March 25, 2007
Welcome to Health-E-News
This is a new ezine format for Heath-E-News and I hope you enjoy it. I'll rely on your feedback for topics I'll cover and your comments will certainly help shape the direction I take in future issues. Please speak up through the feedback link at the bottom of each ezine. The tag line above in the new ezine logo states my main goal: To provide quick tips to boost your fitness and nutriton IQ. Usually a feature article will be more than a few paragraphs so to keep the flow of this ezine going I'll generally link that article to my website so you can go quickly to the full article if you want to read more on that topic. So, let's get started with a very important personal story in the first feature article on stroke awareness. PLEASE pass this vital information along to a friend.
Best of health,
David Dansereau,MS,PT,RD
This and all future articles will be archived at my-physical-therapy-coach.com
Feature Article: How a PFO caused my Stroke
While I have remained mostly silent about this personal health matter over this past year, I now know I must let everyone hear my message so that I can help do something to educate others.Several months ago I had a stroke. It was revealed after months of testing (and still some uncertainty) that the cause was a defect in my heart from birth called a patent foramen ovale or PFO . The few people I had spoken to about this to this point were on a need to know basis... read the rest of this story on my website by following this link... Hidden Stroke Risk
How to Treat your own Joint Pain
Popular Joint SupplementsI attended ConsumerLab's first online webinar back in February discussing joint pain and the use of the popular supplements glucosamine and chondroitin. This was the most informative discussion I've heard on this topic to date. I am planning on writing up a summary from my notes for a future article in this newsletter.
If you are suffering from joint pain and have questions or feel your doc may not be up to date on this subject click on the banner here and replay it now. (I'm not sure how long they will have it available). Go to:
ConsumerLab.com
Ice Massage to Relieve Joint Pain
Good ole ice also helps to relieve joint pain and inflammation but only when applied correctly. Here's a quick tipsheet on using Ice Massage that answers the following questions:
How does ice massage therapy provide pain relief?
When does ice massage therapy work the best?
How do you apply ice massage correctly?
Get these answers here:
Physical Therapy and Ice Massage
Product Review: Are these drinks REALLY “Negative Calories in a Can”?
The Buzz words are certainly all there. "Metabolism booster, calorie burner, a drink to help you lose weight." These eyebrow-raising slogans are for the newest "negative calorie drinks" to hit the market. Two of these drinks go by the names Enviga and Celcius.
Lets review Enviga more closely to see if it meets the hype. Enviga is the product of Nestlé and Coca-Cola, and both these companies are better known for offering sugar laden beverages and contributing to weight gain, not weight loss. The key ingredients in their new product are green tea extract (EGCG), caffeine and unspecified “natural plant micronutrients” formulated to increase calorie burning. The company claims that drinking three cans of Enviga a day burns 60 to 100 calories.
Studies show that caffeine, a stimulant, increases metabolism. Green tea extract may also alter metabolic enzymes and fat absorption to speed up metabolism. Some researchers believe both together have an impact on metabolism that’s greater than either one alone.
The REAL Science: Research showing EGCG extract promotes weight loss is intriguing, but far from conclusive. Only a handful of studies have found that the combination of compounds helps burn calories, while two studies actually found it did not.
Science? No studies have been done on Enviga itself. At a cost of $1.29 to $1.49 per can (up to $134 a month if you drink three cans a day), that’s a pricey gamble. You should know, to keep calories at five per can, Enviga is sweetened with two sugar substitutes—aspartame (NutraSweet) and acesulfame potassium (Sunette). Some research, however, suggests that sugar substitutes may interfere with the body’s natural ability to regulate calorie intake. Caution:Enviga contains as much caffeine as a cup of brewed coffee. So don’t add this to a two-cups-a-day habit.
My Suggestion: Enviga is certainly not a dieting miracle. Try simply cutting back just 100 calories a day (or burning 100 more a day) to lose 10 pounds in a year. I can’t see the sense of suggesting you drink three Enviga (or Celcius) a day to burn calories…even assuming it actually works. If you are considering this in place of soft drinks try making your own spritzer instead with no or low calorie seltzers. Add your own fresh fruit or a splash of your favorite juice. Forget about the fake sweet substitute stuff- you won't miss it !!
Smart Exercise Move
One Leg LungeConsider adding this one to your exercise routine to challenge your balance. Muscles involved: Hips, thighs, glutes, ankle balance/proprioceptors and core muscles used to stabilize upper body. I relied on this move and other functional exercises like this one to improve my proprioception after my stroke.
Instructions:
1. Start by standing on one leg and holding a cable handle or tubing handle with the opposite hand.
2. Proceed to pull the cable handle towards your waist while maintaining your balance on one leg.
3. You will also rotate your body slightly to do this.
4. Complete the desired repetitions and repeat with the other arm and leg.
Try initially for a full set of 20 reps on each side without having to step down to correct your balance. Go slow!
5. Add difficulty- if you can get to 20 : add weight or try it with your eyes closed!
Next issue:
Of course more quick tips to boost your fitness and nutrition IQ.... I'll also tell you more about my stroke awareness plan, my new office, and give you download instructions for a free copy of my 7-Day Nutriton Action Guide to thank you for subscribing to my newsletter.
So until then,
If you thought this was helpful please remember to pass it on to a friend. They can subscribe at the link below.
Your Feedback Please....I need to know if this ezine was of use to you. Please take a moment to evaluate me at the feedback link or send your comments and suggestions to:
David P Dansereau, MS,PT,RD
PO Box 7242
Cumberland RI 02864
401.632.0868
Legal Stuff: My websites and ezines are for informational purposes only and these quick tips are not intended to provide advice on personal health matters of your own, which should be provided by a qualified health care provider.
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