A PA legend passes..R.I.P. Dr. Toni...

4-24-13: It is with great shock and disbelief that I read the following e-mail. She was a giant, both literally and figuratively, in the PA movement. I mainly saw her at the various conferences that we would attend, such as APHA and others, and every time she saw me, she would greet me with an enthusiastic "Hey Ernie!" and give me a big hug. She was one of the first PA Evangelists I have met, and her tireless effort in getting people more physically active has always been an inspiration to me. Her passing will be sorely missed, and we'll continue to fight the good fight in her honor and memory.

R.I.P. Toni, and I look forward to doing some active exercise with you in the earth made new!

There's a write up in the LA Times on this.

Ernie

April 24, 2013Dear Ernie,

As many of you may know already, our colleague Dr. Antronette Yancey died yesterday morning, April 23, after a valiant and spirited fight with cancer. Within CCPHA, Dr. Yancey was a friend, mentor and co-conspirator. Within our field of healthy and active living, Dr. Yancey was a brilliant and accessible giant, one who championed big ideas that could be realized through achievable steps. She had the sharpest of academic minds, and she freely shared her scientific findings with all who could use them. Her commitment to eliminating health disparities within low income communities and communities of color within California and the United States was unparalleled. And she was so much fun to be around.

Earlier this year, CCPHA awarded Dr. Yancey our 2012 David Kessler Award for Contribution to the Public’s Health. This award is given to a researcher or medical professional whose visionary work has had an extraordinary impact on public health, particularly in relation to obesity and/or diabetes – pushing the public health community to take action in new, more meaningful ways.

Like many of you, we will re-double our efforts to make her vision of healthy, thriving communities a reality.  We send our collective love and healing thoughts to Dr. Yancey’s family, friends, colleagues at UCLA and partners around the country.

To learn more about Dr. Yancey, visit her website here.

Warmly,

Dr. Harold Goldstein and the Staff of CCPHA

Myths about exercise

Saw this posted on someone's FB page. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who actually believe this pseudo-logic about exercise and staying healthy.

Here's my take on each of these points....do you agree or disagree?

1. Postman - Exercise DOES have a protective effect against other risk factors, but it doesn't make you immortal if you still do the negative behaviors. Many studies show that exercise has a definite protective effect.

2. That's because that's the way a whale was CREATED to be and function! We don't live in an ocean and dive down to great depths, so we're designed differently.

3. Sin is the author of death, not exercise. A sedentary, obese rabbit lives a lot shorter life.

4. We aren't designed like turtles so if we did the same, we would fall apart.

Bottomline: We humans were DESIGNED and CREATED to be active! If you don't use it, you lose it. Plain and simple. Don't believe the junk that's on the Internet and don't compare ourselves to animals because we aren't like them!

Foods that fight inflammation

3-21-13: I tell my patients that I keep seeing articles and studies on inflammation...and here's another one I just read today! Researchers talk about the inflammation process, and what foods can help to reduce inflammation in the body. You can read about the study here: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/the-foods-that-can-help-fight-inflammation-an-update-from-uab/information/

Eating healthy less expensive!

3-21-13: Found this interesting study that studied low-income families using a food bank for part of their food supply and taught them how to cook and eat on a healthy, Mediterranean diet. The follow-up results showed that they reduced their weekly food bill and reliance on the food bank!

Read more about this study here: http://www.stonehearthnewsletters.com/plant-based-mediterranean-diet-has-financial-benefits-says-new-study/nutrition-mediterranean-diet/

As a side benefit (though not studied), they lost weight as well! Now that's a win-win situation. ;-)

Sugar takes another hit from AHA

3-21-13: Liquid death...before you drink that next sugary drink, check out this latest report by the American Heart Assoc.:

"180,000 deaths worldwide may be associated with sugary drinks"

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/aha-1dw031413.php

And here's the AHA's recommendation on how much added sugar one should consume: 9 teaspoons (150 kcals) for men; 6 (100 kcals) for women. 

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Sugars-and-Carbohydrates_UCM_303296_Article.jsp

Loma Linda Community Hike April 7

Come join a hike organized by the Loma Linda Parks & Historical Society! Great way to learn more about the trails above Hulda Crooks park.

Where: Hulda Crooks Park
When: April 7, 8:00 AM
Who: Anyone who loves to hike!
Cost: Free!

Hope to see you there!

Newest exercise class: Harlem Shake!

3-13-13: One of the most renowned PA Evangelists, Dr. Toni Yancey (UCLA), posted this video clip and I loved it! Was thinking of something similar. If you don't know about the Harlem Shake craze, search for it on Youtube and you'll be amazed. Fortunately, this is a more kosher version...kudos to Dr. Toni for getting this posted!