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Right, before we get going, a disclaimer:exercise is one of the most powerful ways to take control of your health. Not only can it prevent heart disease, strokes, metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimers and cancer, it has been shown to help with depression, insomnia and stress. So exercise is good for you and you should go for a run as soon as you've finished this article.

However ...when it comes to weight loss, exercise is no silver bullet.

There are two reasons why I say this.The first is physiological. Recent studies suggestthat it just isnt as simple as doing more exercise to lose weight. Both physical activity and diet are important to weight control, but if you are fairly active and ignore diet, you can still gain weight,according to Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health,and a co-author of an authoritative study of the topic. Diet plays more of a role in weight loss than exercise or to borrow Dr Willetts words: you cant out train a bad diet.

The advice for a long time has been to eat less, and do more; many health professionals are now calling this mantra into question. The simple fact of the matter is: if you increase your levels of exercise you will need to eat more. In the short term you may get some limited weight loss results from limiting your calorific intake, but the benefits, like the method, are completely unsustainable.

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Why exercising for weight loss just doesn't work - Telegraph.co.uk

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A canceled water aerobics class recently led to me and a group of friends sharing coffee and learning about each other.

I was really moved by the story told by Marilyn Woelke of Bettendorf. I've been swimming with her for three years, but didn't really know her. During our chat, I was intrigued by her passion to help others by starting support groups for caregivers dealing with people who have Alzheimers and Parkinsons diseases.

That passion wasn't sparked by a personal connection. I have no family members with the disease, she said.

The former high school English teacher and former editor of the Geneseo Republic went back to school to become a gerontologist. She worked for the Moline programs Alternatives for the Older Adult for 14 years and Intouch Adult Day Center for six years.

During those 20 years, I came in contact with several wonderful people and their caregivers who deal with Parkinson's disease, she said. It is a difficult disease to understand, and there is no cure. Support groups are a valuable resource for them.

Parkinsons disease is a chronic and progressive neurological disorder that gradually damages the brain. Symptoms of the disease include shaking, tremors, muscle stiffness and slowness. As the disease progresses, cognitive and behavioral problems occur.

As a gerontologist and certified dementia specialist, Ms. Woelke leads two support groups, one for Alzheimer's disease and one for Lewy body dementia, which is closely related to Parkinsons.

Last year, she was asked by people at Active Day of Moline, a senior day-care center, to also start a Parkinson's group. I know how much support groups can help people, especially family caregivers, so I accepted the challenge, she said. "The group remains small, and therefore I am doing a special boost right now to increase its size.

Marilyn connected with Jennifer Taylor, healthy lifestyles coordinator for Two Rivers YMCA in Moline, to spread the word on the importance of Parkinsons support groups and programs like the new Parkinsons and Exercise program at Two Rivers YMCA.

The program is designed to empower people with Parkinsons disease by optimizing their physical functions and helping to delay the progression of symptoms. Jennifer said research in the area of Parkinsons disease indicates that exercise has been shown to improve self-confidence and independence, decrease the risk of falls, minimize fatigue, reduce rigidity and improve mobility.

The Parkinsons and Exercise program is geared specifically to counteract the movement challenges experienced by people with Parkinsons, Jennifer said. Individuals with other neurological conditions are also welcome to join the class.

Classes meet monthly and participants may join at any time.

Jennifer said she hopes to work with Marilyn to increase awareness of the disease. Both women hope to increase participation in the exercise program and support groups. Jennifer will be a speaker at the October meeting of the Western Illinois Parkinson's Support Group.

Martha Garcia is a writer, communications instructor and bilingual marketing professional who lives in Bettendorf. She can be contacted at marthagarciawriter@yahoo.com.

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Support group, exercise program help Parkinson's patients - Quad-Cities Online

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Women work on strengthening their core abdominal muscles in Leah Keller's exercise class for new moms, inside a San Francisco clothing store called Monkei Miles. Talia Herman for NPR hide caption

Women work on strengthening their core abdominal muscles in Leah Keller's exercise class for new moms, inside a San Francisco clothing store called Monkei Miles.

I admit it. I have a "mummy tummy," also known as "mommy pooch." You know, that soft, jelly belly you retain after having a baby it makes you look a few months pregnant.

I've tried to convince myself that the pooch is a valiant badge of motherhood, but who am I kidding? The pooch bothers me. And it turns out it's been causing me back pain.

So when I hear that a fitness coach and doctor have come up with a technique that can flatten the pooch quickly and easily, I think, "Why not?"

A few weeks, later I'm rolling out a yoga mat with a dozen other moms and pregnant women in San Francisco.

"We will see a dramatic change," says Leah Keller, who leads the class. "You can easily expect to see 2 inches off your waist in three weeks of time," Keller says. "That's not an unrealistic expectation."

We had patients that were even one year out from giving birth, and they still had such great benefit from the exercises."

Dr. Geeta Sharma, OB-GYN, Weill-Cornell Medical Center

Decked out in purple yoga pants and leather cowboy boots, Keller is a personal trainer from New York City. She has developed an exercise that allegedly shrinks the mommy pooch.

There's science to back up the method, she says.

"A doctor at Weill Cornell and I did a study on the exact same program we're going to do," Keller says. "And we found 100 percent of women achieved full resolution."

Keller measures the separation in a student's abdominal muscles using her fingers as a guide. Talia Herman for NPR hide caption

Keller measures the separation in a student's abdominal muscles using her fingers as a guide.

OK! Wait a second. Two inches off my belly in three weeks? That sounds too good to be true. I decide to do a little digging into the science of mummy tummy and Keller's claim.

Putting the six-pack back together

It turns out the jelly belly actually has a medical term: diastasis recti, which refers to a separation of the abdominal muscles.

And it's quite common. Last year, a study from Norway reported about a third of moms end up with diastasis recti a year after giving birth.

"This is such a ubiquitous issue," says Dr. Geeta Sharma, an OB-GYN at Weill Cornell Medical Center-New York Presbyterian Hospital.

And it's not just a cosmetic problem. Diastasis recti can cause another big issue for new moms: lower back pain.

"People can start feeling some back pain because the core is weakened," Sharma says.

During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles responsible for a "six pack" stretch apart (left) to accommodate a growing fetus. After birth, the muscles don't always bounce back, leaving a gap known as the mommy pooch.

There's a simple way to see if you have diastasis recti:

In rare occasions, the tissue in the abdomen isn't just stretched, but it is also torn a bit. This can cause a hernia, Sharma says.

"If there's a defect in a layer of tissue called the linea alba, then the bowel can poke through," Sharma says. "That's going to be more dangerous."

A hernia may require surgery. "So I will refer patients to a general surgeon to have a C.T. scan if there's really a true concern about a hernia," Sharma says.

Diastasis recti arises during pregnancy because the growing fetus pushes the abdominal muscles apart specifically the rectus abdominal muscles.

"These are the muscles that give you a 'six pack,' " says Dr. Linda Brubaker, an OB-GYN at the University of California, San Diego. "People think these muscles go horizontal across the belly. But they actually go vertical from head to toe."

The rectus abdominal muscles should be right next to each other, on either side of the belly button, Brubaker says. "There shouldn't be much of gap between them."

But during pregnancy a gap opens up between the muscles, right around the belly button. Sometimes that gap closes on its own, but other times it stays open.

That leaves a spot in the belly where there's very little muscle to hold in your stomach and other organs, a spot that can be one to two inches wide. That lets the organs and overlying tissue bulge out and cause mommy pooch.

To flatten the area, women have to get those abdominal muscles to realign. And that's where the exercises come into play.

If you search online for ways to fix diastasis recti, you'll turn up a deluge of exercise routines, all claiming to help coax the abdominal muscles back together.

But the quality of much of that information isn't good, Brubaker says. "Some of it is actually potentially harmful."

Even some exercises aimed at strengthening the abdomen can exacerbate diastasis recti, says Keller, including simple crunches.

"You have to be very careful," she says. "For example, please don't ever again in your life do crossover crunches or bicycle crunches. They splay your abs apart in so many ways."

That said, there are a few exercise programs for diastasis recti that many doctors and physical therapists support. These include the Tupler Technique, Keller's Dia Method and the MuTu System in the U.K.

Most such courses, taught once a week for an hour in New York, San Francisco and at least a few other places, tend to run about four to 12 weeks and cost around $100 to $300. Some places offer online classes and videos, which are much less expensive.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also recommends abdominal exercises for the perinatal period. But the organization's guidelines don't provide details such which exercises work best, or how often women should do them and for how long.

Plus, ACOG focuses more on preventing diastasis than fixing the problem; it recommends strengthening the abdomen before and during pregnancy.

Keller (right) checks a student's progress after the the final class. The fitness coach worked with an OB-GYN from Weill Cornell Medicine to standardize and evaluate her exercise program, which primarily targets abdominal muscles. Talia Herman for NPR hide caption

"The best way is prevention," says Dr. Raul Artal, an OB-GYN at St. Louis University, who helped ACOG write its exercise guidelines for the perinatal period. "The best way to do that is to exercise during pregnancy."

But, as Sharma, the Cornell OB-GYN, points out, no one has really vigorously studied these various exercises to see if they actually fix diastasis recti.

"There's a general knowledge that exercise is going to help," Sharma says. "But no one has really tested them in a standardized way."

In fact, the few studies that have been done haven't been high enough quality to draw conclusions, researchers in Australia concluded a few years ago.

Sharma hopes to change that. A few years ago, she teamed up with Keller to start to gather some evidence on her technique.

"We did a pilot study to see if the method is helpful for women," Sharma says.

The study was small just 63 women. But the results were quite promising. After 12 weeks of doing Keller's exercise 10 minutes a day all the women had fixed their diastasis recti, Sharma and Keller reported at ACOG's annual meeting few years ago.

"We had patients that were even one year out from giving birth, and they still had such great benefit from the exercises," Sharma says. "We love to see that there is something we can do to help women."

The key exercise is typically performed while sitting crossed-legged, standing up or on all fours. But during Keller's four-week class, she teaches many versions of the exercises. Here Tania Higham (left) and Maeve Clancy, do a version laying on their backs. Talia Herman for NPR hide caption

The key exercise is typically performed while sitting crossed-legged, standing up or on all fours. But during Keller's four-week class, she teaches many versions of the exercises. Here Tania Higham (left) and Maeve Clancy, do a version laying on their backs.

Now Sharma says she's working to put together a larger study to really nail down when the exercise works and how well.

Tight and tighter

Back at the class in San Francisco, Keller is taking us moms through the key exercise. It's surprisingly simple to do.

"The exercise is a very small, very intense movement. That's almost imperceptible," Keller says. "OK. We're going to do another set."

Sitting on the floor cross-legged, with our hands on our bellies, we all take a big breath. "Let the belly fully expand," Keller says.

And then as we exhale, we suck in our belly muscles as far back as they'll go, toward the spine. "Now we're going to stay here near the spine. Hold this position," she says.

Then we take tiny breaths. With each exhale, we push our stomachs back further and further.

"Tight, tighter," Keller chants, rhythmically.

You can do the exercise in several different positions, Keller says: sitting crossed-legged, sitting on your knees, standing with knees slightly bent, on all fours or laying on your side in the fetal position.

The key is to be sure your back is flat. And that you do the exercise 10 minutes each day, changing positions every two minutes or so. For the rest of the time, your belly is pulled all the way back into the spine.

"The fingertips on the bellybutton are really important for this reason," she says. "So you know that you're squeezing tight, tighter with the belly, and you're never bulging the bellybutton forward."

This is our fourth week of class, and we've been doing this same exercise on our own every day for at least 10 minutes. So it's judgement day. Time to see if we've flattened our bellies and resolved the diastasis recti.

Keller pulls out a measuring tape and starts wrapping it around women's middles. She also has us lie down on the floor, so she can measure the separation in our abdominal muscles.

One by one, there's success after success. Several moms completely closed up their abdominal separations. Many lost inches from their bellies.

One woman had amazing results. "Oh my goodness, you lost nearly four inches from your belly circumference," Keller exclaims. "That's amazing!"

How did I fare? Well, after three weeks, I didn't completely close up the abdominal separation. My separation decreased from 1.2 inches to 0.8 inches.* But I did drop more than an inch from my belly circumference.

And I am quite happy with the results. My abs are definitely firmer. And regularly doing this exercise brought a bonus benefit: My lower back pain has almost completely gone away.

*I continued to do the exercises after the class had finished. I checked with in Keller three weeks later to have her measure my diastasis recti. At that point, the separation had dropped down to 0.6 inches, which meant technically I no longer have diastasis recti.

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Flattening The Post-Pregnancy Belly In 10 Minutes Of Daily Exercise ... - NPR

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As a cosmopolitan city and capital of the state of California, Sacramento remains active and hip with an eclectic selection of health and fitness activities, alongside a vast community of arts and entertainment. With vast open spaces and an abundance of trees, perfect for outdoor activities, Sacramento is a prime example of the wonderful extent a historic city could retain in modern times.

One can find motivation to stay active throughout the city with several gyms and fitness centers offering a variety of fitness programs for all ages and body types, including HIIT, yoga, kickboxing and dance.

Below, we have compiled some of the most popular fitness programs in the area, with a focus on having fun.

For those looking for blood-pumping routines that are serious, yet fun, you can find a Les Mills exercise class in Sacramento. You can choose from 20 different exercise class programs to fit your style and condition. If you want to be lean and effectively burn unwanted fats, Les Mills is known for its HIIT workouts. Get leaner muscles and a stronger constitution with Bodypump or improve your cardio fitness with cycle-based workout, RPM. Les Mills Bodyflow helps boost your strength and flexibility, but if you are more into dance moves, you will be delighted with Bodyjam. If you are into martial arts, enhance your physical training and fighting moves with Bodycombat.

Workout programs at Les Mills are all set to heart-pumping music so you will feel like you are on the dance floor instead of sweating out inside a gym. The instructors are excellent and the programs are based on innovative research.

For those whose workout routines are more inconsistent, Robles Fitness provides a variety of levels of fitness, whether you want to work out religiously or take it a bit easy. You will definitely find workout mates to give you support from this fitness centers family-like environment, while trainers are always pushing you to your limit. You can choose boot camp or personalized training six times a week.

The programs focus on two-muscle-groups-a-day makes it easy to complete the target muscle groups tailored to your fitness level. The aim here is to challenge yourself, you versus you.

Improve your flexibility and tone, while increasing the strength of your core muscles and gaining muscular control and balance at U Barre. The center offers Pilates, Buti Yoga and barre exercises that are truly wonderful ways to stretch and flex your entire muscular system. Get ready for some upbeat fun and classical moves with a twist. Although many women go for these types of exercise routines, they are great for men as well.

If you associate yoga to movements that seem to flow gently and smoothly, prepare to be amazed with Buti Yoga, which is a combination of vinyasa-style yoga, plyometrics, primal movements and tribal dance, set to thumping music.

For those looking for more strenuous exercise programs, such as kickboxing and boxing, sign up for classes at Fitness Rangers. Boxing and kickboxing tone the muscles of your lower and upper body, which will help increase your flexibility, improve circulation, coordination, balance and heart rate. These workouts are great stress relievers and perfect for full body workout. At the same time, you learn how to defend yourself.

Fitness Rangers also offer various workout programs for groups and children, as well as help in planning your nutrition. There are personal and corporate training, too. Parents with kids need not worry as the gym provides childcare upon prior arrangement.

If dancing motivates you to exercise, Step 1 Dance and Fitness has a variety of programs for you. There are programs for children, youth, teens and adults. The instructors come from various performance-based dance disciplines, so you can choose from a list of dance/fitness classes. Tap dancing is offered to beginners and those who want to get more extensive training.

For people who want to veer away from choreographed dances, join a Zumba class or a Fierce Funk class for cardio exercises. If you want to feel cool and trendy, there are hip-hop classes as well.

Photo courtesy of Amanda Mills

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Get Fit with 5 of Sacramento's Top Fitness Programs - The Sacramento Press

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Doctors often remind us that good nutrition and exercise are necessities for a healthy lifestyle, but stress, being overweight and conditions such as arthritis might make it difficult to get into a fitness routine.

Davenports Parks and Recreation department offers the opportunity for the community to move more through its Walk in the Park program, made possible with a grant through the National Recreation and Park Association and the Centers for Disease Control.

The Walk in the Park program also helped launch Walk with Ease, a program that helps people with arthritis to get active, and Walk with a Doc, which promotes dialogue between community members and area physicians.

We are always excited to utilize the parks in unique ways, says parks director Scott Hock. This is another venue to use our parks and help others work on lifelong initiatives for better health.

Recreation supervisor Sherrie Fischer, who helps facilitate Walk in the Park, says the program helps people stay on track and exercise. It helps (people) get into a routine and maybe makes them more accountable," she says.

Dr. Cheryl True, who assists with the walking program and facilitates the Walk with a Doc program, says the programs promote weight loss, endurance and self-confidence. The walks help people who may need a structured program be social, and they dont have to do this alone.

The national Walk with a Doc launched in April 2005, in Columbus, Ohio. Cardiologist David Sabgir wanted to raise awareness about the importance of physical fitness. Many of Sabgir's patients werent exercising, and he was seeing a dramatic increase in the number of people with heart disease.

Last fall, True introduced the program in the Quad-Cities.

Our mission is to connect you with a nearby health-care practitioner who can provide the support and guidance needed for your long-term success, True says. It is a chance to open the doors of communication that normally would not happen in a clinical setting.

True is a board-certified family practitioner who left traditional medicine to become a plant-based doctor. Shecreated a partnership with various local doctors and veterinarians for Walk with a Doc to promote fitness and connect people with area health-care providers in a laid-back setting where participants could ask questions about trending health issues.

When you become a member of small collaborative groups, there is much more interest to improve yourself, True says. We want people to eat less, eat healthy, move more and sleep more, and through this program, we can learn from each other.

Fischer says the Walk in the Park program has become very popular.

With its success, we hope to make it available year round, she says. People feel better, move more with less pain, and know that there is always someone waiting for them to walk with.

Radish magazine is a monthly publication that focuses on healthy living. It's available for free at many area outlets, including Hy-Vee stores.

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One foot in front of the other: Davenport walking programs open doors to healthier lifestyles - Quad-Cities Online

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When it comes to losing weight, the internet can offer a myriad of tips and tricks but what it really comes down to is eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

But now a health expert has revealed that you could really see the weight "drop off" if you do two extra things.

Jane Hodgson, from food supplement retailer Skinnysprinkles.com,said that practicing portion control and avoiding snacking are the two key ingredients to successful weight loss.

High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are all the rage right now and for good reason. Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Hair and nails are mostly made of protein and your body uses protein to build and repair tissues.

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She revealed: Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the exact quantities of different foods that make up a portion and once you realise how little an amount it is youll wonder how you ever managed to eat such large servings before.

Youll wonder how you ever managed to eat such large servings before

Nowadays there are plenty of gadgets that help you work out the exact quantities of food you need for each meal, but if you prefer to measure your food the old-fashioned way then learning how to estimate serving sizes can be an equally good solution.

If you feel you need a helping hand, our food supplement Skinny Sprinkles will help you control your portion size and avoid the pitfall that is snacking.

"Get on top of these two and the weight should drop off.

If youre new to portion control, here are seven top tips for getting started:

1. Measure accurately

It might seem time-consuming to correctly measure out the exact millilitres of oil or a portion of pasta by tablespoon, but its still the most accurate way to work out your serving size.

2. Use your hands

Measuring portion size against your hands is a quick and precise alternative to using weighing scales.

For example, a portion of meat or poultry is roughly the size of your palm, a slice of cheese should be the size of two thumbs and a portion of fruit should fit into your fist.

3. Use small plates

Overeating can often be attributed to the size of the plate you are serving on, as the larger the surface the more likely you are to try and fill it.

Smaller plates will make your meals appear larger, helping you to reduce excessively big portions.

4. Stick to the 20-minute rule

If you still feel hungry after eating, make sure to leave at least 20 minutes for your food to settle before going back for seconds.

This will give you time to digest the food youve already eaten and should help put a stop to any feelings of hunger.

5. Gauge when youre full

Making sure you dont overeat means making sure you dont eat until youre full.

Try to gauge when you are feeling about 70-80% full and then stop, otherwise youll end up gorging on far more than your recommended number of portions.

6. Meal-prep for accurate portion size

Preparing your lunch and dinners in advance allows you to measure out an appropriate portion size for each meal, saving you from the temptation to cook excessive amounts of food when it comes to eating.

7. Dont skip meals

Skipping meals will only serve to make you feel hungrier once you do decide to eat.

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Forget diet and exercise these TWO simple tricks can make belly fat 'drop off' - Daily Star

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Im not a fan of most quickie diet plans if long-term weight loss is what youre hoping to achieve. Following a strict diet is often a direct route to yo-yo dieting. However, there are certain long-term lifestyle changes you can make today that will help you reap weight-loss rewards by the end of the week.

The catechins in green tea have been shown to have a positive effect on both weight loss and weight maintenance. Not only that, but sipping throughout the day will also contribute to being properly hydrated, which is a well known factor to keeping your metabolism running at an optimum level.

As if you needed more reason to brew a cup, adding tea to your day can help contribute to developing a mindful morning routine. Youll be in a better mindset to stay on track towards your weight-loss goal, and take steps towards being your healthiest self. When adding in green tea, dont forget to ditch the soda (diet included).

Have you hit a weight-loss plateau even though you swear your workout routine is on point? To help drop your next couple of pounds, add stretching or foam rolling to your morning routine.

Foam rolling 101 with fitness guru Anna Victoria Play Video - 1:59

Foam rolling 101 with fitness guru Anna Victoria Play Video - 1:59

Rolling helps flush out your lymphatic system, congestion, inflammation and stimulate blood circulation. Self myofascial release with a foam roller post exercise has been shown to increase the range of movement in your joints. Most people ignore their lymphatic system, but it needs to function efficiently for the rest of your systems to work well (including your bodies ability to release excess fat stores). Incorporate 10-15 minutes a day to begin.

Current research shows this one to be pretty much a no-brainer when it comes to shedding unwanted weight. Processed sugar is directly linked to inflammation in the body, and inflammation is linked to all kinds of health issues. Any excess sugar consumed will eventually be stored as fat. Not only that, but if youre eating lots of sugar, theres a good chance its in conjunction with unhealthy fats (hello frosted donut).

Do a sugar cleanse. Cut out refined carbohydrates and obvious sugars (bye bye afternoon M&Ms and gummy worms), but also try to cut out any added natural sugars (think coconut sugar, honey and agave).

Studies show that eating protein for breakfast may help increase your satiety (how satisfied you feel) throughout the whole day, and may even prevent you from reaching for those late-night sweet snacks. But, dont stop at breakfast, get protein in at every meal.

Fat also contributes to your satiety, and can even help you burn fat. While I dont recommend going all out (control is key) be sure to get fat in consistently throughout the day (about 30 percent of your calories should come from fat). Eggs are a great way to start your day with a dose of protein and fat.

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CHICAGO, Aug. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Osteopathic physicians suggest shifting the conversation from weight to health for overweight children and adults, asking patients to reduce their sugar intake to see measurable improvements in metabolic function.

Improved measures of health can be seen in less than two weeks of sugar reduction, according to a review published in the August edition of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA).

Keeping the simple sugar fructose, particularly high-fructose corn syrup, off the menu can help avert health issues including obesity, fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. Fructose accelerates the conversion of sugar to fat, researchers noted. Their JAOA review summarized the results of several carefully controlled studies, finding a link between high consumption of sugar, in particular fructose, and increased fat synthesis in the liver.

"Fructose provides no nutritional value and isn't metabolized in the brain. Your body converts it to fat, but doesn't recognize that you've eaten, so the hunger doesn't go away," explains Tyree Winters, DO, an osteopathic pediatrician focused on childhood obesity. "Many young patients tell me they're always hungry, which makes sense because what they're eating isn't helping their bodies function."

Overfed and undernourished

The JAOA review identified fructose as a particularly damaging type of simple sugar. Compared to glucose, which metabolizes 20 percent in the liver and 80 percent throughout the rest of the body, fructose is 90 percent metabolized in the liver and converts to fat up to 18.9 times faster than glucose.

HFCS is found in 75 percent of packaged foods and drinks, mainly because it is cheaper and 20 percent sweeter than raw sugar. Fructose turns on the metabolic pathways that converts it to fat and stores it in the body, adding weight. At the same time, the brain thinks the body is starving and becomes lethargic and less inclined to exercise.

"If we cut out the HFCS and make way for food that the body can properly metabolize, the hunger and sugar cravings fade. At the same time, patients are getting healthier without dieting or counting calories," Dr. Winters says. "This one change has the potential to prevent serious diseases and help restore health."

Fighting back

Once people have put on a significant amount of weight and developed eating habits that rely on packaged and processed foods with HFCS, change can be daunting. Historically, physicians have told patients to restructure their diet and start exercising heavily, with a plan to check back after a month or more. That approach rarely works, as seen by the ever-growing obesity epidemic.

Instead, Dr. Winters suggests checking blood work about two weeks after patients agree to begin limiting their sugar intake to help patients see clear benefits for their effort.

"That single change in diet improves metabolic results in less than two weeks. Imagine the power of doing a 'before and after' comparison with a patient, so they can see for themselves that their health is improving. Seeing those results, instead of just stepping on a scale, can motivate them to keep going," Dr. Winters explains.

AboutThe Journal of the American Osteopathic AssociationThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA)is the official scientific publication of the American Osteopathic Association. Edited by Robert Orenstein, DO, it is the premier scholarly peer-reviewed publication of the osteopathic medical profession. TheJAOA's mission is to advance medicine through the publication of peer-reviewed osteopathic research.

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SOURCE American Osteopathic Association

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Overweight Children and Adults Get Significantly Healthier and Quickly With Less Sugar--Even If They Don't Lose Weight - Markets Insider

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Doctors have long recommended that patients cut down on sugar to lose weight and become healthier. But a recent review conducted by osteopathic physicians shows that avoiding one type of sugar can quickly lead to better health outcomes.

The researchers say that cutting down on the simple sugar fructose can help consumers avoid dangerous health conditions like obesity, fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes. They explainthat fructose and most notably high fructose corn syrup accelerates the bodys conversion of sugar to fat.

"Fructose provides no nutritional value and isn't metabolized in the brain. Your body converts it to fat, but doesn't recognize that you've eaten, so the hunger doesn't go away," explains Dr. Tyree Winters. "Many young patients tell me they're always hungry, which makes sense because what they're eating isn't helping their bodies function."

The review examined several controlled studies which found a link between high consumption of sugar and increased fat synthesis in the liver. The researchers say that fructose is much worse than other types of sugar like glucose because it is primarily metabolized in the liver and converts to fat up to 18.9 times faster.

Unfortunately, many of the products that consumers regularly buy at the grocery store contain high fructose corn syrup because it is cheaper and sweeter than raw sugar. Winters explains how cutting out this additive can have a remarkable positive effect on the body.

"If we cut out [high fructose corn syrup] and make way for food that the body can properly metabolize, the hunger and sugar cravings fade. At the same time, patients are getting healthier without dieting or counting calories," he said. "This one change has the potential to prevent serious diseases and help restore health."

The researchers admit that getting consumers to stay away from processed foods and high fructose corn syrup is difficult, but they say that changing some common recommendations could go a long way.

For example, many doctors currently tell their patients to change their diet and start exercising heavily in order to lose weight and get healthier, but Winters and his colleagues argue that this rarely works and leads patients to failure.

Instead, they say that doctors should encourage patients to cut down on sugar and have them come in after two weeks for blood work. By then, patients willbe able to clearly see the results of the intervention, which can drive them to further improve their health.

"That single change in diet improves metabolic results in less than two weeks. Imagine the power of doing a 'before and after' comparison with a patient, so they can see for themselves that their health is improving," said Winters."Seeing those results, instead of just stepping on a scale, can motivate them to keep going."

The full study has been published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

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How cutting down on one type of sugar can quickly improve your health - ConsumerAffairs

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An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Most of us have heard that catchy phrase our entire lives. The basis of it is correct: Eating a healthy diet with nutritious foods will significantly decrease anyones risk of sickness and health problems. In fact, keeping a healthy diet and lifestyle does way more than just control weight and keep you physically healthy; it also has mental benefits like improved mood and boosted energy. With all of these benefits, it seems like eating a healthy diet is the best way to feel 100 percent.

Unfortunately, many people are a little unclear about what healthy eating actually means. Most people know to stay away from overeating, fast food and other foods high in calories and fats. However, when finding a diet that works best for ones body and lifestyle, many choose incorrectly. There are diet fads out there that promise extreme results fast. Getting to a healthy lifestyle can be a long process, so many people resort to these fads in hopes that they have found the quick fix, even if they seem ridiculous. Unfortunately, many of these diet fads lack the nutrition people need to keep their bodies healthy and functioning. In some cases, they do a lot more harm than good.

American society and culture in particular is very at risk to these misleading diet fads. Just as fast food and weight problems are a real issue, so are quick and unhealthy fixes for weight loss. America is one of the most overweight countries in the world. Unhealthy foods are more readily available and cheaper than the healthier alternatives, so when a diet promises fast and cheap results, many Americans jump at the chance. However, without proper research, you wont know what you are putting into your body. Changing your diet and lifestyle to live a healthier life is an important chance for a better overall quality of life. However, this change is never easy, and any diet that promises so should be approached with a skeptical eye.

Another reason for the popularity of dangerous and misleading diet fads is who we see attempting them. Pressure in Hollywood to stay thin leads many celebrities to attempt some of these diets in the public eye. We see people that we look up to and admire trying these fads, and feel the need to try them out ourselves. However, we often only see the glamorous sides of both these celebrities and their trials with diet fads, and are left in the dark on the negative effects. Without a fair presentation of such diets, we feel they are a healthy and acceptable lifestyle choice, and experiment with them ourselves.

Social media also plays a huge role in the popularity of such fads. Sites like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter allow for an unfiltered display of information. Pretty much anything can be posted and seen, and there is no requirement for scientific facts to back up what is being advertised. Young people are the biggest users of social media, and also the most impressionable age group. These diets can be twice as dangerous to someone at an influential age, and if left unchanged, could lead to lifelong unhealthy habits and even eating disorders.

A type of diet that can be dangerous is one where the dieter only eats one type of food. To live a healthy life, your body needs a variety of foods and nutrients. A diet that only allows one type of food, neglects other important parts of a balanced diet. An example of this type of diet takes an apple a day to the extreme in the all-fruit diet. Fruit is very good for you, and many people enjoy it as natures treat.

However, while fruit has health benefits, it does not contain everything that your body needs to fully function. An all-fruit diet excludes important nutrients such as protein and fats. Also, while the sugar in fruit is natural, eating nothing but it can overload the pancreas, whose job it is to release the insulin that controls the sugar we put into our bodies. This diet moved to mainstream cultures attention as various celebrities have experimented with it; Ashton Kutcher tried it, and put himself in the hospital. Instead of going for nothing but fruit, try for the recommended serving of one to two cups a day, and add some variety to your diet through other types of healthy foods.

Another type of diet that can be dangerous is a fast-result, limited intake type of plan. For people looking for a quick fix, these offer results in as little as twenty-four hours. However, to lose weight in that amount of time calls for extreme measures. Also, any weight lost that quickly is not likely to be kept off.

An example of such a diet is the Hollywood 24 Hour Miracle Diet, which promises a loss of up to five pounds in as little as twenty-four hours. However, this diet does not approach weight loss in a healthy or sustainable way. This diet consists of juice blends, that are less than one hundred calories per serving. The average plan has the dieter taking in around four hundred calories per day, not nearly enough to sustain a body or give it energy. Participants experience fatigue, headaches, dizziness and anxiety. Instead of such an extreme plan, people looking to lose weight should make a long term plan, and limit their calorie intake in a healthy way over an extended period of time.

Overeating and obesity may seem like the biggest health concern, but dangerous dieting and neglecting ones needs can often be just as dangerous. It is important to find a middle ground, and pay attention to how you are feeling when trying to find a diet plan. Also, if you decide to take on a new diet, make sure you look up past experiences, and what the effects will be on your body. Healthy eating is very important, and 100 percent possible if you pick the right foods and the right plan so that your body can thrive versus simply get by.

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Why Exactly Fad Diets Are So Dangerous - Study Breaks

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