A couple of quick hits. News flash: For people with limited time, vigorous aerobic exercise alone is almost as good as a full body workout when the goal is burning visceral (abdominal) fat. Researchers analyzed 196 overweight North Carolina residents age 18 to 70, comparing aerobic workouts, weight training workouts, and a combination of both. While the weight training group did not significantly reduce visceral fat, liver fat, or insulin resistance, the other two workouts were almost identical in their significant reductions in all three areas. Vigorous aerobic activity is defined as not being able to carry on a conversation while exercising.
Chondroitin sulfate, an important component of cartilage, significantly improved hand function and decreased hand pain in patients with osteoarthritis compared to a placebo, according to a six-month study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism. The dose was 800 mg tablets of purified chondroitin sulfate. I’ve also had patients report improved hand symptoms using a topical cream called voltaren.
Stay well, John R Blilie, M.S.