A very dangerous weight loss supplement called Que She was recently pulled from the market by the Food and Drug Adminstration, and for good reason. It contains various prescription medications, including one of the two drugs in the Fen-Phen combo that was outlawed in 1997.
This particular drug created a lot of heart problems for those taking it, in particular, issues with damage to the valves of the heart. When the one-way heart valves are damaged, blood can back up and leak back into the heart, making it harder for circulation to proceed normally. This is the cause of what many people refer to as a "heart murmur". A lot of people ended up having these kinds of problems from taking this weight loss medication, and as a result, Fen-Phen was pulled from the market and a whole lot of lawsuit began to fly.
There were several other prescription medications found in Que She, all of which have the potential to create or worsen various cardiovascular conditions.
The most important thing to take away from this is to recognize that short cuts just don't work with weight loss. The only true way to lose weight and get fit is to fix your diet and get the right kind of exercise.
That can be difficult, but you do have resources to help you. Here at Triune, we recently brough on board an excellent personal trainer named Ann Gruber. Ann is a fitness competitor with ten years of experience in the fitness industry. She offers one free training session to Triune members, so ask us about it on your next visit and give her a try!
But skip the crazy, dangerous supplements!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Fish Oils and Breast Cancer Risk
Breast cancer is a devastating disease with a tremendous amount of impact on our society, so it's always good news when any forward strides on dealing with this menace are found. Recently, scientific study examined the relationship of fish oil supplements with the incidence of breast cancer, and found some surprising results.
The study itself was massive... over 30,000 women were interviewed and followed over the course of six years. It's always incredible to me when I read about long-term studies of that magnitude, and try to realize the scope of effort required to track that many people for that long of a time.
In this case, the payoff was worth it. Those women who reported that they were taking fish oil supplements also had a significantly lower incidence of breast cancer.
How much lower? Over 30% lower! Talk about a big difference!
This is big news for women who have a family history of this type of cancer, of course, and the best part of it is, fish oils are a natural substance that have significant health benefits in many other areas, especially inflammation. So, now there's another very big reason to consider adding fish oils as a supplement to a healthy diet and wellness lifestyle!
Source: Fish Oil and Breast Cancer Risk
The study itself was massive... over 30,000 women were interviewed and followed over the course of six years. It's always incredible to me when I read about long-term studies of that magnitude, and try to realize the scope of effort required to track that many people for that long of a time.
In this case, the payoff was worth it. Those women who reported that they were taking fish oil supplements also had a significantly lower incidence of breast cancer.
How much lower? Over 30% lower! Talk about a big difference!
This is big news for women who have a family history of this type of cancer, of course, and the best part of it is, fish oils are a natural substance that have significant health benefits in many other areas, especially inflammation. So, now there's another very big reason to consider adding fish oils as a supplement to a healthy diet and wellness lifestyle!
Source: Fish Oil and Breast Cancer Risk
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Caffeinate Your Workout
By Ann Gruber Triunes Personal Trainer and Nutrition Consultant
I am proud to announce that I am a Starbucks Gold Card holder! The day I received my Gold Card in the mail was a very exciting day. My loved ones (my boyfriend) scoffed at my Gold Card out of mere jealousy and tried to claim his alleged “VIP” status at the Vitamin Shoppe was better, but I’m the one getting free coffees and refills at Starbucks! I frequently hear people telling me they proudly abstain from coffee and caffeine for health purposes; however, research has shown that caffeine provides so many benefits, especially for those who are looking to maximize their time in the gym.
Several studies have shown the benefits of working out while caffeinated. Such benefits include increased strength and endurance, better fat burning and improved recovery. If that is not enough to convince you, then maybe this will. Research has shown that individuals who drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day have 25% less chance of acquiring type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, studies that have looked at coffee’s effect on prostate health found that male participants who drank the most coffee had a 60% lower incidence of prostate cancer. One of coffee’s many polyphenols is likely responsible for this. Coffee contains many polyphenols which are potent plant chemicals and are, most likely, the root of many of the health benefits attributed to coffee.
If you are convinced now, then try supplementing with 200-400 mg of caffeine capsules about one hour before you work out. Eight ounces of coffee generally contains between 60-135 mg of caffeine. Other healthy sources of caffeine include espresso, black tea and green tea. I, personally, consume green tea extract before my cardio sessions. The downside of caffeine, unfortunately, is that it can be addictive. I have been drinking coffee ritually in the mornings for years, and when I have been forced to miss my morning coffee, the pounding headache I have by the afternoon is enough to make me sick. This may not sound appealing at all, but moderation is the key to life! With that being said, some key points to remember when embarking on a program of caffeine supplementation: 1) it is most effective when ingested prior to your workout, 2) stick with healthy caffeine sources such as coffee and green tea, and 3) don’t buy the Dunkin Donuts Box O’ Joe, unless you have 10 friends you want to share it with, or else you are asking for a headache.
Ann Gruber is an NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant at Triune. Contact Triune today to set an initial complimentary personal training session with Ann.
By Ann Gruber Triunes Personal Trainer and Nutrition Consultant
I am proud to announce that I am a Starbucks Gold Card holder! The day I received my Gold Card in the mail was a very exciting day. My loved ones (my boyfriend) scoffed at my Gold Card out of mere jealousy and tried to claim his alleged “VIP” status at the Vitamin Shoppe was better, but I’m the one getting free coffees and refills at Starbucks! I frequently hear people telling me they proudly abstain from coffee and caffeine for health purposes; however, research has shown that caffeine provides so many benefits, especially for those who are looking to maximize their time in the gym.
Several studies have shown the benefits of working out while caffeinated. Such benefits include increased strength and endurance, better fat burning and improved recovery. If that is not enough to convince you, then maybe this will. Research has shown that individuals who drink 3-4 cups of coffee a day have 25% less chance of acquiring type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, studies that have looked at coffee’s effect on prostate health found that male participants who drank the most coffee had a 60% lower incidence of prostate cancer. One of coffee’s many polyphenols is likely responsible for this. Coffee contains many polyphenols which are potent plant chemicals and are, most likely, the root of many of the health benefits attributed to coffee.
If you are convinced now, then try supplementing with 200-400 mg of caffeine capsules about one hour before you work out. Eight ounces of coffee generally contains between 60-135 mg of caffeine. Other healthy sources of caffeine include espresso, black tea and green tea. I, personally, consume green tea extract before my cardio sessions. The downside of caffeine, unfortunately, is that it can be addictive. I have been drinking coffee ritually in the mornings for years, and when I have been forced to miss my morning coffee, the pounding headache I have by the afternoon is enough to make me sick. This may not sound appealing at all, but moderation is the key to life! With that being said, some key points to remember when embarking on a program of caffeine supplementation: 1) it is most effective when ingested prior to your workout, 2) stick with healthy caffeine sources such as coffee and green tea, and 3) don’t buy the Dunkin Donuts Box O’ Joe, unless you have 10 friends you want to share it with, or else you are asking for a headache.
Ann Gruber is an NASM-certified personal trainer and nutrition consultant at Triune. Contact Triune today to set an initial complimentary personal training session with Ann.
Wow! Chocolate can help your heart!
Good news for you chocolate lovers. Turns out your dark master, the cocoa bean, can actually help with your cardiovascular health.
A new study shows that a supplement high in flavanols- the antioxidant in chocolate- can increase the levels of Circulating Angiogenic Cells (CACs), which are cells that float through the bloodstream and fix and maintain blood vessels. They also help create new blood vessels, but in this case, we're mostly interested in that they fix the regular wear and tear that occurs on a day to day basis in your vascular system.
Like any other part of your body, the blood vessels suffer micro damage on a daily basis, like scuff marks on drywall. The CACs float around, note that damage, and fill on the hole and repair it like spackle in drywall.
When that does NOT happen, those holes and pockmarks get worse and worse, and the damaged arteries begin to fill up with plaque deposits made up of cholesterol, eventually leading to blockage of the artery. You've probably heard of this before in connection with people suffering from heart attacks- their cornonary (heart) arteries get blocked up to the point where the heart doesn't get enough blood supply and begins to suffer damage as a result.
So, flavanols in chocolate will help keep your arteries maintained and healthy, so that this process doesn't occur. Now, don't go overboard, or the calories will end up making you chubby, and look for the darkest chocolate you can find. The darker the chocolate, the more flavanols are contained within.
Source article: Chocolate for a Healthy Heart
A new study shows that a supplement high in flavanols- the antioxidant in chocolate- can increase the levels of Circulating Angiogenic Cells (CACs), which are cells that float through the bloodstream and fix and maintain blood vessels. They also help create new blood vessels, but in this case, we're mostly interested in that they fix the regular wear and tear that occurs on a day to day basis in your vascular system.
Like any other part of your body, the blood vessels suffer micro damage on a daily basis, like scuff marks on drywall. The CACs float around, note that damage, and fill on the hole and repair it like spackle in drywall.
When that does NOT happen, those holes and pockmarks get worse and worse, and the damaged arteries begin to fill up with plaque deposits made up of cholesterol, eventually leading to blockage of the artery. You've probably heard of this before in connection with people suffering from heart attacks- their cornonary (heart) arteries get blocked up to the point where the heart doesn't get enough blood supply and begins to suffer damage as a result.
So, flavanols in chocolate will help keep your arteries maintained and healthy, so that this process doesn't occur. Now, don't go overboard, or the calories will end up making you chubby, and look for the darkest chocolate you can find. The darker the chocolate, the more flavanols are contained within.
Source article: Chocolate for a Healthy Heart
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