Today’s Links
© 2010-2012 Botanica West All Rights Reserved
- Lose Weight for More Vitamin D
If you’re female, overweight (or obese) and your vitamin D levels aren’t what they should be, you may be able to give them a boost by losing a few pounds, or more precisely, by dropping more than 15 percent of your body weight. This news, from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, follows one of the largest studies ever to assess the effect of weight loss on vitamin D levels. The participants were 439 overweight-to-obese Seattle area women age 50 to 75 who were postmenopausal and sedentary. About 70 percent of the women had less than optimal levels of “D” at the year-long study’s start. When it ended, the research team reported that the women who lost five to 10 percent of their body weight showed a relatively small increase in their vitamin D levels. But those who dropped more than 15 percent of their starting weight nearly tripled their vitamin D levels. All this occurred without dietary changes that might have boosted vitamin D. Conventional wisdom about vitamin D holds that overweight and obese people have lower levels of “D” because the vitamin is trapped in fat stores. Weight loss may release trapped “D”.
My take? This is very good news. Most adults in the United States don’t get enough vitamin D, which we need for bone health and, accumulating evidence suggests, for protection against a number of serious diseases, including many types of cancer. Our bodies synthesize vitamin D with exposure to sunlight, but it’s tough to get optimal exposure, particularly in northern latitudes during the dark winter months. Another problem: with advancing age, the skin cannot synthesize vitamin D as efficiently as it once did and the kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its active hormone form. Losing weight is a win-win option: not only may you increase your vitamin D levels for the good of your bones and for the health benefits “D” may provide, but you also reduce your risks of death due to diabetes, stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and kidney and gallbladder disease and, perhaps, for some types of cancer. Obesity is also a risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. - 4 Healthy Foods for Dogs
Creating a healthful, well-rounded meal from scratch for your dog requires an understanding of your pet’s nutritional needs as well as a significant investment of time. Like humans, dogs are omnivores, meaning that they eat both animal and plant foods. If you want to cook for a dog, I urge you to talk to your vet or consult with a veterinary nutritionist about the individual needs of your companion animal and how those needs change with age. You’ll also want to pay close attention to how much home-cooked food your dogs should eat in order for them to maintain a healthy weight. Follow the guidelines in this and tomorrow’s Daily Tips for information on foods that dogs can eat and those they should avoid.- Lean meats. Thoroughly cooked meats with visible fat trimmed off and all bones removed are acceptable for dogs.
- Vegetables. Many dogs enjoy carrot sticks, green beans and cucumber slices – all are low-calorie treats that are healthier than many store-bought dog snacks. However some veggies should be avoided – see tomorrow’s tip for more information.
- Fresh fruit. Sliced apples, bananas, oranges and watermelon can be a safe and tasty treat, but be sure to remove all seeds, stems and leaves first. Some fruits should be avoided – again, see tomorrow’s tip for more information.
- Cooked rice. Cooked white rice can offer relief from stomach upset in some dogs.
Additionally, be careful to avoid these toxic foods for dogs.
- MSG Can Pack on Pounds
You may not know you’re consuming MSG on a regular basis, but this flavor enhancer is everywhere – not just in Chinese food but in all kinds of processed foods, from chips to canned soup. And this common food additive may be responsible for weight gain. A new study from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, suggests that the more MSG you consume, the more likely you are to be overweight or obese. This holds true even if your intake of calories and exercise habits are the same as those who don’t consume MSG. Researchers followed more than 10,000 adults in China for about 5.5 years, measuring their MSG intake and asking them to estimate how much they consumed over three 24-hour periods. Results showed that individuals whose daily MSG intake was highest (about five grams) were about 30 percent more likely to become overweight by the end of the study than those who consumed the least MSG (less than half a gram daily). After excluding study participants who were overweight at the study’s start, the risk was 33 percent. The study was published in the June, 2011, issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.More information on the safety of MSG and some natural ways to get that great “umami” taste in foods.
Digest powered by RSS Digest
Originally posted 2011-08-12 13:18:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Other Useful Websites -
Tips on Dealing With Child Obesity Obesity is a growing problem among Americans, with numerous adverse health effects. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of what has been coined the obesity epidemic is the prevalence of obesity among children. For these younger members of our society, behaviors can still be changed in a positive way that can...... -
Can You Control What is Making You Fat? We all know that eating poorly and failing to exercise is the best way to stay fat, but there are other factors that can lead to excess weight gain. While some of these factors may be out of your control, there are a few that you can address, starting today....... -
Vitamins B And Aging Low levels of Vitamins B are common among elderly. That's because we naturally absorb fewer B vitamins as we age. The problem is made worse if you don't eat a healthy diet or dont eat large enough portions. If you're over age 60, discuss taking a complete B vitamins supplement......
