Will you greet January feeling good about how you traversed the round of holiday parties and traditions, or will you be frantically trying to get those extra pounds off in a hurry? If you wait until January to deal with holiday weight gain, you will likely feel frustrated and wonder where to begin. Instead, consider putting strategies in place now. You will invariably come face to face with a cascade of diet plans in the new year. My advice to people is always to think about their weight-loss strategy as doing things differently and not as a diet — “diet” is a four-letter-word, in my book. Instead of dieting, you are simply making choices. That’s much less formidable, don’t you … MORE→

Experts say dozens of easy-to-find ‘superfoods’ can help ward off heart disease, cancer, cholesterol, and more. Imagine a superfood — not a drug — powerful enough to help you lower yourcholesterol, reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, and, for an added bonus, put you in a better mood. Did we mention that there are no side effects? You’d surely stock up on a lifetime supply. Guess what? These life-altering superfoods are available right now in your local supermarket. “The effect that diet can have on how you feel today and in the future is astounding,” says nutritionist Elizabeth Somer, author of Nutritionfor aHealthy Pregnancy, Food & Mood, and The Essential Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. “Even people who are healthy can make a few … MORE→

BOSTON, MA — Researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health have examined the effect of eating nuts on cardiovascular health, reports the Harvard Men’s Health Watch. “Their work shows that nuts really are healthy, especially for men at risk for heart disease,” says Dr. Harvey B. Simon, editor. Studies show that healthy men, and those who have already suffered a heart attack, can reduce cardiovascular risk by eating nuts regularly, reports the Harvard Men’s Health Watch. Doctors theorize that: nuts may help lower cholesterol, partly by replacing less healthy foods in the diet nuts contain mono- and polyunsaturated fats known to benefit the heart the omega-3 fats found in walnuts may protect against irregular heart rhythms nuts … MORE→

Does your kitchen pantry work with or against your healthy eating habits? It’s time for a makeover. By having a pantry stocked with healthy items, cooking meals and preparing snacks will be easier, making eating wholesome food a breeze. After organizing your pantry, consider food storage items. Buy bags and containers that allow you to store food in serving-size portions. Stock up on snack, sandwich and quart-size storage bags, airtight containers, as well as cling wrap, twist ties, and measuring cups of varying sizes. Now that you can store them efficiently, go out and get the following foods to keep your pantry healthy. Breakfast Oatmeal is a must-have, but consider nixing the instant variety unless you can find a brand that … MORE→

Overeating may cause brain aging while eating less turns on a molecule that helps the brain stay young. A team of Italian researchers at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Rome have discovered that this molecule, called CREB1, is triggered by “caloric restriction” (low caloric diet) in the brain of mice. They found that CREB1 activates many genes linked to longevity and to the proper functioning of the brain. This work was led by Giovambattista Pani, researcher at the Institute of General Pathology, Faculty of Medicine at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Rome, directed by Professor Achille Cittadini, in collaboration with Professor Claudio Grassi of the Institute of Human Physiology. The research appears this week in the Proceedings … MORE→

Newswise — Thirsty? You may be more inclined to reach for plain old H2O if you knew how many calories are in sugar-sweetened beverages; this is according to a new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They examined the effect of providing clear and visible caloric information about sugar-sweetened beverages such as soda and fruit juice on the number of sugar-sweetened beverage purchases at neighborhood stores, and found that providing easily understandable caloric information, specifically in the form of a physical activity equivalent, may reduce the likelihood of sugar-sweetened beverage purchases among adolescents by as much as half. The results are featured in a recent issue of the American Journal of Public Health. “People … MORE→

Looking for a new Competitive Challenge? Try Dragon Boat Racing!   Are you a competitive athlete looking for a new challenge? Would you like to find an activity that fosters competition at any age/ability level? The Dragonboat Racing Association of Colorado (DRACO) would love to introduce you to the exciting sport of Dragon Boat Racing! We are a non-profit organization affiliated with the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. Our goal is to promote dragon boat racing locally, and to train competitive dragon boat teams to compete in national and international races. Dragon boat races are held all over the globe, in a wide variety of exotic venues. Of course, Denver also hosts its own prestigious Colorado Dragon Boat Festival each year … MORE→

New workout last weekend represented a new strategy in the Ironman preparation – the 8 hour swim/bike/run.  It was all completed within the 15 x 10 SF area in our basement and included approximately a 1 hr swim on the Vasa machine, 6 hrs on the Computrainer riding the 112 mile St. George course and then running close to an hour at sub 7 min/mile on the treadmill.  Why?  Two primary purposes.  The first was to further fine-tune the race day fueling plan (what works during a 4-5 hr workout likely won’t be as effective during a 10 hr event).  The second was to “normalize” the ironman distance (again – if longest pre-race workout is just 4-5 hrs, race day … MORE→

Stress is a normal reaction to change.  In most cases, we are able to cope, but when stress is chronic and interferes with your daily routine, it can take a heavy toll on your health and well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 80 percent of health care is spent on stress-related conditions, including cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, headaches, sleep disturbances, depression and weight gain.  Although we can’t avoid stress, there are ways to help manage it.  Your breathing becomes more shallow and rapid when you are under stress. Being aware of this allows you to be better prepared to focus on taking longer, deeper breaths. Directing thoughts to relaxing your body while slowly inhaling and … MORE→

A 15-minute walk can cut snacking on chocolate at work by half, according to research by the University of Exeter. The study showed that, even in stressful situations, workers eat only half as much chocolate as they normally would after this short burst of physical activity. Published in the journal Appetite, the research suggests that employees may find that short breaks away from their desks can help keen their minds off snacking. In the study, 78 regular chocolate-eaters were invited to enter a simulated work environment, after two days abstinence from chocolate snacking. Two groups were asked to take a brisk 15-minute walk on a treadmill and were then given work to complete at a desk. One group was given an easy, low-stress … MORE→

ScienceDaily (Nov. 30, 2011) — People who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study presented November 30 at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).  “This is the first study to establish a direct relationship between fish consumption, brain structure and Alzheimer’s risk,” said Cyrus Raji, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “The results showed that people who consumed baked or broiled fish at least one time per week had better preservation of gray matter volume on MRI in brain areas … MORE→

I’m certainly no prophet, but in watching the literal plethora of caffeine products (drinks, shots, strips and more, on top of the traditional coffees, teas and sodas) populating our airwaves and grocery carts, I have a feeling we may very well be looking at our generation’s version of nicotine.  Think about it – when cigarettes first made their way onto the scene, it was cool.  Natural stimulant – feels good – increases energy levels.  No worries, right?  How’d that one turn out?  Fast forward to today, when rather than a simple cup of coffee to start off the day, we’re encouraged to take it to another level.  At every turn, we’re nudged to down a shot of “all natural” (you … MORE→