Big Belly, Bad Memory
One of the best ways to lose the paunch may be to incorporate more whole grains into your diet. Recent research from Pennsylvania State University, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that folks who added whole-grain breads and cereals to a weight-loss regimen lost more belly fat than those who chomped on refined grains, like white breads. The whole-grain group also showed a nearly 40 percent drop in C-reactive protein, an inflammatory marker implicated in heart disease. Of course, exercise is another major factor—physical inactivity is closely associated with the belly bulge.
Determining the size of your belly is a little more complicated than looking at the roll of fat above your pants. Some researchers believe the best method is the SAD measurement (was there ever a more apt acronym?), but since it isn't part of a normal workup, most of us will be stuck measuring our BMIs and waists. Research shows that women whose waists are larger than 35 inches and men whose waists are larger than 40 inches are at greater risk for disease. But even waist sizes a few inches less than that can increase your risk, though to a lesser extent.
The big question remains whether slimming down actually reduces Alzheimer's risk. Doctors admit that a clinical trial of that sort may be difficult and unethical, since one group of patients would have to remain obese, a known health risk. But that's no excuse to carry around a spare tire, says Whitmer. "About half the adults in this country have abdominal obesity," she says. "The scale doesn't tell the whole story. People have to be aware of where they carry their weight and then do something about it." To protect your brain, that something may be as simple as dropping a few pounds.
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: Blueside @ 04/06/2008 9:10:31 PM
Comment: With regards to "Be-Real" comments made, i can say only one thing. Wait until you have some disease or illness that takes ahold of your life and leaves you helpless in many ways. I would like to see your opinion then when your the one fighting for your life. I have seen many healthy people in top shape fall victim to disease and illness. The human body is such a complex machine and all it takes is one little glitch to have problems occur. Not to mention the fact that we each have stresses in life which have different effects on all of us. If find your comments completely uneducated. Its mindsets like yours that prevent the human race from working as a team where everyone can have a better life!! At the end of the day, isn't that what we all want???
Posted By: Be- Real @ 03/28/2008 10:48:46 AM
Comment: If people with a high body mass index pose a strain to the national health care budget shouldn't they be rightfully pay more taxes. Isn't it unfair for those healthy individuals to be bearing the burden of contributing some of their hard earned money to subsidise the reckless happy eaters in our society
Posted By: Be- Real @ 03/28/2008 10:37:27 AM
Comment: Abdominal girth is a very reliable indicator of a multitude of ailments that plague the Western diet and couch potatoe lifestyle. It leads to the derranged glucose metabolism, hypertension and high cholesterol.
This constellation of disease states reflects a syndrome known as metabolic syndrome or Syndrome X to be precise, The high cholesterol cases narrowing of blood vessls throughout the body and causes what is known as peripheral vascular disease. The result a progressive narrowing of the vessls that perfuse all organs leading to cardiac, kidney, and gangrene of the limbs. The brain is not spared as the narrowed arteries compounded by the high blood pressure lead to intermittent loss of brain circulation. This causes a stepwise ratchet like decline of brain function often referred to as multi infarct dementia.
Now this link with Alzheimers make this link to dementia an even more compelling problem. Losing ones nuts is often referred to as the worst medical condition as most patients prefer to have a chronic ailment that protects their brain function that enables them to engage in the daily activities like making conversation reading and doing daily chores .
Having said that this whole problem of Obesity and its associated conditions should be tackled with more vigour than any other medical condition.