Understanding a person’s metabolism – the process in which the body converts food consumed into fuel to expend during all of its functions – is a key component to any successful weight/fat loss program. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) represents roughly 65% of all the calories a person expends during a day - keeping the heart beating, temperature control, breathing, and circulation activities. Some people have a fast metabolism – one that effectively processes and converts the food you eat ...

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported on the results of a modeling study in August 2022 that concluded, “the association of CRF (cardiorespiratory fitness) and mortality risk across the age spectrum (including septuagenarians and octogenarians), men, women, and all races was inverse, independent, and graded. No increased risk was observed with extreme fitness.”The study – "Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Mortality Risk Across the Spectra of Age, Race, and Sex" – further con...

Sarcopenia is the aging loss of lean muscle, resulting from a loss of strength – dynapenia – and a related anabolic resistance – the inability to regenerate lean muscle at the same rate, as a younger individual. This degenerative process can begin without interventions, such as increased protein intake and resistance training, in the fourth decade and accelerate after the age of sixty.New research – Dietary Protein Intake Is Positively Associated with Appendicular Lean Mass (ALM) and Handgrip...

Dementia, which globally effected over 50 million people in 2019, is characterized by a progressive and unrelenting deterioration of mental capacity – compromising everyday activities. Dementia is a symptom of underlying brain degeneration caused by vascular disease or traumatic brain injury, such as from accidents or contact sports like American football, brain tumors, and the list goes on.Dementia is classified into two distinct areas: Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. Since a ...

In August of 1985, I designed and implemented the performance nutrition and conditioning plan that transformed the former undisputed World Light Heavyweight Champion Michael Spinks from his light heavyweight weigh-in weight of 175 pounds to 200 pounds. On September 21st, Spinks won a 15-round historic victory over the reining, undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes. Previously, no light heavyweight boxer had ever successfully moved up and beaten the world heavyweight champion...

Researchers from multiple departments of Boston University report in October 2021 in JAMA Network Open that a higher midlife estimated cardiorespiratory fitness level was associated with a lower burden of subclinical atherosclerosis and vascular stiffness, along with a lower risk of hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Vascular stiffness refers to left ventricular afterload and the resulting coronary perfusion – leading to cardiovascular ...

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still the leading cause of death worldwide. The good news is that modifying CVD risk factors, such as an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, not smoking, and limiting alcohol intake, can reduce the risk to complications, an early demise, or unnecessary risk to Covid-19 and its pervasive variants.A recent study – "Using an Erythrocyte Fatty Acid Fingerprint to Predict Risk of All-Cause Mortality: The Framingham Offspring Cohort "– appearing in the June 2021 onl...

New research – "Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Reported by Former Professional Football Players over 50 Years of Age, An NFL-Long Study", which appeared in the March 2022 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, reports on the increased risk that former NFL players over the age of 50 have for mild cognitive impairment (MCI)A diverse group of researchers from the Department of Exercise and Sports Science and Center for the Study of Retired Athletes, University of...

CDC.gov says that each year millions of people over 65 years of age fall – with one out of five causing serious injury, such as broken bones, or head injury, while three million older individuals are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries. Over 800,000 older patients are hospitalized due to fall injury – most often head and hip trauma.Researchers from the faculty of Kinesiology, University of Regina and College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan in Canada report that interventio...

In light of the ongoing, world-wide death rate attributed to Covid-19, combining a healthy lifestyle with recognized medical interventions – vaccines and medications – is critical to address the current and future pandemics. Healthy interventions include physical activity, following an anti-inflammatory eating plan – emphasizing fruits, vegetables, omega-3 fish (Mediterranean diet) - minimizing the effects of Covid-associated stress (diminished social interaction), and developing healthy...