People baffled by health messages

"People know a healthy lifestyle is important, but most are still baffled by guidelines on fruit, exercise and alcohol, a report shows."

Your not the only one's confused. This might be a good article to read for your project.

Work gyms 'lift mood and stress'

"Employees who can exercise at work are more productive, happy, efficient and calm, a study shows."

Obesity 'set before age of five'

"Childhood obesity is set before the age of five, ministers will hear from researchers later.

Compared to children in the 1980s, today's youngsters are fatter and most of their excess weight gain happens before school age, they will say."

Research is pointing to the chemistry being set in the womb and early childhood.

Bad bosses may damage your heart

"Inconsiderate bosses not only make work stressful, they may also increase the risk of heart disease for their employees, experts believe.

A Swedish team found a strong link between poor leadership and the risk of serious heart disease and heart attacks among more than 3,000 employed men."

Another indication of how stress influences health.

Human ancestors born big brained

A new Homo erectus fossil suggests that females had large, wide pelvises in order to deliver large-brained babies.

"Proportionally her hips are wider than those of modern humans," he says.

Pelvis size indicates how large the newborn's head could be.

Obesity 'programmed before birth'

Eating a high-fat diet in pregnancy may cause changes in the foetal brain that lead to over-eating and obesity early in life, research suggests.

Growth Hormone and kids

Read and watch a recent news article on the effectiveness and role of growth hormone treatment for children of short stature.

What do you think?

7 foods that fight over-40 fat

Add these smart choices to your diet to boost nutrition and shed pounds 

Check out the article found on the today show website.

Vitamin 'may be Alzheimer's aid'

A key protein can cause damage to the brain leading to Alzheimer's A vitamin found in meat, fish and potatoes may help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease - and even boost memory in healthy people. US researchers found vitamin B3 lowered levels of a protein linked to Alzheimer's damage in mice.

Jamie Oliver warns over unhealthy diets

Jamie Oliver warns over unhealthy diets. The economic downturn could lead to people eating more unhealthy food, TV chef Jamie Oliver says.

Use it or lose it...

Wellness should be life long, and a new study emphasizes that Fitness Training performed for just EIGHT WEEKS can make a tremendous impact at any age.  

Elderly women can increase muscle strength as much as young women can!  
A new study from the University of New Hampshire demonstrates that loss of muscle strength is LESS a "natural" part of the "aging process", but rather more the result of a decrease in physical activity and fitness training.

Use it or lose it...

One interesting finding in the study demonstrated that while the women studied in an 8 week training program gained similar percentages of strength compared to younger women, their resulting "power" (strength over time - or endurance) was less.

The study suggests that perhaps this need be further explored.  But perhaps the answer is simple.  Anyone who has been inactive for a longer time period will require more time to develop a "strength over time" (the study doesn't reveal exact time, but lets assume the older adults could have been inactive longer, than the younger women).  

Power is important in preventing falls and injury in the elderly.  Perhaps the next study (this is Dr. Barnathan's thought, not that of the researchers) is that a study must be done in a period well beyond 8 weeks.  I have faith in the science that given time, the endurance and power will develop.

University of New Hampshire (2008, November 5). Elderly Women Can Increase Strength But Still Risk Falls. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 5, 2008, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2008/10/081023113111.htm

Diet Reviews

Use this link to see a list of popular diets, and a brief review. This will be a good place to start for your diet presentation/paper research.

Ideal Body Weight for Male & Female Adults

Ideal Body Weight for Male & Female Adults calculator. 

Height and Weight Chart

Where do you fall in terms of recommended height/weight relationship to your age?

Study: Big, Carb-Heavy Breakfast Key to Weight Loss

Eating a big breakfast, heavy in carbs, is the key to keeping slim, according to new research.

"A new study found that women who eat half of their daily calories first thing in the morning lose more weight in the long term than those who start the day with a small breakfast.

And they are also less likely to pile the pounds back on."

This mod we shift our focus to diet and exercise as we link all our A&P topics together.

You will learn to evaluate research/articles like this.

Obesity 'lifts inflammation risk'

Obesity and lack of fitness raise the risk of illness by impacting negatively on the body's internal chemistry, research suggests.

June Davison, cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "These findings add to evidence that regular physical activity and keeping close to a healthy weight have huge benefits for your heart health."

And John Brewer, performance director at the Lucozade Sport Science Academy in Slough, stressed that an unhealthy lifestyle posed "real dangers" to health.

He said: "Whilst studies like this one, and initiatives from the government and health-promotion agencies, can raise awareness of the risks, ultimately it is down to individuals to chose a lifestyle and habits that give them the best chance of leading a healthy, active life."

More and more research is pointing to the inflammatory response as being key to understanding many disease processes.

Study: Men to Blame for Women's Fluctuating Waistlines

"A study analyzing the ups and downs a female's weight cycle found that happiness – or the lack thereof – greatly affected a woman’s waistline, London's Daily Mail reported Thursday."

I think this is about "state." How we feel affect so much in terms of health and wellness.

Doctors warn of rash from mobile phone use

LONDON (Reuters) - Doctors baffled by an unexplained rash on people's ears or cheeks should be on alert for a skin allergy caused by too much mobile phone use, the British Association of Dermatologists said on Thursday.

Mind power moves paralysed limbs

"Scientists have shown it is possible to harness brain signals and redirect them to make paralysed limbs move."


This has amazing potential for those suffering from various forms of nerve damage. It is just a matter of time.

Workout for brain just a few clicks away

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Searching the Internet may help middle-aged and older adults keep their memories sharp, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

"In doing the Internet search task, there was much greater activity, but only in the Internet-savvy group."

More indication that the brains, like muscles, continues to respond positive to use (exercise). The old "use it or lose it" saying is true.

Get Moving: Feds Say Adults Should Get 2 1/2 Hours of Exercise a Week

"Get moving: The nation's new exercise guidelines set a minimum sweat allotment for good health. For most adults, that's 2 1/2 hours a week.

How much physical activity you need depends largely on age and level of fitness.

Moderate exercise adds up for sluggish adults. Rake leaves, take a quick walk around the block or suit up for the neighborhood softball game. More fit adults could pack in their week's requirement in 75 minutes with vigorous exercise, such as jogging, hiking uphill, a bike race or speedy laps in the pool.

Children and teens need more — pretty brisk activities for at least an hour a day, say the government guidelines being released Tuesday.

Consider it the exercise version of the food pyramid. The guidelines, from the Health and Human Services Department, aim to end years of confusion about how much physical activity is enough, while making clear that there are lots of ways to achieve it."

Meat 'ups prostate cancer risk'

"Eating meat and dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer, research suggests.

Such a diet raises levels of a hormone called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) which promotes cell growth."

These studies are just  beginning, but are consistant with other research. Moderation and exercise should inform our lifestyle choices.

Why Andorrans live longer

"Besides the clean air and stunning mountain views from every window, Andorrans have what the WHO ranks as the third-best public health system in the world to maintain them."

Genetics, clean air, plenty of natural exercise and a great healthcare system.

Comments?

'Illusions driving market havoc'

"The mind naturally creates illusions and superstitions at times of stress - and this could be adding to the global financial crisis, say scientists."

This ties in with what we are studying about the brain and stress.

Music tastes link to personality

Musical tastes and personality type are closely related, according to a study of more than 36,000 people from around the world.

What do you think? Does this match your music tastes?

MUSICAL STYLES VERSUS PERSONALITY TRAITS

BLUES

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease

JAZZ

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease

CLASSICAL MUSIC

High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at ease

RAP

High self-esteem, outgoing

OPERA

High self-esteem, creative, gentle

COUNTRY AND WESTERN

Hardworking, outgoing

REGGAE

High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle and at ease

DANCE

Creative, outgoing, not gentle

INDIE

Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle

BOLLYWOOD

Creative, outgoing

ROCK/HEAVY METAL

Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease

CHART POP

High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking, outgoing, gentle, not at ease

SOUL

High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease

Running 'can slow ageing process'

Running on a regular basis can slow the effects of ageing, a study by US researchers shows.

"Elderly joggers were half as likely to die prematurely from conditions like cancer than non-runners.

They also enjoyed a healthier life with fewer disabilities, the Stanford University Medical Center team found.

Experts said the findings in Archives of Internal Medicine reinforced the importance that older people exercise regularly."

Aging is associated with disuse. The more active we are the more fit we remain as we age.

Music 'boosts exercise endurance'

A study has confirmed what many gym users already knew - listening to music can boost your capacity for exercise.

This ties in with what we are studying in Ch 4. Music effects brain chemistry. Also notice the the beat for exercise is 120 or 140/min. Entrainment with an exercise heart rhythm.

Human touch may have some healing properties

"A new study from researchers in Utah finds that a warm touch — the non-sexual, supportive kind — tempers stress and blood pressure, adding to a growing body of research on how emotions affect health."

The study "found that massage and other supportive and caring touch lower stress hormones and blood pressure, particularly among men, while also enhancing oxytocin, a hormone thought to calm and counter stress."

This study not only demonstrates the benefits of regular massage, but massage as a "self-care" among couples. Massages were give for 30 minutes, three times a week. Oxytocin also can be linked with bonding. As a couples activity, this practice would benefit both health and the relationship. It also points to the benefits of infant massage.

Daily aspirin in middle-age

"Men and women over a certain age should take aspirin daily to prevent heart attacks, experts say in Heart journal.

Nottingham and Sheffield universities' analysis of almost 12,000 patients found men from the age of 48 and women from 57 would benefit from the drug." Read full story.

This is strongly recommended for both men and women but notice the large difference in age.