Posted by leostone1971 | February 10th, 2010

Creatine is a protein-based organic element that consists of three amino acids; arginine, glycine and methionine. It is naturally produced by your liver, pancreas and kidneys. It helps your body to generate energy when combined with Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).

Your organs produce 2 grams of creatine every day. However, your body expends that amount when you work under normal conditions. You can obtain creatine by eating fish and meat products. But in order to meet the daily recommended usage of 5 grams, you need to eat at least 5 pounds of meat. Many bodybuilders and weight lifters use creatine supplements to boost the energy level for intensive and rapid muscle contraction under a prolonged duration. In other words, creatine supplements help them to keep their strength up and work their muscles under anabolic environment for more effective muscle building.

So how does creatine help in fat loss and prevent weight gain? Creatine contains no calorie, fat and carbohydrates. Theoretically, it doesn't increase or improve your metabolic rate directly. It doesn't break down fats.

The logic behind the weight loss and fat loss with creatine is that it helps your body to build more endurance. Just like glutamine, creatine does this by filling your muscles with water. Some individuals experience water retention}, but it is only happens within the muscle cells. As the result, the muscles to become bigger and stronger. In addition, this allows the depository of essential nutrients such as protein and carbohydrates in the muscles. Stronger and bigger muscles enable you to achieve leaner mass which increase the metabolism. In short, as you develop more lean muscles with the help of creatine, you will be able to burn more fat.

There are anecdotal evidences that athletes do lose body fat from the result of taking creatine. Although the fat loss and creatine cannot be scientifically proven at this moment, but recent studies are underway to study this possibility. The studies also explore how does creatine exactly work in assisting your body to lose fat. Preliminary studies show that creatine and fat loss may involve certain biochemical activities.

Side effects from the consumption of creatine is very rare. This compound is naturally found in your body. So it should not interfere with your bodily processes. However, certain people may encounter some problems such as diarrhea and an upset stomach if they have sensitive digestive systems. If you have not reached 16 years old, you should not take creatine supplements because your body has not attained the maturity that allows these supplements to increase your endurance and make your muscle leaner.

As a protein supplement, creatine may help you to become leaner through fat loss. It helps you to maintain endurance and develop muscle while removing body fat. However, this is only anecdotal for now. It is always wise to consult your doctor before taking any kind of nutritional supplement.

Need more low-carb diet versus something else comparisons? You're in luck. A new study found that following a low-carb diet may be better for lowering blood pressure than taking an over-the-counter weight loss medication and sticking to a low-fat diet.

Both plans showed similar drops in weight and improvements in other health factors, but the low-carb diet came out ahead in lowering blood pressure. Researchers placed participants in two groups — one consisted of 57 people who ate a low-carbohydrate diet and were allowed to consume unlimited amounts of meat and eggs, but initially only 20 grams per day of carbohydrates (they could add a few extra grams if the cravings got too bad).

The other 65-person group was limited in the intake of fat per day — 30% or less of total calories, as well as restricted consumption of saturated fat (10% or less) and cholesterol (300 mg. or less). In addition the group took the over-the-counter weight loss drug orlistat. The study lasted for 48 weeks.

The low-carb group dropped an average of 5.9 points of systolic blood pressure (the top number that measures the heart's contractions) and 4.5 points on diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number measuring the heart at rest, between heartbeats). The other group dropped 1.5 points on systolic and 0.4 points on diastolic. More people in the low-carb group decreased their blood pressure medication.

On most other results the two groups were similar — the low-carb set lost about 9.5% of body weight while the medication/low-fat diet group lost about 8.5%, and cholesterol and trigylceride levels improved.

In the study, researchers said they thought the two groups would show similar drops in blood pressure since both lost about the same amount of weight, and because orlistat has been shown to slightly lower blood pressure. They speculate that the low-carb diet may have a diuretic effect, or that the lower serum insulin levels that occur with a low-carb diet could have an effect on sodium retention.

The study was published in the January 25th issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

– Jeannine Stein

Photo credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Low-Carb Diet May Be Better At Reducing Blood Pressure than Weight-Loss Drugs

Durham, NC, United States (AHN) – A low-carbohydrate diet showed to be more effective in lowering blood pressure than a popular weight-loss drug, according to Veterans Affairs and Duke University health researchers.

Lead author Dr. William S. Yancy, Jr. said in a statement that the findings show that for those with high blood pressure and a weight problem, a low-carb diet may be more effective in lowering hypertension than taking drugs like orlistat, which is now sold over-the-counter.

The researchers also said pursuing weight-loss through diet may pose less side effects than taking medication. Participants in the study who either took orlistat or adopted a low-carbohydrate diet lost an average of 10 percent of their body fat.

Yancy said the study was one of the first to pit the benefits of diet alone against taking weight-loss drugs. Previous studies have shown that a combination of prescription-strength orlistat, a low-carbohydrate and a low-fat diet is an effective method of losing weight.

The study appears in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

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Posted by leostone1971 | February 9th, 2010

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Biotech, Weight Loss, Drugs

Zafgen’s Mysterious Weight Loss Drug Advances Into First Trial for Obese Women

Luke Timmerman 2/8/10

Zafgen arrived on the Boston biotech scene about 18 months ago with blue-chip venture backing, a highly regarded scientist as CEO, and an audacious idea. The Cambridge, MA-based company was developing a powerful new weight loss drug made to work unlike any other treatment in development, by cutting off the blood supply to fat tissue.

One year later, results are in. The idea was wrong.

“That was the theory,” says CEO Tom Hughes. “It doesn’t appear to be the case.”

As it turns out, though, that’s not the end of the story. Allow me to begin at the beginning.

Zafgen first emerged in public in September 2008. That’s when Hughes joined the company after a stint as global head of cardiovascular and metabolism research at the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research in Cambridge. Third Rock Ventures and Atlas Ventures provided the initial backing. The idea was to build on research at Children’s Hospital Boston that found drugs which are made to block formation of blood vessels—a successful cancer-fighting strategy—might also help shrink fat tissue. It was a provocative finding from mouse experiments, partly because nobody had really tried it before. Many other drugs in development for obesity work on receptors in the brain, trying to coax the body to think it’s full and stop eating.

VCs listened with some interest because obesity is one of the biggest market opportunities in the pharmaceutical business now. An estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

One of the key things Zafgen learned over the past year, based on detailed animal experiments, was that its drug didn’t work through the mechanisms it intended. The company conducted experiments on its lead candidate and found at the tiny doses it intended to use, “we have absolutely no effect on angiogenesis,” the scientific term for formation of new blood vessels.

People: Duggars Pose With Hospitalized Preemie, Say They Want More Kids

Promoting risky medical decisions is becoming a trend for People: This week, the Duggars share pictures of their 19th child, who was born premature, and declare they're open to having more kids because, “You can't let fear direct your lives.”

Though Josie Brooklyn, who was born three months premature on December 10 and weighed only 1 lb. 6 oz., is still in a neonatal intensive care unit, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar feel now is a great time to address their critics in People. “The negatives don't bother us” says Jim Bob, “Our hearts haven't changed.”

For those of you who wondered if Josie being born at just 25 weeks would change the Duggars' commitment to not using contraception, the answer is a resounding no. According to People:

[The Duggars] remain committed to their belief that “each child is a gift from God” and are open to having more. Michelle knows how their position is likely to be viewed, particularly following Josie's arrival. “When I say we would love more children, we open ourselves up for attack,” she admits.

So why make a public announcement about your family plans, especially when Josie and Michelle's health situation is still so unclear? Unlike the Heidi Montag plastic surgery cover story, People quotes several medical sources in the article. They all say more pregnancies would be harmful to the Michelle and the child, including obstetrician Dr. Jeffrey Richardson, who warns that after four children, pregnancies become much more dangerous and, “postpartum hemorrhage, dysfunctional labor, preterm labor and early miscarriage are all risks.” The article also mentions that while Michelle became pregnant with Josie six months after her last pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends spacing out pregnancies by at least 18 months.

It's not even clear at this point if Michelle, who is 43 and was diagnosed with preeclampsia while pregnant with Josie, can have more children. Usually, the Duggars only method of birth control is following the Biblical recommendation to abstain from sex for 40 days after having a boy and 80 days after having a girl. “It is not as if we're going for another immediately. This is going to be a year of different focus for me, getting Josie through her first year of life,” says Michelle.

Of course, Michelle has a right to do whatever she wants with her body, but that doesn't make her decision to appear in People any less questionable. It's hard to say which is the stranger symbol of how our society treats pregnancy: Kourtney Kardashian's baby appearing on four tabloid covers in his first month of life, or Josie Duggar appearing on the cover of People with a tube taped to her tiny face seven weeks before her due date. The public is curious about the Duggars and the TLC show 19 Kids and Counting provides some of the money to raise all those children, but do we need to read quotes from Michelle and Jim Bob about their reproductive decisions wrapped around the photo above, of their newest baby fighting for her life? It's bad enough that tabloids are mainly focused on how fast moms lose the baby weight, but People has achieved a new low by focusing more on the novelty of a 20th Duggar that the health of the 19th.

Baby Josie Duggar's 18 Siblings Getting To Know Her Onscreen

The full article is available in the February 15, 2010 issue of People.

Earlier: Hey, Nineteen
Just Perfect: People Glamorizes Plastic Surgery Addiction
The “Baby Weight” Obsession: Officially Out Of Control

Send an email to Margaret Hartmann, the author of this post, at margaret@jezebel.com.

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Watching our weight isn't just for looks. Obesity increases our risk of health problems like joint and back pain, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, gall stones, certain cancers, fertility problems, depression and breathlessness.

How to check your weight

Most of us can tell when we've put on some weight. But it can be harder to know when it's time to lose some weight for our health's sake. Fortunately, scientists have come up with a simple way to check using a simple calculation known as the Body Mass Index (BMI). This describes your weight in relation to your height.

Keeping your weight in hand can sometimes seem like hard work. But with just a few simple diet and lifestyle changes, weight control can become easier. And you'll feel a whole lot better.

Importance of exercise

Whilst a healthy low fat diet is key to achieving a healthy body weight, exercise is also very important. Physical activity is the only way to increase energy expenditure, and exercise combined with decreased calorie intake, is the best way to decrease body fat and very importantly, maintain lean body weight over the long term.

Getting active need not mean kitting yourself out in lycra and heading for the gym. Why not start by taking regular walks, cycling if you have a bike, swimming at the local pool and using the stairs instead of a lift. If these sound dull, consider yoga, kick boxing, dancing – anything, just get moving!

See your doctor before embarking on any new exercise regime.

Top Tips for Healthy Weight Control

* Start your day with a healthy low fat breakfast, featuring Kellogg's cereals for example.
* Be realistic, be prepared for ups and downs, and think long term.
* Keep a food diary to learn more about your eating habits.
* Enjoy regular, low fat, high carbohydrate meals and snacks.
* Be active in your daily life.
* Don't go it alone – enlist support from family or friends.

Why a High Carbohydrate, Low Fat diet does the trick

Carbohydrates are all the sugars and starches in food. Scientific studies confirm that they are the body's favourite fuel, they contain less than half the calories of fat and they are naturally good at controlling our appetite. Examples of healthy carbohydrate-rich foods are breakfast cereals (like Kellogg's), breads, potatoes, rice, noodles and pasta. Base your meals and snacks on these, eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables each day, and limit fatty foods. This is the simple route to enjoying filling and nutritious food. And it helps keep your weight in hand.

Why we genuinely feel that Kellogg's Cereals can help you and your family control your weight

* Eating breakfast doesn't make you fat. In fact research shows that breakfast cereal eaters have lower fat diets, and tend to be slimmer than those who don't eat a cereal breakfast.
* Kellogg's will ensure that every breakfast cereal we make is at least 90% fat-free. All that energy you get from carbohydrate-rich foods like Kellogg's cereals is much more readily burned off than energy from fatty foods.
* Did you know that one gram of fat has nine calories, compared to four calories per gram of carbohydrate.
* Studies highlight that filling up on a cereal-based breakfast makes mid-morning munchies much less likely.
* Kellogg's cereals are fortified with essential vitamins and iron. They help give everybody a nutritious diet, but they're very important for weight watchers. When you eat less than usual it's harder to get all the nutrients you need. This is especially true for women and teenage girls who need a lot of the mineral iron in their diet. Kellogg's cereals can also help provide the important vitamin Folic Acid, and milk on top adds bone-strengthening calcium.
* A Kellogg's breakfast is ready in no time, and a family favourite. This increases the chances of something being eaten before they rush out of the door in the morning.

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Eczema is an allergic skin condition in which there are red, itchy, scaly, dry/weepy patches on the cheeks, in front of the elbows, at the back of the knees and outer surface of the legs. Most of the infants with eczema have the Atopic Variety, which means a family history of allergy. It has been observed that almost seventy five percent of children with eczema, or atopic dermatitis have relatives with hay fever or asthama.

The triad of atopic dermatitis, asthma and hay fever is inherited as a simple dominant gene. Atopic children from increased amounts of immunoglobin E, in response to a variety of ingested and inhaled antigens. Certain foods e.g. milk, egg, wheat, citrus fruits, tomato are known to aggravate the basic condition. Ice cream – soda, coffee can also cause trouble.

Some children are intolerant to woolen clothing, certain soaps and oils, bubble-bath, disposable diapers and some plants. They develop dermatitis (a condition skin to eczema on coming in contact with these substances. In older children psychological factors play an important role as triggering agents.

Skin tests for food allergies are not very accurate and cannot be relied upon, because in a rapidly grounding child immune responses keep changing rapidly. The child may outgrow some allergies and may develop certain new ones.

Management

A. General Principles

1. If a 2-3 months old baby develops this condition it is likely to be over by the age of 18-24 months. It has been hypothesized that these babies are allergic to milk, which constitutes their staple diet. As the child's dependence upon milk decreases with age, the allergy subsides.

2. Avoid frequent washing of skin, especially with soap. Add olive oil/coconut oil to the bath water (1/2 teaspoon to a bucket). This forms a protective film over the body. Apply an emollient cream within three minutes of bathing the baby. This helps in trapping the moisture within the skin, before it gets time to evaporate.

3. Soft cotton cloths are best for these children. Avoid wool, fur and synthetic fabric.

4. We don't recommend the use of mittens at night to prevent scratching. If the itching is severe it is better to consult the doctor. Keep the child's nails sort.

B. Drugs

1. Application of calendula cream is safe and can be done without medical supervision. Linseed oil can also be applied over the eczematous patches.

2. Ointments containing corticosteroids are very effective in eczema, but they get absorbed into the body through the skin and may cause side effects. They can also cause atrophy (thinning) of the skin. These ointments must always be used after consulting the doctor, who will prescribe a mild steroid, appropriate for your baby's tender skin. As soon as you see a new patch, start applying the ointment. Early treatment shortens the duration, hence parents must be educated in how to manage flare-ups as soon as they begin.

3. Role of antibiotics is limited to the cases where secondary infection supervenes over the eczematous patch. Erythromycin in the most commonly used antibiotic. Other antibiotics of this group – Roxithromycin, Azithromycin and Clarithromycin can also be used. Cefalexins – Cefpodoxime, Cefdinir, Cefachlor and Cefuroxime are also good choices. A course of 7-10 days usually suffices. Local application of antibiotic ointments should only be done for short duration, since they are potential allergens.

4. Antihistamine drugs may be prescribed for their antipruritic (anti-itching) effect. Promethazine, Clemestine, Chlorpheneramine, Cetrizine, Levocetrizine, Loratidine etc. are available and can be used according to the age of the child. Since much scratching is done during the night and most of the antihistamines cause some sedation, it is better to administer them at night.

5. In very severe and resistant cases, Cyclosporine, a potentially toxic drug, has been found to be of some help.

6. Vitamin C, Pantothenic acid (a cortisone precursor) essential fatty acids, zinc and beta-carotene are helpful adjuncts to therapy.

A word of caution: Children usually outgrow the worst of their eczema around 2 years of age, but 50% of these children may develop some respiratory allergy (Allergic rhinitis, Asthma) in later childhood.

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