That's Fit

During the holidays, the wine flows freely at my house. Wine's the best of the alcohols, right? That's what we tell ourselves anyway. But one has to wonder, considering recent reports that the metals in wine are linked to Parkinson's and cancer. Plus, apparently, wine drinkers are most likely to drink too much. Egads.

And yet, it's still true that wine is healthy for your heart. What's a wine lover to believe?

I, for one, believe in moderation -- living healthfully 90 percent of the time and giving myself a break that other 10 precent. I also believe that if we abide by every study on every food that causes whatever disease or condition, we're not really enjoying ourselves. I believe in enjoying the good things in life, all at once -- good food and libations with good family and friends. I believe in making up for indulgences with an extra long run on Monday.

What's your take?

I think Ryan Reynolds might be a bit of a liar. After insisting that he's not a runner and that he'd be lucky to cross the finish line in last weekend's New York City Marathon, Ryan completed the 26.2 mile run in three hours and 50 minutes, which comes out to around a 8:45 mile (if my math is correct).

At the finish line, he told reporters that he was pretty excited to still be standing and explained that seeing Michael J. Fox around mile 20 caused him "to gain about 15 pounds in goosebumps" and gave him the motivation to push through the last few miles. He ran as a part of Team Fox in honor of his father, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease and raised over $80,000 in contributions for the cause.

"I thought a lot about my father and Michael and the 500,000 other people afflicted with this awful disease in the United States alone," Ryan explained, adding, "I ran for those who can't."

This guy is every bit my idea of a Fit Celeb -- his mind, heart, and body are all in good shape. However, don't expect to see Ryan do it again any time soon. He has been quoted as saying, "I would sooner be prime minister of the moon than run another marathon."

I had a roommate in college that had what we called "jimmy legs." She didn't know what was wrong, but as soon as she'd lay down to sleep her legs would start to feel "creepy crawly" (her words) and the next thing you'd know she'd be jerking and shaking her legs -- sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. We used to laugh it off, but I know it was really uncomfortable for her. And I know that, since she didn't know what was really going on, it was frightening for her, too.

Though I can't say for sure, my guess is that my roommate had restless leg syndrome (RLS). RLS is a neurological condition that affects up to 10% of the US population. RLS patients feel uncomfortable sensations and an overwhelming urge to move their legs. Symptoms become worse during rest -- particularly when lying down -- and are put at bay by movement.

GlaxoSmithKline's Requip medication has been a premiere treatment for mild to moderate RLS. The FDA just approved a generic form of Requip. The medication is also approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

A recent study suggests that high levels of urate in the blood stream can slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease. Urate is a salt derived from uric acid, a natural substance in the body. High levels of urate or uric acid can lead to other conditions, such as gout.

Previous research noted that people with a higher natural level of urate had a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's. For this study, researchers followed 800 people with mild Parkinson's symptoms. Those who had higher levels of urate were about half the risk of their symptoms worsening. At the end of the study, none of the patients with naturally high urate levels required other medications to control the Parkinson's yet.

A nutritional supplement called inosine converts to urate once it's ingested, but further study is necessary to determine whether the supplement could be helpful for Parkinson's patients.

Parkinson's is a debilitating disease that affects a person's movement, strength, and balance, and in many ways is still a mystery to doctors and scientists. One thing that is becoming more clear, however, is that regular physical exercise seems to help slow the progression of the symptoms and delay the effects of the disease. And now a certified trainer, David Zid, and a doctor afflicted with Parkinson's himself, Thomas H. Mallory M.D., have collaborated to create a fitness regimen specifically designed for Parkinson's patients.

The fitness plan is available in the book "Delay the Disease: Exercise and Parkinson's Disease," and part of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to support the research, development and treatment of Parkinson's.

There seems to be a growing number of people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease finding some relief from symptoms by doing Pilates. Parkinson's affects a person's ability to control movement, and so Pilates' focus on precise motions seems tailor-made to helping the body deal with the degenerative disorder and prolong the severity of symptoms.

Although no formal research or studies have been done to determine the official affect Pilates may or may not have for Parkinson's patients, there is some evidence that exercise in and of itself has benefits. It could be that exercise helps ensure your body is in its strongest and healthiest state to best deal with disease, or possibly just that working out boosts confidence and positive morale. But either way, if you or someone you know has a Parkinson's diagnosis, talking with your doctor and looking into a local Pilates class might be a good idea.