Diet Alert!
If that diet your on uses these words-Breakthrough, Easy, Effortless, Fast, Guaranteed, Magical, Quick, Immediate or Miracle Cure you may want to read the fine print!
--Partnership for Essential Nutrition 2007

Articles/News

 Health & Fitness

Weight Loss Products: Warning Expands

FDA Warns About 72 Tainted Weight Loss Products By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News  Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

March 20, 2009 -- The FDA today expanded its list of tainted weight loss products that consumers shouldn't buy or use.

In December the FDA warned about more than 25 weight loss products that contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that may be risky.

Now, that warning list includes 72 illegal weight loss products that the FDA wants consumers to avoid. Those products contain any of the following undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients:

The health risks posed by these products can be very serious and include high blood pressure, seizures, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), palpitations, heart attack, and stroke.

Sibutramine, a controlled substance, was found in many of these products at levels much higher than the maximum daily dosage for Meridia, the only FDA-approved drug product containing sibutramine. These higher levels of sibutramine can increase the incidence and severity of these health risks.

Fenproporex, another controlled substance, can cause arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) and possible sudden death.

Tainted Weight Loss Products

Here is the FDA's full list of all 72 tainted weight loss products:


 

Beta Alanine: The "new" new thing.

ß-Alanine Supplementation does not Improve Performance of Body Composition After 10-weeks of Supplementation and Resistance Training.

Carnosine is a di-peptide which is synthesized in muscle and central nervous system tissue from histidine and ß-alanine. ß-alanine supplementation and/or resistance training has recently been linked to increases in muscle carnosine concentrations. It has been postulated that increases in carnosine improved buffering capacity which corresponds to improvements in anaerobic and aerobic exercise performance. Very few studies have examined the effects of ß-alanine supplementation coupled with resistance training on muscle carnosine concentration and performance. Therefore the aim of the present study was to examine a 10-week resistance training program coupled with the consumption of 6.4 g/day of ß-alanine. Twenty six physical education students were randomly divided into a ß-alanine and a placebo supplementation group. All subjects resistance trained four days per week for 10 weeks and took 6.4 g ß-alanine or placebo per day. Biopsies, performance, and body composition were assessed prior to and after the 10 week intervention. There were no significant increases in whole body strength between the ß-alanine(+19.67%) and the placebo treatments (+17.46). Additionally, no differences in isokinetic strength were noted between the ß-alanine (+12.1%) and the placebo (+12.6%). When body composition and body mass were examined there were no differences between the two treatments. The ß-alanine supplemented group did express higher muscle carnosine concentrations after the 10 weeks of supplementation when compared to the placebo treatment. Based upon these results it was concluded that supplementing the diet and training with Beta Alanine doesn't result in an ergogenic effect as indicated by muscle markers of muscle strength and changes in body composition.

Kendrick, IP, Harris, RC, Kim, HJ, Kim, CK, Dang, VH, Lam, TQ, Bui, TT, Smith, M, and Wise, JA.  Amino Acids 34:547 – 554. 2008.

 

From the American Dietetic Association

Eating well and being physically active are important for a healthy heart. Try these tips from the American Dietetic Association — your heart will thank you.

  1. Lighten up. Losing even a few extra pounds helps unburden your heart.
  3. Be fat-savvy. Trim saturated fat and cholesterol by choosing lean meats, skinless poultry and low-fat or fat-free milk products. Look for foods with little or no trans fat.
  5. Slash sodium. Look for reduced-salt and no-added-salt versions of canned soups, vegetables and prepared foods. Add less salt to foods.
  7. Load up on produce. Enjoy colorful fruits and vegetables — their fiber, vitamins and minerals are great for your heart and blood pressure.
  9. Go for whole grains. Eat at least three ounces daily of whole-grain foods such as whole-grain cereals, whole-wheat bread and pasta, and brown rice.
  11. Get hooked on fish. Eat omega-3-rich fish such as salmon, trout and herring at least twice a week.
  13. Go a little nuts.  Choose modest portions of foods with unsaturated fats such as vegetable oils, nuts and seeds.
  15. Focus on Fiber. The fiber in oatmeal, barley, fruits, vegetables — and yes, beans — is good for your heart.
  17. Be label conscious. The Nutrition Facts label can help you manage the calories, fiber, fat, cholesterol, sodium and other nutrients in the foods you eat.
  19. Move to the beat. Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day. Time strapped? Do 10-minutes at a time. Try brisk walking, jogging, dancing, biking, gardening—even vacuuming with vigor!

Need help eating right and staying active? A registered dietitian can create a custom plan for you. The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals.

 

From the NSCA

Why you should use a personal trainer
A personal trainer will help you reach your goals by designing safe and effective workout programs especially for you. A personal trainer is a source of motivation and encouragement, and a resource for the latest information on health and fitness. A personal trainer can help you fit exercise into your schedule and teach you how to make the most of your time.

Locating and choosing a personal trainer
Start by asking friends, family members or family professionals like your doctor.

When you have located a few trainers, take the time to interview each of them to find one that best fits your needs, goals, and personality. Use the following checklist to help you with the interview.

Certification and Education:
Is the personal trainer currently certified by a nationally recognized organization such as the National Strength & Conditioning Association?
What was required in the certification process? What continuing education is required to renew the certification?
Certifications such as the NSCA - Certified Personal Trainer® (NSCA-CPT®), and the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) are nationally recognized certifications that follow stringent standards for continuing education and re-certification.
Does the personal trainer have a degree in a health or fitness related field?
Trainers with an educational background in Exercise Physiology, Sports Medicine, Health and Wellness, Physical Education, or Anatomy and Physiology have a more thorough understanding of the way the different systems within the body work together, and how exercise affects each of these systems.
If the trainer recommends a nutritional program, do they have any nutritional education?
How does the trainer keep current on research in strength training and conditioning?
Is the trainer CPR certified?
Does the trainer have liability insurance?
Experience and References:
How long have they been a personal trainer?
What types of clients have they worked with?
Can they provide a reference list of clients who have performed a similar type of exercise program?
People use trainers for many different reasons and with different goals. Your trainer should have experience and success in working with others who have goals similar to yours. The trainer should provide you a list of present and former clients that can give you information to help determine if the trainer has the expertise to provide you with the workout you want.

Client Evaluation:
Does the trainer perform a health screening, conduct testing, and evaluate your current fitness level?
A personal trainer should begin by learning about any past or current medical conditions; including injuries, pains, and cardiovascular conditions. The trainer may also conduct fitness tests to determine a safe and effective starting point for your training. In some cases, the trainer may ask for a medical release from your physician or may request to consult with your physician.

 

Our areas of expertise include:

  • Back Injury Prevention
  • Balance & Flexibility Training
  • Body Toning & Sculpting
  • Cardio Training
  • Circuit Training
  • Increased Energy & Metabolism
  • Injury Prevention
  • Muscle Imbalance Correctional
  • Seniors Fitness
  • Sport Performance
  • Strength Training
  • Teen Fitness
  • Weight Loss & Gain
  • Youth Fitness & Sport