Squaring Off Life!
Just a few days ago, a dear friend of ours past to her rest at age 94. She was an incredible lady with a zest for life and and a love for other people. It is hard to believe that just a month ago she was driving her own vehicle on her errands, and living…
Read MoreWhich is Better: Status or Health?
Many studies have concluded that when it comes to health and mortality, it is more important to be rich than poor! But most of these studies have only assessed health behaviors at the baseline.One British study followed 10,000 civil servants for 25 years, checking on their diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption 4 times during the follow-up. When…
Read MoreAn Hour of Exercise a Day Keeps the Pounds Away
A thirteen year study of 34,000 middle-age women in the Women's Health Study has found that over any three year period women who engaged in moderate exercise less than 420 minutes a week (or 60 minutes a day) were significantly more likely to gain five pounds while eating their usual diet. However, this worked only…
Read MoreA “Longevity Gene” May Protect Against Cognitive Decline
The genetics of late-life dementia, although complex, are getting a lot of attention these days. The gene for chlolesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) codes for a specific amino acid within the human genome. A majority of those who live beyond 100 have valine at codon 405 and lower cardiovascular risk. A prospective study of 523…
Read MoreLifestyle Modification Delays Onset of Diabetes at Least Ten Years
The Diabetes Prevention Program reported in 2002 that compared with placebo, an intensive lifestyle intervention program or oral medications in 3200 individuals with impaired glucose metabolism lowered the incidence of diabetes during the three years of the study by 58% and 31%, respectively. Most of these participants were then enrolled in seven additional years of…
Read MorePreventing Cancer: Is Progress Being Made?–2
As promised in the last post, I will share with you more of my impressions of the 2009 American Institute for Cancer Research's Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer in Washington, DC a couple of weeks ago:Aging:
Read MorePreventing Cancer: Is Progress Being Made?
My head is spinning this evening! Not because I am dizzy, but because all day I have been attending the 2009 American Institute for Cancer Research's Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer in Washington, DC. It is really amazing how much is known about risk factors, genetics, treatment, and prevention of this dread…
Read MoreLifestyle Intervention Helps Prevent Diabetes in Ten Year Study
Appropriate lifestyle intervention continues to demonstrate its superior benefits in preventing some diseases like diabetes. The ten-year follow-up of the randomized Diabetes Prevention Program clinical trial has demonstrated this. After the first 3 years a 58% reduction in diabetes incidence was observed among those receiving intensive lifestyle intervention, and a 31% reduction in those receiving medication (metformin), relative to…
Read More“Healthy Neighborhoods Lower Risk for Diabetes
How healthy is your neighborhood? Drexel University researchers rated neighborhoods by the ease of nearby walking, access to fresh produce, availability of exercise facilities and even how often the neighbors are seen walking--plus more factors. Following five-years of followup they found a significant 38% reduction of diabetes among those who lived in the healthiest neighborhoods…
Read MoreModifiable Lifestyle Factors Prevent Most Hypertension
With so much attention on healthcare reform, perhaps we ought to focus on personal lifestyle reform! The Nurses' Health Study has yet again yielded evidence in favor of a healthy lifestyle. Almost 84,000 women were followed for 14 years. Those who had the lowest risk of hypertension were those who followed basic modifiable risk factors…
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