Guest guest Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 Never too late to mend lifestyle, studies say By Ronald Kotulak Tribune science reporter Published September 22, 2004 Just what you've always wanted: a proven formula for living longer and healthier, and with minimal memory loss. The catch is that it involves doing things you probably already know you should be doing, but don't. Namely: following a Mediterranean diet concentrating on vegetables, fruits and seafood; getting regular exercise; consuming a moderate amount of alcohol; and not smoking. That may seem like boring, familiar advice compared with the blandishments of the latest quick weight-loss fads. But a series of scientific reports in Tuesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association packs a big surprise: People ages 70 to 90 who follow those four lifestyle directives lower their risk of death in the next 10 years by 65 percent compared with people who do not. Because the research shows that the four strategies work even late in life, it holds out hope for people who have been burning their candle at both ends and now think it's too late for a change to do any good. " There's no time like the present to switch to a healthy lifestyle, even if you're already 70 to 90 years old because there's substantial benefit, " Eric B. Rimm of the Harvard School of Public Health said in a telephone interview. Two of the journal studies indicated that lifestyle also has a huge impact on the brain. One study of elderly men showed that those who walked two or more miles a day had only one-fifth the risk of developing dementia compared with men who walked less than a quarter-mile a day. And women ages 70 and older who regularly exercised reduced their risk of cognitive decline by 20 percent. " As a society, the United States spends billions on chronic disease treatments and interventions for risk factors, " Rimm and Dr. Meir J. Stampfer of the Harvard School of Public Health wrote in a journal editorial. " Although these are useful and important, a fraction of that investment to promote healthful lifestyles for primary prevention among individuals at all ages would yield greater benefit. " Body chemistry changes A fourth journal study showed why the Mediterranean diet appears so effective in protecting health. Not only does it help people lose weight, but it changes body chemistry by reducing dangerous insulin abnormalities and chronic inflammation of arteries and other tissue. Elevated insulin leads to Type 2 diabetes in adults, and chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Both are part of what doctors call " metabolic syndrome, " which greatly increases a person's risk of chronic disease. " The results of this study represent the first demonstration, to our knowledge, that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, walnuts and olive oil might be effective in reducing both the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its associated cardiovascular risk, " said Dr. Katherine Esposito of the Second University of Naples, Italy, the study's lead author. After two years on the Mediterranean diet, 55 percent of patients with metabolic syndrome no longer showed symptoms of the syndrome. Of 90 patients put on a " prudent " diet, which allowed for more fats and calories, only 13 percent reverted to normal. Researchers found that subjects on the Mediterranean diet experienced significant decreases in body weight, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol and triglycerides, and they had a significant increase in HDL, the so-called good cholesterol. The 10-year study of the Mediterranean diet's effect on longevity involved 1,507 men and 832 women ages 70 to 90 in 11 European countries. It found that each of the four lifestyle choices independently reduced the risk of death from all causes in the next 10 years, confirming the findings of previous studies of individual risk factors. The new study found that the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 23 percent lower risk of death; moderate alcohol use, 22 percent lower risk; physical activity, 37 percent; and not smoking, 35 percent. Thwarting common killers But people who followed all four lifestyle directives lowered their risk of death from cancer, heart disease, stroke and other common killers by 65 percent compared with people who followed only one or none. People who followed two low-risk lifestyle strategies lowered their risk of death by 38 percent, and those who followed three lowered their risk by 55 percent. Moderate alcohol consumption is often defined as up to 30 grams a day, or about two drinks. The new finding shows the wisdom of following a diet proved to be effective instead of grasping for fad diets that emphasize factors such as low carbohydrates and high fat, said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and a pioneer in linking diet to heart disease. " This is further important evidence on the lifetime merit of a lifestyle that emphasizes the classic Mediterranean eating pattern, regular moderate physical activity and non-smoking as the path to greater longevity with health and freedom from the risk of epidemic coronary and cardiovascular disease and cancer, " said Stamler, who was not involved with the journal study. 2004, Chicago Tribune I read my Ambrose Bierce and am comforted. PEACE - n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two periods of fighting. PATRIOT - n. One to whom the interests of a part seem superior to those of the whole. The dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors. PATRIOTISM - n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. POLITICS - n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. POLITICIAN - n. an eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 22, 2004 Report Share Posted September 22, 2004 I agree with this article except for the part about the " fad " diets it mentions. Lower-carb plans DO concentrate on vegetables, fruits, whole-grains and seafood, getting regular exercise, and not smoking. Of course many also incorporate chicken and beef, but just fish is perfectly acceptable. Controlled-carb plans are hardly a fad and have been around for decades. About the alcohol, leading endocrinologist Dr. Diana Schwarzbein calls it " a toxic chemical that affects every hormone in your body. " I know there are studies that show alcohol is beneficial, but I don't believe them and don't touch the stuff. , The Stewarts <stews9@c...> wrote: > > Never too late to mend lifestyle, studies say > > By Ronald Kotulak > Tribune science reporter > Published September 22, 2004 > > Just what you've always wanted: a proven formula for living longer and > healthier, and with minimal memory loss. The catch is that it involves > doing things you probably already know you should be doing, but don't. > > Namely: following a Mediterranean diet concentrating on vegetables, fruits > and seafood; getting regular exercise; consuming a moderate amount of > alcohol; and not smoking. > > That may seem like boring, familiar advice compared with the blandishments > of the latest quick weight-loss fads. > > But a series of scientific reports in Tuesday's issue of the Journal of > the American Medical Association packs a big surprise: People ages 70 to > 90 who follow those four lifestyle directives lower their risk of death in > the next 10 years by 65 percent compared with people who do not. > > Because the research shows that the four strategies work even late in life, > it holds out hope for people who have been burning their candle at both > ends and now think it's too late for a change to do any good. > > " There's no time like the present to switch to a healthy lifestyle, even > if you're already 70 to 90 years old because there's substantial benefit, " > Eric B. Rimm of the Harvard School of Public Health said in a telephone > interview. > > Two of the journal studies indicated that lifestyle also has a huge impact > on the brain. One study of elderly men showed that those who walked two or > more miles a day had only one-fifth the risk of developing dementia > compared with men who walked less than a quarter-mile a day. And women > ages 70 and older who regularly exercised reduced their risk of cognitive > decline by 20 percent. > > " As a society, the United States spends billions on chronic disease > treatments and interventions for risk factors, " Rimm and Dr. Meir J. > Stampfer of the Harvard School of Public Health wrote in a journal > editorial. " Although these are useful and important, a fraction of that > investment to promote healthful lifestyles for primary prevention among > individuals at all ages would yield greater benefit. " > > Body chemistry changes > > A fourth journal study showed why the Mediterranean diet appears so > effective in protecting health. Not only does it help people lose weight, > but it changes body chemistry by reducing dangerous insulin abnormalities > and chronic inflammation of arteries and other tissue. > > Elevated insulin leads to Type 2 diabetes in adults, and chronic > inflammation is linked to heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. > Both are part of what doctors call " metabolic syndrome, " which greatly > increases a person's risk of chronic disease. > > " The results of this study represent the first demonstration, to our > knowledge, that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in whole grains, fruits, > vegetables, legumes, walnuts and olive oil might be effective in reducing > both the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its associated > cardiovascular risk, " said Dr. Katherine Esposito of the Second University > of Naples, Italy, the study's lead author. > > After two years on the Mediterranean diet, 55 percent of patients with > metabolic syndrome no longer showed symptoms of the syndrome. Of 90 > patients put on a " prudent " diet, which allowed for more fats and calories, > only 13 percent reverted to normal. > > Researchers found that subjects on the Mediterranean diet experienced > significant decreases in body weight, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, > total cholesterol and triglycerides, and they had a significant increase > in HDL, the so-called good cholesterol. > > The 10-year study of the Mediterranean diet's effect on longevity involved > 1,507 men and 832 women ages 70 to 90 in 11 European countries. > > It found that each of the four lifestyle choices independently reduced the > risk of death from all causes in the next 10 years, confirming the > findings of previous studies of individual risk factors. The new study > found that the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 23 percent lower > risk of death; moderate alcohol use, 22 percent lower risk; physical > activity, 37 percent; and not smoking, 35 percent. > > Thwarting common killers > > But people who followed all four lifestyle directives lowered their risk > of death from cancer, heart disease, stroke and other common killers by 65 > percent compared with people who followed only one or none. People who > followed two low-risk lifestyle strategies lowered their risk of death by > 38 percent, and those who followed three lowered their risk by 55 percent. > > Moderate alcohol consumption is often defined as up to 30 grams a day, or > about two drinks. > > The new finding shows the wisdom of following a diet proved to be > effective instead of grasping for fad diets that emphasize factors such as > low carbohydrates and high fat, said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, professor > emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg > School of Medicine and a pioneer in linking diet to heart disease. > > " This is further important evidence on the lifetime merit of a lifestyle > that emphasizes the classic Mediterranean eating pattern, regular moderate > physical activity and non-smoking as the path to greater longevity with > health and freedom from the risk of epidemic coronary and cardiovascular > disease and cancer, " said Stamler, who was not involved with the journal > study. > > 2004, Chicago Tribune > > > > > I read my Ambrose Bierce and am comforted. > > PEACE - n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between two > periods of fighting. > > PATRIOT - n. One to whom the interests of a part seem superior to those of > the whole. The dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors. > > PATRIOTISM - n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one > ambitious to illuminate his name. > > POLITICS - n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of > principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. > > POLITICIAN - n. an eel in the fundamental mud upon which the > superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles he > mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. As > compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Good going, I abstain too. Coincidentally, I just read/learned today that French wineries used to use (and may do in just rare instances today) cow's blood as a clarifier in their wines. Ick :-P , " Cindy " <cindybin2001> wrote: > I agree with this article except for the part about the " fad " diets > it mentions. Lower-carb plans DO concentrate on vegetables, fruits, > whole-grains and seafood, getting regular exercise, and not smoking. > Of course many also incorporate chicken and beef, but just fish is > perfectly acceptable. Controlled-carb plans are hardly a fad and > have been around for decades. > > About the alcohol, leading endocrinologist Dr. Diana Schwarzbein > calls it " a toxic chemical that affects every hormone in your body. " > I know there are studies that show alcohol is beneficial, but I > don't believe them and don't touch the stuff. > > > , The Stewarts > <stews9@c...> wrote: > > > > Never too late to mend lifestyle, studies say > > > > By Ronald Kotulak > > Tribune science reporter > > Published September 22, 2004 > > > > Just what you've always wanted: a proven formula for living longer > and > > healthier, and with minimal memory loss. The catch is that it > involves > > doing things you probably already know you should be doing, but > don't. > > > > Namely: following a Mediterranean diet concentrating on > vegetables, fruits > > and seafood; getting regular exercise; consuming a moderate amount > of > > alcohol; and not smoking. > > > > That may seem like boring, familiar advice compared with the > blandishments > > of the latest quick weight-loss fads. > > > > But a series of scientific reports in Tuesday's issue of the > Journal of > > the American Medical Association packs a big surprise: People ages > 70 to > > 90 who follow those four lifestyle directives lower their risk of > death in > > the next 10 years by 65 percent compared with people who do not. > > > > Because the research shows that the four strategies work even late > in life, > > it holds out hope for people who have been burning their candle > at both > > ends and now think it's too late for a change to do any good. > > > > " There's no time like the present to switch to a healthy > lifestyle, even > > if you're already 70 to 90 years old because there's substantial > benefit, " > > Eric B. Rimm of the Harvard School of Public Health said in a > telephone > > interview. > > > > Two of the journal studies indicated that lifestyle also has a > huge impact > > on the brain. One study of elderly men showed that those who > walked two or > > more miles a day had only one-fifth the risk of developing > dementia > > compared with men who walked less than a quarter-mile a day. And > women > > ages 70 and older who regularly exercised reduced their risk of > cognitive > > decline by 20 percent. > > > > " As a society, the United States spends billions on chronic > disease > > treatments and interventions for risk factors, " Rimm and Dr. Meir > J. > > Stampfer of the Harvard School of Public Health wrote in a journal > > editorial. " Although these are useful and important, a fraction of > that > > investment to promote healthful lifestyles for primary prevention > among > > individuals at all ages would yield greater benefit. " > > > > Body chemistry changes > > > > A fourth journal study showed why the Mediterranean diet appears > so > > effective in protecting health. Not only does it help people lose > weight, > > but it changes body chemistry by reducing dangerous insulin > abnormalities > > and chronic inflammation of arteries and other tissue. > > > > Elevated insulin leads to Type 2 diabetes in adults, and chronic > > inflammation is linked to heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's > disease. > > Both are part of what doctors call " metabolic syndrome, " which > greatly > > increases a person's risk of chronic disease. > > > > " The results of this study represent the first demonstration, to > our > > knowledge, that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in whole grains, > fruits, > > vegetables, legumes, walnuts and olive oil might be effective in > reducing > > both the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its associated > > cardiovascular risk, " said Dr. Katherine Esposito of the Second > University > > of Naples, Italy, the study's lead author. > > > > After two years on the Mediterranean diet, 55 percent of patients > with > > metabolic syndrome no longer showed symptoms of the syndrome. Of > 90 > > patients put on a " prudent " diet, which allowed for more fats and > calories, > > only 13 percent reverted to normal. > > > > Researchers found that subjects on the Mediterranean diet > experienced > > significant decreases in body weight, blood pressure, glucose, > insulin, > > total cholesterol and triglycerides, and they had a significant > increase > > in HDL, the so-called good cholesterol. > > > > The 10-year study of the Mediterranean diet's effect on longevity > involved > > 1,507 men and 832 women ages 70 to 90 in 11 European countries. > > > > It found that each of the four lifestyle choices independently > reduced the > > risk of death from all causes in the next 10 years, confirming the > > findings of previous studies of individual risk factors. The new > study > > found that the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 23 percent > lower > > risk of death; moderate alcohol use, 22 percent lower risk; > physical > > activity, 37 percent; and not smoking, 35 percent. > > > > Thwarting common killers > > > > But people who followed all four lifestyle directives lowered > their risk > > of death from cancer, heart disease, stroke and other common > killers by 65 > > percent compared with people who followed only one or none. People > who > > followed two low-risk lifestyle strategies lowered their risk of > death by > > 38 percent, and those who followed three lowered their risk by 55 > percent. > > > > Moderate alcohol consumption is often defined as up to 30 grams a > day, or > > about two drinks. > > > > The new finding shows the wisdom of following a diet proved to be > > effective instead of grasping for fad diets that emphasize factors > such as > > low carbohydrates and high fat, said Dr. Jeremiah Stamler, > professor > > emeritus of preventive medicine at Northwestern University's > Feinberg > > School of Medicine and a pioneer in linking diet to heart disease. > > > > " This is further important evidence on the lifetime merit of a > lifestyle > > that emphasizes the classic Mediterranean eating pattern, regular > moderate > > physical activity and non-smoking as the path to greater longevity > with > > health and freedom from the risk of epidemic coronary and > cardiovascular > > disease and cancer, " said Stamler, who was not involved with the > journal > > study. > > > > 2004, Chicago Tribune > > > > > > > > > > I read my Ambrose Bierce and am comforted. > > > > PEACE - n. In international affairs, a period of cheating between > two > > periods of fighting. > > > > PATRIOT - n. One to whom the interests of a part seem superior to > those of > > the whole. The dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors. > > > > PATRIOTISM - n. Combustible rubbish ready to the torch of any one > > ambitious to illuminate his name. > > > > POLITICS - n. A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of > > principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage. > > > > POLITICIAN - n. an eel in the fundamental mud upon which the > > superstructure of organized society is reared. When he wriggles > he > > mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the > edifice. As > > compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being > alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2004 Report Share Posted September 23, 2004 Cindy wrote, apropos low-carb diets: >Of course many also incorporate chicken and beef, but just >fish is perfectly acceptable. Acceptable to whom? Not to the fish, I think ;=) And not to vegetarians, of course. But, all that aside for a moment, the levels of mercury in fish these days would have me worried even if I weren't a vegetarian :=( Or are American fish different? Best, Pat ;=) ===== ----------- " The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. " - Gandhi http://www.angelfire.com/art/pendragon/ / townhounds/ vegetarianslimming/ _______________________________ Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today! http://vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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