Author Archives: Descygna

About Descygna

Descygna is a health journalist who has made her health, and that of her family, a top priority. She loves making over traditional recipes and staying on top of the latest health trends.

Weight Loss Reduces Risk of Cancer in Overweight Women

A new study conducted on post-menopausal women showed those who are overweight or obese can reduce their levels of inflammation linked to cancer by losing just 5% of their body weight.

The study looked at women who either dieted, exercised or both. Those who lost weight through diet and exercise were able to lower their C-reactive protein by 42%, and their interleukin-6 marker by 23% in just one year.

Both of these inflammation markers have been previously linked to cancer. Dr. Anne McTiernan of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle stated, “Both obesity and inflammation have been shown to be related to several types of cancer.” (more…)

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Descygna

Increased Diabetes Risk for Women Who Sit for Hours

Women now have even more motivation to get up and move throughout the day. According to a new study published in the American Journal in Preventive Medicine, women who spend between four and seven hours each day sitting are at increased risk of developing the early signs of type 2 diabetes. However, this research does not show the same link in men.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Jessica Crandall sums up the problem by stating, “The reality for many Americans is that we work nine-to-five jobs and are sedentary most of the work day, increasing our risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The good news is that type 2 diabetes is preventable through maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in physical activity throughout the day, not just after you get home from work.”

The importance of getting activity throughout the day is highlighted with the fact that the risks are still significant if moderate or vigorous exercise is added in after a long day of sitting. (more…)

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Descygna

New Study Shows Sleep Limits Influence of Obesity Genes

More and more research is coming forward in support of sleep for good health.

The latest research published in in the journal SLEEP shows that sleeping at least nine hours per night can have more control over your weight than genetics. Getting plenty of sleep gives you an edge if your genetics position you with a tendency to be overweight.

For this particular study, 1,088 sets of twins, both fraternal and identical, had their sleep habits examined along with their body weight. The conclusion of the study was that those who get plenty of sleep actually have more control over their weight through their behavior. Those in the study who slept less than seven hours each night showed a 70% difference in their body mass index (BMI) due to their genes, while things like diet and exercise were responsible for only 4%.

In contrast to that group, those who slept nine or more hours per night had a 51% difference in their BMI due to diet and exercise with only 32% of the difference coming from genes. (more…)

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Descygna

New Study Shows Work May Be the Cause for Lack of Sleep

A new study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has revealed some fairly obvious information – the more people work, the less sleep they are likely to get.

The information in the study shows that about one third of the workers surveyed said they sleep six or fewer hours each night. This is a pretty stark contrast to the good health amount of sleep which is between seven and nine hours each night. Those with multiple jobs or clocking more than 40 hours seem to be sleeping the least of all.

Another observation that comes as no surprise is the fact that those who are separated or divorced are missing out on sleep too, which includes single parents. Employees in the mining industry have about 41 percent sleeping less than six hours per night while 38 percent of utility workers sleep less than six hours.

Perhaps the scariest of the statistics within this sleep-deprived study relates to those working in the transportation and manufacturing field. As high as 70 percent of people in that field who are working the night shift are getting less than six hours of sleep, including train operators, bus drivers and semi-truck drivers. (more…)

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Descygna

A How-to Guide for Medifast Lean and Green Meals

The Medifast weight loss program is a great one for those that want to lose weight quickly through meal replacement.

While on the Medifast program, participants have five meals that are all prepared by Medifast, and in addition, one daily ‘Lean & Green’ meal. The Lean & Green meal consists of five to seven ounces of lean protein, three servings of vegetables, and up to two healthy fats, depending on your lean protein choices. Dieters can choose to have their Lean & Green meal at any point during the day and can also divide it up into two different portions and eat half of it at a time.

Some tips for choosing your lean portion of the meal include meats that are grilled, baked, broiled or poached – but nothing fried. Also strive to eat at least two servings of fish per week that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Some of the seven-ounce options for the lean portion of the meal include fish, shellfish, game meat, ground turkey or any other meat that is 98 percent lean, or meatless options like egg whites and egg beaters. (more…)

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Descygna

The 7-Day Lean Challenge Slowly Transitions You to Vegan Diet

Author Kathy Freston has created the 7-Day Lean Challenge to coincide with the release of her new book titled The Lean: A Revolutionary (and Simple!) 30-Day Plan for Healthy. Although the book involves a full 30 day program, Kathy’s 7-Day Lean Challenge allows you to test the program before fully committing to it. This program is all about making small changes each day and replacing the animal products in your diet with plant based foods.

Kathy’s challenge is targeted at those that want to stop dieting and start losing weight permanently. The 7-Day Lean Challenge is Freston’s way of easing you into change, and will give you healthier options to the food you are already eating. Freston is upfront with the fact that you will be moving into a vegan diet and away from animal products, but everything is done gradually. You get to continue eating the foods you love, just healthier versions of them. One thing that Freston focuses on is that you will still get to eat foods like pizza, burgers, apple cobbler and other foods that you have always loved.

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Posted on April 17, 2024 by Descygna

Burger King’s New Menu Isn’t Any Healthier

Fast food giant Burger Kingis launching 10 new menu items as an attempt to gain back their place as the number two fast food burger chain after being edged out by Wendy’s last year. This is the first time since opening in 1954 that Burger King has undergone a menu expansion of this size. When you see the new items on Burger King’s menu, you might think you wandered into a McDonald’s. The new items Burger King is offering bear a striking resemblance to items that number one burger chain McDonald’s has introduced over the past few years. Burger King now offers chicken strips, caramel frappe coffees, Caesar salads and strawberry-mango smoothies.

There’s no denying that Burger King’s previous stance to cater to young men in their menu offerings has seen a struggle recently. Between a down economy and people looking for healthier options, Burger King’s focus on big beefy burgers has helped contribute to lax sales. “Consumers wanted more choices,” said Steve Wiborg, president of Burger King’s North America operations. “Not just healthy choices, but choices they could get at the competition.” The new menu items offer consumers those choices as well as some healthier options than the standard Whopper and fries. (more…)

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Descygna

Slim Calm Sexy Diet Teaches Empowered Eating

Author Keri Glassman has been receiving high praise for her new book Slim Calm Sexy Diet. Glassman is a nationally recognized nutrition expert and advisory board member as well as columnist for Women’s Health Magazine.

Slim Calm Sexy Diet offers an approach to dieting that also touches other areas of your life taking a whole person point of view. Glassman’s program is about allowing you to eat to empower rather than deprive. She focuses on the great foods you can eat rather than what you can’t to reach your goals. With this diet, you can lose up to 20 pounds in six weeks and also strip away the stress that leads to emotional eating and hormone imbalance.

The Slim Calm Sexy Diet focuses on areas of eating and includes an exercise program. Within this program, you learn what to eat and when to eat as well as what type of exercise to do for that slim, calm and sexy body. There are natural, whole foods offered in each category of Slim, Calm and Sexy that focus on improving each of those areas. Below are just a few of Glassman’s recommendations for slim, calm and sexy foods.

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Posted on March 30, 2024 by Descygna

Using Your DNA, Newtopia Provides Effective Weight Loss Results

Losing weight is difficult, but with the right tools, the journey can be a bit easier. One program that takes weight loss beyond just diet and exercise is Newtopia. This program involves using your DNA to determine if you have certain genetic variations that may affect how you lose weight. The three different genes that are examined are the body fat gene (FTO), appetite gene (MC4R) and the eating behavior gene (DRD2). You submit your DNA through a simple saliva test that is examined by Newtopia. Once your results are determined, you will have a blueprint for losing weight.

President and CEO of Newtopia, Jeff Ruby, spoke with me about the importance of an individualized program. “We’ve learned through extensive research that one size does not fit all when it comes to health and weight loss. We are pioneering an age of personalized health coaching based on your genes so you can lose weight and live healthier – for life,” he said. “We designed our simple, painless genetic profile to determine whether clients possess one of three possible genetic vulnerabilities to weight gain.” Once your genetic vulnerabilities are known, you can have a nutrition and exercise program designed around that which will help you effectively lose weight. (more…)

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Descygna

More Stores Stop Selling Ground Beef with Pink Slime

Ground beef that includes what the meat industry calls lean, finely textured beef, or pink slime, has been getting a lot of media coverage lately. Consumers have been avidly asking questions about which grocery stores sell it so that they can avoid it. As consumers continue to voice their concern, grocers are listening.

Safeway, SUPERVALU and Food Lion are the latest grocery stores to make the announcement that they will discontinue carrying ground beef that includes pink slime. Safeway released a statement saying, “While the USDA and food industry experts agree that lean, finely textured ground beef is safe and wholesome, recent news stories have caused considerable consumer concern about this product. Safeway will no longer purchase ground beef containing lean, finely textured beef.”

The list of grocers that are issuing statements regarding their ground beef and whether or not it contains pink slime is growing.

While Safeway is the second largest grocery chain in the country, SUPERVALU is the third largest chain. SUPERVALU controls various grocery stores including Albertson’s, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh, Jewel-Osco, Hornbacher’s and others. Some other heavy hitters like Walmart and Sam’s Club have also made recent announcements that they would stop selling beef that includes pink slime. The nation’s largest grocery store chain is Kroger and they currently offer beef options with and without the product.

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Posted on March 22, 2024 by Descygna

Carnie Wilson Has Second Weight Loss Surgery

After having gastric bypass surgery 12 years ago, Carnie Wilson then underwent lap-band surgery on January 18 to lose weight.

Having gastric bypass surgery helped Carnie lose 150 pounds. The surgery reduced the size of the stomach and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. In contrast to that, the lap-band surgery involves having a silicone band inserted around the stomach which creates a small pouch about the same size as a golf ball. Since having her lap-band surgery, Carnie has lost 30 pounds. Although she did have success with the gastric bypass procedure, she found it difficult after having two children to lose her pregnancy weight.

“It was the right decision for me and I’m doing really well so far. It’s all about taking good care of myself,” Wilson says. Wilson is part of the best-selling female group of the 1990s, Wilson Phillips and is currently promoting her upcoming album. She and fellow group members will be starring in their own reality show this April.

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Posted on March 22, 2024 by Descygna