Lowering blood sugar increased risk of death

Researchers are stopping part of a diabetes study that revealed that lowering the blood sugar levels of middle-aged and older people with diabetes actually increased their risk of death compared to diabetics with less strictly controlled blood sugar. Fifty-four more people died in the super-low-blood-sugar group compared to the group with less regulated blood sugar, calling into question how diabetes should be treated. The president of the American College of Cardiology calls the results “confusing and disturbing” and experts warn that patients shouldn’t change their medications without talking to their doctors…

Weight training improves metabolism

A study of obese mice found that lifting weights may be as important as getting cardiovascular exercise for people who want to lose weight. Researchers genetically engineered the mice to stimulate muscle growth, and those mice had fat loss and metabolic improvement throughout their bodies. Fatty liver was eliminated in the bulked-up mice, and more fatty acids were being broken down by the liver…

Lowering cholesterol without pills

About 25 percent of those who are prescribed statins but stop using them quickly have side effects that make it unpleasant or dangerous for them to use the cholesterol-lowering drugs. But there are many ways to cut cholesterol without these drugs, such as a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and fish, getting regular exercise, and considering supplements of niacin, plant sterols or soluble fiber if you’re not getting enough through diet. Lifestyle changes can cut cholesterol 20 to 40 percent, compared to 60 or 70 percent with drugs, but for many people, that’s enough…

Taste-testing diet dog treats

If you’re dog is on a diet but you still want to give it a treat every now and then, you’ll be happy to know that many manufacturers are introducing lower-fat dog treats. But how do they taste? The Wall Street Journal got a couple of dogs to try the treats, and while one dog was skeptical, one seemed to like all of them…

Skinny male models are a problem, too

I’m sure you all remember the talk last year about skinny models and the rules that were put into place to keep young girls and very skinny girls off the catwalks. But what about the guys? The male models at the recent shows in Milan and Paris resembled stick figures more than the buff models of old, and the trend is spreading. Skinny male models (one interviewed for this story is 6 feet tall with a 28-inch waist and weighs 145 on his heaviest days) say the clothes fit them better and clothes are being designed more tightly than they used to be. The average sample size has also gotten smaller through the years…

David Blaine delays trick to lose weight

Finally, illusionist David Blaine says he’s training and dieting compulsively to get ready for his next trick: staying awake for 13 days straight. It was supposed to take place in May, but now he says it will probably be in July or August (because staying awake 13 days in the middle of the summer in New York City sounds like a really good idea). He says he’s running 13 miles a week and eating lots of brown rice and fish. He’s lost 35 pounds in seven weeks and says he hopes to lose about eight more.

(By Sarah E. White for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 7th, 2008 and is filed under Nibbles: diet news shorts. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Permalink.