In my last post, anthropometric assessments (body mass index, waist circumference, skinfold measurements, and bioelectrical impedance) were considered as a means of exploring an individual’s nutritional and health status. Although such measures are considered useful, biochemical tests provide another layer of screening designed to provide deeper objective and quantitative findings. Such biomarkers, in conjunction with […]
Read MoreBody composition (BC) can be defined as the proportions of various tissues (i.e., fat, muscle, and bone) making up the body, which is generally expressed as percent body fat and percent lean body mass (Lee & Nieman, 2013). As such, knowing BC can help one track changes during weight loss or weight gain programs, in […]
Read MoreResearch has indicated that individuals with Crohn’s disease (CD) can benefit from vitamin D3 supplementation (Carvalho et al., 2013). However, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can blunt the anti-inflammatory properties of said vitamin. Such phenotypic variability makes one question the efficacy of recommending vitamin D3 supplementation without first considering potential roadblocks to absorption and utilization. The […]
Read MoreModern Western diets, including macronutrient ratios and macronutrient quality, are substantially different than the hominin diets 10,000 years ago (Ilich, Kelly, Kim, & Spicer, 2014). Modern diets tend to include over 70% of total energy from refined sugars, refined vegetable oils, processed foods, and alcohol (Ilich et al., 2014). Of particular interest is the shift […]
Read MoreDay and DeHeer (2001) considered the role of adequate protein ingestion, and lack thereof, when treating older individuals recovering from bone fractures. Using rat models, the authors explored how poor protein ingestion before fractures affected bone healing; studies prior to the aforementioned experiment considered low protein intake after injury. Day and DeHeer (2001) submitted that the […]
Read MoreThe order that I would take on improving UCS would be correction of breathing technique first, because it is simple, and it has the capacity for far reaching effects; proper deep breathing plays a key role in posture and spinal stabilization (Perri & Halford, 2004). The authors also noted that conditions like UCS and others […]
Read MoreObesity, as an epidemic, finds its beginnings within the last 100 years, though we have only seen its obvious growth since the 1970s (Kenney, Wilmore, & Costill, 2012). As Western society and culture moved from a subsistent nation to an industrialized one, we began slipping from the ways of old. That is, we began moving […]
Read MoreObesity carries with it, many complications that have detrimental effects on the health of an individual. Side effects can grow in a stealthy and insidious fashion, such that a person may not know a disease exists until it has manifested too deeply. I would like to cover the health problems associated with obesity, its complications, […]
Read MoreObesity is an epidemic finding its home in children, adolescents, and adults. It does not discriminate among age groups or race, nor does it confine itself to a particular geographical region. In less than 100 years, civilization has moved from horse and cart, to astronauts orbiting the earth. Significant leaps in technology and knowledge marks […]
Read MorePathophysiology helps us understand the pathology and physiology behind diseased and disordered systems of the body. In my last post, I covered roles of the cardiovascular system and the diseased states that occurred within it. Now, I would like to cover the pathophysiology behind these diseased states, as a precursor to anticipate, treat and prevent […]
Read More