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Why you really should watch your waist...
22 Apr 2005
Good old Cherie Blair.
Not one to be outdone by Jamie Oliver, she's in the papers, condemning
the state of food at her son's school.
Perhaps she's helping Tony launch some “pukka policies” for the coming election!
But at the end of the day, the more fuss that's made over the food we
feed our kids, the better.
In fact, we should ALL take a look at our diet, because the obesity
problem isn't going away.
Even last night your easily-tempted correspondent found himself at the
fridge door, preparing a 'little snack'... at gone 11pm!
So, let's not avoid the issue.
Let's find out for sure how much weight we really need to lose...
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Watch your waist and keep obesity at bay
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There are dozens of ways to find out if you're overweight, but new
evidence suggests that the best way is to look at your hips and waist.
Apparently, the amount of body fat stored around the abdomen, compared that stored on the hips, is a more accurate gauge of likely health risks than BMI (Body Mass Index).
To check your fat distribution, simply divide your waist size by your hip size. This will give you your ratio.
So if you have a 30-inch waist and 40-inch hip circumference, your
ratio would be 0.75.
But if you have a 41-inch waist and 39-inch hips, then it's ratio of 1.05.
It's clear that the lower ratio you have, the better off your health is
likely to be.
The risk of heart disease rises sharply for women with ratios above 0.8
and for men with ratios above 1.0.
Here's a basic guide:
- Women whose waistlines are over 31.5 inches and men whose waists measure over 37 inches should watch their weight.
- Any more than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men has been
associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
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(In one 2000 study, a high triglyceride level, along with a waist
measurement of over 36 inches, meant a higher likelihood of heart
problems for men.)
So, what do you do if you have too much fat around your waist, but just
can't stop eating?
Maybe a remote desert tribe in Africa have the answer...
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How the world's ugliest plant can reduce hunger
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The world has many ugly, menacing looking plants, but this one wins
first prize.
The Hoodia Cactus sprouts about 10 spiky tentacles the size of long
cucumbers. Inside is an unpleasant-tasting, fleshy substance.
(Are your taste buds going yet?)
The thing is, this plant could hold the answer to the problem of
over-eating.
The San Bushmen of the Kalahari, one of the world's oldest tribes, have
eaten the Hoodia for thousands of years to stave off hunger during long
hunting trips.
When South African scientists tested it, they discovered a previously
unknown molecule - now called P 57.
Turns out, it's a natural appetite depressant.
One BBC reporter was brave enough to travel out to the desert and meet
this prickly monster face to face.
She ate about a couple of mouthfuls of Hoodia at about six in the
evening, then began the long haul back to Capetown.
She went to bed around midnight without eating and skipped breakfast
the next day. She managed some lunch without really feeling hungry.
Her full appetite gradually returned that evening, 24 hours after
eating Hoodia.
And this doesn't seem to be a one off reaction.
When the first human clinical trial was conducted, a morbidly obese
group of people were told to watch television, read and eat.
Half were given Hoodia, half a placebo.
Fifteen days later, the Hoodia group had reduced their calorie intake
by 1000 a day! |
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How P57 works
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Dr Richard Dixey explains how P 57 actually works:
'There is a part of your brain, the hypothalamus. Within that mid-brain
there are nerve cells that sense glucose sugar.
'When you eat, blood sugar goes up because of the food, these cells
start firing and now you are full.
'What the natural cactus Hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is
about 10,000 times as active as glucose.
'It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as
if you were full. But you have not eaten. Nor do you want to.'
So if I don't get a padlock for the fridge door, I should try Hoodia.
Apparently it won't go mainstream until 2007, but there are Hoodia
supplements available, if you ask around.
But if you're tempted to take it, make sure you consult your doctor first.
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What is BMI?
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Although the waist/hip ratio seems to be the most accurate predictor of
fat-related problems, there's another more commonplace gauge for body fat.
Body mass index(BMI) is referred to so often, I think it's worth
clarifying for you.
In general a BMI of 25 to 29.9 indicates being overweight.
Obesity kicks in when BMI is 30 and above.
Higher BMIs are associated with significant health problems.
To work out your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 703, then
divide this figure by your height in inches. Then divide that figure
AGAIN by your height in inches.
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How to shift ugly flab in 10 minutes
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Most people think that you need to exercise like a maniac for hours in
the gym to have any real and lasting effect on your body.
Not true.
This is a myth that puts most people off exercise.
I mean, who has the time to dedicate two hours at the gym - three times a week?
Well, that's what I say to my wife when she points out my sports bag
gathering dust in the hall cupboard.
Exercise IS important. But you don't need to work like a carthorse.
Just ten minutes a day can improve your health enormously.
Here are three exercises you can try out:
• A 10-minute run quickly cranks up your heart rate, but spreads the sustained workload throughout your body. Go at your own pace, see how far you get, then try and get a little further with each run.
• Stand in front of a staircase and step up with your right foot, then draw your left knee up as high as it can go. You should feel your stomach muscles tighten. Step down with your left foot, then your right, so both are in the starting position. Now step up with your left foot, then bring your right knee to chest level.
• Try an “almost-run”. Walk very, very fast-so fast you're nearly running. It's pretty hard to do, and because you're fighting against the natural impulse to break into a run, you're making your muscles work harder. In fact, you actually burn more calories than you would jogging!
And finally... something interesting I heard on the radio yesterday...
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Your telly could be making you feel ill
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According to doctors, their surgeries fill up with people whenever a
soap storyline deals with an illness.
Dot's cancer scare... Mark's AIDS... Rose's sleepwalking....
The more you watch soaps and get involved with the characters, the more your mind starts tricking itself that you're suffering from the same symptoms. |
And I've experienced this phenomena first hand.
As soon as Jack Duckworth walks into the Rovers Return, I swear I feel
like a pint.
Enjoy your weekend.
Till next week,
Ray Collins
The Good Life Letter |
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