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Fitness News - February 2008
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Thursday, 28 February 2008
(NaturalNews) A possibly carcinogenic chemical found in starchy foods cooked at high heat is also found in high quantities in dried fruit, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the Swiss Federal Ins
titute of Technology and presented at a symposium on the chemical that took place in Boston.
Acrylamide is a toxic chemical that was first uncovered as a human health concern in 2002, when a group of Swedish scientists discovered that it forms in a reaction between amino acids and sugar when starchy foods, such as grains or potatoes, are baked, fried or microwaved. Previously, the substance had only been known as an industrial chemical and an ingredient in tobacco smoke. Acrylamide is known to be carcinogenic in mice and rats, and is a suspected carcinogen among humans.
In the Swiss study, scientists found that acrylamide formed in dried fruit, particularly plums (prunes) and pears, even under relatively mild drying conditions. This was the first time acrylamide formation in food had been observed at temperatures significantly below the boiling point of water.
Among other findings presented at the symposium were a link between dietary fat and acrylamide formation, suggesting that up to half the acrylamide in roasted almonds may have formed from fat and not starch. However, the researchers in this study said that they had no evidence that lowering fat content reduces acrylamide formation.
Other researchers presented evidence that acrylamide may damage brain cells and increase the risk of Alzheimer's, while another group found no link between the chemical and women's breast cancer.
The symposium, organized by the American Chemical Society, is part of a global effort to uncover more data about the chemical and its health effects. Since 2002, more than 200 studies have been launched to learn more about acrylamide, with support from various national governments and international bodies. (- David Gutierrez)
Source:
www.naturalnews.com
Thursday, 28 February 2008
For travelers wishing to break the routine, bring fitness into their lifestyle, and enjoy a Caribbean experience full of dynamism and renovation, The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun is introducing the Bikini Boot Camp, an energ
etic morning program offering a combination of outdoor exercises designed to sculpt and shape the body.
At the Bikini Boot Camp, the beach and the hotel's swimming pools become a magnificent natural gymnasium. The professional fitness instructors Mercedes Lozano and Ivan Orozco guide participants through a series of fun, yet effective exercises, offering cardio workout and muscular training.
The day begins at 6:30am with a sunrise power walk on the beach in which soothing breathing techniques enhance the peaceful ambiance. The experience continues with a yoga fusion class, hydro-balance exercises in the pool, pilates or stretching sessions, among others. The training ends at 1pm with a hearty meal by the sea, allowing participants to recover energy, enjoy healthy recipes, and learn about their nutritional benefits.
Each activity encourages guests to incorporate important healthy habits into their daily lives and to reach their fitness goals. The program is customized according to the physical condition of each participant.
"The Bikini Boot Camp generates a sense of self-motivation and instills integral renewal. Guests will go back home inspired to pursue a healthier lifestyle," mentioned Mercedes Lozano, who has more than 15 years of experience in fitness.
Room packages are available starting at $639 USD per room and include deluxe accommodation for two nights, daily access to the bikini boot camp program, breakfast, and lunch. Guests can also reserve a one-day program as a separate activity of their stay.
Furthermore, the resort offers an alluring variety of sports and recreational facilities including two outdoor pools, a Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center, a modern fitness center, and a studio for conditioning classes. Healthy menus are available at all restaurants and at the Culinary Center which offers a Spa Cuisine class.
Considered one of the most elegant resorts in the world, The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun features 365 guest rooms overlooking the sea, a 1, 200-foot beach, sculpted outdoor swimming pools, a full service Spa, an impressive Culinary Center, and award-winning restaurants. For more information, contact the hotel directly at 52-998-881-0808, The Ritz-Carlton toll free reservations at 1 (800) 241-3333, your travel consultant or visit ritzcarlton.com.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
An extensive study shows that a moderate level of aerobic fitness can significantly reduce stroke risk for men and women. According to lead author Steven Hooker, Ph.D., Fitness has a protective effect regardless
of the presence or absence of other stroke risk factors, including family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, and high body mass index.
According to the American Stroke Association, stroke ranks as the No.3 cause of death in the US, claiming about 150,000 lives. In the study, researchers analyzed data on more than 60,000 people who participated in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study between 1970 and 2001.
Upon entering the study, the participants took a test to measure cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in which they walked on a treadmill at increasing grade and/or speed until they reached their maximal aerobic capacity.
The overall stroke risk dropped substantially at the moderate CRF level, with the protective effect persisting nearly unchanged through higher fitness levels. That corresponds to 30 minutes or more of brisk walking, or an equivalent aerobic activity, five days a week.
For more details on this news, please visit www.physorg.com.
Friday, 22 February 2008
(NaturalNews) When walking down the aisles of health food shelves, leading supermarkets, and shopping center stalls, you may notice an array of Goji juice bottles flying at you with amazing health claims, ranging
from a cure for chronic fatigue, diabetes, even cancer!
The hype of the Goji juice was probably the biggest hype of 2007, if not one of the biggest in the last 10 years. Is Goji really such an amazing superfood or just hype?
Which Goji's are we actually talking about?
Goji berries are known by many names. Wolfberry is the common name for the fruit of two very closely related species: Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. Other names include Chinese wolfberry, Ningxia berries, barbary matrimony vine, and bocksdorn. Unrelated to the plant's geographic origin, the names Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji are in common use in the health food market.
As there are at least 17 knows species of Goji berry, it is important to emphasize that the research that took the world by storm including Oprah and many celebrities was done on Lycium barbarum.
How can we know the effectiveness of any fruit, food or supplement?
By its antioxidant capacity of course! And how can we know what that antioxidant capacity is? Currently, by its ORAC scale rating (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity). The ORAC scale is a standardized test used by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to measure the Total Antioxidant Potency of foods and nutritional supplements, specifically to measure available compounds that destroy and neutralize free radicals in the body.
ORAC was developed by Dr. Guohua Cao, a physician and chemist with the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore. ORAC is also tested at Brunswick Labs, an independent laboratory in Wareham, Massachusetts, US, which was partially subsidized by USDA. The standard ORAC test uses 100 grams of food or 100 grams of supplement.
Here are the ORAC scores of certain fruits and vegetables for comparison (in no particular order):
- Cherries 670
- Red bell pepper 710
- Red grapes 739
- Oranges 750
- Beets 840
- Broccoli 890
- Alfalfa sprouts 930
- Plums 949
- Brussel sprouts 980
- Raspberries 1220
- Spinach 1260
- Strawberries 1540
- Kale - 1770
- Black berries 2036
- Blueberries 2400
- Raisins 2830
- Prunes 5770
- Goji Berries 25,300
Thursday, 21 February 2008
A new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine shows that middle-aged and older people who received daily reminders to exercise from PDAs put in more than twice as much moderate to vigorous exercise t
han those without the devices.
In the pilot study, 19 PDAs were given to sedentary men and women, who were encouraged to do at least 150 minutes of moderate or more vigorous exercise a week. The 18-person control group received standard written material about the importance of exercise. At the end of eight weeks, the study group exercised an average of 310 minutes a week; the control group averaged 125 minutes.
For more details on this news story, please visit www.latimes.com.
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