June 2, 2012 Clippings

Don't workout on an empty stomach

Most believe in the theory that exercising on an empty stomach will make the body use up fat reserves and covert it into energy instead of the glucose or carbohydrates that may be readily available from a meal or a drink before the workout. But while it seems to make sense, research now shows that exercising on an empty stomach doesn't offer any benefit and may actually work against you.

According to a recent report published this year in a fitness journal in the US, it has been established that the body burns the same amount of fat irrespective of whether you eat before or after a workout. But the problem arises in the fact that dizzy spells notwithstanding, you will lose muscle by exercising in a state of hunger. The study also found that and without food to help the workout, the intensity of the exercise and the total calorie burn will be reduced. So, that leaves you not only exhausted, but with less muscle and no energy to burn more fat.

The studies found that when people trained with nothing in their stomachs, about 10 percent of the calories they burned came from protein, including muscle.

In an earlier study, researchers had found that eating light before a meal was beneficial. Those who consumed 45 grams of carbohydrates before their workouts ended up eating less through the rest of the day.

Experts now advise a light meal of oats or even a milkshake before a workout will go a long way in extending the benefits of the time spent in a gym. Those pushing the heavy ones in the hope of building muscle are well advised to go the Dara Singh way of egg 'n' milkshake.

Source: www.timesofindia.com

02.06.2012

When the male factor causes infertility

Infertility is a problem increasingly faced by couples nowadays due to lifestyle factors. Conventionally, it was thought to be the woman’s fault but today society is accepting that quite often the medical problem lies with the man.

While recent hit film Vicky Donor popularised sperm donation in a big way across the country, a more subtle message it brought to the fore was how prevalent male infertility is today. Well-known infertility specialists of the city shed light on the issue.  Dr Kanthi Bansal says that in the past female fertility accounted for the problem in 60% of cases, male infertility for 25%, and in the rest combined factors were at play.

“However, today the male factor is prevalent in 50% of cases. The most common reason is low count and motility of sperms. There are hormonal injections to improve this condition. Sperm donation is indicated in cases of azoospermia (no sperms at all) with testicular failure,” she says.

Some of the other medical reasons for male infertility are problems with ejaculation of semen, cancer of the genital system or exposure to chemotherapy or radiation therapy, diabetes, mumps in adolescence or immunological infertility where antibodies are formed against the sperms, says Dr Bansal. Dr Manish Banker agrees that the male factor in infertility is rising. “It is the sole cause in about 35-40% cases and contributes in another 15-20% cases,” he says.

Treatment options are – medical (hormones, multivitamins and antioxidants) for a period of three months; surgical (varicocle litigation in properly selected cases); IUI (intrauterine insemination); IVF (in vitro fertilisation)/ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection of eggs), he explains.

Dr Himanshu Bavishi feels it is easier to treat infertility problems faced by a couple when the male factor is prevalent. “Almost 100% success can be achieved provided a man accepts the appropriate treatment. Around 75% of azoospermic patients can father their own child with their own sperm with use of appropriate technology,” he says.

Dr Bavishi relates the case of a young man from Bhavnagar with azoospermia. “He visited a urologist who told him there was very little chance of success of fathering a child with his own sperm. He then visited a fertility hospital where a testis biopsy was done and sperms were recovered. IVF treatment was done with his own sperms and his partner conceived in the very first cycle. The couple was blessed with a beautiful child nine months later.”

As for sperm donation Dr Banker says, “It is a treatment when sperms from an anonymous donor (cryopreserved) are used for either simple insemination or IVF-ICSI.”

The success rates vary. The pregnancy rates in IUI are about 12-15 % and in IVF-ICSI depending on the wife's age (35% on an average), he adds.

Source: www.dnaindia.com    02.06.2012

When you know better you do better

 Maya Angelou