Coffee and Liver Health

A recent study suggests that coffee may actually lower your risk of liver cancer.  These studies should be taken with a grain of salt, but in the interim, pour yourself another cup of java.

Liver Cancer Risk: Coffee Lowers It, Alcohol And Obesity Raise It, Study Says

Enjoy!

Does Greater Fitness Increase or Decrease Longevity?

One recent study seems to support the position that individuals who follow a more rigurous exercise regime tend to score better over the long haul with regard to cardiovascular health. Note that the full results of this study have not been published.

Does Greater Fitness Increase or Decrease Longevity?

Your brain on exercise

I have read a lot of articles concerning the positive effects exercise has on your brain and mental health. Phrases such as "being in the zone" and the infamous "runner's high" come to mind.

The below article looks into the science behind what happens to your brain when you are exercising.

Enjoy!

WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR BRAINS WHEN WE EXERCISE AND HOW IT MAKES US HAPPIER

2015 Snowshoe Racing Season

This marked my fifth season of snowshoe racing.  It is a great way to stay in shape during the winter months and helps maintain contact with fellow runners during the off season.

I started off the season with the Whittaker Woods Snowshoe Scramble.  This was my second time racing on this course. This is a fast course despite killer climbs as it is run on mostly groomed trails. I ran with Jeff Litchfield and Leslie O'Dell through all the climbs and steep downhills, but started to fade once we hit the flats about one mile out from the finish. I ended up with a time of 30:46, which was good enough for 14th overall and second in the 50-59 age group.

Next up was the first of three races held at Bradbury State Park, located in Pownal, Maine.

The Squall is the shortest of the three races and is held on the east side (flatter) of the park.  I went out hard and was in good position for a strong finish, but the wheels came off once again.  I found the final mile quite painful and slow. I finished in 27:47, which meant 9th overall and first in the 50-59 age group.

The White Out, the second Bradbury race, was moved up by a day due to a forecasted blizzard for race day.  There was already a ton of snow on the ground, which led to a very soft single track course. I again went out hard and stayed right behind Jeff Walker as we made our way along the initial single track section.  I passed Jeff once we hit a fairly long section of snowmobile trail and pushed hard, allowing me to pick off a couple of more people before the finish. I felt way better this time around.  My time was 46:14 and I was 4th overall and first in the 50-59 age group.

I decided to head back to NH for the Exeter Snowshoe Hullabaloo.  This is a 100% single track course which meant a fast and highly competitive start was in order. I went out hard and ran like a scared rabbit for the entire race. I managed to pass a couple of runners and was eventually passed by one other guy.  I held close to him until the finish. An old school kind of race for sure. My final time was 34:55.  I ended up 6th overall and 1st in the 50-59 age group.

The Bradbury Blizzard was the final race of the Bradbury series and was held on the mountain side of the park. The course wound up and over the summit three times over five miles. I ended up running alone about two minutes back from the group of four leaders. I caught up to three of them after cresting the summit for the second time (they were unsure as to the course direction). I finished with a time of 43:57, 5th overall and first in the 50-59 age group. My final placement for the three race series was 4th overall, first in the 50-59 age group.

The final race of the season was the New Hampshire & Northeast Snowshoe Championships.  This race was held at The Castle in the Clouds, Moultonborough, NH. This was another 100% single track course with lots of climbing.  I was tripped right at the start, but made my way through deep snow to regain my position.  I pushed steadily and slowly picked off other runners as we made the long climb up the mountain. I ended up running most of the race with my good friend Phil Erwin, finishing together in 58:22, which was 20th overall and second in the 50-59 age group.

I am looking forward to getting back to the mountains, but still a little sad that snowshoe racing season is over.

See you next winter!

Chuck

Slow Runners Come Out Ahead

Below is a NY Times blog post about a cohort study focused on determining the optimal level of running from a health perspective.  This particular study would seem to indicate that runners who typically run slower are healthier than those who push the pace most of the time.

I am sure this is not the last word, as there are lots of confounding variables which skew the conclusions from these types of studies.

My take is that exercise is like a drug.  You need to find the right dose and more is not always good.

Slow Runners Come Out Ahead

Bulletproof Coffee: Debunking the Hot Buttered Hype

Below is an interesting article posted by Gizmodo.  I have been drinking Bulletproof coffee for well over two years, using beans from a local roaster, BP's MCT oil (rather than the Brain Octane), and Kerrygold butter.  I drink this more for the taste and belief that there may be marginal health benefits. I otherwise have to agree with the below article.  Fear mongering is rampant in the alternative health sphere and you should always challenge the claims made. And most of all, be willing to give something a try and constantly change up your nutrition to find out what works best for your unique biology.

Bulletproof Coffee: Debunking the Hot Buttered Hype

High Fat, Low Carb Diet, One Runner's Experience

Below is a link to a well written article on a runner's experience with a high fat, low carbohydrate diet ( HFLC).  I frequently test my lipid levels and can vouch for the dramtic increase in total cholesterol, driven mainly by LDL, when pursuing a HFLC diet. As with the author, my HDL and triglyceride levels were/are extremely favorable and I have the large and more buoyant LDL particles.

I have moved to a more moderate carbohydrate diet, with my carbs in the 100-150g per day.  This has allowed me to maintain energy throughout the day, and during exercise and races.

I encourage and advise everyone to play around with the ratios of fat, carbs, and protein to find out what works best for them.

https://layeingitdown.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/my-failed-high-fat-low-carb-diet-experiment/

Enjoy!