Join me on BlogTalkRadio on Tuesday February 2, 2010 at 8:00 pm central time for the latest episode of "Consumer's Guide To Health". Naturopathy is a system of primary health care, much like 'regular' medicine but with a different approach, and a set of defining underlying principles that inform how Naturopathic Physicians practice. This episode will discuss naturopathy, it's role in health care and self care, and how it differs from more traditional health care approaches.

This episode's special guest will be Dr. Jane Reside. Dr. Jane Reside, B.Sc., N.D. has been practicing in downtown Victoria, BC since 2001. She began her naturopathic training at Bastyr University in Seattle, WA, and went on to finish the four year program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, ON where she graduated in 2000. Prior to naturopathic school, Dr. Reside obtained a degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC.

The BlogTalkRadio call-in number is 646-929-1567. You can listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/abesselink and also download this and previous episodes here as well.

I hope you can join us for what I am sure will be a lively discussion!

Note: This episode, originally scheduled for 1/19/2010, was rescheduled due to some technical difficulties at the time.

Join me on BlogTalkRadio on Tuesday January 5, 2010 at 8:00 pm central time for the latest episode of "Consumer's Guide To Health". The start of the new year sees many people resolving to become healthier and happier in the upcoming year. With that in mind, the first episode of 2010 is an appropriate time to discuss health resolutions - how to set goals and make resolutions for the year, and how to put strategies into place to make them a reality.

This episode's special guest will be Christine Yarosh. Christine has a PhD in clinical psychology and has been a therapist for 22 years. Her primary area of interest is the mind-body connection.

The BlogTalkRadio call-in number is 646-929-1567. You can listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/abesselink and also download this and previous episodes here as well.

Join us for a great discussion to get the new decade rolling!

The current versions of health care reform being proposed and debated are really starting to make me wonder. We started off with "making the system better", "outcomes", "efficacy", and "coverage for all". Now we're talking about something that is becoming increasingly far-removed from that. And it's getting worse.

We're now being told - in the latest iteration of legislation - that there will only be coverage for part of the population (current estimate: 93%). We're being told that tort reform has to be a significant factor in health care reform - yet in states in which it has occurred, there have been no savings to the patient. We're being told that the patient will be forced to buy health insurance - in a system that has not inherently changed. It's like taking your beat-up 1972 Ford Pinto into the shop for a quick coat of spray paint, thinking that might get you a few extra years of driving - but never looking at the oil leak or the old tires. Or the product recall.

The debate now is about protecting the status quo - and has become misguided to say the least, and unethical to say the most. But fortunately, it should now become readily apparent that there is but one solution to health care reform debate.

It's name? Legislative reform.

Prior to my book signing at Leeds County Books in Brockville, Canada in August, I was interviewed by Doreen Barnes for BrockNewsTV. They have recently posted the interview online:

Many thanks to Dale and Doreen of BrockNews TV, and my hosts Jake and Pat Belanger and Russ Disotell of Leeds County Books for their support.

"RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running", is available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com, along with RunTex Riverside and South Congress Athletic Club in Austin, Texas and Leeds County Books in Brockville, Canada. There will also be a book signing and discussion at RunTex on Saturday, December 12 at 12:00 pm. Meet-and-greet starts at 11:30 am.

Allan Besselink, Austin physical therapist and endurance sports coach, will be in-store at RunTex Riverside (422 W. Riverside, Austin) on December 12 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM. Besselink will be discussing his approach to both injury-free running and injury recovery, and signing copies of his book "RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running".

Further information on "RunSmart: A Comprehensive Approach To Injury-Free Running" can be found here.

Give the gift of injury-free running for Christmas!

RunTex is the place to be on 12/12 at 12:00 - hope to see you there.

Join me on BlogTalkRadio on Tuesday December 8, 2009 at 8:00 pm central time for the latest episode of "Consumer's Guide To Health". The past year has seen a lot of news in the health and health care worlds. Tonight's episode, the last episode of 2009, will discuss many of the key health news issues for 2009.

The BlogTalkRadio call-in number is 646-929-1567. You can listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/abesselink and also download this and previous episodes here as well.

Join us for a great review of the year in health news - and our last episode for the year!

I am starting to think that our currently held beliefs on running and, specifically, running a marathon, are creating a new type of health risk.

The November 23 issue of the Austin American-Statesman has an article by Fit City writer Pamela LeBlanc entitled "Are slow runners ruining marathons?". In it she refers to a recent article in the NY Times on the same topic. Here is the original NY Times quote:

"From 1980 to 2008, the number of marathon finishers in the United States increased to 425,000 from 143,000 . In 1980, the median finishing time for male runners in United States marathons was 3 hours 32 minutes 17 seconds, a pace of about eight minutes per mile. In 2008, the median finishing time was 4:16, a pace of 9:46. For women, that time in 1980 was 4:03:39. Last year, it was 4:43:32".

She states that "making an effort to lead a healthy lifestyle is important, and having a goal like a marathon - whether you run it all or walk part of it - can help". She then states that "proper training is crucial to prevent injury".

And therein lies the quantum leap. I would totally agree with LeBlanc as she makes note of two critical issues - fostering active lifestyles, and doing so safely by preventing running injuries. But is it possible that the increased levels of participation - and the slower overall pace of the runners - combined with a high rate of running injuries, could actually be creating a greater health risk?

Join me on BlogTalkRadio on Tuesday November 24, 2009 at 8:00 pm central time for the latest episode of "Consumer's Guide To Health". The holiday season is rapidly approaching. You've been active and maintaining a healthy diet, but how do you survive the holidays? Some simple nutritional concepts can help you not only survive the holiday season, but enjoy it along the way! This episode's guest is Marsha Beckermann, registered dietician and former Food Coach for the University of Texas athletics program.

The BlogTalkRadio call-in number is 646-929-1567. You can listen online at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/abesselink and also download this and previous episodes here as well.

Join us for some healthy tips for healthy eating during the holidays!

Principles define training. Principles can lead you to personal best performances, injury prevention, and health – if they are simply applied correctly.

Historically, running has a social and coaching culture that would have you believe that very diverse methods are required to train for different events. For example, most would assume that training for the 800 meters on the track would be in complete opposition to training for a 100 mile trail run. One is 200 times longer than the other. Currently-held beliefs would tell us that these events utilize different “energy systems”, that one event is anaerobic while the other is aerobic, that one event is for those with lots of fast twitch muscle fibers while the other is only for those with a predominance of slow twitch fibers, that perhaps a specific periodization or structure of training is required, or even more commonly, that perhaps a certain number of miles of training are necessary.

These traditional methods make some assumptions that, sadly, have not stood the test of time or science.

Much of the traditional thinking assumes that the cardiovascular system is the primary limiter of performance – and thus the primary aspect to address in training. But as we’ve built a body of knowledge in the sports sciences, this has been found to not be the case. The central nervous system and neuromuscular system are the primary limiters of performance, and thus issues such as power output should define the training plan. The greater the power output (at any given distance), the faster you go.

What does this mean from a practical application?

I have coached runners of all skill levels and paces, and through a wide variety of event distances. And the one common element that links events like the 800 meters and a 100 mile run is that the training principles are the same. Yes, the same.