FDA seeks more discretion in regulating dietary supplements

Check out this article: http://t.co/06DO9wun

I don't want to make Supplements go through the same process as drugs to get approved for sell. The article makes a good point about reformulations of supplements already on the market having to be approved and things that already exist in nature being patented by the drug industry and then no longer being able to be used in supplements. This would be a disaster for the supplement industry. I want the FDA to a better job of making sure supplements are safe, but I do not want them to have to approve every new supplement that comes out. Things are being discovered in nature more and more that are beneficial and I do not want them to have to be by prescription only.

The World According to Monsanto

You should really watch this film if you are concerned about the food you eat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rml_k005tsU

THE INTERNET AND OBESITY AND DIABETES

I wrote this paper for my Nutritional Assessment class and you can find it here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1i7XO8wVFdRDEgwKsHYm0u-dqXD5JAD9IZcIxM_mFDy0/edit

Low Carb Diets

My opinion of low carb diets is that they can be dangers and cause problems because they deplete your stores of glycogen. This depletion causes you to tire easily, making exercise and movement uncomfortable. When you do not have enough carbohydrates in your diet to use for fuel, the body will have to use protein and fat and this can cause loss of muscle. This loss of muscle can also slow your metabolism causing you to burn fewer calories. Your muscles will also lack tone and become saggy. Much of the weight loss from low carb diets is from dehydration and loss of muscle tissue. Low carb diets also lack fiber and sufficient nutrients that are contained in grains and fruits and vegetables. These diets also put your body into ketosis which is a type of metabolic acidosis. This produces keto breath and can cause stress on the liver. There is some controversy about whether or not this is a dangerous state to be in, but I believe that you cannot live on this type of type for a prolong period of time because you are not getting sufficient nutrients if you are not eating grains, fruits and vegetables.

 Reference:

Landry, G. (2007). Dangers of a Low Carb Diet. Sideroad.com. Retrieved 10/13/2011 from http://www.sideroad.com/Weight_Loss/low-carb-diet- danger.html.

Get Healthy 2011

I attended a seminar today presented by Kaplan University-School of Health Sciences to launch their Get Healthy 2011 challenge. Here is some things that I learned: Kaplan's program is based on the FITT principle. FITT stands for Frequency, Intensity, Type and Time. If you want more details I found a website that talks about it in detail at:
http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/fitt-principle.html
Also they talked about the need to do Aeorbic exercise from 30 - 90 minutes a day 5 days a week. They said that 30 minutes is just for heart health, 60 minutes to maintain your weight and 90 minutes to lose weight. I am not sure about this because I think it also depends on whether or not you are dieting. I know that I don't have 90 minutes a day 5 days a week. You also need to do strength training for 30 minutes 3 times a week and stretch every time you exercise. The website also has a link to 12 recommended programs. I will be attending more seminars during the course of the challenge which lasts through October 15th and I will be sharing what I learn.

Farmer's Markets

Photos by June Saxton
Longmont Farmers Market

There is a movement afoot to eat more farm fresh/organic produce which I fully support. They are not only an essential part of a healthy diet; they are full of vitamins and minerals. Right now when local produce is at its peak is the time to visit farmer’s markets for the best of and most nutritious fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes from the grocery store are pretty pathetic, but when I purchased them from my local farmer’s market, they just screamed at me “Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches”. I love the fact that you can find things that are not available in the grocery store also, like purple and spotted beans. The salad mixes that I have been able to purchase are unrivaled in the grocery stores. So make a trip to your local farmer’s market and eat more fruits and vegetables

The Obesity Epidemic

This is a great video which explains some of the reasons for the Obesity Epidemic and offers some solutions. It is from the CDC and they have given permission to share it.

President's Challenge

www.president's challenge.org

Need motivation to get fit, the President's challenge is a good way to do it. I did this several years ago and found it fun and challenging.  I did The Presidental Champions Program and earned the Gold Award for earning 160,000 points. You log your activites daily and receive a certain amount of points for them. I felt like an Olympian when I accomplished this.  If this is too ambious for you, there is also The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award where all you have to do is be active for 5 days a week for 6 weeks.  You can download a PDF file with all the details on both programs here: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/tools-resources/docs/PALA_Presidential_Champions.pdf

The President's Active Lifestyle Award has just added a diet component to the challenge.  They are calling the new program PALA+. Get active and eat better, and you’ll feel better, too. Plus, you’ll earn an award. Find all the details at: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/challenge/active/index.shtml

Review: Leslie Sansone Outdoor Walk

In the May 16, 2011 issue of First for Women, I read an article an outdoor strength-walking routine that they asked Leslie Sansone to design. This walk incorporates resistance bands. I thought this was interesting because I have used several of Ms. Sansone’s DVD’s and found they quite effective and also because I love to walk outdoors. So I tried it! I found that it gave me quite a workout in just 30 minutes. The walk includes these moves in addition to walking:

1.       Marching

2.       Step-ups

3.       Side dips

4.       Overhead Press

5.       Front press

I contacted First for Women through their Facebook page and have obtained a PDF file of the article.  If you are interested in receiving it you may contact me. Just look to the side of the page for my contact information.

Big News - I'm actually going to be a blog writer!

Recently, Kaplan posted on Facebook that there are jobs available for people with degrees in Nutrition Science who have strong writing skills to write blogs for a company. I checked it out because I have always wanted to be a writer I am a Nutrition Science major. This would be a perfect way for me to combine two of my passions. Another qualification that was listed was experience writing a blog, so I have decided to actually write my blog instead of just posting articles & links to it. I hope you will support me by actually reading it also.