Disease Proof : Disease Proof : Health & Nutrition News & Commentary : Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Research by Tufts Medical Center claims Tai Chi, an ancient form of Chinese exercise, DECREASES knee pain from arthritis. Reuters reports:

The study provided the latest evidence that tai chi may offer benefits for people with arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation advocacy group recommends it for improving the quality of life of people with arthritis.

Tai chi is a form of exercise developed in China centuries ago. With tai chi, a person slowly performs a series of postures or movements that are low impact and put little stress on the muscles and joints. It can improve muscle function, balance and flexibility.

That’s why I started doing yoga. Oh, and a previous study determined Tai Chi also helps CONTROL type-2 diabetes. Pretty cool!

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I’m a genius! I do HUNDREDS of web searches each day. A new report claims searching the net TRAINS our brains to stay active and healthy; Reuters reports.

This is GREAT! And centenarians would agree. In a recent survey, U.S. centenarians listed “keep your mind active” as a TOP TEN tip for living to 100.

I wonder how many searches you’d have to do to STOP alcohol from shrinking your brain. Oh, and here's more tips! Check out Dr. Fuhrman’s Seven Secrets of Longevity.

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New research in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology claims listening to music gives workouts a BOOST! Via Brunel University:

Thirty participants exercised on a treadmill while listening to a selection of motivational rock or pop music, including tracks by Queen, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Madonna. They were asked to keep in strict time with the beat. The findings show that when carefully selected according to scientific principles, music can enhance endurance by 15% and improve the ‘feeling states’ of exercisers, helping them to derive much greater pleasure from the task. One significant new finding is that music can help exercisers to feel more positive even when they are working out at a very high intensity – close to physical exhaustion.

I TOTALLY agree. When I turn on the Metallica, I become a BEAST! What kind of music gets your motor running?

Via Diet-Blog.

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The National Football League has made youth FITNESS a priority. And recently, members of the New York Giants, helped build a playground in New Jersey, part of the NFL’s Play 60 campaign, encouraging kids to eat right and be ACTIVE for 60-minutes a day; via The New York Times.

Now, this is all well and good, but football has its OWN health problems. Football players, specifically NFL linemen, are SHORT-LIVED and at HIGHER risk of heart disease. The ENORMOUS size of these men—a result of “bulking up”—cuts into their lifespan.

Worse yet, the “bigger is better” trend may be undermining youth fitness initiatives, like Play 60. Previous reports have shown even HIGH SCHOOL football players are packing on the size—putting their future health at risk!

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Obesity and general unhealthiness are CHOKING this country. Most of us eat crap and DON’T exercise. But now, researchers are urging that activity-level may be the MOST important indicator of good health; the Associated Press reports.

And with that, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department has published REVISED national exercise guidelines; up to 2 1/2 hours of activity a week, including things like walking briskly, water aerobics, ballroom dancing, jogging and jumping rope.

Now, if you’ve got two left feet like me and can’t dance. You might want to try training like a Navy Seal or a MIGHTY Spartan. Remember, exercise not only helps you look good and feel great—it helps you POOP too!

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A new study, presented at the2008 American Physiological Society Intersociety Meeting, claims, just ONE session of exercise speeds up metabolism in obese people; after ONLY 90-minutes of activity study participants burned 700 excess calories; Reuters reports.

Exercise is POWERFUL medicine! Running helps people live longer, active video games allow people to overcome obesity genes and other activities, like weight-lifting, improve heart health, cut diabetes-risk and reduce depression.

That’s why I exercise like a lunatic!
 

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No doubt, obesity is WHACKING the world. The United States is fat, China is fat and getting fatter, even poor countries, like Nigeria and Uganda, are obese and the British have even started printing bodyweight on children’s report cards to help control fatness.

Even global warming has been linked to obesity! Clearly, we got a problem. Now, South Korea has its own solution for combating weight-gain in kids. They’re providing FREE vouchers to health clubs for obese children; Reuters reports.

I think, like healthy eating, good fitness and exercise habits start with the parents. Bev Sklar of That’sFit watched her young daughter become very intrigued by Yoga when she saw mommy doing it. Hey, my passion for exercise was ignited by my mother—who still gets up at 4AM to run!
 

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