Does this girth translate to better physicality? One might argue that the size of the lineman is what guarantees a successful play, but I’ll go ahead and side with All-Pro guard Jerry Kramer who said, “leverage and positioning will whip the fat guy every time.”

Indeed, the game, and subsequently its players, has evolved ever since the NFL began in 1920. According to research conducted by The Associated Press, “in 1970 only one player in the entirety of the NFL weighed as much as 300 pounds.” More recently, those numbers have grown out of control, with roughly 532, 300-pound lineman reporting to training camp back in 2010, according to The New York Times.

It’s a scary thought, 532, but what is truly frightening is that we live in a time where girth is glorified, and health and safety are placed on the back burner.

Let’s talk health. Overweight linemen, or anyone overweight for that matter, are at higher risk for elevated cholesterol and insulin levels, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Even more to consider is the fact that according to a study conducted in 1994 by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, “former offensive and defensive linemen had a 52 percent higher rate of death from cardiovascular disease.”

Several years ago, I did a follow up interview for HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” regarding a story I originally participated in over 10 years ago regarding the risk that overweight (obese) NFL linemen faced later in life. Having had extensive experience in helping these obese NFL athletes successfully lose weight and excess visceral abdominal fat over my career, I began to notice a trend toward these players becoming at risk for Metabolic Syndrome commonly called Syndrome X.

Metabolic Syndrome is a cluster of 5 symptoms, according to the National Library of Medicine. “The criteria listed include abdominal obesity (waist measurement greater than 35 inches for a female and 40 inches for males), determined by increased waist circumference, raised triglycerides (a blood fat), reduced HDL (the so called “good cholesterol”), elevated blood pressure, and raised plasma glucose.”

You only require three out of five of these symptoms to qualify for Syndrome X, which can be a precursor to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

I have written two books — “Lose Your Love Handles” and “The Fat Burning Bible” — that address the risks to this “cluster” and what to do about it. In a review of ten previous NFL linemen in my program — The Fitness Principle at East Jefferson General Hospital — all had at least one symptom and most had more than one symptom of Syndrome X.

What was most startling was the elevated resting blood pressures (BP) in these players with one active player having a BP of 190/120 — well above the ideal of 119/75 or even 140/85, which is towards the end range of acceptability.

The follow up HBO interview was centered on the May 14, 2010, death of former New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Norman Hand, who I helped lose 30 pounds in 2000. Hand was 37 when he passed away from heart disease. He had ballooned back up to a significant weight and an increase in body fat after he retired from the NFL.

I have labeled the obese (waist measurement greater than 50 inches) linemen as the living dead, since they have no idea that their life expectancy will be cut short without long term change. The only thing saving them is “youth.” However, Hand’s death from heart disease at 37 may change that equation.

How can we correct this obesity? How can we save these players? To start, essential fatty acids like omega-3s. Recently, Dr. Joseph Maroon of Pittsburg evaluated 36 NFL players to see if administering Omega-3 fish oil would improve blood cholesterol (lipid) subfractions. According to Maroon, “20 players were provided daily fish oil soft gels (2200 mg of mixed DHA [docosahexaenoic acid] and EPA [eicosapentaenoic acid] and 360 mg of other omega-3s) provided by Nordic Naturals (ProOmega™).”

Over a 60-day time period, it was concluded that “those given omega-3s (16 players were used as control) showed an increase in the “good” cholesterol HDL and a decrease in the smaller, more dangerous forms of cholesterol: LDL (-27%), vLDL (-17%), and RLP (-24%). The results also showed significantly decreased levels of triglycerides (fat found in blood). DHA levels had increased by 107% and EPA levels rose to 366% when compared to the 16 players controlled.”

In addition to adding omega-3s, these players should concern themselves with their diet. Remember I talked about the benefits of the Mediterranean Diet? A recent study reported that individuals who included extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts (walnuts, almonds, and hazelnuts) in their diet reduced their risk for cardiovascular events such as stroke by 30 percent.

In the end, only the overweight lineman can convince the overweight lineman to make a change, but I fear with a paycheck and a contract involved, it will take a heart attack to really make the point. Let’s all pray it doesn’t get to that. I pray that these player’s think of their families and the legacy they are setting for those kids in high school who think it’s necessary, even worse, “OK,” to pack on the pounds in the hopes of a shot at the pros. Don’t let it happen to your child.

I’ve already predicted one player’s death, and something tells me it won’t be the last.

Mackie Shilstone, a regular contributor to NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune, has been involved in the wellness sports performance industry for nearly 40 years. He is currently the fitness coach for Serena Williams and has trained numerous other professional athletes and consulted a litany of professional sports franchises. He’s the Executive Director of the Fitness Principle with Mackie Shilstone at East Jefferson General Hospital. Contact him at mackieshilstone.com.

via Optimum Performance: NFL linemen and the fat epidemic | NOLA.com.

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Ingredients/Vitamins-premixes/Supplement-shows-strong-results-in-supporting-cognition-mood-in-Alzheimer-s-study

Researcher Dr. Alexandros Vgontzas out of Penn State College of Medicine recruited 31 participants, both male and female, who were considered healthy and without a history of sleep apnea. Subjects were between 18 and 65 years old. Researchers feed and monitored the participants for four nights in the sleep lab to gauge nap periods and the first signs of sleep. The conclusions were straightforward in that high-fat meals contributed to “greater daytime sleepiness” while higher carbohydrate intake contributed to “increased alertness.”

Dr. Vgontzas is quoted as saying, “Increased fat consumption has an acute adverse effect on alertness of otherwise healthy, non-obese adults. Excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue are very prevalent in the modern world and on the rise. It appears that a diet high in fat decreases alertness acutely, and this may have an impact on an individual’s ability to function and also public safety.”

I wanted to discuss this study because I very much agree that our Western diet of fast food and prepared meals are usually unhealthy in a number of ways. It not only negatively affects us on cellular levels, but it also robs us of the energy we should have in the waking hours. But in addition to eating healthy there are other important steps you can take to have a more alert, productive and healthy day. My top five are:

1. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day – a healthy walking program can significantly help
2. Get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep a night
3. Drink plenty of water throughout the day
4. Spread your healthy meals and snacks throughout the day in smaller portions
5. Take short breaks during the day to relax your mind and reduce stress

Not getting a good night’s sleep could jeopardize your physique goals.

A good night’s sleep is often the key to an energized next day, recovery from a diligent workout, and our general well-being. However, recent research has shown that a good night’s sleep also means the less likelihood of gaining weight in the form of added body fat.

In a recent article reported by Tara Parker- Pope in The New York Times, sleep cycles were evaluated by a group of researchers trying to determine the effects on the body—particularly of weight gain—when sleep deprived. It was found that “adults who sleep less than five or six hours a night are at higher risk of being overweight.”

Anyone trying to lose weight should take note that a routine as simple as getting into bed earlier may potentially assist your progress in reaching your ideal physique. Recent research confirms the importance of sleeping seven to nine hours per night.

Cramming Calories

A new study based out of the University of Colorado “recruited 16 healthy men and women for a two-week experiment tracking sleep, metabolism and eating habits.” Monitoring inadequate sleep cycles of these test subjects for a one-week period was compared to what might occur when “students cram for exams or when office workers stay up late to meet a looming deadline.”

Interestingly, for the first week, subjects who were restricted to only five hours of sleep actually increased their metabolism, thus allowing them to burn more calories.

Contain your excitement, you sleep-deprived procrastinators of all-night studying. These same subjects, despite their increased metabolism, eventually gained weight because they consumed far more calories, especially after dinner. Individuals with a lack of sleep were more likely to consume “6% more calories” during the day. Heavy carbohydrate intake was also noted among individuals who participated in the study.

For example, sleep-deprived subjects were less likely to consume a large breakfast, saving most of their carbohydrate intake for the evening hours, which is a big mistake of you’re trying to lose weight. Nighttime is a terrible time to consume carbs, as the body is more likely to store them for energy in the morning hours.

Remember, you are literally breaking your fast (break/fast) when you eat in the morning, so carbohydrate intake will support the body’s energy production when consumed earlier in the day. Carbohydrates metabolize to glucose (sugar) and are stored as glycogen. When carbohydrates are eaten in excess (i.e., above the body’s storage capacity) they are stored in the form of fat, which translates to fat gain.

Hormones In Chaos

According to The New York Times, “Last fall, The Annals of Internal Medicine reported…that lack of sleep alters the biology of fat cells. After four nights of less sleep (4.5 hours a night), [subjects’] fats cells were less sensitive to insulin, a metabolic change associated with both diabetes and obesity.”

Matthew Brady, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, concluded, “Metabolically, lack of sleep aged fat cells about 20 years.”

Another factor to consider as to why sleep-deprived individuals are likelier to consume more calories is due to overactive hormones. Have you ever felt famished the day after you’ve been up all night? This could be the result of unstable levels of leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone that regulates energy balance, as well as controls the appetite and metabolism, while ghrelin is the hormone that regulates hunger and an individual’s apparent “fullness” after a meal.

Lack of sleep lowers leptin levels, therefore, increased appetite is more likely. Ghrelin, on the other hand, causes you to consume more calories in hopes of creating fullness in the stomach. You can see how these two hormones can actually work against you when you’re sleep deprived.

Some nutritional options may help alleviate the symptoms of restlessness at night. Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the pineal gland in the brain, and is responsible for helping your body fall into a sleep state. Its production increases in the evening when it is dark, and decreases during the day when it is light.

If you bring a computer to bed, or if you’ve gotten too little sunlight during the day, you may have a tougher time falling asleep. This could be due to disrupted production of melatonin.

Leave your computer out of the bed, and get sunlight during the day. If necessary, head to a GNC store for a melatonin supplement. However, it is important to talk with your physician prior to taking melatonin.

Theanine If stress is keeping you awake, ask your physician if supplementing with theanine might alleviate the problem. This amino acid may act as a stress reducer due to its absorption rate in the brain. Theanine is known to help people achieve a state of mental clarity, and it won’t keep you up at night. Again, be sure to consult a physician if you are considering adding any supplement to your diet, and seek medical help if your sleeplessness persists, as this may be due to a number of health concerns.

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Ferris Walkenford, Store Manager
mackiegnc.airline@gmail.com