Thursday, April 28, 2016

HOW BEER COULD HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS

This was the title of an article that I saw yesterday posted by Fox News. Fox News was once a news outlet known as the home of a politically conservative viewpoint. This was long before that network became the personal publicist for the Trump campaign. As an actual conservative, I have found that network to become a sad excuse for news. The biggest disappointment has been Sean Hannity who daily sucks up to Trump with more vigor than a supercharged Dyson Vacuum. Uh... I think I may have gotten off topic... Back to the Beer....

One thing most of us learn early in life is that writers of newspaper articles are NOT the authors of the headlines. Headlines are meant to attract readers - not necessarily to impart important information regarding the content of the copy. Here's an example: HOW BEER COULD HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS

I have copied the complete story below which was written by Brittany Anas and originally published in Men's Journal.

When it comes to health benefits and alcohol, antioxidant-rich red wine is usually the drink drawing all the praise. But beer — carbs and calories notwithstanding — also has its upsides, with studies showing the beverage can help prevent kidney stones, strengthen bones, and aid your digestive system.
Expand / Contra

Now, scientists have discovered another health advantage in your brew: A compound called xanthohumol, a flavonoid naturally found in hops, can be a boon for weight loss and may help scientists create a novel approach to addressing obesity. Tests have also shown xanthohumol can lower cholesterol and blood-sugar levels.

No, drinking beer won’t help you lose weight. A pint of IPA (India Pal Ale) contains only 0.0757 mg of xanthohumol, says Cristobal Miranda, a research assistant professor with Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute and lead author of the study, published in a special issue of Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics.

To derive any benefits of xanthohumol from beer, you’d have to do the impossible and guzzle 3,500 pints per day. But, researchers say, in the future, a concentrated amount of xanthohumol could be packed into a supplement and taken once a day. The supplement could be a low-cost and effective treatment for metabolic syndrome, the set of factors that increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and other health problems. About one in three Americans have metabolic syndrome, estimates the American Heart Association, so this could be a welcome innovation.

Studies on the health benefits of xanthohumol so far have been carried out in laboratory animals and in cell culture, Miranda says. The results have shown the compound holds promise, potentially reducing risk of cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. Before we know its safety and real efficacy for fighting obesity and more, though, studies will have to be conducted on humans.

For the study, lab mice were fed a high-fat diet and given varying levels of xanthohumol. The rats given the highest dosage of xanthohumol cut their LDL or “bad cholesterol” by 80 percent and their insulin levels by 42 percent. Their levels of IL-6, a biomarker of inflammation, was reduced by 78 percent. The lab animals were all fed the same rich diet and given the same amounts of food, leading them to gain weight.

But weight gain was 22 percent less in the mice receiving xanthohumol in their diets.

Researchers have long been interested in the health benefits of flavonoids, exploring the compounds found in tea, garlic, chocolate, apples, blueberries, and other foods. Miranda says xanthohumol found in hops is unique because of its potential to address so many health problems, and to do so dramatically.

Xanthohumol is only found in the hop plant, and is not naturally present in any other plant, Miranda says. Any product like beer, hop tea, or a beverage or dietary supplement in which hops, or hop extracts, are used may contain xanthohumol, he says.

For now, we'll hang tight until we can apply for a human beer-drinking trial.

Here is the bottom line on this report... There is apparently a trace compound in beer that can assist with controlling metabolism - but actually drinking beer will NOT help anyone lose weight. Now or ever. My recommendation would be to drink as little beer as possible if one is trying to control one's weight.

This is my calm before the storm. Today is Thursday. Tomorrow morning, at 6:00AM Central Time I will be under the care of my surgeon who will be repairing my hernia. Since I will have plenty of time to sit home doing nothing for a week or so, it is my intention that blog post of Friday will be posted when I return from this surgical adventure. See you tomorrow.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Second Nature - Wholesome Medley Trail Mix	840	84	54	24	210	54
	840	84	54	24	210	54
L U N C H
Wasa - Sourdough Crispbread, 10 slice (11g)	350	90	0	10	450	0
EARTHBOUND FARM - ORGANIC SPINACH	40	0	0	4	130	0
Campbell's Chunky Manhattan Clam Chowder, 2 cup	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
	630	126	6	24	2,180	6
D I N N E R
MARIANO'S SIMPLY ROUNDY'S - PIZZA	450	50	18	20	750	4
Minestrone - Homemade, 2 cup	394	67	5	23	680	7
	844	117	23	43	1,430	11
S N A C K S
Baked Shrimp Chips	520	76	24	8	920	4
	520	76	24	8	920	4

Totals	2,834	403	107	99	4,740	75
Your Daily Goal	2,197	274	73	110	2,300	82
Remaining	-637	-129	-33	10	-2,440	7
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 267 extra calories from exercise today

Friday, January 9, 2015

CURB YOUR METABOLISM

Curbing one's metabolism is precisely what one does not want to do if one is trying to lose weight. Losing weight is a balancing act. The rate of one's metabolism is the rate at which one's body is 'burning' calories. A faster metabolic rate means that your body is burning calories faster. There are some things that one can do to reduce one's metabolic rate that should be AVOIDED when possible.

SKIPPING MEALS Bad idea. Skip a meal and your body starts rearing up for famine. If a famine is on the way, the metabolic rate slows down to conserve strength.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION One that does not get enough sleep can become less active on the following day. Less activity, lower metabolic rate, slower calorie burn.

FREQUENT NAPS Too much sleep has the same bad effect. It takes awhile for the body to firing on all cylinders after slowing down to nap.

DEHYDRATION 'Burning' calories requires enough water. If one's cells are insufficiently hydrated, metabolic rate can slow.

LACK OF EXERCISE As one adds fat to the body, the metabolic rate slows.

FATTY FOODS Body receives 'fat' and tries to store as much of it as possible for the future. This slows your metabolism.

DENYING YOURSELF CAFFEINE If you drink caffeine. That is one habit that should not be ended for weight loss. Caffeine raises your metabolic rate. This does not mean that you should have 3 cups of coffee with heavy cream before breakfast. It does not mean a Starbucks Venti Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino (590 CALORIES)

WEIGHT GAIN This is my 'favorite'. Let's see, gaining weight makes it harder to lose weight. When one gains weight, one's metabolism slows. Not good.

BALANCING ACT....
GET ENOUGH SLEEP - DON'T SLEEP TOO MUCH
MAKE SURE TO EAT REGULARLY - DON'T SKIP MEALS
EAT ENOUGH TO FUEL YOUR BODY - DON'T EAT TOO MUCH

I have already made my request for my home-cooked dinner this evening when I return home. My wife has been amazingly supportive. Thank you, Jennifer.

I am very much looking forward to stepping onto my scale tomorrow morning. This is what I have to promise myself before I do that.... If my results are less than I am anticipating, I cannot let any disappointment curb my enthusiasm for going forward. This was the type of mistake that derailed me seven years ago. I am repeating my successes. I am not repeating my mistakes.