We want something for nothing, results with no effort. And fitness is a fine example. We see the modern cure-all — the pill you take to stay thin — advertised everywhere. Instead of taking the approach that’s tried and tested, diet and exercise, there is a market for this miracle; health in a pill.
OU’s Health and Exercise Science Department recently conducted a study with a grant from the General Nutrition Centers. The study tested a miracle pill using the tri-pepper blend, pepper, niacin and 200 milligrams of caffeine as a diet pill. They were attempting to boost metabolism so you could have the health benefit of a 20-minute walk, without the walk.
We already have tested solutions with diets and exercise that give great results.
Pills like this are especially dangerous for college students. We are new to the “real” world and inclined to indulge in less healthy substances at the age when our metabolisms begin to decline and our exercise time is cut by study and work.
We’re the prime market for these medical drugs that were proven by findings we find suspect. We aren’t challenging their methodology, we’re sure they’re pristine.
It’s just that last year, the Children’s Hospital Boston conducted a study that concluded research funded by a single source, like General Nutrition Centers, is four to eight times more likely to conclude in favor of the donor, so we aren’t surprised the tests resulted positively.
This is why it’s always important to know who’s funding research, if it’s a single donor, or several donors with a common interest, conclusions should not be taken so seriously.
So don’t take the newfangled easy way out; it’ll hurt you more in the long run. Take the old and trusty approach to health — eat healthy and exercise. We doubt our Health and Exercise Science Department would argue with that advice.
Take care of yourselves, the natural way.
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thegerman41 2 years, 3 months ago
"Lose It" App on iphone, lets you see what you are eating and how much; if you don't have an iphone write down everything you eat(and the calories of the food) in a day and you'll have a visual representation of how much you are consuming..it works