Jonah Hill shocked the world when he showed up 40 lbs lighter while promoting the movie 21 Jump Street, but boy, times have changed. 

VIDEO: Channing Tatum Explains Why He Mounted Jonah Hill

The Oscar nominated Moneyball actor has once again found the weight he lost to film a movie. A plumper Jonah was spotted walking through downtown New York City a lot heavier than the Jonah we saw during awards season. It’s safe to say Jonah gained a bit of his weight back.

STORY Jonah Hill Admits He’s Getting A Little Bigger

Last month Jonah talked about his struggle with his weight and blamed it all on beer.

“I tried to be healthier. I still drink beer – that’s my Achilles’ heel I think. I went to a nutritionist and I said, ‘I’ll lose weight, I’ll eat healthier and whatever, but figure out how I can drink beer.

Honestly, I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to be a little healthier, that’s it.” 

He joked around with his struggle: 

“It’s so annoying because if I don’t drink beer I get really thin, and then when I drink beer I get a little bigger. You should try beer, it’s really good.”

Either way, we’ll ride with whichever Jonah we get. Slim Jonah or big Jonah, we love him either way. 

The study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada included 86 women between the ages of 70 and 80 with mild cognitive impairment (problems with memory or other functions of the brain that were noticeable but not severe enough to interfere with their daily life). Researchers separated the women into groups that underwent resistance training, aerobic exercise, or balance/tone training twice a week for six months.

The group undergoing resistance training showed improvements in executive brain functioning and associative memory (one thought or memory triggering other thoughts or memories) based on cognitive tests .

MRI studies also showed increased blood flow to key areas of the brain associated with the improved performance on the cognitive tests.

Study co-author Teresa Liu-Ambrose, an assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at the University of British Columbia explained that although the aerobics group also showed improvement in their cardiovascular health they did not show the same results on the cognitive tests as the resistance training group:

“Most studies have looked at aerobic training, but this study compares both aerobic and strength training. And among people who don’t yet have dementia but are already at a high risk in terms of mild memory and executive function impairment, our study shows that strength training, but not aerobics training, does have benefits for cognition.”

Liu-Ambrose continues by adding:

“I am already convinced of the positive effects of exercise on aging but we need to refine the prescription for exercise through evidence. We need to be able to say who will benefit from what specific forms of exercise.”

Zaven S. Khachaturian, President of the Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by 2020, finds the research promising but believes more research is needed in larger studies to confirm these findings.

Check out the following video for more information on the exercises and benefits in dementia prevention.

vince delmonte

OK, maybe that headline is overselling the point just a bit.

But as we mentioned in explaining the New York Mets’ 4-0 start to the season, David Wright was essentially carrying the lineup, batting .583/.647/.833 with one home run and a team-leading four RBI.

Without Wright, the Mets have virtually no offense. Especially with run producers like Jason Bay and Ike Davis not producing runs. 

So is it any wonder that some part of Wright’s body broke down, carrying the weight of his team in his hands?

All right, so Wright broke his pinky finger. And he suffered the injury diving back to first base in Monday night’s game, as ESPN New York’s Mike Mazzeo explains.

But when the Mets weren’t scoring many runs to begin with, losing their best hitter showed just how precarious their early success was.

Is it any coincidence that the Mets have lost two games since Wright’s broken finger took him out of the lineup? In those two losses, the team scored a total of two runs.

Ronny Cedeno actually did a nice job of filling in for Wright Tuesday night, batting 3-for-4 and driving in a run. But on Wednesday afternoon, he went 0-for-3.

To be fair to Cedeno, none of his fellow batters had an answer for the Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday. Strasburg looked like the ace he’s expected to be, pitching six shutout innings, allowing only two hits and racking up eight strikeouts. 

Got a success story of your own? Send it to us at success.stories@huffingtonpost.com and you could be featured on the site!

Name: Heather Stewart
Age: 27
Height: 5’6″
Before Weight: 205 pounds

How I Gained It: I was always a bit on the chubby side. However, that did not make the shock any less devastating when I weighed myself for the first time in over a year. My first year of college was pure freedom. With this freedom came bills and school projects and homework and essays and new social situations. I quickly became overwhelmed and slipped into a state of depression. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). That summer I went back home, where a lot of my stress was alleviated and slowly, my health improved. My second year, however, I switched my major and began eating more and more unhealthily. Cheese fries, ramen noodles and 99-cent pizza slices were staples in my diet.

The first time I saw my weight was at the doctor’s office. I normally made it a point to not look at the scale when they weighed me. This day she wrote my weight down on a piece of paper and left the room. My eyes glazed over the paper and caught a glimpse of the number: 188 pounds. I was crushed and embarrassed. But I didn’t do anything about it. I didn’t get on another scale for over a year. I guess I thought that if I didn’t know or see what the scale had to tell me, then it wouldn’t be a problem, and it could be ignored.

Breaking Point: My third year of college, my life changed: I met my husband. He was nice, looked at me like I was beautiful and more importantly cooked for me on our first date and did the dishes. Did I fail to mention that he was a runner and a vegetarian? His views on food and health were foreign to me and I tried to adopt them. We had been dating for six months when he graduated and moved to Florida. We decided to make a long distance relationship work. A week after he left, I started making plans for my visit. My trip would fall the week of July 4th, and that meant the beach, shorts and swimming suits. I didn’t own a pair of shorts and felt awkward in a bathing suit. That week, I bought a scale and bravely stepped up on it: 205 pounds. I could not believe that I had put on almost 20 pounds in the last year and was now over the 200-pound marker. This time I took action. I knew I had to be proactive for my life and my health. I had found out the hard way that ignoring the problem would not solve it.

How I Lost It: I hit the gym and started the Slim Fast plan. When winter hit and the snow was too bad to make it to the gym, I bought The Biggest Loser DVDs and worked out with them twice a day. I did one in the morning and one before dinner, and I lost my first 30 pounds surprisingly fast. On my second trip down to Florida for Thanksgiving, my husband proposed to me on our one-year anniversary. It was at sunrise on the beach. We set a wedding date and I had less than a year to lose more weight. Over the next 9 months before the wedding, I lost 20 more pounds. I ran occasionally on the treadmill but had yet to venture outside. After the wedding, I stopped working out as much and settled into a rhythm of life.

In our first year and a half of marriage, I put back on five pounds. My husband bought me an iPod and I started running outside. I slowly built up to being able to run three miles a day. I also signed up for loseit.com and monitored my calorie intake and exercises easily. Since then, I have lost 20 pounds more. I ran in two 5Ks and have another planned for next week. Even though I still sometimes struggle with depression and GAD, I have come to realize that my worst bouts come at times when I am not eating right or have slacked on my running. I have learned that there is a connection between how I take care of my body and how it affects me, both physically and mentally. Thanks to my husband, I now eat healthy and I am proud of the proactive steps that I have taken to reclaim my body and mind since my weight loss journey began.

After Weight: 140 pounds

Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below:

vince delmonte no nonsense muscle building

The study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada included 86 women between the ages of 70 and 80 with mild cognitive impairment (problems with memory or other functions of the brain that were noticeable but not severe enough to interfere with their daily life). Researchers separated the women into groups that underwent resistance training, aerobic exercise, or balance/tone training twice a week for six months.

The group undergoing resistance training showed improvements in executive brain functioning and associative memory (one thought or memory triggering other thoughts or memories) based on cognitive tests .

MRI studies also showed increased blood flow to key areas of the brain associated with the improved performance on the cognitive tests.

Study co-author Teresa Liu-Ambrose, an assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at the University of British Columbia explained that although the aerobics group also showed improvement in their cardiovascular health they did not show the same results on the cognitive tests as the resistance training group:

“Most studies have looked at aerobic training, but this study compares both aerobic and strength training. And among people who don’t yet have dementia but are already at a high risk in terms of mild memory and executive function impairment, our study shows that strength training, but not aerobics training, does have benefits for cognition.”

Liu-Ambrose continues by adding:

“I am already convinced of the positive effects of exercise on aging but we need to refine the prescription for exercise through evidence. We need to be able to say who will benefit from what specific forms of exercise.”

Zaven S. Khachaturian, President of the Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by 2020, finds the research promising but believes more research is needed in larger studies to confirm these findings.

Check out the following video for more information on the exercises and benefits in dementia prevention.

Jonah Hill shocked the world when he showed up 40 lbs lighter while promoting the movie 21 Jump Street, but boy, times have changed. 

VIDEO: Channing Tatum Explains Why He Mounted Jonah Hill

The Oscar nominated Moneyball actor has once again found the weight he lost to film a movie. A plumper Jonah was spotted walking through downtown New York City a lot heavier than the Jonah we saw during awards season. It’s safe to say Jonah gained a bit of his weight back.

STORY Jonah Hill Admits He’s Getting A Little Bigger

Last month Jonah talked about his struggle with his weight and blamed it all on beer.

“I tried to be healthier. I still drink beer – that’s my Achilles’ heel I think. I went to a nutritionist and I said, ‘I’ll lose weight, I’ll eat healthier and whatever, but figure out how I can drink beer.

Honestly, I’m not perfect, but I’m trying to be a little healthier, that’s it.” 

He joked around with his struggle: 

“It’s so annoying because if I don’t drink beer I get really thin, and then when I drink beer I get a little bigger. You should try beer, it’s really good.”

Either way, we’ll ride with whichever Jonah we get. Slim Jonah or big Jonah, we love him either way. 

vince delmonte workout

The study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada included 86 women between the ages of 70 and 80 with mild cognitive impairment (problems with memory or other functions of the brain that were noticeable but not severe enough to interfere with their daily life). Researchers separated the women into groups that underwent resistance training, aerobic exercise, or balance/tone training twice a week for six months.

The group undergoing resistance training showed improvements in executive brain functioning and associative memory (one thought or memory triggering other thoughts or memories) based on cognitive tests .

MRI studies also showed increased blood flow to key areas of the brain associated with the improved performance on the cognitive tests.

Study co-author Teresa Liu-Ambrose, an assistant professor in the department of physical therapy at the University of British Columbia explained that although the aerobics group also showed improvement in their cardiovascular health they did not show the same results on the cognitive tests as the resistance training group:

“Most studies have looked at aerobic training, but this study compares both aerobic and strength training. And among people who don’t yet have dementia but are already at a high risk in terms of mild memory and executive function impairment, our study shows that strength training, but not aerobics training, does have benefits for cognition.”

Liu-Ambrose continues by adding:

“I am already convinced of the positive effects of exercise on aging but we need to refine the prescription for exercise through evidence. We need to be able to say who will benefit from what specific forms of exercise.”

Zaven S. Khachaturian, President of the Campaign to Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease by 2020, finds the research promising but believes more research is needed in larger studies to confirm these findings.

Check out the following video for more information on the exercises and benefits in dementia prevention.

It doesn’t sound very glamorous, but there’s no getting around this one salient fact of life: If you want to lose weight, the most effective method is regular exercise combined with eating less fat.

A new study once again proves that this completely unsensational combination is the ultimate way to reduce your size. What’s more, the study found, other methods — such as popular diets and dieting products — were not associated with weight loss.

A team of researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School contacted more than 4,000 obese Americans who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2001 to 2006, which was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The participants were all age 20 or older and had body mass indexes (BMIs, a ratio of weight to height) of 30 or more — a clinical definition of obesity — in the year before they were interviewed by the researchers.

During the interviews, they were asked whether or not they were actively trying to lose weight and, if so, how well they were doing. They were also asked about their methods, like whether they dieted, used supplements, exercised, or employed another weight-loss strategy.

Researchers found that about 63 percent, or 2,523 of the participants, were actively trying to lose weight. Of those, 60 percent had already lost a substantial amount of weight at the time of the interview: 40 percent had shed 5 percent of their initial body weight and 20 percent had lost 10 percent or more of their initial body weight.

So what was the best indicator of how successful a study subject was?

“Those who exercised more and ate less fat were significantly more likely to lose weight,” said the authors in a statement. By contrast, “self-reported use of popular diets, liquid diets, nonprescription weight loss pills and diet foods/products were not associated with weight loss,” they added.

vince delmonte fitness

The state of North Carolina has its own “Board of Dietetics and Nutrition”–of
course it does–and it has decided that one bloggers right to free
speech ends where the North Carolina Board of Dietetics and
Nutrition’s officious overbearingness begins, as I think Oliver
Wendell Holmes (or was it Oliver
Wendell Douglas?) once wrote.

Here’s the naughty bits, as
reported in Carolina Journal:

[When] Steve Cooksey…was hospitalized with diabetes in
February 2009, he decided to avoid the fate of his grandmother, who
eventually died of the disease. He embraced the low-carb,
high-protein Paleo diet, also known as the “caveman” or
“hunter-gatherer” diet. The diet, he said, made him drug- and
insulin-free within 30 days. By May of that year, he had lost 45
pounds and decided to start a blog about his success.

But this past January the state diatetics and nutrition board
decided Cooksey’s blog — Diabetes-Warrior.net — violated state law.
The nutritional advice Cooksey provides on the site amounts to
“practicing nutrition,” the board’s director says, and in North
Carolina that’s something you need a license to do.

Unless Cooksey completely rewrites his 3-year-old blog, he could
be sued by the licensing board. If he loses the lawsuit and refuses
to take down the blog, he could face up to 120 days in jail.

The board’s director says Cooksey has a First Amendment right to
blog about his diet, but he can’t encourage others to adopt it
unless the state has certified him as a dietitian or
nutritionist.

Seems he came to their attention after contradicting a local
hospital’s director of diabetes services at a local meeting, and
handing out cards about his site. What did the Board find
objectionable about Cooksey’s site?

Cooksey posted a link (6.3 MB PDF download) to the board’s
review of his website. The document shows several Web pages the
board took issue with, including a question-and-answer page, which
the director had marked in red ink noting the places he was
“assessing and counseling” readers of his blog.

“If people are writing you with diabetic specific questions and
you are responding, you are no longer just providing information —
you are counseling,” she wrote. “You need a license to provide this
service.”

The board also found fault with a page titled “My Meal Plan,”
where Cooksey details what he eats daily.

In red, [Dietetics and Nutrition Board director] Burril writes,
“It is acceptable to provide just this information [his meal plan],
but when you start recommending it directly to people you speak to
or who write you, you are now providing diabetic counseling, which
requires a license.”

The board also directed Cooksey to remove a link offering
one-on-one support, a personal-training type of service he offered
for a small fee.

Cooksey posts the following disclaimer at the bottom of every
page on his website:

“I am not a doctor, dietitian, nor nutritionist … in fact I have
no medical training of any kind.”

The bureaucrat speaks!

Charla Burill, the board’s director, told Carolina Journal she
could not discuss the details of Cooksey’s case because his website
is still under investigation, but agreed to talk about the law in
the hypothetical….

Burill said [Cooksey's] disclaimer may not protect a nutrition
blogger from the law.

“If I’ve given you reason to not worry that I don’t have a
license because I have all these other reasons I’m an expert, you
could still harm the public,” she said. “At least you’re not trying
to mislead the public, but you’re trying to get the public to trust
you.”….

Burill said if Cooksey refuses to come into compliance with the
law, the board could file for an injunction. 

The
paleo diet–a passionate fad and/or lifestyle change of an
enormous number of folk I know concentrated in the world’s of
libertarianism, futurism, space, and your basic “new digital
economy” (does that still exist?) and the places where all those
interests intersect–may or may not save you from diabetes, give
you the pep you need, or revert you back down the evolutionary
chain, or whatever it’s supposed to do.

But that someone should be able to describe his experiences with
it and advocate for his own good results should go without saying,
though my saying that may well contradict a directive of the
California Board of Going Without Saying.

The
board’s review of Cooksey’s site. in remarkably
official-looking pen scrawls in margins of a printout of the
site.

Read Cooksey’s
site if you care to–it ain’t illegal (yet).

In a previous century, I wrote about the Federal Trade
Commission’s power to essentially censor speech when it comes to

claims about chiropraxy.

New guidelines from the American Cancer Society say for many cancers, maintaining a healthy weight, getting adequate physical activity, and eating a healthy diet can reduce the chance of recurrence and increase the likelihood of disease-free survival after a diagnosis. The recommendations are included in newly released Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors, published early online in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.

Increasing evidence shows that for many cancers, excess weight, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition increase the risk of cancer recurrence and reduce the likelihood of disease-free and overall survival for cancer patients. “The data suggests that cancer survivors, just like everyone else, benefit from these important steps,” said Colleen Doyle MS RD, American Cancer Society director of nutrition and physical activity and co-author of the guidelines. “While we’ve published previous reports outlining the evidence on the impact of nutrition and physical activity on cancer recurrence and survival, this is the first time the evidence has been strong enough to release formal guidelines for survivorship, as we’ve done for cancer prevention. Living a physically active lifestyle and eating a healthy diet should absolutely be top of mind for anyone who’s been diagnosed with cancer. ”

The report was last updated in 2006, and was first created in 2001. For the update, a group of experts in nutrition, physical activity, and cancer survivorship evaluated the scientific evidence and best clinical practices related to optimal nutrition and physical activity after the diagnosis of cancer. Among the review’s conclusions:

• Avoiding weight gain throughout treatment may be important not only for survivors who are overweight, but also those of normal weight.
• Intentional weight loss after recovering from cancer treatment among overweight and obese patients may be associated with health-related benefits.
• Evidence strongly suggests that exercise is not only safe and feasible during cancer treatment, but that it can also improve physical functioning, fatigue, multiple aspects of quality of life, and may even increase the rate of completion of chemotherapy.
• Physical activity after cancer diagnosis is associated with a reduced risk of cancer recurrence and improved overall mortality among multiple cancer survivor groups, including breast, colorectal, prostate, and ovarian cancer.
• Among breast cancer survivors, physical activity after diagnosis has consistently been associated with reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence and breast cancer-specific mortality.
• Results from observational studies suggest that diet and food choices may affect cancer progression, risk of recurrence, and overall survival in individuals who have been treated for cancer.

  For example, a dietary pattern high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, and fish was found to be associated with reduced mortality compared with a dietary pattern characterized by a high intake of refined grains, processed and red meats, desserts, high-fat dairy products, and French fries in women after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

• Compelling evidence exists against the use of select supplements in certain oncology populations; therefore, health care professionals and survivors need to proceed with caution.

  “As more people survive cancer, there is increasing interest in finding information about food choices, physical activity, and dietary supplements to improve treatment outcomes, quality of life, and overall survival,” said Doyle. “Our report summarizes the findings of this expert panel, and is intended to present health care providers with the best possible information with which to help cancer survivors and their families make informed choices related to nutrition and physical activity.”

The recommendations also include specific guidance for people diagnosed with breast, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, lung, prostate, head and neck, and hematologic cancers. It also includes a section with answers to common questions about alcohol, organic foods, sugar, supplements, and several other areas of interest.

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Alveo

Complete Nutrition, a nutritional supplements retail store focused on helping customers achieve optimum overall wellness, recently opened in Spokane Valley, with a second site scheduled to open in north Spokane this summer.

Opening in the Inland Northwest “just made sense,” said Nick Inglett, who moved from Iowa to serve as managing partner of the two stores. He said the demographics of the area allow for more supplement stores and hopes customers will appreciate the personal attention and advice from a knowledgeable staff.

“I’m here to educate people, to offer consultation, find out what they’ve tried in the past,” said Inglett, who formerly managed several fitness centers in Iowa. “I’m here to advocate exercise, too.”

The store is situated on Indiana Avenue near the Spokane Valley Mall. Inglett’s two business partners are out of state.

Complete Nutrition offers multivitamins as well as supplements for such things as weight loss or gain, sports nutrition, or general health issues like joint care, heart health or digestion. Inglett said that as an independent franchise, he stocks a variety of brands in addition to those from Complete Nutrition.

The Nebraska-based company was founded in 2004 and focuses on hydration, supplements, a balanced diet and exercise in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Inglett and his staff offer advice to assist in developing personal nutrition programs and to remind people that supplements are one aspect of healthy living.

“We want people to come in and check it out. You won’t get a sales pitch, he said. “We want you to have questions.”

Beans, pulses and legumes can be classified as either vegetables or proteins under the new USDA dietary guidelines, giving them an important role in a person’s daily diet, an expert panel said at the Institute of Food Technologists’ Wellness 12 meeting.

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which highlights the messages behind the MyPlate food icon, recommend half a person’s plate be vegetables and fruit, the other half grains and protein, and a serving of dairy be included with the meal. In the guidelines, beans, pulses and legumes are permitted to go on either side of the plate, although not both, at each meal. This does not include green beans, which are grouped with other vegetables.

During the panel, Joanne Slavin, PhD., RD, professor at the University of Minnesota and a member of the committee that wrote the guidelines, said beans, pulses and legumes are a good source of protein, fiber and nutrients such as potassium and folate. However, most Americans do not get nearly enough of them in their diets, and when they do report eating beans, the most common form is refried.

“It’s an exciting time, with the huge emphasis on plant products as a healthier way to eat,” Slavin said. “There are lots of opportunities to increase consumption.”

Brian Larson, Ph.D., vice president of research and development for JG Consulting Services, LLC, gave examples of how specialty grain legumes, such as sweet white lupin, pigeon peas and heirloom/heritage beans, could add nutritional value to bakery products and frozen waffles and pancakes, as well as act as a meat substitute, a soup thickening and fortification agent and act as a potato substitute or side dish in frozen entrees.

These specialty grains add protein, resistant carbohydrates and healthy fiber without adding gluten, he said.

• Additional
• References
• Citations

Alveo

Public release date: 24-Apr-2012

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Contact: Egg Nutrition News Bureau
info@eggnutrition.org
312-233-1211
Edelman Public Relations

Egg nutrition research reveals positive impact on metabolic syndrome and satiety

Lessons from Experimental Biology 2012

Park Ridge, IL (April 24, 2012) This week at Experimental Biology (EB) 2012 in San Diego, experts are convening to discuss the latest science in a variety of health and disease-related areas, including nutrition. Research on whole egg consumption in individuals with metabolic syndrome as well as the positive effects of a higher-protein breakfast is further revealing the potential benefits of including eggs in the diet.

Whole Egg Consumption May Improve Markers of Metabolic Syndrome

A University of Connecticut study presented this week suggests that eating eggs may actually have favorable effects on HDL metabolism in men and women with metabolic syndrome.(i) Participants in the study followed a carbohydrate-restricted diet with some individuals eating three whole eggs per day and others eating an equivalent amount of egg substitute. After 12 weeks, the group eating whole eggs experienced an improvement in HDL measures showing significantly greater increases in the number and size of HDL particles. HDL or “good” cholesterol scavenges for fat throughout the bloodstream and returns it to the liver, making it less likely that fatty deposits will build up in the blood vessels and lead to atherosclerosis.

Related findings were also presented in separate sessions that suggest that consuming whole eggs as part of a carbohydrate-restricted diet may help to further improve markers indicative of inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in individuals with metabolic syndrome.(ii)

Higher-Protein Breakfast Reduces High-Fat Snacking

A study by researchers at the University of Missouri found that teen girls reported greater feelings of satiety and experienced improved hormone responses related to hunger and satiety after consuming a higher-protein breakfast, containing about 35 grams of protein from egg or beef-based foods. Teen girls who consumed a high-protein breakfast also ate fewer snacks, especially those higher in fat, later in the day.(iii) These findings build on past research showing the benefits of high-quality protein on satiety, further supporting the science behind what makes eggs such a satisfying breakfast choice.(iv)

Clarifying Cholesterol Confusion

Many Americans avoid the dietary cholesterol found in eggs for fear of raising their risk of heart disease, but more than 40 years of research has shown that healthy adults can enjoy eggs without concern for increasing their risk for heart disease. Additionally, an analysis from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service showed that eggs have 14 percent less cholesterol (down from 215 mg to 185 mg) than previously measured.(v) Established research also has shown that saturated fat intake may be more likely to raise a person’s blood cholesterol than dietary cholesterol intake and eggs contain relatively little saturated fat.(vi) The findings presented at this week’s meeting in combination with the decades of science demonstrating the health benefits of eating eggs further support the role of eggs in a nutritious diet.

Complete Nutrition, a nutritional supplements retail store focused on helping customers achieve optimum overall wellness, recently opened in Spokane Valley, with a second site scheduled to open in north Spokane this summer.

Opening in the Inland Northwest “just made sense,” said Nick Inglett, who moved from Iowa to serve as managing partner of the two stores. He said the demographics of the area allow for more supplement stores and hopes customers will appreciate the personal attention and advice from a knowledgeable staff.

“I’m here to educate people, to offer consultation, find out what they’ve tried in the past,” said Inglett, who formerly managed several fitness centers in Iowa. “I’m here to advocate exercise, too.”

The store is situated on Indiana Avenue near the Spokane Valley Mall. Inglett’s two business partners are out of state.

Complete Nutrition offers multivitamins as well as supplements for such things as weight loss or gain, sports nutrition, or general health issues like joint care, heart health or digestion. Inglett said that as an independent franchise, he stocks a variety of brands in addition to those from Complete Nutrition.

The Nebraska-based company was founded in 2004 and focuses on hydration, supplements, a balanced diet and exercise in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Inglett and his staff offer advice to assist in developing personal nutrition programs and to remind people that supplements are one aspect of healthy living.

“We want people to come in and check it out. You won’t get a sales pitch, he said. “We want you to have questions.”

Alveo

Written in collaboration with Jean Guo

There is finally a glimmer of hope in the fight against obesity, a critical public health and economic crisis burdening our nation. After several decades of steep upswings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that obesity rates in the U.S. may be stabilizing, with no significant change in prevalence over the past two years for children [1]. However, experts also warn of the major challenges ahead in the battle against obesity in America.

Despite the apparent recent leveling-off in childhood obesity rates, the prevalence of obesity nonetheless remains high, with more than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent of youth obese in 2009-2010. There are also significant concerns about the health and economic consequences that result from obesity-related complications. Diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and osteoarthritis are just some of the illnesses associated with obesity that impose human suffering as well as significant medical costs [2]. In 2008, obesity-related medical expenses reached $147 billion, double the amount spent 10 years ago. This figure is projected to rise to $344 billion by 2018, underscoring the magnitude of the economic threat, as an estimated 50 million days of employment and $150 billion in productivity are lost annually in the U.S. due to overweight and obesity-related chronic conditions [3].

To address this health crisis, attention must be focused on a key issue that lies at the core of the epidemic: the social inequities of obesity. A significant body of scientific evidence links poverty with higher rates of obesity. Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the most comprehensive study conducted thus far to document the nutritional status of the U.S. population, has found that low-income children and adolescents are more likely to be obese than their higher income counterparts [4]. Additionally, reports have shown a higher prevalence of obesity among low-income adults. One study revealed that more than one-third of adults who earn less than $15,000 annually were obese, as compared to 25 percent of those who earn more than $50,000 a year [5]. Visually, a compelling correlation emerges when comparing maps detailing poverty and obesity rates in the U.S. (See images below)

U.S. POVERTY RATES BY STATE (Source: U.S. Census Bureau)

U.S. OBESITY RATES BY STATE (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Major contributing factors to the disproportional impact of obesity on low income populations in America include the barriers faced by people living in poverty in accessing healthy foods, a lack of nutrition education, a dearth of safe environments for physical activity and recreation, and food marketing targeted to this population. Population level data have shown that diet quality follows a socioeconomic gradient. People with higher socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to consume whole grains, lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy products, and fresh vegetables and fruit. In contrast, lower SES is associated with the consumption of more refined grains and added fats [6].

Simply stated, families with limited economic resources may turn to food with poor nutritional quality because it is cheaper and more accessible [7]. Lack of physical activity is another commonly-cited problem fueling the obesity epidemic in America. Some low-income families live in neighborhoods where it is dangerous to play outside, reducing opportunities for both children and adults to exercise [8]. Furthermore, many low-income communities lack access to fresh and nutritious food. Instead of a supermarket, these neighborhoods may have an abundance of fast-food retailers and corner stores that are stocked with products high in fat and low in nutrients [9]. Additionally, low-income families are often targeted by food marketers with advertisements encouraging the consumption of nutrient-poor foods. In this environment, children in low-income families are especially hard hit, as evidence demonstrates that consistent exposure to such advertising increases the likelihood of adopting unhealthy dietary practices [10].

Therefore, in developing a strategy to reverse the obesity epidemic in America, a comprehensive “health in all policies” approach must be implemented. A roadmap to reverse obesity will not only tackle health and nutrition issues, but also focus on the underlying social and environmental factors that contribute to this public health problem. Decades of scientific research have revealed that our health habits and environments — the choices people make regarding tobacco use, alcohol, food, and exercise, and the communities in which they live with their transportation systems, workplaces, grocery stores, and schools — all impact health. Thus, a broad range of strategies are needed to address the individual, social and environmental factors and their interactions that affect people’s health-related behaviors.

At the national level, several initiatives have been launched to address these fundamental issues. The Affordable Care Act 2010 has mandated inclusion of menu labeling in restaurants and on vending machines, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act 2010 has set nutrition standards for foods served in schools and child care facilities, and the increase in the number of Baby Friendly hospitals has expanded efforts to promote breastfeeding [11]. Furthermore, First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign is mobilizing all sectors of society to get involved in reversing childhood obesity rates within a generation. As part of this initiative, the Child Care State Challenge is encouraging the adoption of voluntary standards for physical activity, limits on screen time, healthy beverages, and promoting the availability of healthy foods in child care settings.

At the community level, new affordable housing neighborhoods like Greenbridge, Washington (located in King County near Seattle) are being designed and built as models for creating an environment that promotes healthy diets and active lifestyles for their residents. In this predominantly immigrant community where more than 15 languages are spoken, more than 54 percent of adults are overweight or obese, and more than 85 percent of adolescents in grades 8, 10, and 12 do not meet the physical activity recommendations set by the federal government [12]. Supported by Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities (HKHC), a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that promotes community-based solutions, Greenbridge focuses on shaping the environment to encourage healthy behaviors among families, with special attention to children who are at the highest risk. Thus far, a comprehensive set of measures has been put in place to foster the development of a healthier community. In addition to an elementary school, a Head Start program, and a Boy and Girls Club, this new affordable housing initiative offers community gardens to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, a library, as well as play areas, parks, and walking paths. A food bank, a public health clinic, and a community center that provides free exercise classes are located just a few blocks away.

This integrative approach has turned a troubled neighborhood into a welcoming place to live. This new community emphasizes the importance of cultivating a nurturing environment for youth, especially as children and adolescents constitute over a quarter of the neighborhood’s population.

Initiatives like this one that involve not only individuals but the entire family and community provide a model for how to improve the health of cities across our nation. Targeting only one aspect of the problem will not be effective in fighting the obesity epidemic, since many of its causes stem from broad social and environmental factors. Moreover, to effectively confront the disproportionate impact of obesity on low income populations, the social determinants of health — including the significant disparities that poorer people experience — must be addressed.

Communities are the cornerstone for preventive interventions that increase the accessibility of fresh foods and physical activity, implement policies to reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods to children and adults, and help make healthy nutritional choices easier and affordable. In this regard, public-private partnerships are critical in bringing families, businesses, health care organizations, government and other stakeholders together to reverse the impact of obesity in our country.

Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” To contribute your perspectives and ideas on ways to tip the scales on obesity and make the changes needed for healthier communities and a healthier country, visit www.SNAPtoHealth.org, an online forum on the state of nutrition in the United States. While the path to reversing the obesity epidemic in America is challenging, by working together, we can ensure a healthier future for all Americans.

Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A. (ret.) is the Public Health Editor of the Huffington Post. She is the Director of the Health and Medicine Program at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C., a Clinical Professor at Georgetown and Tufts University Schools of Medicine, Chair of the Global Health Program at the Meridian International Center, and Senior Policy and Medical Advisor at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. Dr. Blumenthal served for more than 20 years in senior health leadership positions in the Federal government in the Administrations of four U.S. Presidents, including as Assistant Surgeon General of the United States, the first Deputy Assistant Secretary of Women’s Health, as a White House Advisor on Health, and as Chief of the Behavioral Medicine and Basic Prevention Research Branch at the National Institutes of Health. Admiral Blumenthal has received numerous awards including honorary doctorates and has been decorated with the highest medals of the US Public Health Service for her pioneering leadership and significant contributions to advancing health in the United States and worldwide. She is the recipient of the 2009 Health Leader of the Year Award from the Commissioned Officers Association and was named as a Rock Star of Science by the Geoffrey Beene Foundation and GQ magazine.

Jean Guo is an undergraduate student at Stanford University who is currently studying in Paris. She served as a Health Policy Intern at the Center for the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C.

References

[12] “Winning Strategies in the Fight Against Childhood Obesity.” Seattle-Area Affordable Housing Community Planting Gardens, Building Sidewalks. November 23, 2011, available at http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/product.jsp?id=73623.

For more articles by Susan Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.A., click here.

For more healthy living health news, click here.

Just as I was about to extol the many virtues of Peter Kaminsky’s new book, brilliantly titled Culinary Intelligence: The Art of Eating Healthy (and Really Well), I happened upon a dose of Culinary Insanity in the food pages of today’s New York Times. In an article about an exemplary initiative to teach doctors about nutrition, a recipe appears that is so unhealthy as to render the project questionable.

Who’s in charge here? Who makes the decisions about what is healthy? And why would anyone choose a drink that contains more sugar than a Coke to illustrate the idea behind healthful food consumption? Not only does the simple recipe for limeade contain 24 grams of refined white sugar per serving (that’s 90 calories worth of sugar alone), but it is made with peanuts, which may trigger a bout of allergies for some. Really, what were they thinking? It reminds me a bit of the book Why French Women Don’t Get Fat, where the premise is certainly laudable — eat small portions of delicious things — but, alas, there was not a nutritional analysis in sight and many of the recipes that looked healthy were not, even in petit portions.

That said, as I have written several books on healthy eating, Healthy 1-2-3, Low Carb 1-2-3 (the only book with recipes that are low carb and low cal), and Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs, I know the many vicissitudes in creating recipes that are healthy and delicious. It comes with decades of experience working with nutritionists, clinical herbalists, and creating one of the country’s first “spa cuisines” at the Rainbow Room many years ago. The program extolled in the New York Times today — a joint effort of the Harvard School of Public Health, the Culinary Institute of America, and Healthy Kitchens/Healthy Lives created by Dr. Eisenberg eight years ago, to teach young medical professionals about healthy cooking, is certainly worthwhile. It is a good idea for doctors to know something about the relationship between food and nutrition. Yet it is incumbent upon anyone who invokes the BRAND of healthy cooking to define its terms and make sure the public gets the right information.

That said, there’s a wonderful juncture of ideologies in Peter Kaminsky’s Culinary Intelligence (published next month by Alfred A. Knopf) and Dr. Eisenberg’s approach to healthy food. It’s all about flavor. Dr. Eisenberg says “flavor is a health issue,” and Mr. Kaminsky unfurls a culinary marker called FPC, or flavor per calorie. If we satisfy our cravings with fresh foods that maximize flavor, then we might be sated with less and enjoy our food more. Many studies have shown that processed foods, full of unpronounceable additives, do not satisfy us either gastronomically or spiritually, and actually create the desire for more, and more, of the unhealthy stuff. Mr. Kaminsky, a well-known food writer and critic, was rejected from a life insurance policy because he was pre-diabetic. And that is what led him to write his treatise. It is not a diet book, but a book about pursuing the pleasures of the table as the path to good health. I think Dr. Eisenberg would agree. But they depart here: Mr. Kaminsky says the three most important foods or ingredients to avoid are sugar, refined (white) flour, and trans fats, while Dr. Eisenberg eschews butter (note: butter can be used with culinary intelligence as it is a terrific flavor carrier and a little goes a long way), and seems to be okay with sugary drinks (i.e. today’s recipe for Peanut Limeade.) Culinary Intelligence also pursues the deep complex flavors imparted by umami (a flavor-enhancing glutamate that exists in many foods — known as the “fifth taste”), and the soul-satisfying approach to healthy food by the simple notion of mindfulness and pleasure and, of course, using great ingredients.

Needless to say, good health is also about good exercise. I just learned this morning that after 28 days in “boot camp” my son lost 10 pounds, 1 percent of body fat, and 3 inches off his waistline!

The bottom line is that not only should doctors know about healthy recipes, and nutritionists should know how to cook, but most importantly the chefs who promote healthy food must know something about nutrition.

Rozanne Gold is an award-winning chef and author of “Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs;” “Healthy 1-2-3,” and “Radically Simple.”

Rozanne can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RozanneGold.

Alveo

A partnership between a Los Angeles-based electric car startup and a growing Chinese auto maker intends to produce “the most affordable EV on the market.” On Tuesday Coda Holdings announced that it has a new deal with auto maker Great Wall Motors Company to co-develop a low cost electric car to sell in the U.S., China and Europe.

Coda says it will provide the propulsion technology, including the battery systems, for the electric car, while Great Wall Motors will likely provide the car chassis and other systems. The cars will be assembled in both China and the U.S. The deal is not a joint venture and does not involve an equity stake, said Coda.

Coda CEO Phil Murtaugh said on a call with reporters that the low cost electric car won’t be launched until the second quarter of 2014, and more details of the car will be provided in the next six to nine months. Coda didn’t say how much the EV would cost.

Coda early days

To put this announcement in perspective, Coda, a spin-out from electric car startup Miles Electric, only just started shipping its inaugural electric sedans in March of this year, and Murtaugh said that sales volumes of that first car are still “low.” Murtaugh wouldn’t give more specific figures. Coda delayed the launch of that car by over a year and “soft-launched” it recently.

Coda also just recently launched a stationary energy storage business — using its battery packs to store energy for the power grid — and is in the very early stages of that business, too. So basically, Coda is not yet bringing in much revenue to run its business, and already it’s got a new deal in the works to develop a second electric car.

Coda’s battery technology is based around lithium iron phosphate batteries, and a good chunk of its intellectual property is around the cooling management system and software. The company already has a joint venture with China battery maker Lishen, called Lio (oil spelled backward), and Lio owns the IP for the battery cell production, but Coda has retained the rights to the advanced thermal dynamics and battery management system.

Coda raised close to $150 million in funding back in September, including raising money from Chinese investors New World Strategic Investment Limited, and Indus Capital. Coda and Lishen also agreed to invest $100 million into the venture alongside a commitment for a $294 million line of credit from the Bank of Tianjin Joint-Stock Co. Coda says it is no longer pursuing a Department of Energy loan.

Chinese auto market

Great Wall Motors Company is a public company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and sold 500,000 traditional internal combustion cars in 2011. Murtaugh said Great Wall Motors doesn’t yet sell electric cars and Coda says Great Wall Motors is the fastest growing and most profitable Chinese auto original equipment manufacturer.

China is the world’s largest auto market, and all of the car companies launched their latest models at the Beijing Auto Show this week. As the Financial Times put it: “The Middle Kingdom is increasingly claiming its place as the centre of gravity of the automotive world.”. . . “This is a 30m market by 2020 – it will be the dominant market in the world.”

That’s one reason it could be the quintessential market for electric cars. The other reason China could dominate EVs is that the Chinese government can take the top-down approach, like mandating electric cars for government and service workers, and banning internal combustion two-wheelers. China is the largest market for electric scooters and motorcycles. Murtaugh said that the “Chinese market will overwhelm all other EV markets in the world.”

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
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A partnership between a Los Angeles-based electric car startup and a growing Chinese auto maker intends to produce “the most affordable EV on the market.” On Tuesday Coda Holdings announced that it has a new deal with auto maker Great Wall Motors Company to co-develop a low cost electric car to sell in the U.S., China and Europe.

Coda says it will provide the propulsion technology, including the battery systems, for the electric car, while Great Wall Motors will likely provide the car chassis and other systems. The cars will be assembled in both China and the U.S. The deal is not a joint venture and does not involve an equity stake, said Coda.

Coda CEO Phil Murtaugh said on a call with reporters that the low cost electric car won’t be launched until the second quarter of 2014, and more details of the car will be provided in the next six to nine months. Coda didn’t say how much the EV would cost.

Coda early days

To put this announcement in perspective, Coda, a spin-out from electric car startup Miles Electric, only just started shipping its inaugural electric sedans in March of this year, and Murtaugh said that sales volumes of that first car are still “low.” Murtaugh wouldn’t give more specific figures. Coda delayed the launch of that car by over a year and “soft-launched” it recently.

Coda also just recently launched a stationary energy storage business — using its battery packs to store energy for the power grid — and is in the very early stages of that business, too. So basically, Coda is not yet bringing in much revenue to run its business, and already it’s got a new deal in the works to develop a second electric car.

Coda’s battery technology is based around lithium iron phosphate batteries, and a good chunk of its intellectual property is around the cooling management system and software. The company already has a joint venture with China battery maker Lishen, called Lio (oil spelled backward), and Lio owns the IP for the battery cell production, but Coda has retained the rights to the advanced thermal dynamics and battery management system.

Coda raised close to $150 million in funding back in September, including raising money from Chinese investors New World Strategic Investment Limited, and Indus Capital. Coda and Lishen also agreed to invest $100 million into the venture alongside a commitment for a $294 million line of credit from the Bank of Tianjin Joint-Stock Co. Coda says it is no longer pursuing a Department of Energy loan.

Chinese auto market

Great Wall Motors Company is a public company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and sold 500,000 traditional internal combustion cars in 2011. Murtaugh said Great Wall Motors doesn’t yet sell electric cars and Coda says Great Wall Motors is the fastest growing and most profitable Chinese auto original equipment manufacturer.

China is the world’s largest auto market, and all of the car companies launched their latest models at the Beijing Auto Show this week. As the Financial Times put it: “The Middle Kingdom is increasingly claiming its place as the centre of gravity of the automotive world.”. . . “This is a 30m market by 2020 – it will be the dominant market in the world.”

That’s one reason it could be the quintessential market for electric cars. The other reason China could dominate EVs is that the Chinese government can take the top-down approach, like mandating electric cars for government and service workers, and banning internal combustion two-wheelers. China is the largest market for electric scooters and motorcycles. Murtaugh said that the “Chinese market will overwhelm all other EV markets in the world.”

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Ups and downs for cleantech in Q1
• Flash analysis: lessons from Solyndra’s fall
• Smart Grid Apps: Six Trends That Will Shape Grid Evolution

seized cars for sale

Two people have died and six others have been injured in a two-car crash on a dual carriageway.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said two women in the front of one of the vehicles were confirmed dead at the scene of the accident on the A38 near Burton-upon-Trent in Staffordshire on Friday.

Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, a paramedic officer and two air ambulances were sent to treat those injured in the accident, which was reported to the emergency services at about 7.45pm.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said both cars had suffered extensive damage.

The spokesman said: “Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that nothing could be done to save two women travelling in the front of one car, and both were confirmed dead at the scene.”

Three rear seat passengers – two boys aged 14 and 17 and a 12-year-old girl – travelling in the same car suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospitals in Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent and Burton.

The spokesman added: “In the second car, a man believed to be in his 30s suffered leg and back injuries. Following emergency treatment he was airlifted to University Hospital North Staffordshire.”

A woman believed to be aged in her 20s suffered multiple serious injuries and was transferred by land ambulance to hospital in Burton for further emergency treatment, while a four-year-old girl suffered abdominal and pelvic injuries and was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Daimler/Promo image

Car2go, one of a growing trend of car sharing options, has come to Berlin, placing 1000 Smart forTwo cars around Berlin, where registered users can pick up and drop off a car as they need one. With over 2000 pre-registrations, the launch is off to a good start.

Car2go is a subsidiary of Daimler, the company behind the brands Mercedes and Smart Car. In spite of the fact that Daimler represents German culture as well as any company can, the comments to the news about car2go in the German media delve into how strange the name car2go sounds in the German language.

German verbs tend to be very precise. When I first arrived and was learning the language, it would always bring a smile to the face of anyone I would tell that I am “going” to America. “To go” in German, implies that one is walking. One can fly to America, but it is unlikely that one would “go” there.

Similarly, the concept of describing “take away” items as “to go” sounds quite foreign to the German ear. So the pun is lost, and Germans are left wondering just how, exactly, can one have a car to walk?

car2go App

Snickers aside, the car2go program offers people a flexible and simple car rental option intended to make car ownership in the city unnecessary. It cost 9.90 euros (US $13) to register. A car can be used for 29 euro-cents per minute — a rate that includes applicable taxes, insurance, fuel and parking costs, and the first 20 kilometers traveled. The rate drops to 9 euro-cents per minute if the car is parked. Alternatively, a one-hour car2go rental costs 12.90 euros and daily rental (24 hours) costs 39 euros.

The launch in Berlin also introduces a smart phone App, initially for use on Apple phones, that helps users find the nearest car2go.

Another world premier: the car2go Smarts are outfitted with hyper-miling monitors that will assess drivers’ braking, acceleration, and coasting to deliver a score in the form of one to three trees. While not yet available, Daimler has suggested the introduction of a program to offer drivers that score three trees some kind of rebate, in the form of free minutes for example.

Is Public Transport Threatened?

Not at all. In fact, Daimler’s car2go cooperates with the public transport authorities of Berlin and the surrounding regions. In the words of the Berlin Transport company (BVG) Chairwoman Dr. Sigrid Nikutta:

Buses and subways are the backbone of the local public transport system. An intelligent link with supplementary services enables us to offer our customers the opportunity to choose and combine additional convenient options from the city’s various means of transport in line with their needs. Our goal here must be to set up a system that combines the entire product range in the form of a ticket or entry into a standardized information system. This will make it possible for Berliners and their guests to move through the city on buses and trains, by bike, or with a taxi or electric vehicle as needed. In this sense, car2go is an important partner for us as we move to transform our mobility vision into reality.

Although commenters in the German media have also questioned the need for yet another 1000 cars parked in Berlin’s rare parking spaces, only paying for a car when you need one makes sense to us. If the car sharing concept leads to less individual car ownership, everyone wins.

seized cars