Posts Tagged ‘better health’

Lifestyle factors for healthy living

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

With all the fuss about Healthcare Reform, perhaps we can shift our thinking to Self Care Reform. Would you make 4 lifestyle changes to avoid many of the major chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, which in large part are preventable? “Healthy Living Is the Best Revenge”, a study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine in August of 2009 cites findings from a study, which are supported by many other studies. It’s no surprise that 4 lifestyle factors were associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Smoking, excess weight, poor diet and physical inactivity increase our risk. All of these factors are in our control.
It’s too easy to grab something processed that doesn’t spoil, sit at our computers or cell phones, smoking a cigarette to relax and being sedentary. It takes so little effort and our culture supports this lifestyle. It’s fast, cheap and easy at least in the short term. However the pounds can accumulate unnoticed, nutritional depletion builds up over time, our muscles waste, fat accumulates, fat releases inflammatory signaling molecules and the disease process begins. Entrenched in the habit of quick and easy, most people continue down this path until symptoms occur. The long- term consequences can be devastating, debilitating, and costly. Reversing the process can be slow and takes some desire and determination.

Small changes can make a big difference. For those of you ready and willing to start, make some changes. . Get up and go and get physical activity whenever you can, take advantage of smoking cessation programs which many insurance plans will cover, eat your fruit and veggies and lose weight if you need to. The most successful weight loss programs incorporate a Mediterranean style diet which is one of the healthiest given its composition of healthy fat such as olive oil and fatty fish, lean protein and preponderance on fresh whole and natural vegetables and fruits. For those of you who don’t find this very easy, seek the support of a health care professional who can guide your progress and help you move past obstacles. Studies have shown that making a plan, sticking to your plan and having someone holding you accountable increases your chance of success. You have to have some skin in the game to remain motivated.

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Posted in Health concerns, anti-aging, eating healthy, good health, good nutrition, healthy body | 21 Comments »

Food Revolution – The Real Health Care Reform- Are You Up to the Challenge?

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Consider cutting health care costs by cutting calories. Perhaps the culprit also the quality of the food we eat. Films such as Food Inc and Supersize Me have been eye opening shedding some light on how our foods are processed and the effect it has on our health. Hefty headlines speak loudly about this serious epidemic – Obesity. Yes, obesity is an epidemic that is killing us – sometimes swiftly through heart attacks and stroke and sometimes slowly with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and inflammatory and other diseases. It’s also costing us. According to a study of national costs attributed to both overweight (BMI 25–29.9) and obesity (BMI greater than 30), medical expenses ranged from $78.5 -$26.8 billion dollars in 1998 and is on the rise. That amount can add up over time.

The CDC states, “American society has become ‘obesogenic,’ characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, non-healthful foods, and physical inactivity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity.” This epidemic is a major concern in Europe as well. The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) briefing paper stated “Surveys show overweight and obesity levels among children in Southern Europe to be higher than their Northern European counterparts as the traditional Mediterranean diet gives way to more processed foods rich in fat, sugar and salt.

So who is taking on the challenge? Jamie Oliver, a British chef, has made a new series for the ABC American TV network about food – how families eat, what kids get at school and why, like the UK, the diet of processed food and snacks is causing so many health and obesity problems. The series is set in Huntington, West Virginia, the city with the highest obesity rate and rate of death in the US.

Jamie’s challenge is to see if he can get a whole community cooking again. He works with the school lunch ladies and local families to get everyone back in the kitchen making tasty meals with fresh ingredients – no packaged foods, no cheating. He’s started a Food Revolution: to get people all over America to reconnect with their food and change the way they eat.

I’ll be watching while I cook healthy, nutritious meals and wasting my waistline. How about you? Are you up to the challenge of waist management?

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Posted in Body mass, eating healthy, good nutrition, obesity | 51 Comments »

Was “The Graduate “right about Plastic –did they think about the health effects of BPA?

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Plastic is light, disposable and makes our life easier. Before you stock up on bottled water or other plastic coated packaged goods, consider the health as well as environmental impact. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used to manufacture rigid plastic used to make infant feeding bottles, plates, mugs, jugs, beakers, microwave oven ware and storage containers. Another common use is internal protective linings for cans and metal lids and coatings for water storage tanks and wine vats. BPA can migrate in small amounts into foods and beverages stored in materials containing the substance.

Some studies indicate that BPA may have an effect on brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children and a recent study on September 16, 2008 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) the authors concluded that “higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities. “ BPA is known to act like a mild estrogen. Infants and children are developing their immune and detoxification systems and may be more vulnerable, however it begs the question are older or impaired adults whose immunologic and detoxification systems are on the decline also at risk? We won’t know for sure for a while, and it is unclear what effects long term, low-level exposures have on different populations.

Studies can conflict with each other and be confusing. As stated in an FDA press release, “Studies employing standardized toxicity tests used globally for regulatory decision making thus far have supported the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA. However, results of recent studies using novel approaches and different endpoints describe BPA effects in laboratory animals at very low doses corresponding to some estimated human exposures. Many of these new studies evaluated developmental or behavioral effects that are not typically assessed in standardized tests.”

At this interim stage, FDA shares the perspective of the National Toxicology Program that recent studies provide reason for some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. FDA also recognizes substantial uncertainties with respect to the overall interpretation of these studies and their potential implications for human health effects of BPA exposure.

In the interim until all of this is sorted out, you can educate yourself and avoid or limit your exposure to foods stored in plastic or plastic lined cans. Heat foods in glass or stainless steel, use stainless steel water bottles, eat fresh or frozen food, only microwave in ceramic or glass containers, breast feed infants or read more about the subject to make informed decisions. If your immunologic and detoxification systems are impaired or slowing down, seek nutritional support, and supplements to enhance their function as well as expert advice.

Dr. Lorraine Maita has expertise in nutrition and supplements and is a Diplomate in The American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and Internal Medicine. She specializes in lifestyle, stress management, exercise, nutrition, supplements, bioidentical hormone replacement, neurocognitive function and executive physicals in Short Hills, NJ

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Posted in BPA risks, good health, healthy water | 2 Comments »

Blog Vigor Quest –How to Dig a Well to Access The Fountain of Youth

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Are you aging prematurely or at an accelerated rate and are you willing to change your lifestyle to enjoy a better quality of life? On Janurary 15, 2010, The New York Times wrote an article called Vigor Quest featuring Cenegenics Age Management Institute and one of its leaders, Jeffrey Life, a doctor at the institute, and one of her patients. Life’s message is that if a fat, 59-year-old, divorced family physician from eastern Pennsylvania can reinvent himself through a combination of lifestyle alterations and modern pharmacology, so can you.

There are many controversies surrounding Hormone Replacement therapy for men and women, their safety and the ethical questions – Should we be using these drugs? What is their long-term safety? And are there any consequences? It may be very clear to many middle age or older men or women with fatigue, malaise and declines in their physical and mental functions that interfere with their relationships, job, and ability to function in daily life. When something critical is awry, and if their hormones are low, hormone replacement therapy with testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA, or thyroid hormone fixes the problem with little or no adverse effects. Many patients choose the option of using bio identical hormones. With careful monitoring for adverse reactions and testing hormone levels, side effects can be mitigated while reaping benefits such as increased energy, muscle and bone strength, clarity and overall function. Although there are studies that caution against their use, there are many that show benefit as well as no harm. It takes years before any science becomes generally accepted and the aging baby boomers do not have years to wait for definitive answers.

While this article focused on Cenegenics approach, there are many ways to achieve the goal of a healthy lifespan. The spectrum ranges from conservative to aggressive. There is no magic bullet, rather a combination of lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, supplements and when all else fails, the judicious replacement of hormones to the level that relieves symptoms and enhances health. One would not deny insulin to a diabetic or thyroid replacement to someone who has low levels. Sex and other hormones have a profound effect on muscle and bone strength, energy, mood, clarity, body composition and much more. We all have a responsibility to manage our health, and given balanced information, can make choices that suit our personal needs, values and pocketbook. My website contains some scientific articles and I suggest anyone who is experiencing accelerated aging or has symptoms of andropause, menopause or hormone deficiencies, read and learn about the risks and benefits so you can make an informed choice.

Dr. Lorraine Maita is a Diplomate in The American Academy of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine and Internal Medicine. She specializes in lifestyle, stress management, exercise, nutrition, supplements, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, neurocognitive function and executive physicals in Short Hills, NJ.

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Posted in aging, aging science, anti-aging, good health, longevity | 7 Comments »