Dr. Chet’s Health Memos

If it’s in the health news today, I’ll be writing about it as soon as I read the research, both old and new. With my email Health Memos, you’ll know more about making lifestyle choices that will help you get and keep good health. These free, concise updates on health are emailed to subscribers twice a week. Subscribe today and get a free MP3, in English or Spanish, of Dr. Chet’s Top Ten Tips—Small Changes for a Healthier Life.

FoodObsession

Lessons from the Starvation Study

The analysis of data in the Minnesota Starvation Study was immense—1,385 pages in two volumes—but I found two fascinating quotes from interviews with the subjects and lead author Dr. Ancel Keys. Let’s begin with a quote from one of the subjects in an interview 40 years later. Lesson 1: How You Know You’re Restricting Food […]

MealPlan

The Right Meal Plan for You

“On Day 1 of semistarvation, February 12, 1945, the men sat down to a meal that included a small bowl of farina, two slices of toast, a dish of fried potatoes, a dish of jello, a small portion of jam, and a small glass of milk.” This was a quote from the Minnesota Starvation Experiment […]

CALERIE-Study

Semifinal Thoughts on the CALERIE Study

In case you’re thinking, “Wow, I can’t believe he’s still talking about this one study”—I know! I don’t typically spend this much time reviewing a single study, but this one answered a lot of questions about the benefits of cutting calories. Even with 60 publications so far from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of […]

RMR

How Calorie Restriction Affects Your Metabolism

Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the number of calories you use while at rest—just lying around doing nothing. It’s the calories your body uses to operate your internal organs and your brain, etc. From the second you open your eyes, the calories you burn are considered activity-related calories. The concern in trying to restrict calories […]

MoodBalloons

Can Cutting Calories Improve Your Mood?

In research like the CALERIE study, there’s a tendency to focus on physical changes but what about mood, depression, and quality of life (QOL)? Did researchers find changes in those variables as well? Let’s take a look. While the two-year span of the data analyzed varied slightly from other phases of the study, physiological results […]

FatAndMuscles

Saving Muscle While You Reduce Calories

Several studies have been published from the CALERIE study data with even more interesting revelations, so I’ll review several over the next few Memos. I’ll start with changes in body composition in those who restricted calories (143 subjects) and those who continued to eat normally (75 subjects), often called ad lib or ad libitum. Remember, […]

CaloriesAndWeight

It’s All About the Calories!

One of my long-held beliefs is that where weight is concerned, it’s all about the calories—and I’m happy to say that this study reinforces my belief. But when I’m wrong, I’ll tell you. Case in point: as I continued to examine the CALERIE trial, it became apparent I had made a mistake in the number […]

Calories

Reducing Calories Improves Immunity

The two-year results from the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) clinical trial—the first controlled study of calorie restriction in healthy humans—were released last week. The purpose of the study was to determine the benefits and hazards of calorie restriction. Animal studies have demonstrated that reducing calories up to 40% […]

Prices

The Price You Pay

On Tuesday, I asked where you’re spending your time. There’s a price for everything that we do and what we don’t do, even if the outcome will ultimately be positive. Here’s a personal example. It’s no surprise to any reader that I had a knee replacement just before Christmas and have been spending time rehabbing […]

Choices

The Right Choices

What do you think is more important: the state of your garage or the state of your clothes closet? The state of your basement or the state of your car? The state of your desk or the state of your pantry? Do you want them neat and organized, or are you okay with going through […]