Monthly News Archives



		'Attractive' Voice May Speak Volumes About Desirability July 31, 2008 An appealing voice -- a warm, confident murmur that seems to emanate from the chest rather then the neck -- can be a turn-on for many of us. Now there is strong evidence that demonstrates that an "attractive" voice serves a purpose: to draw us to the most genetically fit potential mates. More on Cell Phones and Cancer July 31, 2008 Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, shocked just about all law-abiding scientists with his warning last week to his faculty and staff that cell phones might pose a cancer risk. Yet how cautious must we be? The Myth of Moderate Exercise July 30, 2008 Obesity experts agree that daily exercise is essential for good health, but whether it can successfully lead to long-term weight loss is a question of much debate. Obesity Predisposition Traced To The Brain's Reward System July 30, 2008 The tendency toward obesity is directly related to the brain system that is involved in food reward and addictive behaviors, according to a new study. Obesity Linked To Newer, Less Walkable Neighborhoods July 30, 2008 The age of your neighborhood may influence your risk of obesity, according to a new study from the University of Utah. Fat Around The Heart May Increase Risk Of Heart Attacks July 30, 2008 When it comes to risk for a heart attack, having excess fat around the heart may be worse than having a high body mass index or a thick waist, according to researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues reporting in the August issue of the journal Obesity. Is Your Granite Countertop Dangerous To Your Health? July 29, 2008 As the popularity of granite countertops has grown in the last decade - demand for them has increased tenfold, but most aren't aware that some types of granite contain high levels of uranium, which is not only radioactive but releases radon gas as it decays. Vaccine Advocates Take Funding From The Companies Whose Vaccines They Endorse July 29, 2008 For years some parents and scientists have raised concerns about vaccine safety, including a possible link to autism and ADD. Many independent experts have sided with government officials and other scientists who say there's no possible connection. But how "independent" are they? Elderly Don't Need As Much Sleep July 29, 2008 Old people are known to be lousy sleepers, but a new study suggests it might all be in their heads, at least for many of them. Most Fit Have Less Brain Atrophy From Alzheimer's July 29, 2008 Physical fitness can help the mind, body and quality of life of people with early Alzheimer's disease and dementia, according to new research. Caffeine Use Common In Athletes July 28, 2008 British athletes routinely use caffeine to boost their performance, say researchers. Energy Drinks Linked To Risk-Taking Behaviors Among College Students July 28, 2008 Although few researchers have examined energy drink consumption, a researcher at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) has been investigating links between energy drinks and public health concerns like substance abuse and risky behaviors. Make Small Changes in Your Diet to Dramatically Improve Your Health July 28, 2008 How important is your diet to your overall health? A recent study suggests that a healthy diet can add as many as 14 years to your life. How Making Decisions Tires Your Brain July 25, 2008 Recently, a growing body of research has focused on a particular mental limitation, which has to do with our ability to use a mental trait known as executive function. Fat Friends Boost Your Size July 25, 2008 People are subconsciously influenced by the weight of those around them - so fat friends can cause someone to put on weight too, researchers suggest. Lack of Physical Activity Causes Mental Decline July 25, 2008 Being inactive increases the risk of developing depression or dementia, according to studies presented at a conference of the British Nutrition Foundation. Limiting Fructose May Boost Weight Loss July 24, 2008 One of the reasons people on low-carbohydrate diets may lose weight is that they reduce their intake of fructose, a type of sugar that can be made into body fat quickly, according to a researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Soy Foods Will Reduce Your Sperm July 24, 2008 A regular diet of even modest amounts of food containing soy may halve sperm concentrations, suggest scientists. Beat Plaque With Light July 24, 2008 Scientists have developed a mouthwash that allows plaque-causing bacteria to be destroyed using nothing more than a bright light. Toxic Chemicals Found In Common Scented Laundry Products, Air Fresheners July 23, 2008 A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those chemicals was listed on the product labels. Researchers Find Key To Saving The World's Lakes July 22, 2008 After completing one of the longest running experiments ever done on a lake, researchers from the University of Alberta, University of Minnesota and the Freshwater Institute, contend that nitrogen control, in which the European Union and many other jurisdictions around the world are investing millions of dollars, is not effective and in fact, may actually increase the problem of cultural eutrophication. The Trouble with 'Healthy' Kid Foods July 22, 2008 Most parents already know that sugary sodas and greasy potato chips are not the healthiest food choices for children. But what about the hundreds of other widely available and kid-friendly packaged foods - pastas, frozen dinners, granola bars - that at least appear to be more wholesome? Men: Get Advice Before You Exercise July 22, 2008 There are a lot of men out there who are still not gym-goers... Actually, there are a lot of men who don't get any physical activity at all. With our nation's obesity rate still on the rise, we must take matters into our own hands and educate ourselves as best we can - while getting in a bit more exercise than a trip through the drive-through. GlaxoSmithKline Continues Vaccine Trial Despite A Dozen Baby Deaths July 21, 2008 At least a dozen babies have died in a pneumonia vaccine trial conducted by GlaxoSmithKline in Argentina. The Argentina Federation of Health Professionals (Fesprosa) asserts that children of poor families are being used for the trials, and parents are bullied into signing consent forms. The trials are still continuing, even though at least 12 infants have already died. Low-Carb Diet Best for Weight, Cholesterol July 21, 2008 The Atkins diet may have proved itself after all: A low-carb diet and a Mediterranean-style regimen helped people lose more weight than a traditional low-fat diet in one of the longest and largest studies to compare the dueling weight-loss techniques. Cranberry Juice Creates Energy Barrier That Keeps Bacteria Away From Cells July 21, 2008 A new study by researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) reveals that cranberry juice changes the thermodynamic properties of bacteria in the urinary tract, creating an energy barrier that prevents the microorganisms from getting close enough to latch onto cells and initiate an infection. Just Say No to Nuts During Pregnancy July 18, 2008 If you've got a strong family history of food allergies or allergic asthma, you might want to think twice before munching a handful of nuts when you're pregnant. The Truth About Plastic July 18, 2008 The U.S. produced 28 million tons of plastic waste in 2005--27 million tons of which ended up in landfills. Our food and water come wrapped in plastic. It's used in our phones and our computers, the cars we drive and the planes we ride in. But the infinitely adaptable substance has its dark side. Food Choice During Pregnancy Shapes Lifelong Taste Preferences of Baby July 18, 2008 Children develop a taste for the foods that their mothers eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding, highlighting the importance of pregnant and nursing women's dietary choices, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. Men And Women May Need Different Diets July 17, 2008 Diet can strongly influence how long you live and your reproductive success, but now scientists have discovered that what works for males can be very different for females. Obesity Increases Pancreatic Cancer Risk in Women July 17, 2008 Obese women, who carry most of their excess weight around the stomach, are 70% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer, research suggests. Vitamin D Tests Soar As Deficiency, Diseases Linked July 16, 2008 Testing for vitamin D levels, once uncommon, has skyrocketed as medical studies raise awareness about vitamin D deficiencies, according to three of the USA's largest medical diagnostic labs. Physicians agree that they're increasingly using the blood test to find out whether their patients are low on the vital vitamin. Positive thinking Is Good For Your Heart July 16, 2008 Optimism is good for heart health, at least among men, a new study shows. CT Scans Causing Cancer in Patients, Many Scans Medically Unjustified July 16, 2008 A surge in the use of CT scans in the last 25 years has led to millions of patients per year being unnecessarily exposed to dangerous radiation that increases their risk of cancer, according to a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Will Our Future Brains Be Smaller? July 15, 2008 The speed at which we react to threatening situations can have life or death implications. In the more primitive past, it could have meant escaping a wild animal; today it might mean swerving to avoid a head-on car crash. Exercise May Prevent Brain Shrinkage In Early Alzheimer's July 15, 2008 Mild Alzheimer's disease patients with higher physical fitness had larger brains compared to mild Alzheimer's patients with lower physical fitness, according to a study published in the July 15, 2008, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Eating Slowly Reduces Your Calorie Intake July 14, 2008 Your mother was right when she told you to take the time to chew your food. Eating slowly, research suggests, can encourage people to eat less, and enjoy the meal more. How Food Affects The Brain July 14, 2008 In addition to helping protect us from heart disease and cancer, a balanced diet and regular exercise can also protect the brain and ward off mental disorders. Male Cyclists Need To Choose The Right Bike To Avoid Harming Their Sexual Health July 14, 2008 Men who take up cycling in an effort to stay fit, do their bit for the environment or avoid spiralling motoring costs, could be harming their health if they don't choose the right bicycle. That's the stark warning from consultant urological surgeon Mr Vinod Nargund from St Bartholomew's and Homerton Hospitals, London. Cell Phone Use Can Boost Your Tumor Risk by 50 Percent July 14, 2008 Frequent users of cellular phones develop tumors of the parotid gland 50 percent more often than less frequent users, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Children Are Naturally Prone To Be Empathic And Moral July 11, 2008 Children between the ages of seven and 12 appear to be naturally inclined to feel empathy for others in pain, according to researchers at the University of Chicago, who used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) scans to study responses in children. Pomegranate Ranked Healthiest Fruit Juice July 11, 2008 Clinical nutritionist Samantha Heller talks about what makes the juices healthy. The study took into account the antioxidant levels of the juices. Prolonged Sitting Turns Off Fat-Burning Enzyme July 11, 2008 Sitting for extended periods of time causes the body to turn off its fat-burning mechanisms, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetes and presented at the Second International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health. Mommy's Brain Is Stimulated When Her Baby Smiles July 10, 2008 Science may have confirmed what most moms already know: When a woman sees her baby smile, certain areas of her brain activate, stimulating happy feelings. Kids' Obesity May Lead to Epidemic of Adult Diabetes July 10, 2008 The current childhood obesity epidemic may lead to large numbers of young adults developing type 2 diabetes in the future, along with serious diabetes-related health complications, warns a University of Michigan researcher. Good Diet, Exercise Keep Brain Healthy July 9, 2008 A balanced diet and regular exercise can protect the brain and ward off mental disorders, a new review of research states. Obese Men Should Lose Weight Before Trying For A Baby July 9, 2008 Obese men should consider losing weight if they want to have children, a scientist told the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Biofuel Caused Food Crisis July 8, 2008 Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% - far more than previously estimated - according to a confidential World Bank report obtained. CT Scans Emit Massive Doses of Radiation, Promote Cancer July 8, 2008 A British government report has called for tighter regulation of private clinics that offer full-body computed tomography (CT) scans, saying that such scans expose patients to a massive and cancer-promoting blast of radiation. Powerful Antioxidant Wards Off Effects Of Age On Heart, Bones, Eyes And Muscle July 7, 2008 Scientists have found that the compound resveratrol -- found in red wine and grape skin -- slows age-related deterioration and functional decline of mice on a standard diet, but does not increase longevity when started at middle age. Men Have Biological Clocks Too July 7, 2008 Scientists say they have found more evidence that men as well as women have biological clocks and that they start to tick in their mid-30s. How Broccoli Fights Cancer July 4, 2008 Just a few more portions of broccoli each week may protect men from prostate cancer, British researchers recently reported. Playdates Beneficial For Both Children and Parents July 4, 2008 You will always hear how beneficial it is for children to be exposed to new people, environments, and how they benefit best from having care from a large number of people. But it is generally forgotten how much parents need this same stimulation. The connection and support we receive from other caregivers is also important for our own health and well being. The Impact of Your Mental Imagery Influences Your Visual Perception July 3, 2008 Letting your imagination run away with you may actually influence how you see the world. New research from Vanderbilt University has found that mental imagery-what we see with the "mind's eye"-directly impacts our visual perception. Mother's Junk Food 'Harms Child' July 3, 2008 Eating a poor diet when pregnant or breastfeeding may cause long-lasting health damage to the child, animal studies suggest. Red Meat Consumption Linked Yet Again to Increased Cancer Risk July 3, 2008 A new large-scale study has provided more strong evidence linking the consumption of red and processed meats to an increased risk of cancer. Effects of Healing Touch Therapy Being Studied July 2, 2008 Often, a gentle hand on your shoulder when you're upset is all it takes to ease your mind and calm your nerves. Watermelon May Have Viagra-Effect July 2, 2008 A cold slice of watermelon has long been a Fourth of July holiday staple. But according to recent studies, the juicy fruit may be better suited for Valentine's Day. Caffeine After Exercise Helps Muscles Refuel July 1, 2008 Recipe to recover more quickly from exercise: Finish workout, eat pasta, and wash down with five or six cups of strong coffee. Research Links Low HDL Levels With Memory Loss July 1, 2008 A new study suggests an association between low levels of "good" HDL and loss of memory. New Test Measures A Child's Ability To Taste And Smell July 1, 2008 Researchers have developed a series of tests that for the first time accurately measure the normality of taste (gustatory function) and smell (olfactory function) in young children, according to a new study published in the July 2008 edition of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.