March 26, 2002 - Volume 1 Issue 7

Welcome to the March edition of the Wellness Insider! We welcome your feedback and questions. To contact us, please click here. Click for version PLEASE NOTE: We have recently updated our newsletter sign-up form to a quick pop-up window format. The window will appear on any page that you access through this newsletter. You can choose to turn off the message by clicking on the checkbox that reads, "Do not show this window in the future". A Message from Dr. Cooper TAKE RESPONSIBILITIY FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH! If you listen to our radio program then you know I believe that your health is not your doctor's responsibility. It's also not your spouse's, or the government's responsibility. Your health is your responsibility. I also believe, and this comes from practicing preventive medicine for more than 40 years, that with just some routine tests you can dramatically increase your chances of living a long and healthy life to the fullest. more... Nutrition Start Today For A Healthy Tomorrow Melinda Safir, R.D., L.D. You don't have to be a fortune teller, possess a crystal ball or be able to read the stars to be in control of your own destiny. The choices that we make today determine the events of tomorrow. Therefore, we are able to impact our future quality of life by simply choosing to take control of our current lifestyle or destiny. Since overall lifestyle is comprised of an individual's eating and exercise routine, taking charge of these habits allows one to control their own future quality of life. Sounds difficult, but it doesn't have to be. more... Nutritional Supplements Human Growth Hormone in a Pill - Part 1 Angela Marks, Cooper Concepts, Inc. There are a wide variety of nutritional products whose labels claim to boost Human Growth Hormone (HGH) levels and fight the aging process. This article is the first of a two-part series that will examine such ingredients and evaluate manufacturers' who claim through inconclusive studies and "borrowed science" that their products can help you look and feel younger by just taking a pill. more... Men's Health Homocysteine & Alzheimer's Disease - Could There Be A Link? Tim Church M.D., PhD., M.P.H. The Cooper Institute Who doesn't know or has not known someone affected by Alzheimer's disease? Scientists think approximately four million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's and nearly half of the Americans 85 and older may have the disease. Malfunction of the blood vessels of the brain has been suggested to be a possible contributor to the development of Alzheimer's disease. Interestingly individuals at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are also blood vessel diseases, have been found to be at an increased risk for Alzheimer's. Elevated levels of homocysteine have long been associated with heart disease and stroke. more... Physical Training Getting to the Core of Back Pain Jill Armayor, Cooper Ventures I see it every day in my fitness center. People line up on the mats to perform multiple sets of crunches for their abdominal muscles, but they completely disregard their lower backs. Truthfully, many of the core stabilizers, termed the lumbo-pelvic hip complex, are left out of the average resistance training program altogether. The core stabilizers are important because they are called into action when you stand, walk, sit, and perform many of the daily tasks that require you to maintain your posture. Not only are these inner muscles important in everyday life, but if they are weak, they can hinder your performance in the gym. more... Women's Health Alternative Therapies - Proceed With Caution Brought to you exclusively from the women physicians at Cooper Clinic Do you take Echinacea for the common cold or use aromatherapy to calm your nerves? Have you surfed the web looking for alternative therapies for common medical problems like high blood pressure or high cholesterol? If so, you are not alone. Complementary/alternative therapies have grown in popularity in recent years, and one population survey in the United States showed that they were used more by women (48.9%) than men (37.8%). A number of studies have shown that from one-third to three quarters of patients with chronic medical problems use alternative or complementary therapies, such as vitamins, prayer, herbs, massage, meditation, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional therapies. more... Click for version

Kid's Corner In a country where more than 10 million children ages 6 to 17 are considered overweight and almost half of these are severely obese, it's more important than ever to educate young people about the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. If you would like to receive periodic information on kid's nutrition and fitness, click here to automatically be added to the mailing list... Weekly Recipe Total Whole Wheat Chicken Ingredients: 4 (4 ounce) chicken breasts, skinless, boneless 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups whole wheat Total cereal 1 1/2 cups skim buttermilk 1 1/2 tablespoons light margarine, melted Directions: Mix together pepper, salt and cereal. Place in a large bowl or brown paper sack. Dip chicken in buttermilk and then cover with cereal mixture. Place in a 9x13-inch pan. Drizzle melted margarine over chicken pieces and bake uncovered, in 30 degrees oven for 1 hour. Per Serving: 281 Calories, 43 g Protein, 7 gm Total Fat, 2 gm Saturated Fat, 102 mg Cholesterol (Dietary), 108 mg Sodium from: Cookery Classics written by Kathleen Duran, R.D. Please click here to read current and noteworthy information information on various nutrition topics written by our Cooper Clinic dietitians. You may also click here to visit the Nutrition Library to retrieve past articles and answer many of your nutrition questions! Shop Online: The Polar Heart Monitor Keep track of your workout time and average heart rate with the Polar Heart Monitor! This is the ideal monitor for beginning exercisers. It features easy to use, single button operation. Heart rate is continuosly displayed along with a visual indicator of exercise time. Recalls both total exercise time and average heart rate for your workout.