Energy Drinks Pose Dangers?

Why the extra boost isn't the only thing worrying doctors...

By Joyce Ogirri, NCC News

On most any college campus, you’re as likely to see college students with a Red Bull in their hand as a Coke. This growing energy drink industry is giving millions of people that extra something to get throught the day.

Matija Popovic goes to work when most people are going to bed. He’s a night delivery driver for a Syracuse restaurant. He says he depends on drinks like red bull for a rush of energy. “It’s not like it’s an addiction, oh I need one. It’s just, makes you, makes the job you do easier, whatever you do, focus, or physical,” said Popovic.

Matija is one of the millions of consumers who will spend three quarters of a billion dollars annually on caffeinated drinks.


Red bull is the #1 selling energy drink in America. Even though Red Bull makes you feel alert, Syracuse nutritionist Michelle Gallant, say its not good for you. “Its empty, extra calories. We don’t need that and it certainly can be one of those factors that contributes to obesity,” said Gallant.

And the high amount of caffeine doctors say can affect your heart. Cardiologist Michael Gabris, from the New York Heart Center says there is no long-term damage. “It won’t lead to heart attacks or anything like that. But in high doses of caffeine can cause a racing heart beat can lead to dizziness, lightheadness. And in high enough dose it can cause you to faint,” said Gabris.

That doesn’t stop college students from mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Red Bull targets young males by using extreme sports advertising that show kids living on the edge.


Syracuse University student, Emre Sahinalp takes part in this new trend. “What’s my favorite drink after water? I’m gonna have to say red bull and vodka. It tastes good,” said Sahinalp.Experts say mixing a stimulant with a depressant can be dangerous. Syracuse University psychologist, Dr. Kate Carey says drinking too much alcohol will raise a person’s blood alcohol concentration. “When they use it at the same time, they’re feeling alert, they keep drinking. And when the energy drink wears off, the alcohol hits them hard,” said Carey.

Another S.U. student, Alex Bercheck has experienced this first hand. “You know to do all these stupid crazy things you usually don’t have the energy to do it because you’ll like oh I’m drunk. But rebull and vodka you get the energy and stupid ideas,” said Bercheck.

And its that kind of feeling that helps keep this $5 billion dollar a year industry alive.

Independent Music Artists keep up hope

Everyday workers try hard to become music stars after work

By: Harold Kuntz, III

Syracuse, NY – For many Central New Yorkers, the daily grind of a 9 to 5 job is enough for one day’s work. But for about 150 people around the area, their second job is music. They’re independent music artists, paying the bills through their day job but striving to achieve fame without the help or backing of a major record label.

The independent music artists continue to put their own money to their equipment, record making and sometimes take free appearances to perform at shows at local music venues. Jameel Hammonds, who performs under the name Black Lotus, and his group Piciden Entertainment, takes any show he can get and hopes the shows lead to expanding his music career outside Syracuse.

“It’s like a sacrifice you have to make, getting all the equipment and buying all the records even if sometimes it might seem kind of grim. One day it’s definitely going to pay off, its seeing your passion come to fruition by determination,” said Hammonds.

Bernard Wilfork, another independent music artist who performs under the name Porkcrhop Willie, moved from Florida and enjoys the atmosphere of the Syracuse venues, however small they may be.

“It’s a good time, it’s more about having fun now. If I can please one person with what I’m doing, one note, that’s made my night, that’s success to me,” said Wilfork.

But local album sales and interest has been down recently. The Soundgarden store in Armory Square makes an offer to local music artists to put the albums on the shelves but people aren’t buying.

“I think people take it for granted that there are so many local artists around here. People just take for granted and they don’t go to a show of they don’t buy the album they get it from a friend there’s a huge decline,” said Soundgarden Manager Michael Watson.

Even though sales are down, it does not deter the music artists path toward chasing their dreams. Wilfork, who has performed under bands Earth, Wind, and Fire and Kool and the Gang, says for any independent music artist, you must have breaks to break in the spotlight.

“It’s all about practice. it’s all about who you know. It’s all about getting everything together spiritually if your even thinking about forming a band,” said Wilfork.

Jameel Hammonds and Piciden Entertainment recently performed in the Upper State Independent Tour, a three-city tour. Bernard Wilfork performs with various groups in local music venues around Syracuse.

Nationwide Primary Care Physician Shortage Hits CNY Hard

By Alex Reed


Syracuse, N.Y. - Matthew Lorber is a doctor at University Hospital but says he plans to move back to New York City once his fellowship ends.

"That's where I'm from," he says. "That's where most of my friends are. That's where most of my family is. A lot more job opportunities down there as well. Just the benefits that the city has to offer. Also, the weather is nicer."

But it's not just that upstate New York has fewer primary care doctors, which include pediatricians and family physicians. There are fewer doctors coming out of medical schools choosing to practice primary care. A decade ago, more than half of doctors in the U.S. chose primary care after their residency. Three years ago, that number had dipped to 1 in 5. So why the big plunge?

"With Medicare reimbursement remaining at a low level and proposed cuts each and every year and with health insurers reducing reimbursement, young people coming out of medical school and out of residency programs, faced with these 100 to 200 thousand dollars in loans for their training, there's not much of a financial incentive for them to go into primary care," says Gerald Hoffman, Executive VP of the Onondaga County Medical Society.


Here in upstate, that problem is made worse. Doctors in general tend to try to find work in big cities, that can offer larger salaries to pay off huge medical school debt. In Syracuse, experts say not having a consolidated children's hospital is a major barrier to attracting doctors to come. This has left upstate New York with an older primary care workforce and not enough incoming doctors to fill the void.

"Because of a lack of having a consolidated childrens hospital and really the desire of many pediatric residents who eventually become pediatric physicians to actually train and work at childrens hospitals, that's why you see such a shortage of physicians, pediatric trained physicians here in Syracuse," says Bj Adigun, Director of Community Development for Golisano Children's Hospital.

Hope on the Horizon

When the Golisano Children's hospital opens here next year, not only will it attract a team of new primary care physicians, it will allow families in the region closer access to pediatric care.

"It's the kind of project that I think can bring everyone in the community together and they can see the importance of having world class healthcare for our kids," Adigun says.

Mike Mincolla is a 4th-year med student at SUNY Upstate Medical University. "One of the main reasons why my wife and I do want to stay in Syracuse is, being from Syracuse, we were born and raised actually in North Syracuse so being a local has a lot to do with it," he says.

History has shown, experts say, that if you build one hospital, soon enough all of the beds will fill up, creating a need to build another one. And that's something children and their parents can smile about.

Stevia: The dietary supplement Coca Cola wants

Stevia is the newest trend in non-caloric sweeteners, but unlike the more popular Splenda and Sweet’n Low…Stevia isn’t a sugar substitute.

“I don’t know that there are dangerous compounds in there, but there are a lot of compounds that haven’t been identified yet," Chemistry Professor James Kallermerten.


And that’s why Stevia is labeled under a dietary supplement…because the FDA hasn’t yet approved it.

“Consumers really like Stevia right now because it’s all natural, there’s no side effects, it’s zero glycemic index and it has good taste,” says Tracy Bowers, team leader of Wegmans' natural foods section.

Stevia is derived from a plant native to Paraguay and has been used as a sweetener for centuries, but has yet to be mass marketed to the American public.

Nearly two years ago, the sugar free foods market accounted for almost 6 billion dollars. And now Coca Cola is trying to tap into the market by getting Stevia FDA approved.

“There are protocols that you have to go through to make sure that things like this are safe. You need to first of all identify the compounds so that you can test these compounds for toxicity in the short term and the long term," Professor Kallermerten.

However, dietician Jodi Kearns says sugar substitutes are beneficial for some people.

“They’re sweeteners that do not have any calories, any carbohydrates and they do have a role in the meal planning for the common person with diabetes and also for the person trying to lose weight.”

But how healthy are artificial sugars? According to the FDA, a person weighing 150 pounds can safely have about 18 sodas filled with aspartame in one day, or up to 12 packets of Sweet’n’Low, or 6 cans of you favorite Splenda beverage.

“Your liver’s actually amazing at taking compounds that are totally strange compounds to the body and breaking them down and turning them into something your body can excrete, says Professor Kallermerten.”

Splenda is marketed as the sugar substitute made from real sugar, but after visiting a laboratory, Splenda grows three chlorine molecules. Professor Kallamerten says products with chlorine molecules are questionable.

“Typically chlorinated compounds are not particularly healthy. They tend to be what we call alkylating agents and alkylating agents are often associated with cancer,” Kallamerten.

And the professor says aspartame, which is found in Equal and NutraSweet, really doesn’t look like a sugar-like molecule, but it resembles sugar just enough to trick the brain.

So next time you shop for sugar keep in mind what is FDA approved and what you may be ingesting. Chemists go by the rule; if you don’t know what it is, then don’t put it in your mouth. For NCC News. I’m Ashley Prchal.

Baby Boomers are Flooding the Gyms

But is the exercise they're doing helping or harming? Experts say running may not be the best option.

By Ted Johnsen

SYRACUSE, NY: With spring here, odds are you’ll probably start seeing all types of people running alongside the road. One age group you’ll most definitely see more of is the baby boomer generation: ages 45-65.

Glenn Heyer is not your typical middle-aged American. At 65 most retired folk would probably sit back and relax. Not Glenn. He has run every day for nearly 14 years. No days off. "Well I started for about a week and I said gee I ran every day this week- and then 2 weeks then it turned into a month and I said gee I can get to 100 days that's a good number and I got to 100 and then 200," he said.

But should older people pick up running as their form of exercise? Most health experts say no.

“Probably up to six times your body weight on heel strength,” said Glenn Axelrod, an Orthopedic Surgeon in Liverpool. “So if someone comes in and weighs 150 pounds when they're running that’s 900 pounds across their knees which is significant obviously.”

Axelrod said that he sees many older people trying to push their bodies’ limits. But he said that running at an older age can cause arthritis and other ailments in the lower body joints. “I think most people should start cross-training from day 1. And if they are runners, maybe consider cross-training a couple times a week,” he adds.

At the Fitness Forum gym in Dewitt, a sign hangs in the lobby encouraging middle-aged people to bring their friends to the gym. This shows health clubs recognize the trend that more and more baby boomers are wanting to stay fit.

But personal trainers know they need to keep a special eye on the boomers. “They need to start off slow,” said John Henneberg a personal trainer at the Fitness Forum. “They need to just listen to their bodies and if their bodies start to hurt- they need to slow down just a little bit.”

So as most people get ready for the weather to warm up, experts are urging older people to do low-impact training, instead of running. But for some die-hard runners, that’s asking a lot.

Slaves to the Scale

Even with regulations wrestlers are wrestling with weight

By Kristin Gold

-Central New York- For years, what wrestlers call weight cutting has been an accepted but controversal part of the sport. But, ever since the deaths of three collegiate wrestlers from overheating, wrestling organizations across the country have become more involved in regulating techniques wrestlers use to lose weight.

The National Federation of State High School Assoications rules that wrestlers are required to be adequately hydrated and must not go below seven-perent body fat. "I think things have gotten way way better in the last ten years, espcially now since they can't cut weight," said Phoenix High School head coach Gene Mills.

With the new regulations wrestlers are under pressure to keep weight. "I needed a spot, if I didn't lose the weight I wouldn't have wrestled," said Fulton High School wrestler Zachary Race.

Race knows the importance of keeping his weight down and he knows ways around the new regulations to do that.

"To be hydrated I needed to drink water," he said. "So I drank nine pounds of water that morning, so everyone thought I gained 13 pounds overnight...the next morning I was back down."

The NCAA prohibits the use of steam rooms and exercising in overheated conditions to lose water weight but wrestlers still use these techniques.

"I ran for probably three hours straight with sweat pants on, jacket,four hoodies on, everything on, just to lose two pounds for three hours," said Mexico High School wrestler Jacob Burke.

Doctors don't recommend rapid dehydration because it can seriously damage body functions.

"If you're an active person and you're physically sweating out the body in water and not replacing it that also has a lot of detrimental effects including kidney failure in addition to low blood pressure and again it comes back to malfunctioning of the heart and shutting down all the major body functions," said Pediatrician Denise Woodall-Ruff.

The regulations deaths of those three wrestlers aren't enough to stop wrestlers today from doing whatever they can to drop the weight. They will always be slaves to the scale.

Vitamin Enhanced Waters: Are They Worth It?

By Marissa Torres

Syracuse, NY- Last year consumers spent over a quarter million dollars on vitamin enhanced waters. As the demand for these waters increases, more and more companies are introducing new and improved flavors that promise to revive, replenish and renew. But most health experts agree, vitamin enhanced waters aren’t worth all their hype.
It all adds up
“Its popular and everyone thinks it is going to make them a better athlete, what it really does is add calories to your diet” says Lindsey Reider, Physical Education and Recreation Department Chair at Onondaga Community College.
Reider says he has noticed more and more students opting for the vitamin enhanced waters, and he questions its nutritional benefits.
“I think it is a marketing ploy, and I think it takes advantage of peoples lack of knowledge of what their proper diet should be.”
For most people it’s the taste that lures them in. But it is also believing that drinking the water provides you with all of the necessary vitamins for a healthy diet.
What people do not realize is that along with the vitamins and electrolytes, comes lots of sugar.
In one bottle of Life Water, there are 140 calories. Which is the equivalent of eating one twinky.
“Unless your drinking one and your going out and working out, it’s just going to sit in your stomach and turn to fat” says Damian Rinaldi, a local boxing coach.
Sure They Taste Good, But do they work?
Being healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is hard to do when we are constantly busy and usually have time for just a quick bite. But having vitamin-enhanced water is not the quick fix you may think it is.
The waters are infused with B12, B6, vitamin C, Niacin, and other water-soluble vitamins, which are extremely unstable. The vitamins easily evaporate from the water, and this process is sped up when the waters are not refrigerated.
So, by the time you drink your water, much of the vitamins have left.
Are they right for anybody?
The waters are also enhanced with Electrolytes, which are beneficial for people with an athletic or active lifestyle.
“Some of these beverages that have electrolytes, in them, not necessarily the vitamins, but the electrolytes, may help with the absorption of that water to get back into the bloodstream” says Reider

The cheaper alternative for anyone looking to stay hydrated and be healthy is one multi-vitamin and a glass of tap water. It saves on the pounds and on the wallet.

Nintendo Wii Video Games Find Use in Physical Therapy

-By Jordan Meddy

Syracuse, N.Y. - Syracuse resident Cecilia Adams loves to play bowling and tennis on the Nintendo Wii video game system.

“I think it’s great. It’s a beautiful picture, it’s innovative. Instead of just sitting in a chair and pushing buttons you’re actually up and moving. I think it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

But Adams is not your typical player. She uses the Wii as part of a physical therapy program. Adams shattered her ankle five months ago and has only recently been able to begin putting pressure on it again. Hospitals and therapists around the country are adopting the Wii to help patients rehabilitate from a variety of injuries, from broken bones to brain traumas.

“To an individual who has a neglect to one side of the body, possibly they’ve had a stroke, we can position them in a way so they have to concentrate on working on that affected side,” said Donna Sims, therapeutic specialist at University Hospital.

The key lies in the Wii’s unique motion-sensitive controller, which requires players to get up off the couch and perform the movements they wish to simulate in the game. The most helpful and commonly used game in physical therapy is “Wii Sports,” which includes tennis, bowling, golf, baseball, and boxing. These games may still not seem like much of a workout, but therapists say even the required shifts in weight can teach bones and joints to handle the pressure.

“You start with the easier games first, the bowling and the tennis. Just a little bit of light weight shifting. And eventually we can progress to baseball or boxing, where you really have to step and transfer the weight onto the other foot,” said Ray Manzano, a physical therapist who uses the Wii with some of his patients at the Fahey Rehabilitation Center in Syracuse.

Not only is the Wii effective, it is fun, an element which should not be underrated according patients such as Adams. Therapists and rehabbers agree the video games provide an emotional benefit as important as the physical one, improving a rehab experience that can be mundane and sometimes frustrating.

“Let’s face it physical therapy is not that exciting, to just do 30 leg lifts or the different things that have to be done,” said Adams. “It’s necessary but it’s not a great amount of fun. At least that gives you something to look forward to and something else to do.

A technology designed mainly for kids has found a whole new purpose, helping people heal and sparing them – a little – from the process.

Pour a Little Sugar On It

Some Health Conscious Consumers are Curbing Their Sweet Cravings with a Natural No-Calorie Sweetener.

By Kristen LaVerghetta

Syracuse, NY - For years calorie counting consumers have been using artificial sweeteners, like Equal, Sweet'N Low, and Splenda, as a guilt free alternative to Sugar.

James Kallmerten, a Syracuse University chemistry professor, says that the artificial compounds used in these sweeteners have health hazards that are far worse than a few extra calories.

“The problem that you run into is if you encounter a compound that the liver can’t handle. Sometimes you can actually impair liver function and you can actually cause liver disease.”

Some health conscious consumers are now turning to Stevia. It's a natural no-calorie sweetener that is made from a plant. Stevia comes in several different forms, and is two to three hundred times sweeter than sugar.

Tracey Bowers, team leader for Nature's Marketplace at Wegmans in Dewitt, says, "Consumers really like Stevia because it’s all-natural, there are no side effects, it’s zero glycemic index, and it has a good taste"



Stevia is considered a dietary supplement, because the FDA hasn’t approved it. Currently, Coca cola is trying to get Stevia approved so they can use it in their diet sodas.

This no-calorie sugar alternative comes at no small cost. Consumers will pay between $8.00 and $20.00 for Stevia. Some consumers, like Faye Gambocarto, are turned off by the price. "It was kinda a little pricey, that’s why I didn’t get it."

Jodi Kearns, a dietitian, still warns against becoming too reliant on alternative sweeteners, even natural ones. Kearns says that when using any sugar replacement, people should be aware of what the acceptable daily intake, or ADI, of that product is. The ADI is the amount the FDA has determined a person can safely consumer.

Kearns says that life style changes may be more beneficial than simply eliminating natural sugar from your diet. “The bottom line is people need to eat better, drink less soda, less sweetened beverages, drink more water and just try to be healthier without using a lot of these things”

Kearns and Kallmerten agree that none of these products have been around long enough for anyone to really know what the long term side effects are. Kallmerten adds, “I think I’d just take sugar and go out and run three miles everyday.”

Although products like Stevia give consumers a natural – no calorie alternative to sugar, experts say that in moderation, a little bit of the real thing may not be that bad.

Vitamin Enhanced Waters Claim Health Benefits

But are they Worth It?
By Richard Zussman, NCC News

Syracuse, NY - We know that drinking water is supposed to keep us healthy. But companies like Vitamin Water and Gatorade are encouraging people to drink vitamin infused waters to keep them hydrated and healthy. These waters can cost consumers up to three dollars a bottle and have language on the bottles that give off the imprssion of being healthy. But some nutritionist, like Syracuse University Professor Sarah Short, say the success of bottled water sales are all about marketing. "I think they are sort of a scam. I think that they are wanting you to buy them. And something new, something different."

NEW PRODUCTS

In 2006, 140 new products were added to the $10.8 billion wholesale bottle-water market. Last year more than a quater of a million dollars was spent on vitamin enhanced waters. But who is drinking these waters? These drinks should be for those finishing a workout, says Syracuse area trainer Brian Germano "I think they are great for what they are made for. If you have it for recovery. If you have it during a workout when you need to replenish glycogen store then it's great."

But the drinks shouldn't be consumed for those just sitting on the couch Germano says. "If you are going to sit on the couch and play Playstation and drink one or two vitamin waters they're not good for you." The reason for this is the sugar content.

THE CALORIE CRUNCH
One bottle of vitamin water has 120 calories and about 35 grams of sugar. The sugar content and a lack of exercisewhen drinking enhanced waters, says dieticien Lindsey Reider, can contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle. "We have a problem with overweight and obesity in the United States. And that's because we are getting too many calories in our diet. The calories that are in mose of these beverages are the wrong kind of calories."

STRAIGHT FROM THE TAP
Syracuse residents also can go to the tap for hydration. The water that comes from Skaneateles Lake if some of the cleanest in the world. And the water that goes to the county is from Otisco Lake and Lake Ontario and makes for some of America's cleanest tap water. This water is as good to drink as anything in the bottles OCWA Director Tony Geiss says. "If you've got good water at your tap it's just as good to drink that water as buying a bottle of water."

The water at the tap is also a good deal. A Vitamin Water may cost a $1.25 but that is still 5,000 times more expensive than a glass of water from your tap.

Caffeine Craze

When does a need for energy go too far?
By Arrianee LeBeau, NCC News


Syracuse, NY- Caffeine is the most common addiction in the Nation according to addiction specialist Dr. Dessa Bergen-Cico of Syracuse University. It’s commonly consumed in coffee which is the most popular drink besides water. On average Americans drink three cups of coffee and day and according to the National Coffee Association more than six out of ten people are hooked on it.

Confessions from an Addict

“My mouth waters when I smell coffee,” Blake Stillwell said. Stillwell is a Syracuse University student who admitted to drinking a pot of coffee one night to get through an overnight shift. Stillwell said he knows the large amount of caffeine he consumes is not healthy but his caffeine vice is an addiction he isn't willing to kick.

Energy Drink Transition

But now more people are kicking the cup of joe to the curb and turning to energy drinks for an extra boost. Energy drinks with names like Monster, Rockstar and Red Bull are filling up store shelves and being marketed to young people. Red Bull uses hip athletes, students and free giveaways to build its popularity. This year the company estimates selling one-billion cans in the US. And students at Nottingham High School said Red Bull’s marketing strategy works.
“While playing sports I might drink it but I need two of them because I get tired after a certain amount of time. It’s just to keep me up and awake and hype,” said Dheris Wynn.

Energy Drink Cocktail Debut & Dangers

Now these energy drinks are moving from store shelves to pubs and being mixed with alcohol to create energy cocktails. “It makes you feel like an awake drunk. And so it masks some of the sense of intoxication that you might otherwise have,” said Bergen-Cico. She said because energy drinks have a lot of stimulants in them like ginseng, taurine and caffeine, when mixed with a depressant like alcohol it sends your body mixed signals.

She also said the dangers of drinking energy cocktails vary from person to person but heavy consumption inevitably ends with a crash. “Their blood alcohol level increases but they mentally believe that they’re somewhat alert and so they end up with alcohol poisoning and high concentrations of alcohol,” said Bergen-Cico.

Sports Training: Safe Weight Gain for Young Athletes

Good training programs and diets can help kids bulk up naturally

Christina D'Amato, NCC News

Liverpool, NY- Getting extra protein into his diet is important to Bryan Clegg. He plays Lacrosse for Liverpool High School and with practice, weight training and games, Bryan drinks protein shakes five times a day to gain muscle and bulk up.

“I gained a lot of lean muscles from taking the proteins. It’s a lot simpler to whip up a protein shake than to make a steak," Bryan Clegg, Liverpool Varsity Lacrosse.

THE GAME & THE JUICE

Liverpool high school is one of the top division schools for lacrosse in New York state.

“At our level, every game is intense every game is hard fought and physical. Beat big schools, there’s big guys and it take a pounding on you if your not in shape you wear down quickly,” Jay Graham, Liverpool Lacrosse Coach, said.

The frequent over-emphasis on winning in sports may drive some young athletes to abuse their body's nutritional status, often with dangerous consequences. According to Coach Graham, a majority of his athletes are turning toward protein shakes to get bigger faster. A recent study shows that one in five teens reported using a dietary supplement to gain body mass.

According to the GNC web site, whether it is to gain bulky muscle, tone muscle or to gain weight first and then build muscle, protein supplements like Mass Maker and NO-Xplode can accommodate all of these possibilities.

HEALTH EFFECTS

According to health experts, these stimulants are not good for a growing body and too much protein can be dangerous.

"Too many proteins change your metabolism. You get rid of it via your liver and kidneys. And if you’re overusing them, you can have problems,” Timothy Fairchild, Syracuse University Exercise Science, said.

PROTEIN INDUSTRY A SHAM?

According to Doctor Robert Dracker of Summerwood Pediatrics, the multi-billion dollar protein shake industry is a sham, promising more then it can deliver.

"The body will only use what it needs. You can give it all the protein you want and it doesn’t build muscle directly."

By following more healthier approaches like taking a vitamin, adding foods like fish, pasta and chicken to your diet and the right amount of exercise, student athletes would get the same results.

As for Bryan Clegg, he will continue drinking protein as he plays lacrosse at Syracuse University next year. But Clegg knows he was not recruited because of his bigger muscles, it was because of his hard work and talent on the lacrosse field.

Bigger-Stronger-Faster With Supplements?

-By Megan Eaton

Liverpool, NY. A growing trend towards bulking up faster and keeping energy levels high has some lead some teenage athletes to choose dietary supplements over healthy meals. In fact, one in five teenagers acknowledged use of some form of a supplement to get their daily protein and vitamins. "I was drinking five protein shakes a day," admitted Brian Clegg, varsity lacrosse player for the Liverpool Warriors.


INTENDED USE
But to have a protein shake in place of a well-balanced meal was not the supplement's original intended use."A dietary supplement is anything that augments a person's food intake-not in place of, but in addition to," according to Kevin Duerr, a dietary supplement consultant at the healthy foods store Naturetyme.

Athletes do need more protein than the average person. "They train two times a day, they have to recover from training sessions and in order to recover from the training sessions they have a greater requirement on vitamins and minerals, "according to Timothy Fairchild, a faculty member of the Syracuse University Exercise Science Department who specializes in energy metabolism. But the body can only use what it needs. Any unused or excess protein is converted to fat, not muscle.

THE DANGER ZONE
Too much protein could overwhelm and shut down a person's kidneys and liver, according to Dr. Robert Dracker. A pediatrician, Dracker said he has encouraged his patients to stick with a healthy diet to fulfill their body's needs. "I think natural products in their diet will probably be the safest approach and the most effective for their body," Dracker added.


Safer, because dietary supplements are not FDA regulated. That means some of their additives may be negative for the body. They can also be illegal for some athletic competitions. For example, one common additive in protein shakes is caffeine, according to Fairchild. College basketball’s NCAA regulations prohibit too much caffeine in the athlete's bodies prior to a game. So drinking a shake before a game to boost energy can keep a player on the bench for a season.

EASIER, BUT FASTER?
There is also no proof that supplements will induce faster body mass, according to Dr. Dracker. He said the only way to truly increase muscle is through a regular workout routine.

Young athletes might see supplements as their ticket to bigger, stronger, and faster results. But for now, the medical evidence has suggested otherwise.

Forget Rehab, Now There's Wiihab

By Sean Sadri - NCC News
March 23, 2008

Syracuse, NY - Rehabing from injuries can be a long, tedious process. Lifting weights and walking on a treadmill are often necessary aspects of physical therapy, but even the thought of getting healthier isn't always enough to motivate patients.

"Let's face it physical therapy is not that exciting," said Cecilia Adams, a physical therapy patient. "Just to do thirty leg lifts. It has to be done, but it's not fun."

To make physical therapy more enjoyable, therapists are ditching the treadmill and making their patients break a sweat in front of a television screen.

Nintendo's New Role in Rehabilitation
The Nintendo Wii has been in stores for more than a year, and the console is still the hottest commodity in the video game world. The Wii consoles, which are in millions of households worldwide, utilize a wireless controller that mimics a player's actions on screen. But, people are finding different uses for the Wii. Physical therapists are coupling Nintendo's new system with more traditional forms of rehab, creating what the media is calling Wiihabilitation.

Therapeutic recreation specialist Donna Sims uses the Wii almost daily for many of her patients because all patients can find game to suit their health needs and personal interests.

"It's totally individual and that's the beautiful thing about the Wii," Sims said. "There are so many games that we can meet everyone's needs in one way or another."

Sims and the staff at University Rehabilitation primarily use the Wii Sports game, which allows patients to compete in up to five different sports while regaining their balance and strength.

What Patients Think
Nancy Steele of Syracuse is retired and has been at University Hospital for about two weeks, rehabing from a broken leg. Her experience with rehab has been extensive, after suffering for years with connective tissue problems and chronic fatigue.

"The problem with healing from something like is that you can get very depressed," Steele said.

Since using the Nintendo Wii for therapy, she says her depression has subsided, and she is healing faster than expected.

Cecilia Adams, who is using the Wii to regain balance from a fractured ankle, said, "It's something to look forward to for enjoyment, never mind that it helps you."

Therapists are convinced the Wii is the best of both worlds because it is as therapeutic as it is enjoyable, and, as the games become more advanced, the Wii may become as much a part of physical therapy as dumbbells.

Wrestling With Weight

By Sujata Khandelwal

Central New York-High school wrestlers from all over the region are preparing for the state championships. Part of their preparation involves maintaining weight, sometimes using potentially dangerous and controversial weight loss techniques.


"Weight Cutting"
The term "weight cutting" refers to the practice of rapid weight loss before a competition. This is typically done to qualify for a lower weight class, and for years has been an accepted part of the sport. Wrestlers ranging from 96 to 285 pounds often feel the pressure to make weight in order to compete. "I needed a spot. If I didn't make the weight, I wouldn't have wrestled," said Fulton high school wrestler Zachary Race.


Common Practices
According to the NCAA, unhealthy weight-cutting practices have been banned. Some of these practices include:

• using laxatives and diet pills
• using diuretics to reduce water weight
• sitting or working out in a sauna

Although these guidelines have not been specifically implemented at the high school level, they are taking effect with the supervision of coaches. "I'm pretty strict about kids not doing the things I've seen over the past 30 years. I don't want kids using diuretics. I don't want kids throwing up, and to my knowledge they've never done so, and better not because if they do I'm gonna put some serious hammer time on them," said Phoenix high school head coach Gene Mills. Even with coaches' guidance, however, some wrestlers admit to using some questionable tactics to shed weight. "I ran on the pool deck with a sweat suit on and then after that I went straight to the gym and ran for another hour," said Mexico high school wrestler Collin Toney.

Long Term Effects
Rapid weight loss and severe dehydration can have several harmful effects on body functions, impact development, and even result in death. "There are some long term effects that can happen from those practices that include not developing correctly...there can also be problems with the child maintaining certain nutrients in their bodies, and they may not reach a certain adult height," said pediatrician Denise Woodall-Ruff. She also said that dehydration can lead to kidney failure.

Although wrestling will forever be defined by pounds and ounces, the sport continues to make progress in terms of encouraging and enforcing healthier weight loss practices. It is the heavy dose of discipline, wrestlers say, that can't be weighed or measured.

To R.V. or Not To R.V.?

Brad Seal-- NCC News
March 21, 2008

Syracuse, NY--Recreational Vehicles constitute a $15 billion a year business in America, but recently national R.V. sales have slowed considerably.

The Bad News
A slowing economy coupled with high fuel costs are forcing customers to stay away from the once thriving industry. Google finance reports that R.V. giant Winnebago had profits drop by 67% over the past quarter. Meanwhile another major R.V. company, National R.V. Holdings Inc,
recently declared for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.

The Good News
Yet here in Central New York, not all the news in the R.V. industry is gloom and doom. Local R.V. companies say that people are still buying vehicles; they are just changing what they do on their vacations. Darin Mai of Forrest River R.V. says that people have simply decided to not travel as far during the holidays in order to save money at the gas pump.

Ed Forget of Camping World says that simply avoiding the use of gas stations doesn’t completely solve the problem because people must use fuel to do other things like heat their homes. He agrees, however, that this market is in much better shape than other parts of the country where fast growing cities have been crippled economically by the recent mortgage crises.

Syracuse economic professor Don Dutkowsky says that often places like Central New York and rust belt cities like Cleveland and Buffalo can buck national economic trends because they are what he calls “static cites”---cities that don’t have large fluctuations in population size.

Even with the high fuel costs, R.V. owners can attest that traveling by R.V. is still much less expensive--and much less of a hassle--than booking airfare and hotel rooms. (Plus, no one has to worry about checking bags and what constitutes carry-on luggage when they take an R.V. trip.)

The Future
For R.V. companies, the future looks rosy. Baby-boomers are reaching retirement age which theoretically means that more and more people will look to buy a nice R.V. and see this beautiful country.

For consumers, the future doesn’t quite look as nice—at least not in the near future. Don Dutkowsky says that with the economy still slow and a possible recession in the future, it’s only a matter of time before R.V. owners in Central New York become more affected. That could lead to many people simply deciding to just vacation in their own homes.

Energy Drinks Losing It's Kick

Taisha Walker, NCC News

Syracuse, NY --Energy drinks are the new it drink among 1 out of 3 teenagers, according to a recent marketing study.   Names like Monster, Redbull and Rockstar are as widely known among teenagers as Folgers is with adults.  Nottingham High School Senior Jayson Sanders says if it were not for one summer day, he would have tried an energy drink. "We were outside my old neighborhood playing ball and they came in the little Redbull car. And they were like do you want some of our Redbull, says Sanders, and everybody just ran to it and got some. After that, I've been hooked ever since." 

Energy Cocktails
Teenagers adding more boost and potential health hazards

Most college students who are older than 21 say they like the taste energy drinks when mixed with alcohol.  In fact, Michael Carta, 23, says that is the only way he can tolerate Redbull. His favorite drink...Jagerbombs.  "Honestly, probably like 10 or 15 of them" says Carta when asked how many he can drink.  When Redbull and a shot of Jagermeister liquor are mixed, it is called a Jagerbomb. 

Mental Affect on the Body

"I was dancing and partying until about 5 in the morning says, Syracuse University Student Aaron Burten, and then I went back to my hotel room to go to sleep... and the world started spinning violently." 

Two forces at odds

Burten explains his body's reaction as simply a depressant versus stimulant working together to cancel each other out.  But addiction experts say alcohol and energy drinks do not cancel each other out, in fact, they are a toxic mix. "It makes you feel like an awake drunk, says Dr. Dessa Bergen-Cico, it masks some of the sense of intoxication that you might normally otherwise have." The alcohol and energy drink mix can deliver other symptoms like alcohol poisoning, rapid heart rate, paranoia, headaches, irritability and fogginess.

Caffeine and other herbal ingredients in energy drinks like taurine, takes over the body's adrenaline, causing a rapid flow of energy followed by a crash, says Dr. Bergen-Cico.  And if your not careful, you can exceed the daily 400 milligram caffeine intake if you don't read the labels on products. "Caffeine is like a drug" says Dr. Bergen-Cico.  That is why abusing caffeine can be very dangerous, especially if it ends up in the wrong hands. 

Stay active!

But remember, you're not as young as you once were...













Matthew Schultz, reporting for NCC News
3/19/2008

Stay Active
As we continue to discover the importance of exercise in maintaining a longer, more fulfilling life, many in the baby boomer generation are starting to experiment with workout routines. "The goal is to get people to be active," said exercise physiologist Carol Sames, "and if people don't want to do regular physical activity, how about mowing the lawn, gardening; just getting people to be active is huge."But many baby boomers hear "active" and think "running". "A lot of people see running as mount Everest, you know, it's the thing to attain," said Sames,"...but you can be very cardio-vascularly fit without ever having run." Activity is the key.

Benefits of Exercise
"It's not just something that you see physically," said personal trainer John Henneberg, "but emotionally there are benefits. There is also just a good feeling; an overall well being. Health and fitness are so important for you. It is a lifestyle change, and you will reap the benefits, not only for yourself, but all the people around you."

Exercise Carefully
Of course, a regular workout routine is one great way to get your much-needed activity. But many older people forget that they aren't 20 anymore. "Despite the fact that there were many things we did when we were teenagers, or in our early twenties, we just don't have the physical capacity to do that at the same level as we could back then," said Dr. Glenn Axelrod. "Given the aging process is going to occur, the best thing you can do is to stay fit and active as it's occurring, because you can't stop it." Age is only a contributing factor. Anyone starting a workout routine should be careful. It is just ever more dire that we take it easy as we get older, because injuries are much easier to cause, and much harder to recover from. Running is hard on the joints, and is likely a poor choice for someone who is just starting a workout routine, accoding to Carol Sames. The main things to remember are to stretch, take it easy, and do exercises that you enjoy.

Don't forget to have fun!
Advice from Personal Trainer John Henneberg:
"Start out slow, and just listen to [your] bodies. If [your] bodies start to hurt, then you need to back off or slow down just a little bit. I would say, as far as anything else [goes], just [do] what you like to do."

The Disappearing Horse Market

Rising costs mean trouble for owners

Kristin Gold NCC News

The domino effect has finally reached upstate New York. Extreme drought in the South and rising fuel costs have caused major problems for the estimated 200,000 horse owners in New York. Owners can no longer afford to feed their horses as hay and grain prices have gone through the roof. Some owners are getting desperate.

Cathie Hallett of Penfield has owned horses since she was five years old. She is now having difficulty keeping her horses with the rising prices. “It’s putting a very big financial hardship on being able to maintain, not even improve the quality of the horses lives,” Hallett said. Hallett has given up three of her horses in the past month due to the rising costs. “I had to sit down and put heart aside and sit down to the business end of it,” she said. Hallett sold two horses, each worth $9,000, for a combined total of $500. That $500 was just enough to put the other horse to sleep.

Hay used to cost $1.75 per bale. Today it costs anywhere from $5 to $11. Each horse eats almost an entire 25 pound bale per day, meaning that it now costs $150 a month to feed one horse compared to $52 two years ago. Feed has also gone up. A bag used to cost $14, now it costs $17. “That’s a pretty considerable jump,” said Heather Warren, owner of Edy’s Feed and Farm Supply in Cato. “It may not seem it but when one horse will eat a bag in a week and a half, it adds up fast.”

Owners like Hallett can no longer afford the ever-increasing prices. Lollipop Humane Society in Fairport has already taken in ten horses in the past month and have had even more owners call for advice. “We’ve had 15 to 20 calls in the last month looking to turn in animals, looking for information because they know they’re on a short road with finances,” said Farm Manager Joanna Dychton.

Some finances are so short that owners are letting their horses loose in the wild. Others are simply not feeding them. Hallett admits she could never do that and said she has missed her monthly truck payment in order to feed the horses.

But, for Hallett and many others the market has to get better fast or many more horses will disappear. “What will happen, the heartwrenching decision will be I will need to put them to sleep so that they’re not starving,” she said. “Because if we don’t get better in the next year that’s what’s gonna have to happen and that will be a terribly sad day.”