We received a report about low carb diets this morning that suggests they may not be as good for you as we believed. The troubling thing is, the report knocking low carb diets comes from one of their competitors - a company that sells exercise equipment. Could there be a conflict of interest here?
America's fixation on low carb diets has been shown to be ineffective over the long term for dieters however study results released today suggests it may have harmful effects on brain function as well. The study out of Tufts University focused on women aged 22 to 55 engaging in low carb diets similar to the Atkins Diet. Participants were found to have significantly diminished memory scores than the control groups consuming a normal diet. Their scores were lower when tested for reaction time and visual spatial memory. The decline was short lived however as memory scores returned to normal upon resumption of a regular balanced diet.
The nation's obesity epidemic has reached alarming levels despite decades of fad dieting, ignoring American's simultaneous trend toward decreasing amounts of physical activity.
Americans today burn 700 calories less per day than they did during the 1960's. Treadmill desks (http://www.trekdesk.com) offer a unique solution compared with fad dieting. They offer employees the chance to burn significant amounts of calories during the day, enhance their health and at the same time enhance cognitive function.
"Study after study is showing that supplements and diets are at best ineffective at attaining long term overall health and many pose potential harmful side effects as well, yet proven methods such as walking garner slight attention," states Steve Bordley, President of TrekDesk, a treadmill desk manufacturer.
TrekDesk, a full sized height adjustable workstation, fits any existing treadmill. Featuring a 72 x 34 inch surface area, there is sufficient space for any desk related task. Workers simply place their computer, phone, files, reading materials, pens and paper and coffee (yes, it has cup holders) and start walking. It is that simple.
Consistent daily walking is very effective in both long term weight loss and also offers significant increases in brain function. A study by the University of Illinois recently showed that memory can be increased by as much as 15% in just 6 months, due to increased blood flow to the brain and that the production of small blood vessels in the brain can be boosted as much as 43%.
"A variety of studies have already proven that walking greatly reduces the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's later in life as well as offering protection from major diseases such as cancers, heart disease, and diabetes," stated Bordley, "weight loss is an important additional bonus."
The trouble with most weight loss programs we see is they are too expensive. Why should you have to pay for eating less? We'd like to see more emphasis on how to lose weight for free.