November, 2007

There are a lot of things that can cause cancer, and usually it happens by ingesting a toxin. But, can your job be that toxin? According to research the graveyard shift may send you to an early grave, via cancer.

Is it possible that there’s good news on the obesity epidemic in the U.S.? New stats show a leveling off of the number of people considered obese.

About 33 percent of male adults and 35 percent of women in the U.S. were obese in 2005-2006, according to the federal government. Those numbers are slightly higher than the previously surveyed, but considered statistically insignificant. The optimist in me says people are starting to get it. The cynic in me says that it’s just a pause since we’ve had such a large jump throughout the years. Here’s more on the news.

A study released Tuesday states that individuals using a pedometer tend to lose weight, have lower blood pressure and exercise more than those not using the handy gadget.

The study attributes users’ goals to meet or beat the 10,000 steps/day rule as part of the success. Pedometer users walk about 2,000 more steps each day than those not using one.

Pedometers don’t really get in the way, are light weight and easy to clip on to your pants. Each step is recorded throughout the day. They range in price from about $1.19-$32.95- making it a perfect holiday gift.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I know that most nutritionists would tell you to not overdo it on Turkey Day. But, I’m of the opinion that it’s OK to let loose once in a while. So, enjoy seconds of that juicy turkey. MSN.com has an article that addresses the notion that turkey makes us sleepy. Does tryptophan really make you tired? It may be more about how much you’re eating than anything.

The benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, or lack thereof, have been debated for years. So, what’s the last call on alcohol?

The verdict appears to be in favor of alcohol. If this research sticks, you can ward off heart disease, diabetes and even arthritis. Here’s more on the Harvard research.

Are you looking for a magic pill to lose weight? If so, you will most likely be sadly disappointed. WebMD reports on results from 30 trials that show people who took prescription weight loss medications lose only a small portion of the weight they wanted to lose. Plus, many of the people don’t even stick with the drugs.

Supplements have their place, but too many people look at them as a be all, end all, instead of paying attention to the actual meaning of the word: Supplement… in addition to.

Can eating fish make you smarter? It’s not a new hypothesis, but there are three new studies that continue to support this brain-boosting theory.

Studies from Norway, Holland, and New Zealand support that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in fish may improve cognitive performance. Even though the evidence is not absolutely conclusive that you will be smarter, it’s still smart to eat fish for its other health benefits, particularly its being a great lean protein source.

MSNBC.com has an interesting food quiz posted online. Steak vs. salmon, apples vs. bananas… Test your knowledge of how these foods and others stack up against each other. You’re issued a score similar to a conventional school grade.

When you’re looking to lose weight, what’s the first thing that you think of? How many calories do I need to get down to on a daily basis? Or, should I look to restrict my carb intake?

We usually think about what goes in our mouth. But it may be time to think about your mental health as well.

According to new research, emotional eaters usually lose less and have the hardest time keeping off whatever weight they do lose.

“Our results suggest that we need to pay more attention to eating triggered by emotions or thoughts as they clearly play a significant role in weight loss,” said Heather Niemeier of Brown University, whose study appears in the journal Obesity.

Niemeier and her colleagues focused on people who ate because of external influences (eating too much at parties) and internal influences (loneliness or using food as a reward).

Overeating is a complex set of circumstances that range from psychological to simple ignorance about the foods we eat. But, what if when it’s all said and done, doctors could simply turn off your hunger like a light switch?

The answer could lie in a molecule known as MIC-1.

Australian scientists have figured out how to switch hunger on and off using MIC-1. The discovery could stop weight loss in terminally ill patients or produce weight loss in the morbidly obese. MIC-1 is produced by cancers and targets receptors in the brain that switch off appetite.

Sam Breit at St Vincent’s Centre for Immunology, who originally cloned the MIC-1 gene, believes the findings could have a significant impact on a range of appetite-related disorders.