Creating awareness on health and fitness through a better well being.
U.S. Drinking Rate Edges Up Slightly to 25-Year High
U.S. Drinking Rate Edges Up Slightly to 25-Year High
Beer remains beverage of choice for drinkers
by Frank Newport
PRINCETON, NJ — Sixty-seven percent of U.S. adults drink alcohol, a slight increase over last year and the highest reading recorded since 1985 by one percentage point. Beer remains the favorite beverage among drinkers, followed by wine and then liquor.
Despite some yearly fluctuations, the percentage of Americans who say they drink alcohol has been remarkably stable over Gallup’s 71 years of tracking it. The high point for drinking came in 1976-1978, when 71% said they drank alcohol.
The low of 55% was recorded in 1958. When Gallup first asked Americans about drinking, in the waning days of the Great Depression in 1939, 58% of adults said they were drinkers.
A majority of Americans in most demographic subgroups of the population drink, though in some groups drinking is more prevalent than in others. One of the most significant predictors of alcohol consumption is church attendance. Those who seldom or never attend church are substantially more likely than more frequent church attenders to say they drink; and those who have no religious identity, Catholics, and non-Christians are more likely to drink than Protestants.
Medical research shows that moderate drinking is associated with a lower probability of heart trouble, and Gallup has recently confirmed that the incidence of heart attacks increases substantially with age. Still, the data indicate that many older Americans are not taking advantage of the prophylactic benefit of drinking; 59% of older Americans drink alcohol, substantially lower than the percentages among those who are younger. Additionally, those with the lowest education levels and lowest incomes are less likely to drink than others.
Beer Remains Dominant as Preferred Beverage
Beer remains the preferred beverage of choice among Americans who drink alcohol, as it has every year since 1992 — with the exception of 2005, when wine edged into the top spot.
Beer’s popularity has slipped slightly over the years. In 1992 and 1994, 47% of drinkers named it as their preferred drink, compared with 41% this year.
Beverage preferences vary widely across demographic groups, with beer most preferred among men, younger drinkers, and those in the Midwest. Wine ranks as the preferred beverage among women and older Americans.
Men under 50 are among those who most strongly prefer beer, which does not come as a surprise to those who observe the preponderance of beer ads embedded in sports and other programming aimed at young men. Older women are the biggest fans of wine, while roughly equal numbers of women under 50 choose wine and beer.
The older skew in preference for wine is starkly apparent when one looks at drinkers aged 18 to 34, who are highly likely to choose beer as their preferred beverage, and among whom wine is slightly behind even liquor. By contrast, drinkers 55 and older clearly choose wine as their preferred beverage.
Although beer is the top choice in all four major regions of the country, residents on the two coasts are somewhat more likely to prefer wine than are those living elsewhere. Beer remains most popular in the Midwest.
Editor’s note: This article reflects a revised headline. The original version stated that the U.S. drinking rate was at a 15-year high.
source: www.gallup.com
The emerging and exciting field of epigenetics
What You Eat Not Only Affects Your Own Health,
But the Health of Your Offspring;
The New Field of Epigenetics
The emerging and exciting field of epigenetics refers to the study of any external factors that influence gene expression. It is now well appreciated that cigarette smoke, environmental toxins, stress and nutrients can directly or indirectly affect whether a gene is turned on or off. Nutritional genetics refers to the ability of nutrients to affect gene expression and its application to clinical practice.
What has created all the buzz among molecular geneticists, evolutionary biologists and warranted a Time magazine cover story (January 18, 2010) is that these influences on gene expression can be passed down for several generations without a change in DNA structure.
The epigenome refers to “marks” or chemical messengers that sit above the genome and direct gene expression. An example of a basic epigenetic mark is a methyl group (CH4) that attaches to a specific site on DNA and can turn a particular gene on or off. The folic acid, B6, B12 and homocysteine cycles when working properly generate these methyl groups that are critical for DNA function and repair.
Recent research is providing the evidence that lifestyle choices like smoking or eating excessively can change epigenetic marks causing genes for obesity to be over expressed and reducing the gene expression for longevity. What you eat or drink, what medicines you take and what pollutants you encounter may change your epigenome or chemical marks. And in animal and human studies, what a female eats and drinks during pregnancy may change the epigenome of her offspring. So not only do lifestyle choices including nutrition affect your own health, it can be passed on to your kids before they are even conceived and remain for several generations via the alterations of epigenetic marks.
As the National Institutes of Health led the Human Genome Project that mapped the entire human gene sequence, it is now undergoing an equally intensive effort to develop a map of the epigenetic marks that occur on the human genome.
To learn more simply click the following link: http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/epigenomics/
Obesity is linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
Obesity is linked to diabetes, heart disease and cancer. 72 million adults are obese. 84.8 million adults have no leisure-time physical activity, and the total health care cost related to obesity sits at an estimated $147 billion. The Transitions Lifestyle System has proven to be the solution!
Click the following link to read a great Transitions testimonial:
http://bit.ly/transitions_phil
Transitions is an extensive plan that covers everything you’ll need to get fit and trim, not just a set of foods you can or cannot eat. In fact, a big part of the Transitions Lifestyle System is helping you make healthy choices while still eating a normal, diverse diet!
To find more information on this program follow the link below.
10 Best Foods For Your Buck
Peanut butter
Why it’s a 10 best:This popular pantry item offers protein and heart-healthy unsaturated fats.
Use it it: Snacks, sandwiches, sauces, and baking goods.
Cost: About 20¢ for 2 tablespoons
Eggs
Why they’re a 10 best: Eggs are a good source of lean protein, and also contain vitamin B12, riboflavin and phosphorus.
Use them in: Omelets, frittatas and salads
Cost: About 13¢ per large egg
Oats
Why they’re a 20 best: This grain helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Use them in: Baked goods, breakfast and to stretch ground-meat dishes
Cost: About 17¢ per ½ cup for quick-cooking oats
Apples
Why they’re a 10 best: This fruit is a good source of vitamin C and is full of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
Use them in: Salads and baked goods; as a snack
Cost: About 60¢ each, depending on variety and season
Spinach
Why it’s a 10 best: This leafy green is loaded with vitamins (A, C, K and folic acid) and manganese.
Use it in: Salads, pasta dishes, casseroles, soups and stews
Cost: About $1 for 5 ounces of fresh spinach
Beans
Why they’re a 10 best: This tasty staple provides lean protein that’s full of fiber, calcium, folic acid and iron and other minerals.
Use them in: Salad and stews
Cost: About 35¢ per ½-cup serving (canned)
Sweet potatoes
Why they’re a 10 best: These spuds are very filling (because they contain fiber) and a source of vitamins A and B6.
Use them in: Main and side dishes
Cost: About $1 each
Brown rice
Why it’s a 10 best: Brown rice is a whole grain and a source of vitamin B6, magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese.
Use it in: Soups, salads and side dishes
Cost: About 37¢ per ½ cup (cooked)
Canned tuna fish
Why it’s a 10 Best: This fish is a healthful lean protein and contains omega-3 fatty acids.
Use it in: Sandwiches, casseroles and salads
Cost: About 75¢ for 3 ounces
source: Allyou
Low Vitamin D levels may increase risk of depression in the elderly.
Research has shown that lower blood levels of vitamin D have been associated with the increased occurrence of elderly health issues. A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (May 2010), followed the vitamin D levels of 531 women and 423 men, over 65 years of age, for a period of 6 years. Participants’ depressive symptoms were assessed (using the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale-CES-D).
Those exhibiting lower blood levels of vitamin D (< 50 nmol/liter) scored significantly higher on the depression scale. The association between blood vitamin D levels and depression was also found to be more observable in women than men. Previous studies have supported the need for vitamin D for the physical health of the elderly. This study supports the need for vitamin D for their mental health as well.
To read more on this study:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20444911
For more information on Isotonix Calcium Plus:
4 Reasons Diets Fail.
Reason #1: You’re not fully committed.
I always tell clients at our first session together: Weight loss is at least 50 percent attitude. If you’re not truly ready to make a full-time commitment to losing weight, chances of long-term success are pretty slim. That’s because when efforts are half-hearted from the get-go, people typically lose interest in their diet soon after they start. The sad truth is, it’s not really worth starting a weight loss program if your head isn’t in the game.
How to Prevail:
My best advice is to do some serious soul-searching and identify a significant and enduring source of personal motivation for finally shedding the extra weight. Maybe it’s to better manage health conditions… or to be around for your kids and grandkids… or to finally feel more comfortable in your own skin and boost your energy level.
The bottom line is that this motivation has to come from within YOU. Then, strengthen your resolve and recharge your motivation every single day with positive self talk and daily or weekly goals. I think long term goals are terrific, but short term goals can be even more powerful because they reinforce success every step of the way.
Reason #2: You expect miracles.
Individuals who launch a new diet with unreasonable expectations regarding how much weight they’re going to lose each week—or who have an unrealistic goal weight in mind—are signing themselves up for trouble. If you can’t match your desired pace of weight loss, you’ll more than likely end up terribly disappointed and quickly jump ship.
How to Prevail:
Though you’ll probably see a dramatic drop on the scale during the first few weeks on a new diet, most people eventually average out at a loss of one to three pounds per week for the duration of their plan. And if they do shed pounds more quickly than that—say, by fasting for long stretches of time—they’re more likely to gain the weight back… and then some.
I know television shows and infomercial success stories lead you to believe that you can melt off fat in a matter of weeks, but the truth is, successful weight loss is a slow and steady process. If you can accept this fact and buckle down for the long haul, you will ultimately be handsomely rewarded with better health, a smashing figure, and newfound confidence.
Reason #3: Your plan isn’t sustainable.
If you’re following an extreme weight loss plan that doesn’t even slightly resemble “normal” eating, there’s a good chance your efforts won’t last. And, in my opinion, subsisting entirely on shakes, smoothies, cookies, or tonics isn’t normal eating. When you view a diet as a short-term deviation from your typical eating habits, rather than a long-term lifestyle change, you will almost certainly have a hard time maintaining your weight loss.
How to Prevail:
A diet should be based on appropriate amounts of healthy foods that keep you feeling satisfied and energized—not cranky and deprived. Most importantly, a diet should be viewed as a launching pad for a long-term lifestyle change. That’s because to lose weight and keep it off forever, you really will have to permanently change your eating habits. With that in mind, it’s important to choose an eating plan that you can easily transition into lifetime maintenance.
And while I can appreciate how provocative some of these quick-fix, restrictive diet plans can be, they truly are a set-up for failure and yo-yo dieting. Without fail, every restrictive plan has a calorific binge waiting right around the corner. Not the way to go for long term success. Instead, a food plan you can stick with for life is key.
Reason #4: You can’t forgive your slip-ups.
This is an incredibly common diet pitfall. When people inevitably give into temptation and subsequently “fall of the wagon” for one meal or one day, they tell themselves they’ve blown their diet and throw in the towel for good. To be successful, you have to learn to overcome these temporary setbacks. You can’t let one binge or one “off day” turn into a full week, or month, of splurging. Unfortunately, it can be incredibly difficult for some individuals to break this cycle of negative thinking.
How to Prevail:
Don’t dwell on your mistakes. Instead, shake it off and get right back on track at your very next meal… or the very next day. And always remember, nobody gains weight from one rich dinner or a single slice of cake. The real trouble starts when you allow that one “splurge” to snowball into an all-out eating frenzy. Take it one meal at a time and learn to forgive yourself; every dieter has slip-ups, but the successful ones know how to keep those occasional lapses contained.
For more tips on losing weight, follow Joy Bauer on Facebook and Twitter.
By Joy Bauer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
what is Coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an important vitamin-like compound whose recognition in the United States is growing due to its support of cardiovascular health and more. It plays a key role in the production of energy in all cells of the body. As an important fat-soluble antioxidant, CoQ10 protects the mitochondria (cell’s energy factory) from free radical damage. A recent article published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research has evaluated the effects of oral CoQ10 supplementation on performance in supramaximal exercise.
Primary Benefits of Isotonix® Coenzyme Q10:
· Promotes cardiovascular health
· Provides antioxidant protection for the cardiovascular system
· Helps maintain normal blood pressure
· Helps maintain heart muscle strength
· Enhances traditional support of cardiovascular health
· Promotes healthy cholesterol levels
· Promotes head comfort
· Helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels
· Studies have found CoQ10 deficiencies in overweight people
· Helps maintain brain health
· Vital for ATP production and supports muscle endurance
· Promotes the immune system
· Promotes gum health
What Makes Isotonix® Coenzyme Q10 Unique?
Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient that plays a vital role in health maintenance. It contributes to a healthy cardiovascular system, periodontal health, healthy blood sugar levels, and maintenance of cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. It also helps sustain vitamin E levels in cell membranes, energizing the immune system and helping to maintain a healthy weight.
for more information on this product, please visit: Market America
Andrew Weissman
