A  study published in The New England Journal of Medicine last week says," A low-fat diet is not the only safe and effective way to shed pounds, according to a new study that shows low-carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets also result in weight loss, and appear to also offer other health benefits."

Iris Shai , RD, PhD, and researchers from Harvard University and other institutions assigned 322 moderately obese men and women, average age 52 and with a body mass index (BMI) of 31, to one of three diets.

The low-fat diet was based on American Heart Association guidelines. In the group following this diet, women ate 1,500 calories a day and men ate 1,800 calories. They took in just 30% of calories from fat, including 10% saturated fat, and were limited to 300 milligrams of cholesterol a day. (A large egg has about 200 milligrams of cholesterol). They focused on eating low-fat grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits -- and reduced intake of extra fats, sweets, and fatty snacks.

The Mediterranean diet was based on the writings of Walter Willet from Harvard Medical School. In the group following this diet, women consumed 1,500 calories a day and men consumed 1,800 calories. The goal was to eat no more than 35% of calories from fat, and the main sources of added fat were olive oil and a few nuts a day. The diet was rich in vegetables and low in red meat, with fish and chicken replacing beef and lamb.

The low-carb diet was based on the Atkins plan. In this group, calories weren't restricted. These participants were told to eat about 20 grams of carbs a day (about the amount in two slices of bread) for two months, and then increase it to no more than 120 grams a day. They focused on vegetarian sources of fat and protein and avoided foods with trans fat.

All the details of the report were on WebMD this week!


 Dr. Dominic Gaziano - Dr. G 
                The Feel Good Health Guy /  Health & Wellness Expert 

If you belong to a gym--and there are 42.7 million of you! Putting in time at the gym is supposed to make you healthier, but if you aren't careful, it could cause an unexpected illness. If fungi or bacteria wanted to find the ideal place to grow, your gym might offer one of the best sites around. Fungi and bacteria thrive in warm, moist places, such as hot tubs, pools, shower stalls and sweaty clothes. According to Brian Adams, M.D., "There are a bunch of things people can pick up at their gym if they aren't careful."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a bacteria called methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was recently found in recreational athletes. Although, MRSA is a version of the common staph bacteria, it is resistant to the methicillin antibiotic, which makes it especially hard to treat. While "normal" staphylococcus aureus is a microbial skin infection easily treated with antibiotics, MRSA is more difficult to treat and can infect the blood and bones--a potentially life threatening complication. MRSA's antibiotic resistance also makes it more likely to spread, since the normal course of treatment does not eliminate it and the infected person remains a carrier. The CDC cites close physical contact and equipment sharing as reasons for outbreaks. Researchers have also found E. coli, strep-bacteria and the influenza virus in gyms and on athletic equipment.

Always wipe down a machine before getting using it - preferably with a sanitizer

Always wash your sweaty clothes after a work out and shower off your body

Wear flip flops in public showers

Don't re-use your water bottle

Always take a fresh hand towel to the gym with you

Try not to touch your face or mouth during your workout



 Dr. Dominic Gaziano - Dr. G 
                The Feel Good Health Guy /  Health & Wellness Expert 

Dance forms develop flexibility and coordination.

Dance encourages creativity and reduces tension.

It stretches and strengthens the muscles, and lubricates the joints.

Dance fitness videos are exciting and effective. These dance exercise videos and dvds combine high-energy music with non-stop movement. Here you'll find dance workout videos in a variety of motivating styles. From jazz to ballroom, from Salsa to Brazilian -- these dance workouts will keep you moving!



 Dr. Dominic Gaziano - Dr. G 
  The Feel Good Health Guy / Health & Wellness Expert 

"By early vaccination, we have basically given these mice life-long protection against a disease they were destined to have," senior investigator Dr. W. Martin Kast, from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, said in a statement.

"This has never been done before and, with further research, could represent a paradigm shift in the management of human prostate cancer."

A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel announced the  new treatment designed to turn the body's own immune system against deadly prostate cancer tumors is both safe and effective.

Last week it was announced, more than half of men with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer had longer-than-estimated survival after treatment with an adenovirus/PSA vaccine, showed a phase I study.

About half the patients had increased PSA doubling time and about 70% had anti-PSA T-cell responses associated with tumor destruction, reported David Lubaroff, Ph.D., of the University of Iowa in Iowa City. No patient had a vaccine-related adverse event.

This is exciting news for men!


 Dr. Dominic Gaziano - Dr. G 
                The Feel Good Health Guy /  Health & Wellness Expert 

Gout (also called metabolic arthritis) is a disease created by a buildup of uric acid. In this condition, monosodium urate or uric acid crystals are deposited on the articular cartilage of joints, tendons and surrounding tissues due to elevated concentrations of uric acid in the blood stream. This provokes an inflammatory reaction of these tissues.

A  rheumatologist can diagnose gout and give you guidelines for dealing with the symptoms and how to improve your diet. The serum level of uric acid is the primary risk factor for gout. A diet low in purines reduces the serum level of uric acid, unless these levels are caused by other health conditions and not as responsive to dietary changes.

There are lots of good suggestions online, but as always, check with your personal care physician.

 Dr. Dominic Gaziano - Dr. G 
                The Feel Good Health Guy /  Health & Wellness Expert 
 

FDA Approves VYVANSE™ (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate), the First and Only Once-Daily Prodrug Stimulant to Treat ADHD in Adults.
 
Within the first eight months since its introduction in the United States, VYVANSE has achieved over one million prescriptions.
 
In a clinical study with adults, VYVANSE was shown to significantly improve the symptoms of ADHD (inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity).


“We are very pleased with this FDA approval of the adult indication for VYVANSE,” said Matthew Emmens, Chief Executive Officer of Shire. “This approval provides physicians a new treatment option that can help their adult patients by significantly improving their ADHD symptoms. VYVANSE has been well accepted by the medical community.  With Shire’s experience as a leader in the development and commercialization of ADHD medications, we are confident that this approval for adult patients will help continue to increase prescription share and volume of VYVANSE.”
 
“Many people may think of ADHD as only a childhood disorder but the fact is that the majority of children diagnosed with ADHD still have symptoms as an adult.  These symptoms can significantly impact them at work, home and in relationships, where they have important responsibilities,” said David W. Goodman, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of the Adult Attention Deficit Disorder Center of Maryland. “The good news is that in a clinical study with adults, one daily dose of VYVANSE significantly improved ADHD symptoms of inattention, such as the ability to focus and organize, as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity.”

Talk to your doctor to see if this drug might be right for you. 

 Dr. Dominic Gaziano - Dr. G 
                The Feel Good Health Guy /  Health & Wellness Expert 

Trusera is a rapidly growing Seattle-based startup founded in 2007 by former Amazon.com executive Keith Schorsch. The business plan grew from his own struggle to find relevant health information on the web.

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, nearly 113 million people now turn to the Internet for health information.



Many consumers then face a maze of generic, and at times unreliable, health information. The maze takes them through health portals, message boards, chat rooms and blogs.


The consumer is left to sort through conflicting or irrelevant information to find data directly relating to them. Most leave the Internet exhausted. A lucky few leave well-informed.

Trusera believes the answer lies in both people and technology. First, invite a group of people with experience in health and wellness. Encourage them to share their experience and invite others. Second, provide the community with the tools to personalize the health information they create and receive. Enable them to control their experience through filtering, privacy controls and personalization.

If you would like to be a part of the Trusera community,
use the invite on their site...   

http://www.trusera.com/group_invitations/welcome