Obesity: Still on the Rise

Obesity numbers have been increasing at an alarming rate.

According to economist Roland Sturm of the Rand Corporation, "The proportion of people at the high end of the weight scale continues to increase at a brisk rate despite public attention to the risks of obesity and the increased use of drastic weight loss strategies such as bariatric surgery".

How do we decrease this obesity trend?

The solution is to educate your children when they are young.

It has to start with the kids.

If you are an adult, start now versus later.

Begin by decreasing all boxed and canned foods.

It is easy to get help these days versus 10 years ago.

Many diet plans are on-line and are easy to access and do not cost very much.

Just start!

Breakfast is Still the Most Important Meal of the Day

According to Dr. Al Sears, author of "The Doctor's Heart Cure" not eating breakfast increases your risk of becoming obese by a stunning 450 percent.

That's huge!

The problem most of my wellness coaching clients and patients have not eating breakfast is the time crunch in the morning.

Worse yet, the sometimes stop by a fast-food restaurant or drive-thru and choose a food-like item from the menu.

My opinion is you are almost better off skipping breakfast if you are going to put high cholesterol and fat laden foods into your system.

Solution...

Get up earlier and cook some eggs, turkey bacon or make some oatmeal or cream of wheat.

If time is a factor prepare yourself a sandwich the night before of turkey or chicken. The real stuff not lunch meat.

For those who are vegetarians one can consider grains, juicing and fruits.

Make a protein drink the night before and store the drink in a shaker. You now have a high protein breakfast on the go. If you can add some fruit.

Other easy breakfast meals are hard-boiled eggs or natural peanut butter on grain toast.

If there's a will, there's a way!

Remember, eat breakfast every morning.

Stay well!

Apples & Asthma

I read this interesting study the other day on Thorax online, April 5, 2007

A European study of almost 200 pregnant women and their off spring reports that asthma is less likely to develop in children whose mothers eat apples during their pregnancy.

Four apples each week resulted in 53% fewer diagnoses of asthma, compared to those who ate one less per week.

The study looked at a wide variety of foods, with apples showing the asthma benefit.

You know the old saying, " an apple a day keeps the doctor away".

On a side note always make sure to wash your apples real well as apples are one of the highest fruits to receive pesticide spray.

Stay well!

Two Vitamins that Stand Out

James Meschino, D.C. wrote the following in the Dynamic Chiropractic (a trade journal for chiropractors)…

A recent article by Drs. A.S. Plant and G. Tisman published in Nutrition and Cancer, highlights the emerging evidence that links suboptimal nutritional status of vitamin B-12 and Vitamin D with increased risk of cancer.

Previous studies have shown that low serum levels of vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) are associated with a higher frequency of at least 17 different malignancies, including breast, colon, and prostate, ovarian and other cancers

Vitamin B-12 deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.

Many consumers are confused about taking vitamins from not knowing which kind to take, what types to take and in what amounts. Sometimes if you go to a nutrition store and ask about vitamins you often purchase more than you need.

Many factors must be considered when purchasing vitamins such as whether you are male/female, old/young, current health status, genetic predisposition, your job, your lifestyle and your health goals.

Don’t fall for the latest cure-all. If you are going to spend your hard-earned money then spend it wisely and completely research your specific vitamin needs.

If you have any questions you can always e-mail me at micahel@frompaintopersonalgain.com

Meet Kim Jamieson

I had the opportunity to meet a "mover and a shaker" in the area of women's health issues.

I would like to intorodue her to you. Her name is Kimberly Jamieson.

Check out her site at www.healthypainfreeliving.com

This is not another "lose weight fast" diatribe and website.

Kim provides real-life scenarios to help you acheive your lifestyle and nutrition goals. She knows what it's like to be where you are today.

Sometime ago Kim was runned down and out of shape but today she has turned her world around and has a ton of energy.

If you are a woman you need to check out her site.

Here's what Kim has to say...

Empowering women to take control of their health, be happy, stay healthy, come to peace and learn to love themselves again is something that is fiercely overlooked in the American society today. It is vital to live healthy, prolong your life, and it is so important to make your dreams come true. Women tend to be martyrs (taking care of everyone else first) and never seem to have time to take care of themselves. Women need to remember to live!

Let's all have a great day.

To Your Health, Happiness & Wealth