Follow the latest news on health and nutrition here.
Kids Need At Least 60 Minutes of Exercise
According
to a report from The Institute of Medicine, children need to get a
minimum of an hour of vigorous physical acitivity every day, and school
is the best place for this as kids spend so much time there. The report
urges schools to make physical education a core subject. This is
specially important given the fact that many schools have reduced PE
and recess time to devote more time to reading and math. More....
Fresh or Canned Peaches?
Did you know that canned peaches are just as nutritious and sometimes even more?
A study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
compared the nutrition of fresh and canned peaches, and found that
canning opens the cell walls of the fruit's flesh, making it easier for
nutrients like vitamin A readily available for our bodies. The study
also found more vitamin C, E, and folate in canned peaches than in
fresh. More....
A Bill for Providing Access to Healthy Produce
North
Carolina lawmakers are considering a bill to incentivize local grocers
and mom and pop stores to open in food desert zones, where poverty
rates are 20 percent, and people don't have access to fresh produce or
other healthy foods. The bill seeks to provide tax incentives and
promotes locally grown food. More....
Save Money and Lose Calories with Homemade Snacks
If you can avoid the vending machine at work, you can save not only a
lot of money but also lose a lot of calories. The best way to do this,
according to nutritionists, is to bring healthy snacks from home, such
as mixed nuts, high-fiber cereal, fruits and vegetables with healthy
dips like hummus and yogurt. Snacks can be between 100 and 175
calories, and to prevent over-snacking, make sure you don't skip any
meals. More....
Sweets and Obesity
A
new study of over 5,000 Americans shows that eating sweets may not be
as bad for your health as you may have thought. Participants who ate
sweets every other day were not at any greater risk for obesity or
heart disease than those who indulged once a week or less. Experts,
however, still recommend moderation. More....
Sleep or Exercise?
If you're sleep-deprived, you may not perform as well when exercising,
and may be more prone to hurting yourself and experiencing aches and
pains. So it may be a good idea to get an extra hour of sleep instead
of exercising. Experts say that most people need at least eight hours
of sleep to feel rested and refreshed. More....
RDs Walk the Talk
A registered dietitian says she keeps calories in mind when ordering at
restaurants, and shares information about some of the items she and
other nutrition experts like to order to make sure they're getting
enough protein, fiber, and vegetables. According to her, most
restaurant chains are listing calorie content on menus and are willing
to customize meals to exclude fattening add-ons. More....
Excess Fat Increases Cardiovascular Risk after Age 50
Excess fat after the age of 50 can lead to hardening of arteries
and increase the risk of death from heart disease. Obesity in young
people is not as dangerous because their blood vessels can adapt to the
effects of obesity. According to researchers, the potential benefits of
weight-loss would depend on the person's age and how long he or she has
been overweight. More....
Omega-3s and Impact of Junk Food on Brain
A review published in the British Journal of Nutrition states that the
negative impact of junk food on the brain may be mitigated by
consumption of omega-3 fatty acids.
High-fat and junk food diets can disrupt the process that generates new
nerve cells but this can be combated with a diet rich in omega-3s as it
can prevent the damage by stimulating the area of the brain that
controls feeding, learning, and memory. More....
Seasonings - An Alternative to Salt
According
to researchers at Sao Paolo University, Brazil, older adults with high
blood pressure may be quite satisfied with less salt when other
seasonings like oregano are added to foods. Federal guidelines suggest
a daily intake of no more than 1,500 mg for adults with hypertension
and 2,300 for others, however, the average American exceeds these
recommendations, consuming as much as 3,400 mg a day. More....
Bus Drivers Have Highest Obesity Rate
Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index recently surveyed 14 occupation
groups in the US and found that bus drivers have a 36% obesity rate
because of their sedentary job and lack of food choices. They also
tended to have diabetes, high blood pressure, and carpal tunnel
syndrome. Manufacturing and production workers are next with 30%.
Office workers have a 26% obesity rate while physicians have the lowest
- 16%. More....
Unhealthy Drinks to Avoid
There
are some beverages you may want to avoid because of the hidden calories
and sugar they contain. The so-called low-fat chocolate milk can still
have about 50 calories from fat and 60 grams of sugar. Starbucks coffee
with doubleshot espresso and cream has twice the number of calories
regular coffee with cream and sugar has. Protein shakes and smoothies
may sound like healthy alternatives, but these can still contain 350
calories, with 55 calories from fat. More....
Get Fit to Prevent Heart Failure
Middle-aged people need to stay fit to reduce their risk for heart failure later in life.
New research shows that it's never too late to start an exercise
regimen. Heart failure is the most common reason for older adults being
hospitalized, with over 50 percent of them dying within five years of
this diagnosis. In many cases, heart failure is preventable by
increasing fitness levels and improving cardiovascular health. More....
Diabetes Has Increased by 45 Percent
In
the past two decades, the number of American adults with diabetes has
increased by 45 percent. The study, published in Diabetes Care, also
shows that the largest increase has been among those aged 65 and older.
The results indicate the need for better prevention initiatives in the
US.
Best Workout Partner is One who Talks Less
A new study shows that when working out with a virtual partner,
participants exercise for a longer period of time when the partner is
better than them and provides minimal verbal encouragement. Contrary to
expectations, constant verbal encouragement is perceived as
condescending and patronizing and seems to have a negative impact on
their motivation to exercise. More....
Jet-Lagged? Try This
If you're a frequent flyer and suffer from jet lag, you may want to try
No-Jet-Lag from Miers Laboratory, a homeopathic remedy that's been
proven safe and effective in tests or a melatonin supplement to
regulate your sleep cycle. To alleviate travel anxiety, you may want to
check out the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, a blend of five flower
essences. More....
Formula Use May Help At-Risk Babies
Research shows that newborns who lose a lot of weight after birth, fare
much better when fed a little formula over several days, and go on to
breast-feeding at three months. This practice may also help alleviate
the stress new mothers deal with when breast-feeding and give them the
confidence to stick with it. More....
Want to Lose Weight? Eat Less at Breakfast
Researchers found that participants who ate less at breakfast did not
consume more at other times during the day and were able to lose weight
as a result. Portion sizes were reduced by over 40% in the study for
overweight participants and this had a positive impact on the number of
calories they consumed over the day. More....
New SARS-Like Virus Has Killed 18
According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), a new coronavirus has killed at
least 18 people in the Middle East and Europe. In France, a second man
was diagnosed with the disease after sharing a hospital room with a
patient affected by the virus, confirming fears that the virus can be
transmitted from peson to person if there's close contact. More....
Supplements and Macular Degenration
A
study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)
showed that lutein and zeaxanthin supplements were most effective in
protecting against vision loss in those who ate the the fewest green
leafy vegetables, and were at risk for macular degeneration. The
supplements didn't do much for those participants who were already
eating a healthy diet. More....
Production of Caffeinated Gum Halted
After meetings with the Federal Drug and Administration (FDA) about
concerns over the health effects of its caffeinated gum on children and
adolscents, Wrigley has decided to halt the production, sales, and
marketing of the product. The FDA applauded its decision as a sign of
true leadership and its commitment to public health. More....
Packaged Diet Foods More Effective
A
new study shows that people who are on a diet plan that provides
prepackaged food tend to lose more weight than those who have to make
food decisions themselves. According to researchers, less structure and
more freedom to choose foods often undermines participants' ability to
stick to their calorie and weight-loss goals. More....
Keep Up Your Energy Levels With Healthy Drinks
Most energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine and sugar which can
provide a temporary energy boost and just as quickly lead to an energy
crash, apart from creating other damaging effects on your health.
Instead, look for healthy alternatives made with natural ingredients,
such as protein smoothies made with fruits and protein powder, green
drinks made with leafy and other vegetables and a few fruits, coconut
water, and just plain water to keep your body hydrated. More....
Not Much Improvement in Fast Food Nutrition
In terms of nutrition, fast food has not shown much improvement in the
past decade. After analyzing foods from restaurants like McDonald's,
Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, and Kentucky Fried Chicken,
researchers found that the nutritional score of these foods fell below
that of the average American diet. While scores improved for meat,
saturated fat, and calories from solid fats and sugars, scores
did not change for fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, and oils,
and scores for dairy and sodium became worse. More....
Aerobic Exercise May Reduce Breast Cancer Risk
A
new study shows that young women who got 30 minutes of aerobic exercise
five times a week showed an improvement in estrogen metabolism after
only 16 weeks, a measure associated with breast cancer risk. The women
also gained lean muscle mass while losing fat mass. More....
Salt, Phosphorus, and Caffeine Affect Calcium Absorption
If you want to prevent osteoporosis, you need to make sure your bones
get enough calcium, but a diet that's high in salt, caffeine, and
phosphorus may negate your efforts. High sodium intake can not only
cause high blood pressure and heart disease, it can also increase your
risk for osteoporosis by causing calcium-loss in the urine. Sodas
contain phosphorus and caffeine, and experts say that phosphorus causes
loss of calcium, while caffeine interferes with calcium absorption. More....
Teens Eat More Calories Whether at Subway or McDonald's
Subway's "eat fresh" campaign helped it establish itself as a healthy
alternative and beat McDonald's to become the top fast-food chain in
the US, but researchers found that teens ate only a few calories less
at Subway than they did at McDonald's. The calorie requirement for
teens per meal is 850, and the teens who were part of the study,
consumed 1,038 calories at McDonald's and 955 at Subway. More....
Gluten-Free Diet Can Be Deficient in Fiber
Those who adopt a gluten-free diet could end up with a diet deficient
in fiber and may develop problems like constipation. Fiber is important
for maintaining a healthy weight and cholesterol, and healthy bacteria
in the stomach. Most Americans get their fiber from cereal and bread,
and since these are not available to those eating a gluten-free diet,
they need to look for other sources of fiber. Many manufacturers seem
to be realizing this, and are adding gluten-free grains like amaranth,
sorghum, quinoa, and buckwheat, as well as beans and legumes to their
products. More....
Don't Shop for Groceries When Hungry
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, showed that people bought
more high-calorie foods if they shopped when they were hungry when
compared to those who ate a snack before shopping. The best time to
shop is after lunch, dinner, or after a snack when you're less
susceptible to hunger-motivated shopping decisions, and to have list
handy to prevent you from buying unnecessary items. Food insecurity is
another reason shoppers opt for cheap but high-calorie foods. More....
Natural Foods Company Offers Nutrition Workshops to Employees
Bridgetown Natural Foods, a small business in Portland, Oregon, which
provides natural and organic snack products to companies like Whole
Foods Market, is taking an important step to educate its employees
about healthy living. The company's health program educates employees
about health, nutrition, grocery budgeting, and meal-planning with
seasonal ingredients. To encourage attendance at the free workshops,
the company not only pays workers to attend but also provides tokens
for buying produce at a local farmer's market. More....
National Bike to School Day on May 8
The National Bike to School Day aims to promote healthy living and
encourages students to bike to school. Biking and walking to school are
easy ways for kids to exercise and deal with weight issues, and this
year over 1,200 schools across the US are participating in this event.
Apart from the physical benefits, studies show that biking and walking
may also improve concentration. More...
Students Opt for Healthier Food When Preordering
A new study shows that students choose healthier food when they
preorder their lunches than when they don't. The research involved 300
students from two elementary schools in New York using an electronic
system to preorder their lunch entree. About 29% opted for healthier
food, compared to only 15% who did so in the lunch line. Researchers
believe that this is because the kids are less likely to be influenced
by the enticing smells of the less healthy fare. More....
US Farmers Swtiching from Tobacco to Chickpeas
More
and more Americans seem to be opting for healthful foods like the
Middle Eastern hummus, a chickpea dip that's low in fat and high in
protein. The growing demand for hummus has hiked up the price of
chickpeas. Sabra Dipping Co., a joint venture of PepsiCo and Israel's
Strauss Group Ltd., is encouraging farmers in Virginia and other
tobacco-growing regions to switch to chickpeas to meet the growing
demand and to protect their company against any shortages. More....
Do You Throw Away Your Toothbrush after Strep Throat?
If you have been following doctors' advice and throwing away yours or
your kids' toothbrushes after a bout of strep throat, you may not need
to do that anymore.
A new study shows that strep bacteria typically does not survive for
long. However, the researchers also cautioned that more studies are
needed to confirm the results. More....
Only 20% American Adults Get Required Exercise
According
to a new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report, only 20% of American
adults are meeting the federal guidelines for exercise, which includes
muscle-building and aerobic activity. Men and younger adults are more
likely to meet these requirements than women and older adults. Regular
exercise can lower health risks and easy ways of exercising include
brisk walking for 30 minutes a day combined with resistance exercises
like push-ups, situps, and heavy gardening. More....
More Children Suffering From Food and Skin Allergies
Food, skin, and respiratory allergies have risen dramatically among
children, especially among those in well-to-do families, according to a
new government report. Some experts have come up with the hygiene
hypothesis - that reduced exposure to infection and germs is making our
immune systems look for a fight and is attacking innocent proteins.
Other explanations include a vitamin D deficiency, unhealthy fats in
the diet, obesity, and processed food - theories which have not been
confirmed by science. More....
Feeding a Family of Four at $146 a Week
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), it can cost a
family of four anywhere between $146 to $289 a week to feed a family of
four. But dietitians say that to be at the lower end of the scale, you
need to have a strategy in place to provide healthy food to your
family. The strategy includes planning ahead, taking advantage of sales
and store discounts, buying in-season produce and store brands to cut
costs. More....
The EWG List of Clean and Dirty Produce
The
Environmental Working Group (EWG) has come up with its list of clean
and dirty fruits and veggies list for 2013. The dirty (full of
pesticides) list includes apples, strawberries, grapes, peaches,
imported nectarines, celery, spinach, cucumber, potatoes, cherry
tomatoes, sweet bell peppers, and hot peppers. The clean list includes
aspragus, avocado, cabbage, cantaloupe, corn, eggplant, grapefruit,
kiwi, mangoes, mushrooms, onions, papayas, sweet peas, and sweet
potatoes. More....
Junk Food During Pregnancy May Make Your Baby Obese in Adulthood
Australian researchers found that babies faced an increased risk of
obesity in their adult years if their mothers ate junk food when
pregnant. The babies grow up with less sensitivity to opioids which
makes them eat more fat and sugar to feel satiated. Achieving a healthy
body weight would be harder for them. More....
Breakthrough in HIV Cure Likely
Danish
scientists are hoping to achieve a breakthrough in finding a cure for
HIV in a few months. They are currently conducting clinical trials to
test a new approach to treating HIV wherein the virus is stripped from
the human DNA and is destroyed by the body's immune system that's
boosted with a vaccine. The scientists claim that lab tests have been
successful. More....
Dietary Recommendations for Preemies
The American Academy of Pediatrics has come up with new dietary
recommendations for premature babies. The group recommends giving
preemies weighing less than 3.5 pounds and with severe medical problems
high doses of vitamin D and calcium along with phosphorus every day,
while they're in the hospital and after, to strengthen their bones and
prevent rickets. More....
NYC School Offers All-Vegetarian Menu
A public school in Queens, New York is offering an all-vegetarian menu
to its students. This is the first school in NY, and possibly in the US
to do so. The elementary school started serving a vegetarian lunch
three times a week and gradually increased it to five. The New York
Coalition for Healthy School Food is helping it develop heathy menus
that include tofu wraps, vegetarian chili, black beans and cheddar
quesadillas. More....
FDA to Examine Addition of Caffeine to Foods
The Food and Drug Administration announced that it will examine the
safety of adding caffeine to various foods and its impact on children's
health. The FDA was responding to the introduction of Wrigley's new
caffeinated gum, Alert Energy Gum, and is an extension of its earlier
response to energy drinks. The increase in such caffeinated products
that are also easily available to kids is a cause for concern. More....
Walking's a Great Alternative to Running
If
you prefer walking to running, experts say, it can be equally effective
in providing the necessary workout for your body and can even help you
lose weight. Studies found that women who did speed-interval walking
and toning exercises for 45 minutes, four times a week, lost 23 pounds
in 16 weeks. Make sure you exhale deeply, bend forward slightly from
your hips, take shorter steps, and bend your elbows while walking. More....
Yoga Not a Substitute for Cardio Exercise
Experts acknowledge the many benefits that yoga can provide - it can
improve flexibility, strength, and mental clarity. But they also say
that yoga alone is not enough to maintain your overall muscle and heart
health and should not replace resistance training and cardio exercises.
More....
Extra Pounds and Alcohol Can Damage Liver
While it's known that alcohol damages the liver, combined with obesity,
it can do serious damage to the liver and may also increase the risk of
developing and dying from chronic liver disease and liver cancer. The
new research can help doctors manage the treatment of patients with
liver disease and identify cancer in early stages. More....
Mexican Cucumbers Tied to Salmonella Outbreak
Salmonella-tainted cucumbers from Mexico have sickened 73 people in 18
states. Twenty-six percent of those affected have been hospitalized.
The contaminated produce has been taken off the market and the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the two supplying companies
responsible for the outbreak. More....
Nuts Don't Promote Weight-Gain
If you think that adding more nuts to your diet may add a few pounds to
your weight as well, think again. Data from studies conducted across
the globe showed that adding nuts to thier diets did not result in any
weight gain amnog participants. In fact, those who replaced other
snacks with nuts lost about 1.4 pounds more than those who didn't. Nuts
are also associated with reducing risk of diabetes and high blood
pressure. More....
More Americans Eating Vegetarian Food
More Americans seem to be eating vegetarian food these days, as the
concept of healthy food is catching on. Their attitudes have become
more casual towards food, and the variety of ethnic food options that
are available today, makes it easier to try various foods, where meat
is often included as an afterthought. Also, vegetarian food these days
is not necessarily associated with any ideology. More....
Clean Eating - Why You May Want to Try It
The concept of clean eating has been around since the 1960s and
was popularized by the hippy culture of the times, and refers to eating
whole, unprocessed foods. Research shows that eating fresh fruits and
vegetables, and whole, unmilled grains is very beneficial to health and
can reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers' and other
diseases. More....
Best Way to Cheat on Your Diet
Experts
say that an all-or-nothing approach to dieting for weight loss and
weight maintenance doesn't work because it's too difficult to stick
with it all the time. So they say that it's OK to cheat provided you do
it the right way. If chocolate is your weakness, then indulge in afew
pieces of high-quality dark chocolate a couple of times a week, and
balance it out with exercise. More....
Most Americans Don't Want Taxes on Soda and Candy
A recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive and HealthDay showed that
most Americans are against any government taxes on sugary drinks and
candy and believe that taxing these is not going to reduce obesity
rates in the country. Many states and cities like Vermont and Texas,
and New York and Philadelphia have proposed such a tax but were not
successful in pushing them through. Some experts say that no single
measure is going to help, and the best approach to this issue is to
make healthy choices easier for everyone. More....
Mediterranean Diet for Hot Flashes
Researchers
who studied 6,000 women over nine years found that common problems like
hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause are less likely
to occur if women eat a diet that's rich in fruits, and certain
vegetables like salad greens, garlic pasta, and red wine. All the study
participants went through a natural menopause and did not have to have
hysterectomy. More....
Look for Free Fruits? Use This App!
Called the Falling Fruit, this smartphone application informs people
about any fruit trees in the area that are available for picking. The
application is an interactive map that identifies locations across the
globe where fruit trees and other produce like veggies, and nuts are
free for the taking, such as from public parks, and other public areas.
More....
Digestive Enzyme Supplements - Do You Need Them?
Dietitians say that the hype around digestive enzyme supplements is
making them popular with many consumers, but in most cases, they are
not required, as these enzymes are naturally produced in the
gastrointestinal tract. People with pancreatic insufficiency, a
condition in which the pancreas are unable to produce the normal
qantities of the enzyme, those with lactose intolerance, and those who
eat a high-fiber diet are the ones who may want to consider taking
supplements. More....
US Hospitals Serving Healthier Food
Hospitals
in various states have started eliminating junk food and serving
healthy food to patients, employees, and visitors. John Muir Health
hospitals in California, for instance, are getting rave reviews for the
quality and variety of healthy food they provide, along with an
international menu that changes daily. There seems to be a lot of
conversation around how hospitals can lead the way to a healthier food
system. More....
TV and Video Games More Harmful Than Lack of Exercise
Spending too many hours watching TV or playing video games can reduce
HDL or good cholesterol among children and put them at greater risk for
heart disease. The resaerchers who conducted this study say that more
screen time increases food intake causing the cholesterol problems.
Other sedentary activities like reading may be better because we eat
less. More....
Mangoes May Lower Blood Glucose
A small study found that daily intake of freeze-dried mango helps
lower blood glucose and inflammation in obese people. While glucose
levels went down in both men and women, researchers saw observed that
the BMI (body-mass index) rose significantly in women participants.
Mangoes contain polyphenolic compounds and it these compunds that have
a positive effect on blood glucose. More....
Exercises That Work for Women
Fitness
experts say that to achieve your fitness goals, it's important to
challenge your body in different ways. If you're doing the same type of
exercises every day, the benefits might reach a plateau, aside from the
fact that you may get bored. Even if you go with classic exercises like
pushups, lunges, and squats, you can change the way you perform these.
Experts list the best exercises for women. More....
Teen Moms More Likely to Be Obese
A survey conducted by the US National Health and Nutrition Examination
showed that 44 percent of women who had their first kid in their teens
were obese compared to 35 percent who had their first child in their
20s. According to the researchers, long-term effects of teen pregnancy
also need to be addressed. More....
How to Gauge Sodium Content from Food Labels
Food labels can be quite confusing, especially where sodium content is
concerned. A dietitian tells patients to ignore the percentages and
instead look at the milligrams of sodium and opt for packaged foods
with less than 300 milligrams per serving. Dietitians also say that an
easy way to cut down on sodium is to eat fresh food rather than
processed food, and be aware of hidden salt in products like bread and
cereal. More....
Say No to Cinnamon Challenge
Doctors
are warning kids to not take the cinnamon challenge, a prank that
involves swallowing a spoonful of cinnamon powder without water in 60
seconds to produce an "orange burst of dragon breath". The caustic
spice can cause choking, throat irritation, breathing trouble,
and even collapsed lungs. Doctors say that this dangerous prank
has led to an increase in hospitalizations and calls to the US poison
Center. More....
Overeating at Buffets?
If you have a hard time stopping yourself from overating at buffets,
new research shows that you can try a couple of strategies. Use a
smaller plate and walk around the table to take a look at what's on
offer before making a choice. The study reveals that thin people tend
to pick foods they want the most unlike overweight people who look at
each option and ask themselves if they want it or not. More....
Mildly Obese Now Eligible for Weight-Loss Surgery
According
to new guidelines from American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric
Surgery, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the
Obesity Society, mildly obese people with diabetes or metabolic
syndrome can undergo weight-loss surgery to reduce their risk of heart
disease and diabetes. More....
Hotels Add Fitness Amenities Outdoors
In addition to the regular indoor amenities, hotels in urban areas are
providing outdoor fitness amenities to attract customers. The list
includes sightseeing city runs, bike rides, power walks, and nature
hikes. Studies show that exercising outside offers benefits that indoor
exercises don't. Researchers found that natural environments increase
activity levels and reduce exertion and stress, and improve mood. More ....
Eat More Fruits and Veggies and Be Happy
Fruits
and vegetables are not only good for your physical health but they're
also good for your mental health. Researchers at University of Warwick
and Dartmouth studied 80,000 British adults and found that those who
ate 7-8 servings of veggies and fruits every day were happier and more
satisfied with their lives than those who ate fewer servings. More....
How to Recognize Life-Threatening Chest Pain
It
is often difficult for people to identify the kind of chest pain that
signals a heart attack as there can be other causes for chest pain.
According to doctors, in the case of an impending heart attack, chest
pain is usually in the middle or left side of the chest and may be
accompanied by pain in the neck, back, shoulders and/or left arm.
Doctors recommend that the time to get to a hospital for immediate care
is if the pain or symptoms come on suddenly, there is something
different about them, and if they last for more than 20 minutes. More....
Pool Work-Outs Prevent Falls among Older Women
A new study shows that older women who participated in intensive,
aquatic work-outs increased their muscle and bone strength and had
fewer falls as result. Aquatic exercise for older women became popular
in the 90s and then fell out of favor because of the belief that
gravity-resisting acitvities are better for building muscle and bone
strength than water-based exercises. More....
Diet and Exercise for Managing Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition characterized by abnormal pauses in
breathing during sleep and is caused when the airway is blocked or
collapses. This condition usually affects overweight and obese adults
and has been linked to heart problems. A new study shows that lifestyle
inteventions that include healthy eating and exercise can help people
manage this condition and prevent it from becoming a severe disease. More....
Coconut Oil Better Than Butter
According to dietitians, coconut oil may be a better alternative
to butter. Despite the fact that coconut oil has more saturated fat
than butter or other animal-based fats, more than half of the fat is
medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which metabolize quickly and are
more easily burned as energy and less likely to be stored as fat.
Studies show that coconut oil may also be beneficial for cholesterol
and Alzheimer's disease. More....
FDA Issues Warning on Supplements Containing DMMA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is making sure that dietary
supplements containing a stimulant called dimethylamylamine (DMAA) are
banned from the market. DMMA is a common ingredient in many
weight-loss, muscle-building, and performance-enhancing dietary
supplements and can cause serious health problems such as high blood
pressure and heart problems, and is particularly dangerous when used
with caffeine. More....
Weight-Loss App More Effective Than Food Journals
UK researchers found that overweight participants who used a
weight-loss app called My Meal Mate lost an average of 10 pounds over 6
months, while those who kept a paper food diary lost only 6.5 pounds,
and those who kept an online food journal lost 3 pounds. The app, which
provides calorie and nutrition information on all the foods available
in restaurants, grocery stores, and cafeterias, helped educate the
participants and allowed them to keep better track of their food intake
and weight-loss goals. More....
A Detox Diet of Fruits and Veggies
If
you're looking to cleanse your body of environmental toxins, you don't
need to consume special drinks or pills. Your liver can take care of it
naturally with the help of right foods. To help the liver produce
detoxifying enzymes, experts suggest eating vegetables that contain
sulphoraphane like broccoli, cabbage, brussells sprouts, bok choy, and
kale. Fruits that contain anthocyanidins, such as berries, grapes, and
beet, and foods that contain polyphenols like green tea and red wine
should also be a part of your diet. More....
Stress and Sweat
Research shows that of the three types of sweat, sweat from heat, sweat
from exercise, and sweat from stress, the latter makes you stink the
worst. The smell of stress sweat can come on real fast and strong.
While there are products that help you deal with this kind of stress,
it might be a better idea to deal with the cause of stress. A recent
study showed that looking at anxiety and stress as performance
enhancers can help you better handle the stress as well as what's
causing it. More....
Worst Nutrition Advice for Children
A dietitian lists the worst nutrition advice we give to children that
could set them up for failure in terms of health and nutrition. The
list includes not keeping them on a meal schedule, offering them a
different meal if they don't like what is served, and rewarding good
behavior with food. More....
School a Good Place for Changing Lifestyle Behaviors
Kaiser
Permanente and other groups like Common Threads have created
intervention programs for dealing with obesity among children and found
that efforts to bring about healthy lifestyle changes in school
settings have a better and measurable impact on kids' lifestyle
behaviors than in neghborhood communities. Healthy habits that kids
learn at school seem to carry over to their homes. More....
Barley May Help in Managing Weight
A study showed that participants who consumed boiled barley kernels in
a late-evening meal, had increased levels of a satiety hormone and also
consumed fewer calories the next day when compared to those who ate
white wheat bread. Indigestible carbs like barley seem to change the
microflora in the intestines and seem to facilitate glucose regulation,
decrease inflammation in the body and fatty acids. More....
More Time for Cooking Means Less Time for Exercise
Ohio University researchers found that preparing healthy meals at home
can often eat into the time Americans allocate to exercise. Based on
data from 112,000 American adults, both single and married, and with
and without children, the study showed that a 10-minute increase in
meal-prep time was associated with fewer minutes spent on exercise.
When making recommendations, public health officials should take into
account the fact that one healthy behavior can often come at the
expense of another. More....
Abdominal CT Scans to Detect Osteoporosis
A
study published in The annals of Internal Medicine shows that doctors
can use patients' abdominal CT scans that have been ordered for another
reason to check for signs of osteoporosis and spare them from
additional tests. Experts say that scans specifically ordered for
gauging bone density could lead to incorrect diagnoses. More....
Restricting Soda Size May Not Work
Researchers
at University of California, San Diego in La Jolla, conducted a study
to see if smaller-sized sugary drinks would decrease consumption. They
found that participants who were offered bundles of smaller-sized soda
cans consumed more than those who were offered vaying sizes. More....
Belly Fat Linked to Kidney Problems
People who're apple-shaped, with more weight around their bellies than
their hips, are more at risk for kidney disease, according to a new
study that measured blood flow through the kidneys. The participants
had higher levels of blood pressure in their kidneys, even though they
were not overweight. Elevated blood pressure can damage the small
vessels in the kidney and affect it's ability to function properly. More....
Hearing Aid App for iPhone
University of Essex researchers have developed a free mobile app
for iPhone that provides a low-cost alternative to traditional
hearing aides. Called BioAid, the app is available for download in
Apple's iTunes store. The app allows patients to match the settings to
their type and level of hearing loss, and it this personalization that
makes it unique. More....
Cutting Down on Sugar? Avoid These Foods
If you're trying to cut down on your sugar intake, you may want to read
those nutrition labels on packaged foods more carefully. Many common
food items contain sugar, such as tomato sauce, ketchup, peanut butter,
frozen yogurt, frozen fruit, white wine, and granola. More....
Diet Linked to Liver Disease Risk among Teens
A study conducted on teen diet showed that teens who ate a
high-fat and high-sugar diet at age 14 were more likely to develop
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by age 17 compared with those
who ate whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Unhealthy dietary patterns
formed in childhood usually carry over into adulthood and can cause
long-term damage to the liver. More....
Sleep and Your Health
According to the National Sleep Foundation, 40 million Americans suffer
from sleep disorders, and as a result, are more likely to develop many
health issues. Insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and sleep apnea seem to
be the main sleep disorders affecting more and more women these days.
Stress, overactive minds, lack of physical exercise, exposure to the
blue light from computer and television screens can stimulate the brain
and make it difficult to relax and fall asleep. Sleep deprivation can
make you susceptible to other health issues like heart and
gastrointestinal issues, cancer, and depression. More....
Safety Issues at Specialty Pharmacies
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected specialty pharmacies
after the recent outbreak of meningitis from contaminated drugs and
found safety issues at 30 pharmacies. It issued reports to these
pharmacies for issues like unsanitary conditions, quality control
problems, mold and rust in rooms, and inadequate ventilation. More....
Boost Your Energy with These Foods
If your energy levels are always low, it could be due to a medical
condition, such as anemia, hypothyroidism, low testosterone, or
depression. Depending on the cause, you may need to take medications,
but consuming certain foods might also help you deal with the problem.
Nutritionists recommend dark leafy vegetables like spinach and kale for
anemia, as these greens are rich in iron. Quinoa is another food that
can give you an energy boost as it contains vitamin B2 and magnesium
that are necessary for energy production. More....
A Safe Alternative to Sugar
The plant-based sweetener, stevia, is a top-seller in the food market
these days mainly because it's considered to be a safe and healthy
alternative to sugar. The leaves of the stevia plant have long been
used as a sweetener and medicine, and in the 1970s Japanese scientists
developed a process to extract sugar compounds from the leaves. This
stevia extract is 250 times sweeter than sugar and equally satisfying
and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as
safe. The American Diabetes Association also recognizes stevia as a
safe option. More....
