You're sick. Who Cares?!?

In the June 2009 edition of the American Journal of Medicine, a study reports that many Americans don't care about their health. Ok- it says it a little differently. It states, "Following a healthy lifestyle is on the decline in the United States."

In an 18 year span, among individuals age 40-74:
- The percentage of obese individuals went from 28 to 36%
- People who engaged in physical activity at least 12x per month went from 53-43%
- Smoking rates remained the same
- People who eat 5+ fruits and veggies per day went from 42-26%

The authors estimate that medical costs due to physical inactivity were approximately $76 billion in the year 2000. That's $76 billion in potential savings! That's enough to buy every man, woman and child in America
- at least 3 pairs of sneakers each year.... or
- a 1 year gym membership... or
- 3 months worth of organic fruits and vegetables

If you ask most people what really matters in their lives, they're likely to list the following: God, family, friends, health.

Do you really prioritize your health? Or is it just lip service? Many people are willing to work hard for other priorities (getting good grades, good job, promotion at work). I'm convinced that we are a nation of hard-working, powerfully motivated individuals. But what's going on with our health?

We already have the cure for so many debilitating diseases! Don't wait for 'science' to come up with a magic drug, a better vitamin or less invasive procedure to fix your life. The cure, the absolute fool-proof, indisputable, undeniable cure for many of our diseases rests in a $40 pair of shoes and the outdoors. No matter where you are in your life... no matter where the economy has positioned you and your family, don't let your health slide.

You are Corn

"You are what you eat." We've heard that many times. So what do you eat? An interesting study published last fall in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined fast food from popular chains like McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's. The researchers found that most items on the menu could be traced back to corn!

The animals used for meat were fed corn. Corn oil was used for frying. While beverages were not examined in the study, the use of high fructose corn syrup tells us that corn drives the soda as well.

"Of 160 food products we purchased at Wendy's throughout the United States, not 1 item could be traced back to a noncorn source."

What about your diet at home? How much corn are you eating?

Weight Loss Strategies- Exercise

Throughout the month of April, I've been trying to give you a slightly different look at weight loss. We all know the mantra, "eat less, exercise more" and by now, you may realize why that is an outdated notion. There is much more to weight management for many people. But I can't let the topic of weight loss go without mentioning exercise. Exercise is extremely important in weight management.

I know what most of us hear in the popular press, "The more you exercise, the more calories you burn. The more calories you burn, the more weight you will lose."

Yes- it's true but only half the picture. What's the other half of the picture? Weight is regulated by your nervous system, hormones, your immune system, the health of your gastrointestinal tract, ability to sleep and a host of other underappreciated variables. It is not based solely on how many steps you take or the minutes you put in on a treadmill.

So beyond burning calories, what else is exercise good for?
1. It changes your hormone response... even in women with hormone irregularities.
2. It improves the inflammatory milieu of your body. It lowers inflammation.
3. Increases testosterone in young men.
4. Increases IGF-1 (generally a good response) and improves blood sugar regulation.
5. Increases growth hormone levels in obese individuals.
6. Increases insulin sensitivity. In other words, makes insulin work better.
7. Increases natural killer cell activity, a part of the immune system. (In fairness, overtraining or overly aggressive exercise will actually impair immune function).

This is just a peek at the metabolic benefits of exercise. Let's take just #2 from the above list. You already know that inflammation is a major impediment to weight loss. Weight gain causes more inflammation in a vicious cycle. So how do you break that cycle? Exercise. It is clear that exercise, independent of calorie burning potential, is necessary to lose weight.