"...Elefteriades and his colleagues identified five people who suffered acute dissection of the aorta during high-intensity weight training or other strenuous exercise.[...] All were found to have an enlarged aorta, but not at a level expected to present a high risk of dissection, Elefteriades says. Three patients who had surgical repair survived; the other two died before surgery could be attempted. [...] Until more research is done, what should weight lifters who may be at risk do? Avoid weight training so strenuous that your blood pressure rises excessively, Elefteriades says. Ed. Note: This research was published in the Dec 3 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. If anyone can find a copy of this available online, we'd appreciate it. Yet another reason to avoid weightlifting.

I know it's easier said than done, so here are Five Natural Stress Busters (I've got a lot more, but this will get you started) to help you feel better -- Get enough vitamin D, supplement with magnesium, breath to calm the senses, do something that you enjoy and take Rescue Remedy. Stress Buster #1: Get More Vitamin D There's a connection between natural light and vitamin D levels -- and vitamin D literally enhances the health of every cell in your body. Having optimal levels of vitamin D can protect your musculoskeletal, immune, and cardiovascular systems and reduce the likelihood of certain cancers. Vitamin D has also been shown to reduce stress and naturally increase the feel-good chemical serotonin, a hormone known to reduce anxiety.The best way is by exposing your body to the sun every day from three to 15 minutes depending on your skin tone and also the time of year.I recommend at least 1,000 IU per day.

Most people are not aware of the fact that that there are considerable differences between the processed table salt that we use in our cooking and natural salt derived from the sea. Sea salt, which is extracted from sea water, has the same ability to detoxify and heal the human body because of the minerals it contains, which are vital for our health. The potassium, calcium, and magnesium that sea salt contains have many beneficial effects. Potassium helps in keeping the moisture of the skin in balance and also provides energy to the body. It also helps to relax the muscles and relieve its stiffness. Calcium not only strengthens bones, but also prevents the retention of water and increases circulation. Magnesium too fights the retention of fluids and also helps to fight stress. Moreover, it has a calming effect on the nervous system and helps in slowing down the aging of skin.

The risk of potentially devastating tears to an important knee ligament may be reduced in female college soccer players by an alternative warm-up program that focuses on stretching, strengthening, and improving balance and movements, according to a CDC study published online this week in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. The program can be done without additional equipment or extensive training that other prevention programs may require. Female athletes are at greater risk for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, compared to males participating in similar activities. The gender difference becomes even greater for noncontact ACL injuries, which occur usually in stopping, turning, or landing from a jump as opposed to colliding with another player or something on the field like the goal post.

The term proprioception refers to a sense of joint position. Proprioception training is highly common in rehabilitation of injured athletes, but it can just as easily be used to prevent injury. Even a strong ankle can sprain when running on uneven ground if the runner hasn’t trained the neuromuscular system to react appropriately. Kinesthetic awareness, or the ability to know where your body parts are in 3-dimensional space, is required for every movement we make. So it's not surprising that balance can be learned, challenged, and improved. Balance training aids come in a variety of forms, although you can just as easily improve your balance with little or none of the fancy stuff. We can train our bodies to improve the proprioception within the muscles, just by creating balance challenges for ourselves.

How does the leg's skeletal-muscle structure govern your body's movement? Muscles run from one bone to another, spanning one or more joints. The muscle itself does not attach to the bone, but rather uses a cable-like bridge called a tendon. Any means of propulsion, be it hiking, biking or in-line skating, requires the complex harmonized cooperation of muscle, tendon and joint. When you ask a body part to move, one muscle (agonist) contracts, while its opposing partner muscle (antagonist) relaxes. These simultaneous actions work together to prevent extreme joint movement, conserve energy, improve efficiency, prolong endurance and reduce impact. A healthy athlete maintains this balance. However, if either muscle of a pair becomes stronger than its partner, the likelihood of injury to the muscles, tendons and connected joints increases. Muscle-pair imbalance is one of the most common underlying reasons for athletic injury.

Black tea is the foundation upon which the popular varieties of English tea are derived from. And many might be delighted to find out that black tea, aside from being an enjoyable drink, can actually be good for the health. Black Tea Saves arteries. Drinking black tea helps prevent deadly clogging of arteries and reverses poor arterial functioning that can trigger heart attacks and strokes. In arecent test, Joseph Vita, M.D., of the Boston University School of Medicine, had heart patients drink either plain water or four cups of black tea daily. In a month, impaired blood vessel functioning (a risk factor for heart attack and strokes) improved about 50% in the black tea drinkers. Black Tea Wipes out viruses. Previous tests prove black tea can neutralize germs, including some that cause diarrhea, pneumonia, cystitis and skin infections.

A new study shows that plain old chocolate milk may be as good or better than sports drinks like Gatorade at helping athletes recover from strenuous exercise. Dietitians say the study should help to counter the notion that high-tech, expensive supplements are better than whole foods when it comes to athletic performance. Milk contains key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, in quantities that sports drinks can’t match. "[Milk] is a sports drink ‘plus,’" Keith Ayoob, EdD, a registered dietitian. "It will supply you with things you need whether or not you’re working out." The study builds on findings that intense endurance exercise reduces the muscles’ supply of stored glucose, or glycogen, a key source of fuel for exercise. To maximize glycogen replacement, drink within 30 minutes after a long and vigorous workout. Common sports drinks supply those carbs, as well as fluids and electrolytes lost through sweat.

In a 2006 study, researchers found that conventional weight training isn't only dangerous to your ligaments, muscles, and sense of well-being...it's dangerous to your eyes: Holding your breath while you're weight lifting can increase the risk of developing eye disease and potentially blindness, a study says. Weight lifters who don't breathe while they're training can experience temporary increases in eye pressure that could heighten the risk of developing glaucoma... Add this to the mile-long list of conventional weight training drawbacks.

There is limited research to support the notion that heavy resistive exercise immediately before a power movement may acutely enhance performance. Upper-body acute power enhancement during a stretch-shorten cycle (SSC) movement has not been previously investigated. The aim of this project was to determine whether a set of 5 repetitions of 5 repetition maximum (RM) bench press preceding explosive push-ups would significantly influence indicators of power: impulse and maximum rate of force development. Subjects randomly performed either explosive push-ups only over a force platform or a set of 5RM bench press before the explosive push-ups. There were no significant differences for any of the force platform data when the explosive push-ups were preceded by a set of 5RM bench press. It appears that heavy dynamic resistive upper-body exercise on its own before an upper-body power activity is inadequate in augmenting short-term power.

Athletes, by their very nature, constantly seek to improve their performance. They know training is the most effective way to excel, but they also know it is the hardest. The search for an extra edge makes nearly any purported performance booster alluring. There are plenty of ergogenics—substances that promise to improve physical performance—on the market to tempt both weekend warriors and competitive athletes. Ergogenics, through a variety of mechanisms, improve strength and endurance. They are typically used by endurance athletes who participate in sports that last more than three hours. Marathoners, ultramarathoners, triathletes and stage bicycle racers fall into this category.

It is generally accepted that muscle fiber types can be broken down into two main types:slow twitch (Type I) muscle fibers and fast twitch (Type II) muscle fibers. Fast twitch fibers can be further categorized into Type IIa and Type IIb fibers. Fiber Type and Performance Our muscle fiber type may influence what sports we are naturally good at or whether we are fast or strong. Olympic athletes tend to fall into sports that match their genetic makeup. Olympic sprinters have been shown to possess about 80 percent fast twitch fibers, while those who excel in marathons tend to have 80 percent slow twitch fibers.

It is generally accepted that muscle fiber types can be broken down into two main types:slow twitch (Type I) muscle fibers and fast twitch (Type II) muscle fibers. Fast twitch fibers can be further categorized into Type IIa and Type IIb fibers. Slow Twitch (Type I) The slow muscles are more efficient at using oxygen to generate more fuel (known as ATP) for continuous, extended muscle contractions over a long time. They fire more slowly than fast twitch fibers and can go for a long time before they fatigue. Therefore, slow twitch fibers are great at helping athletes run marathons and bicycle for hours.

It is generally accepted that muscle fiber types can be broken down into two main types:slow twitch (Type I) muscle fibers and fast twitch (Type II) muscle fibers. Fast twitch fibers can be further categorized into Type IIa and Type IIb fibers. Type IIb Fibers These fast twitch fibers use anaerobic metabolism to create energy and are the "classic" fast twitch muscle fibers that excel at producing quick, powerful bursts of speed. This muscle fiber has the highest rate of contraction (rapid firing) of all the muscle fiber types, but it also has a much faster rate of fatigue and can't last as long before it needs rest.

In a nation obsessed with looks and fitness, weight lifting is the latest workout craze. Recent studies have shown that lifting can lower blood pressure, combat diabetes and strengthen bones. Bookstore shelves are teeming with new fitness tomes touting weight lifting. Over the three years ended in 2001, participation in weight lifting in the U.S. has risen 12% -- while aerobic exercise declined 2%, according to American Sports Data Inc. Now, however, a small but growing number of researchers are raising concerns about the safety of lifting heavy weights. Such lifting can trigger strokes and aneurysms, and perhaps even cause a highly fatal arterial disease called dissection, believe doctors at prominent health centers such as Yale University School of Medicine and the Stanford University Medical Center.

Cherries, like many other fruits, are packed with antioxidants that fight free radicals in the body and may help prevent cancer and heart disease as well as slow the aging process. Like most other fruits, cherries are fat-free, low in calories and sodium and high in certain minerals and vitamins such as potassium, Vitamin C and B-complex vitamins. Most of the scientific research has centered on the health benefits of tart cherries. Sweet and tart cherries contain pigments called anthocyanins, antioxidants that give cherries their dark red color. Tart cherries are among the top fruits as far as antioxidant levels go. Tart cherry juice and dried tart cherries are even higher in antioxidants than blueberries and more powerful than Vitamin E.

The incubator, about the size of a small refrigerator, held shiny wire racks on which sat several rows of petri dishes containing clear pink liquid. Inside the liquid were threadlike clumps of mouse neurons, which were wired to platinum electrodes and covered with a white, pearlescent substance called myelin. Within that myelin, according to new research, lies the seed of talent. The myelin in question didn't look particularly epiphanic, which is understandable since it would normally be employed by mice for sniffing out food or navigating a maze. Neurologists theorize, however, that this humble-looking material is the common link between the Spartak kids, the Dominican baseball players and all the other blooms on the talent map -- a link all the more interesting for the fact that few outside this branch of neurology currently know much about myelin. It should be called the myelin map.

When a muscle becomes stronger in response to training, the gain in strength is usually attributed to an improvement in the size or quality of the muscle. The truth, however, is that strength upgrades can occur without any change in the muscle at all. Many upswings in strength are actually the result of alterations in the way the muscle is controlled by the NERVOUS SYSTEM. Specifically, the nervous system can do a better job of recruiting muscle fibres and collections of muscle cells (motor units) within the muscle during an athlete's sporting activity, thus producing more forceful movements.

As the resistance band is stretched, the resistance increases, providing stimulus progressively to the muscles. Regular isotonic exercises using fitness machines or free weights rely on gravity, that is the force opposing the weight, which limits the users movement. Using elastic resistance exercises many different workouts can be done and the resistance depends on how far it is stretched. This provides many more possibilities of movement and focal points of motion, exercising single and multiple joints, while developing the body. The elastic resistance method involves more balance and coordination than other elementary isotonic exercises. The band is kept steady through a higher level of neuro-muscular control than fitness machines and ensures a fluid return phase of the exercise, instead of having gravity take over.

27 soccer players followed the specific isokinetic training program for 2 months with a frequency of 3 times per week in order to correct the imbalances and the deficits. The results showed that there were significant differences between the pre- and post-training measures in peak torque values for knee extensors and flexors at both angular velocities. In addition, it is important that these players not only increase their peak torque values but also decrease the variability of strength measures. The results showed that a specific isokinetic training program, performed for 2 months with a frequency of 3 times per week, can restore efficiently the muscular performance expressed by peak torque. Thus, the application of an isokinetic test is useful in examination of possible muscle strength imbalances or bilateral differences in strength of knee muscle groups, and the performance of a specific isokinetic training program could eliminate these strength deficits and/or imbalances.

Isometric exercises, also known as static strength training, involve muscular actions in which the length of the muscle does not change and there is no visible movement at the joint. Isometric exercises can be used for general strength conditioning and for rehabilitation where strengthening the muscles without placing undue stress on the joint is warranted. Volume for a classic strength training routine is prescribed based on the number of sets and repetitions. The equivalent in isometric exercises is the length of time each action is held for and the number actions in total. Research has measured both longer duration actions (i.e. 10 seconds or above) and fewer repetitions, and shorter duration actions (i.e. 2-3 seconds) with more repetitions. Both approaches seem to increase static strength.

This tiny, nutrient-dense fruit packs an amazing amount of vitamin C (double the amount found in oranges), has more fiber than apples, and beats bananas as a high-potassium food. The unique blend of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals found in kiwifruit helps protect against heart disease, stroke, cancer, and respiratory disease. Kiwifruit's natural blood-thinning properties work without the side effects of aspirin and support vascular health by reducing the formation of spontaneous blood clots, lowering LDL cholesterol, and reducing blood pressure. How much: Aim to eat one to two kiwifruit a day while they're in season, for the best taste and nutrition.

Q: What is MAP? A: MAP is a dietary protein substitute that contains the MAP Master Amino Acid Pattern® (U.S. Patent No. 5,132,113) a unique pattern of essential amino acids in a highly purified, free, crystalline form. Q: What are essential amino acids? A: Essential Amino Acids are nutrients that are indispensable for human life because they cannot be synthesized within the human body, therefore, they must be supplied through the diet. Q: Is MAP a natural product? A: Yes, MAP is a 100% natural product.

Resistance bands can add challenge and variety to any workout program. To consistently see gains from a training program, and avoid hitting a plateau, it is essential that you are always varying your workout. This means alternating machine exercises, barbells, and dumbbells, and adding other elements like stability balls and resistance bands. The training possibilities of resistance bands are endless. They allow you to move more freely and achieve a greater range of motion. This allows you to create resistance from all directions—the side, overhead, below, etc. If you want to improve your golf or tennis swing, you can perform that exact motion against resistance—no machine can do that.