Check out my latest appearance on ABC's View From the Bay to learn about some interesting new weight loss and fitness tools including Weight Watcher's iphone app, Bodybugg weight management systems, Philips direct life, Zeo personal sleep coach, Omron pedometer that counts cardio steps, and a fantastic new Tanita body composition scale that even measures belly fat! Can these tools help you lose weight? Absolutely, especially if you are someone who responds well to personal data. Let me know what you think.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=view_from_the_bay/tech_gadgets&id=7352506
Monday, April 19, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Win $25,000 with Post Grant for Good Health
I’ve been working with Post Cereals as a nutrition consultant for a few months now, creating healthy eating tips, diet plans and more for PostNatural.com. This month, Post announced a worthwhile new grants program to help improve the health and wellness of one lucky community in America! Community wellness is near and dear to my heart, and I’m excited to be helping judge the entries for the $25,000 grant!
The Post Grant for Good Health essay contest will award $25,000 to the winning entrant with the best health and wellness initiative idea for their community, town or local area. The Grant for Good Health is designed to empower individuals to make strides to improve the health of communities across America and can have a broad range, from planting public gardens, to building a playground to creating a community fitness center.
From now until May 17th, applicants can submit 300-word essays on PostNatural.com, alongside a budget outlining the intended use of the grant's funding. A team of members from Post Foods, the National Wellness Institute and I will evaluate the proposed projects, and in May, 10 finalists will be selected. Up to 10 finalists will be featured on the Post Web site, where the public can vote for the project idea they find most meaningful. The winner of the $25,000 grant will be presented their award at the National Wellness Institute's 35th Annual National Wellness Conference in Stevens Point, Wis., in July.
How can you help improve the health and wellness of your community? I’m sure you have some great ideas out there – check out the Web site and apply!
In good health,
Dr. Melina
The Post Grant for Good Health essay contest will award $25,000 to the winning entrant with the best health and wellness initiative idea for their community, town or local area. The Grant for Good Health is designed to empower individuals to make strides to improve the health of communities across America and can have a broad range, from planting public gardens, to building a playground to creating a community fitness center.
From now until May 17th, applicants can submit 300-word essays on PostNatural.com, alongside a budget outlining the intended use of the grant's funding. A team of members from Post Foods, the National Wellness Institute and I will evaluate the proposed projects, and in May, 10 finalists will be selected. Up to 10 finalists will be featured on the Post Web site, where the public can vote for the project idea they find most meaningful. The winner of the $25,000 grant will be presented their award at the National Wellness Institute's 35th Annual National Wellness Conference in Stevens Point, Wis., in July.
How can you help improve the health and wellness of your community? I’m sure you have some great ideas out there – check out the Web site and apply!
In good health,
Dr. Melina
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Funky Monkey Dried Fruit Snacks
As many of you may know, i'm not a fan of dried fruit despite it's convenience as it is a very concentrated source of calories (due to removal of all the calorie free water) but I LOVE freeze dried fruit because it's packed with calorie free air instead of water. I was very excited to sample Funky Monkey Freeze-Dried fruit and I was not disappointed. With fun flavors like banana with acai (Purple Funk) and Jivealime (pineapple with lime) and kid friendly packaging this is a terrific snack for both kids and grown-ups. All flavors are made with 100% real fruit with no sugar added and calories for a fairly good size serving range from 90-120. I'll be snacking on these whenever I run out of fresh fruit in the house!
Dr. Melina Pick
Dr. Melina Pick
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Get your kids moving!!!
This press release continues to reinforce the value of exercise in the prevention of childhood obesity. I personally believe that exercise is even more important and certainly easier to understand for kids than nutrition in helping kids get to or stay at a healthy weight. So if you have kids, do everything that you can do make sure that they get at least an hour of exercise each day and limit 'screen time' (television, computers) to 2 hours a day if possible!!
MONDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- Does carrying a gene tied to obesity doom a teenager to becoming obese? Not if that teen stays physically active, a new study shows.
Among genes related to obesity, mutations in the so-called fat mass-and-obesity-associated gene (FTO) appear to be particularly important. In fact, each copy of a mutation in this gene has been tied to an average jump in weight of about 3.3 pounds, the researchers say.
However, an hour of physical activity a day largely negated the gene's effect, the new study found.
"These findings have important public health implications, and indicate that meeting the physical activity recommendations may offset the genetic predisposition to obesity associated with the FTO [gene variant] in adolescents," said lead researcher Jonatan R. Ruiz, a scientist in physical activity and fitness epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden.
The report is published in the April issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
MONDAY, April 5 (HealthDay News) -- Does carrying a gene tied to obesity doom a teenager to becoming obese? Not if that teen stays physically active, a new study shows.
Among genes related to obesity, mutations in the so-called fat mass-and-obesity-associated gene (FTO) appear to be particularly important. In fact, each copy of a mutation in this gene has been tied to an average jump in weight of about 3.3 pounds, the researchers say.
However, an hour of physical activity a day largely negated the gene's effect, the new study found.
"These findings have important public health implications, and indicate that meeting the physical activity recommendations may offset the genetic predisposition to obesity associated with the FTO [gene variant] in adolescents," said lead researcher Jonatan R. Ruiz, a scientist in physical activity and fitness epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge, Sweden.
The report is published in the April issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Debbie Durkin's Eco-Oscars "Green Carpet" Lounge
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending Debbie Durkin's annual Oscar hospitality lounge at a private estate in Beverly Hills. The event benefitted the American Red Cross-Haiti Relief and as always, had some terrific sponsors. Here are some of my favorites.
Riceworks whole grain brown rice crisps (www.riceworkssnacks.com) - These gourmet brown rice crisps are wheat & gluten free (vegan and celiac friendly) and contain no preservatives or cholesterol. With delicious flavors like Sweet Chili and Salsa Fresca (among other's), it was hard to stop at just one serving of these tasty, whole grain chips.
Bod-Health Nutrition Meal Programs - These tasty meals, created by celebrity nutrition chef Alex Fioroni, a nutrition specialist and exercise scientist, were delicious and healthy. This San Diego bawsed company offers flash frozen healthy, custom meals designed to help you meet your fitness or nutrition goals delivered right to your doorstep (anywhere - not just San Diego). I'm definitely going to give them a try after having my baby to take off the baby weight. www.bodhealthnutrition.com
Dirtee hollywood - I scored an adorable bright blue track jacket from this fun LA based company. You can work out Hollywood style in these brightly colored clothes (perfect for exercising at night). www.dirteehollywood.com
Traverse Bay Farms - This company featured lots of products centered around one of the most anti-oxidant rich fruits, cherries. They had tasty dried cherries and an amazing peach salsa (which went really well with the riceworks chips!!) and some impressive cherry based supplements designed to support joint health among other things (there is very good research on cherries and joint inflammation/health - visit their website for more information). www.traversebayfarms.com
There were also some amazing little desserts (yes I indulge on occasion) with Luscious Organic Desserts (www.lusciousorganicdesserts.com)and beautiful flower arrangements by Let Petit Gardenia (www.lepetitgardenia.com).
Riceworks whole grain brown rice crisps (www.riceworkssnacks.com) - These gourmet brown rice crisps are wheat & gluten free (vegan and celiac friendly) and contain no preservatives or cholesterol. With delicious flavors like Sweet Chili and Salsa Fresca (among other's), it was hard to stop at just one serving of these tasty, whole grain chips.
Bod-Health Nutrition Meal Programs - These tasty meals, created by celebrity nutrition chef Alex Fioroni, a nutrition specialist and exercise scientist, were delicious and healthy. This San Diego bawsed company offers flash frozen healthy, custom meals designed to help you meet your fitness or nutrition goals delivered right to your doorstep (anywhere - not just San Diego). I'm definitely going to give them a try after having my baby to take off the baby weight. www.bodhealthnutrition.com
Dirtee hollywood - I scored an adorable bright blue track jacket from this fun LA based company. You can work out Hollywood style in these brightly colored clothes (perfect for exercising at night). www.dirteehollywood.com
Traverse Bay Farms - This company featured lots of products centered around one of the most anti-oxidant rich fruits, cherries. They had tasty dried cherries and an amazing peach salsa (which went really well with the riceworks chips!!) and some impressive cherry based supplements designed to support joint health among other things (there is very good research on cherries and joint inflammation/health - visit their website for more information). www.traversebayfarms.com
There were also some amazing little desserts (yes I indulge on occasion) with Luscious Organic Desserts (www.lusciousorganicdesserts.com)and beautiful flower arrangements by Let Petit Gardenia (www.lepetitgardenia.com).
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Vitamin D and Heart Health
More good news for Vitamin D which is rapidly becoming a very important disease prevention nutrient! I recommend getting your vitamin D levels checked, especially if you are overweight (vitamin D is stored in fat so not as much is available, over the age of 50 (vitamin D formation by the sun in your skin decreases as you age), or do not get much sun exposure. If you can't get your levels checked, you might want to consider taking a Vitamin D supplement of 400-1000 IU/day. Its inexpensive and worth it!
MONDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that extra vitamin D could make a major difference in heart disease risk among people who have low levels of the nutrient.
Researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah, report in two new studies that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of other chronic diseases, too.
"Vitamin D replacement therapy has long been associated with reducing the risk of fractures and diseases of the bone," study author Dr. J. Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiovascular research, said in a center news release. "But our findings show that vitamin D could have far greater implications in the treatment and reduction of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions than we previously thought."
The researchers found that patients who boosted their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher reduced their rates of diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure and heart disease. They were also less likely to die during the study period.
According to the researchers, a level of 30 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D is considered normal.
"Although randomized trials would be useful and are coming, I feel there is enough information here for me to start treatment based on these findings," Muhlestein said, adding that increasing vitamin D intake by 1,000 to 5,000 international units a day may be a good idea in some cases.
MONDAY, March 15 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that extra vitamin D could make a major difference in heart disease risk among people who have low levels of the nutrient.
Researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Murray, Utah, report in two new studies that vitamin D supplementation may reduce the risk of other chronic diseases, too.
"Vitamin D replacement therapy has long been associated with reducing the risk of fractures and diseases of the bone," study author Dr. J. Brent Muhlestein, director of cardiovascular research, said in a center news release. "But our findings show that vitamin D could have far greater implications in the treatment and reduction of cardiovascular disease and other chronic conditions than we previously thought."
The researchers found that patients who boosted their vitamin D levels to 43 nanograms per milliliter of blood or higher reduced their rates of diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure and heart disease. They were also less likely to die during the study period.
According to the researchers, a level of 30 nanograms per milliliter of vitamin D is considered normal.
"Although randomized trials would be useful and are coming, I feel there is enough information here for me to start treatment based on these findings," Muhlestein said, adding that increasing vitamin D intake by 1,000 to 5,000 international units a day may be a good idea in some cases.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
ShopHealthy! My new iphone app
I am very excited to launch my first iphone app ShopHealthy! which provides you with a comprehensive shopping guide including over 100 factoids outlining specific things that I look for in various food products, aisle by aisle food rankings of thousands of products allowing you to compare foods within specific categories, and information on choosing and storing fruits and vegetables. In addition, the app allows you to save your favorites so that you can build your own healthy shopping list. It's like having me walking down the grocery store aisle with you!
If you have an iphone or ipodtouch, check it out for only .99 cents!!
If you have an iphone or ipodtouch, check it out for only .99 cents!!
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