Healthier Menus at Fast Food Restaurants are Faltering

Many fast food restaurants did the noble thing and expanded their menu to include much healthier choices such as salads. What was the end result? People are still picking the high calorie, fatty burgers that have always been a staple on the fast food menu.

Since many Americans are overweight, there have been steps taken to chide restaurants into lowering food portions, salt content, fats and sugars, etc. However, most people that go into restaurants really are not paying attention to things such as calories or fat content. They are even ignoring the healthy menu selections altogether. Ultimately, you cannot force the consumer to make a decision even when it may be the healthier choice.

Diet As Well As Supplements Important For Pregnant Women To Reduce Birth Defects

A study from the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine found that pregnant women who follow a healthy diet are more likely to have babies without birth defects.

Researchers used data collected from 10 states from 1997-2005. Studies showed that expectant women who ate in accordance with the US Department of Agriculture Food Guide Pyramid or who followed the Mediterranean diet were less likely to have a baby born with a cleft lip or palate or a neural tube defect.

For the optimal care of their unborn child, pregnant women should take folic acid supplements and eat a well balanced diet high in lean proteins, complex carbohydrates and good fats.

New Research Shows Behavioral Therapies For Obesity Looks Promising

In an evaluation of 58 clinical trials, researchers discovered that behavioral therapies for obese individuals delivers positive results for weight loss. People lost more weight when behavior therapies, diet changes, exercise, and medicine were merged.

To aid the Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF] in updating recommendations about obesity testing and discourse, this review transpired. With a federally backed board of medical experts, it’s advocated that every adult needs testing for obesity by a method of weight in correlation to height.  READ MORE >>

Does Being Overweight Cause Kids’ Blood Pressure to Spike?

A study conducted among 1,111 Indianapolis children contains evidence that the risk of having high blood pressure triples for kids who are considered overweight. A child is considered overweight if their body mass index is in the 85th percentile or higher for their age, and 14 percent of overweight children already have high blood pressure or the less severe prehypertension. The rate for kids whose BMI is normal is only five percent.

The risk of hypertension stays relatively level till that 85th percentile line is crossed, then goes up dramatically. Before this study, most doctors believed that simply being overweight, as opposed to obese, or in the 95th percentile of the body mass index, didn’t pose such a risk for hypertension in children.  READ MORE >>

Women Who Drink More Coffee Are Less Likely to be Depressed

Results of a research study, recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, shows that there is a positive relationship between caffeinated coffee and depression in women; as caffeine consumption increases depression risk decreases. The purpose of the study was to examine whether the use of caffeine, the most commonly used central nervous system stimulant in the world, affects depression risk in women.

Nearly 51,000 women, with an average age of 63, were assessed at the beginning of the 10 year study (in 1996) to have no symptoms of depression. During the 10 years of follow up, from 1996 to 2006, 2,607 cases of new onset clinical depression were identified from the women in the study. The depression was self reported, diagnosed by a physician, and treated with an antidepressant medication.  READ MORE >>

Denmark’s “Fat Tax”: Healthy or Going too Far?

In an effort to encourage healthier eating habits Denmark recently imposed what is being referred to as the “fat tax”. While many European countries, including Denmark, already have higher fees for sugary items and soft drinks, Denmark is the first to attempt to tax saturated fat in food items. Under this rather complicated tax code a tax rate of 16 Danish kroner per kilogram of saturated fat will be added to all food items that exceed a saturated fat content of 2.3%. To Americans that would translate to about $6.27 per pound of saturated fat.  READ MORE >>

Being Overweight Really Hurts!

Ever wonder why your body aches? Obesity has been linked to many things, and according to a recent study, it may have something to do with how people tolerate pain.

After a German announcement at EFIC congress, studies conducted by Dr. Sharron Dolan and her team revealed that in comparison to healthy rats, obese rats had more chronic conditions, such as inflammation in their feet. Using this as a template, the team wanted to translate this to people.  READ MORE >>

Harpo Studios Makes Relevant Room for Rosie

According to O magazine, Rosie O’Donnell will be introducing her own show at Harpo Studios in Chicago. The show will be a forum for Rosie to discuss real people and a wide variety of real issues. The focus for each hour-long show will be a casual and informative emphasis on raising awareness about that subject’s impact on today’s lifestyles.

These can’t help but include parental issues in raising children, our educational system in America, growing awareness of special needs children including autism, relationships, and our health, both physical and mental/emotional. Rosie will no doubt bring her comedic personality into the discussions about entertainment choices, technology advancements and advice, and countless ways to increase fulfillment in our lives now, and in the future.

It Is Up To You And Your Glucose

You can’t win. Not in terms of taking off pounds following the most recent advertized diet. Research at Yale University and the University of Southern California is proving; our brain does not cooperate. Cut down on food; your brain notices and clicks on a chemistry craving more food. Or, eat a Hershey bar and seconds later glucose hits, then you want more. At the same time your memory reminds you how much you liked that Hershey bar.  READ MORE >>

Weight Proofing Life’s Happiest Moments

Common wisdom has it that emotional eating is the result of depression and that food is used to compensate for sadness. It turns out that this is not always the story. Even the happiest people, such as newlyweds and new moms, can pack on the pounds.

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports that married women who have babies gain almost 20 pounds over the first 10 years. Another report shows that most people gain weight on their honeymoon, and the average American gains at least one pound during the Fall/Winter holiday season.  READ MORE >>

Weight Watchers Program Proven to be a Success

A study was done on a select group of people from the United Kingdom, Australia and Germany for the Weight Watchers program. These chosen dieters were 772 men and women who were already obese and were chosen while at a doctors appointment. Half of the participants chosen were given free access to a full year of Weight Watchers which included weekly meetings while the other half were encouraged to visit their doctor once a month for one-on-one weight management sessions.  READ MORE >>

Medicare Could Save $15 Billion with Program for Weight-Loss

Researchers postulate in a recent Health Affairs article that Medicare stands to save $15 billion if it were to invest in weight-loss programs targeted for baby boomers at risk for developing diabetes or heart disease. The community based programs would include individuals 60-64 with pre-diabetes, before Medicare eligibility at 65.

The researchers modeled a program that was developed by the CDC and the YMCA, which took overweight seniors with pre-diabetes and taught healthy eating and regular fitness. Those who lost weight during the 16-week plan had a 71% lower chance of developing diabetes. The authors stated that the lowered risk means lower medical costs overall.  READ MORE >>

Harvard Study Shows that a Drink a Day is Good for Women

Women who drink moderately tend to have better health overall as they age, according to a recent Harvard Study. Middle aged women who have a drink per day are more likely to reach their 70′s with fewer age related complaints such as chronic illness, cognitive decline, physical disability and mental problems.

The best results were for women who spread their consumption out throughout the week. The lead author of the study, Dr. Qi Sun, notes that these results are for white women, and while a drink a day is good for most people, other lifestyle factors are equally important. Other studies have shown increased risk for breast cancer in women who drink moderately, but the potential benefits may outweigh this risk for most women.

Personalized Weight Management Programs, the Diet of the Future

Researchers at the National Institute of Health have designed a mathematical model and accompanying computer simulation tool that could someday be the basis for personalized weight management programs. Their findings, published August 26, 2011, in Lancet, revealed that gender, age, height, weight, body fat and resting metabolic rate effect how a person looses weight.

The computer simulation predicts how diet and exercise can alter a person’s metabolism and the resulting weight changes. To test the accuracy of the mathematical model, simulation results were compared to actual weight changes in study participants. Researchers believe their model will someday assist doctors in designing personalized weight management programs based upon their patient’s weight loss goals, thereby stemming the obesity epidemic.  READ MORE >>

Obesity Rates To Double By 2030

By 2030, 164 million Americans and 26 million people in the UK will be obese. Currently, 15 million people in the United Kingdom and 99 million people in the United States are obese. The United States and United Kingdom are two of the fattest countries in the world. Greater health care costs and chronic illnesses are the leading causes of obesity.

If the current trends continue, there could be a 2.6% increase in health care costs by 2030. Incidences of diabetes, cancer, stroke and coronary artery diseases would also rise. Dropping the BMI by just 1% can lower the risk of heart disease, strokes and diabetes.

Should Children’s Diet Book be Banned?

A new children’s book, “Maggie Goes on a Diet” by Paul Kramer, is stirring up considerable controversy.

The book depicts an insecure 14 year old girl who undertakes a lifestyle change through diet and excercise.

Critics are afraid that the book may encourage bullying and eating disorders in younger children.

Childhood obesity experts do not necessarily agree whether or not the book is harmful. One expert pointed out that the book does bring attention to how children are teased over their weight. She did point out, however, that aiming the book at younger children was not appropriate. Another expert felt that parents should be the leading force when it comes to children’s eating habits.  READ MORE >>

Study: Chocolate Reduces Risk of Heart Disease

A new study suggests that diets consisting of considerable amounts of chocolate may be beneficial to a healthy heart. Prior research has implied chocolate helps reduce blood pressure and promote healthy arteries but did not produce concrete evidence of fewer cases of heart attack and stroke in chocolate consumers. However, the new study, published in the August issue of British Medial Journal sought and extracted more definitive evidence through analysis of 100,000 individuals without heart disease. Conducted by researchers at the University of Cambridge in England, subjects with the most chocolate in their diet were found to have a 37 percent decrease in heart disease, and a 29 percent decrease in cases of stroke.  READ MORE >>

Free Chick-fil-A Breakfast Expensive When It Comes to Calories and Fat

From September 6 through September 10 fast-food restaurant Chick-fil-a is offering customers a free breakfast. A coupon for a free meal is available by visiting the Chick-fil-a website, making a reservation at a local restaurant and choosing one of their breakfast meals. These meals include multigrain oatmeal, an egg and cheese biscuit, a sausage biscuit, Chick-n-Minis, a chicken biscuit, or a spicy chicken biscuit. After choosing a meal you will receive a coupon via e-mail to redeem on your reservation date and time.  READ MORE >>

Surprising Health Benefits Of Beer

Dr. Manny at FoxNews gives a positive spin to occasional alcohol consumption. Surprisingly, there are many health benefits to drinking a beer. Beer contains several vitamins and antioxidants that can help aid in the prevention of heart disease. Dark beer is the better choice because it contains more nutrients and antioxidants which will help reverse cell damage. Also, dark beer contains an abundance of iron which is a mineral that helps supply oxygen from the lungs throughout the body.

Microbrews are also a good choice because they are healthier and contain more hops which will help lower cholesterol and combat cancer and viruses.  READ MORE >>

Is our government making us fat?

A vast number of Americans are overweight. While many feel this is a result of making poor decisions, the financial impact of eating a healthy diet is often overlooked. A recent study by Dr. Pablo Monsivais, at the University of Washington considered the financial implications of choosing healthier foods. The study shows that for families surveyed, buying healthy food vs. the high fat sugary option was more expensive.  READ MORE >>

Study Concludes: Menopausal Hot Flashes and Bone Loss Not Helped by Soy

Menopausal women may have one less option when trying to eliminate hot flashes and bone loss. A study done with women aged 45 -60, over a five year period, showed no significant difference in bone loss when taking 200 mg of soy isoflavone tablets over a placebo. The women also did not have relief from night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness or loss of libido, but they did have increased hot flashes and constipation.

Dr. Selvina Levis, lead author of the study and a professor of medicine at The University of Miami, feels women should reconsider using soy to treat menopausal symptoms. Experts admit that more research is needed to help women treat their individual symptoms, using alternative treatments, without being committed to hormone replacement therapy.

Adding Spices to Food Does More Than Flavor It

Researchers at Penn State University conducted a study on the effects of antioxidant spices combined with food with a high fat meal. The subjects included six overweight but otherwise healthy men between 30 and 65. The results show promise for managing triglyceride levels in the blood, since the subjects who ate the spiced food showed a 13 percent increase in antioxidant blood levels and the insulin response fell by 20 percent.

The researchers tested the blood of study participants once every 30 minutes for three hours. The study’s leader, Sheila West, plans to continue the study by cutting back on the amount of spices to find the optimal levels for controlling triglycerides and insulin response with herbs and spices that have antioxidant properties.

Activity Helps To Improve Cancer Patients Outcomes

Many cancer patients are tempted to rest and stay isolated. New studies have found, however, that exercise and activity decrease the risk of reoccurring cancer. Death rates declined with increased exercise as well, in some cases up to 50%.

Patients can experience decreases in side effects with just 20 minutes of exercise a day. An active lifestyle helps in decreasing common fatigue and depression. It also increases overall healthiness and helps the patient avoid diseases such as heart disease and osteoporosis.  READ MORE >>

Weight Loss Aids In Treating Erectile Dysfunction

An estimated 30 million American men suffer from erectile dysfunction. Many reach for the Viagra, but new research is showing that weight loss is just as effective. Being overweight, smoking and alcohol consumption can all lead to erectile dysfunction. Studies show that losing 5 percent of body weight can help with erectile dysfunction. Modest weight loss can reverse urinary and sexual problems.

The effects can last a year or longer. Following a healthy diet and exercise routing may also help with sexual function. After a month of regular exercise, many patients reported more stamina and stronger erections. Instead of reaching for the remote, try taking a walk.

Does healthy living boost ones lifespan?

Can healthy living give a boost to lifespan? If so, how many years? Apparently, dieting habits, exercise, and refraining from smoking can all add years to ones lifespan.

Researchers in Holland tracked 120,000 men and women 25 years ago and the results are astonishing, men who refrained from smoking, exercised about 30 minutes a day, and had healthy dieting habits all lived about 8.5 years longer than those that did the exact opposite. Also, women live about 15 years longer than those who had not met the criteria. Why such a big gap in lifespan numbers? Researchers believe it has something to do with hormones. Life expectancy in the U.S now is somewhere around 77.9 years.