WRITTEN BY RICHARD SEVEN

	AquaSkimmer Golf challenges swimmers to put Frisbee-like discs through floating holes.

An estimated 20 percent of all cases of new-onset Type 2 diabetes involve individuals between the ages of 9 and 19. Twenty years ago that figure was 2 percent. It appears that the rocketing rates of physical inactivity and obesity among young people are the main culprits.

There is no cure for diabetes, but diet and exercise are cornerstones to treatment. Parents need to understand when their child may be at risk. If Type 2 diabetes remains unchecked or untreated, it can lead to blindness, amputation, kidney failure and heart disease.

Among the first recognizable signs are unexplained weight loss, increased urination, extreme thirst, increased hunger, slow healing of cuts and bruises, and a patch of extremely dark, velvety and rippled skin, most often under an arm or on the neck.

Fore! afloat
Seattle-based Aquatoy Inc., makers of the AquaDisc, is rolling out a way to play golf and stay cool this summer.

AquaSkimmer Golf involves aiming the company's mini-Frisbee-like version at floating "holes." Swimmers can arrange the connections of the targets into various forms.

The company, which also recently unveiled a basketball version, opened for business in 1999 after founder and inventor Wink Thorne participated in a dolphin-communication study and spent hours playing underwater catch with a dolphin. Games can be played above and below the surface.

See www.aquatoy.com for details.

The shoes fit?
What kind of feet do you have? Knowing the answer is vital to choosing proper athletic shoes and reducing your risk of injury.

"It's best to get professional advice of a podiatrist or an orthopedic specialist when it comes to determining foot type," said Dr. John Cianca, a sports-medicine expert at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "These specialists understand how feet respond to impact associated with sports."

To decrease risk of injury, it's important to select shoes designed for your foot type: Pronator (feet roll inward too much when running), Supinator (not enough motion when running) or Neutral (normal motion).

Use those shoes
A fitness routine designed to lessen the risk of America's deadliest set of health problems can begin with a walk in the park. Experts say a huge body of evidence shows that walking reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 40 percent, even when done moderately.

Physical-activity guidelines call for a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise on all or most days of the week. Walking, research shows, can easily provide that opportunity and can be done in periodic 10-minute blocks throughout the day.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in the U.S., responsible for 40 percent of all U.S. deaths. While health experts disagree about whether walking is enough to stave off disease, one study found that the mortality rate in men who walk more than two miles a day was half that of even those who walk one to two miles a day.
 

	Pomegranate juice contains powerful natural antioxidants that may be useful in fighting premature aging, Alzheimer's and cancer.

Pomegranate anyone?
"POM Wonderful" is a big name to live up to, but the makers of this premium pomegranate juice are rolling out the product nationally this month.

In doing so, the company trumpets medical research suggesting that the juice plays a greater role in cardiovascular health than previously thought. The juice contains powerful natural antioxidants that may be useful in fighting premature aging, Alzheimer's and cancer.

The American Heart Association says almost 62 million Americans live with some form of cardiovascular disease.

Don't stop
Women diagnosed with breast cancer become significantly less active after their diagnosis, contributing to poor outcomes, according to findings published in the journal Cancer.

Decreased activity can lead to greater body fat, which boosts the production of estrogen, a known fuel for breast-cancer growth. More than 80 percent of women experience increases in weight and body fat in the first year after breast-cancer diagnosis.

Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center were part of the multicenter study, funded by the National Cancer Institute.

Ask your doc
Exercise-induced asthma, usually caused by vigorous aerobic activity, affects up to 20 percent of competitive athletes and 90 percent of asthma sufferers.

The American Council on Exercise says those who show symptoms should consult a physician immediately. Regular exercise can actually help sufferers cope with this sometimes-debilitating medical condition.

Exercise induced asthma is marked by trouble breathing within 10 minutes of the workout, coughing during activity and tightness through the chest. Those with the disease should use a fast-acting inhaler 15 to 30 minutes before starting a workout.

Avoid normal asthma triggers, exercise in humid air, breathe through the nose when exercising and warm up.
 

	As its name implies, the Nautilus TreadClimber combines aspects of the treadmill, stair-stepper and elliptical trainer to vary and intensify workouts.

3 in 1
Vancouver-based Nautilus Group has unveiled its TreadClimber, a machine designed to combine aspects of treadmills, stair-steppers and elliptical trainers.

In one mode, the TreadClimber allows the user to walk forward and step up. Each leg is on a different track so it is hard to cheat. Nautilus says combining these motions jump starts your heart rate into the fat-burning zone faster than other machines.

By flipping a toggle, TreadClimber acts as a standard treadmill.

A local test of the machine showed it indeed produces a good workout, especially in the elliptical, climbing mode. However, since the platform is separated into two distinct strips, you must pay attention to keep your feet out of the inert centerline when walking or jogging. If your foot hits that slim island, you could get jerked off balance. So go slowly.

See www.nautilusgroup.com for details.

Men drop the veggie ball
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its principal agency for cancer research and training, the National Cancer Institute, urge men to eat their fruits and vegetables.

A recent national survey conducted for the institute found that only 3 percent of men know they should eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The agencies urge men to eat nine a day to help reduce the risk of several diseases, including many cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

"Clearly, 'Shoot for 9' is a message that men need to hear," said Lorelei DiSogra, director of the institute's program. "Of all the nutrition information out there for men, nine a day is one of the simplest and most important."
 

	The company that produces Baker's Breakfast Cookies makes dough not only for its products but also for its foundation, which helps underprivileged children.

Raising dough
Last week, professional triathletes and top age-group competitors swam, cycled and ran through Bellingham in the inaugural Baker's Breakfast Cookie International Triathlon.

All proceeds from the event went to the cookie company's foundation, which focuses on the nutritional, educational and economic needs of underprivileged and malnourished children.

Baker's Breakfast Cookies are all natural, oatmeal-based and contain no artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives. The cookies sell for about $1.60 and come in 12 tasty flavors including Fruit & Nut, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Oatmeal Raisin, Pumpkin Spice, Lemon Poppy Seed and vegan varieties such as Chocolate Chunk, Oatmeal Fruit and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk.

See www.bbcookies.com for details.