\ Iman’s Constant Cravings… » Health & Fitness

Don’t blame Big Gulp for America’s obesity

Under: Health & Fitness @ 11:00 pm on Sunday, 03.19.06

It’s tempting to blame big food companies for America’s big obesity problem.

After all, they’re the folks who Supersized our fries, family-portioned our potato chips and Big Gulped our sodas.

There’s also the billions they’ve spent keeping their products ever on our minds and in our mouths. ikened by some to the way tobacco companies seduced smokers, such practices have made the food industry the target of lawsuits and legislation seeking to yank junk food from schools and curb advertising to children.

But some experts say neither the problem nor the solution is nearly so simple. “You don’t have the collusion or the cover-up you had in smoking,” says James Tillotson, a business and food policy professor at Tufts’ Friedman School of Nutrition.

“We want to blame somebody, but the thing is, we’re all a part of it.”

Yes, we are all part of it. We have to be responsible enough and very mindful of what we put in our plate. No need for the chicken sandwich extra mayo, and super sized fries… instead of ordering a full individual meal you can order one for the two of you and share. This is Lilian’s new seceret recipe for losing weight - weight she doesn’t have…but you know, most of us have this complex and always feel that we could lose a few extra pounds.

It so happens that everytime I speak to Lilian on the phone or see her in person, she has to mention her ‘new thing’ …of limiting her food portions by sharing a meal when eating out. According to her, this has proven to be a very healthy way of losing a few pounds and watching her weight. It so happens that we went out to dinner not so long ago…I was expecting her to ask if I’d like to share a meal…(I was not going to agree anyway!) Lilian ordered appetizers and a main entree. All gone! so much for her ’secret recipe’ …

Anyway, it’s time to stop blaming food companies and restaurants for people’s obesity. Market demand and a sense of social responsibility are better catalysts for change, industry officials say. And some companies have done their share with educating consumers and producing healtier food. Bottom line and like Van Gelder says “You put the food on your plate. You choose whether to eat it.”

Here is the full article

Low-fat diets not as effective as expected

Under: Health & Fitness @ 12:33 am on Wednesday, 02.8.06

A landmark study that set out to prove that cutting fat from the American diet could reduce cardiovascular disease and cancer in women over 50 has come up short, showing no significant changes in risk despite years on reduced-fat regimens.

Nearly 50,000 post-menopausal women were enrolled in the $415 million study. Twenty thousand embarked on years of low-fat dieting, while the rest were allowed to eat as they pleased. They participated in the study from 1993 to the end of 2005.

After an average eight years, the women in the low-fat diet group fared no better than the control group in rates of colorectal cancer, heart disease and stroke. The risk of breast cancer was 9 percent lower among the dieters, but the differences were so slight that statisticians could not rule out the possibility the finding was merely the result of chance.

“People shouldn’t be disappointed by the studies,” said Marcia Stefanick, a Stanford University School of Medicine professor and a co-author of all three papers. “It’s just a wake-up call that simply reducing your total dietary fat is not enough.”

The goal was to compare the health of women on a diet in which fats were lowered to 20 percent of calories consumed with that of the control group, whose consumption hovered around 35 percent of calories from fat.

Yet the women in the study were never, on average, able to reach the 20 percent goal.

To reach that lower level, said cancer specialist Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, of the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, dieters not only would have to forgo the skin on chicken, the cream cheese on a bagel and the dressing on salad — they would have to skip the weekend splurge of a hot fudge sundae and the occasional pat of butter on a roll.

–That’s being just a tiny bit too strict. I say induldge withe moderation…and consistent exercise.

Stay Healthy!

[Read More]

Some Interesting Facts…

Under: Health & Fitness @ 12:54 am on Monday, 02.6.06

45% of the 700 thousand heart rate monitors sold in 2004 were bought by women. {National Supporting Goods Association} – keeping healthy!

50% of people would feel more confident with their appearance if they had whiter teeth. {Listerine} – I wonder if these 50% would consider giving up coffee …or cigarettes…I guess whitening strips can work miracles, so why bother with such thoughts :d

46 to 48 thousand American Adults die each year of diseases that vaccines can prevent. {Centers for Disease Control} –It sounds to me that there are many people out there who lack awareness of availability of such vaccines …or maybe are too lazy to get them?!

25% of women would rather go to the dentist than go on a diet {Survery by No Pudge! Brownies} — What’s wrong with going to the dentist??

The doctor is in … Aisle 5

Under: Health & Fitness @ 3:10 am on Sunday, 02.5.06

–This is brilliant…

More and more stores — from small-scale chains like Bultez’ local Hy-Vee to megamarkets like Wal-Mart and Target — have started trial runs with in-store medical clinics.

The concept is so new that analysts weren’t sure how many clinics currently exist. They said retailers appear to be trying clinics as a way to increase foot traffic in their stores, rather than rely on the clinics as an entirely new revenue stream.

“This cost and convenience trend is coming to a head and that’s what is driving this trend. My prediction is that it will move quite rapidly,” said Matt Eyring, managing director of Innosight, a Watertown, Massachusetts, consulting firm.

The business model is simple — a medical clinic operated by an outside company, and generally staffed by nurses or physician assistants, offers a limited range of basic tests and treatments at a lower cost than a doctor’s office.

–All that in a store like Target and Walmart … how convenient and affordable

Patients never need an appointment and can drop by after regular business hours. Many times, a patient might be heading to the store anyway for groceries and find it convenient to ask about that nagging cough or persistent headache.

–Patients don’t necessarily have to drop their primary care physicians…but many would consider opting for the in-store clinics as a 2nd alternative…They’re also good for people who are without health insurance - which are a lot. “With the number of Americans without health insurance at 45.8 million in 2004, the clinics hope to reach consumers who have to pay out of pocket for doctor’s visits — even for simple problems.”

Read more about in-store clinics.

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