March 2014 - Page 2 of 3 - IDEA Health & Fitness Association

Food Focus: Nutritional Yeast

By Sandy Todd Webster | March 18, 2014 |

If you’re a vegan or vegetarian home cook, you are probably familiar with the unique umami flavor pop of nutritional yeast. Also known as “nooch,” this interesting food product is a deactivated yeast (a single-celled microorganism called Saccharomyces cerevisiae) that is grown on enriched, purified cane and beet molasses under carefully controlled conditions. Once harvested, it is washed and heat-dried to cause deactivation. Unlike baking yeast, which is a live culture, nutritional yeast does not “grow” or froth and does not serve as a leavening agent.

Is Obesity a Socially Transmitted Disease?

By Sandy Todd Webster | March 18, 2014 |

If you knew someone in your social circle was making specifically healthy or unhealthy food choices, would it influence your behavior?

It’s likely, say researchers in the United Kingdom who have reported on a meta-analysis of several experimental studies that all examined whether access to information about the eating habits of others influences food intake or choices.

“How do you assess older adults when they start training with you?”

By IDEA Authors | March 18, 2014 |

Since older adults are so diverse in their abilities, fitness levels, health conditions and interests, it is not realistic to use one assessment battery for everyone. However, a thorough review of each older-adult client’s health status—including current health conditions, past surgeries/injuries, medications and goals—is appropriate. This information helps determine which types of assessments an individual may need, as well as which particular assessments to perform.

Personal Training for Tennis Players

By April Durrett | March 17, 2014 |

Do you enjoy playing tennis? Do you want to help tennis players stay injury- free and improve their sport-specific fitness levels? If yes, you may want to consider training tennis players as a career niche.

According to a survey from the Tennis Industry Association (TIA 2012), over 28 million people in the United States play tennis each year. Business-wise, tennis players can provide a great source of clients—if you have the interest and knowledge to effectively help them.

Losing Weight With Online Training

By Ryan Halvorson | March 17, 2014 |

Training from a distance. Jennifer Trimmier, personal trainer and owner of Strong Body San Antonio, enjoyed success as a mobile trainer, meeting clients at their homes or training locations of choice. After word spread about those successes, more people began to take notice.

What Experts Say About the “Protein Craze”

By IDEA Authors | March 17, 2014 |

While flavor-of-the-month fads fire our imaginations before they flame out, genuine trends reflect changes in our eating patterns that can influence just about every facet of a health and fitness program.

A panel discussion at 2013 IDEA World Fitness dived into some of the hot-button dietary topics that are on Americans’ minds at the moment. Panelists delved into the protein craze, GMOs, plant-driven diets, cooking for kids, and the eating habits of Millennials, to name a few.

Panelists

Mad for the Mud

By Amanda Vogel, MA | March 17, 2014 |

We’ve seen many activity trends come and go in the fitness industry, but perhaps none quite as “dirty” as the current obsession with mud runs and obstacle races. While some events are milder than others, many could be described as an “ordeal” that also happens to be a workout. For example, you might find yourself slopping through mud, scaling impossibly high verticals and pushing yourself to the limit—physically and mentally.

Belly Fat: Frequently Asked Questions

By Jade Teta, ND | March 17, 2014 |

What are the differences between male and female belly fat?

Extreme Fitness Messaging Tempts Injuries

By IDEA Authors | March 17, 2014 |

I think images like this that are shared on social media motivate people who are already training on an intense level, while they intimidate individuals who are new to exercise or inconsistent about exercising. Such messages can certainly push people to get their best workout, but, professionally speaking, I’ve met several people who pushed themselves too hard and got injured.

Laura KieslingManager, Anytime Fitness Nevada, Iowa

Anaerobic Metabolic Conditioning

By Len Kravitz, PhD | March 13, 2014 |

Many personal trainers design anaerobic workouts for their clients—it is an innovative strategy that helps many people reach their goals. Competitive athletes have been training anaerobically for years. Bu these types of programs also offer recreational exercise enthusiasts challenge, variety and unique physiological adaptations. Common elements of an anaerobic workout include intervals, sprints, repeated sprints and multiple-sequence exercise combinations performed at higher intensities with shorter duration (Bishop, Girard & Mendez- Villanueva 2011).

Recovery: The Rest of the Story

By Charlie Hoolihan | March 12, 2014 |

The health and fitness world confronts a complex paradox. Exercise causes consternation and elation, angst and joy. It can prevent—and lead to—illness and injury. Workouts can keep you out of a hospital and put you into one.

Exercise Benefits People With Osteoarthritis

By Len Kravitz, PhD | March 12, 2014 |

Osteoarthritis (OA), the nation’s most common form of arthritis, is a degenerative joint disease that causes cartilage and its underlying bone to break down, eventually producing joint pain and stiffess (Lubar et al. 2010).

Yoga Leads to Mindful Living

By Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA | March 12, 2014 |

New research shows that people who participate in yoga may also be more likely to adopt healthy lifestyle habits such as mindful eating and being physically active in ways other than yoga.

Peripheral Arterial Disease and Exercise for Older Adults

By Sally Paulson, PhD | March 12, 2014 |

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) occurs when plaque accumulates in the arteries of the legs. Reduced blood flow and loss of oxygen in the tissues beyond the obstruction cause localized muscular pain, or claudication, especially during exercise (Bulmer & Coombes 2004; Womack & Gardner 2003).

Gender-Based Weight Loss Programs Best For Men?

By Ryan Halvorson | March 12, 2014 |

Sports fans enjoy watching their favorite teams go head- to-head in physical competition. But many male spectators are reluctant to take their own measures to get fit. Researchers suggest that a more male-friendly approach could increase participation.

Preschooler Obesity Risks

By Ryan Halvorson | March 12, 2014 |

According to the Food Research and Action Center website, one quarter of U.S. children aged 2–5 are overweight or obese. Researchers from the University of Illinois, Urbana, believe they have identified the top risk factors for preschool-age obesity.

The investigators surveyed 329 parent-child pairs, asking about demographics, health histories and feeding habits. There were also home visits in which assistants gathered height and weight measurements.

Sitting and Quality of Life

By Ryan Halvorson | March 12, 2014 |

Sitting for extended periods of time throughout the day has been linked with increased risk of health problems and even with death. A new study from BMC Public Health (2013: 13 [1071]) says that quality of life may also suffer in people who sit for long periods.

The large study included 194,545 Australian men and women aged 45 and older who were randomly selected from the Medicare Australia database. Participants answered questions about physical activity levels and intensity, daily sitting time, and feelings of health and quality of life.

Mortality and Disease Risk Among Sedentary Older Women

By Ryan Halvorson | March 12, 2014 |

In last month’s issue of IDEA Fitness Journal, we reported that a significant number of older women spend much of the day in sedentary behavior. A new study looks at the relationship between sedentary living and mortality risk in a similar population