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Health Journal: Deciphering the Ailments Tied to Gluten

Dr Joe — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:51:20 +0000

Researchers are making slow progress in understanding the numerous ailments that a growing number of people suffer after eating foods with gluten, a protein found in wheat. As the Health Journal column reports , a group of 15 experts from seven countries took a step forward this week, proposing a new classification and diagnosing system to help doctors and patients figure out what’s a wheat allergy, what’s celiac disease and what falls under a new category of ills lumped together as “gluten sensitivity.” Another international team aims to clear up the confusion caused by experts around the world using different terminology for gluten-related problems; celiac disease alone has been called sprue, gluten-sensitive enteropathy and gluten intolerance. Their consensus paper will be published soon in the journal Gut. A lesser-known disorder is gluten ataxia, in which antibodies to gluten damage parts of the brain that control gait, speech and motor function. Researchers have long wondered whether antibodies to gluten could attack other parts of the brain as well, and some intriguing findings have emerged. For instance, people with schizophrenia have a higher rate of the anti-gluten antibodies and gene variations associated with celiac disease than the general population. And some parents of autistic children say their symptoms improve, sometimes dramatically, on a gluten-free diet, though no link has been firmly established in lab studies. Gluten disorders could play a role in dementia as well. In a 2006 study, physicians at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., identified 13 patients with celiac disease who started showing signs of cognitive decline at the same time gastrointestinal symptoms set in. Some improved and some didn’t on a gluten-free diet, and much more research is needed to explore the connection. But neurologists at the Mayo Clinic now routinely test for celiac disease in patients with early on-set dementia. A more fundamental mystery is why gluten, a staple of most human diets since the dawn of agriculture 10,000 years ago, is creating more health problems now. Once considered rare, celiac disease is now believed to affect about 1% of the U.S. population, up fourfold over the last 50 years. “Has the staff of life become the stuff of illness for some?” asks Joseph Murray , a celiac expert at the Mayo Clinic. Some experts suspect that genetic changes to raise the protein content of wheat may play a role, as could industrial baking procedures that shorten the time bread is exposed to yeast. Wheat also makes up a larger portion of human diets than in generations past, and wheat consumption is growing in Asia and the Middle East, along with gluten-related disorders. Still another theory holds that the bacteria that inhabit the human body may have evolved to be less hospitable to gluten over time. Whatever the reason, says Alessio Fasano , director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research, “our environment is changing faster than humans can adapt, and some people are paying the price.”

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Health Journal: Deciphering the Ailments Tied to Gluten

FDA Questions Benefit of Amgen Bone Drug in Certain Cases

Sean Duffy — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:20:21 +0000

The Food and Drug Administration questioned the clinical benefit of using Amgen’s bone drug Xgeva to prevent or delay the spread of prostate cancer to the bones. Xgeva is currently approved to delay fractures and other bone injuries in patients whose cancers have already spread to the bones. The company is seeking approval for use of Xgeva to prevent the spread of prostate cancer in a group of men that has not responded to other therapies. Xgeva will be reviewed Wednesday by the FDA’s oncologic drugs advisory committee, which is made up of non-FDA medical experts. The FDA today posted a review of Xgeva in preparation for the meeting. Amgen conducted a study of Xgeva in 1432 men with prostate cancer that had not responded to previous therapies, but had not spread to the bones. Many types of cancer spread to the bones and cause tumors to grow, destroying the bone around the tumor, causing fractures and other problems. Half of the men were treated with Xgeva while the other half received a placebo. The study examined the time until men developed bone metastases or died, whichever occurred first. The study showed Xgeva prolonged median bone metastatis-free survival by 4.2 months compared to men in the placebo group. While the FDA said the study met its primary objective, the agency said it was unclear whether the results were “clinically meaningful” given that there was no difference in overall survival between the two patient groups. The agency said the risk-benefit ratio of Xgeva must also take into account the overall toxicity of the drug. One of the side-effects includes a risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ, a rare jaw-decay problem. Michael Severino, Amgen’s vice president of research and development, said today that the company believes Xgeva does provide a clinically meaningful benefit because it delays the spread of cancer to the bone, which causes significant pain and other problems such as incontinence. Xgeva is also sold under the brand name Prolia as an osteoporosis treatment but is administered at a lower dose and less often than used to treat cancer-related bone complications. Xgeva and Prolia’s combined sales in 2011 topped $550 million. The drugs target a protein called RANK Ligand, which helps regulate cells called osteoclasts that break down bone. (This post originally ran on Dow Jones Newswires.)

Overweight Doctors Less Likely to Discuss Weight Loss With Patients

Dr Joe — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:29:45 +0000

Doctors who need to drop pounds themselves may be less likely to bring up the topic of weight loss with their obese patients, a new study suggests. The study, published in the journal Obesity, covered 498 primary-care physicians. Of them, 47% were normal-weight, 38% were overweight and 15% were obese, based on their body mass index. The survey found that doctors were likely to initiate a weight-loss conversation with an obese patient 89% of the time and to record an obesity diagnosis 93% of the time if they perceived the patient as being as heavy or heavier than themselves. Doctors perceiving the obese patient to be smaller than themselves, however, talked about weight loss or put down a diagnosis 11% and 7% of the time, respectively. The study can’t identify the reason behind that discrepancy, says Sara Bleich , an author of the study and assistant professor of health policy at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But it’s possible that subconsciously, obese physicians may look at a patient and think “they look like me, but I’m healthy” and focus on more acute problems rather than their extra pounds. Normal-weight doctors were in general more likely to discuss weight loss with their obese patients than doctors who were overweight or obese. But even normal-weight doctors brought up weight loss with obese patients only 30% of the time — compared to 18% for overweight or obese doctors. So most doctors, regardless of their own weight, are failing to bring up weight loss with their obese patients. Given that, even with the differences seen in this analysis, “the most appropriate clinical interventions may be to improve all physicians’ practices related to obesity care,” the researchers write. Normal-weight doctors were also more likely to believe that doctors should be good examples to their patients by maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly. Supporting physicians in their efforts to eat more healthfully, get exercise and maintain a healthy weight could not only help doctors, but as this study suggests, might also indirectly help their patients, says Bleich. She says electronic medical records could also help identify obese patients by automatically calculating a BMI based on a patient’s height and weight rather than leaving it up to the physician to do so. Recent government stats show that 35.7% of U.S. adults were obese in 2009-10. Obesity rates are leveling off, but not reversing. Bonus: People May Not Know They’re Obese Unless a Doctor Tells Them Image: iStockphoto

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Overweight Doctors Less Likely to Discuss Weight Loss With Patients

Get a Grip on Indulgences With Trainer Gunnar Peterson’s Tips

Martin Neumann — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:55:48 +0000

Indulgences can get the best of us at any turn. Whether it’s a co-worker’s plate of cookies or a strong desire to skip a workout in favor of happy hour, it can be hard to stick with a routine when you notice temptations left and right. We recently spoke with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, the man behind some of the curviest bodies in Hollywood , who offered these tips on how to get a grip when we’re craving unhealthy food or have skipped a workout. Have a healthy outlook: Most people have an indulgence or two that leaves them weak in the knees (even Gunnar’s got one: “Peanut butter is death for me. I would shank my grandmother in the neck for a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup,” he jokes). Instead of banning your favorite junk food from your diet completely, make healthy choices most of the time, but allow yourself some leeway in all aspects of your healthy lifestyle. “Just try and make the right choices most of the time,” Gunnar says. “If you make them all the time then you’re just flat out boring and then you become a weird fitness zealot, and at the end of the day nobody wants to be around you.” Get out of the kitchen: If the kitchen table is your go-to spot for paying bills or finishing up work in the evening, you may find that just being around all that food can lead to mindless snacking. As Gunnar jokes, “If all bachelor parties were held in movie theaters there would be a lot less bad stuff that happens at bachelor parties.” Take temptation out of the equation by getting out of the kitchen after you’re done eating for the night. Read on for more of Gunnar’s healthy living tips.

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Get a Grip on Indulgences With Trainer Gunnar Peterson’s Tips

Be Your Best at Every Workout With the Right Prep

Martin Neumann — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:49:17 +0000

When it comes to exercising, the more you do it, the better you get at it – as in, you become stronger, faster, or more flexible, and not only that, you are able to exercise longer (and losing inches isn’t anything to sneeze at either). But no matter how long you’ve been committed to fitness, make sure you know how to prep to be your best at every workout. A plan: You’ve suited up, stuffed your bag in your gym locker, and made your way to the floor only to think, “I wonder what I should do today?” Don’t waste your time with an ineffectual workout or halfhearted commitment. Figure out an exercise plan before you start with our tips on how to build a workout routine . A happy belly: Cramping or a grumbling stomach can make a workout a complete misery. Keep your stomach happy by fueling up with a small snack before you exercise or by giving yourself a few hours to digest a big meal before working out. Find out which foods you should be eating (and when) before you work out . Read on for more ways to be your best at every workout.

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Be Your Best at Every Workout With the Right Prep

5 Ways to Get the Body’s Metabolism Soaring

Dr Dreams — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:59:44 +0000

More than ever before, new research shows that what we eat to how we work out can actually speed up the body’s metabolism – sometimes resulting in an extra 200 calories burned per day! At that rate, you can easily lose an extra pound per week, which is good news for those seeking a little help with weight loss. What’s great is that these little tweaks require minimal effort and only add to a healthy lifestyle. View Slideshow ›

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Mistakes You’re Making on the Pilates Mat

Sean Duffy — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:51:53 +0000

Mat classes are the most affordable way to reap the benefits of Pilates. Taught across the country at gyms and private studios, group classes mean you don’t have an instructor cuing and correcting your every move. Make the most of your time on the mat and be mindful of these common mistakes I’ve seen in classes over the years. Not Going Deep There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in touch with the deep abs , aka the transverse abdominals, is, to me, the most important. If the deep abs are working, then all four layers of ab muscles will be working right along with it, making for a very stable torso. In class, use every exhale as opportunity to reengage your abs and pull them into your spine with a little lift up. If the abs are pooching outward, you’re only working the top layer of the abs and training them to pull away from the spine – the opposite effect of what you want. Momentum Is Not Your Friend Deliberate pauses are built into the choreography of many Pilates exercises to prevent momentum from taking over the motion. The Pilates method was originally named Contrology (the study of control) to emphasize this very concept. Going slowly is key. Jayme Boyle, the group fitness coordinator and Pillates mat instructor at the SF Equinox , explains the importance of forgoing momentum like this: “Slower pace means you’re turning on stabilizing muscles and you’re creating more isometric contractions.” And I have to agree. Pilates is not a race. Keep reading for more common Pilates mat class mistakes.

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Mistakes You’re Making on the Pilates Mat

Why Didn’t Teen Moms Use Birth Control?

Sean Duffy — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:22:25 +0000

Teen birth rates in the U.S. have been generally declining since 1991 , but are still higher than in other developed countries. Now, new stats from the CDC show that about half of teen moms who got pregnant unintentionally weren’t using any form of birth control at the time of conception. The survey also asked the next question that might spring to mind: For the love of Mike, why not? Of those contraception non-users, more than 31% said they didn’t think they could get pregnant at the time. Almost 24% said their partner didn’t want to use birth control. A full 22% said that while the pregnancy was unintended, they didn’t mind if they got pregnant. Some struggled with birth control — 13% said it was hard to get and 9% said they experienced side effects. And 8% said they believed either they or a partner was sterile. (Respondents could give more than one answer.) About half the teen moms were using birth control when they unintentionally got pregnant. Some 21% were using a “highly effective method,” including sterilization, IUD, the birth control pill, and a hormonal injection, patch or ring. About 24% were using condoms, considered to be “moderately effective.” And about 5% used methods deemed the “least effective,” including the diaphragm, sponge, cervical cap, rhythm method and withdrawal. The survey didn’t ask about the details of birth control use, so it’s hard to know why teens using contraception still got pregnant. But it’s possible that teens used birth control inconsistently, or misused it. Or, they might have reported using contraception even though they didn’t actually do so. The implications of these findings, according to the editorial note in the report, include the possibility of improving contraceptive use among sexually active teens by “providing appropriate access to contraception” and “encouraging consistent use of more effective contraceptives.” In addition, “health-care providers, parents and educators could encourage delaying the onset of sexual activity and abstinence, provide factual information about the conditions under which pregnancy can occur, increase teens’ motivation to avoid pregnancy, and strengthen their negotiation skills for pregnancy prevention,” the report says. The survey — conducted by mail and phone — covered 9,844 mothers aged 15 to 19 in 19 states over five years. Contraceptive methods data came from five of the states included in the survey. Image: iStockphoto

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Why Didn’t Teen Moms Use Birth Control?

Fried Foods Aren’t the Only Thing to Blame For Type 2 Diabetes

Dr Joe — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:27:25 +0000

I keep a stash of Paula Deen ‘s recipes on hand for when I am in the mood for some Southern fare, but I couldn’t eat such a decadent diet all the time. And Paula agrees. She told Al Roker on Today , ” I have always encouraged moderation . I share with you all these yummy, fattening recipes, but I tell people, in moderation . . . it’s entertainment. People have to be responsible. Like I told Oprah, ‘Honey, I’m your cook, not your doctor.’ You have to be responsible for yourself.” Although it’s easy to assume a high-fat, high-calorie, butter-laden diet is to blame, the truth is, experts aren’t exactly sure what causes type 2 diabetes. Age, weight, and activity level are huge factors in a person’s risk, but the most important factor is genetics. The good news is that prevention is in your hands. While foods deep-fried in oil and coated in butter may not specifically cause diabetes, devouring foods like that often can contribute to weight gain, which increases your risk for developing this condition. The best thing you can do is to maintain a healthy weight and to exercise regularly, especially if diabetes runs in your family. Source: Getty , Flickr User delgaudm , and Flickr User star5112 Are you worried about developing type 2 diabetes? Yes, I’m worried about type 2 diabetes. No, I’m not worried one bit.

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Fried Foods Aren’t the Only Thing to Blame For Type 2 Diabetes

Top 10 Mistakes You Make on the Elliptical Trainer

Dr Dreams — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:08:59 +0000

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! By Lisa Hoehn, Prevention As the weather drops, more and more people head straight to one machine in their gym – the elliptical trainer. According to a 2008 report from the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association, the number of users of elliptical trainers in health clubs grew sevenfold from 1997 to 2007. And while you may be proud of yourself for making it to the gym and squeezing in some cardio , taking a lackadaisical approach to your elliptical workout and casually spinning your legs while reading a magazine or watching TV isn’t going to blast away those holiday cookies. Here, 10 mistakes you frequently make on the elliptical and how to fix them so you maximize calorie burn while adding fun to your ho-hum routine. Top Workout Ideas For When the Gym Is Too Crowded 1. You’re too lazy to enter your information. Most machines are calibrated for a 150-pound person – but personalizing your stats will help you get a more accurate calorie read. Aim to burn around 100 calories per 10 minutes, says Jennifer Cassetty, an exercise physiologist. 2. Your resistance is zero. You might feel like a million bucks spinning at a mile a minute, but without resistance, you’re not going to see results, says Röbynn Europe, a personal trainer at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Make sure that you’re using enough resistance to push and pull through the stride. Then continue at a moderate pace until you feel like you’ve done all you can do. “You shouldn’t feel like you have even five minutes left in you when you step off,” she says. 3. You’re a sloucher. Standing up straight helps to lengthen your abs, giving you a chance to engage your core and even work your upper body muscles, Cassetty says. Certified personal trainer Neal I. Pire, MA, CSCS, president of Inspire Training Systems in New Jersey, recommends hopping on a machine with an upper body component so you can engage even more muscles – and blast more fat. Can’t find a machine that lets you pump your arms? Let go: some research suggests that leaning on machine armrests during exercise reduces calorie burning. How to Buy a Cardio Machine 4. Your machine sounds like it’s going to take off. If you can hear the purr of the machine while you’re exercising, it means that you’re going too fast without enough resistance – which means you’re not getting the most calorie burn out of your time, Cassetty says. Keeping a steady, moderate pace at a resistance that forces you to use your muscles will get, and keep, your heart rate up. Learn four more fitness mistakes [break]after the break.

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Top 10 Mistakes You Make on the Elliptical Trainer