole grains may lower the likelihood of developing periodontitis, or gum disease, as well.

“A diet that is beneficial for general health is also good for oral health,” study co-author Dr. Anwar T. Merchant, of McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, told Reuters Health, adding that “periodontitis may be prevented by diet.”

Diabetes and high levels of blood sugar are known to increase a person’s risk and severity of periodontitis, while whole grains and fiber have been shown to improve ability to process blood sugar. Yet, whether whole grain consumption is associated with a lower risk of periodontitis had not previously been studied.

Start eating them and it might help you remember.

Eating Fabulous » Apple/Apple Juice For Better Memory

The long and short of it is that researchers have discovered that apples and apple products may increase the production in the brain of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine, resulting in improved memory. And because acetylcholine is important in brain function, the researchers are suggesting that drinking apple juice may help prevent the decline in cognitive performance that accompanies dietary and genetic deficiencies and aging. Take that one step further, and they are implying these antioxidant-rich fruits may help in treating Alzheimer’s Disease, a neurodegenerative disorder.

On top of the anti-inflammatory effects, a new study suggests added benefits to moderate alcohol consumption.

Ivanhoe’s Medical Breakthroughs - Live Longer With a Few Drinks Per Week

A new report reveals older adults who have between one and seven alcoholic drinks a week, have a lower risk of heart disease and may also live longer. The benefits seem to be separate from the positive anti-inflammatory effects of alcohol.

We have all heard that making a few simple changes can really improve one’s diet. Men’s Fitness gives a number of examples of such changes.

Here’s a sample: Men’s Fitness: Eat Like A Hog

Some men love to cook. Some don’t. But no matter where you fall on that spectrum, you have to eat. And while takeout and ordering in are always options, there are times when even that seems like too much bother-and all you want to do is throw something together. You know-one or two of those superquick, supereasy meals you’ve been living on for years. The thing you cook when nothing else will hit the spot. The only catch? Many of the most basic recipes in a guy’s cooking repertoire - classic comfort foods like mac and cheese and sloppy joes - leave a lot to be desired nutritionally. They’re usually high in calories, loaded with fat, and without a shred of fiber or vegetables. But they don’t have to be. With a few simple tweaks and substitutions, and the addition of a few healthy ingredients, all your classic mealtime standbys can be converted into great - tasting grub - food you can enjoy without sacrificing your abs.PB&J Sandwich
Make it better: Switch from white bread to whole-wheat for a boost of as much as 2 grams of fiber per slice. And instead of peanut butter, try one of its cousins. Cashew and almond butter taste just as good in a sandwich and have significantly more fiber and vitamin E. Finally, in place of sugar-laden jelly, add a layer of fresh fruit. Slices of banana or strawberries are lower in calories and significantly higher in metabolism-boosting, disease-fighting nutrients than plain old jelly.

Omelet
Make it better: Although you don’t have to lose them all, try ditching at least a couple of the yolks from whatever you’re scrambling up. One egg yolk contains 55 calories and 5 grams of fat, while an egg white has just 17 calories and zero grams of fat. (Egg substitutes like Egg Beaters make going yolk-free even easier.) Next, instead of melting butter in the pan, invest in a good nonstick skillet and coat it with cooking spray. Your eggs won’t cling to the bottom, and for every tablespoon of butter you avoid using, you save yourself about 100 calories and 12 grams of fat. To make your omelet even leaner, fill it with a handful of low-fat shredded cheese and whatever veggies you have on hand. (Try stashing a bag of spinach or broccoli in your freezer specifically for omelet-making. You can pull out a handful, defrost it, and toss it into your eggs for instant omelet filling.)

Disease Proof: Saturated Fat vs. Polyunsaturated Fat

According to the Associated Press a recent study examined the differing effects of consuming polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat. Even though both aren’t exactly health promoting, polyunsaturated fat does appear to be less harmful on the body.
If you had to choose between the two Dr. Fuhrman would probably advise passing on both. What kind of fats does he recommend? One favorite is DHA:DHA is a long-chain Omega-3 fat that is made by the body, but it can also be found in fish, such as salmon and sardines. DHA is used in the production of anti-inflammatory mediators that inhibit abnormal immune function and prevents excessive blood clotting. DHA is not considered an essential, because the body can manufacture sufficient amounts if adequate short-chain omega-3 fats are consumed (flax, walnuts, soybeans, leafy green vegetables). However, because of genetic differences in the enzyme activity and because of excess omega-6 fats, many people who do not consume fish regularly are deficient in this important fat.