Jo’s Cafe

Belly Fat …

…we’ve all experienced it or seen it.

It’s deadly.

From this article Belly Fat Booms When Activity Stops via MedicineNet.com:

Belly fat doesn’t waste any time in gathering, given the chance. And a few weeks of inactivity may be all the chance it takes.

So say researchers including Rasmus Olsen, MD, of Denmark’s Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism. They studied 10 healthy young men who were active, but not avid exercisers.

When the study started, the men walked 6,000 to 10,000 steps daily. But they didn’t work out for more than two hours per week.

For the study, the men backed their activity way down, logging only 1,500 steps per day for two weeks. They got body scans to track their overall fat and their belly fat before and after their sedentary spell.

Overall, the men didn’t gain any obvious fat. But their belly fat, located deep inside the abdomen, rose by 7% during the study.

Belly fat has been linked to increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. And previous research has shown that exercise cuts belly fat, which is also called visceral fat.

Belly fat isn’t the only risky trend that started soon after activity stopped.

After three weeks of reduced activity, eight healthy young men became less sensitive to insulin, a hormone that controls blood sugar.

Another reminder that I need to get off my duff and start moving again. Its hard — too hard sometimes. Time seems to be the biggest excuse - which we know is no excuse at all. It doesn’t take time to take the stairs instead of the elevator, to park at the end of the lot instead of circling for a closer spot (and eating up $3 a gallon gas ta boot), to add steps to your day.

Now where is my pedometer?

“Tweaking Insulin Might Help Fight Aging” via MyDiabetesCentral.com

Got Worms? Read on …

Scientists have gained new insight into the workings of insulin, potentially laying the groundwork for an anti-aging treatment.

The research has only taken place in worms, a common model for this type of research, and it’s too early to know if it will translate to humans. But worms whose insulin levels were adjusted lived a week longer than their typical two-week lifespan, the scientists said.

[...]

The Joslin researchers found that more insulin results in less activity by a gene-regulating protein called SKN-1. So, by lowering insulin levels, the study authors were able to boost levels of the protein and make the worms live longer. 

Amy laments on what affects blood sugar levels that you did not think would in her post, “Protein, Carbs, Whatever…” Amy is a Type 1 Diabetic, so step on over and check her out. She’s more than meets the eye.

   Get some.