Entries by Chet Zelasko

Warning: Spring Ahead

This coming weekend, the clocks are moved ahead one hour in most states here in the U.S. This seems to impact some people more than others; our bodies are more sensitive to the effects of changing sleep patterns than we think. I first wrote about this 10 years ago, and I wanted to check to […]

Immune Booster 2 and 3

Continuing with our look at how to approach the first tickle of a cold or seasonal allergies, we’ll finish up with the final two parts of our immune boosting supplements. Garlic The second part of our immune boost supplements is garlic; it’s been noted to have beneficial properties for over 5,000 years. Garlic thins the […]

Immune Booster 1: Echinacea

Just like nine years ago when I first wrote this, the cold and flu season is still around. The seasonal allergy season is right around the corner and may have started, depending on where you live. When you feel that first tickle in the back of your throat, that first nasally sensation, that’s when you […]

The Bottom Line on Full-Fat Dairy

If you’re a long-time reader, you know that science by headlines really annoys me because they often distort the findings of the research papers to make them seem more important than they are—gotta get that next click! It doesn’t help that research institutions send out press releases that contribute to the hype of their research […]

Does Whole Milk Reduce Diabetes?

Full-fat foods are back in the headlines in light of the recent proclamations by the USDA. I don’t know about you, but it’s been decades since I drank whole milk or ate whole fat yogurt or cheese. It’s not just about the calories; it just doesn’t seem to taste as good. Have I been missing […]

Your Heart: Tone

If you live to 80, your heart will beat an average of three billion times. That’s right—billion with a b. Faster when you exercise, slower when you’re at rest, it does its job 24 hours a day, seven days a week. What’s even more amazing about your heart rate is how it’s controlled by the […]

Your Heart: Autorhythmicity

Your heart can beat over 200 times per minute during maximal exercise, depending on your age, yet every beat is a succinct event made up of many steps with every one of those beats controlled by the electrical system of the heart. While that’s incredible in and of itself, the real story is one of […]

Your Heart: Syncytium

The next few Memos were from 2016 and are still relevant today! This is why your heart is special. Let’s begin American Heart Month with some facts you probably didn’t know about your heart. Your heart is unique in many ways, and you’re going to learn about a few of them. The heart muscle is […]

Get a Grip!

Did you know that people in the lowest 20% of grip strength have an increased risk of mortality—a 350% increase in all-cause mortality? That’s true for both men and women. On a more practical level, ever have trouble opening the tops of bottles or other simple things that require grip strength? I know I have, […]

Stronger Shoulders

This week we’re continuing with the theme of basic exercises: what are the exercises that everyone can do at home with minimal equipment to improve or at least maintain fitness? Our focus today is on your shoulders. That can include the muscles of the chest, the back, the shoulder cap or more precisely the deltoids, […]