The (literal) rise of moobies

There has been much press coverage men’s increased exposure to oestrogen, and the rise of fast food eating in young men, both of which have contributed to men being more prone to excess fat on the chest which are referred to as moobs, but why? Body image therapist Emma James explain that moobs are fatty deposits on the mammary area of men, more commonly known as male breast tissue. Moobies, or man breasts, have been around from some time, but in recent years have acquired more attention as the focus of perfection has highlighted an area which until now has remained an accepted part of carrying additional weight for men.”

But why? Well we have an increased amount of oestrogen in the water supply through widespread use of the Pill and HRT, but other factors also play a part such as an increase in weight, lack of physical activity, and decreased testosterone levels as men age. Today we have a much more sedentary lifestyle, less manual labour and exercise so that men’s body fat percentages have increased.

The sexes have different areas where the body fat is harder to shift with dieting and exercise. For women it is the thighs, lower back, lower abdominals and buttocks and for men, it is the stomach, lower back and moobs/chest area.

Don’t despair:

Moobies are something that can fairly easily be tackled with a combination of diet and exercise that will promote testosterone, increase muscle tissue and shape the chest area. It’s the combination that is important, because if you don’t diet when exercising, you will build muscle under the fat and possibly make them worse. Find a diet or eating plan that will speed up your metabolism and also help you lose body fat – men seem to do well on high protein diets such as modified Atkins – but check out all possibilities and no crash or fad diets please. On the diet front it’s the old enemies of processed foods, salt, sugar and bread and make an appointment to get a personalised workout at a gym.

You need specific exercises to shape your pectoral (chest) muscles and banish those moobies and you need professional guidance and help to achieve it. I am told you need to keep the repetition range to a fat burning level of 12 to 20 reps and to work the upper, mid and lower areas of the chest. No, I haven’t tried it myself – why would I – but I am told that is the most effective regime.

I’m ok but what happened to my body?

No, I am not having a crisis about my weight but that’s the title of a remarkable book by a remarkable man. He is a scientist called Sang Whang and I first came across him through his best-selling book ‘Reverse Ageing’ where he discussed the fact that from the age of 42 age we begin to lose bicarbonate from the blood which is one of the factors that makes us begin the aeing process. Sang Whang refers to it as the ‘battery charger’ of the body and he has found a way to stop those phsiological changes. Taking a spoonful of bicarb of soda is not the answer, but Sang Whang’s field of expertise is water, and you know I bang on at you about drinking lots of the stuff, but his research has been into the life giving effects of getting the acid-alkaline balance right in our bodies and this means changing the water we drink into a more alkaline form.

Like many others, it was his own journey of improving his own health without benefit of medicine or exercise, or changing his diet that led him to develop his ideas in this book, and from that a product called AlkaLife®, which is a patented alkaline concentrate. We get energy from the food we eat and this occurs through a process called oxidization which if not used up then becomes acidic waste. As our body cannot get rid of all the waste it produces, it accumulates it somewhere and that’s what causes ageing. You may not think much about this, but you know the effects of solidified acidic waste as cholesterol, fatty acid, and kidney stones. There is also the fact that cancer does not thrive in an alkaline environment so this is another health reason to keep the body’s acid-alkaline ratio in balance.

This excess acid also can produce long term damage as the blood thickens and blood circulation becomes sluggish. This means your vital organs don’t get enough oxygen and nutrients for optimum performance and this can lead to diseases, some of which are fatal. To keep your body balanced it often needs some extra help to balance out this acidity and boost the alkalinity of your body and one of the best ways to neutralize and get these wastes out of our body is to drink alkaline water. See you knew I would come back to nagging you to drink more water!

Sang Whang has patented AlkaLife®, whose ingredients of ionized water, potassium and sodium and increases the pH value of ordinary drinking water. It will restore that alkaline balance when you add 20 drops a day to your daily litre or so of water. I am trying it out myself and will keep you posted on the results. If you would like to know more visit the website at www.alkalife.co.uk

Beware vigorous exercise!

To be honest I have never had to be warned about vigorous exercise as it doesn’t suit me at all. As a follower of the D’Adamo blood group diet my ‘type’ works best with yoga and tai chi and whenver I have tried a gym or aerobics class I haven’t had the ‘high’ but only the desire to curl up in a ball and sleep it off. Now it seems that research from New York University Medical Center suggests that the more you engage in vigorous exercise, the more you’re at risk for atrial fibrillation (AF). This is a an irregular rapid heart rate and can result in mild symptoms like fainting to the potentially lethal ones of heart failure or stroke.

If you have serious, unrecognized, heart disease then exercise may cause you to experience sudden death from a heart attack. In fact, the leading cause of exercise-related deaths, even in well-trained athletes, is coronary heart disease. The research showed that men in their study who exercised enough to break a sweat from five to seven days each week upped the chances of developing AF by a massive 20 percent. The control group who did no vigorous exercise didn’t have any increase in their propensity for AF.

This research was not based on older, unhealthy men but rather on healthy men under 50 who ran regularly. In this group AF increased by 53 percent in men who jog, and as much as 74 percent for young men who routinely exercise hard enough to sweat. Anyone for a nice walk?

Spotless at last

Elaine Mummery has become an acne specialist through her own suffering which began at the age of 13 and she has explored every available avenue to getting a clear and healthy complexion. Spots don’t just happen to teenagers, they can also be a problem throughout life, particularly for women during menopause. Her excellent, clear, book offers real practical solutions and is sourced from doctors all around the world. She is adamant that you don’t need to invest in expensive creams and lotions to cure your skin, but you do need information to start tackling acne and spots, whether it’s a lifelong problem or an occasional flare up. An ideal present for anyone who wants to see visibly clearer skin within seven days, so head to your bookstore – real or virtual – and buy a copy of Spotless for just £10.

Or visit Amazon – Click on the book cover here:

Pesticides last longer in kids

Summer brings bounty in the fields and the gardens and that applies to the insects that feed off it – which leads the farmers and gardeners to reach for the means to control them. Pesticide exposure poses a health risk to us all, but particularly to children. Obviously children’s systems are more vulnerable to the toxic effects, but new research by the University of California at Berkeley has revealed that their susceptibility lasts much longer than expected.

A new born baby has only one-third of paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an enzyme critical to the detoxification of organophosphate pesticides, than the baby’s mother has. It was previously thought that PON1 enzyme activity in children approached adult levels by age 2, but the horrific figure this research has thrown up is that the enzyme level remained low in some children right up to the age of seven.

This has led the researchers to recommended that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) re-evaluate the current standards for acceptable levels of pesticide exposure. For parents, it means being extra vigilant when using pesticides in the garden and making sure that children are in the house and the windows are closed until several hours after spraying. Organophosphate pesticides in products sold for use in homes, are severely restricted, mainly because of risks to children but are still available for agricultural use. If driving through, or living near, farmland where crop spraying takes place again keep windows closed to minimize exposure.

Keeping cool and healthy – healthy chocolate smoothie!

Three treats for you: a cooling summer cordial, a wonderful and healthy chocolate smoothie and good news on white tea.

Summer cordial first as I have passed on this recipe to several friends and it is ideal if you are bored with drinking plain water but you want to keep up your fluid intake in this hot weather. This is a very flexible recipe and you can vary it to suit your taste, I prefer it slightly more astringent than sweet as it’s more refreshing, but you experiment:

In a jug mix together juice of 1 lemon, large glass fruit juice such as apple or cranberry (not orange!) a mug of green (or white) tea steeped until cold, slug of high juice cordial such as apple or elderflower (not sugar free or with any sweeteners in it). Mix and chill then dilute to taste with still or sparkling water – 50/50 is what I use but you may prefer it stronger. I match the fruit juice to the cordial for best effect so apple and elderflower or cranberry juice and red fruit cordial and undiluted it makes a lovely mix for Pimms or white rum for a long drink.

You will see I mentioned white tea in that recipe, it has similar antioxidant levels to green tea, and new research from Germany shows that it has possible anti-obesity effects based on a series of experiments on human fat cells, known as adipocytes. An extract of the tea inhibits the production and growth of new adipocytes and stimulates fat mobilization from mature fat cells. So if your fat cells are as mature as mine you could try making that cordial with white tea and see what happens!

Healthy Chocolate Vanilla Smoothie Recipe

This recipe comes from Dr Kim and if you are a regular smoothie maker you will know that it works best with frozen fruit not ice. I buy frozen berries by the bagful for mine, but this recipe needs a little forward planning as you have to freeze a couple of bananas – easier if you peel and cut them into slices first!

This recipe tastes wonderful, and is rich in flavonoids, which are phytonutrients that can help keep your cardiovascular system healthy as you age. So make two and get even younger:

In a blender combine two handfuls of frozen sliced bananas, 1 flat tablespoon of raw, organic chocolate powder, few drops of vanilla essence to taste (or use vanilla bean specks from one whole vanilla bean) and enough milk to submerge about 3/4 of the banana slices in liquid if you want a very thick smoothie, or cover them completely for a more drinkable version.   Healthiest options here are soy, almond, cashew, rice, or oat milk rather than dairy, and you will find them in the supermarket or health store.

Cupping and carpal tunnel

If you are a fan of the red carpet you may have noticed Gwyneth Paltrow exhibiting strange red marks on her body. This new celebrity treatment is endorsed by people as diverse as Britney Spears and Patsy Kensit and is an updated take on an established therapy in use in China, India, Arabia, Central Europe and parts of Africa. Used mainly for improving circulation, digestive and respiratory problems it now appears to be helpful for pain relief – particularly for those suffering from Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) – and I believe for RSI for those operating computer keyboards all day.

A new German study at the Immanuel Hospital in Berlin took 52 sufferers and randomly assigned them to a cupping programme or a placebo treatment. Their study, published on 25 June in a peer journal, confirms that this external suction technique is effective for providing temporary relief of pain from carpal tunnel syndrome.

How it works:

The treatment group had the wet cupping glasses applied in an area over the trapezius muscle. Cupping is applied to defined zones of the shoulder triangle which are connective tissue zones at the shoulder-neck region. The cupping creates a partial vacuum as the wet cup adheres to the skin – and also a rather obvious red mark which can take a while to go down. Unlike Gwyneth, you might want to avoid backless dresses until the mark disappears.

Results were impressive and showed that the patients experienced a highly significant decrease in CPS pain and other symptoms. Just one single treatment improved the ability to use the hand and wrist, and improved the quality of life as pain was decreased.

New MRSA threat from your pet

Not literally a bite I hope, but MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) has rarely been out of the headlines, and as if we haven’t got enough to worry about with superbug infection it now seems our family pets could be carriers. And what’s worse, not only of MRSA but at least 30 other pathogens as well.

This study comes from the University of South Florida College of Medicine in Tampa and reported in The Lancet. It confirms that MRSA can cycle back and forth between cats and dogs and their owners. It’s probably you that starts the cycle by passing it on to your pet where it sets up home and is the gift that keeps on giving as they return it back to you.

This isn’t unknown, but it certainly isn’t widely publicised. As far back as 1988, researchers reported that a cat living in a UK geriatric unit had passed MRSA back to both patients and staff. Analysis showed that 38% of the nursing staff were affected by the repassing of the bug. In 2006, researchers isolated MRSA from the skin lesions of a three-year-old domestic shorthaired cat with flea allergy and — for the first time in a household pet — confirmed the pathogen as a USA300 clone. This is a major source of skin soft-tissue infection and the cat’s owner had suffered from repeated soft-tissue staphylococcal infections but without ever thinking it was passed on from the cat.

Treatment if your pet decides to share with you is the same as for any MRSA infection, but prevention is a better bet. So first of all pay attention to keeping your pet clean, and maintaining immunizations and dealing quickly with any parasites such as fleas. We all love stroking our pets, but just make sure that frequent hand washing with a good antibacterial soap or liquid follows and always before touching or preparing food.

Healthy superfoods made easy

Many health regimes advocate you have lots of seeds which can mean lots of opened packets that rapidly go off as you forget to use them up. There is an easier way which is to let someone else put together the perfect health combination and happily a company called Linwoods have taken up the task. They have an interesting combination of milled flaxseed, sunflower, sesame and goji berries which has all your essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. It’s the Super 5 mix and it has a number of health benefits:

Balances your nervous system as there is an amazing 230% of the RDA (recommended daily amount) of Vitamin B12 which plays a key role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, and is involved in the metabolism of every cell in your body.

Keeps your Hair, Skin and Nails Beautiful with it’s Vitamin E content. This fat soluble antioxidant protects cellular tissue from oxidation and helps protect and repair any damage to your skin, hair and nails.

Boosts your vitamin and mineral intake as it contains a large range of vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B Complex, D, E and minerals including Zinc, Iron and Calcium.

Helps prevent osteoporosis as the calcium found in flaxseed and sunflower seeds is a vital mineral that builds bone and keeps it strong.

Keeps you regular and lowers cholesterol as flaxseed is very high in fibre. It contains insoluble fibre help to maintain healthy bowel regularity and soluble fibre which can assist in lowering cholesterol.

Assists in prevention of prostate enlargement as it contains zinc which can help regulate normal cell activity and build immune system response. A strong immune system is needed to calm enlarged and inflamed prostates

A good source of dietary phytooestrogens that help regulate oestrogen levels in the body.

Anti-ageing and good for the immune system, and although Goji berries sound highly exotic they are now found on supermarket shelves – at least they are in my local Sainsbury’s. Very useful if you have vegetarians in the family as they contain all 8 essential amino acids which are the building blocks of protein and can only be obtained from the diet. Something that vegetarians can struggle to have enough of as amino acids cannot be stored in the body but have to be used up every day. They also contain Iron so that makes them a good source of energy and vitamin C which is essential for a healthy immune system.

If you want to stay young and beautiful then Goji berries are high in antioxidants which are indeed anti-ageing, as well as supporting your immune system.

How to avoid or eliminate kidney stones

If you have ever had a kidney stone you know that you will do anything to avoid the incredible pain they can cause. Those most at risk have a family history of the condition and men as they get them four times as often as women. Unfortunately once you have had one attack your chances of getting another rise to around 75 percent, and the younger you are when you get the first the odds are even higher.

Kidney stones can be minute or as big as a golf ball and if it doesn’t pass out of your system then you can do permanent damage to your urinary tract. More adults are being diagnosed, and so are children as young as five or six, and the blame for the increase can be laid at the door of our modern diet – particularly an excess of salt and the fact we do not drink enough water. Other risk factors include having high blood pressure and digestive problems.

Spotting a kidney stone:

Well the pain in your side and back, just below your ribs, will give you a clue so never ignore it – though it’s severity usually means you won’t be able to. You may have pain when urinating and it can be cloudy, malodorous or bloody and you may have an ‘urgent’ bladder that demands immediate attention. Nausea and vomiting can accompany an attack or even feel cold sweat or a fever.

Kidney stones occur when the minerals and acid salts in your urine crystallize, stick together, and solidify into a mass and this happens when your urine is at the extreme of acidity or alkalinity. Happily, most stones pass within a few days without you doing anything at all, but if you have any of the above symptoms go see your doctor immediately.

How to deal with it:

Well first step is to monitor the colour of your urine. Pale is good, but the darker it is the more you need to increase your water intake. Ideally it should be a pale yellow – unless you are taking B complex supplements which can turn the urine bright yellow/orange in colour due to the B2 they contain, so this is not a reliable guide for you in that case. Next, help your body by keeping it active with regular exercise to mobilise fluids, and avoid those things that promote kidney stones; sugar, caffeine, salt, processed foods.

You also need good levels of magnesium in your diet, as it is believed to help prevent stones from forming. See the item on osteoporosis for some food suggestions. Also, don’t avoid calcium-rich foods – although calcium is what makes up the stones the calcium from foods is good for you – but not that from supplements which actually increase your risk.

Being thirsty is a warning you are dehydrated, not a signal to get a drink. You need to be ahead of your thirst, not behind it.

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