Monthly News Archives



		Exercise Makes Kids' Smarter December 31, 2008 Research showing a link between fitness and academics is growing. Berries Reduce Aging Effects December 31, 2008 In a new study, aged laboratory animals that ate a diet rich in the berry and grape compound pterostilbene performed better than those in a group that did not eat the enriched diet, scientists with the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have reported. Pterostilbene reversed measurable negative effects of aging on brain function and behavioral performance. Why People Take Risks With Little or No Reward December 31, 2008 Risk-taking, by definition, defies logic. Reason can't explain why people do unpredictable things - like betting on blackjack or jumping out of planes - for little or, sometimes, no reward at all. There's the thrill, of course, but those brief moments of ecstasy aren't enough to keep most risk takers coming back for more - which they do, again and again, like addicts. Have A Cold? Research Suggests You Don't Need To Skip Your Workout December 29, 2008 You have what seems to be a really bad cold. You are coughing and sneezing, and it is hard to breathe. Should you work out? Red Wine May Improve Long Term Quality of Life December 29, 2008 A phytochemical believed to be responsible for the life-extending benefits of red wine may improve quality of life for the elderly, according to a study conducted by researchers from the National Institute on Aging and Harvard Medical School, and published in Cell Metabolism. Diabetic Kids Commonly Have Vitamin D Deficiency December 29, 2008 Children and teenagers with type 1 diabetes may have a particularly high rate of deficiency in bone-building vitamin D, a small study suggests. How Vegetables Combat Cancer December 26, 2008 Women should go for the broccoli when the relish tray comes around during holiday celebrations this season. Symptoms During Sleep Can Forecast Disease December 26, 2008 Physically "acting out" dreams when asleep could be an early warning sign of dementia or Parkinson's disease. Protein Sports Drinks Proven To Give Best Performance December 24, 2008 Research published in BioMed Central's open access Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition has shown that drinks containing a mix of carbohydrate and protein are superior to carbohydrate-only drinks in improving cyclists' recovery from exercise. Dark Chocolate Is More Filling Than Milk Chocolate And Lessens Cravings December 23, 2008 New research at the Faculty of Life Sciences (LIFE) at the University of Copenhagen shows that dark chocolate is far more filling than milk chocolate, lessening our craving for sweet, salty and fatty foods. In other words, eating dark chocolate may be an efficient way to keep your weight down over the holidays. Body Image Affects Weight Gain in Pregnant Mothers December 23, 2008 In a recent study published, a team of researchers from the department of ambulatory care and prevention at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care found that overweight and obese women who thought they weighed less than they actually did at the start of pregnancy had seven times the odds of gaining excessive weight during their pregnancy. Skipping Sleep Will Harden Your Arteries December 23, 2008 People who scrimp on sleep are more likely to develop hardening of their arteries, a precursor to heart disease, research suggests. Prevent Cavities Naturally December 23, 2008 Daily, careful brushing and flossing are important for preventing cavities and gum disease. Heredity has also been shown to play a part in how healthy a person's mouth is as well. However, an often overlooked way to improve the health of one's mouth is to avoid sugar and processed foods. The Pill Affects A Woman's Choice of Her Mate December 23, 2008 Aside from the heart risks, many women have never heard that the pill can change their sex drive, their sinus pressure or even their sense of smell. Can Blood Type Possibly Determine Your Personality? December 19, 2008 In Japan, blood type is used to determine one�s personality and temperament. Like astrology, the scientific community often dismisses blood type as an indicator of personality, but that doesn�t stop its popularity in Japanese women�s magazines, where blood type horoscopes are published. Not All Fats Are Created Equal December 19, 2008 Eating saturated fats from butter, cream and meat, as well as trans fats found in hydrogenated oils can boost our risk of cardiovascular disease, while consuming mono-unsaturated fat can be good for our heart. Old People Store Bad Memories Differently December 19, 2008 Older adults use different parts of their brain than younger people to store memories of the bad times, a finding that may have to do with the resilience of seniors. Low Thyroid Increases Risk of Death from Heart Attack by Seventy Percent December 19, 2008 By taking natural thyroid hormone tablets to reduce the level of thyroid stimulating hormone to the low end of the normal range, men and women can reduce death from cardiovascular disease by 70 percent. This earthshaking finding far exceeds results from any drug intervention. The 70 percent is not a statistical manipulation based on relative numbers. It represents an absolute decrease in death. Benefits Of Breastfeeding Outweigh Risk of Infant Exposure To Chemicals in Breastmilk December 17, 2008 A study comparing breastfed and formula fed infants across time showed that the known beneficial effects of breastfeeding are greater than the potential risks associated with infant exposure to chemicals such as dioxins that may be present in breastmilk, according to a recent report. Gyms At Work Help Our Mood and Decrease Stress December 17, 2008 Employees who can exercise at work are more productive, happy, efficient and calm, a study shows. Pine Bark Reduces Osteoarthritis December 16, 2008 Pycnogenol (pic-noj-en-all), an antioxidant plant extract from the bark of the French maritime pine tree, has been shown to reduce osteoarthritis in multiple studies. Floss To Prevent Heart Disease December 16, 2008 CRP, a protein associated with inflammation, is elevated in people who are at risk for heart disease. A new study shows that infected gums may be one source of CRP. Human Fertility May Be In Danger December 16, 2008 The male gender is in danger, with incalculable consequences for both humans and wildlife, startling scientific research from around the world reveals. Boy or Girl? Is It All in the Father's Genes December 16, 2008 A Newcastle University study involving thousands of families is helping prospective parents work out whether they are likely to have sons or daughters. Low-Carb Diets Affect Memory December 13, 2008 A new study from the psychology department at Tufts University shows that when dieters eliminate carbohydrates from their meals, they perform more poorly on memory-based tasks than when they reduce calories, but maintain carbohydrates. When carbohydrates were reintroduced, cognition skills returned to normal. The Never Ending Benefits of Honey December 13, 2008 Antioxidant-rich honey is a healthy alternative to chemical additives and refined sweeteners in commercial salad dressings, said a new University of Illinois study. Lack of Vitamin D Causes Weight Gain and Stunts Growth in Girls December 12, 2008 Insufficient vitamin D can stunt growth and foster weight gain during puberty, according to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Paying People To Lose Weight Works December 11, 2008 Putting money in people's pockets can help persuade them to shed fat, suggest American researchers who created two incentive-based approaches for losing weight. Doctors And Nurses Avoid The Flu Shot December 11, 2008 Every fall, the public is barraged by messages from doctors, nurses and other health care providers to get a flu vaccination to protect against the influenza virus. Body Clock Linked To Diabetes And High Blood Sugar In New Study December 11, 2008 Diabetes and high levels of blood sugar may be linked to abnormalities in a person's body clock and sleep patterns, according to a genome-wide association study published today in the journal Nature Genetics. American Values Degraded The U.S. Health Care System December 11, 2008 To heal the ailing U.S. health care system, Americans may have to stop thinking like Americans. That's the message of two articles by UCLA's Dr. Marc Nuwer, a leading expert on national health care reform, published this week in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Why Are Scorpios More Prone To Getting Asthma December 9, 2008 Asthma occurs when airways in the lungs spasm and swell, restricting the supply of oxygen. The incidence of asthma has risen steadily for more than two decades, and about 6 percent of children now have asthma, up from less than 4 percent in 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Is Healing All in Our Mind? December 8, 2008 Studies have indicated that placebos are effective up to 70% of the time. A review of many prescription drugs reveal efficacy rates much lower than that of the placebo. Placebos provide an opportunity to integrate the mind-body connection into the practice of medicine, and to harness its health benefits. Can Wine Boost Your Omega-3 Levels? December 8, 2008 Results from the European study IMMIDIET show that moderate wine intake is associated with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids considered as protective against coronary heart disease 1 in 3 Toys Are Toxic December 5, 2008 A consumer group that wants to ban lead and certain chemicals from toys is out with its holiday survey and says one-third of the 1,500 toys it tested have what it calls "significant" levels of toxins. Why Do Some People Welcome Change While Others Resist It? December 4, 2008 If you're among those who think it's time for change, your attitude may be strongly influenced by how your brain is wired. GM Foods May Lead To Decreased Fertility, Immunological Alterations and Allergies December 4, 2008 Tensions continue to rise over the GM foods issue as consumers become increasingly educated about the sharp increases in infertility, immunological and allergic reactions resulting from the consumption of GM foods. Powerful Antipsychotic Medicines Are Being Prescribed Far Too Often To Children December 4, 2008 Powerful antipsychotic medicines are being used far too cavalierly in children, and federal drug regulators must do more to warn doctors of their substantial risks, a panel of federal drug experts said. Why An Imperfect Body Is Beneficial For Women December 4, 2008 Having an imperfect body may come with some substantial benefits for some women, according to a new article in the December issue of Current Anthropology. Clean People Are Less Judgmental December 4, 2008 A vigorous hand wash or shower could cause a person to be less judgmental. Vitamin D Is Also Vital For Your Heart December 4, 2008 It's no coincidence that people who live closer to the equator suffer less incidents of heart attacks and strokes. Adequate vitamin D, which is absorbed primarily through exposure to sunlight, helps prevent such diseases, new research finds. Acupuncture Just As Effective Without Needle Puncture December 2, 2008 Acupuncture works - but it works equally well with or without needle penetration. This conclusion can be drawn from a treatment study involving cancer patients suffering from nausea during radiotherapy. Caesarean Increases A Child's Asthma Risk December 2, 2008 Babies born by Caesarean section are more prone to developing asthma, say Dutch researchers. Vitamin D Tames Colon Cancer December 2, 2008 A colon cancer cell isn't a lost cause. Vitamin D can tame the rogue cell by adjusting everything from its gene expression to its cytoskeleton. Fast Food Will Increase Your Chances of Developing Alzheimer's Disease December 2, 2008 Mice fed junk food for nine months showed signs of developing the abnormal brain tangles strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease, a Swedish researcher said. Heart Disease Can Be Reversed December 2, 2008 Scientists have halted the advance of heart disease in mice - and even reversed some of its effects. Financial Debt Causes Real Physical Health Problems December 2, 2008 The stress caused by debt is a major health risk linked to a variety of health problems, according to a recent survey conducted by Associated Press-AOL Health.