healthnut

Jeff Novick has an interesting blog on metabolism and aging. It’s the physical activity that slows down metabolism as one ages. Younger people have higher metabolic rates because of higher lean body mass. As people age, they tend to to “retire” from their physical activities; thus is the reason lean body mass and aging will correlate.

http://www.jeffnovick.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Move-It-Or-Lose-It-Even-If-You-Are-70!.html&Itemid=261

Now depending on who you talk to, metabolism can be a VERY, VERY, VERY complex subject. On a cellular level, it basically means the movement of energy via transports. Cells eat and secrete waste. See link below for animation.

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olc/dl/120068/bio02.swf

Now here are some interesting notes from a biochemical nutrition class.

1. If you eat too much carbs, the liver steps in and help packages the extra carbs as lipin (fat).
2. Stress and diet can increase insulin resistance. If insulin goes down, then glucose goes up.
3. High protein and high fat can slow the absorption rate of carbs.
4. The more muscle, the higher the BMR (basal metabolic rate). The BMR is a rough estimate of your metabolic rate at rest, ie. sleeping. It is the minimum number of calories per day you will need to keep your weight constant.
5. Men have a higher BMR because of higher lean body mass. Hint: They are the ones who always want to help us carry things. Now we know why.
6. Muscles burn fat. Calories do not. Because women let men carry their things, women tend to store more fat in their bodies. As people age and become more adaptive to the sedentary lifestyle, they will lose muscle mass. Lower muscle mass means less efficiency in burning fat.

If you’ve got a precondition and are looking to change employer or insurance carrier, better hold that thought. Based on the clause below, it doesn’t sound like everyone qualifies for health insurance.

“I understand that my employer’s application will determine coverage and that there is no coverage unless and until this application and an application made by my employer has been accepted and approved by ….”

1) Height ____ Weight ____

2) “Has any person listed on this application ever had, consulted for, sought treatment, had treatment recommended, received treatment, been surgically treated or been hospitalized for any of the following:”

• “Heart attack, heart murmur, stroke, chest pain, high blood pressure, anemia, varicose veins….”
• “Ulcer, colitis, gall stone, hernia….”
• “Cancer, cyst, or tumor?”
• “Disorder of the kidneys, blood or albumin, thyroid glands, diabetes, venereal disease….”
• “Tuberculosis, asthma, hay fever, adenoids, pleurisy…”
• “Epilepsy, fainting spells,..”
• “Been treated for alcoholism….”
• “Arthritis, rheumatic fever, back trouble….”
• “Any physical deformity or defect? Any serious bodily injury, fracture, concussion, burn, and/or congental problems?”
• “Has any person to be covered had or been told that they had immune deficiency disorder, AIDS…”
• “Within the last 12 months, taken medicine as prescribed by a physician or other health practitioner?”
• “Is any female to be covered currently pregnant?”
• “Does anyone listed on this application use tobacco products?”
• “During the last 24 months, had surgery or been confined in any hsopital, sanitarium, convalescent facility or specialized care facility or had medical expenses more than $5000?”

Does this sound like a doctor’s form or what? BTW, all these questions asked can be easily verified by the insurance company. I suspect in the future, they may want to know your diet, too.

Located throughout the continental United States, the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a great way to buy organic produce at a reasonable price. In the Bay Area, monthly subscription runs just $52 per month (small) or $13 per week.

Farming produce is “cruel” business. Unlike corn and soy, where it is subsidized by the US government, produce is not. If the produce does not meet a certain size, shape, or color, the entire lot gets rejected by the supermarket. It’s a harsh reality, and as consumers, we should not be concern about the blemishes but more about the nutritional value. The longer the produce has been on the “vine”, the more nutritious. For instance, a pepper goes from green to red. Just for being on the vine longer, the red pepper contains twice the amount of Vitamin C and more than twice the amount of beta carotene than a green pepper.

When you buy produce from the supermarket, you have no idea where it’s from, how early it was picked, whether it’s been in storage, how long its traveled, how much produce wax was applied, etc. With a CSA, you are buying your produce at the peak of harvest. The only drawback is that you have no idea what you will be getting. But who cares. Produce is good for you. Not only is it nutritious, it’s low in calories, too.

So check out your local CSA.
http://www.localharvest.org/csa/

Traditionally, pumpkins are orange, but here are some that are not. The “crooked neck” ones are exotic enough to cost $25 each.

http://webbranchfarm.com/

• Bertolli EVOO - This brand is made from spoiled or windfall olives, aka lamp oil or pomace. Note: Pomace no longer means 2nd or 3rd pressing. According to the California Council on Olive Oil, such practice does not even exist in the US.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/08/13/070813fa_fact_mueller

• Kirkland’s EVOO - Though not confirm, an olive oil drum buyer tells me that Costco recently found its olive oil to be tainted with soybean oil. And soybean is 80% genetically modified.

• Napa Valley Natural EVOO - A very popular brand among the health conscious consumers, this brand has been tested to be pomace and tainted with canola oil and GMO. It is not even organic as stated.

http://www.oliveoilsource.com/scripts/dictionary.asp?p_do=item&p_id=112

• Oleifici Fasanesi EVOO - See Bertolli.