Fish Oil as a treatment for TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury)

    Before

    After (at Nordic Naturals, a company that distributes fish oils)

I recently watched "Sanjay Gupta, MD" A medical show with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta. The show revolved around a young teenager named Bobby Ghassemi who was in car accident that left him in a coma. The physician suggested mega doses of Omega 3 Fish Oil. Two-weeks later after mega doses of Omege 3 Fish Oil, he awoke out of his coma. Amazing. Read these articles to get more details.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/health/fish-oil-brain-injuries/


http://www.prweb.com/releases/concussion/brain_trauma/prweb4500964.htm

I recently read an article in "Men's Fitness" (Jan/Feb 2014) regarding running. The question posed in the article is "is it better (on an injury standpoint) to land on your forefoot (toes)--a theory popularized by the "Barefoot Running" movement or on your rear foot (heels), which has been the accepted standard for many years.

It turns out that both types of landing patterns have their own negative orthopedic consequences, according to a recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The author's came to the conclusion that there is NO right way to land as both striking patterns cause harm.

"Heel Strikers" causes more force on the knees compared to "Toe Strikers". However, Toe Strikers causes more force on the Achilles tendon.

The article summarizes the above points as follows:

"People with knee problems can benefit from forefoot striking...and those with Achilles tendon complaints can benefit from rear-foot striking. So listen to your body--and if you're considering switching, do it slowly!"

The Weightless Project--BURN CALORIES TO FIGHT HUNGER

I just watched a lecture conducted by Deepak Chopra, M.D., and he was talking about his affiliation with the WEIGHTLESS PROJECT. The Weightless Project goal is to combat obesity and diabetes as well as malnutrition in the world. They have come up with a brilliant idea--for every 1000 calories you burn, a donation of $1.00 will be donated into usable funds.

Fitbit has partnered up with The Weightless Project to make it easy to determine calorie expenditure. The organization is also working on other devices/apps that can be used as well.

Check out the website below to sign up and get started:

www.weightlessproject.org

Weight Loss Plan by Chris Powell

I really respect "Extreme Weight Loss" star Chris Powell. Chris recently appeared on the Dr. Oz Show.  His weight loss tips are very practical and realistic. Check out the link below:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/chris-powells-custom-weight-loss-formula-pt-2

BUYER BEWARE

Consumer Reports reviewed many popular protein drinks and found many to contain heavy metals. On the top of the list were Muscle Milk and EAS products. Take a look at this article, it's an eye opener.

http://www.coreessentials.biz/Lead_in_Protein_Powders.pdf

Finally, The Cholesterol Myth Exposed on Dr. Oz

Recently, Dr. Sinatra appeared on The Dr. Oz show. He exposed the "Cholesterol Myth" to Dr. Oz and his viewers. It's hard to believe that Dr. Oz is as naive as he appears regarding this topic (and many other topics as well). I've been hearing Dr. Sinatra's viewpoint since the early 2000's. I interviewed Dr. Barry Sears several times and he's been saying this for years.  I also talk about statin drugs on the front page of my website (I encourage you to watch it). I am not advocating anyone to go off their statin drug (i.e., Lipitor, Prevachol, Crestor, etc). Watch the link below for yourself and present the information to your physician. Be empowered and be an informed patient.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swrKkwlnSnI

Is it true that eggs are as bad for your arteries as smoking?

Recently, news headlines were ablaze with startling information that eggs are nearly as bad for your arteries as cigarettes. After surveying more than 1,200 seniors, the researchers concluded that eating egg yolks on a regular basis is approximately two-thirds as bad as smoking with regards to the build-up of arterial plaque.


Listen to Dr. Mercola and his comprehensive interpretation to this particular study. The link that I've included also has a nice little summary of his key points. This is a must see video.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/27/eating-eggs.aspx

Green Coffee Bean Extract for fat loss?

A client of mine recently asked me about "Green Coffee Bean Extract". He wanted to know if the proposed benefits (weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity {which can be helpful to a diabetic}). I looked it up on Pub Med (a database filled with credible research articles--think of a medically based Google without the bullshit). I found an article entitled "Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, linear dose, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a green coffee bean extract in overweight subjects", WHAT A MOUTHFUL!!!!!

Basically, the researchers wanted to see if taking this supplement would induce weight loss without any significant changes in diet in an overweight population. The study was conducted over a 22-week period with only 16 overweight adults (small sample size). The subjects that were receiving the green coffee extract (GCA) lost 17.7 pounds. The authors concluded that GCA may be an effective nutraceutical in reducing weight in overweight adults and may be an inexpensive means of preventing obesity in overweight adults.

I have included a clip from the Dr. Oz show in which he talks about this exciting new product.



http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/miracle-pill-burn-fat-pt-1

Anyone interested in looking for the actual study, here is the info:

Vinson, , JA, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, linear dose, crossover study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a green coffee bean extract in overweight subjects, Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes, 2012

Gray Cook and Mike Boyle on Crossfit

This is an older podcast of an interview that was on Mike Boyle's website. Gray Cook (a world renowned Physical Therapist) and Mike Boyle (Strength and Conditioning coach for the Boston Red Sox) were interviewed regarding "CrossFit". Hear the Pros and Cons of this popular program that's sweeping the nation. Anyone interested in CrossFit, especially a recreational athlete, needs to listen to this podcast. Although I have interviewed an owner of a CrossFit facility, and believe in the basic philosophy, I'm concerned with the standard operating procedures of the CrossFit system.
http://strengthcoachblog.com/2011/10/26/mike-boyle-and-gray-cook-on-crossfit/

Carl Crawford Dodges the Knife

Recently, Carl Crawford paid a visit to Dr. James Andrews for a consult regarding his ulna collateral ligament, hoping to avoid "Tommy John Surgery". He had a non-surgical procedure called Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy. See the link below for an explanation of this fascinating procedure.

http://www.treatingpain.com/diagnosis-and-treatments/platelet-rich-plasma.html

Slash Your Risk of Cancer--By Breaking This Cardinal Rule

A recent study (keep in mind this is just one study), found that increased tanning bed use was NOT associated with melanoma. The authors state that "Tanning beds decrease ten times more cancers than they cause." Keep in mind that there are factors to consider regarding the type of tanning bed. Check out the link. Very good article.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/04/12/can-tanning-beds-decrease-cancer-than-cause.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Barefoot Running

About 2 weeks ago, I was invited by a podiatrist to go to a lecture at MGH on barefoot running, conducted by Daniel Lieberman of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. Unfortunately,  I had clients and didn't want to cancel them. I would have loved to have gone. See the link below for an article about Lieberman's findings.http://www.educatedrunner.com/Blog/tabid/633/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/797/BAREFOOT-RUNNING-WHAT-THE-HARVARD-STUDY-REALLY-SAID.aspx

Meanwhile, I just saw a news clip on a local station in Boston, that there is a Class Action Lawsuit filed Against Vibram Five Fingers minimalist shoes. Here is the link to the article I found online. Love to have anyone's feedback. 

http://www.examiner.com/running-in-san-diego/class-action-lawsuit-filed-against-vibram-fivefingers

Have Allergies?

Allergy season is upon us earlier this year.  Check this link out (from the Dr. Oz show). You may be surprised as to the strategies the physician suggests.
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/allergy-season-survival-strategies-pt-2

Walk This Way

Here is a link (see below) to a decent article that appeared in "Prevention" magazine (March 2012). The wrong shoes can slow you down, make you fat, and set you up for a lifetime of injuries. Although I don't agree with everything, I do think the article will be an eye-opener for most individuals.
http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/how-your-shoes-cause-you-pain

It's not just about the GOAL, but the Journey!!

The link below is an article that appeared in The Metro-West Daily News on 2-5-12 (Superbowl Sunday) regarding a client of mine that I trained to prepare for the Himalayas. I'm mentioned at the end. It's not just about the goal but the JOURNEY!!! Great Job Chris!!!!!

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1090704479/Framinghams-Chris-Petrini-takes-a-Spiritual-Journey

Great Video Animation of Gastric Bypass

Many individuals are getting gastric bypass surgery for obesity. What many individuals don't realize is that this surgery can be beneficial for treating type 2 diabetes. Recently, Dr. Oz had a Bariatric Surgeon explaining the surgery. Dr. Oz had a great video of this procedure. I was impressed. Even if you are against the surgery, it is a great video to understand exactly what happens.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/underperformed-surgery-you-should-be-getting-pt-1

Getting to the Bottom of It

Here is a video of me on local cable promoting my book, "Getting to the Bottom of It".

In Defense of Dr. Stuart McGill

I thought it necessary for my readers to hear Dr. Stuart McGill talk about the spine and the effects a sit up has on it. I do not want to appear 'neutral' or 'wishy-washy' on this subject, but I do think that if someone has a back problem, performing a crunch or vigorous/ballistic sit up may aggravate such a condition. For the rest of us who don't have any back pathology, I think including a spinal flexion (crunch) exercise along with a series of other abdominal exercises is ok.

In addition, many trainers still recommend their clients to perform the "draw-in" maneuver while doing a crunch or any other abdominal exercise. This involves pulling in your abdominals while performing a crunch.  I wrote about this on an earlier post. I agree with Dr. McGill on this concept (read the article attached to get his take on this).

Here is the link to the article that appeared in the New York Times. Don't forget to watch the video.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/core-myths/

To Crunch or Not to Crunch?

Are crunches bad for your spine (specifically your lower back)? Many fitness professionals think so. This video addresses the controversy regarding "To Crunch or Not To Crunch."

To Crunch or not to Crunch

Many authorities (including Dr. Stuart McGill)  in the strength and conditioning genre believe that performing crunches (repeated flexion of the spine) can be harmful to our lumbar spine. The article below (which appeared in Strength and Conditioning Journal/August 2011) challenges this notion.

http://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Fulltext/2011/08000/To_Crunch_or_Not_to_Crunch__An_Evidence_Based.2.aspx#