Exercise: Pills, promises, and professional responsibility

For the 2/3rds of Americans who do not regularly exercise, there might be a "way out" for them. All the health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, in a little pill?

IF they perform this study on humans, and IF they see similar results, that you can get the benefits of aerobic exercise in a pill (without the time spent in a work-out), then what is the professional responsibility of doctors who administer the pill?
We have seen before how "quick fix" pills have caused fatal health problems. (Redux, phen-phen have killed unsuspecting users trying to lose weight), for example).

Let this short video get you thinking:


Is it possible? Perhaps the pill can reduce signs of heart disease, like plaque build-up on walls of blood vessels. But can it possibly mimick all of these secondary symptoms, too?
* Elevated mood
* Improved sleep
* Reduced muscle pain
* Arthritis pain relief
* Decreased joint stiffness and tension
* Increased libido (sex drive)
* Enhanced attention span and focus
* Regulated insulin and glycemic levels
* Stress relief

The list of benefits from regular aerobic exercise is endless. The pill has not effectively proven to improve every condition and health factor on this list. Until then, why throw caution to the wind?
Look out, researchers and physicians: you have some big responsibilities ahead!

Diets and Weight-Loss thermogenics: stimulants, coffee, calorie-burning

Many weight loss supplements rely on stimulants like caffeine. How does this stimulating effect produce weight loss, and what happens throughout your diet?

Thermogenics.
Most diet and weight loss pills contain stimulants. The effect they have on your metabolism is called thermogenic. In other words, they are purported to increase your body's heat production. They increase burning calories.

But if you use thermogenic aids, and you don't understand how they work in your body, then you can easily regain your weight back when you stop using them.

If you use stimulants to achieve weight loss, you must understand these 2 effects on your body that happen:
1- Your body will build up a tolerance, and physical addiction creeps into your life. It takes greater and greater amounts of the stimulant to keep you alert and awake. When you don't consume as much, you can feel exhausted.
Your energy levels go through highs and lows, "crash and burn" cycles.
2- If you are not getting plenty of exercise during your diet, and improving your lean muscle mass, then you are using the stimulants in vain. What does this mean?
If you use stimulants to give you more energy, you should use that extra energy for long-term benefits. The only way to boost your metabolism long-term is by increasing the amount of lean muscle mass you have because muscle is active, calorie-burning tissue.

Our favorite thermogenic aid, coffee.
For some folks, drinking coffee is part of a daily ritual that they do not directly relate to weight loss goals.

If you are a coffee drinker already, and you are considering using any diet aids for their thermogenic effects, understand the effects of caffeine before you consume more of it in large amounts.

Coffee is one of our favorite varieties of consumable caffeine. True, green tea has been getting lots of attention for its vitamin-power. But moderate coffee consumption has been shown to have nutritious value, too.

Caution: remember that all research discussed herein is based on drinking black coffee. When you add sugar, creamers, artifical sweeteners, non-dairy creamers, and other crap to your beverage that you are altering it chemically. It may not have the same health benefits, and those additives will often contribute to weight gain and unhealthy conditions.