Dr Mel Siff Blog

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Here are some extracts from an article aimed at teaching people about the
management and prevention of heart disease. As usual, any comments are
welcome.

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<http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?article_id=5592>

February is American Heart Month and the prevalence of heart disease in our
society is, at best, heartbreaking.

Heart disease is not just another “disease of the month” — it’s the number
one killer of Americans. The
American Heart Association estimates 60 million Americans suffer heart
disease. That’s 1 in 5! More Americans die of heart disease than of all
types of cancer combined…….

Are You At Risk?

There are two types of risk factors associated with heart disease: those you
can control and those you cannot. The good news: the list of those factors
you can control is much larger!

You cannot control your genetics. If you have a family history of heart
disease you’re at greater risk. Read more…

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Here are some extracts from a highly informative article on leptin, a hormone
secreted by fat cells that influences energy expenditure and food intake in
mammals. At one stage it was popular to administer leptin to obese people in
attempts to make them eat less and stimulate weight loss, but its lack of
success in these applications led to it falling into disfavour. This article
discusses ongoing research into leptin.

<http://134.174.17.116/publications/Focus/2002/Feb8_2002/endocrinology.html>

Hormone Leptin Tied to Fat Breakdown in Muscle

Findings Connect Diabetes and Obesity, Suggest New Look at Obesity Treatment

Metabolic disorders like diabetes and obesity are entangled in a complex
relationship whose ins and outs are often murky. Both stem from malfunctions Read more…

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The following extracts from a Russian text on metabolism and nutrition for
weightlifters will provide some useful information for those who recently
have been asking about the Russian approach to these topics.

Metabolic Changes in Weightlifting

K Korovnikov, N Yalovaya, G Azizbekyan, V Belyaev, R Bolkhovsky

[Tables excluded - for the full text, see 1984 Russian Yearbook translated by
Bud Charniga, www.dynamic-eleiko.com]

Essential reconstruction of the metabolic exchange processes designed for
economising the functions of physiological systems and raising of the body’s
stability to extreme influences takes place during adaptation to large
physical loads. Sharp metabolic changes in response to training loads of
large volume and intensity and insufficient recovery of the important
functions of the body’s systems can be factors which limit an athlete’s work
capacity and the effectiveness of his training. In connection with this it is
extremely important to reveal the metabolic peculiarities and the possibility
of affecting certain metabolic processes which are important for increasing Read more…

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Someone wrote anonymously:

This seems to be the standard “health-site” style article. Little or
innacurate substantiation, coupled with a small host of recommendations off
the top of one’s head. Vitamin-book style, food X is high in vitamin Y so
it must be good for you writing.

The author’s “Bad” Foods:

I find it particularly interesting that, when referring to high sugar
content, this individual does not comment on the potentially harmful (and
long-term) effects to the body’s insulin response and glucose tolerance
levels. The author seems more concerned with “tooth decay”. What she does
not centre on is that foods high in sugar are potentially setting up
children for a lifetime of more serious illness. (1) Her comment on the jam
is disconcerting.

Also concerning is the lack of analysis as to why the particular foods are
bad. I am confused as to why she did not provide food groups, as opposed to
10, seemingly random, foods. Parents would perhaps have found this more
helpful.

The author’s “Good” foods:
Read more…

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Here is some information from a NSCA publication, which relates directly to
our recent discussion on the use of L-glutamine as a training supplement:

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Glutamine and Weightlifting Performance

Antonio, J., Sanders, M., Kalman, D., Woodgate, D. and C. Street. The Effects
of High Dose Glutamine Ingestion on Weightlifting Performance. Journal of
Strength and Conditioning Research 16(1):157-160. 2002.

Researchers at the University of Delaware investigated the effects of a high
dose of glutamine on weightlifting performance. Results showed that Read more…