Losing the Metabolism Myth
According to a study published in a recent issue of Science, metabolic rates actually remain stable throughout most adults’ lives. Research involving over 6,400 people ranging in age from eight days to 95 years revealed that metabolism plateaus from about ages 20 to 60. Then it begins to drop, but only by approximately 1% annually.
The real culprits? Changes in lifestyle factors that alter the body’s weight set point, according to Dr. Marcio Griebeler, director of the Diabetes Center and Obesity Initiatives at Cleveland Clinic’s Endocrinology & Metabolism Institute.
Dr. Griebeler explains that the weight set point, a product of the brain-gut connection, helps the body maintain a relatively constant weight, even as short-term calorie intake fluctuates. But, that set point gradually increases as days of unrelenting stress, high-calorie meals, less physical activity, sleepless nights, etc. become the norm and the bathroom scale registers another pound that subsequently remains unshed.
A key to maintaining the weight set point, Dr. Griebeler says, is preserving muscle mass, a calorie-burning powerhouse that decreases due to physical inactivity. He stresses that decreasing (improving) the set point is a gradual process, one that requires patience and lifestyle changes rather than crash diets.
Take a Shot at Pneumonia
Add one more vaccine to the to-get list: the one for pneumococcal (bacterial) pneumonia. Dr. Christine Alexander, chair of MetroHealth’s department of family medicine, describes it as a lung infection, generally more deadly than its viral counterparts, characterized by a buildup of mucous, fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
Dr. Alexander suggests healthy adults who as children received the PCV-13 vaccine, which helps protect against 13 bacterial antigens, get the PPSV-23 vaccine, which targets an additional 23 bacterial antigens commonly found in older adults, when they turn 65. Healthy unvaccinated adults should get the PCV-13 at age 65, then schedule the PPSV-23 a year later.
Unvaccinated adults at greater risk for developing pneumonia — those with respiratory issues, for example — should get the PPSV-23 vaccine before age 65, schedule a PCV-13 vaccine at 65, then return for a PPSV-23 booster a year later.
Cooking Up a Problem?
Dr. Aparna Bole, a pediatrician at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, cautions gas stoves pose a potential hazard, particularly to children.
“The link between nitrogen dioxide and causing and exacerbating lung conditions like asthma is established,” she explains.
According to a recent National Public Radio report, cooking pasta at 375 degrees Fahrenheit produced nitrogen dioxide 60% over recommended levels in just 12 minutes. She suggests ameliorating the situation by increasing ventilation, either by installing an exhaust system vented to the outdoors or opening a kitchen window while cooking, and minimizing oven preheating.