PETER'S PRINCIPLES - Feb 4-8, 2008
Bob from Livonia emails asking for a diet strategy to prevent heart attack.
B0b, research shows that eating a whole grain cereal like oatmeal or bran flakes every morning could provide a vital health shield against heart disease! But getting enough is the key! Studies report that men who eat one bowl a day of whole grain cereal cut their risk of heart attack by a whopping twenty nine percent! We've known for years that getting enough whole grain in yoursystem is important, we're just now beginning to learn how important. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist for the heart healthy diet that's right for you!
Rich from Dearborn emails with a diet dilemma! He uses a juicer to drink his fruit and vegetables and wants to know if he's throwing out the nutrients along with the pulp! Rich asks if it might be healthier to blend veggies with tomato juice and drink the whole thing together.
Rich, the answer is yes! Juicing machines are a healthy way to get more out of drinking fresh fruit and vegetables, but it has a downside. The machines strain out much of the fiber and minerals that are what you're really going after! Getting a blender can be the perfect pulp solution. Blending retains all of the fruit's natural vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients! It could be even better than eating fruit whole since you take in more. Bottom line, if you use a juice instead of a blender you could be throwing out the baby with the bath water!
Walt from Canton emails asking if he should adjust his workout routine as he ages.
Walt, just like diet our exercise needs begin to change as we get older! Begin to concentrate on exercises that focus more on strength, flexibility and balance. Aerobic exercises like brisk walking, running or biking remain important for staying trim and fighting disease. Strength training takes on an added importance as well! It helps prevent bone and muscle loss, which is especially dangerous to women. When it comes to flexibility, yoga and tai chi can work wonders! If you're middle aged or older, aim for three strengm training and three aerobic workouts per week. Talk to a personal trainer for the workout regimen that's right for you!
Ellen from Canton emails for workout tips on building healthy bones.
Ellen, in this case gravity is a girl's best friend! Weight bearing exercises are one of the best ways to build strong healthy bones. In fact, the latest research shows this kind of activity boosts bone density by as much as nine percent! Scientists looked at a group of healthy women who started aweight bearing regimen. It included climbing, walking and calisthenics for sixty to ninety minutes three times per week for about three months. The program boosted hip bone densityby eleven percent. No drug, supplement or magic bullet can match those kind of results! As an added bonus, subjects increased balance and that led to fewer falls!
Donna from Royal Oak recently heard about a new cooking oil that can actually fight fat while lowering dangerous cholesterol!
Donna, you're probably talking a new mix called functional oil. Its made of flaxseed oils, coconut oils and compounds called phytosterols. Researchers say the body actually burns the oil as energy instead of storing it as fat. A study of subjects who were 25 pounds overweight found the oil lowered cholesterol levels by thirteen percent. Men in the study also lost an average of a pound per month. The results are promising but researchers say the oil isn't a magic bullet for weight loss! Rather it helps maintain a healthy weight by boosting the body's ability to fight fat. Once more tests are done functional oil could be coming to a store near you!
