Make new friends, but keep the old…
I’m heading West this morning. Way West. And way, way back in time. To 1961 in fact.
For the next six days, I’ll be visiting a woman who I’ve known since I was 3 months old. Long time, right? What strikes me about this particular vacation is that I am stepping back in time and yet, celebrating the now.
We lost contact in high school and reconnected after college. I used to see her regularly when I was living in NYC and she’d come for a month’s worth of painting and art classes.
She reminds of me the good things about my past. And the importance of friends and continuity as we grow older. And while we may live miles away and our daily lives are truly as different as night and day, she is a huge part of my fabric.
And she gets away with calling me ‘Lizzie Tish!’
Read MoreWednesday Bubble: is weight loss all in your head?
It appears that weight loss, might indeed be in your head. But not the way that you think. This week’s bubble focuses on the brain and how it helps to regulate weight gain. In fact, researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center are reporting that an enzyme in the brain, better known as P13 kinase, may help burn extra calories after eating a high-fat meal. Mind you, these findings are from a study conducted in mice so it is too early to assume that if there was a way to enhance the activity of P13 kinase in humans, then it would be easier to lose or maintain weight.
In the current study, researchers examined mice who had reduce P13 kinase activity and then fed them a high fat diet but did not alter their physical activity levels. When they compared them to normal mice, they found that their body heat did not increase and they became more likely to become obese. regardless of physical activity level. (Evidently, when we eat too many calories, the body tries to assist by expending more energy, in order to balance out our calorie intake. )
Interestingly, brown fat, or brown adipose tissue, is a key tissue that appeared to generate enough body heat in the mice to help them burn off excess calories. Two other important factors that appear to play a role include the hormones leptin which help regulate how the body uses energy.
Brown fat?
I contributed a post to MizFit Online last October that provides a bit more information about brown fat and I’m reposting it here to provide a bit of background to make the current study findings easier to understand:
What you need to know…
In mammals, fat (known among the medical set as “adipose tissue”) comes in two varieties: white and brown.
* White adipose tissue (or “WAT”) is used for energy storage and to provide warmth. It also protects the organs by acting as a cushion. Most of the fat in our bodies is white.
* Brown adipose tissue (or “BAT”), is mostly found in newborns and tends to diminish as a person ages. Brown fat is used by the body to regulate temperature and quickly burns sugar to keep infants warm, meaning that exposure to cold activates brown fat cells. This last point may be important when it comes to weight loss.
For decades, brown fat was believed to significantly decline as we grew older, mainly because as we become more able to regulate our body temperatures, we no longer solely rely on biology. However, PET scanning has shown that healthy adults actually have stores of brown fat scattered throughout the front and back of the neck and chest areas.
So, is brown fat an equal opportunist? NO!
In fact:
* Women with lean body mass have at least twice the ratio of brown fat compared to men.
* Exposure to temperatures of around 61º F appears to kick off brown fat cell activity, at least in leaner people.
* The higher your body mass index (BMI), the lower the amount of brown fat in your body.
Turning down the thermostat can help lose weight, right? Well yes. And no.
In controlled situations, volunteers left “chilling” for at least two hours were shown to have a surge in brown fat activity. However, keep in mind that the body is fine-tuned to maintain equilibrium, so, what goes out often goes right back in.In other words, expend more energy, eat more food. And the “chill factor” hasn’t been extensively tested in people under normal, everyday conditions. Still, based on what researchers are able to learn from animal studies, they believe that having as little as 1 to 2 ounces of brown fat in your body could potentially burn about 20% of the average daily caloric intake, that is, if brown fat cells were properly activated.
If you combine the information from the mouse study with the information on brown fat, it seems that the combination of brown fat plus activating P13 kinase may produce a way to burn calories more efficiently. And, leptin and estrogen help regulate the process.
The question however, is how do we get there from here?
Read MoreThe Roundup – a few highlights
[Credit: Special thanks to artist Darryl Willison of whimsicalwest.com. Please visit his site and support his work.]
I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that this well-received monthly feature seems to have fallen off Flashfree post list. So, as of today, I am officially reviving it. Rather than list four month’s worth of highlights, I’ve decided to pick and choose a few favourites so you don’t miss anything. Still, my mind isn’t yours’ so feel free to peruse the monthly archives.
Without further ado…
- Female viagra hits a new low in the bedroom. Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is real to many women, who suffering from reduced libido and interest. But can a pill address the underlying issues, such as emotions, relationships, environment and hormones?
- HRT – Wait a moment! Stopping hormone replacement might be bad for your menopause. In fact, it appears that symptoms might suddenly appear out of nowhere.
- When it comes to calcium, think moderation. Women need calcium and vitamin D as they age. But too much of a good thing may be dangerous.
- That ole glass ceiling still isn’t cracked. Want a raise? Some individuals would have you believe that you should let your femininity drive your bargaining.
- HRT – Ask the hard questions. Are you considering starting hormone replacement? Be sure that you know the facts.
- It’s about time…weight, that is. The time of day may determine how much weight you gain as much as what you are eating.
Flashfree Blogaversary
I missed it! Again! May 9, 2010 marked two years of celebrating you, us, we and women everywhere!
I blame the memory issues on hormones. But will raise a glass or two in honor of this momentous occasion later. That is, if I remember!
Read MoreFriday Folly
I’ve noticed lately that the more overloaded my work and personal life has become, the less I am able to focus, feel centered and operate at full capacity.
So, I’m taking today off to Play, Dream & Create.
I believe that there’s a role for all that and more when we need to refuel.
See you next Monday. And Happy Mother’s Day!
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