Male Sexuality from health perspective(Mechanism behind Erection) - Part 4

Guys should know the mechanism behind erection. Testosterone is a primary male harmone necessary for sex drive and also secondary male characteristics. It is also necessary for sperm production. Testosterone levels can easily be assisted from a simple blood test. The normal values of testosterone in males is 437 to 707 ng/dl while in females 24 to 47 ng/dl. 1 ng(nano gram)=10^-3 mcg(micro gram);1 mcg=10^-6 g; dl-deci liter= 10^-1 l.

Body releases the chemical molecule 'nitric oxide(NO)' to create an erection. This molecule acts on another enzyme within the blood vessels of the erectile tissue accumulating another chemical called cyclic GMP(guanosine mono phosphate). This accumulation makes calcium leave the blood vessel walls and the walls relax. Blood fills the blood vessels and they become engorged, acting like a flap valves closing off the outflow of blood. Hence erection results. Finally the body releases another chemical called phosphodiesterase-5, which reverses the process. That is, it reduces the accumulation of cyclic GMP thus by bringing erection to an end. The pill Viagra(Sildenafil) basically inactivates the erection ending chemical phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5). 

The pill was developed in Pfizer labs and was being tested to lower blood pressure. Medical residents were the volunteers for the study and they didn't find any change in their blood pressure and they were asked to return the unused pill. But they were reluctant to return the unused pills as they were experiencing enhanced erections:-) So, the pill was accidentally discovered and it does wonders in most ED(erectile dysfunction) related cases. Only if the pill doesn't work or works erratically, then further investigation becomes necessary.

The pill is available in 25mg, 50mg, 100mg tablets. Normally it is effective when taken with water on an empty stomach, 3-4 hours after a meal. The pill will work only when there is sufficient sexual stimulation. Just because the guy is bored and swallows a pill , without sexual stimulation and screams & complains 'i don't have erection', the pill is not the problem:-)  It works upto 8 hours after it is taken and allows a man to respond to sexual stimulation. In rare cases, everything may appear to have blue tinge for 30 mnts to 90 mnts. Normally, it is safe and doesn't have dangerous side effects. Other drugs prescribed for ED are Cialis(tadalafil) & Nuviva(vardanafil).

Viagra shouldn't be taken with nitrates(nitro glycerin type drugs) prescribed for angina in men. It can be lethal. Infact in one study, they found that viagra, given to men with angina, right before coronary bypass surgery, improved blood flow to the heart. As long as viagra is not mixed with nitrates, men with ED can use it safely. Since ED is mainly psychological based, it is better not to stress out too much. This explains why the infertility rate has increased quite a bit in the last 10 years. Stress affects Testosterone levels -> low sperm count -> infertility. Remember, Life is Beautiful :-)  

Please read this interesting article 'Joy of Uncircumcising', first appeared in the British Medical Journal in 1994. Circumcision is probably & still carried out in some communities???...

 http://www.cirp.org/pages/reviews/bigelow/

Male Sexuality from health perspective - Part 3

Let's see how the reproductive organs play a role physiologically and psychologically in a man's sex life.

Erection: The shaft of the penis consists of three cylinders of erectile tissue. When the penis is limp, there is very little blood flow and the erectile tissue is like a compressed dry sponge. The blood that flows into the penile artery is diverted/shunted directly into the outflow vein bypassing the erectile tissue. When erection occurs, tiny trapdoors called polsters close off the shunt and the erectile tissue is filled with blood. This causes the penis to straighten out like a garden hose when the faucet is turned on and the nozzle is closed off.

The polsters are not physical structures. Doctors have tried to look for this in autopsy bodies and couldn't find. Chemical receptors are the physiological equivalent of polsters as it is possible to create an erection by injecting chemical receptors directly into the erectile tissue. The polsters can be stimulated in two ways. Firstly, sexy thoughts send a message to polsters through sympathetic nerves. Secondly, touching, rubbing or direct stimulation activates the polsters through the spinal column like a knee jerk. It is normal for a man to have morning erection and this means that his physiological systems are functioning properly. This morning erection is mainly a reflex erection due to the stimulation of full bladder. If erection occurs when the bladder is not full, then other factors are the reason. The chemical ingredient that induces erection is nitric oxide NO, not to be confused with nitrous oxide NO₂, also known as laughing gas.

In adult men, the erect penis assumes an angle of 140 to 160 degrees with few degrees off. This angle corresponds to the angle of the vagina. When the erection is normal but the angle is leass than 90 degrees, it is surgically possible to shorten the upper surface of the penis by removing the wedges from the erectile cylinders so that intercourse can be comfortable. When  there is no erection, the penis is flaccid. In some men, upon erection, the penis curves upwards, instead of downward, left or right, 10 to 30 degrees and sometimes 90 degrees or more. A normal healthy penis can curve 10 degrees or slightly more. But when the curvature is severe, it can cause pain and intercourse becomes impossible. This condition is known as Peyronie's disease but this never turns into a cancer. The only problem with this condition is it causes a scar of the tissue and calcification can occur. 

Erectile Dysfunction(ED) can be due to circulation, harmonal, neuronal or psychological based. 90% of ED is mainly of psychological origin. People, who have Type II Diabetes, who smoke and drink quite regularly or heavily, suffer ED. For most people with ED, the magic pill Viagra(Sildenafil) works and other drugs Cialis and Levitra are also prescribed. Fat, overeating, lack of exercise and stress also interfere with libido and can affect fertility in both men & women. For some men, the ED can be solved by quitting smoking, doing more exercise, cutting back on alcohol and losing weight. If the ED is due to circulation based then the blood vessels in the penis are blocked. If its harmonal based, then its due to low levels of testosterone. If its neuronal based then there is some damage to the nerves in the penis. If its psychological, then a man may have erection and experience orgasm with one female and doesn't with another.

Intercourse: It is one of the sex plays but an ultimate act. There are roughly 6000 nerves in the head of the penis. The thrusting motions massage the penile nerve endings in a rhytmic manner to create an intense preorgasmic sensation which gives immense pleasure. Frenulum is a tag of skin that runs from foreskin to the undersurface of the head of the penis. It is common for this skin to tear and heal with a scar. But erection and intercourse can pull on it and cause pain. Circumcision, also known as Frenuloplasty, solves this problem.

Orgasm: This is something that requires lot of coordination and knowledge of sex between the partners. When stimulation increases and reaches a certain intensity it triggers waves of contractions which we call orgasm. Bladder neck contracts, muscle around prostate gland, seminal vesicles, vas deferens contract squeezing the semen into the urethral passage. The ejaculate forms the glob stretching the wall of the urethra and the pelvic muscles contract. This leads to a culmination of orgasm and ejaculation.

Ejaculation: The normal ejaculate is alkaline which means a pH of 7 or more. Its volume varies anywhere from 0.1 to 1.6 tsp (0.5 mL to 8 mL) and most of the fluid is from the prostate. Sperm makes only 1% of the total semen(seminal fluid). This is one of the reason men, who have had vasectomy, don't see a change in their semen/ejaculate. A normal ejaculate contains more than 20 million sperm per milliliter. The prostate gland secretes a protein which helps protect the sperm from the acidic environment of urethra and vagina. It also contains Vitamin C, Zinc, Cholestrol and a few other compounds. A normal healthy semen doesn't contain any harmful substances although non-healthy ones may carry bacteria and viruses of sexually transmitted diseases. A healthy sperm swims at a rate 48 to 96 mm per second.

Sometimes the ejaculation may hurt due to acidity. Urologists prescribe baking soda(sodium bi carbonate, NaHCO₃) which is alkaline, to reduce the acidity and patients report that they feel better after taking baking soda in a glass of water for couple of days. One of my friend's 9 year old son was having problem urinating. He was complaining that its burning. I told the mother to put 1/4 tsp baking soda in a glass of water and make him drink for 2 to 3 days. My friend told me that the symptoms were completely gone. Ejaculate fluid is sticky, milky and has an odour not due to the sperm. The ejaculate is liquefied by a protein(PSA-Prostatic Specific Antigen) secreted by the glandular cells of the prostate gland. The Physician tests for this protein incase he suspects there is a tumor in the prostate.

It is quite common for normal men to ejaculate prematurely before or late after penetration. This can be trained with mental training and some physical reconditioning until a satisfactory ejaculation is performed. Some of the physiological causes of premature ejaculation are injury to the nervous system, pelvic structures, diabetes, heart disease. The treatment for premature ejaculation is a prescription of antidepressant drugs like Prozac and Paxil. The same drugs are also used to treat depression! 

Normally one should not see sperms in the urine. If it happens, its called retrograde ejaculation. The semen backs up in the ejaculatory duct and ends up in the bladder. Also when one sees white cells(immune cells) in the semen, then one has to make sure if its to do with infection or some other serious problem.

Delayed ejaculation is exactly the opposite of premature ejaculation. This can also lead to more serious ejaculatory incompetence in which case the man will not be able to ejaculate inside his partner's vagina. This poses difficulty for couple who wants to have a baby. As similar to the premature ejaculation, physiological causes like diabetes, blood pressure medication, psychiatric drugs etc contribute to this condition. One of the common reason associated with delayed ejaculation is masturbation. Some of the other factors at play are marital conflict, substance(drug & alcohol) abuse, anger toward women and oppressive upbringing. It can be treated with positive reinforcement. Sexual satisfaction requires lot of understanding and committment from the partners. 

Male Sexuality from health perspective - Part 2

We will get straight into the subject matter. If, any of you have doubts, I will do my best to clarify. Although I would like to remind the reader that I'm not a Physician. In every field, there are experts. One should respect, learn and seek advice from them. I do follow very 'authentic' text books. But when it comes to certain serious conditions that can threaten a person's life, one should always consult a Physician/Specialist to address the problem. Don't abuse the body. It is amazing how different body organs function and work as a team to keep the body in a stable state.

Male Reproductive Anatomy:

The Penis: The main organ that receives male attention is the penis. Even men are worried about and preoccupied with the size and shape of their penis. They also ask 'shouldn't it be bigger?'. Do the testicles hang properly? One thing everybody should be very clear is that 'appearance, in general, is nothing to do with functioning'. Only if a person is applying for jobs in strip clubs, appearance matters. The size of the penis has nothing to do with virility. Unfortunately, many men think women love larger penis, but penis size is a male concern. A woman would be more concerend about the strength of the erection than the size. A woman expects more of psycho-sexual experience from her man. A man can have larger testicles or penis but if, for God's sake, he develops cancer of that organ, he just has to forgo the organ to save his life. It applies to women too. So, don't confuse appearance with functioning.

Average length of the flaccid penis is 3 to 6 inches(some can be shorter or longer) and the erect penis is 4 to 8 inches. Human penis in relation to body size, is nothing compared to other animals. The Boar has a penis 1.5 feet long, the stallion has 2.5 feet, the bull has 3 feet, the elephant has 5 feet and the blue whale has 8 feet! One of my friend jokingly said he would like to be born as blue whale in his next birth:-) I wished him good luck!

Men who are overweight feels their penis is shrinking and becoming smaller. The reason is the excess fat is drooping over and gives a 'false' appearance. Actually, only half the penis hangs outside and the remaining half extends inside. It can be made to appear thicker & longer. It can be made to appear longer by cutting the ligament that holds it in the middle. It can also be made thicker by injecting one's own fat cells under the skin of the penis. But it is not permanent. Moreover, the surgeons may apply some irritants that may cause temporary swelling. There are no products(approved by the FDA) available on the markets that can make the penis longer & thicker. But there are so many false ads on the internet for linga/penis enlargement and there are so many people who blindly go by these ads. Some people have argued with me when I said 'so ans so' was fat. They say 'that's your opinion'. It is not my opinion and it is not subjective. Standing straight, if man looks down, he should be able to see his penis. If he can't see, that means he has a belly fat. It applies to females too. If a woman can't see her pubic hair, then belly fat is blocking the view. Science goes objectively.

In some Jewish and African communities, the penis is circumcised from cleanliness & some religious perspectives. Also there is a practise of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) in some parts of Africa. But there is no scientific evidence that an uncircumcised penis causes cancer. In uncircumcised men, the glans which is the head of the penis, is covered by foreskin. The amount of foreskin varies and as long as it glides easily over the head of the penis, it is fine. All matters is, the person should be hygiene and daily clean the area under the foreskin, as it can collect fluids containing virus or bacteria, with regular soap and water. Don't use any products available on the markets and scream 'its burning, paining, swelling, scarring etc'. Reading something on the internet is different from the Physicians who actually deal with the reproductive organs of the man. So, always consult a Physician before using any product on sensitive areas like genitals. Only when the foreskin doesn't glide easily, the problem occurs. This leads to conditions called phimosis and paraphimosis. We will discuss this later with a nice example to remember these two conditions.

The shaft of the penis is covered by a hairless skin. There are three cylinders of erectile tissue inside the shaft, two running on top, smaller one running at the bottom. This smaller one contains the urethra and ends as a bulged head, called the glans. The paired cylinders on top end just behind the glans and extend into the body on both sides of the pubic bone. The main nerve, blood vessels run in between the paired cylinders on top. Nerve tendrils are spread out everywhere but mainly in the head of the penis. When these nerves are stimulated directly, a man can experience heights of sexual sensations.

The Scrotum & the Testicles: Scrotum is nothing but a skin bag that contains both the testicles and other accessories like epididymis and vas deferens. It is hairy and underneath that there is a thin layer of muscle which when contracted, the scrotum shrinks and pull the testicles closer to the body and when the muscle is relaxed, the testicles drop away from the body. The normal temperature of the testicles is 4⁰F(1.5⁰C) cooler than the normal body temperature which is 98.2⁰F.

It is not necessary that the testicles have to be symmetrical. It is normal for the left testicle to hang slightly lower than the right. In this normal case, the heart is on the left and the appendix on the right. But, if the right testicle is lower than the left, then the heart is on the right and the appendix is on the left. This is called Kartagener's syndrome which is associated with lung problems and such a condition is very rare. Testes is the organ that primarily produces the male harmone Testosterone besides Adrenal glands which also produces small amounts of it. Within a testicle, there is a cluster of tubules separated by two types of cells called Sertoli and Leydig cells. It is the Leydig cells that produce testosterone and directly inject it into the bloodstream. The Sertoli cells nourishes these tubular cells which become transformed into sperms. It takes approximately 72 days for the tubular cell to be transformed into a sperm.

Just as we saw in the case of penis, same is true with testicles. Large testicles do not mean masculinity/fertility. We will see 'why this is so' when we come to 'seminal vesicles'. The size can vary from the size of an egg yolk to size of the plum. The testicles start high in the back of the abdomen near the kidney level but as the foetus grows, they slowly descend and finally in the eighth month in utero become attached to the abdominal sac. In the final month, they drop further into the scrotum by pulling peritonial lining with it which is closed at the bottom. In the normal birth, the peritoneum closes off at the top also. But there is always an opening at the top. All men are susceptible to hernia formation and there are different types of hernia. Hernia is a protrusion of an organ or part of the organ into a wall of the cavity in which it is contained. The hernia associated with testicles is called indirect inguinal hernia where the intestine is pushed into the scrotum.

The Prostate Gland: It is about the size of a walnut and 1 inch in legth and 1.5 inches in diameter. It weighs about 20g. It surrounds the urethra near the bladder sphincter. Inside the prostate are the glandular cells, muscle cells, fibrous cells intermixed with blood vessels, nerves and fat. The gland produces an important protein for fertility but has no vital function. A man can live well without a prostate. But one can not live without a heart or liver. Liver is a miracle organ and to remember the power of this organ, just think 'to live' 

Since the prostate surrounds the urethra, in middle aged men, it has a tendency to grow and choke the flow of urine through the urethra. It can grow to a size of 200g without affecting the urine flow. But size alone is not an indicator for treatment. The important questions need to be asked are: Does he feel like urinating frequently day and night? Does he feel uncomfortable urinating? Does he find difficulty knowing if his bladder is emptied or not? A man can experience these symptoms with a 100g or even 30g. So, only a Physician/Urologist, after some tests will decide the course of the treatment. If it is not much of a discomfort, it can be treated with some drugs. Only when it causes real pain and discomfort, and doesn't listen to drugs, there is a choice of removing the organ.

Urethra: It is a delicate and thin walled tube about 8 inches in length. It start from the bladder and ends at the tip of the penis. It is surrounded by the sphincter muscle which keeps the urine in the bladder. Just behind the sphincter muscle is the prostrate gland. This is the site of all problems related to the prostate gland. When the prostate grows in size it can choke the urethra. The urethral walls are made of unicellular column like cells and only at the head of the penis, it becomes a multilayered walls like those in the skin. Since the passage is so delicate, any cathetars and instruments can cause scarring and blockage. This is one of the reasons, Urologists hesitate to intervene medically unless the situation warrants it. Many guys, wanting to have erection or rigidity, insert all kinds of objects(like small stick, bead,safety pin etc) into the urethra and then end up with Urologists who remove these objects! Don't mess up with the body. It has discipline and it doesn't like foreign objects. Respect the body as it is one of the marvels of nature. Bladder is the best example.

Bladder: The bladder resembles a baloon and located in the abdomen behind the pubic bone. It is defined as an uncooked egg in size & shape when empty and collapsed and as grapefruit when filled with urine. It is the kidneys that produce the urine and transport it through the ureters/tubes from the kidneys to the bladder. These ureters traverse the wall of the bladder and run under the bladder lining. This creates a flap valve that prevents back flow of urine to the kidneys. When there is urine backflow, it can cause damage to the kidneys.

As the bladder starts to fill up, its wall relaxes. No message is sent to the brain. Only when it reaches a near capacity, the bladder registers a sensation of fullness and the message is sent to the brain. As a result, the bladder muscles contract and the sphincter muscle(neck of the bladder) opens and the bladder empties the urine into the urethra. To design a 'artificial' bladder is to mimic the real bladder: when its empty, it should be like a plastic bag which can hold more fluid without changing the tension on its wall yet at the same time when its full should be like a rubber baloon. Cancer of the bladder is the most expensive to treat, also a very aggressive form of cancer which spreads to its adjacent body parts quickly and scientists have developed artificial bladder to replace the diseased bladder.

The Kidneys: We all have two kidneys which are bean shaped structure and about as large as an orange. It is not a part of reproductive system but connected to the genital organs and urologists are the surgeons who operate on them. The kidneys lie in a pad of fat and located high in the back behind abdominal lining and in front of the back muscles under the rib cage. The doctors locate the organ by tapping the back where the twelfth ribs meet the edge of the vertical back muscle. Since they are suspended free in a pad of fat, they move up and down an inch as we breathe. The kidneys are connected to the renal(pertaining to the kidneys) arteries(artery is a blood vessel carrying blood from the heart to any part of the body) which receive 25% of the blood pumped out from the heart. Renal veins(vein is a blood vessel which take the blood from any part back to the heart) take the outflow from the kidneys back to the heart.

Epididymis: It is like a comma shaped structure that drapes over the back side of each testicle. It is 1 inch long and 0.5 inch wide. It has a head on top, body in the middle and a tail. When it is cut open, there is a cluster of tubules and if these tubules are dissected out, they form a continuous tube. Sperms are produced in the testicles but in epididymis they get matured and aquire the ability to swim. The sperms recovered from the head can not swim and hence are unlikely to create pregnancy while those recovered from the tail part are much more fertile.

Vas Deferens: It is a tube that extends from each epididymis, that conducts sperms towards the seminal vesicles. The vas is thick like a wire and 1 foot long. The vas is mainly muscle and making it a hard cord that can be felt through the scrotal skin. When it is cut open, it is hard to find the inside canal(that conducts sperm) as it is so small. If a man is no longer interested in fathering a child, he can go for vasectomy, which is the removal of vas deferens. Even if he has 'unprotected' sex, he doesn't have to worry about making his woman pregnant as there would not be any sperms in the ejaculation as the vas/tube that conducts sperms has been removed! Or sometimes, instead of removing the entire vas deferens, they disconnect the tube end. Later, if the man decides to have a baby, it can be reattached. Few men are congentially bilateral vas deferens absent. The male hormones testosterone and DHT(dihydrotestosterone) are responsible for male characteristic growths like facial hair and vas deferens tubes. Vas deferens ducts don't develop properly in 1 to 2 % of men and hence will not be able to father children as sperms can not be transported out of the testes to the ejaculate.

Seminal Vesicles: These are irregular structures each roughly 2 inches, lying above the prostate and connected to the vas in the Y shape so that a single ejaculatory duct drains both vas and the seminal vesicles into the urethra which is also a passage for urine. When a man has erection, the bladder's sphincter muscle gets closed so that urine doesn't get mixed with semen. The seminal vesicles produce a gelatinous substance that becomes a part of the ejaculate. They also produce fructose, a simple sugar found in fruits. In infertility testing, if the ejaculate contains no fructose, then the man was born without seminal vesicles and he is 'irrevocably' infertile. Meaning he can't father a baby and the only option is to go for adoption.

The actual reproductive organs/structures are testicles, penis, prostate and seminal vesicles. We had to see other organs as they are all related to these genital organs.

Male Sexuality from health perspective - Part 1

Caution: Always consult a sexologist for psychologically related sexual problems and a Urologist/OBG for respective male/female related physiological problems. Please refer to any standard 'good' textbook on Physiology and Anatomy for further reading. For online resources, I strongly recommend http://www.nih.gov/ and http://www.karolinska.se/. These websites contain vast information. Those who are interested in knowing little bit about medicine, will be greatly benefitted. I also recommend the site http://www.medindia.net/ for easy understanding of many disorders & diseases.

This article is for those who are in conjugal relationship to have a better physical & mental understanding with the spouse.  Also, this is for people who are 'knowledge' curious and have some 'logical & rational' thinking. This article is not an advice to go behind any 'spiritual' guru. Neither is it for people who are in 'live-in' relationship as sex can become more complicated and personally I don't believe in it due to the consequences of 'unprotected & not-so-honest' sex from the standpoint of Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STDs). This article is mainly to educate and create an awareness in people about sex from the standpoint of health issues. Sex is still considered as taboo in many societies and also not many people, especially parents talk openly about it in a healthy context.

Appreciation for anything in life comes only after we understand about it. So, sex is no exception. When people have healthy understanding of the subject, there will be less crimes associated with sex, inequality between men & women, poverty, population growth and thereby leading to peace among different nations around the world. A better informed society is always a peaceful society.

Sex is a double edged sword. If a person doesn't play it safe, one can sabotage oneself. A woman needs to have a better understanding of man's body parts and vice versa alongwith understanding of their own body parts. True happiness always results only when the act is done with an 'unconditional' attitude without being attached to the result. With the exception of sex, anything in excess should be shared with those who don't have. If one shares sex too, one will only spread disease and if uncontrolled, it can lead to an epidemic/pandemic problem. Only one thing in the world, even when shared, never decreases in either quality or quantity. It is called 'knowledge'. All other material things always decrease in quantity.

I'm going to start first with Male body parts and then address Female body. With the power of modern Medicine and changes in one's lifestyle, we can control and possibly even reverse some of the 'not so' life threatening illnesses like Type I & II Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Arthritis, Blood Pressure. I will classify the articles on these topics, which affect both sexes, under a separate category. Check my blog for these topics in couple of weeks.

Most men don't know about their own body especially reproductive organs. They may not even know where exactly prostate is located or what is vas deferens. A woman should know about male body parts if she loves her man and it is true for a man too. Wrt sex, a man should know what the body parts are, where they are located and how they function, play a role in and can affect his sexual life either physiologically or psychologically.

When a man is more informed, he can be at ease with his own body and also talk more comfortably with his partner. The organs outside are penis, scrotum and inside are testicles, bladder, kidneys, prostate, urethra, vas deferens, epididymis and seminal vesicles. Among these, epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicles are accessories. Erection, intercourse, orgasm, and ejaculation can be due to physiological or psychological origin. Erectile Dysfunction(ED) is mainly attributed to psychological origin. The actual male reproductive organs are penis, testicles, prostate and the seminal vescicles. We will see these body parts one by one in the next article.

Fitness of the body & mind - Part V

Equipments for Anaerobic Exercise

First, go and get some free weights namely dumb bells and barbells. I don't recommend barbells for women. Get different weights of 5,10,15,20,25 or even higher weights with handles which itself can weigh 5 lbs. This will give you the freedom to add or remove weights according to the intensity or variation you want for different types of muscle training.

Your workout should mainly consist of free weights and only 15% from machines. Free weights are far superior to machines for the following reasons:

(1) You can never build massive body with machines.

(2) In a machine, the resistance is already balanced for you or the weight is already in a downward position that makes the movement far less challenging.

(3) As a result of the above, no matter how hard you train, you can never duplicate the technical demands of free weights.

(4) Unlike machines, free weights require proper form, balance, control, coordination, concentration and attention to detail.

(5) Free weights are far less expensive than machines and the benefits of free weights beat those of machines.

My favorite motivational clips for exercise:

Rocky Training - Ultimate

Dwayne Johnson workout

Body Builders Arnold Schwarznegger vs Ronnie Coleman

Firstly, if you want "cut", you should go for higher repetitions and lower weights(guys can easily start with 20 lbs). But if you want "bulk mass", you have to go for heavier weight(25 lbs or heavier) and lower repetitions. If you don't understand this, your workout will have no results. I will come to the number of sets and repetitions a bit later. These exercises can be done in gym or at home. The advantage of gym is that it will carry ranges of heavier weights. You can avail the benefits by becoming a member and most of the gyms charge a nominal fee.

Secondly, what you eat right after your work out makes hell of a difference in seeing the actual results. If you don't eat properly, you will go in a vicious cycle. You have to drop eating junk food. Occasionally, you can treat yourself but not on a regular basis!

Thirdly, one should know what type of body he belongs to. There are three types namely (i) Ectomorph (ii) Mesomorph (iii) Endomorph.

(i) Ectomorph is normally a skinny guy with thin bones and joints. He has hard time gaining fat and also muscle mass, but can easily lose fat and also muscle if doesn't eat frequently. He too has "V" shaped torso with narrow waist.

Example: Basketball player Kobe Bryant (6'6" and around 200 lbs)

(ii) Mesomorph is the athletic guy who has the physique that everyone dreams of. He has well proportioned bones, thick joints, the "V" shaped shoulder and tapered waist but not as slim as the Ectomorph guy. He has no trouble gaining and maintaining muscle mass very easily yet keeping the fat away.

Example: Basketball Player Shaquille O' Neal (7' and 300 lbs), Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson (5'11.5" and 215 lbs)

(iii) Endomorph is a guy who has more fat percentage. Obviously he is more out of shape and has a larger waistline. He constantly battles with fat. Its hard for him to lose fat without proper diet and exercise but can gain muscle easily like the Mesomorph guy.

Example: Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes (6'3" and weighed between 210-260 lbs!)

Ecto-Meso : Basketball Legend Michael Jordan (80/20)

Meso-Ecto : Heavyweight guy Holyfield (60/40)

Meso-Endo : Heavyweight George Foreman (60/40)

Meso-Ecto : Body builder Flex Wheeler (90/10) 

8 Times Mr Olympia Ronnie Coleman is mainly mesomorphic with a slight touch of endomorphic quality (90/10) and 7 Times Mr Olympia Arnold mesomorphic with some endomorphic quality (70/30).

In the video of Arnold vs Ronnie, notice the difference in bulk mass. Ronnie displays huge mass and cuts than Arnold. Ronnie moves 315 lbs behind-the neck-shoulder press for 20 reps. If that's not impressive, what is impressive?

PS: "V" shaped criteria for a guy is minimum 10" difference between the chest and the waist circumference. Chest has to be bigger than the waist. Don't take it the other way!

The purpose of doing weights is to gain muscle mass(muscle growth/anabolism). But what is actually happening during a weight session is "muscle breakdown/catabolism". When we are in the development stage, anabolism takes over catabolism. But after the age of twenty, the actual growth stops and catabolism slowly takes over. No wonder we start aging and we notice changes in our skin, body shape and bones. Once we grow into an adult man or woman(physically), body naturally prefers catabolism.

Now that you want to add some bulk mass, you're further breaking down the muscle on top of body's natural inclination towards catabolism. So, body goes on alert mode thinking something is happening and it starts going in the reverse direction namely "anabolism" right after workout as a safety measure to maintain the body in an equilibrium state. This is the crucial time one needs to pay attention if one wants to gain sexy bulk mass. If you don't, your workouts go waste. So, what you eat right after the workout makes a huge difference to your muscle appearance.

A person may belong to any one of the above three body types or a combination of any two types but not all three!!!. This is only the beginning but it does help a person train accordingly. Main exercises one needs are biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, back, abdomen, thighs and legs. Women don't have to do certain shoulder or back exercises as it would look ridiculous and also testosterone is a man's primary hormone. So, no matter how hard a woman tries, she will never pack on muscle mass like a guy. Also women have less upper body strength compared to men. As far muscle growth is concerned, the difference between a man and a woman is as striking as the difference between a male lion and the lioness.

Once you understand the power of free weights over machines, different body types, its advantages and the limitations, you can start doing the exercises routinely and intensely. All you need is some free weights, and an open mind to push your body to its tremendous capabilities.

Fitness of the body & mind - Part IV

In this article, we will look at the advantages/disadvantages of both aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Aerobic exercises are great for developing endurance/longevity. It gives you the energy to keep moving at a "constant speed" without getting exhausted. But it will not give you the strength and above all a nice shape to the body. So one has to do some strengthening/anaerobic exercises to build muscle power and also to develop a "sexy/figure flattering" body. Have you ever noticed that marathoners don't have a sexy body but sprinters/weight lifters do?

The purpose is to combine both types of exercises to get the maximum benefits. I would say, for a normal person who is not participating in Olympics or World Heavy Weight Championship, 60% should come from aerobic and the remaining 40% should from anaerobic exercises.

Lets look into the animal kingdom first.

The Cheetah is Nature's race car. It is the fastest land animal and has a beautiful aerodynamic body. Its favorite prey Gazelle/spring buck comes second close to that speed. This animal cheetah is the example for anaerobic exercise/sprint. The gazelle is for aerobic/endurance. Its speed is lower than the cheetah. That's why the gazelle can keep up its speed for a longer period,changing its course on the path,moving swift like a wind thus by wearing out the cheetah. If the gazelle can manage the lead for 15 secs, its saves its life! If the Cheetah can't hunt down its prey within 300 meters, the animal has to abandon its hunt as its heart rate goes up to 150 beats per minute and also the body temperature shoots to 105^oF. This is the limitation imposed by anaerobic metabolism. The body can't sustain such high speeds for longer periods.

Most of Cheetah's hunting winds up in failure. Due to inbreeding, the cheetahs have genetic abnormalities(like twisted ankle which would be a disaster for the cat that depends on speed for its hunting) and their population has declined over the years that they are now considered as endangered species. Also due to their smaller size,weighing anywhere between 120-150 lbs, compared to other big cats weighing 250(female lion)-500(adult male lion) lbs, they are very vulnerable to lion/hyena attacks. This animal's flexible spinal cord allows it to change directions abruptly at extreme high speeds. Even sports car can't match this animal's body design. However, the cheetah can only maintain its speed for a maximum of 10-15 seconds. It accelerates 0-60mph under 2.5 sec. Note that cheetah has a very stream lined beautiful body unlike the gazelle. Recently, when I was watching Animal Planet, it was all about cheetah and its prey. The gazelle is sitting oblivious to the surroundings! It is separated from its gang. The cheetah had seen the gazelle and closed the gap between the two and locked its focus on the gazelle. I love gazelle's eyes. I was screaming "Gazelle baby, run for your life". I think the gazelle heard me! And started running,the cheetah chasing it. I felt a sigh of relief, when the gazelle took one turn at obtuse(more than 90 deg with the line of axis) angle, the cheetah just gave up:-) Oh What a life...

Lets take a look at the big cats like the lions and the tigers. There are lion fanatic fans and the tiger fans. I go for the lion. Many would claim that tigers can kill lions in split second just by its massive body! They are wrong from a scientific perspective. In any wild kingdom, the rule is survival of the fittest. In the wild, there is not much difference between a male lion(especially African lion) and the male tiger with respect to weight with the exception of Siberian tigers(few in numbers) which weigh 800-900 lbs. If the animal is too fat, and if its a carnivore, chances are less that it will be a good hunter! Scientifically speaking, the explosive muscle power doesn't come from fat! If you look at the tiger and the lion, you will notice that tiger looks little bit "unshapely" compared to the lion. This "unshapelyness" is due to body fat. A lion has a "well defined" physique(due to sheer muscle force) as compared to the tiger.

Let me remind the readers again, to have a shapely, muscled body, one has to do strengthening/anaerobic exercises. There is no other short cut. This is where the lion has an edge over the tiger. The tiger may act swiftly with his paws but they don't carry that much "damage" as the lion's paw swipe which may come slowly but it carries lot of weight. Muscle weight has more power than "muscle+fat" combined. Fat is like a cushion. One can't do much damage to another when one has fat layers. A lion is "ALL" muscle whereas the tiger is "muscle plus fat". An adult male lion carries 250 lbs of sheer muscle power on its back that allows him to go for an explosive hunt. A lion(like elephants who have brains) is a very smart, wrestler, strategic fighter and also a gentleman type. Even if the tiger is heavier(let's assume!)than the lion, it doesn't mean anything! See the example I'm going to give below. A tiger doesn't have the temperament to fight skillfully like the lion. Fat metabolism is not as efficient as carb metabolism. When the body needs energy immediately to bounce back/self defense, the body directly seeks the stored glycogen(in liver and muscles)for energy without any time delay whereas it takes more time for the body to convert fat into energy. But the energy derived from glycogen gets depleted very fast(within 30 minutes/anaerobic), so the body resorts to the stored fat for long term energy(aerobic). Any exercise that lasts for more than 30 minutes has to be supported by fat metabolism.

To further illustrate my point, I would like to give you some examples of the difference between the power that comes from sheer muscle force and the muscle+fat. In martial arts, the first step is "warm-up" exercise which is unlike any other warm-up exercise people do in aerobic and anaerobic exercises. The martial arts warm-up prepares the body for the toughness to take any physical blow. It also prepares the mind for alertness, and total concentration. I had a brief stint with Kung-Fu!

Take martial arts for example. Some martial arts guys who are not heavy can still beat up martial arts guys who are heavily built. What matters is the lean body mass that consists of muscle,bone and tissues. In general, men have less body fat compared to women. The movie Rocky series still drives many guys to do exercise religiously. In that series, Stallone fights with guys who are more heavily built than him but still Stallone comes out victorious in the end because he prepares his body in a natural setting. He practices physical toughness that he can take any blow from the opponent and still bounce back quickly while the opponent burns out fast. That's skillful fighting. A lion fits into this category. BTW, I love all animals. One of my dreams is to stand next to a live "alpha" male lion and take a picture. Can there be a better thrill in life than that?

The advantage of anaerobic exercise is to build strength/muscle power. For the same height and weight, a human male(applies to animals too) has more lean body mass than a female. A male has more blood volume hence haemoglobin count than a female. The disadvantage of anaerobic exercise is "acidity and waste" building up. One has to eliminate it through proper intake of food. Long term acidity can lead to osteoporosis/arthritis, kidney failure and other complications. Use common sense and seek suggestions(if you are not sure)before you start any exercise program. A person with very high/low blood pressure, diabetes(Type I & II),arthritis or any other ailments need to consult the Physician first and then start the exercise. Don't do things blindly!

In the next article, I will suggest various aerobic and anaerobic exercises that a person can implement in his daily life to keep physically fit. Finally I will explain what type of foods one should eat before and after aerobic/anaerobic exercises.

PS:Please share your comments or you can point out any technical mistakes/errors if I have made. I will be very happy to correct self.

Fitness of the body & mind - Part III (Aerobic Glycolysis)

We saw in the previous article that the first step,glycolysis in both aerobic as well as anaerobic, takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell. In this article, we will see how aerobic glycolysis is carried out.

Aerobic glycolysis, also known as Cellular respiration, requires oxygen for harvesting energy. There are 3 steps in this process: (1) glycolysis (2) Krebs cycle or citric acid cycle (3) electron transport chain. Although the glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell, the Krebs cycle and electron transport chain occur within the mitochondria for cellular respiration. In aerobic glycolysis, mitochondria are the engines of our cells where sugar is burned for fuel and the exhaust is CO₂ and H₂O.

Irrespective of the metabolic pathways(aerobic or anaerobic), the first step glycolysis produces a total of 4 ATP molecules but 2 are used up in the process. In aerobic metabolism, additional ATPs are produced during Krebs cycle and electron transport chain resulting in a grand total of 40 ATP molecules from the breakdown of one glucose molecule. 2 ATPs are already lost in glycolysis(breakdown of glucose to pyruvic acid). To move the pyruvic acid into mitochondria, the process uses one ATP. Thus for each glucose molecule which produces 2 pyruvic acids(2 ATPs are lost here),a net total of 36 ATPs are produced as 2 more ATPs are lost to push the 2 pyruvic acids into the mitochondria.

Each pyruvic acid molecule needs to react with 3 oxygen molecules to form 3 carbon dioxide molecules and 3 water molecules.

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ =3CO₂ + 3H₂O + (energy for the cell, ie ATP)

Or, you can write it in an alternate way(we are just re-grouping the terms),

(C₃H₆O₃ + 3O₂)+ (C₃H₆O₃ + 3O₂) = 3CO₂ + 3H₂O + (energy for the cell, ie ATP)

Remember, glucose is broken down to 2 pyruvic acid molecules as

C₆H₁₂O₆ = 2(C₃H₆O₃)

You don't need to know the details of the Krebs cycle and electron chain transport to lose/gain weight and to do exercises as it involves some technical terms! If you have to take an exam or are further interested in knowing, you can refer to any "good" text book on General Chemistry or Physiology/Anatomy.Or, you can buzz me for details through email!

Things to keep in mind:

Glucose(also known as Dextrose),Fructose(found in fruits and honey) and Galactose are simple sugars called monosaccharides. All the living cells use glucose as a source of energy and metabolic intermediate.

Sucrose(Table sugar) = glucose(50%) + fructose(50%)

Lactose(found in milk and it makes to 2-8% of milk)= glucose + galactose

Maltose(used in brewing beer) = glucose + glucose

Sucrose, Lactose, Maltose are disaccharides. Starch, a polysaccharide(complex carbohydrate) is a chain of many glucose units/molecules.

People who are lactose intolerant, basically lack the enzyme "lactase" in their body which is essential to digest the milk. This enzyme is secreted by the small intestinal villi and without this enzyme, the lactose will not be broken down into its sub units glucose and galactose. Then the unbroken lactose provide food for gut flora that produces gas. People with lactose intolerant will develop bloating and constipation. Some enzymes are available in the market.

Next time when you visit any grocery store, don't go with anybody(its not a picnic spot!)go alone and go through all the aisles reading the food labels patiently. If some names sound strange, note it down and find out. You will uncover yourself mentally. Many people gain weight for a simple reason that they don't pay much attention to the food/body and talk too much while eating. So they don't keep track of the quantity that's going into the body!!!

We will see in the next article how we can burn calories by losing bad fat and gaining muscle weight through certain exercises that keep our energy levels high. Isn't that cool?

Fitness of the body & mind - Part II(Anaerobic Glycolysis)

Note: In the previous article, I mentioned that a Physician purposely let B Lymphocytes circulate in the bloodstream in some cases of Bone Marrow Transplantation. Let me correct myself by writing precisely it is the "Hematologist"(as Physician is a general word), who deals with the disorders/diseases of the blood.

Energy production of ATP synthesis can occur through either anaerobic or aerobic glycolysis. We will see in this article how anaerobic metabolism is carried out in our body. Our body depends on oxygen to carry out many chemical reactions inside our body. Aerobic means "dependent" on oxygen. Instead of using "presence" and "absence" of oxygen, which can convey a wrong message, I like to use "dependent" and "independent" of oxygen. So, anaerobic means, the body doesn't depend on oxygen to carry out the chemical reactions.

Carbohydrate metabolism(anaerobic/glycogen) is much more efficient & faster than the fat metabolism. You will understand this better when you see the details of the pathways in aerobic as well as anaerobic metabolism and the relative performance of these two reactions in sprinters and marathoners. To put it in a different way, anaerobic metabolism(sprinters,high jumpers,weight lifters)means "short intervals, high speed" and aerobic metabolism(marathoners) means "longer intervals, low/reduced speed". Any exercise that persists for more than roughly 3 minutes must be powered by aerobic metabolism.

There are two ways in which a cell can harvest energy from food:(1)Fermentation and (2) Cellular respiration. The first process/step, irrespective of aerobic or anaerobic metabolism is "glycolysis". Glycolysis is the breakdown of glucose(C₆H₁₂O₆) into two pyruvates(C₃H₆O₃). That means, the 6-carbon glucose splits into 2 3-carbon pyruvic acid. Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm of the cells. This pyruvate is broken down differently in aerobic and anaerobic reactions.

Anaerobic metabolism/Fermentation: These pyruvic acid molecules are turned into some waste products and very little energy(ATP). Actually 4 ATP molecules are produced but 2 are used up in the process. It is similar to: our body needs calories/energy to even eat/consume calories. So, in this process only 2 ATPs are produced. There are 2 types of fermentation:

(i) Lactic acid fermentation: This is done by some fungi or some bacteria like lactobacillus acidophillus found in yogurt and sometimes by our muscles(in the case of sprinters). Normally our muscles, like any other body part, do cellular respiration/aerobic using oxygen supplied by the lungs and blood. However, under greater exertion(like sprint), when the oxygen supplied by the lungs and blood can't get there fast enough to keep up with the muscle's needs, our muscles can switch over to lactic acid fermentation. In lactic acid fermentation process,the 3-carbon pyruvic acid molecules are converted to lactic acid. It is the presence of lactic acid in the yogurt that gives it sour taste and its the same lactic acid in the muscles that makes them so sore and stiff the next day. Once our muscles form lactic acid, they can't do anything else with it, until it is washed away by the bloodstream and carried to the liver which is then able to get rid of the waste(Remember liver's duty is to remove toxins/wastes from our body?). To reduce the acidity(soreness/stiffness), drink plenty of water with a total of 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of sodium-bi-carbonate popularly known as Baking Soda, NaHCO₃. Baking soda is alkaline, so it will neutralize the acidity building up due to fermentation.

(ii) Alcohol fermentation:This is done by some yeast(used in bread, pizza dough, beer,wine!) and some bacteria. The waste products are ethanol and carbon-dioxide. In bread making, it is the CO₂ that forms and gets trapped between the gluten(long protein in wheat)molecules that causes the bread to rise and the ethanol evaporating gives it a wonderful smell! Many college students and regular boozers are very familiar and probably expert(!) with the effects of ethanol in beer and wine...

Fitness of the body and mind - Part I

Many people face challenge when it comes to doing exercise or losing weight. Gaining weight is not a problem! There are zillions of books each claiming its own technique/method as the best to losing weight. None addresses from layman standpoint. This article is an attempt to explain to a person who doesn't know anything about the physiology/anatomy(how our body is structured and functions internally) and how the right exercises, coupled with healthy and power foods play vital role in keeping oneself physically and mentally fit.

Keep in mind, both body(classified as gross matter) and mind(subtle matter) are matter only!

All the foods that we eat contain a combination of protein, carbohydrates and fat apart from vitamins and minerals. But protein, carbohydrates and fat are macromolecules and they can't directly nourish the 100 trillion(1 trillion is 1 followed by 12 zeros) cells in the human body out of which 100 billion cells are brain cells and 20-30 trillion cells are Erythrocytes(also known as red blood cells). All the macro molecules are broken down to a much smaller unit called ATP(Adenosine Tri Phosphate) which is the currency of energy at cellular level.

In Biology, people do research at molecular level, in Chemistry at atomic level and in Physics from particle to astronomical level. All the three subjects deal with matter only. Physics encompasses the other two as far matter is concerned!

The final end product of all the three macro nutrients are as follows:

1) Protein --> ATP, CO₂(carbon-di-oxide),H₂O(water), urea(a waste which should be excreted through liver and kidneys).

1 gram(gm) of protein equals 4 kcalories.

Excess protein puts stress on the organs liver and kidneys to overwork to get rid of the toxin that builds up in the bloodstream. Bodybuilders(who are on high protein diet) normally have, in their later years, kidney failure, urinary calcium loss. High protein intake is one of the main reasons for the high incidence of Osteoporosis in the United States despite the heavy consumption of milk which contains roughly 30% calcium! Blood maintains its alkalinity in a narrow range(pH - 7.35-7.45).

The pH stands for the potential of hydrogen ion, measures the acidity or alkalinity/base of a solution/substance. I will explain the alkalinity/base and acidity later in conjunction with foods. For the time being, take it for granted that pH ranges from 0 to 14. A pH less than 7 is acidic and more than 7 is alkaline. A pH of 7 is neutral and distilled water is neutral. Saliva and urine must be slightly acidic(around 6.7),stomach is acidic as it produces hydrochloric acid, whose pH is 0, acts as protection against microorganisms including HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus which disables the immune system(T white blood cells/Leukocytes) thereby exposing the person to all kinds of infections).

There are 5 types of white blood cells and one is a lymphocyte and other 4 are basophils, neutrophils, monocytes and esonophils. Lymphocytes are 2 types namely B lymphocytes & T lymphocytes. B stands for "Bone Marrow" and T stands for "Thymus". In the case of HIV, T cells are targeted by the virus. T cells circulate throughout our bloodstream and B cells normally don't come out of the Bone Marrow. In cases of "Bone Marrow Transplant", sometimes the Physician purposely let healthy B cells circulate in the bloodstream. If a person, who is HIV positive, drinks half glass of water and another person by mistake, without knowing, drinks the remaining water, the latter will not get the virus as the stomach acid will kill the virus(it can't thrive in such acidic atmosphere)unless the latter had some cuts in his mouth or had sex(in which case the virus has direct access to the bloodstream and thus slowly disable the white blood cells)! But the stomach itself is protected from the acid by the thick, protective mucus layer and by secretin buffering with sodium bi carbonate which is alkaline. Heartburn,peptic ulcers can develop when these mechanisms fail.

For optimal health our body should be slightly alkaline. Small intestine is alkaline. When blood pH goes slightly acidic, the consequences can be devastating. So our body will do anything to keep the blood alkaline. Calcium(its pH is 12) is an alkaline mineral which is abundant in the bones. When blood pH goes down, due to high intake of protein which builds up uric acid,the body will take calcium from the bones to maintain the blood pH. Protein is not the major source of energy for the body. It is mainly for the repair and maintenance of tissues and muscles. When a person goes on a carbohydrate deprived diet, and eats lot of protein and fat, then the body will break down fat first, then protein. The best example is prisoners who are not fed properly. So over time, the body will break down protein to sustain the energy body needs. The skin-bone structure of prisoners is clear evidence of the conversion of muscle protein to blood sugar to support their life.

2) Carbohydrates --> ATP,CO₂,H₂O. A healthy diet should consist of 50-65% carbohydrate to avoid weight gain/loss. When a person thinks that carbohydrate is junk and protein is good(I have lot of friends who think like this and they neither have energy nor lose weight because of their stupidity!) and go on carbohydrate deprivation, he/she is going against body's natural mechanism. After the digestion of carbohydrates, the end products are glucose, fructose and galactose. For active adults(who do exercise actively!), 60-65% should come from carbohydrates.

Glucose(C₆H₁₂O₆),followed by Fat for long term energy store, is the main source of energy for the body including brain cells,red blood cells,CNS(central nervous system),retina all of which require constant supply of glucose. Just 40 minute of resting activity consumes up the entire circulating blood sugar. 15 minutes of walking is taken up by the entire blood glucose. The normal blood glucose(assuming that an adult male has 5 litres of blood) is 3.3g to 7g. Brain alone consumes 6g of glucose an hour! The only organ, on a short term basis, that can produce glucose is liver which produces 200mg per hour. It is the duty of the liver to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Only during prolonged fasting, kidneys also produce glucose.

Liver is the one that metabolises the food and also the sole organ for removing toxins from our body. After small intestine, all the important nutrients now interact directly with the liver and bloodstream and the unwanted residue go to the large intestine and finally come out as fecal matter. When this organ is screwed up, death is assured. Let me give you an example of the power of this organ. When a person drinks alcohol, say whiskey which is normally 40% or 80 proof, the liver stops metabolising everything else and solely concentrates on alcohol and try to get it out of the bloodstream as fast as it can. Whenever you subject your body with toxicity, you put this miracle organ to work around the clock to keep the body in stable conditions. So, don't mess up with this organ. I have humble respects for this organ.

Only liver and kidneys are sugar producers. All other organs are sugar burners and they take up glucose from the blood and using it for energy production. Glucose can't enter the cell directly due to its molecular weight(180 g/mol) and it is further broken down through "aerobic" or "anaerobic" metabolism to a much smaller unit ATP that cells can use. The body first breaks down carbohydrates, then fat and then protein. Anything excess, more than what the body's energy needs, will go to storage as fat in adipose tissue, and carbohydrates as glycogen in liver and muscle. To put it bluntly, consider glucose as your checking account and fat as your savings account!!! You don't touch your savings until your checking account is completely emptied up.

One unit/gram of carbohydrate again equals 4 kcalories.

3) Fat --> ATP,CO₂,H₂O

Fat serves many purposes in our body. Without some percentage of fat, one can bruise oneself very easily. Fat acts as insulation(in the skin)regulating the temperature of the skin. It also acts as protection for our knees, kidneys(which move flexibly,when you walk,as they are nicely cushioned by the surrounding fat) and "heart" which is hidden behind the adipose tissue. There are good fats and bad fats. The degree of saturation of the fatty acids determine if the fatty acids are good or bad. If the fatty acids don't consist of any carbon double bond, then it is a saturated/bad/hydrogenated fat(vegetable, palm oil). If it contains at least one carbon double bond, then its called mono unsaturated/good fat(olive oil) and it is called polyunsaturated fat if it contains more than one double bond(Canola has many double bonds). You don't use these two oils at high temperatures as the double bonds break and become hydrogenated/saturated. So, for deep frying, use peanut, or vegetable oil. But try to avoid fried foods as much as you can for the sake of your heart:-) In case you eat fried stuff, make sure you get ample exercise that day!

We will see how different exercises utilise these three nutrients and how one can easily shed pounds of junk fat and gain muscle when one understands the basic metabolism of the three nutrients. Ideally, one should incorporate exercises that are 60% aerobic and 40% anaerobic...

Health Reform - Part I

Health Reform was one of the campaign promises of President Obama. The issue was started during Clinton's time and got buried also. During Bush era of 8 years, everything got screwed up and all the money in billions of dollars was spent on unwanted wars. And now they say that Mr President should slow down and do it on a bi-partisan way. Hell with the republicans. When one wants to achieve something lofty for the public, one can't start at compromising position. So Mr President, lets move on and get it done with or without the support of republicans. The President needs to take the cue from Mahatma Gandhi who was stubborn and wouldn't budge until he got what he wanted. Its so sad that a Governor with the Indian name, Bobby Jindal, talks nonsense and a voice for the party of "NO to everything". Its high time Bobby Jindal educates himself and his backward state.

So much debate and bickering on Health Reform is going on and on in this country. Its mind blowing to see many people in this "so called" developed nation still ignorant of the prevailing ruined health system. Health industry is in a complete mess. Health industry is dictated by the Insurance companies, Pharmaceutical companies, and not forget Hospitals and then Doctors. Its a BIG BUCK game. Medical bill is number one cause for bankruptcy in this country. It needs a complete overhaul otherwise its going to die. There is no point in just polishing and covering the cracks.

The health industry here is basically a "sickness" industry. They want people to be sick so they can make the most out of them. Insurance companies dictate who get covered for what and how the premium is set up. They are like mad, greedy dogs that let loose on the road. With no oversight and regulations on them, these dogs will enjoy milking and killing people by denying coverage. Greediness & true Consciousness never go hand in hand! The latest sad story is about a 38 year old man, who lost a job and hence the health insurance an year ago and whose wife is diagnosed of ovarian cancer, wants to join the army just for the sake of health insurance. There can not be a sickening story than this. The insurance company, even if its not confirmed and only a suspicion, raises an individuals rates, if the individual had requested a diagnostic test for some pre-existing conditions.

Drug companies are screwed up on a different scale. Here in US, patenting is absurd. Blind patenting without knowing what the gene does, is a drag on research and innovation. It only implies greediness. The patent laws have to be reformed too. Otherwise, the treatment let alone the cure for ghastly "single-gene" genetic diseases(mutation in a single gene causes havoc) like Huntington Disease(HD), Early-Onset Alzheimer Disease(EOAD), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy(DMD), Tay-Sach(TS), Cystic Fibrosis(CF which is different from CFS-Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!) and so on will not be possible in the near future. The patenting in Europe is atleast slightly better than the one in US. Don't forget that unlike EOAD, LOAD(Late-Onset Alzheimers Disease) is not "inherited".

Diseases like Cancer, Congenital heart disease, asthma, schizophrenia, diabetes etc come under "polygenic or complex disorders" meaning they are caused by the interaction of several genes. Next to heart disease, cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Lets take a look at the pathetic patenting and the commercial exploitation of the breast/ovarian cancer gene. Also insurance companies discriminate women. For the same doctor's visit, a woman's premium is way higher than a man's. I hope President Obama puts an end to this damn practice(like the Bill he passed into law "equal pay for equal work"). In fact more women than men supported the President for the simple reason that many women see in this President a brighter future for them. He has plenty of issues to deal with on his plate. Lets see how cool Mr President handles them.

Mary-Claire King, who first identified the gene(located at 17q21-means at location 21 on the long arm of chromosome 17) responsible for raising a woman's risk of developing breast/ovarian cancer, teamed up with the former director of NIH, Francis Collins to isolate the gene itself. Its called BRCA1. The three players in this gene were Myriad Genetics, NIH and the Utah University. Everyone involved in the gene applied for a patent. Myriad's application was approved. At the moment BRCA1 was being cloned, second group of scientists from Myriad and the Institute for Cancer Research in England, reported that they found a second breast cancer gene located on Chromosome 13 and then the gene BRCA2 was isolated. The dog race had begun! Both the institutes filed patent claims.

Myriad company enjoys a global monopoly on these genes and worldwide control over how they are used. Yes the company should make some profit from testing for BRCA1 & BRCA2 for having invested a great deal of money in developing the test. The question is how much should it make? The commercially available testing from Myriad Genetics, as of today, costs about $3000. Myriad restricts academic researchers from using the BRCA gene sequences to develop alternative tests. Also the same gene may play a multiple role, meaning it may play a role in some other disease. This blind patenting sucks. The most outrageous thing is: any information about BRCA mutations gleaned from DNA sequencing among patients enrolled in academic research projects is withheld even from the patients themselves. But Myriad has struck a government deal: those who do NIH funded research can avail the test at a cut rate $ 1400. Remember BRCA2 gene has European partners involved. So the french partners were incensed about Myriad's BRCA2 patent and they filed a joint complaint to the European patent Office. Finally the BRCA2 gene is free for academic researchers.

The tragedy is Myriad's monopoly is not good for patients. The company's test fails to detect all possible cancer causing changes affecting the gene, so people who test negative may still be at risk. On top of this Myriad has the person sign a waiver that a negative result does not necessarily indicate a clean bill of health. Then why the heck, one should  go for testing that costs $3K in the first place? Does it make any sense? As of today, there are roughly 1100 genetic tests available but they are under utilized.

It is estimated that one hundred million people are chronically ill in this country. That means they are on the prescription bandwagon. Look at the plethora of OTC drugs and prescription drugs. An average senior citizen may be taking upwards of 10 different prescribed medications, many of which interfere with each other and there are very few studies on such interactions. Prescription drugs are the third leading cause of death in the US.

For every physical ailment(mental is even more hilarious), people are given antibiotics. Even for cold, prescription is antibiotic. Antibiotics work specifically on bacteria and not for viruses which cause the common cold. First, there is a prescription drug for X. Then another drug is prescribed for the side effect of that X and it is cyclic. Look at this way: everybody knows what beta blockers, calcium channel blockers are...All these can interfere with a neurotransmitter responsible for erection. When the neurotransmitter no longer functions properly, it becomes very difficult for a man to have an erection. So what's next? He is then prescribed the wonder/blue pill "viagra(sildenafil is the generic name)" or its cousin weekender "cialis(tadalafil)". When a person takes this many medications, its a toxic load on liver and kidneys and also it can compromise a person's immune system. When you come out of the doctor's office, drugs are the first order of business.

Now that we have had some glimpses of the insurance and drug industry, lets see how the hospitals are run and then "with all due respect for" doctors in the next article...

Criteria for winning the Nobel Prize

I thought I will start my blog on health care reform. But I changed my mind after listening to the morning news that President Obama has been conferred the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize award. Right from day 1, when he announced that he is running for Presidency, i had my trumpet cards on him that he would surely win and i was a local volunteer during the campaign. It was a great moment and triumph for many especially Africans to witness this young, charismatic, Harvard educated lawyer to become the youngest President of the United States. Positive thinking has the power to unite the world and the campaign used the power of language to impact the minds of people. President used to quote Martin Luther King's words and Martin Luther King used to quote Gandhi.

Mr President has been into the office for approximately 8 and 1/2 months and some people have insane expectations on him to accomplish all the things he promised during the election campaign. They forget that he is a human being too and he alone doesn't decide to implement policies. But one thing Mr President has not deviated from is, his constant message of world peace, nuclear disarmament, global warming and other issues that affect the entire world. Its a clear shift from the mentality of Bush era.

Now that the Nobel committee has awarded him the Peace Prize, the right wings have yet another topic to slaughter "whether President deserves or not". Many people are surprised by the committee's decision because President Obama is yet to deliver the goods he promised.

Initially only science was included in the Nobel Prize. Later on, subjects like Literature, Peace, and Economics were all added to the list. The criteria in the strict sense was "it should have positive impact on humankind". The world is like an extended family and in this global economy, Obama Presidency has opened the eyes and minds of the majority to see things in different perspectives. It is not one country that can do everything for the rest of the world. President has been doing his part since day one he entered the office. He has the potential to deliver what he promised. He has been consistently a unifying force in trying to get certain bills pass through senate, house and the congress. We are yet to see certain results like health care bill, gay rights and immigration.

War always saps a Nation's economy. Eight years of Bush's non-sensical war mentality has dragged down this country to a mess. Republican government(there could be exceptions!) is mainly for the riches. It will take some time to recuperate from the current mess. President Obama is undoing some of the Bush's policies that cost US some damage on the International stage. During Bush times, not much investment was spent on education and research. Any country that doesn't take care of the educational system will soon go down the drain. Its my hope that President Obama, who has very good intentions, succeeds in achieving his goals. This country became a superpower because it recognized brain power. Every great act/accomplishment starts with good/noble thoughts. There is a positive reaction now from many countries around the world towards the United States. In Science, it may take years to prove/disprove a theory and hence may take years to award the scientists. Examples are Quantum Physicist Wolfgang Pauli(it took two decades for the Nobel committee to realize the work of Pauli), Astrophysicist Chandrasekhar(it took almost 5 decades). Peace doesn't have to take years to see some of the changes already taking place. When we change our mind, the world automatically changes. So, from this standpoint, President Obama definitely deserves the Peace Prize. I hope people around the world, wake up, get educated so that any political leader doesn't abuse powers and should remember that he is answerable to the public. Because its the people who have the power to select/throw any Government.

Wish Mr President good luck in everything.