3 Ab Workout Myths

Monday, July 27, 2009

Hi,

Just got back from the gym where I saw 7 different people wasting their time on ineffective ab training.

And that's really sad. After all, almost everyone goes to the gym to get a flat stomach, but 90% of people are doing the wrong workouts and will never achieve their goals!

In fact, most people make these 3 ab workout mistakes...Check out this article by Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS, and author of dozens of workouts in Men's Health Magazine...

Myth #1 - You Have to Do Hundreds of Crunches and Sit ups To Burn Fat and Get Flat Abs

If you rely on boring, back-breaking abdominal crunches and sit-ups to burn belly fat, you'll never lose the ugly belly fat covering your abs.

TIP: To work your abs hard, use total-body abdominal exercises instead, such as stability ball rollouts and stability ball jackknives.

Myth #2 - In Just Four Easy Payments of $29.99, You Can Buy a Miracle-Working Six Pack Ab Machine From a Late-Night informercial

Ha! I wish one of those abdominal exercise contraptions worked half as good as the so-called "experts" say, but infomercial gadgets don't burn belly fat or flatten your abs (they only burn your money and flatten your wallet!).

TIP: To get more fat burning results in less workout time, use fat burning interval training three times per week for 20 minutes.

Myth #3 - You Have to do Ab Workouts Everyday to Get Six Pack Abs

Not true! In fact, one of the secrets of top fat loss trainers is to drop boring, repetitive ab exercises and replace them with total-body abdominal exercises you only need to do for a few
minutes three times per week.

TIP: Use resistance in your ab exercises, such as cable crunches, using a weight that allows you to do 10-15 reps per set, and train your abs only twice per week.

For more ab training workouts and tips from Craig, visit:

SIX-PACK WORKOUTS

Let me know your Turbulence Training Success Stories,

Bishrul Hafi
Turbulence Training

Belly Fat - What Causes Belly Fat

Sunday, July 19, 2009

There are several factors to what causes belly fat, but really there are two that have the biggest effect, poor diet choices and lack of exercising. So, what is belly fat and how can we get rid of it?

Belly fat is bad for everyone but, it can have dire consequences especially for men. Now, as you are aware it is situated on top of the abdominal muscles, but the danger in it being there is because it is stored in and around the liver and other organs, which can cause serious long term health effects and is linked with type 2 diabetes.

Belly fat is also called visceral fat, and is the most difficult fat to lose, and is worse for your health than fat in your bum or legs. It was at one time a health risk associated with middle aged people, but because of the way people are now carrying a lot of weight at all ages, it is something everyone needs to be aware of. It is not the only cost of a stressful lifestyle caused by work problems, health problems, family problems, etc, and is something that nobody wants. Belly fat is completely different from the subcutaneous fat that surrounds our bodies.

Another, more correct name for belly fat is Visceral fat or omental fat -- that is, fat in your omentum, a piece of webbing that hangs off your stomach just beneath your ab muscles, sort of like a mesh apron. Visceral fat has access to your portal circulation, the highway of blood vessels around your organs.

So now we know what it is and what the dangers are, what can we do about our belly fat? Well the clue is in the first paragraph of this article, and that is improved diet and exercising, as this will increase your metabolism and make you burn fat.

Increasing your metabolism to burn stomach fat may sound daunting, but do not worry to much as it is not that bad, and once you get into the swing of your new lifestyle you will come to love it, and the results you get.

Also, do not forget that exercise helps even if you don't lose weight as you are getting all round health benefits because of it. Exercise strengthens your muscles and helps get rid of the stubborn fat. Exercises to lose belly fat can be easy and most importantly fun. As your most probably aware by now belly fat can be an extremely stubborn pest to get rid of. Exercises to lose belly fat don?t have to be high impact aerobics or cardio activities. Although many think that in order to lose belly fat you need to job 15 miles a week, and do 50 sit-ups a day it?s the not the fact, something as simple as brisk walking is a great way to start.

But of course, exercising alone will not answer the problem either. It is best to complement your exercise with proper dieting, and again it is just making some simple choices such as increasing your portions of complex carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables, and reducing simple carbohydrates like white bread and refined pasta. And in addition, to help you lose weight, you should reduce your portion sizes and daily calorie intake. Increased triglycerides can raise the risk of damage to the pancreas. And do not forget to increase your protein as this really helps to boost your metabolism and build lean muscle tissue, but be aware you do not have to be eating lots and lots of red meat for protein as there are other sources to get protein from too.

Article source:

http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/belly-fat-what-causes-belly-fat-458984.html

Is It True That Belly Fat Raises Early Death Risk?

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Most people are not aware of the grave danger their belly fat puts them into. Apart from significantly increasing the risk of heart attack and diabetes, a recent research has proven that belly fat can make a considerable contribution to early death.

One of the largest and longest health studies which studied 360,000 Europeans was recently concluded and its results are conclusive. Led by lead author Tobias Pischon, MD, MPH, the study appears in the Nov. 12 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

Researchers found that people with the most belly fat had almost twice the risk of premature death than those with the least amounts of abdominal fat. “Our study shows that accumulating excess fat around your middle can put your health at risk even if your weight is normal He says. “There aren’t many simple individual characteristics that can increase a person’s risk of premature death to this extent, independent of smoking and drinking.”

Considering that belly fat can lead you to an early grave, here are some tips to help you lose belly fat quickly:

1. Healthy Eating: You need to know what foods to avoid and what foods to consume. Avoid junk food and other high calorie foods. Consume a lot of proteins and carbs like fresh vegetables and fruits, while avoiding refined carbs like white bread and pasta. Ensure that your body’s daily dietary requirements are met.

2. Active Lifestyle: Maintain a physically active lifestyle, control your alcohol intake and quit smoking.

3. Exercise: maintain a regular exercise regime to ensure that your body burns fat rapidly. Take brisk walks regularly. Play a sport of your choice on a regular basis.

4. Detox: Allow your body to remove all the harmful toxins from its systems on a regular basis.

Article source:

http://www.doublecool.com/is-it-true-that-belly-fat-raises-early-death-risk/

High Intensity Interval Training

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Today we are going to cover High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). You've probably heard about HIIT a lot these days because it is being used in a lot of programs for fat loss. Smart trainers know that it is much more effective than regular slow, boring cardio, and you actually get results as compared to other cardio workouts where you aren't seeing any results at all.

So HIIT means any type of sprint exercise that lasts from about 0-90 seconds. Anything longer than 2 minutes can get into what is known as aerobic interval training. Therefore, normally you want to sprint for 15, 30 or even 45 seconds, after which time you go down to a very easy period of exercise. That is one of the biggest mistakes most people make when doing interval training. Many people don't drop the intensity down low enough during the recovery period.

For example, if you are going at 10 mph and you only drop down to 8 mph then in effect you're really still doing cardio and not high intensity interval training. You will not allow you body to sufficiently recover from the sprint portion and so you won't be able to sprint hard at 10 mph the next time around.

So, you want to make sure you are going from hard to easy, or going from a sprint to a walk. It is okay to walk in interval training as this will allow you to work really hard and thus provide you with all the benefits of HIIT.

Fat Loss Interval Training

The interval training portion of your workouts is very important for fat loss. Not only has research shown that long, slow cardio doesnt work that well for fat burning, but studies also show that interval training works better to help you lose belly fat.

Unfortunately, just saying the words interval training can spare people, plus some trainers make interval training far too complicated for people who have never done interval training in the past.

The great news is that interval training can be done by everyone, even beginners, provided you have them exercise at the right level of intensity for their fitness level.

Belly Fat In Men: Why Weight Loss Matters

Belly fat in men — why it's dangerous and how to get rid of it.

Photo of Michael Jensen, M.D.
Michael Jensen, M.D.

If you're carrying a few extra pounds, you're not alone. But this is one case where following the crowd isn't a good idea. Carrying extra weight — especially belly fat — can be risky.

Michael Jensen, M.D., an endocrinology specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., answers common questions about belly fat in men.

Why is belly fat a concern for men?

People who gain belly fat are at greater risk of serious health problems than are people who accumulate fat in other areas — and men are more likely than women to gain weight around the waist. Having a large amount of belly fat increases your risk of:

* Heart disease
* Stroke
* Some types of cancer
* Type 2 diabetes
* Insulin resistance
* High triglycerides
* Low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol
* Metabolic syndrome
* Sleep apnea


How can you tell if you have too much belly fat?

Your waist size is a good indicator of whether you have too much belly fat. Although measurements that compare your hip and waist circumference (waist-to-hip ratio) or compare your height and weight (body mass index) are more precise, your waist size alone can give you a good estimate. For most men, the risk factors for heart disease and other diseases increase with a waist size greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters).

To measure your waist:

* Place a tape measure around your bare abdomen just above your hipbone.
* Pull the tape measure until it fits snugly around you but doesn't push into your skin.
* Make sure the tape measure is level all the way around.
* Relax, exhale and measure your waist — no sucking in your belly!


Does age play a role in gaining belly fat?

As you age, you lose muscle — especially if you're not physically active. Muscle loss can slow the rate at which your body burns calories. In turn, if you don't limit your calories or increase your physical activity, you may gain weight.

Is belly fat inherited?

Your genes can affect your chances of being overweight or obese, as well as where you carry extra fat on your body. For most men, however, the problem likely has more to do with lifestyle than inherited traits.

Article source:
http://winndixiegrocerystores.com/belly-fat-in-men-what-you-need-to-know.html

by MayoClinic.com

Belly Fat Is Linked to Dementia Risk

Thursday, June 25, 2009

By January W. Payne

Posted March 26, 2008

You've heard the message: Having a bulging belly can be detrimental to your health. Extra weight around the midsection is known to increase one's risk of diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and early death. Now a new study, published today in the journal Neurology, suggests that having a larger belly in middle age may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

The new study, which was based on data from more than 6,500 members of Kaiser Permanente in California, shows that "where you carry weight, more [so] than your total body weight, is a good predictor of dementia," says lead author Rachel Whitmer, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente. "You can have a healthy body mass index but have a risk of dementia due to belly fat." Study participants were ages 40 to 45 when they entered the study between 1964 and 1973, and some were followed until 2006, when they were as old as 87.

Fifty percent of adults have "central obesity," or fat that has accumulated around their midsections, according to the new study. So what can you do to get rid of the extra weight? U.S. News asked Whitmer and Robert Reames, a Los Angeles-based personal trainer and nutritionist for the Gold's Gym Fitness Institute, for advice on how to reduce a bulging stomach.

• Know where you stand. If you're obese or overweight, "you really should get an idea of where you're carrying that weight," Whitmer advises. And remember, you're not out of the woods if you have a normal body weight. Even those with normal weight who carry extra fat in their bellies were shown to have an increased risk for dementia.

To figure out how much belly fat you have, use a tape measure to size up your midsection. Pull the tape measure around your tummy at about the level of your navel. Breathe normally and don't suck your stomach in while measuring. In women with a healthy weight, a belly circumference of 35 inches or more represents an unhealthy amount of belly fat, though some research suggests that even a girth of 33 or 34 inches is risky. In men, the risk for chronic disease goes up with a belly size of 40 inches or more, according to experts at the Mayo Clinic.

• Exercise regularly. "Get out there and move," Reames suggests, but don't assume that you can reduce your belly fat without working on the rest of your body. "Work out comprehensively... Put the focus on major muscle groups," he says. The good news, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that when people move more and eat less, belly fat is the first kind of fat to go.

• Eat healthfully. "Stay with whole, lean, natural foods," Reames says. Read nutrition labels and opt for polyunsaturated fats in place of saturated fats. Up your intake of complex carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables, and reduce the amount of simple carbohydrates like pasta and white bread in your diet. And, if you need to lose weight, reduce portion sizes and calorie intake.

• Get plenty of rest. Sleep deprivation is no good for your body and may contribute to a bulging belly, Reames says. Aim for eight to nine hours of shut-eye each night.

• Learn to manage your stress. Try to leave your office work at the office, Reames advises.

Article source:

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/brain-and-behavior/2008/03/26/belly-fat-is-linked-to-dementia-risk.html

Belly Fat Doubles Women's Gallstone Risk

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Feb. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Women who put on a lot of weight around their waist are at nearly twice the risk of developing gallstones big enough to require surgical removal, researchers report.

Most gallstones are nuggets of built-up cholesterol. In affluent countries like the United States, gallstones remain the most common abdominal illness. In fact, Americans undergo more than 800,000 gallstone operations each year.

In a study led by Dr. Chung-Jyi Tsai, of the division of digestive diseases and nutrition at the University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, researchers collected data on more than 42,000 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study.

The women in the study were 39 to 66 years of age in 1986, when the gallstone study began. At that time, none of them had had gallstones. As part of the study, the women provided waist and hip measurements and details of their normal diet.

Reporting in the Feb. 13 online issue of Gut, the researchers found that nearly 3,200 of the women needed to undergo gallstone surgery by the year 2000.

Compared to women with waistlines at or under 26 inches, women with waistlines of 36 inches or more faced double the risk of developing gallstones requiring surgical removal, the researchers found.

In addition, higher waist-to-hip ratio -- a calculation of waist size divided by hip size -- also increased the risk of gallstones. Women with a ratio of 0.86 were 40 percent more likely to have gallstones compared with women whose ratio was 0.70 or less.

How might belly fat boost gallstone risk? The researchers point out that this type of fat is more "metabolically active" than fat found elsewhere on the body. In addition, earlier research has also tied gallstones to the metabolic syndrome -- a constellation of risk factors for heart disease that includes excess abdominal fat.

And what about risks for men? According to experts at the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, women between 20 and 60 years of age are twice as likely to develop gallstones compared with men. However, that disparity fades with age, meaning that men and women are equally likely to develop stones once they pass 60.

One expert said the study shows that widening waistlines are an important risk factor for gallstones in women.

"This is a way of fine-tuning obesity-related causes of gallstones," said Dr. Joanne A. P. Wilson, a professor of gastroenterology at Duke University. A bulging midriff is also associated with a risk of heart disease, she added.

"The bottom line is that women should control their weight," Wilson said.

Another expert stressed that most gallstones won't require surgery, however.

"At the present time, ultrasound screening for gallstones is not recommended because the majority of patients with gallstones get through life without ever having problems or symptoms," said Dr. Alan F. Hofmann, a research professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.

"Someday, we may screen and treat gallstones medically, but that has been judged not to be cost-ineffective because so many patients would be treated unnecessarily," he added.

Article source:

http://sexualhealth.e-healthsource.com/index.php?p=news1&id=530990

The Turbulence Training Beginner 101 4-Week Workout Program

Monday, June 22, 2009

A Powerful Introductory Program That Will Begin to TRANSFORM Your Body and Change Your Life Forever!


In Turbulence Training Beginner 101, there is a combination of exercises that will not only ease you into the workout routine, but also kick-start that metabolism of yours and begin to blast away the fat.

Stop Drinking Soda!

Soda remains one of the top beverages of choice for millions of people and unfortunately for some, it has become an addiction. Many people are addicted to soda and find it difficult to kick the habit. I have witnessed people drink entire cases of soda throughout the day while working. Can after can, or bottle after bottle, soda is adding excessive pounds to many people's waistlines year after year. The extra calories and sugar content are turning into fat in people's stomachs. Choosing to stop drinking soda can help lose the extra weight.

How Soda Can Increase Belly Fat

Soda contains everything our bodies do not need. Sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine, artificial colors, and more are added to these beverages. The sugar content alone is what causes much of the weight gain in people. The average can of soda can contain 10 teaspoons of sugar. Imagine drinking 1 or more sodas per day. That is consuming extra calories as well as excessive amounts of sugar that turn into fat when not burned.

If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, drinking soda on a regular basis is one of the quickest ways to gain weight. This weight gain, particularly in your stomach, may lead to other health problems such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease.

Easy Ways to Stop Drinking Soda

Many people may feel that giving up soda is a hard thing to do. I used to think the same way and grew up drinking soda. I drank soda with almost every meal. I didn't think it would be easy to give up, but to my surprise, it was easier to give up than I thought. Here is what I did to break my soda habit.

• Stop buying soda when you grocery shop
• Buy sparkling water or mix club soda with fruit juice
• Drink water, iced tea, or juice when dining out
• Keep cold water in the fridge at all times

The simple method of not having soda in your home will help you to break the habit much faster. You will become accustomed to drinking other beverages to take its place. It is important not to swap soda for another soft-drink that contains just as much sugar. Beware of drinks that market themselves as health drinks yet contain just as much sugar. Read the labels on all of your beverages.

Are you ready to stop drinking soda and lose belly fat? Visit belly fat cure and discover various simple methods to lose weight.

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_Cooper

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Sunday, June 14, 2009

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Saturday, June 13, 2009

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Is Yogurt Really the Cure for Belly-Fat?

Friday, June 12, 2009

by Tanya Wilson on May 9, 2009

We all know by now that fat-free yogurt is a great food for dieters and those who just want to eat healthy. It is high in calcium and protein, and has lots of good bacteria to aid with digestion. But have you noticed that it’s also being touted as the latest fat-burning food, especially for belly-fat?

Have you heard of the yogurt diet, or noticed ads for nearly every kind of yogurt, displaying women who are on diets, and women who don’t need to be on diets wearing sweatsuits? Have you ever wondered why the Dannon (Danone) commercial for Activia, doesn’t just say it helps with constipation, but instead displays a very trim waist shedding ??what exactly?? It almost looks like it could be shedding pounds of fat, not something completely different.

And yes, there is now some science to back up these implications, BUT guess who’s sponsoring these studies? General Mills (makers of yoplait), Dannon, and the National Dairy Council, just to name a few. (To see examples of studies they’ve sponsored, just click the highlighted names.)

And is there a marketing agenda? Of course there is. Here’s one glaring example in the US:

3 A Day Campaign: http://www.innovatewithdairy.com/

While these studies may be based on scientific research, we have to consider the source, and that is: Manufacturers Who Want Us to Purchase Their Products.

So, what are they saying is the magic ingredient in yogurt that spurs fat burning? Is it the calcium? Is it the probiotics? Is it the milk protein? Is it because it’s a low-glycemic food? Will we have yogurt extract diet supplements now??? It’s simply not clear. Instead, we have to take the “activia challenge” for two weeks (and then continuously for the rest of our lives), or replace breakfast with a serving of yoplait—which is loaded with artificial ingredients.

What’s wrong with a 1/2 a cup of all-natural, organic, low-fat yogurt, or delicious Greek yogurt, sprinkled with a some healthy granola and a little fruit? Should I now feel guilt if I’ve eaten whole grain toast with natural fruit-spread, and an apple instead?

My point is about balance. Yogurt will not provide every nutrient the body needs. While it is a wonderful food, so is skim milk, and so are veggies, fruits, and whole grains… Let’s not do our health a disservice by omitting other healthy foods from our diets.

Despite the brand-names’ claims, let’s keep in mind that a healthy diet is about balanced nutrition. Losing weight is about burning fat through activity and not taking in more calories than our bodies actually use. Low-cal/low-fat products can aid us along the way, and yogurt is one of these, but it’s not the be-all-end-all.

One last point to keep in mind is that all of the studies involved low-calorie diets and activity, and for all of the claims made by manufacturers there is always a note mentioning that exercise and a low-calorie diet should go along with their product.

Article Source:

http://www.dietivity.com/is-yogurt-really-the-cure-for-belly-fat/

Belly fat || weight cycling ups kidney cancer risk

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Postmenopausal women who are overweight or obese appear to have a greater risk of developing, renal cell carcinoma, a common form of kidney cancer, and study findings suggest that a larger waist girth and a history of weight loss and regain further increase this risk.

"Our study suggests that the risk of renal cell carcinoma can be lowered if overweight individuals lose excess central body fat and then maintain stable weight at a more desirable level," Dr. Juhua Luo, of Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden told Reuters Health.

Luo and colleagues analyzed data from more than 140,000 U.S. women, aged 50 to 79 years, enrolled in the Women's Health Initiative study.

They compared associations between the development of renal cell carcinoma, a cancer of the lining of the kidney, and the women's body weight and frequency of weight loss and regain (weight cycling) over an average of 7.7 years.

The findings are published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Overall, obese women with a body mass index (BMI) at or above 35, had a 60 percent excess risk of renal cell carcinoma compared with women of normal weight (BMI less than 25), the researchers note. This risk increased 3 percent for every unit increase in BMI.

When the investigators analyzed abdominal obesity as an independent risk factor they found that each 0.1-unit increase in waist-to-hip ratio increased the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma by 24 percent.

Moreover, women with a history of 10 or more weight cycles had more than double the risk of developing renal cell carcinoma, compared with women who held a steady weight over the study period, the investigators note.

The researchers say their findings provide further evidence that obesity, particularly central adiposity, is associated with increased risk of developing renal cell carcinoma, and that a history of weight cycling may further increase this risk among postmenopausal women.

Article source:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/lifestyle/2007-10/06/content_6154740.htm

Is Your Brain Connected to Your Belly?

Friday, June 5, 2009

Alzheimer's disease has a number of risk factors that are only now beginning to be understood. One of the most unexpected risk factors (at least unexpected by me) is the link between mid-life belly fat and Alzheimer's disease risk. Let's call it the belly-brain link.

What is the Belly-Brain Link?

A solid study of over 6,000 people showed a link between belly fat in mid-life and the development of Alzheimer's disease in later life. These people had their belly fat (abdominal fat) measured when they were in their 40s. After an average of 36 years, 16% of the people in the study developed dementia (a symptom of Alzheimer's disease). People with the highest amounts of belly fat were almost three times more likely to develop dementia than those with the lowest amounts of fat.

Bigger Belly, Triple Risk

This tripling of risk does not bode well for most Americans. Over 50% of us have too much belly fat. Between the increase of risk factors such as belly fat and the longer lifespan of Americans, Alzheimer's disease is expected to become more and more common in the decades ahead.

Does Belly Fat Cause Alzheimer's Disease?

We really can't say that at all. Belly fat is linked to a higher risk of dementia (which can develop into Alzheimer's disease), but we don't know if people who put on belly fat may have a genetic difference that also creates an increase on dementia risk. But it seems like keeping off the belly fat is a good idea, not just for your brain but for your heart too.

Keep Off the Belly Fat

The best way to trim your belly fat is to watch your diet and increase your exercise (nothing new there). Work on eating more fruits and vegetables and less junk. Here is a simple rule to try: It doesn't count as a vegetable if it touches cheese, butter or cream. Use olive oil and spices to flavor your vegetables, and eat at least 2 fruit snacks every day.


Article Source:
http://longevity.about.com/od/mentalfitness/a/belly_dementia.htm

Blueberries May Help Reduce Belly Fat, Diabetes Risk

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

"ScienceDaily (Apr. 20, 2009) — Could eating blueberries help get rid of belly fat? And could a blueberry-enriched diet stem the conditions that lead to diabetes? A new University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center study suggests so..."

The new research, presented April 19 at the Experimental Biology convention in New Orleans, gives tantalizing clues to the potential of blueberries in reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The effect is thought to be due to the high level of phytochemicals – naturally occurring antioxidants – that blueberries contain.

The study was performed in laboratory rats. While the animal findings suggest blueberries may be protective against two health conditions that affect millions of Americans, more research should be done.

The researchers studied the effect of blueberries (freeze dried blueberries crushed into a powder) that were mixed into the rat diet, as part of either a low- or high-fat diet. They performed many comparisons between the rats consuming the test diets and the control rats receiving no blueberry powder. All the rats were from a research breed that is prone to being severely overweight.

In all, after 90 days, the rats that received the blueberry-enriched powder, measured as 2 percent of their diet, had less abdominal fat, lower triglycerides, lower cholesterol, and improved fasting glucose and insulin sensitivity, which are measures of how well the body processes glucose for energy.

While regular blueberry intake reduced these risks for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, the health benefits were even better when combined with a low-fat diet.

In addition to all the other health benefits, the group that consumed a low-fat diet had lower body weight, lower total fat mass and reduced liver mass, than those who ate a high fat diet. An enlarged liver is linked to obesity and insulin resistance, a hallmark of diabetes.

The rats in the study were similar to Americans who suffer fatty liver disease and metabolic syndrome as a result of high-fat diets and obesity. Metabolic syndrome is a group of health problems that include too much fat around the waist, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, high triglycerides, and together these conditions increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.

But were the health benefits seen in rats a result of losing abdominal fat, or something else?

“Some measurements were changed by blueberry even if the rats were on a high fat diet,” says E. Mitchell Seymour, M.S., lead researcher and manager of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. “We found by looking at fat muscle tissue, that blueberry intake affected genes related to fat-burning and storage. Looking at muscle tissue, we saw altered genes related to glucose uptake.”

Steven Bolling, M.D., a U-M heart surgeon and head of the Cardioprotection Laboratory, says: “The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables has been well-researched, but our findings in regard to blueberries shows the naturally occurring chemicals they contain, such as anthocyanins, show promise in mitigating these health conditions.”

Although the current study was supported by the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council, which also supplied the blueberry powder, the council did not play a role in the study’s conduct, analysis or the preparation of the poster presentation.

Article source:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090419170112.htm

Belly Fat Linked to Risk of Migraines

"Study Shows Excess Belly Fat May Increase Risk of Migraines for Men and Women Under 55"

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Feb. 13, 2009 -- Belly fat has been linked to increased risks for heart disease and diabetes. Now new research suggests it may also be linked to an increased risk for migraines, at least until middle age.

Waist circumference was found to be a better predictor of migraine activity than general obesity in both men and women up until age 55.

Earlier research has linked obesity with an increase in the frequency of migraines in people who already have them. But the new study is one of the few to suggest that obesity raises the overall risk for migraines.

And it is the first to examine whether belly fat may play a specific role in migraines and severe frequent headaches.

The findings will be presented in April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) in Seattle.

Belly Fat and Migraines

Researchers from Philadelphia's Drexel University College of Medicine examined data collected from more than 22,000 participants in the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

The survey included measurements of both abdominal obesity, measured by waist circumference, and overall obesity, as determined by body mass index (BMI). The data also include self-reported estimates of migraine and severe headache frequency.

Women are three times as likely as men to suffer from migraines. Researcher B. Lee Peterlin, DO, tells WebMD that the findings may help researchers understand this gender difference.

"This may be one piece of the puzzle," she says. "This does not suggest that if you lose your extra abdominal fat it will cure your migraines. But it may be a clue to help explain the sexual dimorphism in migraine."

Even after controlling for overall obesity, excess belly fat was associated with a significant increase in migraine activity in both men and women between the ages of 20 and 55.

"This is the age when migraine is most prevalent," she says. "Our findings suggest that both general obesity and abdominal obesity are associated with an increased prevalence of migraine in this age group."

Women with extra belly fat were 30% more likely to experience migraines than women without excess belly fat, even after accounting for overall obesity, risk factors for heart disease, and demographic characteristics. The link between belly fat and migraines in men in this age group was not significant when accounting for these factors.

Migraines in Women

The findings suggest that belly fat is an important risk factor for migraine, but it may be more important in women than in men, Peterlin says.

After age 55, carrying extra weight around the middle appeared to be associated with a slight decrease in migraine risk in women, but the reasons for this are not clear.

"That was a surprise," Peterlin says. "It appears that there is an impact at every age, but it changes. In women under 55, belly fat is bad. But over 55, having belly fat may actually be mildly protective against migraine."

Migraine researcher Stephen Silberstein, MD, tells WebMD that the new research raises more questions than it answers.

Silberstein is a spokesman for the American Academy of Neurology and a professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

"The large population-based studies indicate that obesity correlates with the frequency, but not the presence of migraines," he says. "This is the first time anyone has looked at abdominal girth and they found that it predicts the presence of migraines. This is an interesting observation, but these findings would definitely need to be duplicated."

Article source:

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/news/20090213/belly-fat-linked-to-risk-of-migraines