Tag Archives: metabolism

Women juggle work & life balance better with age

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British women are struggling to bring balance to their lives, with only one in four (27%) saying they successfully juggle the demands of work, family and a social life. But over-40s are the most likely to get it right, with almost one in three saying (31%) saying they strike the right balance and more than half (57%) say they sometimes get it right.

Four out of five (84%) women say there are times when they are trying to keep too many balls in the air and a similar number (81%) fear their frenetic lifestyles could lead to health problems in the future.

Hormonal balance

This worrying picture of women’s health and emotional wellbeing has emerged in polls conducted for Kira, one of the nation’s most trusted names in women’s health and herbal supplements.

The One Poll surveys of 1,000 women — half aged between 20 and 40 and half aged 40 to 60 — found that older women are the best when it comes to resisting the pressure to be perfect, with two out of five (41%) saying it was never an issue, compared to less than a third (29%) of 20 to 40-year-olds

Older women are also less likely to look enviously at their friends’ lives, with almost two out of five (38%) saying this was never an issue, compared to less than a quarter (23%) of the 20 to 40-year-olds.

They are also less likely to fall prey to pressure from social media with only one in 13 (8%) saying online activity made them feel they were being short-changed by life, compared to almost one in five (18%) of the younger women.

Body confidence as we age
Body confidence also grows with age, with seven out of ten (69%) of the older women saying they had no interest in cosmetic surgery or procedures, compared to six out of ten (59%) of the younger group. The 20 to 40 group was twice as likely to want a boob job or new nose, 18% compared to 8% and 10% versus 5%.

However, anxiety about the future was a factor across the board, with almost nine out of ten (89%) women in both age groups saying they worried about what lay ahead. Money and debt was a cause for concern for one in three (32%) and two out of five (45%) admitted they were struggling financially.

Dr Catherine Hood, a women’s health specialist and an advisor to Kira notes: “It’s reassuring that experience brings a little more stability and contentment, but these surveys show women are balancing different demands throughout their lives.

She adds: “The demands of our bodies change too, which is why bone health becomes much more of an issue as we age. Top up vitamins can be helpful during periods of stress or when busy lifestyles makes it difficult to exercise and eat healthily.

“But I would advise any woman over 40 to take special care to protect their bone health with a high calcium supplement such as Kira Body Balance.”

How to find balance, bone health and avoid hormonal blips
Kira Hormonal Balance is a one-a-day food supplement which is great for women on the go as it does what it says on the pack, and helps keep your hormones in balance.

It contains a combination of essential B vitamins, which are important for hormonal metabolism and balance. Vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and folic acid also help reduce tiredness and fatigue, while vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid and pantothenic acid may help to maintain normal mental performance and normal psychological function.

Exercise boosts benefits of calorie restriction on longevity

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Exercise boosts the benefits of calorie restriction which is turn kickstarts the human metabolism to extend lifespan.

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Scientists at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging report in the magazine Cell Metabolism the outcome of experiments, that suggest that it may be necessary to be physically active in order to derive maximum benefit from dietary restriction (DR). 
Significant restriction of the intake of a particular nutrient or total calories has extended the life span of numerous species in laboratory experiments; however, researchers are still clarifying the mechanisms involved in the techniqueIn research involving fruit flies, Pankaj Kapahi, PhD and colleagues observed that the insects became more physically active when their protein source was restricted. The increased physical activity observed in the dietary-restricted flies was associated with greater fat synthesis and breakdown. 
When fat synthesis in muscle tissue was blocked, so was the life-extending benefit of dietary restriction. And in flies whose motion was limited, the extended life span that normally results from a restricted diet did not occur. 
“Ours is the first study to suggest that for dietary restriction to enhance lifespan, you need increased fat turnover in the muscle and an associated increase in physical activity,” Dr Kapahi announced. “Furthermore, it also suggests that dietary changes may enhance motivation to exercise and help derive maximal benefits of exercise.”In flies genetically engineered to overexpress the hormone AKH, metabolism and activity levels were enhanced and lifespan was extended, even without dietary restriction.
 “Our data suggests that DR may induce changes in muscle similar to those observed under endurance exercise and that molecules like AKH could serve as potential mimetics for DR that enhance activity and healthspan,” remarked lead author and Buck Institute staff scientist Subhash D. Katewa, PhD. 
“A better understanding of the dynamics of fat metabolism is needed in order to clarify its role in aging and disease. These current results suggest that enhanced fat metabolism could help slow aging and the onset of age-related disease.
“Dietary restriction is known to enhance spontaneous movement in a variety of species including primates, however this is the first examination of whether enhanced physical activity is necessary for its beneficial effects,” Dr Kapahi added.
 “This study establishes a link between DR-mediated metabolic activity in muscle, increased movement and the benefits derived from restricting nutrients. Our work argues that simply restricting nutrients without physical activity may not be beneficial in humans.”
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Aerobic fitness can delay ageing by more than a decade

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Toronto: Maintaining aerobic fitness could delay biological ageing by up to 12 years, concludes an analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Aerobic exercise, such as jogging, improves the body’s oxygen consumption and its use in generating energy (metabolism).

But maximal aerobic power starts to fall steadily from middle age, decreasing by around 5 ml/[kg.min] every decade.

When it falls below aound18 ml in men and 15 ml in women, it becomes difficult to do very much at all without severe fatigue.

In a typical sedentary man, the maximal aerobic power will have fallen to around 25 mil/[kg.min] by the age of 60, almost half of what it was at the age of 20.

But the evidence shows that regular aerobic exercise can slow or reverse the inexorable decline, even in later life.

Research shows that relatively high intensity aerobic exercise over a relatively long period boosted maximal aerobic power by 25%, equivalent to a gain of 6 ml/ [kg.min], or 10 to 12 biological years.

“There seems good evidence that the conservation of maximal oxygen intake increases the likelihood that the healthy elderly person will retain functional independence,” says the author, Dr Roy Shephard of the University of Toronto.

The other positive spin-offs of aerobic exercise are reduced risks of serious disease, faster recovery after injury or illness, and reduced risks of falls because of the maintenance of muscle power, balance, and coordination.

Diet drinks linked to metabolic disorders

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New York: Diet drinks (sodas) may be linked to a number of diseases including metabolic syndrome- high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, a big waist, high triglycerides (a blood fat) and low HDL (good) cholesterol.

Metabolic syndrome is believed to be a risk factor for heart disease, according to the report published in the Journal of Circulation

Researchers collected food questionnaires from about 6,000 middle-aged people over several years. Those who drank less than one soda per day were about half as likely to develop metabolic syndrome as those who drank more than one.

Previous studies have suggested (but not proven) that drinking soda may be a marker for a number of factors this study didn’t fully account for:

* an unhealthy lifestyle generally (some of which was controlled for in this study)
* an increased taste for sweet foods triggered by sweet-tasting beverages, regardless of the source of the sweetness (this is only a hypthesis)
* lower economic status (Soda is cheaper than many healthier beverages, meaning people with less money–whom other studies have suggested are at higher risk for heart disease–are more likely to drink them.)

Other researchers have suggested that drinking diet soda is a marker for a desire to lose weight, which could explain why those who drink diet soda appear to be at elevated risk of metabolic syndrome.

New diet drug works on metabolism

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London: A new fatbusting drug that makes the body loose 12 percent of weight in a year – faster than any other drug on the market – could soon be available to UK patients.

The one-a-day tablet called Excalia which has been developed by US scientists works by tricking the metabolism into running faster.

The number of NHS prescriptions for obesity drugs has jumped almost 600 per cent since 1999. Already available in the UK are Xenical, which blocks absorption of fat, Reductil, which makes the stomach feel full, and Acomplia, which reduces cravings and stops the body storing abdominal fat.

Britain’s National Health Service spends around £1bn a year on obesity-related illness such as diabetes and the UK the worst problem with overweight adults.

The American scientists say the pill also helps weight to come off for longer. It works on the hypothalamus in the brain to boost the body’s metabolism and uses two drugs which are already widely used, against epilepsy and smoking. It also boost levels of a hormone that stops us getting hungry.

Clinic trials low-level lasers to curb appetite

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Los Angeles: Trials are taking place to determine the effectiveness of low-level lasers in suppressing appetite and speeding up the metabolism.

The research into this therapy is taking place at Freedom Laser Therapy in Los Angeles, where the lasers are used on the body’s acupuncture points.

Participants also get the expertise of international fitness expert Peter Nielsen, who creates a bespoke lifestyle changing weight loss program for clients.

During the low-level laser therapy session the client watches Peter’s 15-minute weight loss instructional video about his own principles of healthy living. The client receives guidance on nutrition and fitness to promote new healthy lifestyle habits. Inclusive in the program is a weight loss support kit, which consists of nutritional supplements, diet plans, exercise tips, and additional items that will assist the client with their weight loss goals.

For over a decade, Nielsen has worked toward motivating people to get moving and get fit by adopting the philosophy of keeping fitness simple and fun. Nielsen grew up in Brooklyn, New York. At age 15, Peter was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and dropped down to a mere 86 pounds.

Very little was known about Crohn’s Disease in 1977 and even doctors were at a loss to tell his family how to fend off the crippling attacks of abdominal pain and bleeding, not to mention malnutrition and all of the other ailments caused by poor nutrient absorption. Nielsen was physically weakened by surgery and mentally discouraged by the disease’s prognosis. The writing on the wall seemed to say that Nielsen’s life was going to be a limited one. Yet, Peter astonished his family, friends and doctors. A pivotal period of soul searching revealed truths to Peter that transformed his attitude toward his health, his body and especially his life. This is the foundation of Nielsen’s message of health and fitness.

For 25 years, Nielsen has lived a lifestyle of total fitness. In conjunction with his doctors, Nielsen created a new lifestyle that focused on health, nutrition and fitness. Peter Nielsen has earned 72 titles “Mr. International Universe,” “Mr. World Trainer of the Year,” “America’s Top Personal Trainer” and “Best Training Club in the Country.”

Peter Nielsen is providing exercise, nutritional, motivational and educational materials to help patients maintain a healthy lifestyle. Peter Nielsen is not directly affiliated with the laser therapy clinical research trials.

For more information: www.freedomlasertherapy.com