Tricks and tips
November 8, 2005 | 12:00am
It must be the hangover from the long Halloween break that’s got us engrossed in assorted health tricks and tips. For instance, those who are on the Atkins or South Beach diet can pick up quite a mouthful from Tom Venuto, personal trainer and author of Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, on how to curb the carbs without really trying. Here are four top tips:
• Don’t cut out all your carbs, just reduce them to a moderate level so carbs and protein are balanced and carbs are not the predominant macronutrient. You don’t have to cut carbs to next to nothing to get low-carb diet benefits.
• Don’t eat a lot of carbs at night (remember that carbs taken in the dark also count) and do eat natural starches and grains early in the day and after your workouts.
• Don’t stay on a reduced-carb diet more than 12 to 16 weeks. Always go back to a more balanced diet because it’s healthier and more maintainable. Cycle diets like everything else.
• Take periodic "carb up" days or re-feed days. This will prevent your metabolism from slowing down, keep your thyroid functioning optimally, and maintain your energy levels.
It’s touted as the next big thing on the supplement scene. The biggest thing about alpha lipoic acid is that the body uses it to produce energy and perform basic metabolic functions. Doing quite a lot of research on ALA, biochemistry professor Bruce Ames has zeroed in on ALA’s role in energy production, which takes place in the mitochondria, or those tiny cellular structures. Ames, like most scientists, believes that mitochondria plays a vital role in the aging process.
Here’s how, so writes Sierra Senyak: "As mitochondria produce energy, they also release small amounts of free radicals. A young, healthy body is able to handle these small leaks, but free radicals start to build up as the body ages, damaging the mitochondria and other parts of the cell. Damaged mitochondria produce yet more free radicals, creating a feedback loop that leads straight downhill."
Though not found in most foods, this superantioxidant, according to early studies, is so powerful it is used to treat a wide range of age-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes (by lowering glucose levels), cataracts, Parkinson’s and, not to forget, Alzheimer’s. (A friendly reminder: Diabetics and heart patients who are on medication should consult their doctor.) Likewise, it boosts the immune system.
In Germany, ALA is an approved medical treatment for peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes as it hastens the removal of glucose from the bloodstream, enhancing insulin function.
But make sure the formulation includes vitamin C and E as it helps recycle these other antioxidants, thus enhancing their effectiveness as the body’s first line of defense against free radicals.
Much of its research is in its early stages, but one of its major roles is to assist the liver in flushing out bodily toxins, what with its ability to pull out heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury.
It’s not just another antioxidant, says researcher Tory Hagen; it has the power to regenerate other antioxidants. "It can actually breathe new life into antioxidants that have become oxidized in the body and so are no longer effective. It works particularly well with coenzyme Q10, glutathione, and vitamin C, effectively turning them back on and leaving them ready to take on more free radicals. What’s more, these three can recharge vitamin E, creating what scientists call an antioxidant network."
If that didn’t impress you, here’s more: Alpha lipoic acid can penetrate more areas of the body than other antioxidants. "Most are either fat-soluble or water-soluble, but ALA can dissolve in both mediums, making it one of few antioxidants that can reach into virtually every tissue of the body. It can even get into the brain, which is why researchers hope that it may prove helpful in preventing conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
We got this short note from a reader on "why the rich live longer":
The rich live longer because they have access to physicians, plus they can afford to eat more healthy stuff like veggies, lean meat; and they have time to do their exercise, like playing tennis, swimming, running, walking, etc., whereas the poor or less fortunate have to work six to seven days a week just to make ends meet. If ever they feel ill, they would rather rest than go to the doctor for a checkup to suppress whatever disease or bacteria they carry. – Orlando Domingo
We’d love to hear from you. E-mail us at ching_alano@yahoo.com.
• Don’t cut out all your carbs, just reduce them to a moderate level so carbs and protein are balanced and carbs are not the predominant macronutrient. You don’t have to cut carbs to next to nothing to get low-carb diet benefits.
• Don’t eat a lot of carbs at night (remember that carbs taken in the dark also count) and do eat natural starches and grains early in the day and after your workouts.
• Don’t stay on a reduced-carb diet more than 12 to 16 weeks. Always go back to a more balanced diet because it’s healthier and more maintainable. Cycle diets like everything else.
• Take periodic "carb up" days or re-feed days. This will prevent your metabolism from slowing down, keep your thyroid functioning optimally, and maintain your energy levels.
Here’s how, so writes Sierra Senyak: "As mitochondria produce energy, they also release small amounts of free radicals. A young, healthy body is able to handle these small leaks, but free radicals start to build up as the body ages, damaging the mitochondria and other parts of the cell. Damaged mitochondria produce yet more free radicals, creating a feedback loop that leads straight downhill."
Though not found in most foods, this superantioxidant, according to early studies, is so powerful it is used to treat a wide range of age-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes (by lowering glucose levels), cataracts, Parkinson’s and, not to forget, Alzheimer’s. (A friendly reminder: Diabetics and heart patients who are on medication should consult their doctor.) Likewise, it boosts the immune system.
In Germany, ALA is an approved medical treatment for peripheral neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes as it hastens the removal of glucose from the bloodstream, enhancing insulin function.
But make sure the formulation includes vitamin C and E as it helps recycle these other antioxidants, thus enhancing their effectiveness as the body’s first line of defense against free radicals.
Much of its research is in its early stages, but one of its major roles is to assist the liver in flushing out bodily toxins, what with its ability to pull out heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and mercury.
It’s not just another antioxidant, says researcher Tory Hagen; it has the power to regenerate other antioxidants. "It can actually breathe new life into antioxidants that have become oxidized in the body and so are no longer effective. It works particularly well with coenzyme Q10, glutathione, and vitamin C, effectively turning them back on and leaving them ready to take on more free radicals. What’s more, these three can recharge vitamin E, creating what scientists call an antioxidant network."
If that didn’t impress you, here’s more: Alpha lipoic acid can penetrate more areas of the body than other antioxidants. "Most are either fat-soluble or water-soluble, but ALA can dissolve in both mediums, making it one of few antioxidants that can reach into virtually every tissue of the body. It can even get into the brain, which is why researchers hope that it may prove helpful in preventing conditions such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.
The rich live longer because they have access to physicians, plus they can afford to eat more healthy stuff like veggies, lean meat; and they have time to do their exercise, like playing tennis, swimming, running, walking, etc., whereas the poor or less fortunate have to work six to seven days a week just to make ends meet. If ever they feel ill, they would rather rest than go to the doctor for a checkup to suppress whatever disease or bacteria they carry. – Orlando Domingo
BrandSpace Articles
<
>
