Use local sweet corn and zucchini to create a savory sandwich and add a bowl of 'Lighter New England Clam Chowder' for a complete New England meal.

Goose Pond Farm in West Kingston takes pride in its organic fruits, vegetables, local honey and maple syrup, and fresh eggs, as well as baked goods such as cookies and muffins, and annual flowers.

Owner Nancy Moultrop Barusso believes in organic, local produce to protect future generations, save energy and reduce human dependence on fossil fuels, and build soil fertility. Barusso grew up on a farm and returned to her roots in 2009 to establish Goose Pond Farm.

All of Barussos vegetable gardens show her commitment to growing healthy produce. Her husband, George Barusso, tills the soil and maintains the farms infrastructure to assist Nancy in her determination to produce organic food.

Goose Pond Farm is especially known for its large variety of vegetables, which are harvested from late April to November and include corn, lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, Chinese broccoli, arugula, pac choi (also called bok choy), kale, carrots, beets, green beans, radishes, green onions, garlic, snap peas, snow peas, parsnips, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, broccoli, eggplant and cabbage.

The farms mascots are the Barussos two female chocolate Labrador retrievers, Ms. Charley and Ms. Bailey. The two make sure to greet each visitor to the farm and provide security for the fruits and vegetables.

Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, the small farm is located next to a small pond, which is home to a family of geese after which it was named. Find it at 545 Waites Corner Rd., West Kingston, (401) 783-4946.

For a true New England meal, enjoy these two recipes, one made with local sweet corn.

Anessa Petteruti blogs about food and shares recipes atfoodfinessa.com. She lives in East Greenwich.

Oven-Fried Zucchini and Oregano Corn Sandwich

Oven-Fried Zucchini:

medium zucchini, sliced -inch thick lengthwise

1 large egg, beaten

cup Italian breadcrumbs

1 teaspoon olive oil

Oregano Corn:

1 corn cob, kernels removed

cup fresh oregano

Sandwich:

cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

teaspoon dried parsley

teaspoon dried tarragon

teaspoon dried basil

avocado, mashed

1 ciabatta or French roll

cucumber, julienned

carrot, julienned

fresh basil (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip each zucchini slice into beaten egg and then into Italian breadcrumbs. Place on baking sheet, and drizzle with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until zucchini is crispy. Set aside.

In a small saucepan over low heat, saut corn kernels with fresh oregano. Set aside once corn is lightly cooked but still has a slight crunch.

In a small bowl, toss halved cherry tomatoes with tablespoon of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, parsley, tarragon and basil. Set aside.

To assemble sandwich, spread mashed avocado on both side of roll. Place oven-fried zucchini on roll, and top with oregano corn, marinated cherry tomatoes, julienned cucumbers and carrots, and fresh basil. Drizzle with tablespoon of olive oil. Close sandwich.

Lighter New England Clam Chowder

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium white onion, chopped

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 cups 2% milk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

8 ounces clam juice

1 pounds russet potatoes, chopped into cubes

1 bay leaf

16 ounces shelled clams, chopped

3 tablespoons chives, chopped

cup oyster crackers

Add olive oil and white onion to a large pot over medium heat. Saut onion for 2 minutes, until fragrant and translucent. Add flour and stir well until onions are coated. Add milk, salt, pepper, clam juice, potatoes and bay leaf. Allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes are almost cooked. Add clams, and cook for another 7-10 minutes until clams and potatoes are fully cooked.

Serve chowder warm with chopped chives and oyster crackers.

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Organic produce abounds at West Kingston farm - The Providence Journal

DEAR DR. ROACH: Do you think theres much benefit to buying organic foods, now that my husband and I are in our 60s? Ill gladly purchase organic fruits and veggies when we host our children and grandchildren, and our garden is chemical-free, but I cant imagine that the added expense of buying organic will provide much benefit to senior citizens (on a fixed income, no less) whose bodies already have 50 or more years of exposure to pesticides and herbicides. Is there any solid evidence either way? D.B.

ANSWER: The data are not entirely conclusive, but the preponderance of the evidence is that organic food does not provide significant health benefits, compared with conventionally grown foods. In my opinion, organically produced foods are not worth the extra expense just because they are organic.

Both organically grown and conventionally grown foods contain residues of pesticides, but organic food has lower amounts of conventional pesticides (however, nearly all are far below the Environmental Protection Agency standards). Organic foods have a more restricted list of pesticides that can be used, and some of these are poisonous to humans. Take, for example, copper sulfate, a chemical commonly used in organic farming (in the U.S., but banned in some European countries) to kill fungus and bacteria. It is many times more deadly, at least in rats, than glyphosate (Roundup), a commonly used conventional herbicide. It also is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in animals. However, by the time foods arrive in a grocers market, these chemicals are present at such small amounts (in both organic and conventional produce) that they are very unlikely to cause any symptoms or disease.

Most data show that organic food does not have more nutrients than conventionally grown foods. There may be an argument that organic farms are friendlier to the environment; however, I have had conventional farmers write to me to dispute that as well.

Growing your own food is getting it as fresh as possible, but local farmers markets are another good way to buy local. In my opinion, food that is locally produced (whether conventionally or organically) is likely to be fresher and more nutritious than food shipped in from far away. Washing the produce under running water and rubbing gently with hands or a vegetable brush gets rid of most of the residual pesticides, dirt and bacteria.

Bacterial infections are increasingly a problem with organically produced foods, with over half of recent foodborne illness attributable to organic foods. All produce needs to be rinsed: Danger from bacterial contamination is probably greater than the risk from pesticides.

There is a great deal of further information about this, but I found much that was biased (both pro-organic and pro-conventional), even from organizations I have respected. I found good and unbiased information from the national pesticide information center at npic.orst.edu.

Excerpt from:

Organic vs. conventional produce - The Adirondack Daily Enterprise

Of course, you may have your own way of throwing your leg on the other side of the bed or of swinging your arms open in a Titanic pose while you sleep, still your zodiac sign can tell a lot about your sleep habits.

Of the 85,000 liver failure patients who join the country's wait list annually, less than 3% get an organ. Of the two lakh fresh annual registrations for kidneys, 8,000 manage a transplant.

The next time you blow out the candles on your birthday cake, make a wish for your good health as well because scientists have found that the popular tradition causes bacteria on the icing to increase by 1,400%.

Ban in the works after panel concludes it's addictive and potentially lethal

In 2015, crime in India was at an 11-year high! From 2014 to 2015, human trafficking increased by over 40 per cent, forgery by over 23 per cent, kidnapping and road rage by over 7 per cent!

Social media can get you inspired in no time. Be it to fix a healthy meal or to try new workouts, with millions sharing their stories everyday, staying motivated is not an issue anymore.

A diabetic normally spends his entire day trying to minimize sugar content from his diet. All his energy is spent on maintaining the sugar levels in his body.

It has been found that only 30 per cent of women experience 'happy endings' during sex. But heres help. We have listed a few types of orgasm; how good they are and what you can do to achieve them frequently

Inspired by celebrities on television, Sumangal accepted the challenge in his own zeal. Read on to find out how Sumangal lost 27 kilos!

All fruits have their own benefits but some stand out due to the unique health benefits they provide. Here is a list of healthiest fruits on earth on the basis of their nutrient component.

The Mercedes India head said that nearly 65% of electricity in the country is produced using sources such as gas, oil, and coal. ... those power plants do not have any cleansing filters or whatever.

"Packaged food is the reality of the day but so is the growing burden of disorders like obesity, diabetes and heart ailments."

Ever wondered what is so special about the way yogis eat? Heres revealing some of the top secrets of yogis that can help attain a balance between the mind, body and soul

Your mother always told you to stop it. Your teacher said its bad manners. Your co-workers roll their eyes when you do it. Even as new health research says that fidgeting may be your ticket to a long life and better health, one must tread with caution.

Dance to the tunes of Kalbelia to tone your calves, Garba to strengthen your core and Bhangra to train your gluteus maximus...

No matter where we look, most people agree morning rituals can help create a happy life.

British disease experts suggested on Thursday doing away with the incorrect advice to always finish a course of antibiotics, saying the approach was fueling the spread of drug resistance.

Uncontrolled blood sugar is the dangerously sweet highway to developing heart disease. Stay off this highway to live a better quality, fit and healthy life!

Protein deficiency is an epidemic that is gripping us Indians faster than we know. Unlike calcium or iron deficiency, protein deficiency isnt taken seriously by most in both adults and kids alike.

It is unbelievable but this woman can really eat calories worth five days in one sitting! Nela Zisser is a professional competitive eater and even watching her hog on her food can satiate you, if not make repugnant, for next three meals.

Scientists are also trying to personalize medicine by fine-tuning drug-delivery processes, and have now developed a smart drug that can be driven directly to the liver to suck up the fat from its cells.

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Health and Fitness, Health Tips, Exercises & Workout Tips ...

What we're now starting to see is that there's a squeezed middle between these two magnetic poles. Health pros who do not yet have a following are competing on price and forcing one another out of the industry.

It's becoming harder for consumers to find quality personal training options without paying top dollar.

Group fitness classes have evolved markedly in recent years symptomatic, perhaps, of the difficulty of finding good personal trainers at a reasonable price.

It used to be that group classes amounted to legs, bums and tums at your local, municipal leisure complex. Now, you can get a range of different classes, whether they're at a specialist centre or simply in a meeting room at work.

HIIT, movement, yoga, pilates,cross training, spinning: there should be something for everyone. And, importantly, because these classes are devised byinfluential experts in the industry and delivered via partnerships with large gym chains, they work from good, thoughtfulsyllabuses.

A great way to get in shape.

Wearable technology is on the up and up, allowing us to track our hours of sleep, daily steps, calories burned and a myriad other metrics related to performance and workout tracking.

Here is the original post:
The seven big fitness trends of 2017 so far - Telegraph.co.uk

One great joy of my job as a family medicine physician is taking care of pregnant women from the moment their pregnancy test is positive through infancy and beyond. In pursuing good health for mother and baby, we sometimes enter difficult territory.

Pregnancy can feel restricting to mothers, including rules on avoiding smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use. After giving birth, mothers are often tempted to resume old habits. But illicit substances, such as marijuana and other illegal drugs, should be avoided in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Many prescription medications are safe while breastfeeding, but it is best to discuss them with your primary care provider.

Marijuana, one of the most common illegal drugs, is the most common source of the chemical compound THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is typically smoked or added to food. Some women even carry a medical marijuana card to use marijuana for a medical condition and a few states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Montana still recognizes the drug as an illicit substance, largely due to its hallucinogenic properties that render a user high.

THC is stored in fat cells, which means it can be stored in the body for several weeks. Fat storage also means that it enters breast milk and is ingested by a breastfeeding infant. The potential for harm makes it challenging to study drug use in pregnancy and breastfeeding. So we do not have ideal evidence on the potential risks. Given the lack of acceptable data, both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend avoiding marijuana use while breastfeeding.

Although we have not studied the effects of marijuana use in breastfeeding enough to be certain of its effects, there are plenty of potential risks. Many are supported in small studies and anecdotally. These include:

These potential risks apply to other illegal drugs as well. While breast milk offers the best nutrition for babies, formula may be a better option for women who want to continue using marijuana. Extreme cases of drug abuse during or after pregnancy may trigger the involvement of Child Protective Services in deciding the safest place for the baby.

Here is the bottom line: Marijuana and other illicit drugs pose dangerous risks for your babys health and may compromise good parenting. Using them is simply not worth those risks. Future research may shed light on how babies are affected by a mothers marijuana use during breastfeeding. Until then, I advocate protecting young ones the best way we know how. Enjoy your pregnancy and breastfeeding phase to the fullest while you abstain from illegal drug use.

Dr. J. Abi Ashcraft, a resident physician with the Montana Family Medicine Residency at RiverStone Health, may be reached at 247-3306.

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Drug use can harm pregnancy, baby care - Billings Gazette

POPSUGAR

Celebrate the End of Summer With Our August Must Haves POPSUGAR Best Health and Fitness Gear | August 2017. Celebrate the End of Summer With Our August Must Haves. August 1, 2017 by Jenny Sugar. 15 Shares. Chat with us on Facebook Messenger. Learn what's trending across POPSUGAR.

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Celebrate the End of Summer With Our August Must Haves - POPSUGAR

7 health and fitness myths that could disrupt your training goals

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

The fitness industry really is full of a lot of bad information, and it makes it harder and harder for us to make informed choices about what we should and shouldn't do to help us work towards our goals.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/life/health/7-health-and-fitness-myths-that-could-disrupt-your-training-goals-35985290.html

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/incoming/article35985289.ece/64610/AUTOCROP/h342/tock-517903938.jpg

The fitness industry really is full of a lot of bad information, and it makes it harder and harder for us to make informed choices about what we should and shouldn't do to help us work towards our goals.

So, once again, to help you make the best choices when it comes to what to believe when it comes to your training and nutrition, here are seven more myths that really need to stop:

High-fat diets have had their fair share of fads (Bulletproof Coffee, anyone?) and the idea of "eat fat to burn fat" has been knocking around for some time. Although a high-fat diet may be more preferable for some people, there has been nothing to show that it is a superior method for losing weight.

As calorie balance is the number one determining factor for weight loss, when you consider that a gram of fat has over double the calories of a gram of protein or carbs, a high-fat diet can easily see the calories add up very quick. Not necessarily ideal for those of us trying to shift some pounds.

You may have heard that cardio on an empty stomach is a great way for tapping into the body's fat stores - after all, if you've no fuel, it has to come from burning fat, right?

Research, however, indicates that fasted cardio is actually no more beneficial for losing weight than when training in a fed state.

Worse still, it may actually put us at a greater risk of losing muscle (particularly high intensity type training)- not great news for improving body composition.

Despite what some say about anything over 30g of Protein in a single meal simply being passed out of the body, the truth is that more protein just takes more times to be digested, absorbed, and used.

The length of time for digestion depends on the overall quantity of food in that meal. When you consider than protein itself is tougher to digest, as well as the effects of fibre, carbs, and previously eaten meals on the rate of digestion, a hefty intake of protein in a single meal can take over 10 hours to be digested and passed into our bloodstream.

Just because it's over 30g doesn't mean our bodies won't use it.

Both carbs and fats have been (falsely) argued as having negative effects on the body, and protein is no different.

It's long been said that a high protein intake is bad for the kidneys, whereas there is actually no published evidence to support this. Although those of us with an existing kidney condition should more likely be cautious of a high protein diet, intakes of up to 1.27g per lb of bodyweight have been shown to have no adverse effect on healthy kidney function.

As protein is essential for muscle growth and repair, it is a huge consideration for those of us who train - 0.8g per lb of bodyweight is a great minimum target to aim for.

Starvation mode is believed to be when the body ceases its ability to lose weight, and starts gaining it despite eating a low calorie intake. However, because calories in vs. calories out is what matters when looking at weight loss/gain, our bodies cannot suddenly just start gaining weight if we were truly in a calorie deficit.

If we are seeing weight gain, it is likely because we not in a deficit, as we are eating more than we realise (often from finding a very low calorie diet too hard to stick to,) or, more likely, because we are burning less calories than we think.

Due to the fact that our metabolism slows when we lose weight (as a lighter body requires less calories to run it,) and we move around less as we eat less (to conserve energy,) our energy output drops, making it harder to create the deficit we need to achieve further weight loss.

It once again boils down to calorie balance.

It's long been believed that there is a golden "window or opportunity" after a workout for us to kickstart muscle growth and refuel the body, but there is very little research to actually support this claim.

What's more, if we are to only look at one single meal, we overlook the nutrition we provide our bodies with across the course of the rest of the day. What we eat across 24 hours will have a much bigger impact on our bodies than what we eat within 30 minutes of training.

A warning typically touted by those who have experienced pain or injury while performing either squats or deadlifts. Despite being two of the biggest full-body exercises, there is nothing inherently dangerous about either exercise when performed correctly and through a full range of motion.

Pain is usually as a result of poor technique, or by letting your ego get the better of you when putting weight on the bar. It is important to remember though that not everyone is suited to every exercise - there's many different reasons why we might find a certain exercise isn't right for us, and if an exercise causes us pain, either a correction in technique, or an appropriate substitution should be considered.

Want more tips to help you work towards your health and fitness goals? Make sure to check out the Facebook page for daily advice and guidance.

Belfast Telegraph Digital

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7 health and fitness myths that could disrupt your training goals - Belfast Telegraph

WASHINGTON -- The Army has more obese Soldiers than ever before, and to address the problem, senior Army leaders discussed a holistic approach that includes vegan options at dining facilities and box breakfasts at fitness centers.

Currently, one in 20 Soldiers fails the Army Physical Fitness Test annually and 13 percent of Soldiers are clinically obese, according to statistics from the Army Surgeon General's Office that were presented Monday at the 2017 Medical Symposium. The conference was hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army in San Antonio, Texas.

"I do think that we've been recognizing that what we are doing has not been working," said Michael McGurk, director of the Research and Analysis Directorate at the Army Center for Initial Military Training. "Holistic health and fitness is a radical change -- radical departure. It is going to cost the Army money, time and people. And we've got to be willing to give that up to make the changes that we need."

The Army's new campaign plan, called "Holistic Health and Fitness" focuses on improving the Soldier selection process, physical performance, performance education, and transforming and improving Soldier fitness/training centers.

Tim Higdon, Healthy Army Communities program manager, said one suggestion is to have fitness centers provide box breakfasts so that Soldiers in a time crunch will not need to choose between having breakfast and working out. Higdon said HAC is also planning to attempt innovations such as requiring 15 to 50 percent of vending machines to have healthier options, while others will be 100-percent comprised of healthy items. Vegetarian and vegan options may also be added to dining hall menus.

"It's about action and what we could do next to improve the overall health of our communities," Higdon said.

Healthy Army Communities has identified eight demonstration installations to test some of the new measures: Fort Belvoir, Virginia; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Benning, Georgia; Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; Fort Bliss, Texas; USAG Italy, and USAG Humphreys, South Korea.

McGurk noted that the Army has not changed its physical fitness test since 1980. He said the field manual for Army Physical Readiness Training, FM 7-22, is now being rewritten with a new name, Holistic Health and Fitness.

"Wearing the uniform that says 'U.S. Army' is a privilege and an honor and there [are] responsibilities," McGurk said. "And one of them is a baseline level of fitness and capability which I think we need to maintain."

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Gragg of TRADOC said five installations and eight fitness centers will transition to meet the new initiatives. At those locations, sports performance, nutrition and PT training classes will take the place of recreational activities, and will take place during non-peak fitness hours. Units can use the facilities for training and Soldiers who need additional PT time can also take courses.

Col. Matthew Garber, director of the Rehab and Reintegration Division at the Office of the Surgeon General, said that new emphasis will also be placed upon decreasing the impact of muscular skeletal injuries on readiness. Looking at the entry standards and alternative training methods could help decrease preventable injuries during physical training. He also said it is important that Soldiers suffering from muscular and skeletal injuries have access to treatment.

"When you do get hurt, we know it's vital that you get seen early to prevent a chronic problem from developing," Garber said.

Retired Brig. Gen. Peter Palmer said to achieve a truly holistic approach to health and fitness, the cognitive aspect of training must be studied.

"The key challenge here is if we're going to really talk human performance, we've got to understand how we actually perform, Palmer said. "And that's why I emphasize the brain portion."

In another panel discussion, Maj. Gen. Brian Lein, commanding general of the Army Medical Department Center, discussed the possibility of artificial intelligence aiding the work of Army medics in the battlefield. Lein said that the Army is already experimenting with virtual reality in training situations at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. There, simulations with frames of cockpits and armored vehicles simulate emergency medical situations. Lein said the Chinese already have an A.I. system for medical providers.

"That's never going to replace the anxiety and the stress of a real patient bleeding to death in front of you," Lein said. "But the closer that you can get to virtual reality, the better off we're going to be."

Surgeon General of the Army Lt. Gen. Nadja West noted that each facet of the combat medic process -- from training to veterinary assistance for military working dogs -- plays interdependent roles. She said each role has an integral part in assuring the Army's warfighters are fit for battle.

"What keeps a Soldier of a free country reliable in battle?" West said. "I would say this, in addition to great leadership, great training ... (It is) the fact they know if they're harmed or injured, someone will be there to render aid in any way that they can."

View original post here:
Army launches holistic health and fitness initiative - United States Army (press release)

Dear Doctor: I'm living with Crohn's disease. Even though I feel fine, my wife is certain that it has caused me to be vitamin B12 deficient. If you could explain the signs of a B12 deficiency, it may put her mind at ease and get me off the hot seat.

Dear Reader: When you have Crohn's disease, a portion of your digestive tract is chronically irritated or inflamed. Symptoms include pain or cramping in your abdomen, diarrhea, fever and weight loss. The cause of Crohn's disease, one of a group of disorders known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is not known at this time. However, changes in diet and the use of medications to reduce inflammation, along with bowel rest, can help relieve symptoms.

The reason your wife is concerned about your levels of vitamin B12 is that Crohn's disease can cause the tissue of the bowel to thicken, become scarred or develop ulcers. Any of these may cause the bowel to lose the ability to properly absorb nutrients. When the disease is located at the far end of the small intestine, where vitamin B12 absorption takes place, maintaining healthy levels of that vitamin can indeed become an issue.

We need about 2.4 micrograms of B12 per day for our bodies to carry out functions like making red blood cells, keeping our nerves healthy and making DNA. Sources of B12 include fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and other dairy products, with liver and clams delivering a particularly hefty dose of the vitamin. It's also added to some breakfast cereals and is available as a supplement.

Although most people in the United States get enough B12 through a balanced diet, up to 15 percent of Americans have some degree of deficiency. Some older adults lack adequate hydrochloric acid in their stomachs to properly separate B12 from food. That means that when the contents of the stomach reaches the end of the small intestine, B12 is not available in a form that can be absorbed. In individuals like yourself, whose bowel is chronically inflamed, absorption in the small intestine can become compromised, even with proper digestion in the stomach.

Symptoms that can indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency include feeling weak and tired for no apparent reason, mental confusion or "fogginess," a decline in balance, the onset of depression and even signs of dementia. Other indicators may be poor appetite, unexplained weight loss, ongoing constipation and nerve problems like prickling or tingling in the hands or feet. In extreme cases, a deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to megaloblastic anemia, which can cause extreme fatigue, dizziness and pale skin.

If these symptoms sound familiar, your family doctor will measure your B12 levels via a simple blood or urine test. Should a deficiency be found, treatment may include a diet of foods rich in B12, regular B12 supplements or, in a severe case, B12 injections. And considering that long-term B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage and other serious problems, we would also prescribe a "thank you" to your wife.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o Media Relations, UCLA Health, 924 Westwood Blvd., Suite 350, Los Angeles, CA, 90095.

Read more here:
Crohn's disease can be a factor in B12 deficiency - Hanford Sentinel

The U.S. military has great interest in more comprehensive measurement and tracking of metabolism, both for optimizing the performance of warfighters under demanding physical conditions and for maintaining the health and wellness of forces during and after their military careers. While sensors for making metabolic measurements have existed for decades, they are expensive, cumbersome instruments primarily intended for clinical or professional use. MIT Lincoln Laboratory, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)and the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad has undertaken a research effort to create a low-cost personal metabolic sensor and an associated metabolic fuel model. The Carbon dioxide/Oxygen Breath and Respiration Analyzer (COBRA) enables individuals to make on-demand metabolic measurements simply by breathing into it.

Besides assessing performance of soldiers in the field, the COBRA can be applied to broader purposes, such as training athletes for high-endurance activities, guiding weight loss by quantifying the impact of dietary and exercise regimens, or identifying nutritional imbalances, says Kyle Thompson, a member of the development team from Lincoln Laboratorys Mechanical Engineering Group.

Since the early 20th century, scientists have been using indirect calorimetry (IC) to calculate individual energy expenditure and metabolic rates. This method measures the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen in exhaled breath, which can be used to measure the levels of carbohydrates and fats being used by the body to meet metabolic energy needs. Information about energy expenditure rates is valuable for setting reasonable physical standards within the military. For example, limits on the distance and speed of foot marches can best be established by quantifying metabolic workloads of soldiers. The Soldier 2020 program is currently employing metabolic energy measurement to help establish job-related fitness requirements.

For high-performance athletes or active-duty soldiers, optimally matching nutritional intake to the demands of a specific activity can improve performance and increase the likelihood of successful mission completion, says Gary Shaw, principal investigator on the laboratorys COBRA team. Physically demanding tasks can lead to glycogen depletion, which has a negative impact on performance. By tracking energy expenditure in real-time, soldiers could detect and avoid the onset of low glucose levels associated with glycogen depletion as well as other metabolic complications, such as heat stress.

While existing mobile IC sensors can make physiological measurements, they are expensive and complex to calibrate; consequently, their application has largely been limited to clinical studies, high-performance athletics, and field testing with small groups of subjects over limited periods of time. The COBRA sensor is smaller, simpler to use, and less costly to manufacture than existing IC sensors, enabling the measurement of individual energy expenditure for dozens of soldiers in a military field unit throughout the day. Lincoln Laboratory researchers hope to use such measurements to refine the personalized metabolic fuel model for individuals, track nutritional needs, and assess the impact of training on the individuals metabolic efficiency and endurance.

The COBRA system is a breakthrough technology that promises to provide performance comparable to $30,000-$40,000 sensors at a fraction of the cost and with ease of use that makes personal ownership feasible, Shaw says.

USARIEM is currently testing and evaluating the COBRA sensor by comparing the COBRA measurements against those collected by laboratory-grade instruments. Once the sensor performance has been benchmarked in the laboratory, USARIEM will conduct small field studies to measure energy expenditure and nutrient consumption associated with different training exercises. Following successful field measurements, low-rate production of the COBRA sensor may be pursued in order to study energy expenditure and performance across dozens of soldiers over days of activity.

Beyond its use in studies of the performance of soldiers and athletes, the COBRA sensor and associated metabolic model can be applied to the management of the general populations metabolic health. It is anticipated that the COBRA sensor and metabolic model can be used to tailor dietary and exercise regimens for managing weight, inferring blood glucose and glycogen storage levels, and creating public databases on metabolic wellness and trends. This information could be used by clinicians and patients to aid in controlling obesity, which affects over one-third of Americans, and to provide a non-invasive indication of chronically high blood glucose, which is associated with the development of type-2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly half of the adult population in the United States is either diabetic or pre-diabetic.

There are several promising avenues for the COBRA sensors future. The researchers have applied for a patent and plan to conduct single-subject experiments to demonstrate how the sensor can be used in assessing nutritional imbalances. The laboratory will also seek opportunities to collaborate with other researchers interested in using COBRA as a tool in clinical studies, including those concerned with weight loss and endurance training.

See more here:
Monitoring metabolic energy expenditure, health, and fitness with a breath analyzer - MIT News