Friday, May 30, 2014

Vibration exercise may offer fibromyalgia sufferers relief: new study

 



  
Newswise — ORLANDO, Fla. — A pilot study by Indiana University researchers found that whole-body vibration exercise may reduce pain symptoms and improve aspects of quality of life in individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
“Our findings are promising, but it is not entirely clear whether these improvements were the result of added vibration or just the effects of being more active,” said lead author Tony Kaleth, associate professor in the School of Physical Education and Tourism Management at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Vibration machines on Amazon
“Effects of whole-body vibration exercise on physical function and pain severity in patients with fibromyalgia” was discussed on Thursday during the clinical populations session at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.
  
Regular exercise participation is one of the best known therapies for patients with fibromyalgia, a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Many patients, however, are averse to participating over fears of pain that may be associated with increased physical activity. As a result, said Kaleth, many patients continue to spiral downward, further exacerbating a sedentary lifestyle that often leads to a worsening of symptoms.
“Over time, this can lead to additional weight gain, as well as accompanying chronic health conditions associated with obesity, such as high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes,” he said.
Whole-body vibration exercise involves standing, sitting or lying on a machine with a vibrating platform that causes muscles to contract and relax as the machine vibrates. The machines primarily are used by researchers but have begun appearing in fitness centers and are sold commercially.
“Vibration training is increasingly being studied in clinical populations as a potential therapeutic mode of exercise training,” Kaleth said. “Although the results are largely equivocal and in need of further study, studies have reported improvements in strength, muscle spasticity and pain in select populations.”
Fibromyalgia, which has no cure, is primarily diagnosed in women and may also involve difficulties with sleep, memory and mood. The disorder affects an estimated 1-3 percent of the population.
Co-authors include Sandi DeSabatine, School of Physical Education and Tourism Management; and Dennis C. Ang, IU School of Medicine.
  
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/vibration-exercise-may-offer-fibromyalgia-sufferers-relief-new-study/fibromyalgia/#sthash.tamZLHv0.dpuf

Zach Cooper: “I'm ready to fight NOW!”


 

 

LAS VEGAS: A year long absence from the ring has done nothing to diminish junior middleweight Zach Cooper's (2-0-1) enthusiasm for boxing. Instead, it's done the opposite. Zach kept training, putting the work in every day at the Mayweather Boxing Club. He's more than ready for June 7, and a scheduled four round bout against Nate Richardson, (1-1) at the Myth Event Center, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

“Training has been great,” Zach said. “I feel like a bag of diamonds. Everything is on schedule, and we're ready to fight tomorrow, if that was possible,” he laughed.

 

Traveling to Minnesota, and fighting a south paw opponent in his territory only serves as more incentive to win. “His hometown or not, I have to set the pace for this fight, and I have to control the fight. And I'm fine with being in his backyard,” Zach said. “Skills pay the bills, and I know he's not been working as hard as me. So it is what it is. We can sit and fight or we can box. However Richardson wants to do it. I'm still leaving with the win.”

 

Visit Zach's website, http://zcooper45.wix.com/zachcooper & follow him on Twitter @IHATEZACHCOOPER

 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Chocolate milk is an ideal recovery drink. It’s a ‘real food,’ says USA Swimming and its milk trade group partner

 


  
Contact: Katy Alexander
kalexander@webershandwick.com
312-988-2093
Weber Shandwick Worldwide
First-of-its-kind study: Swimmers gain an advantage when they recover with chocolate milk
Swim times are significantly faster when swimmers recover with chocolate milk, compared to a typical sports drink or a calorie-free beverage
Grabbing chocolate milk after a hard swim could give swimmers a performance edge, according to new research presented at one of the nation’s top sports medicine conferences – the American College of Sports Medicine’s annual conference.1 In a sport where seconds and even tenths of a second can make a big difference and intense practice routines are the norm, Indiana University researchers found that when collegiate, trained swimmers recovered with chocolate milk after an exhaustive swim, they swam faster in time trials later that same day. On average, they shaved off 2.1 seconds per 200 yard swim, and 0.5 seconds per 75 yard sprint, compared to when they recovered with a traditional carbohydrate sports drink or calorie-free beverage.
“Chocolate milk is an ideal recovery drink. It’s a ‘real food,’ has the right carb to protein ratio athletes need and it’s less expensive than many alternatives,” said Joel Stager, PhD, lead researcher at Indiana University. “From cyclists to runners to soccer players, there’s a strong body of research supporting the benefits of recovering with chocolate milk. Now, our research suggests these same benefits extend to swimmers – a sport that relies on quick recovery for multiple races within a single day.”
The study is the first to test the benefits of chocolate milk in swimmers, and included six division one collegiate swimmers performing a muscle fuel (glycogen) depleting swim bout of 60 x 100 yards followed by five hours of recovery for three consecutive weeks. The athletes then recovered with one of three randomized beverages – reduced fat chocolate milk, commercial carbohydrate sports drink (with the same calories as the chocolate milk), or calorie-free beverage – immediately and two hours after the swim. Following the five-hour recovery period, three swim performance test sets were completed relying on aerobic (200 yards), anaerobic (75 yard sprint), and immediate energy metabolism (10 meters against resistance). While there were no differences in the immediate energy metabolism swims, there were significant differences in the aerobic and anaerobic swims – indicating better recovery after drinking chocolate milk.
Researchers, including Dr. Stager,2 first studied chocolate milk because of its unique carb to protein ratio and now more than 20 studies support the benefits of recovering with the high-quality protein and nutrients in chocolate milk after a tough workout.3 With high-quality protein to build lean muscle, the right mix of protein and carbs to refuel exhausted muscles, and fluids and electrolytes to help replenish the body, chocolate milk is a trusted part of many athletes recovery routines.

###

SOURCES
  
1. Stager JM, Brammer CL, Sossong T, Kojima K, Spanbaur D, Grand K, Wright BV. Supplemental recovery nutrition affects swim performance following glycogen depleting exercise. Presented at the American College of Sports Medicine, 2014.
2. Karp JR1, Johnston JD, Tecklenburg S, Mickleborough TD, Fly AD, Stager JM. Chocolate milk as a post-exercise recovery aid. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2006;16:78-91.
3. Read the research at http://www.gotchocolatemilk.com/science
About the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK Campaign
The Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Washington, D.C., is funded by the nation’s milk processors, who are committed to increasing fluid milk consumption. The National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, through MilkPEP, runs the BUILT WITH CHOCOLATE MILK Campaign, a multi-faceted program designed to educate athletes about the recovery benefits of lowfat chocolate milk after strenuous exercise. Lowfat chocolate milk helps athletes refuel, rebuild and reshape after regular exercise – with high quality protein scientifically shown to help repair and rebuild muscles. For more information, go to http://www.gotchocolatemilk.com.
About USA Swimming
As the National Governing Body for the sport of swimming in the United States, USA Swimming is a 400,000-member service organization that promotes the culture of swimming by creating opportunities for swimmers and coaches of all backgrounds to participate and advance in the sport through clubs, events and education. Our membership is comprised of swimmers from the age group level to the Olympic Team, as well as coaches and volunteers. USA Swimming is responsible for selecting and training teams for international competition including the Olympic Games, and strives to serve the sport through its core objectives: Build the base, Promote the sport, Achieve competitive success. For more information, visit www.usaswimming.org.

Source
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/chocolate-milk-ideal-recovery-drink-real-food-says-usa-swimming-milk-trade-group-partner/nutrition-food-chocolate/#sthash.ZN528qPL.dpuf

Marathon runners’ times develop in a U shape

 



  
Spanish researchers have demonstrated that the relationship between marathon running times and the age of the athlete is U-shaped. The work shows the unusual fact that it takes an 18-year-old athlete the same amount of time to finish a marathon as a 55- or 60-year-old runner.
The 42,195 metres that are nowadays known as the marathon were run for the first time at the London Olympic Games of 1908. Since then, many athletes have completed this race and there has also been numerous scientific studies conducted on endurance runners.
Up to now, the majority of these works came to the conclusion that performance in long-distance races decreases progressively from the age of 25 onwards. Now, a study by the Camilo José Cela University in Madrid has found that the relationship between the amount of time a race takes and the runner’s age is not increasing and linear throughout adulthood, but rather forms a U graph.
In order to conduct this study, the scientists created a database with the times of more than 45,000 runners who took part in the New York marathon in 2010 and 2011.
“This information included the top ten runners in both the male and female categories between the ages of 18 and 75,” Juan Del Coso Garrigós, scientist from the Madrid university and main author of the study, explained to SINC.
The results, published in the journal ‘Age‘, demonstrated that in men, the best times were achieved at 27 years old, while the age for the best running performance in women was 29.
Before this age, athletes’ marathon times were 4% slower for every year under this age in both men and women. Afterwards, athletes increased their race times at a rate of 2% per year in both sexes.
  
“While the rate at which performance drops is moderate until the age of 55, from then on the drop becomes sharper in both male and female runners,” Del Coso stated.
An unusual U
This relationship between physical performance in a marathon and age reveals the unusual fact that it takes an 18-year-old athlete a similar amount of time to finish a marathon as a 55- or 60-year-old runner.
Lastly, the study found a certain contrast between the sexes. “The difference in the amount of time it takes men and women to finish a marathon remains at approximately 20% until 55 years of age. But from this age onwards the differences between the sexes are greater and reach more than 40% at 70 years old,” the expert concluded.

###
Reference:
Beatriz Lara & Juan José Salinero & Juan Del Coso. “The relationship between age and running time in elite marathoners is U-shaped”. AGE (2014) 36:1003 DOI 10.1007/s11357-013-9614-z
Source
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/marathon-runners-times-develop-u-shape/marathons/#sthash.9YHzAzOT.dpuf

These 5 foods will make your skin glow: Houston RD





          Posted on May 28, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

Newswise — Chances are you have seen glow-enhancing creams and serums lining the shelves of your local supermarket. Some are marketed as age- defying and promise to energize skin in a matter of days. But when it comes to obtaining a glowing complexion, what you put in your body is just as important as what you put on it.

“Eating the right foods can help protect skin from oxidative stress that contributes to the aging process, clear up acne and brighten a dull complexion,” said Kari Kooi, a registered dietician at Houston Methodist Hospital. “As the name implies, watermelon hydrates cells so they’re plump and full; the high protein content in almonds stabilizes blood sugar, thereby minimizing acne flare-ups. These ingredients will not only brighten your plate but your overall appearance.” Here are five super foods for attaining a summer glow:

Watermelon: With more than 90 percent water content, the fruit plays a vital role in beauty enhancement by hydrating cells to increase the production of collagen. This increase revitalizes skin, revealing a firmer and more youthful appearance. Kooi recommends enjoying a watermelon salad that’s bursting with flavor by simply cutting the watermelon into bite-size pieces and combining with spicy arugula, red-wine vinegar, thinly sliced red onion, and a sprinkle of crumbled goat cheese.

Pumpkin seeds: With increased intake into your diet, the Zinc in hulled pumpkin seeds or “Pepitas”, aid the skin-cell renewal process to control the hormone and oil production linked to acne. Sprinkle a handful of seeds into your morning oatmeal or yogurt for an added crunch and slightly sweet, nutty flavor.

Almonds: Abundant in skin-nourishing vitamin E, almonds provide powerful antioxidant protection to help neutralize skin damaging free radicals. Its 48 percent magnesium content is believed to decelerate signs of aging and acne breakouts. During mid-summer at the height of their season, almonds are a versatile addition to any sweet or savory meal.

Pineapple: Its distinctive yellow color makes pineapples synonymous with summertime. It’s filled with an enzyme that helps soften skin and brighten complexion. Kooi says to select a pineapple with a sweet fragrance at the stem end and to make sure that it is heavy for its size. Pineapples ripen from the bottom up, so the shell’s transformation in color from green to gold is the distinguishing signal the fruit is ready to enjoy.

Carrots: Incorporating carrots into your diet will not only add a pop of orange to a salad, but also helps to achieve a healthy, sun-kissed glow without spray tans or potentially harmful UV exposure. The carotenoid antioxidants in carrots, including beta-carotene, give carrots their deep orange coloring and provide a subtle natural tan by the pigments being deposited in the skin. Beta- carotene keeps skin youthful by targeting and repairing skin damage as well as protecting skin from the ravage of excess sun exposure.

- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/5-foods-will-make-skin-glow-houston-rd/watermelon/#sthash.iIN1b7nc.dpuf

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Low-carb vegan diet may reduce heart disease risk and weight

 



 
TORONTO, May 22, 2014 — Researchers at St. Michael’s Hospital have shown for the first time that, in addition to weight loss, a specific low-carbohydrate diet may also reduce the risk of heart disease by 10 per cent over 10 years.
The diet, often called Eco-Atkins, is a low-carbohydrate vegan diet. Many low-carbohydrate diets have been proven to improve weight loss but most emphasize eating animal proteins and fats, which may raise cholesterol. Diets that are high in vegetable proteins and oils may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering “bad cholesterol.”
“We killed two birds with one stone – or, rather, with one diet,” explained lead author Dr. David Jenkins, who is director of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Modification Centre of St. Michael’s Hospital and a Nutritional Sciences professor at the University of Toronto. “We designed a diet that combined both vegan and low-carb elements to get the weight loss and cholesterol-lowering benefits of both.”
The findings, which were published in British Medical Journal Open, compared Eco-Atkins to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet. The Eco-Atkins diet reduced cholesterol by 10 per cent while also helping participants lose an average of four more pounds than the high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet over six months.
“We could expect similar results in the real world because study participants selected their own diets and were able to adjust to their needs and preferences,” said Dr. Jenkins, who is a vegan.
Participants were given menu plans that outlined food items and amounts. Rather than requiring fixed meals, the menus served as a reference guide and participants were given a list of suitable food alternatives. With an exchange list of interchangeable food items, participants were better able to adapt the diet to their personal tastes – which helped to encourage adherence to the diet.
Twenty-three obese men and women completed the six-month diet. Participants were encouraged to eat only 60 per cent of their estimated caloric requirements – the amount of calories that should be consumed daily to maintain their current weight.
Eco-Atkins participants aimed for a balance of 26 per cent of calories from carbohydrates, 31 per cent from proteins and 43 per cent from fat – coming primarily vegetable oils.
Carbohydrate sources included high-fibre foods such as oats and barley and low-starch vegetables such as okra and eggplant. Proteins came from gluten, soy, vegetables, nuts and cereals. Predominant fat sources for the Eco-Atkins diet were nuts, vegetable oils, soy products and avocado.
Source
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/low-carb-vegan-diet-may-reduce-heart-disease-risk-weight/nutrition-diets/#sthash.MdHcAEXz.dpuf

Holistic exercise such as yoga, tai chi, qigong and meditation benefit dementia patients

          Posted on May 19, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

Philadelphia, PA, May 19, 2014 – While dementia patients can often suffer from depression and declining physical and mental ability, exercise has been shown to help improve both their physical and psychological wellbeing. Researchers at Teesside University in the U.K. investigated how combining cognitive activities and elements of yoga, tai chi, qigong and meditation with routine physical exercise affected dementia patients. They found that a holistic exercise program focusing on both mind and body can help improve quality of life for dementia patients. Their findings are published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.

For this study, conducted in association with the Alzheimer’s Society (UK), researchers developed the Happy Antics program, a holistic exercise plan that integrates physical movements with activities designed to take the emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual health of patients into consideration. Each Happy Antics session started with a short cognitive exercise during which participants were shown a picture of an object while the instructor spoke briefly about it. Then patients were encouraged to discuss the object and ask questions. This activity was followed by warm-up exercises and then physical exercise incorporating principals of tai chi, yoga, qigong, and dance movements. Each session ended with a short, guided meditation activity that focused on breathing and mindful awareness.

Fifteen participants ranging from 52 to 86 years old attended the program: eight dementia patients, five care-givers, and two volunteers. The overall attendance rate for six sessions was 70%, and all participants reported having enjoyed taking part in the holistic exercise sessions, looked forward to attending them, and felt like the sessions helped them socially. Some patients also said they felt more relaxed after the sessions and experienced some degree of pain relief. Other patients found learning to do the new exercises “empowering,” even though sometimes they faced physical difficulty performing the tasks.

 “When the wellness approach is applied to exercise, holistic exercise strives to encourage individuals not only to take part in the physical activities, but also to become aware of their own physical and psychological states, and to perform exercise that is purposeful and meaningful to them,” explained lead investigator Yvonne J-Lyn Khoo, BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD, of the Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University.

The holistic mind-and-body approach proved to be both enjoyable and helpful for patients suffering from dementia. Not only did they like the sessions, but also showed improvement in memory recall in their anticipation of the physical movements associated with the music.

“Observations at the sixth session showed that even though people with dementia could not remember what had occurred during previous sessions, six people with dementia who participated in the holistic exercise sessions could anticipate the physical movements associated with specific music and three people with dementia were able to remember the sequence of the physical movements,” said Dr. Khoo. “This showed potential in maintained procedural memory among people with dementia who attended the holistic exercise sessions.”

The Happy Antics program included participation by care-givers. While the program helped dementia patients, it also had positive effects on the other participants, with one care-giver reporting less pain after attending the sessions. This particular finding of pain relief after participating in holistic exercise is an important one given the unique complexity of chronic pain. “This suggests that participating in holistic exercise may offer some relief in burden for care-givers as they face many challenges in providing care for patients with dementia, including physical and psychological distress,” added Dr. Khoo.

Dementia is a complex and debilitating condition, but with holistic exercise programs like Happy Antics, patients experienced some relief, joy, and lasting positive effects. “The Happy Antics program was able to stimulate and engage people with dementia in exercise as well as provide a social learning environment and offer potential psychological benefits,” concluded Dr. Khoo.

Source - See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/holistic-exercise-such-as-yoga-tai-chi-qigong-and-meditation-benefit-dementia-patients/benefits-exercise/#sthash.eu2bSzlC.dpuf

Little exercise and heavy use of electronic media constitute a significant health risk for children

 


 

The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study, PANIC, carried out by the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland shows that low levels of physical activity combined with heavy use of electronic media and sedentary behaviour are linked to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases already in 6–8 year-old children. The study was published in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, an esteemed journal in the field of exercise and nutrition.
Heavy use of electronic media has adverse health effects also in children who are physically active
Carried out at the University of Eastern Finland, the study showed that low levels of physical activity – and unstructured physical activity in particular – are linked to increased risk factors for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases in children. Furthermore, heavy use of electronic media, and especially watching too much TV and videos, was linked to higher levels of risk factors in children. The highest levels of risk factors were found in children with lowest levels of physical activity and highest levels of electronic media time. Heavy use of electronic media, and especially watching too much TV and videos, increased the levels of risk factors not only in sedentary children, but also in children who are physically active. Moreover, irregular eating frequency and an unhealthy diet were linked to increased risk factors for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases. These nutrition-related factors partially explain the link between heavy use of electronic media and the risk factors.
Prevention of type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases best begun in childhood
The PANIC Study has earlier shown that the cumulation of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases in people who are overweight begins already in childhood. This is a major concern because the cumulation of risk factors in childhood significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, vascular diseases and premature death in adulthood. According to this recently published study, regular exercise and avoiding excessive use of electronic media constitute efficient means of preventing type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases.
The PANIC Study – a source of scientifically valuable data on children’s health
The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study, the PANIC Study, is an on-going lifestyle intervention study. A total of 512 children aged 6 to 8 years participated in the onset measurements in 2007–2009. The study applies scientifically sound methods to extensively study the lifestyles, health and well-being of children. The study provides novel information on children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour, nutrition, physical condition, body composition, metabolism, vascular system, brain function, oral health, life quality, effects of exercise and nutrition on children’s health and well-being, and their effects on health care costs.
Source
 
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/little-exercise-heavy-use-electronic-media-constitute-significant-health-risk-children/pediatric-health-inactivity/#sthash.TSGlz4PP.dpuf

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

New evidence: what you eat is linked to how long you live

          Posted on May 20, 2014 by Stone Hearth News

Higher Diet Quality Is Associated with Decreased Risk of All-Cause, Cardiovascular Disease, and Cancer Mortality among Older Adults1,2

 Jill Reedy3,*, Susan M. Krebs-Smith3, Paige E. Miller5, Angela D. Liese6, Lisa L. Kahle7, Yikyung Park4, and Amy F. Subar3 +

Author Affiliations

 3Divisions of Cancer Control and Population Sciences and 4Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 5Exponent, Chicago, IL 6Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC; and 7Information Management Services, Inc., Calverton, MD

 First published February 26, 2014, doi: 10.3945/​jn.113.189407 J. Nutr. June 1, 2014 vol. 144 no. 6 881-889

↵*To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: reedyj@mail.nih.gov.

Abstract

Increased attention in dietary research and guidance has been focused on dietary patterns, rather than on single nutrients or food groups, because dietary components are consumed in combination and correlated with one another.

However, the collective body of research on the topic has been hampered by the lack of consistency in methods used.

We examined the relationships between 4 indices—the Healthy Eating Index–2010 (HEI-2010), the Alternative Healthy Eating Index–2010 (AHEI-2010), the alternate Mediterranean Diet (aMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH)—and all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study (n = 492,823).

Data from a 124-item food-frequency questionnaire were used to calculate scores; adjusted HRs and 95% CIs were estimated.

We documented 86,419 deaths, including 23,502 CVD- and 29,415 cancer-specific deaths, during 15 y of follow-up.

Higher index scores were associated with a 12–28% decreased risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality.

Specifically, comparing the highest with the lowest quintile scores, adjusted HRs for all-cause mortality for men were as follows: HEI-2010 HR: 0.78 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.80), AHEI-2010 HR: 0.76 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.78), aMED HR: 0.77 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.79), and DASH HR: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.85); for women, these were HEI-2010 HR: 0.77 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.80), AHEI-2010 HR: 0.76 (95% CI: 0.74, 0.79), aMED HR: 0.76 (95% CI: 0.73, 0.79), and DASH HR: 0.78 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.81).

Similarly, high adherence on each index was protective for CVD and cancer mortality examined separately.

These findings indicate that multiple scores reflect core tenets of a healthy diet that may lower the risk of mortality outcomes, including federal guidance as operationalized in the HEI-2010, Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate as captured in the AHEI-2010, a Mediterranean diet as adapted in an Americanized aMED, and the DASH Eating Plan as included in the DASH score. Source

FINAL FORUM BOXING HITS THE HEAVYWEIGHT DAILY DOUBLE

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK (MAY 21, 2014)--This past weekend, Sal Musumeci's Final Forum Boxing was in the middle of all the action in North America as the promotional company was involved in big events in Montreal and New York with great success.

First on Friday night, former world ranked Heavyweight Derric Rossy scored the biggest win of his career when he took home a 10-round majority decision over Joe Hanks in a bout that was nationally televised on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.

With the win, Rossy (29-8, 14 KO's) of Medford, New York will put himself back in the middle of the Heavyweight picture and most likely see action in a significant bout this summer.

The very next night, Final Forum staged a seven-bout card at Pac Plex in Brooklyn and in the main event, Heavyweight Natu Visinia remained perfect with a 6-round unanimous decision over Jon Bolden.

Visinia of California and of Samoan decent is now 10-0 with 8 knockouts and his promoter Sal Musumeci is very happy with the progress of the power puncher.

"It was a great weekend.  First off, Derric showed people that he still is more than just a viable Heavyweight and he can beat lot of guys.  I have never stopped believing in him and I feel with a couple wins like he had on Friday night he could definitely get a title shot," Said Musumeci.

"As for Visinia, he has a chance to be special.  He has showed that he can punch with anyone in the division and I look forward to being able to move him into bigger and better fights."

Musumeci had one more special announcement for the boxing public.

"I am back.  I have been fighting through a couple of medical issues over the last couple years and the best is yet to come for Final Forum.  In fact we are just days away from making a major announcement where we will be showing live boxing on a major national sports network which will also be televised worldwide in the premiere venues for worldwide for boxing." Finished Musumeci.   

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Why you need olive oil on your salad

Why you need olive oil on your salad


  

A diet that combines unsaturated fats with nitrite-rich vegetables, such as olive oil and lettuce, can protect you from hypertension, suggests a new study led by King’s College London. The findings, published in the journal PNAS, help to explain why some previous studies have shown that a Mediterranean diet can reduce blood pressure.
The Mediterranean diet typically includes unsaturated fats found in olive oil, nuts and avocados, along with vegetables like spinach, celery and carrots that are rich in nitrites and nitrates.
When these two food groups are combined, the reaction of unsaturated fatty acids with nitrogen compounds in the vegetables results in the formation of nitro fatty acids.
The study, supported by the British Heart Foundation, used mice to investigate the process by which these nitro fatty acids lower blood pressure, looking at whether they inhibited an enzyme known as soluble Epoxide Hydrolase which regulates blood pressure.
Mice genetically engineered to be resistant to this inhibitory process were found to maintain their high blood pressure despite being fed the type of nitro fatty acids that normally form when a Mediterranean diet is consumed. However, nitro fatty acids were found to lower the blood pressure of normal mice following the same diets.
Thus, the study concludes that the protective effect of the Mediterranean diet, combining unsaturated fats and vegetables abundant in nitrite and nitrate, comes at least in part from the nitro fatty acids generated which inhibit soluble Epoxide Hydrolase to lower blood pressure.
Professor Philip Eaton, Professor of Cardiovascular Biochemistry at King’s College London, said: “The findings of our study help to explain why previous research has shown that a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts can reduce the incidence of cardiovascular problems like stroke, heart failure and heart attacks.”
Source
 
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/need-olive-oil-salad/nutrition-food-olive-oil/#sthash.5MsN1ctJ.dpuf

Bujaj and Wright battle to a draw in Classic Fight of the Year Candidiate

Bujaj and Wright battle to a draw in Classic Fight of the Year Candidiate
Bujaj lands on Wright
 
 
BROOKLYN (MAY 20, 2014)-- On Thursday night in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, cruiserweights Steve Bujaj and Junior Wright engaged in a ten-round battle on a Star of David Promotions card which many in attendance regard as a legitimate Fight of the Year candidate.
Promoter Dmitriy Salita and the fans and media at the Millennium Theatre waited with anticipation as the scorecards were tabulated after the back and forth rumble between the New Yorker Bujaj and the Chicago-based Wright, with the WBC International Cruiserweight title up for grabs.

Wright and Bujaj
The judges called it a split draw, but more importantly for the fight fans who were there live, and the ones which will see highlights on a television presentation--details to come!-- of the eight-bout card, it was a classic scrap.

Neither man deserved to be tagged with their first loss, promoter Salita said afterwards.

"Both Junior Wright and Steve Bujaj are champions," Salita stated. "The fight lived up to expectations and more. Both guys showed world class skill and world class heart. They fought their heart out for the fans and for an opportunity to be recognized as among the best in the world... and now they are. These two cruiserweights are for sure the best in their weight in the US and in the mix with best cruisers in the world."

One man who saw the battle up close at the venue was manager Ivan Edwards, who made the 2011 Fight of the Year, a draw between his boxer, Pawel Wolak, and Delvin Rodriguez.

"I was ringside for both fights," Edwards said. "Bujaj versus Wright was much better. They went to war, both hurt each other. Two true warriors. Neither cared if they lived or died. This sort of fight is what fans want to see."

Michael Woods, the editor of TheSweetScience.com, who called the feature, along with analyst Nirmal Lorick, took to Twitter post-fight, and opined that a rematch should land on ESPN, or perhaps "ShoBox."

"The volume was incredible, the swings in momentum between Bujaj and Wright were intense, and each man had their fair share of moments," Woods said. "Absolutely, a rematch makes infinite sense, and I can state with certainty that these two boxers deserve an even larger audience next time."

Bujaj (12-0-1), who shrugged off a fractured jaw in round four, said he'd welcome another crack at Wright (10-0-1). He had surgery to repair the jaw days after the bout, but is keen to meet Wright again, for revenge. "I would love a rematch if TV buys it," he said. "I'd do better next time, because I'd have a real mouthpiece made for me, and I won't have to fight with a broken jaw."

Salita and Miller
Several other fighters also stood out on the superb card. Heavyweight Jarrell Miller was mobbed after his TKO2 win over Joshua Harris, and many in the crowd were buzzing about the 9-0 hitter, wondering if he can bring some heavyweight buzz back to NYC, in the manner of Riddick Bowe, a fellow Brooklyner.
Steven Martinez lands on Fernandez
Steve Martinez (15-1), a junior middleweight slugger, scored a TKO5 win over Antonio Chaves Fernandez, turning in another one of his fan-friendly performances. Martinez is a power puncher who looks to hurt his foe with every shot, and Salita is looking to insert him in a title fight in the not too distant future.
Dimash Niyazov
Classy prospect Dimash Niyazov, from Kazakhstan, and living in Staten Island, NY, rose to 6-0, with a UD4 over Jose Del Valle. Salita is high on Niyazov's longterm prospects.

Salita is already planning his next action-filled card. Log on to dsalita.com regularly for updates on the next Brooklyn Brawl!
 
 
 
Photo Credit: Segundo Rivera
 

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Star of David Boxing Promotions Press Conference Videos

Star of David Boxing Promotions Press Conference Videos

Steve Bujaj to battle Junior Wright in WBC International and WBC USNBC Cruiserweight title headlines a stacked card 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
BROOKLYN, NY (May 14, 2014)---Yesterday at the Woodland Restaurant in Brooklyn, Star of David Boxing Promotions held the final news conference before Thursday night's championship fight card at the Millennium Theater in Brooklyn.

The show  will be headlined by a 10-round WBC International and WBC USNBC Cruiserweight battle between undefeated fight's Steve Bujaj (12-0, 9 KO's) of New York and Junior Wright (10-0, 9 KO's) of Evanston, Illinois.

Below are videos of the Press Conference plus interviews with Wright, Bujaj, Amanda Serrano, Jarrell Miller, Steven Martinez and Alexey Zubov who will all be in action on Thursday.

Media outlets may use the videos on their websites for journalistic use.

Star of David Press Conference 051314
Star of David Press Conference 
Steve Bujaj 051314
Steve Bujaj 
Junior Wright 051314
Junior Wright 
Amanda Serrano 051314
Amanda Serrano 
Alexey Zubov 051314
Alexey Zubov 
Jarrell Miller 051314
Jarrell Miller 
Steven Martinez
Steven Martinez


Log on to http://www.dsalita.com to buy your tickets today. 
 

Star of David weighins : Bujaj vs Wright

WEIGHTS FROM BROOKLYN 

Steve Bujaj 198.4 - Junior Wright 198.6
(WBC INTERNATIONAL CRUISERWEIGHT TITLE)
 
Jarrell Miller 263 - Joshua Harris 213
Steven Martinez 153.8 - Antonio Chaves Fernandez 154
Dimash Niyazov 134 - Jose Del Valle 133
Mikkel Lespierre 148.6 - Rapahel Luna 150
Akil Auguste 161.8 - Juan Zapata 163
Marcos Suarez 136 - Ian James 136
Alexey Zubov 200 - Glenn Thomas 204

Promoter:  Star of David Promotions
Venue:  Millennium Theater
1st Bell: 7:00 pm

PHOTO CREDIT: Segundo Rivera

Log on to http://www.dsalita.com to buy your tickets today. 
 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Eat carbs before a run?

 


  
You might hear that before a big race or game, it’s wise to load up on carbs to make sure you have enough energy to get you through it.
But, it turns out, pre-exercise meals that are higher in protein or fat may also make good choices.
That’s the focus of a new paper by Florida State University Assistant Professor Michael Ormsbee and his Human Performance and Sports Nutrition Lab. Ormsbee was invited to write a paper reviewing the current research on pre-activity nutrition for a special “Sports Nutrition” issue in the journal Nutrients.
Though carbs do work, there’s been no significant research on other food groups to compare and contrast effectiveness.
“Carbs have been the focus for endurance runners but some new research and some anecdotal evidence suggests that higher fat diets may actually work before exercise to improve metabolism and possibly health and performance,” Ormsbee said.
  
And that will help set the tone for some of Ormsbee’s research moving forward. Ormsbee said the lab is launching a number of upcoming studies to investigate performance, health and body composition advantages to different foods and supplements for both endurance and strength athletes.
Ormsbee and doctoral students Dan Baur and Chris Bach examined research that had been the standard for the past few decades in sports nutrition.
Baur said there was plenty of information available extolling the virtues of protein consumption post workout, but when it came to pre workout fuel, the information dried up.
“Everything you read right now is saying protein is good, but they’ve never taken a deep look at how it can affect your body before a workout or competition,” Baur said. “The main finding was that more research is needed.”
Added Bach: “There are a lot of preconceived notions and also there’s some anecdotal evidence. For the most part, the work that we’re getting into is really exciting stuff because it’s a new frontier in the world of sports performance.”

Source
- See more at: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/eat-carbs-run/fitness-running/#sthash.SQc7k6cL.dpuf