The right protein is as important as exercise.
Like it or not, muscle loss is a natural part of aging. To prevent flabby muscles, most people head to the gym. But even a consistent weight-lifting regimen may not be enough to prevent flab.
"The older we get, the more we need to eat sufficient protein to keep muscles from atrophying," writes Nan Kathryn Fuchs, PhD, in this month's Women's Health Letter. We also don't digest what protein we do get as well as we did when we were younger.
Recent research in the Journal of… Continue reading Categories
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Fight Flab and Keep Your Muscles Toned
January 25th, 2010The right protein is as important as exercise.
Like it or not, muscle loss is a natural part of aging. To prevent flabby muscles, most people head to the gym. But even a consistent weight-lifting regimen may not be enough to prevent flab.
"The older we get, the more we need to eat sufficient protein to keep muscles from atrophying," writes Nan Kathryn Fuchs, PhD, in this month's Women's Health Letter. We also don't digest what protein we do get as well as we did when we were younger.
Recent research in the Journal of… Continue reading 
Can Disinfectants Create Superbugs?
January 22nd, 2010
Drug-resistant bacteria are becoming all too common.
Whether hand sanitizers or industrial strength cleaners, disinfectants are increasingly the first line of defense against bacterial infection. Ironically, this weapon may also be helping to strengthen our microbial enemies—superbugs that resist commonly used disinfectants and antibiotic drugs.
Recent research shows that disinfecting wipes—used to protect against MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus)—can actually spread this prevalent superbug. Originally a hospital-based infection, MRSA has increased seven-fold in the larger community, striking gyms and locker rooms as well as outpatient medical facilities.
Scarier still, scientists now suspect that disinfectants can "train"… Continue reading Got Problems with Gluten? You Are Not Alone!
January 20th, 2010
Sensitivity to grains is linked to depression, headaches, and indigestion.
Wheat intake can trigger two increasingly prevalent immune-related conditions—celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. New Israeli research finds that people with multiple sclerosis and other inflammatory muscle disorders have antibodies to gluten (a protein in barley, wheat, and other grains) suggesting sensitivity to this reactive substance.
At least 3 million Americans have celiac disease, an inherited autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack—and eventually destroy—the walls of the small intestine. In people with related symptoms (anemia, arthritis, depression, diarrhea, digestive discomfort, infertility, malabsorption, and… Continue reading How Clean Is Your Drinking Water?
January 18th, 2010
Drugs, parasites, pesticides, and sewage can pollute water supplies.
Millions of Americans drink dirty water, reveals a recent analysis of government data. In the past three years alone, over 9,400 sewer systems—many in major U.S. cities—have dumped untreated or partly treated wastes, chemicals, and other toxins into lakes, rivers, and other water sources that can make their way into your home.
A recent study in the journal Pediatrics shows that the number of children suffering from diarrhea rises whenever sewers overflow. And as many as four million Californians get sick every year from swimming… Continue reading The Best Way to Fight Aging: Maintain a Healthy Weight
January 15th, 2010
Flatten your belly and detox without sacrificing nutrition.
Nobody expects to live forever, but the number of centenarians (people who are 100 or older) has increased over 50 percent since 1990. As the human lifespan increases, you want your "golden years" to be healthy, happy, and productive.
Defined as "a progressive, generalized impairment of function, resulting in an increased vulnerability to environmental challenges and a growing risk of disease and death," aging is a multifaceted process caused by accumulated damage to the cells in the body. Free radicals—from a sugary diet, environmental toxins, stress… Continue reading Tired? Irritable? Trouble Losing Weight?
January 13th, 2010
An underactive thyroid may be to blame.
The thyroid gland is the body's energy burner and thermostat. When this gland slows down, so does metabolism, as well as heart and muscle strength.
Hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid) is epidemic today, particularly among women, and the incidence of this condition only increases with age. Fatigue, menstrual changes, brain fog, depression, sensitivity to cold, unexplained weight gain, loss of libido, puffy face and extremities, constipation, delayed reflexes, and dry, thinning hair are only some signs of an underactive thyroid.
Dietary iodine deficiency, inflammation, radiation, surgery, and some viral infections… Continue reading Ready for an Oil Change? Omega-9s Are Hot
January 11th, 2010
Surprise: Olive oil and nuts contribute to both weight loss and wellness.
For decades, scientists have linked the Mediterranean diet with cardiovascular health and longevity. But only recently have they recognized that one staple of this regional diet—olive oil—may be as beneficial as fruits and veggies or omega-3-rich fish and seafood. And not just because it's a healthier alternative to saturated fats or dangerous trans fats!
Olives, their oil (if carefully pressed), certain nuts and seeds (plus their oils), and avocados are sources of the hottest "good" fat—omega-9—or oleic acid. The specific kind of… Continue reading Red in the Face? Rosacea Is No Healthy Blush.
January 8th, 2010
Low stomach acid has been linked to this increasingly prevalent skin problem.
Afflicting at least 14 million Americans, rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes redness and pimples on the chin, cheeks, forehead, and particularly the nose. No healthy blush, this redness is truly embarrassing—and it can hurt, much the way burning, stinging, and sunburned skin does.
If bumps and pimples aren't enough, rosacea can lead to tiny, red veins that look like spider webs on the face. And this condition sometimes spreads to the eyes, making them feel dry, gritty, and irritated… Continue reading Zapped by Your Own Cell Phone?
January 6th, 2010
EMFs are the newest and may be the most dangerous pollutants.
Odorless, colorless, and invisible, electropollution is probably enveloping you right now as you read these words. “It cannot be seen, felt or heard. It is tasteless and odorless. It is in our food and in the air; it is in our blood and in our bones and can remain in our ashes to go on to contaminate someone else,” Sara Shannon writes in Technology’s Cure: Diet for a Toxic Planet about low level radiation from electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
EMFs are a form of… Continue reading Tylenol Recall Points Out Dangers with OTC Pain Relievers
January 4th, 2010
Combat Inflammation and Pain, Safely and Naturally.
In November, five lots of Tylenol Red EZ-Open Cap Arthritis Pain Caplets were recalled—due to consumer complaints of a sickening moldy or musty odor. Now the recall has expanded to include all lots of Tylenol Arthritis Pain caps, as more people have experienced diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting from the use of these OTC (over-the-counter) pain relievers.
In October, Tylenol's manufacturer, McNeil Consumer Healthcare (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson) recalled 21 children's and infant's Tylenol liquid products as a safeguard against potential bacterial contamination. And… Continue reading 
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
