Weight Loss Diet Reviews
Internationally recognized weight loss expert Dr. Edward F. Group, III evaluates some of the most common diets people are using from The Zone, to the South Beach Diet, to the Slimirex Diet, to the Atkins Diet.
Is the Master Cleanser pulp fiction?
Filed under: Type 2, Adult Onset, Diet, Books
The Master Cleanser Detox raises my curiosity to insatiable levels. Many stars have sworn by it - from Beyonce Knowles to Robin Quivers. The misconception behind the safety of this practice for weight loss is reviewed by a registered dietician on The Diet Channel. The Master Cleanser is by no stretch of the imagination a healthy way to lose weight. In fact, the Master Cleanser, otherwise known as the Lemonade Diet, is a complete body detoxifying cleanse that has been around for over 60 years.
The Master Cleanser is a combination of simple ingredients in different combinations throughout the day: organic sea salt, water, lemons, syrup, cayenne pepper and a laxative tea. The day begins with a quart of salt water, followed by interval consumption of several cups of homemade lemonade throughout the day. The lemonade contains fresh squeezed lemons and water, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. The lemon juice is said to dissolve built-up waste in the colon (the master cleansing agent); the cayenne pepper is for ridding the body of mucus; and the maple syrup is for energy. The end of the day includes a detoxifier herbal tea laxative. The herbal laxative is to aid the elimination process and the salt water acts as a colonic flush. The author of the original plan recommends following the diet for a minimum of 10 days, but also says that the diet can be followed for up to 20 days.
On Friday I went to Borders to get my hands on a copy of the Mater Cleanser. Big mistake after I realized it was the debut of the latest Harry Potter book. I should've called! In any event - I forfeited fighting Gryffindors and Hogwarts to find the book. I returned home to scour the internet for personal reviews of the Master Cleanser. The most important thing I discovered was that people who use the Master Cleanser to lose weight are misinformed. The Master Cleanser is intended for ultimate toxin elimination - not weight elimination. For entertaining enlightenment - I strongly suggest reading the Amazon.com customer reviews!!
[RESEARCH] Doctors' versus patients' global assessments of treatment effectiveness: empirical survey of diverse treatments in clinical trials
Objective To examine whether doctors’ global assessments of treatment effects agree with patients’ global assessments.
Design Survey of trials included in systematic reviews of treatments for diverse conditions.
Data sources Cochrane database of systematic reviews.
Data extracted Data on patients’ global assessments and on doctors’ global assessment for the same treatment against the same comparator.
Main outcome measures Relative odds ratio (ratio of odds ratios of global improvement with the experimental intervention versus control according to doctors compared with patients), and improvement rates according to doctors and patients.
Results Doctors’ global assessments were compared with patients’ global assessments for 63 different treatment comparisons (240 trials) in 18 conditions. The summary relative odds ratio across the comparisons was not significant (0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.08; I2=0%, 95% confidence interval 0% to 30%). In 62 of the 63 comparisons the effects of treatment rated by patients and by doctors did not differ beyond chance, but for single comparisons the confidence intervals were large. Rates of improvement on average did not differ between doctors’ assessments and patients’ assessments (summary relative odds ratio 0.98, 0.88 to 1.06; I2=0%, 0% to 24%).
Conclusion Doctors’ global assessments of the effects of treatments are on average similar to those of patients.
DexCom - Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Filed under: Type 1, Childhood, Lifestyle, Products, Support
DexCom has developed a continuous glucose monitoring ("CGM") system that could be the next generation of aggressive control. The DexCom GCM is a device that measures glucose trends throughout the day, providing up to 288 glucose measurements every 24 hours.
A traditional glucose monitoring test -like finger sticks - leave gaps in time where you are uncertain as to your blood sugar reading. Continuous monitoring is different from traditional blood glucose monitoring because it affords a comprehensive picture of where your blood sugars are throughout the day and night. The trend reveals times throughout the day where your sugar may increase or decrease, as well as how fast it is happening. This trend information together with the glucose value shows you patterns and problems that traditional finger sticks cannot cover as thoroughly. CGM allows you to set a target range for your desired glucose. When your glucose goes above or below this range, an alert automatically lets you know.
A 2006 study showed that people who used this device were able to achieve a 23% decrease in time spent high and a 21% decrease in time spent low. After speaking with Dianne on the DexCom customer support line - she advised me that they are offering a $375 startup kit that has everything you need to get going. The Rechargeable STS Receiver has a sleek rounded design that can easily be carried with the carry case on both your belt or in a handbag. The STS Transmitter is lightweight and fits comfortably underneath clothing. The STS Sensor & Applicator is easy to insert and safe to use with no visible needles or exposed sharps. With this wireless system, no cables or wires will get in your way allowing you to Take Control and Live Uninterrupted.. Each sensor lasts for 3 days. A set of 5 sensors costs $175 and will last you approximately 15 days.
The annual cost of continuous glucose monitoring averages a ballpark figure of $4,258. Okay, sounds a little steep - but lean on Uncle Sam to offset the cost of the best control. Sounds like it might be time to open up a Flexible Spending Account and write-off the yearning for glucose precision.
Like vultures on Dick Cheney's hunting trip (safe)
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research, Events, Support
House Calls, a popular newsletter written by the prestigious Dr. Inglis, highlights a very important question in light of the Avandia mishap: how many other potential whistle-blowers are out there that have been silenced into submission before the Big Pharma vultures?
A medical expert testified that he agreed to sign a statement that was meant to appease the company's investors. This is not the type of behavior anyone should expect or dismiss of a doctor, entrusted with a patient's life. In his defense, he did forward a letter with his concerns to the FDA- which means they also were aware of the same threat. This same doctor is the President-elect for none other than the American Diabetes Association. Isn't that special? The ADA - my friend, my confidant, my utter supporter of the C-peptide crusade...sense the sarcasm? So much for advocacy, when the president-elect of this organization so willingly swept those safety concerns under the table, when he should have been throwing a tantrum on top of it! And all over the threat of litigation from a drug company more concerned about its investors than patients.
The closing comments in Dr. Inglis' newsletter say it all. There are so many vultures out there waiting to pick the bones of the American public, it disgusts me. This example goes to show why I always recommend to you-and to all of my patients-that you always question everything when it comes to your health. I don't care if it's your doctor you've had for 50 years or one of these nonprofit organizations-give them all hell.
Like vultures on a Dick Cheney's hunting trip (safe)
Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Diet, Lifestyle, Drugs, Research, Events, Support
House Calls, a popular newsletter written by the prestigious Dr. Inglis, highlights a very important question in light of the Avandia mishap: how many other potential whistle-blowers are out there that have been silenced into submission before the Big Pharma vultures?
A medical expert testified that he agreed to sign a statement that was meant to appease the company's investors. This is not the type of behavior anyone should expect or dismiss of a doctor, entrusted with a patient's life. In his defense, he did forward a letter with his concerns to the FDA- which means they also were aware of the same threat. This same doctor is the President-elect for none other than the American Diabetes Association. Isn't that special? The ADA - my friend, my confidant, my utter supporter of the C-peptide crusade...sense the sarcasm? So much for advocacy, when the president-elect of this organization so willingly swept those safety concerns under the table, when he should have been throwing a tantrum on top of it! And all over the threat of litigation from a drug company more concerned about its investors than patients.
The closing comments in Dr. Inglis' newsletter say it all. There are so many vultures out there waiting to pick the bones of the American public, it disgusts me. This example goes to show why I always recommend to you-and to all of my patients-that you always question everything when it comes to your health. I don't care if it's your doctor you've had for 50 years or one of these nonprofit organizations-give them all hell.
[RESEARCH] Interventions to promote walking: systematic review
Objective To assess the effects of interventions to promote walking in individuals and populations.
Design Systematic review.
Data sources Published and unpublished reports in any language identified by searching 25 electronic databases, by searching websites, reference lists, and existing systematic reviews, and by contacting experts.
Review methods Systematic search for and appraisal of controlled before and after studies of the effects of any type of intervention on how much people walk, the distribution of effects on walking between social groups, and any associated effects on overall physical activity, fitness, risk factors for disease, health, and wellbeing.
Results We included 19 randomised controlled trials and 29 non-randomised controlled studies. Interventions tailored to people's needs, targeted at the most sedentary or at those most motivated to change, and delivered either at the level of the individual (brief advice, supported use of pedometers, telecommunications) or household (individualised marketing) or through groups, can encourage people to walk more, although the sustainability, generalisability, and clinical benefits of many of these approaches are uncertain. Evidence for the effectiveness of interventions applied to workplaces, schools, communities, or areas typically depends on isolated studies or subgroup analysis.
Conclusions The most successful interventions could increase walking among targeted participants by up to 30-60 minutes a week on average, at least in the short term. From a perspective of improving population health, much of the research currently provides evidence of efficacy rather than effectiveness. Nevertheless, interventions to promote walking could contribute substantially towards increasing the activity levels of the most sedentary.
"Why You Should Use A Treadmill... Or Run Outside"
"Can't find what you are looking for? Try Google Search" Calorie Feature Article "Why You Should Use A Treadmill... Or Run Outside"Author: Paul Johnson There's a distinct difference between running outside andon treadmill, and they both have their positives andnegatives. The top notch benefit of using a treadmill isthat you will never have to contend with the elements ofbeing outside, which depending on where you are in worldcan get bitterly cold or sizzling hot. There's a cushioned surface on the treadmill that willlessen the impact of running, which can reduce the numberof shin splints that occur from outside running. There aremotivational factors that make a treadmill a very appealingform of exercising where you have the power to manuallyadjust your terrain with different speeds, all controlledby you and your fingertips. Depending on where you are, it may be extremely difficultto find such terrain differences to ensure that you have adiverse running path, something that a treadmill can offerat all times.The downside to the treadmill if there is one is that itconfines you the size of the treadmill, which in turn willlimit the amount of capable movement you can perform. Running, jogging, or walking outside can maximize theamount your muscles are impacted through the movement inyour body caused by the terrain and this has been known tocause more calories to be burned as a result. So theability to limit your body's natural running movement isthe only drawback to using a treadmill. If you do use a treadmill, it is highly advised not to useit more than 30-45 minutes per session as your body will bemaxed out at that point. If you do not feel that your body is getting enough out ofit, then you are encouraged to begin some type of intervaltraining on the machine, which will vary your length andterrain as you see fit. It is also recommended that youshould use some form of weight training with cardioexercises to reap total benefit.If you are looking to burn some calories a treadmill, orany cardio machine for that matter, will give you themaximize desired benefits. It is not about how long youuse this machine but the variance of your workout that willdetermine the effectiveness of what you are doing that willshow you how great the treadmill is.===========================================================Find out why treadmills can burn fat more efficiently thanalmost any other exercise. See reviews and usefulinformation. Click==> http://www.treadmills-easy.com/ About the Author Paul Johnson works tech support for New York basedInternet Publishing company, DigiLectual Inc. He's lost alot of weight with a fitness regime that includesTreadmills. He shares his knowledge and research ontreadmills in a series of articles.... Low Calorie Food RecipeFood Calorie CountCalorie Counter Guide
[RESEARCH] Pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance: systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective To quantify the effectiveness of pharmacological and lifestyle interventions to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance.
Data sources Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane library searched up to July 2006. Expert opinions sought and reference lists of identified studies and any relevant published reviews checked.
Study selection Randomised controlled trials that evaluated interventions to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance.
Results 21 trials met the inclusion criteria, of which 17, with 8084 participants with impaired glucose tolerance, reported results in enough detail for inclusion in the meta-analyses. From the meta-analyses the pooled hazard ratios were 0.51 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.60) for lifestyle interventions v standard advice, 0.70 (0.62 to 0.79) for oral diabetes drugs v control, 0.44 (0.28 to 0.69) for orlistat v control, and 0.32 (0.03 to 3.07) for the herbal remedy jiangtang bushen recipe v standard diabetes advice. These correspond to numbers needed to treat for benefit (NNTB) and harm (NNTH) of 6.4 for lifestyle (95% credible interval, NNTB 5.0 to NNTB 8.4), 10.8 for oral diabetes drugs (NNTB 8.1 to NNTB 15.0), 5.4 for orlistat (NNTB 4.1 to NNTB 7.6), and 4.0 for jiangtang bushen (NNTH 16.9 to NNTB 24.8).
Conclusions Lifestyle and pharmacological interventions reduce the rate of progression to type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance. Lifestyle interventions seem to be at least as effective as drug treatment.
[RESEARCH] Accuracy of mean arterial pressure and blood pressure measurements in predicting pre-eclampsia: systematic review and meta-analysis
Objective To determine the accuracy of using systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, and increase of blood pressure to predict pre-eclampsia.
Design Systematic review with meta-analysis of data on test accuracy.
Data sources Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, Medion, checking reference lists of included articles and reviews, contact with authors.
Review methods Without language restrictions, two reviewers independently selected the articles in which the accuracy of blood pressure measurement during pregnancy was evaluated to predict pre-eclampsia. Data were extracted on study characteristics, quality, and results to construct 2x2 tables. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves and likelihood ratios were generated for the various levels and their thresholds.
Results 34 studies, testing 60 599 women (3341 cases of pre-eclampsia), were included. In women at low risk for pre-eclampsia, the areas under the summary receiver operating characteristic curves for blood pressure measurement in the second trimester were 0.68 (95% confidence interval 0.64 to 0.72) for systolic blood pressure, 0.66 (0.59 to 0.72) for diastolic blood pressure, and 0.76 (0.70 to 0.82) for mean arterial pressure. Findings for the first trimester showed a similar pattern. Second trimester mean arterial pressure of 90 mm Hg or more showed a positive likelihood ratio of 3.5 (95% confidence interval 2.0 to 5.0) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.46 (0.16 to 0.75). In women deemed to be at high risk, a diastolic blood pressure of 75 mm Hg or more at 13 to 20 weeks’ gestation best predicted pre-eclampsia: positive likelihood ratio 2.8 (1.8 to 3.6), negative likelihood ratio 0.39 (0.18 to 0.71). Additional subgroup analyses did not show improved predictive accuracy.
Conclusion When blood pressure is measured in the first or second trimester of pregnancy, the mean arterial pressure is a better predictor for pre-eclampsia than systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or an increase of blood pressure.