I admit it. I’ve been a fan of David Kessler since his first year as FDA Commissioner. He not only streamlined approvals (without sacrificing safety), he required nutrition labelling of foods, and took on the cigarette (tobacco) lobby. He graduated from Harvard Med and Chicago Law, ran a teaching hospital in Manhattan, was Dean of Yale Medical School, among many other things. Just your normal underachieving academic.
Exercise. Our brains need it. Our bodies need it. We expect exercise to show results- with weight loss, with muscle tone- and it doesn’t always do so. It affects our blood pressure maintenance, keeps our cholesterol balance in check, reduces the risk of stroke and cardiac disease. It’s why we are supposed to exercise 2.5 hours over the course of a week; 60 minutes a day helps with weight loss. (I don’t think many of you are spending an hour a day exercising. Me, neither.) So far, I’m sure that nothing I’ve said surprises you.
Continue reading 1, 2, 3, 4– exercise- get out the door
If you live on Timber Branch, you know the bicyclist. Round and round (it’s a 1 mile circle, believe it or not). It’s good for you- keeps you fit (but as my blog says, my body may not show it.) Some of the folks I know even ride their bikes to work (don’t poo-poo it, until you’ve traveled the DC roads- drivers seem to get their licenses from a Cracker Jack’s box).
Continue reading What does that more expensive bicycle buy me?
We still live in an age where we expect instant cures- a pill or a shot NOW to fix our ailments. Yet, we overeat and live flaccid lives- which make us more susceptible to diseases. Recently, the government has suggested that we need 150 minutes of exercise a week and to give up sugary drinks. Not only does that work to reduce our girth- but data are now showing that exercise is critical to preclude- and improve- the treatment and rehabilitation of devastating diseases. We have known for years that exercise is a critical regimen in the treatment of cardiac patients. Many asthmatics have proven that swimming precludes attacks and alleviates symptoms. We can now expand the use of exercise to cancer, autoimmune diseases, Parkinson’s disease, and, even, dialysis patients.
Continue reading Let’s Get Moving- Exercise is critical for health AND disease therapy