A recent study conducted by an orthopedic group in North Carolina has found that as we grow older so grow our hips. Long after we stop growing taller, which is around age 20, our hips keep going. This may help to explain why older people have larger waistlines than younger people.

The study looked at over 200 people and studied them in age categories ranging from 20 to 80. Those in the higher age groups had pelvic bones, which were wider than those in the younger age groups. It appears that as we age our hips grow by one inch, which results in a 3-inch increase in our waistline.

This is good incentive to keep weight at a healthy level. This will diminish the appearance of the hip enlargement. Staying trim will help to counteract the spread that does not have to be inevitable. This is just one more reason to get and stay in shape!

May is National Arthritis Month in the U.S. Every other month it seems that there is another study saying that there is or is not benefit to using glucosamine for arthritis. So, what is the scoop? It looks as though glucosamine sulfate does help with arthritis of the knee and possibly other joints.* It is theorized that it protects the joint cartilage. Studies have found that glucosamine has an anti-inflammatory effect and improved joint function.There are some studies to suggest that injecting glucosamine along with chondroitin in lumbar disc disease can help pain in the leg that results.In addition, glucosamine has been found to improve flexibility for those in rehabilitation for joint injury.

Glucosamine is taken as 500 mgs three times a day. It is also possible to find preparations that can be taken as 1500mgs once daily.There is ongoing research to see if glucosamine used topically is effective.

Glucosamine is relatively safe, however it is often made from shellfish such as shrimp and crab. In theory, those who are allergic to shellfish could be allergic to glucosamine.There is some question as to whether glucosamine can alter blood glucose by increasing insulin resistance. Abdominal discomfort, elevated blood pressure and palpitations can also rarely occur.

If you suffer from osteoarthritis,glucosamine may be helpful.It is relatively safe and may help reduce inflammation and protect your joint cartilage.You might want to check it out.

*Frestedt JL, Walsh M, Kuskowski MA, Zenk JL.A natural mineral supplement provides relief from knee osteoarthritis symptoms: a randomized controlled pilot trial. Nutr J. 2008 Feb 17;7:9.

I recently attended a wonderful nutrition conference where many of the leading experts weighed in on the cause of obesity and nutritional problems that we are facing in our country. Each expert had their particular focus and reason for the rise in obesity.

One attributed the cause to sugar and high fructose corn syrup. He pointed out that fructose is metabolized to fat in the liver. Another felt that it was the glycemic index of foods containing sugar that was the problem. Sticking with foods with a low glycemic index was preferable. Another expert felt that genetically modified foods were responsible for many of the medical issues that many Americans are dealing with. In animal studies, genetically modified foods caused infertility, premature aging and abnormal insulin regulation.

What do we do with all the information? The obesity epidemic is not due to just one thing. Clearly sugar is a problem. The best way to get carbohydrates in the diet is by eating foods with a low glycemic index that take time to digest. Instead of drinking orange juice, which is seen as liquid sugar to the body, eat the whole orange. The fiber in the orange slows down the way we process sugar. Eating the whole food is the key.

Whenever possible eat organic. Avoiding genetically modified food is possible if we become aware of what has been modified. Many of the ingredients used in processed foods have been genetically modified. The most common foods that have been genetically altered are corn, soybeans, canola, cottonseed, sugar beets, Hawaiian papaya and some zucchini and yellow squash. When at the store, look for no GMO on the label to make sure that food has not been modified. Avoiding processed food altogether will help as well.

The bottom line is to eat whole foods and eat organic.

Each year in the US over 700,000 people suffer a stroke and over 143,000 people die as a result.Three-quarters of those who suffer a stroke are over 65 years old.It is important to know who is at risk and how to recognize the symptoms.A stroke occurs when there is lack of blood flow to the brain.

The risk factors for a stroke are similar to those for a heart attack.These include: smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle. A family history of stroke, a history of a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), increasing age and alcohol abuse can also increase the risk of stroke.

The long term consequences of a stroke can be devastating.That is why it is important to prevent them.You can do this by reducing your risk and modifying your risk factors.Quit smoking, keep your blood pressure and cholesterol down. Eat healthy and exercise.Take folic acid as part of your vitamin regimen.

What are the symptoms and warning signs of a stroke,they include:

* Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
* Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Other danger signs that may occur include double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting. Sometimes the warning signs may last only a few moments and then disappear. These brief episodes, known as transient ischemic attacks or TIAs, are sometimes called “mini-strokes.” Since they may clear quickly, many people ignore them but that is a mistake. Many people with a TIA have a stoke within 48 hours.

If you think you are having a stroke call 911. Time is of the essence. It is possible in some cases to reverse the damage of a stroke if you are treated within hours of having symptoms. We discuss stroke in great detail in the chapter on the brain in our book.

This is a blog that I wrote two years ago but is still relevant and timely:

Spring is here and stress is in the air. There are worries over the economy, unemployment, and the state of healthcare (among other things). There are ways that each of us deals with stress -both consciously and unconsciously. Some people get sick (not a great solution);others overeat; still others drink too much alcohol. But many people have learned to work it out in a healthy way using things like exercise, meditation, yoga, and talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

CBT is a process that looks at a person’s beliefs, and helps to change negative thought patterns.It is like teaching people to look at the cup as half full, rather than half empty.A recent study has found that ten sessions of CBT significantly improved worry in older individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.CBT has also recently been shown to have an impact on depression and health outcomes in those who have undergone cardiac bypass surgery.

If you are stressed out, you are not alone.We suggest that you look to healthy ways to deal with stress and worry.If you feel you need help and would benefit from talking to someone, you might want to find a therapist who does CBT.And of course, you can always exercise too!

Bedwetting is a problem for five million children over the age of 5 in our country. It happens when children make more urine than their bladders can hold and they do not wake up to notice. As a result they wet the bed. Treatments include behavioral therapies and medication or both. Unfortunately when the medications are stopped the problem continues. Fortunately most children outgrow bedwetting.

A recent study done in Turkey has found a potentially safe and easy solution. They took 91 children who were bedwetters and treated two-thirds of them with laser acupuncture. The rest of the children received sham or fake acupuncture. After 15 days forty percent of the treated group versus eight percent of the sham group had complete improvement. After six months, fifty-four percent of the treated group and 12 percent of the sham group had total improvement.

I think the results are impressive. The treatment is safe and inexpensive. In my opinion, for my child given the choice of a drug with side effects versus a painless inexpensive procedure, this treatment wins hands down. I hope to see more trials that confirm these findings and acupuncturists who are doing this particular form of acupuncture.

As a person who suffers from irritable bowel on occasion, this strikes me as amusing since people with IBS are very aware that they have it. In my practice I have found that there are two kinds of people; those who get headaches with stress and those who get belly pain or IBS with stress. I am the latter.

IBS is a syndrome seen in 1 out of every 6 people in the US. People with IBS often have abdominal discomfort, bloating, diarrhea or constipation or both. It is not an inflammatory problem and should not be confused with inflammatory bowel disease or IBD. IBD includes Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis that are serious medical conditions that require specific medical therapies.

The important thing is to distinguish IBS from IBD. Often the only way to do that is with colonoscopy. Once serious illness is ruled out, IBS can be treated with fiber, regular exercise, dietary adjustments depending on what triggers the symptoms, medications that relax the bowel and cognitive behavioral therapy.

If you think that you may be suffering from IBS then it is time to be evaluated. It is important to make sure that your self-diagnosis is correct. Then it is time to get moving and relieve your symptoms with healthy eating, lifestyle changes and exercise.

Spring is filled with flowers, green grass, and for some…sneezing, wheezing and runny eyes and noses! The most likely cause of spring allergies is tree pollen. However, mold and animal dander can also be contributing.

How can you know for sure? Get allergy tested. If your doctor can pinpoint the cause of your symptoms, the therapy can be tailored to what you need. Treatment could involve allergy shots or medications and help you to avoid a lot of grief.

How can you tell the difference between allergies and a cold? Both can cause a runny nose and eyes, but a cold usually has fever, aches and pains associated with it and it usually ends within about ten days. How can you avoid allergies? You might want to avoid the heavy pollen times, which are the early morning and late afternoons, by staying indoors. Use your air conditioner and keep the windows closed. Wash your clothes if you have been outside and use the dryer. That will help filter out the pollens from your clothes.

If you can’t avoid pollen, you may need to try medications. There are many over the counter antihistamines now that include Benedryl, Allegra, Claritan, and Zyrtec. They block the histamine reaction that is triggered by pollen. Decongestants such as Sudafed will dry up your nasal congestion. Steroid nasal sprays will reduce inflammation.

Often people with allergies will also have asthma. This may result in wheezing, shortness or breath and can have deadly consequences. That is why it is important to have your allergies assessed and treated.

The news is everywhere these days. You see it on television, the Internet, bars, restaurants, radio, newspapers, and magazines and just about anywhere you look. We have global warming, wars, nuclear catastrophes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, financial disasters, you name it we are seeing all of it. Is it any wonder that we all seem to be a bit stressed out? Is this good for any of us? Of course it is not.

It is important that we all take a step back, get some perspective and realize that we need to take care of ourselves. If we are not alive and present on this earth then none of this matters. There are various ways that we can deal with the stress.

Exercise will help enormously. Even better, exercise outside enjoying nature has an extra-added calming factor. Eating healthy foods will help our overall health and help us to feel good. Meditation for just 15 minutes a day has physical as well as emotional benefits. It can lower blood pressure, insulin levels, and give us a sense of well-being.

Laughing has great therapeutic power. Rent a funny movie or read a funny book. Listen to music that you find relaxing. Most importantly, take a break from the news. Turn it off for a few days. Relax and get in touch with yourself and what is important to you. Find your perspective and keep it!

I have been participating in the “Dr Oz Move It and Lose It” challenge on Sharecare.com. My goal was to lose 5 pounds, which was something I had been trying to do for months before joining the challenge. I had bought a food diary and diligently wrote down what I ate and my exercises throughout the day. Regardless of the fact that my calories in and the calories burned were less than 1000 calories a day I wasn’t losing anything. Needless to say, I was discouraged.

Then I found a book called the 4 Hour Body. It has an eating plan that works for me. During the week I eat eggs, vegetables and lean protein and one day on the weekend I cheat and eat whatever I want! I eat the same breakfast and lunch every day, which really works for me. I am not good at planning meals. Dinner varies because my husband does all the cooking, but he has been really good about not making pasta, rice or potatoes.

I have never felt healthier and I have lost the five pounds and then some. So what was my problem before doing the diet outlined by Timothy Ferriss in the 4 Hour Body? I don’t think that limiting the quantity of calories works very well for me when the quality of the calories isn’t good. In other words, I can’t lose weight when I eat a chocolate bar for dinner and a bowl of potato chips for lunch. If you look at the calories they are no more than what a regular healthy meal would be but the quality of the calories is lacking.

I am now hooked on eating healthy meals that help me to feel better than I have in years. No more chocolate or junk food meals for me, unless of course it is my cheat day.