For all the pet owners out there, you know how good it feels to have a pooch or kitty that loves you dearly and wants a lot of love and attention. I think it is great for the heart and soul (and health) to have a loving pet. Well, I have some sad [...]

“New research reveals little evidence to support the theory that children younger than 2 years old benefit from the flu vaccine.”
[Read on]
beti comments > Fascinating!

“The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. is affecting all ages, both sexes, all ethnic groups and all socioeconomic levels. In general, children are overfed, but undernourished and those who skip breakfast tend to eat more snacks and consume more fat.”
[Read on]
beti adds > Brekky is important, try to keep it nutritious and add [...]

“As avian flu spreads west into Europe and fears of a new human pandemic rise, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh may have come up with a simple solution: immunize the chickens. ” MedPage Today Staff Writer
[Read on]

“Putting a lot of thought and planning into quitting smoking may not be the best route to success, a new study finds.” by Steven Reinberg
[Read on]
beti says > So if you smoke, go to your cig packet now, throw it out and don’t smoke for 2 weeks, see what happens!

A. “Like any other body part, the triceps (or the back of the arm) won’t respond to spot training. In other words, you can’t do tricep exercises and hope to burn fat there. ” by Paige Waehner
[Read on]
beti adds > Nicely worded Paige. Many people seem to think that if an area is [...]

“Skier Bode Miller … suggested in an interview with Rolling Stone that Barry Bonds and Lance Armstrong took performance-enhancing drugs. ” Philadelphia Inquirer
[Read on]
beti says > hmmmm, I would be a little more careful about such comments.

“The stinging nettle (which is called ortie in France and Brennessel in Germany) was said to be introduced into Britain by Caesar’s soldiers. They sowed it along the sides of the great straight roads; both the roads and the nettles survive. ” by Kevin Pederson
[Read on]
beti says > Interesting.

“CHICAGO –Fish oil, seen as beneficial for reducing heart disease risks, probably doesn’t help prevent cancer, according to a review of studies involving more than 700,000 patients.” By Lindsey Tanner, AP Medical Writer
[Read on]
“Even though fish might not reduce cancer risk, it’s still important to include it in your diet” because heart disease [...]

“Doing both aerobics and weight training is the optimal way to lose more fat and gain more muscle. If you are trying to lose weight, studies show that weight loss increases by 56 percent with aerobic and strength exercises combined.” Dianne Ronnow
[Read on]
beti says > Nice one Dianne!!! Overall a nice piece! I am not [...]

“The new year is a time to start all over and finally start a weight loss program or a healthy diet. But, that enthusiasm for exercise tends to fade come February when you realize that losing weight is a lifetime goal and not something you can accomplish in a few weeks. If you really want [...]

“A few months ago I appointed beti as my fitness coach. Apart from being the host of TPN’s Health & Fitness Show, she also runs an online personal fitness studio. Anyway…”
[Read on - and see the blog]
beti says > Sometimes it is really hard to get motivated to go out and be active. Especially [...]

The Health & Fitness Show #029 (MP3 – 8.9MB – 25min 33sec)
LISTEN HERE
beti talks about all types of tans, the benefits, the dangers and how fake tans work. If you like being bronzed up all year round…listen up!
00.20 Tanning concepts
01.40 Tanning options and cost
04.00 Solariums
05.00 Powder Bronzers
07.20 Cream and Gel Bonzers
07.44 The Ultimate Sunless [...]

“Older people who exercise three or more times a week are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, according to a study that adds to the evidence that staying active can help keep the mind sharp.
Researchers found that healthy people who reported exercising regularly had a 30 to 40 percent lower risk [...]

I just read an article by Gary Mathews called “How To Use Rest To Gain More Muscle” by Gary Matthews.
[Read Article]
The title intrigued me because I agree that good rest is important to muscle growth and general well being, and I was going to write great stuff about it in my blog. But I was [...]

The Health & Fitness Show #028 (MP3 – 9.4MB – 27min 10sec)
LISTEN HERE
beti talks about Creatine in this Health & Fitness podcast. For all you body builders out there – tune in!!!
00.20 Hello Moto
01.00 The show about Creatine and Creatine Supplements
01.15 What is Creatine?
02.18 Phosphocreatine
02.54 Where is Creatine naturally found?
04.35 Daily intake of Creatine
04.54 [...]

“Bodybuilding is both a physical and extremely psychological endeavor. Of course, we all get frustrated when our schedules are affected by work, or any other life circumstance that may be thrown our way. Life is full of monkey wrenches in case you haven’t noticed and it does not make it easy for us to get [...]

Wow 2006 has come so quickly, I hope you had a safe and fun holiday break.
The Podcast Network have been really busy during this break updating and upgrading - The Health & Fitness Show now has a new URL (and new RSS feed) so be sure to update your favourite links :)
http://health.thepodcastnetwork.com/
New 2006 podcasts coming [...]